Anguish of Snails: Native American Folklore in the West

This is a very well written book on the folklore, with comments from contemporary Native Americans. It was great to read before a trip to some archaeological sites in the southwest, it seemed to make the rock art come alive to me. Of course, no one today knows for sure the meaning of the rock art, nor did this author suggest any such thing, but reading it did increase my appreciation of both the past and current cultures of the west.

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.