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Treuer tackles a complex and difficult subject, but he does so without weighing the reader down with the history.

While the book focuses on the century-and-a-quarter after Wounded Knee, it's impossible to discuss any history or event without talking about the events and cultural currents leading up to it. Treuer spreads that history throughout, while still providing an overall narrative arc that moves forward from Wounded Knee to the present. Each chapter is also structured around an in-depth conversation between Treuer and someone in the Native American community, connecting the historical topic to some of its modern day consequences.

Treuer comes across as objective throughout, telling the good as well as the bad. It's a subject that's far more complex and layered than I had imagined. Like any good work of nonfiction, after reading it, I simultaneously feel that I know considerably more about the subject than when I started, and that I'm far less educated on it than I would have imagined possible.

He also does an excellent job inspiring further reflection and thought in the reader, not just about the specific focus of the book. Whether it was intentional or not, throughout the book, I found myself wondering what lessons could be learned from this facet of our past history and culture as Americans, and what steps we ought to take as a result, not just to attempt to address the sins of our past and present, but to attempt to build a better future for all of us, together.

This was a fascinating read. Solnit's style of prose allows her to be both guide and companion through a subject that's far more deep than one might expect. Many different facets of the subject are entangled with each other, but a book has to be laid out linearly (not unlike a walk). Solnit manages to deliberately defer discussion of some subjects until later, while also reaching back to things covered in previous chapters to make connections that wouldn't have been possible earlier.

The book was written a quarter of a century ago, so many of the elements she discusses are very prescient, while in others it's almost like people heeded her warnings or concerns and took action (Paris in particular). Walking is such a fundamental human experience, but it's one we consider far too little. This is an important read in that respect.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, but not quick, read.