Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto

I love this book because of it's toughness. It's not a book on theory, or history, or excuses for a situation. Granted, it covers some history, and offers a little theory here and there, but the focus is action - what needs to be done, and how does it need to be done? The book is extremely well written, and the ideas a thoroughly thought out. It's an excellent example of a well laid out argument.

Vine Deloria, Jr. died November 13, 2005. He was a good friend to me. He understood humor and life and the universe. I miss him.

This is a hard book to swallow, so to speak. Written in 1970, the themes are somewhat outdated, but general & true enough to resonate through today. Deloria is a tour de force in the world of Native American politics & rights & this manifesto is brutal. I completely agree with one of the other reviewers who rightly states that this book is not the place to start when first reading about Native American studies! This book will knock you back in your chair & make you think. It'll make you mad, too, but swallow your anger & open your mind. Deloria is definitely not for everyone, nor is he 100% right. Just listen...

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I think Americans of every ethnic background should read this classic work. There are parts that will make you laugh and parts that will make you cry, parts that are outdated and parts that may be BS, but this is an extremely important book.

The best parts of this book are "Anthropologists and Other Friends," "Indian Humor," and "The Red and the Black." Any of these chapters will open the readers' eyes to a variety of important issues and would make good college-level discussion group material.

Perhaps the most startling thing about this work is how little the federal government has changed since this book was first published in 1969.

In the best tradition of 1960's ranting and raving, DeLoria often says one thing on one page, then contradicts himself elsewhere in the book. He also confuses Pilgrims with Puritans, which may be partly because he is not from New England, but he does hit the nail on the head in many other ways.

Deloria's thinking on the changes each political party brings when they come into power is extremely important and needs to be addressed. Flip-flopping in foreign affairs, the uneven-handed application of laws, and the whipsaw effect that each change in the Administration inflicts on everyday Americans, Indian or not, has led to a lack of faith in our federal government both at home and abroad.

The book was updated in 1988. I wish it could be updated again, now in 2013. I would value Deloria's perspectives on how things have changed, both for better and for worse.

Yes. Read this book.

Kim Burdick
Stanton, Delaware

Custer Died For You Sins is a detailed, honest and factual book, it really inspired me and taught me very much about Sovreign Nations.

Should be required high school American history reading!!

Required for my college course, but I found it to be very informative. It is, however, written in a biased manner and the material only includes pre-1975 facts.

I purchased this book based on the recommendation by Buffy Sainte Marie during one of her recorded concerts. It is funny, tragic, illuminating, and humbling reading.

Another library book turned purchase! Great book every Indian and non Indian should own this book! This book is like The Catcher In The Rye for Indians. Vine Deloria Jr. need I say more?

A book for all who seek to understand the Native American perspective in the late 1960s.