Masked Gods: Navaho and Pueblo Ceremonialism

Masked Gods is a truly amazing book, providing deep insights into the wisdom of the Native Americans of the American Southwest. Reading what these native people knew decades ago puts our present superficialities to shame. As a university professor, Masked Gods shows me just how limited our "well documented" and "practical" data of the early 21st century really is. Frank Waters, where are you how that we really need you?

I had the privilege of meeting and talking with Frank Waters 1-on-1 in 1992, when he autographed my first edition of Masked Gods. He was as remarkable as his contributions to the collective knowledge of Native American peoples. Masked Gods is unmatched as a chronicle of the spiritual worlds of the major cultures of the vast Colorado Plateau area Waters roamed for much of his life. Beautifully written, it was discounted by many academics for its romantic point of view, but it has lasted far longer than most standard texts on anthropology. Waters spent his life experiencing and writing about mysticism and NA cultures; in my opinion this personal commitment elevates much of his work above others in the field. He was nominated for the Nobel prize several times, but never won. Some judges' commentary included the knock that he was "too regional", a palpably political statement (how regional was Gordimer's winning work on South Africa?). To really appreciate Masked Gods, you should also read The Book of the Hopi and The Man Who Killed the Deer. This trio of books is indispensable to understanding Native american history and culture.