Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo

by Dayton Duncan, Ken Burns

The epic story of the buffalo in America, from prehistoric times to today—a moving and beautifully illustrated work of natural history inspired by the PBS series "American Buffalo"

The American buffalo—our nation’s official mammal—is an improbable, shaggy beast that has found itself at the center of many of our most mythic and sometimes heartbreaking tales. The largest land animals in the Western Hemisphere, they are survivors of a mass extinction that erased ancient species that were even larger. For nearly 10,000 years, they evolved alongside Native people who weaved them into every aspect of daily life; relied on them for food, clothing, and shelter; and revered them as equals.

Newcomers to the continent found the buffalo fascinating at first, but in time they came to consider them a hindrance to a young nation’s expansion. And in the space of only a decade, they were slaughtered by the millions for their hides, with their carcasses left to rot on the prairies. Then, teetering on the brink of disappearing from the face of the earth, they would be rescued by a motley collection of Americans, each of them driven by different—and sometimes competing—impulses. This is the rich and complicated story of a young republic's heedless rush to conquer a continent, but also of the dawn of the conservation era—a story of America at its very best and worst.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Animals, Nature, Science, American History, Historical

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2023

Reviews

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down!!! I was genuinely moved to tears from the way indigenous people spoke about buffalo. It feels so far fetched in this 2025 capitalist hellscape that at one point this land was solely people who didn’t domesticate or commodify their resources, but instead treated them with respect and gratitude. At one point the author quoted someone explaining something like the reason buffalo didn’t destroy their structures or attack their horses like they did to white expansionists was that they love the buffalo and the buffalo loves them back. Of course that’s a gross oversimplification of the symbiotic and spiritual relationship they had, but that specific quote got me. The American buffalo will win Miss America every year in my heart <3
It’s pretty classic…the buffalo was considered the ultimate American symbol (bald eagle flop!) and they still slaughtered them senselessly—just to aid their genocide and financial gains. Near extinction in like 5 minutes after thriving for tens of thousands of years with native americans…don’t piss me off.

[Eliot DeLorme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw a buffalo as a boy in Yellowstone and have been enchanted by them ever since. I bought a wood carved buffalo figure on that trip and I have it still today (although my kids broke its legs off.)

This book tells the story of the near extinction and revival of our nation’s most iconic and majestic animal, the bison, or American Buffalo. It is a companion to The American Buffalo documentary that Ken Burns just put out. There are so many things to be learned from the buffalo, indigenous peoples, and the stories of greed, consumerism, and conservation. The paintings and pictures in here are excellent. And there is full bibliography in the back for further reading.

This is ultimately a story of the odd defying resilience of the American buffalo and the native Americans that love(d) them. Go into the storm.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you have to destroy the things you love?

George Horse Capture Jr. quoted in Blood Memory
When I was a girl in the 50s the Indian head nickel (1913-1938) with the buffalo on the back was still circulating. The model for the buffalo was caged in New York City’s Central Park Menagerie. His name was Black Diamond. No one wanted his care, and he slaughtered for meat.

In a nutshell, Black Diamond’s story reflects the story of America’s interaction with the buffalo: holding them as iconic and representational of America while slaughtering them for profit.

Millions of these beasts were killed in a few decades for quick money and the thrill of killing. Europeans thought in terms of profit and money, not sustainability. The Native Americans knew the value of the buffalo. Today we understand the prairie ecosystem and the buffalo’s central role in it. But did we really learn anything? We still take and use and destroy and then grouse when it’s gone.

From the start there were a few who wanted to protect and preserve the buffalo. Some tried to interbreed them with cattle. Small herds were kept on ranches. One man gave a buffalo to the natives so they could have their Sun Dance. But mostly, people came from far and near to kill them. Some took the hides which were a hot commodity for a while. Some just wanted to kill a huge animal. Some wanted to replace them with cattle, some wanted to destroy the native way of life so they would become farmers.

And then they were gone, but for a few. People banded together and created a society and preserves. The buffalo have survived, but diminished, no longer roaming across the wide prairies.

