Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History

by Linford D. Fisher, Kaipo Schwab (Narrator)

Although the first enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown in 1619, European slavery in America began more than a century before. In a work distinguished not only by its original research but by its “passionate prose” (James F. Brooks), historian Linford Fisher demonstrates how the enslavement of Indigenous people began in the years just after 1492, ensnaring an estimated three to six million Natives throughout the Americas. Although largely erased from the public consciousness, Native enslavement continued for centuries to become a colossal phenomenon that affected nearly 600,000 Native Americans in North America alone, revealing the shocking truth that American colonizers enslaved Natives in roughly the same numbers as they imported enslaved Africans. From Virginia to California, from New England to Barbados, Stealing America traces the history of Indigenous enslavement and land dispossession, detailing how colonizers captured Natives and often deliberately mislabeled them as Black slaves to avoid detection. While the American Revolution pealed the bells of freedom for colonists, it paved a larcenous trail of westward expansion that subsequently plundered Indigenous land and stole the labor of Natives from nations like the Cherokee, Navajo, Nisean, and many others. “This double theft,” Fisher writes, “was central to the origins, growth, and eventual success of the English colonies and the United States—not just initially but throughout all of American history.”
Nearly fifteen years in the making, this magisterial volume not only uncovers a five-century genocidal history but also illuminates the myriad ways Native Americans have fought for their sovereignty and maintained community. Stealing America emerges as a saga of both persistent colonialism and Indigenous resilience, one that reframes American history at its core.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American, American History, Audiobook, Indigenous

Audible Audio

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Professor Fisher grew up in the rolling hills of southeastern Pennsylvania. He received his doctorate from Harvard University in 2008 and joined the Department of History at Brown in the summer of 2009. Professor Fisher's research and teaching relate primarily to the cultural and religious history of colonial America and the Atlantic world, including Native Americans, religion, material culture, and Indian and African slavery and servitude. He is the author of The Indian Great Awakening: Religion and the Shaping of Native Cultures in Early America and co-author of Decoding Roger Williams: The Lost Essay of Rhode Island's Founding Father. Additionally, he has authored over a dozen articles and book chapters. He is currently finishing a history of Native American enslavement in the English colonies and the United States between Columbus and the American Civil War, tentatively titled America Enslaved: The Rise and Fall of Indian Slavery in the English Atlantic and the United States. He is also the principal investigator of the Database of Indigenous Slavery in the Americas project, which seeks to create a public, centralized database of Native slavery throughout the Americas and across time.

Reviews

[Jamilah | Apothecary Tales Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linford Fisher’s Stealing America is a deeply researched and essential work of history. The level of detail is extraordinary, and Fisher brings long‑obscured truths to the surface with clarity and care. He exposes the violence, enslavement, and land theft that shaped the early American colonies and the United States, reminding readers that “the financial strength and geographical spread of the American colonies and the United States emerged from stolen land and enslaved labor. Native Americans were forced to provide both.”

What could have felt like a dense academic text instead becomes personal and grounded through Fisher’s conversations, ceremonies, and interviews with present‑day descendants of enslaved Indigenous peoples. These voices keep the narrative human and emotionally resonant.

One of the most impactful aspects of the book is Fisher’s insistence on rejecting a zero‑sum approach to historical trauma. He emphasizes that acknowledging Native enslavement does not diminish the enormity of Black enslavement; instead, these histories are intertwined within a “broader, layered, and multidirectional trauma” that touches Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Mexican Americans, refugees, immigrants, and other marginalized communities.

My one gentle critique is the length. This is a substantial, immersive read, and readers should be prepared to commit time and focus to fully absorb it. The depth is valuable, but it does make the book feel long in places.

Still, I learned so much, and I appreciate Fisher’s insistence that the resilience of communities harmed by colonialism deserves to be told and understood. Anyone interested in American history, Indigenous studies, or understanding the roots of today’s social tensions will find this work indispensable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for my honest review.

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ A Valuable but Heavy Read on Native American History

I received an advance copy of Stealing America by Linford D. Fisher from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book immediately stood out to me because it focuses on a part of American history that is often overlooked, particularly the issue of Native American slavery and land dispossession. As someone who enjoys history, I was interested in learning more about this subject, and the book makes it clear from the beginning that it is grounded in serious research. The author draws on a wide range of historical evidence to build the argument, which gives the work both credibility and depth.

