August 2023 MBR The Native American Studies Shelf

The Native American Studies Shelf

God is Red: A Native View of Religion, new edition
Vine Deloria Jr.
Fulcrum Publishing
3970 Youngfield Street, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033
www.fulcrumbooks.com
9781682753149, $25.95, PB, 360 pp

https://www.amazon.com/God-Red-Native-View-Religion/dp/168275314X

Synopsis: Originally published in 1973, Vine Deloria, Jr.'s "God Is Red" remains the seminal work on Native American religious views, asking the reader to think about our species and our ultimate fate in novel ways. Celebrating five decades of publication with this new edition, Deloria's classic work reminds us to understand "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world."

Given the social, cultural, economic, and political issues facing Native Americans today, it is time once again to listen to Vine Deloria, Jr.'s powerful voice, informing us about a spiritual life that is independent of Western religion and that reveres the interconnectedness of all living things.

This new edition of "God Is Red: A Native View Of Religion" includes critical essays engaging with the original material by well-known Indigenous thinkers that include Philip Deloria, Suzan Shown Harjo, Daniel Wildcat, and David E. Wilkins. Inside, "God Is Read" covers a wide variety of topics including: the problem of creation, the origin of religion, the certainty of death, and the complexities of human personality.

Critique: Timely and timeless, this new edition of "God Is Red: A Native View Of Religion" from Fulcrum Publishing (2023) is an essential and core addition to personal, community, college, and university library Native American Sociology, Religion, Philosophy, and Religion collections, as well as supplemental Native American History curriculum studies lists.. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "God Is Red" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.24).

Editorial Note: Vine Deloria Jr. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine_Deloria_Jr.) was named by TIME magazine as one of the greatest religious thinkers of the twentieth century. He was a leading Native American scholar whose research, writings, and teachings on history, law, religion, and political science have not only changed the face of Indian country, but stand to influence future generations of Native and non-Native Americans alike. He has authored many acclaimed books, including Evolution, Creationism, and Other Modern Myths; Red Earth, White Lies; God is Red; Spirit and Reason; and Custer Died for Your Sins. Vine Deloria Jr. passed away on November 13, 2005.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review