This companion book to Ken Burn’s documentary series “Blood Memory” includes 217 color photographs. Drayton Duncan’s text is heartfelt and informative, damning and hopeful. If you loved the series, read it. (I read it first, and plan now to watch the series.) Put it on your list for Christmas giving.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

People–nations–can make grievous mistakes. They’re also capable of learning from those mistakes, of acknowledging them and then deciding to fo in a different direction.

Dayton Duncan in Blood Memory

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ken Burns is part of a project you just know it's gonna be good. Blood Memory is superb! The story of the American bison - buffalo- is recounted with astounding facts but facts full of passion! The entwining of the native American with the fate of the Buffalo is clearly made. It is as much a story of the mindset of the people who all make up the whole of the American people. In the last brink before extinction, the very people who emptied the plains of the last wild herds, for widely various motivations,moved to try to save the lonely last specimens. This book is packed with glorious art and photos and maps that richly enhance the text. I just cannot say enough about this wonderful book. It teaches with clarity, compassion,understanding and great impact. It is history,conservation,characters and hope all merged into one.

[Humayra Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I’ve read a history book but every time I do, I am reminded of how much I love them. I particularly love natural history but Burns does what he does best- tell a story from all perspectives, include how it affected the people of the region and weave in a story within a story (in this case one of the American Buffalo.) While I already love animals, I have a newfound appreciation for the species and a newfound desire to visit Montana as soon as possible. Will definitely be reading more from these authors in the future.

[Luke Mohamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great topic, but too similar to the documentary. Watch or read, not both.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about American history, westward expansion, and the near extinction and conservation of the Bison. I really enjoyed the frequent quotes and excerpts from historical sources and figures.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book, but much of it is reprint from the series The West. It does go more into the spiritual aspects of the buffalo to the Native Americans.

[Kristi Thielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns is a companion to the Burns’ documentary on the American Buffalo; since I have not seen the documentary, I do not know how closely the book hews to the film version but assume it would be equally as enjoyable to those readers who have seen the documentary as those who have not.

I have read a number of books in this subject and live in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Some of the people quoted in the book are either familiar to me from their work or familiar to me personally but this did not decrease my interest in the work.

The authors have ably captured the remarkable saga of this magnificent animal, from its origins to its place in the lives of Native people, to its destruction by white America as a means of marginalizing Indian cultures, to its improbably return as people of all colors recognized its worth.

The story is but one example of our culture doing an about-face in the span of little more than a century. It made me wonder how we will feel about our current care/non-care of wildlife a century from now.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quotes in this are actual gold. But one soars above all, capturing the madness of one of the biggest near extinction events of our age. It comes from George Horse Capture Jr:

You look at that old nickel, there's a buffalo. At one time, they almost wiped them to extinction. Why did the Euro-Americans put that buffalo on that nickel? Was it just a curiosity, or was it something that kind of meant something to them in an odd way?

So, in my confusion, and my need to understand, is: Do you have to destroy the things you love?

[Joel Connealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine history of the American buffalo, its relation to the Plains Indians’ way of life and culture, how the Bison was hunted nearly to extinction due to many factors, from simple greed to the wild ideas the Industrial Revolution instilled in people and a general lack of foresight.
The story of it being saved is the second half of the book, which is quite nice to read about. Interesting and informative book about such a quintessentially American animal.

[Kris Luyten · Rating 4 out of 5]

extinction of 10s of millions of buffalos in the West in a few decades (and previously all-over), and with it the (near-) extinction of the Indians.

not requested but tolerated and sometimes officially encouraged by the government, wanting to get rid of the "Indian problem".

[Lindsay Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget budgeting, why was I never taught THIS in school?

[Mickey Peercy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally reading again!

So much good and new to me info. A couple of impactful quotes:

Referring to the way Americans wiped out the bison in wanton disregard for the significant role in the greater ecosystem (though very intentional in wiping them out to prohibit native reliance on them):
“This is one of the black marks, really, on the whole American historical story. It’s a world that doesn’t even last eight more decades after Lewis and Clark see it.”