The strength of the book lies in its scope and the level of detail provided. It covers a long period of time and offers a thorough examination of how systems of power and control developed and were maintained. The themes are clearly presented and consistently reinforced throughout. The conclusion is especially strong, as the author reflects on the material and provides practical suggestions for how readers can continue learning and support Native communities. That final section adds an important dimension to the book and helps connect the history to the present.

At the same time, the book is a demanding read. The level of detail, combined with the long time span it covers, makes it quite dense. There are sections where the pacing slows, and it can be difficult to stay engaged over extended periods. The writing leans toward an academic style, which may not be accessible for all readers. Even with these challenges, this remains a valuable and informative work. It is best suited for readers who are comfortable with dense historical writing and who want to gain a deeper understanding of Native American history, though others may find it harder to read consistently.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Linford D. Fisher, W. W. Norton Company, and rb Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#StealingAmerica #NetGalley

[Bob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Half true, non-inclusive hypocrisy: excludes Indian slave masters before / after Europeans arrived

This book is loaded with hypocrisy, promotes exclusion – isn’t “inclusive,” has non-inclusive innuendo against America, and frequently censors out non-“white” owners of slaves. There’s a lot Linford doesn’t mention, or chooses to bypass, while denouncing Europe and America; a lot of half-truths, or doesn’t tell you the other side of the story. One is heavily criticized and still held accountable presently, while the other is occasionally mentioned and then appears to be excused. It also makes inaccurate historical statements: “.. historian Linford Fisher demonstrates how the enslavement of Indigenous people began in the years just after 1492 … largely erased from the public consciousness ..” (front inside flap; cf. page 5). “Although largely erased from public consciousness, Indigenous enslavement was a colossal phenomenon that spanned the entire Americas .. between 1492 and 1880 from Canada to Brazil” (page 4). In this book, the misleading idea is implied, inferred, or promoted that only Europeans / Americans were slave owners and land stealers. For those familiar enough with the subject, it may almost sound to you as if he is referring to Indian masters in the above, but those are bypassed a lot in the book for some reason (be inclusive!). “British and French traders obtained Indian slaves by tapping into existing indigenous practices of raiding and captive taking. Choctaws and Chickasaws had long seized male and female captives during wartime … Like other Native peoples, such as the Cherokees, Choctaws and Chickasaws usually put male captives to death after a period of ritualized torture” ( - Black Slaves, Indian Masters, 2013 University of North Carolina Press, pages 18-19; by Barbara Krauthamer, Ph.D.). And, later: “.. the slave trade escalated the scale of violence to unprecedented levels. The Chickasaws and several other slavers – the Creeks, Yamasees, Westos, and Savannahs – virtually destroyed dozens of tribes ..” ( - Slavery in Indian Country, 2010 Harvard University Press, page 68; by Christina Snyder, Ph.D. in History, University of North Carolina).

The book’s content and inference feeds or fits well with the popular, modern misconception, drenched in hypocrisy. In standard, political “correctness” nonsense form, Linford Fisher’s book gives the false impression that slavery is to be blamed only on the “white” man (by the way, I’m anti-race; Linford appears to agree that race is an invented construct on pages 10-11, “racial terms imposed by whites,” but then continues to use it). Generally, only the white man is presented in the book as practicing slavery and conquest; only the “white” man owned slaves. That’s not being “inclusive,” though. Page 8 further reads, “.. the people of these regions as well as their lands, … European arrival signaled the beginning of the theft of both. White colonists .. played a central role in these developments.” And, “The story of Native American enslavement and dispossession begins with the Spanish invasion ..” (page 12). Actually, Indians enslaved other Indians long before the Europeans arrived, and conquered each other’s land pre-Europe, and that is “largely erased from the public consciousness,” as well. That part is also mostly censored out of his book – so, he continues to erase, too. The back inside flap says he lives in Rhode Island, USA, so why doesn’t Linford leave North America and return the land he “stole” from the Indians? Why does he continue to stay on “stolen land”? You first, Linford! Sometimes Indian masters are mentioned (sample pages 22-3, 134-5, 137, etc), but it doesn’t get paraded around like the white man does in the rest of the book. Be inclusive! “.. Americans … it may be that they have so successfully erased this history of stealing that they never knew it fully in the first place” (pages 8-9). He exempts or greatly reduces/erases Indian participation in that stealing for some reason. And, he does not address the glaring enigma: Should Indians return the land back to the other Indians they stole it from? Should Indians give reparations to the other Indians they enslaved? Why does Linford keep excluding Indians? Why is only the “white” man required to return/repay it? Indians also enslaved Africans and “whites” – more reparations? “Native Americans .. have not forgotten this long history of injustices … Indigenous leaders have reminded the English and Americans of the wrongs they have perpetrated” (page 419). (In case you missed it above, he blames Spain invading native land, which would include what is now called Mexico. But he only screams about Americans presently on Indian land. Why doesn’t he emphasize Mexico as “stolen land,” too? Mexico was “taken” before America. I’m sure the people of Mexico/Spain would be more than glad to return Mexico to the natives, as well.)

