Facing east from Indian country

Daniel Richter delivers an extremely well-researched, insightful look at an area that I've called home for my whole life. While other books do a better job at illuminating the indigenous perspective than this one, Richter is unequalled at bringing the direct source material into the text, explaining the background (such as in the format of Calvinist conversion speeches), and clearly stating where direct evidence doesn't exist. As such, it provides the most unfiltered look at this pivotal era that I've ever encountered.

This book hit me more emotionally than others on the topic because he spends a lot of time laying out the history of places where I spent my childhood - Philadelphia - and my adult life - greater Boston. Being confronted with the meaning of street names in Natick and the origins of a 1600s church that is on my normal run route was deeply meaningful to me. I think this would still be very interesting even if you don't have direct experience with those places, but on my run tomorrow I will be able to name specific people who walked there four centuries ago, the horrible injustices that created the spaces I now enjoy, and how I can repay and honor those communities that have now moved to other parts of the country. Highly recommend