Discussing the buffalo nickle and the fact that the model bull used was from a Bronx Zoo and eventually sold to a butcher:
“But it stands to us now like this distinctly American, enduring symbol, and it opens up this idea of just how conflicted the symbol is. We look at it and we see a symbol of wilderness and a symbol of the wanton destruction of wilderness. We look at it and see freedom and American prosperity. And we look at it and see the ravages of capitalism. Whether [the artist] knew it or not he hit the nail on the head in terms of a long-term, lasting idea that we would look at and be puzzled by it”

[Ryan Dufour · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really long read for me. When I bought the book I didn’t realize it was the novelization of the documentary he made for PBS.

I should’ve watched that as the tangents and side quests this book takes you on aren’t quite as compelling written out.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the documentary, The American Buffalo, by Ken Burns which I, admittedly, have yet to see, Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Ressurection of the American Buffalo is no mere film novelization. While it may owe a debt, or at least its existence, to Burns’s two-part series, Dayton Duncan’s extraordinary work stands firmly on its own. Rare is the book that brings tears in both halves of the story: the first half, in which Euro-Americans bring the bison, who had roamed North America for more than 10,000 years, to near-extinction in less than a century, and the second half, in which, improbably, a variety of characters with varied and frequently less-than-noble motivations, bring the bison back from the brink.

The bison looms large in the American psyche, I think, because it represents the best and worst of our ideals. To a country that had scarcely ventured west of the Mississippi River, the bison was the American West: powerful, intelligent, swift, interconnected, expansive, untamed, free. But the West was also ripe for the plucking, and between unfettered capitalism and unbridled greed on the one hand and the intentional decimation of land, resources, and way of life for American Indians on the other, the bison (and other species) didn’t stand a chance. As we did to the bison, to the indigenous peoples, and to the land, so we did to ourselves. We see what we want and we take it—without forethought, without consideration, and, seemingly, without consequence.

In many ways, little has changed since the 1890s. America’s general point of view is one of resource extraction, of commodification, of capitalizing on what we can, as much as we can, now, and leave tomorrow to worry about tomorrow. We are slow to learn. Is it because we’re stupid? Lazy? Afraid? Yes to all those, and more, but we can, and are, learning. The ongoing restoration of the bison, of the prairie, of native communities, and of their inextricable interconnectedness, is demonstrable proof that we can learn from our mistakes. That we can, however haltingly, however painfully, however improbably, find our way to doing the right thing, not just for other beings, other land, or other people, but for ourselves, and that in doing the right thing we actually find our way back to ourselves.

I have stood amidst herds of American buffalo, in Custer State Park in South Dakota, and at Dunn Ranch Prairie in northern Missouri. It is an awesome sight and one I hope to experience many more times. They are an incomparable animal; there is nothing quite like them. There is nothing quite like America either (and I am not referring to oft-touted claims of exceptionalism), and it seems the story of one is the story of the other. The future for both are uncertain. What kind of future will they have? One of liberty or one of confinement? Will bison again realize the days when they can truly roam free, without fences? Will we?

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and well written book about the tragic history of both the American buffalo and native Americans. Very well researched with a LOT of information. Overwhelming sad for me though, hard to get through.

[Nandita Damaraju · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then, I like to pick up a book about something that feel worlds apart from the discourse of modern life. "Blood Memory" is one such book, that recounts the history the majestic American Bison in North America, an animal I had the privilege of encountering in the wild expanses of Yellowstone.

"Blood Memory" unfolds the tragic tale of the Bison's near-extinction in the 19th century, a time when an estimated 30 million bison roamed North America, only to be decimated to near oblivion for sport. For SPORT! I couldn't believe this actually happened! White men killed more than 10000 bison per person purely for "SPORT", leaving their carcasses to decay on the prairie grasslands for years. This dark chapter in history is not unique to the Bison but extends to other species like the foxes and grizzly bears, the latter being driven to extinction in California and so many other species. To pull a sad quote out from the book

"There is no story anywhere in world history that involves as large a destruction of wild animals as happened in North America, in the western United States in particular, between 1800 and about 1890. It is the largest destruction of animal life discoverable in modern world history."

I also noticed that the book mentions a lot of people, predominantly white men, who partook in this mass slaughter, some killing thousands single-handedly. Interestingly enough, the very few women that are mentioned in the book are mentioned in the context of conservation efforts. I wonder if we were living in a world with more gender equality, would we see such incredible destruction of ecological diversity?