So, he declares enslavement of Indians began with Spain invading. However, Snyder notes with pre-Europe natives: “Captivity and its most exploited form – slavery – was indigenous to North America … This history of Southern Indians and their captives begins during the pre-Columbian era, when rival chiefs vying for power went to war and took prisoners, exploiting these conquered enemies to enhance the power of their own ruling lineages … Captives usually arrived in Native communities as prisoners of war or as chattel via trade … Deeply rooted in Native history, slavery was already present when the first Europeans and Africans arrived in the sixteenth century. During the colonial era, slaves in Indian communities included individuals of Native, European, and African descent. Not until the late eighteenth century did Southern Indians begin to graft ideas about race onto their preexisting captivity practices … Slavery is not peculiar, nor is the fact that Native Americans practiced it … Participating in captivity as both victims and masters, .. Native slaveholders brought the plantation economy and black slavery to the interior South … For at least several hundred years .. exploitation and commodification of conquered enemies was nothing new in Native North America” ( - Slavery in Indian Country, 2010 Harvard University Press, pages 4-6, 8-9, 58; by Christina Snyder, Ph.D.).

And, “Colonization and the encroachment of the trans-Atlantic economy did not bring inequality to North America. By the time Europeans arrived in the sixteenth century, many Native Americans already lived in hierarchical societies governed by hereditary chiefs. At the bottom of these societies were captives whom chiefs obtained through war or trade … Chiefs controlled captives, whom they worked, traded, adopted, humiliated, and killed – all to enhance the power of the ruling lineage. In the seventeenth century, .. Like the chiefs who came before them, captors commodified their enemies, and they seemingly held no moral qualms about selling these spoils to European allies … In the wake of the Yamasee War [1712] .. Indians continued to capture their enemies – who by this time included whites, blacks, and Indians – to fates ranging from death to adoption to enslavement” ( - Slavery in Indian Country, ibid., pages 246-7). Jeff also notes, “.. the simple, incontestable fact that Indians enslaved far more Indians than Europeans ever did. It is likely that far more Africans were enslaved by Indians in the New World, than Indians by Europeans. Next to no academics are brave enough to do research on important topics such as this for the simple reason that their colleagues do not want to hear the whole truth about Indigenous slavery. Partly in order to supply the huge markets for sacrificial victims, Mesoamerica was home to a huge and well-documented network of slave markets in the years prior to the Spanish conquest … Native Americans routinely enslaved one another .. before the Europeans arrived ..” ( - Not Stolen: The Truth About European Colonialism in the New World, 2023, pages 147-9; by Jeff Fynn-Paul, Ph.D.).

Linford mentions reading Allan Gallay’s book The Indian Slave Trade on page xi “about Native American slavery in the Carolinas,” perhaps making it sound like Indians were enslaved only by Europeans / Americans in that book. But, he strangely does not mention that Gallay’s book also points out Indians were enslaved by other Indians. Why isn’t Linford being “inclusive” with Indians? Indian masters were part of the Indian slave trade, too. Gallay writes, concerning pre-European arrival: “Europeans did not introduce slavery or the notion of slaves as laborers to the American South but were instead responsible for stimulating a vast trade in humans as commodities. Because of their previous history of raiding for captives, many southern Indians adapted to European slave trading practically overnight” ( - The Indian Slave Trade, 2002 Yale University Press, pages 28-9; by Allan Gallay, Ph.D.). And, Indians stole land: “In 1670, .. The Virginians offered trade goods to the Westo in exchange for captives. It made more sense to the Westo to devote their energy to enslaving Amerindians than to hunting … Instead of killing their enemies or intimidating them to flee, the Westo sold them to the English, which not only removed their foes but gained them something in return … land ..” (ibid., pages 40-1). Why didn’t Linford mention that? Is he hiding or erasing “this history of stealing”?

