The Primal Mind: Vision and Reality in Indian America

The most important thing that I got out of reading this book is that there is an indigenous perspective and a western perspective and they are different. Mr. Highwater made these differences very clear and interesting for me to understand. I loved the examples he gave of different ways that Native Americans see creativity and experience creativity. The fact that they don't have a word for "art" is atonishing and gives Native Americans a whole new way of seeing that will always be different from the established westernized artworld. One of my most treasured quotes form his book is: "Freedom is not the right to express yourself, but the far more fundamental right to "be" yourself."

I constantly refer back to the section titled "Image". A great read !!!

We've both read and re-read this life-changing book. It has not only given us a new perspective on the mind and world of the Native American, but it has helped us realize the value of the "primal" view in attaining a sense of "wholeness to the otherwise shattered experience of twentieth century life." Highwater demonstrates the value of diversity as well as the importance of tradition. This is a "must read."