Book Review

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

The Spiritual Legacy of the American Indian
Commemorative Edition with Letters While Living with Black Elk
Joseph Epes Brown
World Wisdom 04/07 Paperback $21.95
ISBN: 1933316369

This book was originally published in 1982, and it contains the essence of Joseph Epes Brown's ideas on American Indian spirituality. A professor of religion, he presents a rounded view of Native American cultures, languages, and religious traditions; a sampling of religious themes from the Plains Indians; an examination of the sacred and the mysterious in everyday life; a poetic assessment of the Sun Dance and its significance as a ritual; and a look at the cyclical and rhythmical sense of time among American Indians.

This thematically rich volume can be seen as a supplement to Brown's classic The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux. This commemorative edition also contains unpublished letters Brown wrote while living with Black Elk, photographs of American Indian leaders, a complete bibliography of Brown's writings, and a four page account of Joseph Brown' life.

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by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat