Nichols, Roger L. American Indians in U.S. history

Kliatt, July, 2004 by Patricia Moore

NICHOLS, Roger L. American Indians in U.S. history. Univ. of Oklahoma Press. 242p. illus. maps. bibliog. index, c2003. 0-8061-3578-6. $17.95. JSA

Roger Nichols is a professor at the University of Arizona and a specialist and author in the field of the history of American Indians. This survey, a volume in the Civilization of the American Indian Series from the University of Oklahoma. accomplishes exactly the intention of the author, to "present a broad outline of Indian experiences throughout American history."

Nichols writes smoothly and manages to avoid overwhelming the reader with facts, statistics, or academic vocabulary. In chapters that average 25 to 30 pages in length, he maps out his material by time frame ("Living with Strangers, 1700-1783"; "The Struggle for the West, 1840-1890"). He also provides a chronology of important events, some pictures and maps, and suggestions for further reading after every chapter. The book can therefore be easily used as a whole or as supplemental reading of selected chapters. This is a useful addition to the reading list of every American history class. Patricia Moore, Brookline, MA