Beyond the historical account, the final chapters of "Blood Memory" detail the Bison's modest (yet miraculous) resurgence in the early 20th century, reflecting on the precarious existence of the approximately 20,000 Bison that remain today, descendants of a few carefully conserved herds.

Reading this book brought up a lot of questions. In an age where technological advancements rapidly reshape our world, the concept of kinship with nature offers a grounding force, much like religion and spirituality did for native tribes and regions across the world, before the industrial revolution. I wonder if we can continue to cultivate this sense of kinship, without using religion or spirituality as instruments. I also feel a dissonance as I write this, living in California's Silicon Valley, a region synonymous with technological innovation and probably the highest per capital resource consumption in the world, which is in stark contrast to the principles of kinship and harmony with nature.

I recommend "Blood Memory" for its insightful exploration of the Bison's history and recovery and many poignant lessons in conservation and "kinship". However, to truly grasp the profound connection with these majestic creatures, I highly recommend seeing these Bison with your very own eyes.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns (Alfred A. Knopf 2023) (599.643) (3972).

This book tells the story of a shameful chapter from American history:

"There is no story anywhere in modern history that involves as large a destruction of wild animals as happened in North America in the western United States.”- Historian Dan Flores, Blood Memory (p.xii-xiii).

White European settlers (my own ancestors) extirpated the bison from North American based upon this premise:

“Let's get rid of the buffalo so my cows can run free. My cows. Not this, what’s free for the taking of all of us. But “my” so I can make money. And it’s odd to get rid of something that everybody could enjoy just for the “my,” the ownership of livestock…It seemed like a lack of ability to enjoy what the Creator made.”- George Horse Capture Jr., Blood Memory (p xv).

Before the arrival of White European settlers, “The sun made the grass grow. The bison ate the grass. Native people ate the bison - and understood the larger interconnection of it all.” (p.15).

Most estimates figure that native people needed six bison per person per year for subsistence purposes. (p. 18).

How little regard did White Americans feel for the American bison after the buffalo had disappeared? Well, The US Mint introduced the “buffalo nickel” in 1913 to commemorate the bison. The coin was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. One side featured a profile of an American Indian. The other side showed an American buffalo modeled after a bison Fraser saw in New York’s Central Park Menagerie. “We know its name; it was called Black Diamond, and it lived in a cage.” Eventually the animal had no one who wanted to take care of it. Thus for want of care or concern, the bison that served as the model for the iconic image on the buffalo nickel was sold to a butcher and processor in the meatpacking district. (p. 234).

This same national shortsightedness remains a danger to the American way of life in the twenty-first century as evidenced by the fact that American voters elected an anarchist-felon in the 2016 US Presidential election. One must hope that US democracy can hang on like the bison instead of like the Dodo.

My rating: 7/10, finished 7/26/24 (3972).

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Read Library Copy*
First off, glossy pages had me losing my mind at the satisfaction of turning each page. This was not dense or boring. I found myself wanted to sprint to the next chapter, though I have a pretty good knowledge of the subject. The beginning is littered with facts about bison that showcase what an amazing animal it is, then sprinkles them continuously throughout the book to keep the more attention challenged among us going.
Even the basic knowledge people have in this country of the story of the bison is a long, sad story of exploitation, genocide, and the eradication of so much of the natural world in North America. The author made you feel for the animal itself first, then the connection they had to Native Americans, then the symbol they represented to this land that had all existed long before their attackers.
I picked this up because bison are one of my niche interests, along with passenger pigeons which also got a mention in this book. I knew going into this that I was going to be sad and angry in equal measure to the interest I had in the subject matter. That suspicion turned out to be correct. Usually, I don't read non-fiction that gets me angry and upset with nothing to do about it. I can't send a strongly worded letter to the hunters of old, I can't kick Wild Bill or Teddy Roosevelt in the balls, and I can't scream at the federal government generations removed from this. I'm left with all this rage while sitting on my reading chair and nowhere to channel it. That's why I usually don't read books on subjects that stir up my sense of injustice and unfairness. However, the last portion of the book speaks of a light at the end of the tunnel. Caring individuals are working tirelessly to make sure that these fascinating animals do not fall into memory, and indeed slowly work to see them thrive.
I wanted to read this the moment I saw it at the bookstore, and I'm so glad I did. I'll be buying it un order to stamp and annotate.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delves into the historical significance of the bison in America, unraveling a narrative that goes beyond mere wildlife chronicles. Duncan and Burns intricately explore the pivotal role that bison played in shaping the cultural and ecological tapestry of the continent. From the symbiotic relationship between Native American communities and these majestic creatures to the devastating impact of their near-extinction, the book paints a vivid picture of the intertwined destinies of humans and bison.

