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Title: The Mystic Warriors of the Plains by Thomas Mails ISBN: 0-385-04741-X Publisher: Doubleday Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1972 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $50.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: This book has more errors than any other book I have read.
Comment: Let the reader beware! This book contains more errors than any book I have ever read, and I can read only a fraction of the book critically. A sampling of some of the errors follows.
The author shows a profound lack of understanding of many important features of the plains animals, such as the statement that antelope and elk were hunted "only on rare trips to the mountains". The historical distribution of the antelope was identical to the range of the buffalo throughout the plains area, and in the northern part of the plains, elk and buffalo herds intermingled far from the mountains.
One of the most peculiar errors is his description of the proper method to shoot an arrow. One illustration shows the arrow placed on the left hand as a rest. The author describes this as a "careless way of letting arrow rest on hand". An adjacent illustration shows the arrow on the right side of the bow, supported by the thumb and encircled by the left forefinger. This is the "secure way of guiding the arrow at bow". The former method is used by all archers worldwide to the best of my knowledge. In some cultures, the arrow is place on a rest rather than the top of the hand, however it is always on the left side (for the right handed archer). A neophyte may encircle the arrow with his forefinger, but a few shots will be more than enough to discourage him from continuing the practice. I actually tried shooting an arrow as he recommended, and while it may be possible to attain some degree of proficiency with this method after much practice, it would always be inferior to the proper method.
The author describes sinew as a "smooth animal muscle". Sinew is a tendon, with vastly different properties than muscle tissue.
Many Plains Indian arrows are grooved along the length. The author, having examined them, came to the "conclusion that the grooves served a religious purpose". Their actual function is to keep the arrow shaft straight.
These errors are just a few examples of the sloppy scholarship that pervades this volume; there are many, many more.
I am not able to read the cultural portions of the book critically, however, I suspect that these segments show the same sloppy scholarship as the biological and archery references. I would caution the reader not to take anything in this work at face value, but would recommend that the reader check with more scholarly works for verifiable information. In summary, the entertainment value of this book may be high for the casual reader, but the reader that is trying to learn something factual and accurate about the Plains Indians would be better off with a professionally researched and written text.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent book on plains indian live!
Comment: One of the most complete books I have read about the every day life of the Plains Indians. It share every aspect of the day to day life and how religion, art and cuture intertwine to make up the social strucure of a complece and sucsesful society.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent overview of the plains tribes.
Comment: Excellent source of information on plains indians culture and technology. Illustrations are beautiful and informative.
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Title: Dog Soldier Societies of the Plains by Thomas E. Mails ISBN: 1569246734 Publisher: Marlowe & Company Pub. Date: 15 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Sundancing: The Great Sioux Piercing Ceremony by Thomas E. Mails, Mails ISBN: 1571780629 Publisher: Council Oak Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
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Title: Dog soldiers, bear men, and buffalo women;: A study of the societies and cults of the Plains Indians by Thomas E Mails ISBN: 013217216X Publisher: Prentice-Hall Pub. Date: 1973 |
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