The Anguish of Snails: Native American Folklore in the West (Folklife of the West, Vol. 2)

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written Inquiry into American Indian Culture
Review: Toelken's book is an excellent study of the culture of America's first peoples. It is an eloquent discussion of how to learn about American Indian history and culture by looking at the everyday activities, traditional arts, folklife, and rituals that are shared with the public. Toelken's work challenges stereotypical and inaccurrate perceptions about Indians; more importantly, he shows ways to understand what other people have to offer when they perform their cultural traditions. It is also beautifully illustrated with gorgeous photographs, many of them in color. The book is written for both academic and non-academic audiences as an introduction into contemporary American Indian culture. I highly recommend this fine book written by an excellent folklorist.