So, Linford makes it sound like only the white man owned slaves, which is misleading. But then, sometimes, as if to reverse course and contradict his previous statements, he suddenly points out slavery was present in America before the Europeans arrived, and they stole land (“expansions”). He also mentions African kingdoms enslaving Africans (does the 1619 Project know about this?). Yet, it doesn’t get as much attention; it’s not paraded around like the “white” man owning slaves is (that’s not being inclusive!). He writes: “The Indigenous slave trade was not entirely invented by the English, but they expanded it … Well before the arrival of English traders to Carolina [1670s], the Indigenous nations of the Southeast had engaged in cycles of raids and warfare that had their own cultural significance … Native war parties took captives for revenge, to replace loved ones, and to bolster their own populations” (page 137). “.. in the 1630s, the Miskitu chiefs, or headmen, soon came to favor the English over the Spanish … periodic raids against Spanish-allied Indians created a steady supply of enslaved Natives for British traders … In the 1730s and 1740s, the two Miskitu nations embarked on .. raiding expeditions .. on the northern shore of Panama. Most of the captives were sold to English merchants, but some of the Miskitu leaders retained a few slaves for their personal use. This was in keeping with much older Native practices of captive taking, enslavement, and adoption that predated the coming of Europeans” (pages 160-2, 166). “In many instances, Native wars and expansions prior to the coming of Europeans were attempts to control resources and create networks of tributaries or to keep rival enemy groups in subservient relationships. Kingdoms in sub-Saharan Africa, too, had traditions of captivity and servitude that reached deep into that continent’s long history. African kings and rulers buttressed their power through harnessing the labor and resources of people under their jurisdiction, including enslaved individuals … Captives from neighboring kingdoms could be utilized in a variety of ways, from family and household inclusion to hard agricultural and commodity labor … As Europeans began arriving, tribes and kingdoms tried to use European alliances and technology to their own advantage” (pages 22-3).

He eventually points out Indians committed brutal acts, instead of only the white man. See pages 146-8 for Tuscarora Indians burning a captive to death, and cutting babies out of colonial women and then “draped over tree branches.” Others note that, “.. the Taensa practice of human sacrifice, which horrified the French. When a Taensa chief died, many others were killed to accompany him to the afterlife as servants and companions … [when] the Taensa temple burned .. a ‘chief priest,’ stood by the fire, shouting, ‘Women bring your children and offer them to the Spirit as a sacrifice to appease him.’ Five infants were put into the flames. Three Frenchmen in the village stopped the Taensa from throwing in more” ( - The Indian Slave Trade, ibid., page 118). “To complete the elite man’s burial, Cahokians ceremonially executed fifty-three women between the ages of 20 and 25 and buried them alongside him” ( - Slavery in Indian Country, ibid., page 27).

Slavery in the Bible is mentioned a few times, and it may leave the false impression the Bible could be used to justify American slavery on pages 22, 67. But, and here’s another little known secret, ancient slaves were likely not against slavery, but had a general welcome of slavery (unthinkable today!) (-this is what the modern abolitionist mind does not understand). Ancient slave revolts were not attempting to abolish slavery. Glancy notes in her book, “No abolition movement existed in antiquity” ( - Slavery in Early Christianity, 2002 Oxford University Press, page 150; by Jennifer Glancy, Ph.D.; second edition 2024, page 223). That is the direction the Bible points to, as well. The problem ancients objected to was the misconduct of certain owners (1 Kg 12:4, 7, 10-11, 16a, 18). Israel had its own civil war over slavery in 1 Kings 12, started by the slaves, and they were not attempting to abolish slavery (notice the Exodus from Egypt did not call for abolition). Abolition seems to have been a more widespread issue starting with the later British and American times; appears to be around 1750 (I know, it took that long?!). “For the most part, slavery was not a moral issue to southern peoples of the late seventeenth century. Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans all understood enslavement as a legitimate fate for particular individuals or groups. All accepted that ‘others’ could or should have that status ..” ( - The Indian Slave Trade, ibid., page 8). The Bible was addressing an ancient culture where slavery was welcomed by slaves. The Bible can’t be used to impose or justify slavery on a culture where slaves were abolitionist / did not want slavery itself. So, to address before 1750, notice Mosaic law was for a Jewish theocracy (not America, etc) (Exodus 19:6; 34:27), and anyways it prohibited purposely abusing/maiming slaves or the slave was to be freed if it happened (Exo 21:26-7), which is rather different from American practice. Purposely killing a slave also carried the death penalty (Exo 21:20). Incoming runaway slaves were freed in Israel and not extradited (Deut. 23:15-6). Amos 1:6, 9 appears to be against mass enslavement. The church did not have civil laws, but enslaving is condemned in 1 Timothy 1:10 (likely refers to when a free person is abducted into slavery), abusing slaves is condemned, as well, in Ephesians 6:9. Manumission is encouraged in 1 Corinthians 7:21 (the Hebrew manuscript edition reads, “if you may be made free, rather do that”; see Hebrew Letter to Corinth 1-2, 2023 Sefer Press; co-translator/editor: Al Garza). And, Jesus seems to challenge the slaveholding mentality by ordering foot washing – the work of slaves – to His followers; essentially saying be slaves to one another (John 13:14-5; Mark 10:43-4). Apostle Paul mentions not holding one as a slave anymore but as a brother (Philemon 16). American slavery does not fit the Biblical picture. A case can be made that church history did not conform, either (cf. 1 Cor. 5:1).

