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Rating: 
Summary: hi
Review: Although the material in this book is probably covered in greater detail elsewhere, it is pretty unique that the experiences of indigenous groups as diverse as the Iroquois and Incas, are presented here with equal detail. One learns interesting facts about each of them. While I knew about Manco Inca's revolt and establishing a mini-Inca state in the jungle, I had no idea that this was followed by a sort of "Inca Renaissance," with plays, histories and poems written in Quechua. In addition, the five groups that Wright chose either had their own written language or quickly learned one after European contact (and the Cherokee even had their own newspaper), so this history is genuinely "through Indian eyes." The unifying thread (in addition to the resilience of all 5 groups) is that the colonization of the New World by Europeans was not significantly different that of Africa and Asia- without the disease factor, the Americas might today be wholly governed by their original inhabitants.
Rating:
Summary: An essential book in the history of the Americas
Review: As a native American whose people came perilously close to being wiped out completely, I welcome and applaud the care, consideration and integrity with which Ronald Wright has addressed the history of five native nations in the Americas--the Aztecs, Maya, Inca, Iroquois and Cherokee. By selecting cultures from north, central and south America, he shows, unequivocally, how pervasive disease and the voracious appetite for gold, land and vassals were in the nearly total devastation of the peoples of this land.This book should be a "must" read for high school and college students in every nation in the Americas. It is phenomenal in its exploration of past and current circumstances of native Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Very accurate history
Review: I can't speak for the history of all the five nations, but my wife is Cherokee. Her family predates the arrival of the white race. She has a big thick book documenting the family genealogy compiled by her father, a true researcher. The words of Dragging Canoe, a realitive, are comprehensive and exact. Some quotes are new to the family, so Mr. Wright really did his research. Mr. Wright painted an eye opening view of the real American Indian history, not what I learned in school and saw on TV.
Rating: 
Summary: Add this to your Curriculum
Review: My emotions, while reading this book, ranged from disbelief to outrage. Do not read this book on a full stomach. For me, Ronald Wright exposed the faulty notion of America's 'virgin wilderness'. Before I read this I did not appreciate the size or sophistication the Native American nations he has profiled in 'Stolen Continents'. Though this is a tragic history, it is one that should be told. The section on 'Rebirth' is encouraging, for some nations. For others it seems like the relentless attacks, that have deprived so many of so much, will never end. I hope Mr. Wright profiles other aboriginal nations with this all too rare perspective.
Rating:
Summary: Add this to your Curriculum
Review: My emotions, while reading this book, ranged from disbelief to outrage. Do not read this book on a full stomach. For me, Ronald Wright exposed the faulty notion of America's 'virgin wilderness'. Before I read this I did not appreciate the size or sophistication the Native American nations he has profiled in 'Stolen Continents'. Though this is a tragic history, it is one that should be told. The section on 'Rebirth' is encouraging, for some nations. For others it seems like the relentless attacks, that have deprived so many of so much, will never end. I hope Mr. Wright profiles other aboriginal nations with this all too rare perspective.