The authors skillfully navigate through epochs, detailing the era when vast herds of bison roamed freely across the plains, serving as a lifeline for indigenous communities. However, the book doesn't shy away from confronting the darker chapters of history, addressing the ruthless exploitation and near eradication of bison during westward expansion and the impact on both the ecosystem and Native American ways of life.

The meticulous research and storytelling prowess of Duncan and Burns create a narrative that not only educates but also evokes a profound emotional connection to the plight of the bison. By placing these magnificent creatures at the heart of the American story, "Blood Memory" transforms into a powerful testament to the interconnectedness of nature, culture, and history. This unique focus on the bison adds a layer of depth and richness, making the book an essential read for those seeking a holistic understanding of America's past. Five stars for this enlightening and poignant exploration.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“there’s a story of greed. and, unfortunately, that’s a human factor, a human emotion that we still have — the greed in trying to take the environment away to make more money. there’s a lesson to be learned in that we cannot, as human beings, afford to do that to our relatives, the animals. those are our relatives. they are part of us. and when you look at a buffalo, you don’t see a big shaggy beast standing there. you see life. you see existence. you see hope. you see prayer. and you see the future for young ones, the future for those not yet born.”

i have had this book on my tbr for about a year now and since it was recently acquired by my local library i decided to read it. safe to say, i will be buying my own copy so that i can properly annotate it and it can become part of my personal library. i think often it is hard to see the scale at which colonization damages not only people but the environment as a whole. with their made up idea of manifest destiny, white people began to take over this land, as if that made them rulers over everyone and everything. blood memory tells only a portion of the devastation that occurred during the mass murder (genocide) (which is ongoing to this day) of indigenous people. it’s devastating to see the same way white people viewed indigenous people as worthless is how they viewed the buffalo that indigenous people loved, respected, and which kept them fed and warm. absolutely without a doubt a must read.

[skip thurnauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buffalo are the largest land animals in the Western Hemisphere. “For more than ten thousand years, they evolved alongside native people who relied on them for food and shelter.” They are incredible animals, fully grown nearly a ton and 6 feet at the shoulder, agile, able to turn on a dime and nearly as fast as a race horse. They can jump 6 foot fences. “It’s like a souped-up hot rod of an animal, hiding in a minivan shell.” When Lewis and Clark crossed the plains buffalo counted in the millions and covered the horizon. Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns tell the story of the near extinction of the buffalo in just a couple hundred years. There were many reasons for the buffalo’s near demise - economic, cultural, and political. The second half of Blood Memory is about the efforts of several Americans to preserve the species. Because of their work, the American buffalo was saved. They no longer freely roam the plains, but they are growing in number and are protected in many habitats, coincidentally one such preserve is just a couple miles from my house. Having read Blood Memory, I can’t wait to see the Ken Burns documentary.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having seen buffalo on our road trip to Yellowstone National Park I've been quite fascinated by the largest North American mammal. We were surrounded by a herd while driving thru Custer State Park in ND and were awestruck by their size and majesty.

This book is a tough read but hopeful that past mistakes can be fixed and righted. The buffalo are inexorably linked to Native Americans and followed the same path and nearly exterminated by white Americans in the drive west and the desire to tame the wilds. Vivid descriptions of the size of the herds 200 years ago during the Lewis and Clarke expedition and their near extinction not even 100 years later is hard to understand and is almost like the expression of boiling a frog and not knowing the situation you're in until it's too late. Believing the buffalo to be too numerous to ever be in danger of extinction, coupled with greed, opportunism, racism and many other factors almost killed them off. Luckily different groups of people made it a goal to not let that happen.

[Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When you look at buffalo, you just don't see a big shaggy beast standing there. You see life. You see existence. You see hope. You see prayer. And you see the future for your young ones, the future for those not born yet."

Prior to reading this, I had a surface understanding of the American Buffalo: they were important to many Indigenous tribes and the white people who had immigrated here killed them off in an attempt to starve the Natives.

In a sense, I was informed, but I wasn't deeply informed. This book took me through a long and arduous journey of the Indigenous People's connection to the bison and how they were almost hunted to extinction. I learned of the motivations of these hide hunters (whether good or bad). I was brought to tears several times because of how heart-wrenching it was to learn of the fate of the buffalo and the people who depended on them.

If you're curious about learning more about the American Buffalo and their story, I highly suggest reading this with an open mind and an open heart.

[Brian Stuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was taught growing up about the brutal treatment of the native Americans, and I also knew about the near extinction of the American Bison. What I did not know was how intimately the two events were tied together by the U.S. government.

This book is a depressing journey recounting man's destructive nature, and how we shape the environment of everything we touch. The slaughter of the bison is just one example, a pattern that goes back in history to the Woolly Mammoth, the Giant Sloth, and thousands of other species that man has removed from the planet.

The book is not total darkness. The hope that is provided by a few souls who fought the tide is recounted. It presents a glimmer of hope at the end, at least for the Bison, as the author recounts how tribes all across the U.S. are creating herds of Bison to live on their land, slightly reversing the destruction of both man and beast.

Beautifully written and illustrated with gorgeous photos, this book is a must read for anyone interested in the less-known impacts of man's "go West" mentality.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very best book I have ever read. A saga on the lives of two very important figures in our American Heritage, The American Buffalo and our beloved Native Americans. It is a tale that pulls a reader into the senseless mistreatment of both species for the capitalistic dollar. Destroy the earth inhabitants you destroy our earth. American's have a conflicted relationship to the land and the natural world.

Marcia Pablo summed it up so eloquently saying, "We're still destroying species. Why is it so important to devastate the environment and the habitat these creatures need? It's usually because a dollar is more important than the life of a species. She's all we have, is this Earth, we destroy that, we're destroying ourselves". Her father, Michel Pablo had a huge hand in saving The American Buffalo by herding countless numbers to Canada 🇨🇦 because of the inefficient policies of the American government.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's call it a Good Read.

I think I learned more about the American Buffalo history and story in this read than I have in my life. I also think I'm pretty much fully informed on the subject.

Authored by a reporter and by perhaps the leading US Documentarian, Blood Memory reads like you'd expect: a paper version of 2 hours watching PBS. If you read it while imagining Peter Coyote or Kevin Costner's voice, your experience is complete.

All that being said, it's what you'd expect from a work like this by these authors: it's a narrative of a documentary. That's not a negative, it's an observation. Blood Memory provides a good historical narrative, while also weaving in the biographical nuggets of the key players in the Buffalo's drama.

If you have a bent towards US History, the western expansion story, and/or the Native American story, it's an excellent read. If not, still a solid knowledge resource delivered in an interesting, engrossing and easy read.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consistent with other works by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, the book and documentary are a skilled storytelling with many voices and photos. The book’s physical structure adds to the quality. The substance covers a part of history well and unlike some of its source materials it endeavors to include Native Americans perspectives. The afterword is heartfelt and shows Dayton Duncan’s personal connection to the work. There are additional stories they could have included and it would be great if they could have covered more of the efforts to reintroduce bison. The tendency in this area is to focus on the past and that is important. It just doesn’t leave the reader, who becomes convinced they should do more for bison and nature, any guidance on how they can help going forward. It is an introduction to several important topics and is a beautiful work.

[David Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt , one of the best books I have read in the past year. The entire history of the bison from 1800 to 1900. The indigenous natives of the US Plains and the white men who cared little about the bison except for their value in commerce were at opposing attitudes as to the likelihood that the animal would make through that century. Only toward the end of the 1800s did some leading politicians and citizens think that maybe we could allow the bison a chance to regrow their population. Everything was sold during these decades: buffalo heads, pets to show in cowboy shows, the bones laying from the killings, the robes from the entire bison skin, the skin itself used to make shoes mostly for wealthy Europeans.
A shameful blot on American history....