The book also promotes blatant hypocrisy: “.. I and all non-Natives who benefit from the ongoing settler occupation of this country ..” (page xiii). “Indigenous people … rightful possessors of the land ..” (page 93). “A vast diversity of Indigenous peoples across the continent have found ways to negotiate and survive the waves of invading Europeans and Americans from 1492 to the present” (pages 4-5). So, Linford admits he is presently on land that is not his (ignoring the part about Indian masters stole land, too). But, one wonders if he has even reached out to Indians in an attempt to return their land that he occupies himself presently. Surely, Indians would be glad to reclaim their land he is presently on. On page 427, he promotes that we should “have land returned to them.” Shouldn’t Linford do what he promotes? If you’re going to play the “this land is your land” scenario, then why are you still here? Leave. Instead of just complaining you should do something about it and leave. Do your part and give back the land that you have “stolen.” The author bio shows he lives in Rhode Island (back inside flap), which he identifies as invaded on pages 42, 79, 114, 121-2. So, Linford himself keeps stealing America from the Indians presently – he doesn’t have the honesty or courage to leave North America. Why doesn’t the author remove himself from North America (etc) if he thinks it belongs to the Indians? No one is stopping him. Shouldn’t he return his house, car, clothing, and other property he stole from the Indians? You first, Linford! He complains and then he keeps stealing America from the Indians presently. He doesn’t live up to the message of his own book. His actions are saying, “Rules for thee, but not for me.”

Linford is also not “inclusive” with environmentalists. If you’re going to take the “they were here first” route, then the environmentalists will win. The land belongs to nature, so humans are not allowed on land (you can’t go in the water or air, either, because there are fish and birds living there, and microorganisms). The Indians stole the land from the plants and animals, insects and rocks, rivers and mountains, air and dirt, and microorganisms. Those things were here first, so the Indians should return what they stole from nature.

The 1619 Project is endorsed on page 446 #10, but it still seems to get pushed to the side (and again giving the false impression that only “whites” enslaved others-): “.. 1619 .. was only the start of African slavery in English North America; English colonists had been stealing and enslaving Native Americans from the time they first began exploring the lands that later became the United States … English colonists had been enslaving Native Americans for a half century by the time Virginia first received enslaved Africans in 1619” (pages 44, 49). (recommend rebuttal books: Debunking the 1619 Project, 2021-2, by Mary Grabar, Ph.D.; and The 1619 Project Myth, 2025, by Phillip Magness, Ph.D.).

Shortened review due to space limit.

[Jon Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tough subject that truth and details are criminally ignored in the education system.

It’s important to know as much truth and information possible for the birth of a country, no matter how horrible or devastating it is. Most nations have very very rough spots in their beginnings and borders. America is not innocent of it.

This and African slavery should be taught in a little more detail rather than it happened. People were sold. People were whipped. There’s a lot more to it. This book breaks it down with plenty of cited references. Great research.

In my opinion this should be mandatory in college. My kids will absolutely be reading this once in high school.

This book is 100% worth every penny it costs. I’ve already reached out to a few friends who are avid history readers and explained that this is a must have and must read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely fantastic, definitely one of my top history books so far this year. It was expansive, well-researched and completely riveting, as well as deeply harrowing. I found myself regularly pausing the audiobook to jot down facts in my ‘notes’ app, to make sure I wouldn’t forget key facts.