Rating:
Summary: DESERVES WIDER READERSHIP
Review: On re-reading "STOLEN CONTINENTS" I recently gave a copy of STOLEN CONTINENTS to a colleague who came to the United States from Cuba. Before giving her this as a gift, I thought it a good idea to re-read it ... to make sure she would not be offended by its content. Reading the author Ronald Wright's comments in the Introduction is instructive. Originally British (now living in Canada), the historian Wright writes that as a schoolboy in London he became interested in North and South American Indians by frequent trips to the British Museum. He was "bored to tears" by the schoolboy's dry history of England and found these strange, un-European like people, the Indians fascinating. Searching hard as he could, young Wright found virtually nothing written of their history. There was a plethora of history by Europeans of the "conquest" of the New World. But what did the "conquered" people themselves have to say about their lives before and since having been "conquered" by the Europeans? Indeed, South American Indians in particular had a written language, books and libraries, Wright learned. These were the first to be destroyed by the advancing European clergy whose mission it was to impose European religious literature on these "savages." After giving my Cuban colleague the gift of this books several weeks later she contacted me to say, "I have lived over 55 years but had no idea of the true history of my country and its people. I have had to revise EVERYTHING in my mind!" Such is the power of Wright's book. The reason a use the term "re-read" is that I visited this site before in 1997. I'll re-edit some of my remarks: ' ... Wright's "Stolen Continents" is a seminal classic which replaces Eurocentric mythology with documented observations. The author spent many years tracing the original histories of North and South American natives as they themselves observed and recorded it. This is the material that the descendents of the conquering Europeans and their modern day American cousins were never supposed to see. The murderous adventures of the gold seeking and land grabbing cutthroats is documented. It serves as a shameful monument to men who called themselves Christians, and who violated every basic Christian principle for the sake of gold, land, and enslaving nations. These documents also make it clear why there is so much trouble today with native North and South Americans who resist the ongoing genocide that began five centuries ago. Wright is an indignant and angry writer; which in the context of his discoveries seems appropriate. ' There is a common cause for the present "Indian problems" in North and South America. Leonard Peltier, the Chiapas of Mexico and the Shining Path in Peru come to mind. Wright makes these problems understandable in the context of THEIR history. To begin understanding where the Americas came from and likely where they are headed, STOLEN CONTINENTS is indispensable.
Rating:
Summary: DESERVES WIDER READERSHIP
Review: On re-reading "STOLEN CONTINENTS" I recently gave a copy of STOLEN CONTINENTS to a colleague who came to the United States from Cuba. Before giving her this as a gift, I thought it a good idea to re-read it ... to make sure she would not be offended by its content. Reading the author Ronald Wright's comments in the Introduction is instructive. Originally British (now living in Canada), the historian Wright writes that as a schoolboy in London he became interested in North and South American Indians by frequent trips to the British Museum. He was "bored to tears" by the schoolboy's dry history of England and found these strange, un-European like people, the Indians fascinating. Searching hard as he could, young Wright found virtually nothing written of their history. There was a plethora of history by Europeans of the "conquest" of the New World. But what did the "conquered" people themselves have to say about their lives before and since having been "conquered" by the Europeans? Indeed, South American Indians in particular had a written language, books and libraries, Wright learned. These were the first to be destroyed by the advancing European clergy whose mission it was to impose European religious literature on these "savages." After giving my Cuban colleague the gift of this books several weeks later she contacted me to say, "I have lived over 55 years but had no idea of the true history of my country and its people. I have had to revise EVERYTHING in my mind!" Such is the power of Wright's book. The reason a use the term "re-read" is that I visited this site before in 1997. I'll re-edit some of my remarks: ' ... Wright's "Stolen Continents" is a seminal classic which replaces Eurocentric mythology with documented observations. The author spent many years tracing the original histories of North and South American natives as they themselves observed and recorded it. This is the material that the descendents of the conquering Europeans and their modern day American cousins were never supposed to see. The murderous adventures of the gold seeking and land grabbing cutthroats is documented. It serves as a shameful monument to men who called themselves Christians, and who violated every basic Christian principle for the sake of gold, land, and enslaving nations. These documents also make it clear why there is so much trouble today with native North and South Americans who resist the ongoing genocide that began five centuries ago. Wright is an indignant and angry writer; which in the context of his discoveries seems appropriate. ' There is a common cause for the present "Indian problems" in North and South America. Leonard Peltier, the Chiapas of Mexico and the Shining Path in Peru come to mind. Wright makes these problems understandable in the context of THEIR history. To begin understanding where the Americas came from and likely where they are headed, STOLEN CONTINENTS is indispensable.
Rating:
Summary: Simply a "must" read
Review: Simply a "must" read for the Americans (talking about the whole continent for those who are geographically challenged LOL), the Europeans and anybody else interested in the "discovery" of America.
Well-researched and full of interesting facts concentrating on the 5 significant native cultures of the Americas: The Aztecs, the Mayas, the Incas, the Cherokees and the Iroquois. It is easy to read as well !!!
IMO it should be part of every high school history curriculum. Guaranteed to dispel many of the myths that are taught in schools today and reinforced by Hollywood.
Bravo Mr. Wright !!!!
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