Indian Givers

How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World

By: Jack Weatherford

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

After 500 years, the world's huge debt to the wisdom of the Indians of the Americas has finally been explored in all its vivid drama by anthropologist Jack Weatherford. He traces the crucial contributions made by the Indians to our federal system of government, our democratic institutions, modern medicine, agriculture, architecture, and ecology, and in this astonishing, ground-breaking book takes a giant step toward recovering a true American history.

Listen to An Interview with Author Jack Weatherford.

©1989 Jack Weatherford (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"By showing how the world was changed through these contributions, the author gives a greater appreciation of the Indians of America to readers. A fine synthesis book for global studies programs as well as American history." ( School Library Journal)

Powerful!

This is definitely a great book and the writer goes with a great angle too. We always hear about the rape and death of the Indians so, it’s a nice change up to hear about their legacy and about all of the products, foods/spices and names that they have given us. It’s definitely a positive spin from their perspective. The ending and the closing lines are also outstanding!

A very interesting book!

Was Indian Givers worth the listening time?

In the end, yes it was because I learned a lot from it.

Any additional comments?

This is another book where the title caught my attention, as I am part Native American. I was a bit disappointed that the focus was primarily on the indigenous tribes of South America. Overall, it was a very interesting book.

Fascinating

This is an outstanding book. I knew many aspects of how the Indigenous peoples of the Americas influenced the world but this author does such a great job of tying it all together. I loved his earlier work on Genghis Khan as well and didn’t realize this was the same author until I was almost finished. He has a knack for amplifying lesser studied but extremely important areas of history.

Amazing

Very interesting and informative. I love this book. it really makes you think, and also pull at your heart strings. Me being Native American I would like to thank this author for writing this book. honestly most of the facts that you stated in this book I did not know. That is truly sad.

Look at the World from a Different Perspective

This book gave some interesting facts about how things originating in the Americas found it's way to the rest of the world. It was a refreshing look at the interactions of cultures and societies told from a non-European perspective. Some of the things credited to Indian crops seemed a little bit of a stretch. Yes they had a large impact on Europe but connecting it to technological advances comes up a little short and discounts many other factors needed for this kind of development. Otherwise, most of the topics were spot on and backed up with some interesting finds.

Important American history

Fascinating. Takes a bit to get into though. The capture about democracy is the best. It is interesting how some things have changed since it was written.

Excellent and very interesting

I learned so much and it kept my attention. I especially loved the medicine and foods part. I am so happy I found this book, I see the world so differently now.

So much yet to learn

Good narrator and great information about what we gained from native Indians. Much of it surprised me.

All things Jack Weatherford

This fellow does not write bad books. In fact, it seems, he only writes great books. Anytime you want a truly worthwhile revisionist history and you want a great narration thrown in, just pickup a Jack Weatherford book on Audible... yes, sounds like a commercial. But it's all true. Who knew those "savages" contributed so much.

Not Quite what I had Expected

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, while there were some points of interest, overall, it was rather boring.

What was most disappointing about Jack Weatherford’s story?

I had thought it would have more of an historic theme about the contributions of the American Indians and it wasn't

Which character – as performed by Victor Bevine – was your favorite?

No real characters represented.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

If it hadn't been a free book I would have returned it.