Using extensive documentary evidence, Fisher shows that trafficking and enslaving Indigenous Americans was commonplace throughout the now-US, and served a dual purpose: enslavers extracted labour for profit, while simultaneously destabilising and displacing local communities which freed up yet more land to exploit for profit. In this way, the enslavement of indigenous Americans was inextricably linked with colonisation - stealing land and stealing people were two sides of the same coin.

Using extensive documentary evidence, Fisher shows that trafficking and enslaving Indigenous Americans was commonplace throughout the now-US, and served a dual purpose: enslavers extracted labour for profit, while simultaneously destabilising and displacing local communities which freed up yet more land to exploit for profit. In this way, the enslavement of indigenous Americans was inextricably linked with colonisation - stealing land and stealing people were two sides of the same coin.

This slavery existed before it was legally permissible, and continued long after the enslavement of Indigenous Americans was banned. With the flick of a pen, enslavers would commit ‘documentary genocide’, falsifying records to list indigenous Americans as being a different ethnicity (commonly Black or Mixed Race). This practice has obscured the extent of the trafficking of Indigenous people.

In addition, the book examines how this slavery shifted over time and in different places: Indigenous Americans faced chattel slavery, being trafficked into chattel slavery after agreeing to an ostensibly fixed-term indenture contract, forcing tribes to stay and work on specific land following ethnic cleansing, debt peonage, and forcibly adopting indigenous people to perform unpaid household and other labour.

This book is incredibly important in uncovering another aspect of the slavery underpinning the modern US.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kimberley Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This is top tier historical research/overview, so well written! If you’re not familiar with the history of the indigenous experience in the Americas, this is a must read. If you’re familiar with indigenous history, there’s still lots of novel info and provoking perspective to keep you hooked.
I hope this book is adopted widely in educational classes. I equally recommend this for individuals seeking to educate themselves. You’ll get a broad based survey from the onset of colonial times to later 20th century. It’s largely expansive in scope but hefty enough to have plenty of clicked in descriptions so you get the bigger and smaller pictures of what was happening at key points in American history.
The author did a wonderful job of making the info accessible for all levels. I particularly appreciated the author’s note at the end which gave us suggestions on how to further educate ourselves and get involved as allies.
The narrator also did a wonderful job. I definitely recommend listening to this book. Go at your own pace and enjoy!
*Thanks to Dreamscape/RB media & Netgalley for the free advance copy

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely brutal to listen to, in the best way. i love history audiobooks, and this one was particularly hard-hitting because of how horribly repetitive the history itself is. i was horrified to realize i was only halfway through and we were only in the 1800s, going in chronological order. still so much more terrible actions to go.

there's a long history of genuinely awful things done to indigenous people under the guise of good intent, with layers of legislation meant not to protect but to preserve the way things were, as championed by people in power at the time. hearing about institutions like the american indian boarding schools and the indian student placement program had me asking why none of this was covered in any history class i ever attended.

what struck me most was the narrator's delivery - matter-of-fact, almost cheerful, while rattling off facts and figures that made me flinch. it was such an effective contrast. i also appreciated the sheer number of names mentioned throughout, what a way to humanize it.

a great resource for anyone wanting a reality check on how "the good old days" weren't so good for huge swaths of people.

[Chrystal Mahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very detailed and informative read that covers a part of history that is not often talked about. Stealing America really opens your eyes to the scale and impact of Indigenous enslavement, and it is clear a lot of research went into it.

I learned a lot from this book, and I appreciate the effort to bring attention to such an important topic. It definitely makes you think differently about early American history and the systems that shaped it.

That said, I listened to the audiobook version, and the narration felt a bit too monotone for me. With nonfiction especially, the pacing and tone can really affect how engaging it is, and I found myself struggling to stay focused at times.

Overall, it is a worthwhile read for the information alone, but I think it might be better experienced in print if you prefer something a bit more engaging in delivery.

[Geoff Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers an astonishing span of American history; the early chapters seek to excavate the largely forgotten history of Indigenous slavery during colonial America, while the later sections are, in many ways, even more haunting and compelling, surrounding Indigenous boarding schools and forced assimilation into the 20th century.

Fisher powerfully demonstrates how accounts of captivity and coerced labor connect across generations, part of a continuous system of dispossession. Stealing America is an ambitious undertaking, but it succeeds in what feels like a landmark first-of-it’s-kind work.
Essential for understanding the full scope of American history.

[Kelli Wilhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Linford D. Fisher and NetGalley for letting me read an ARC copy of Stealing America. When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew that I wanted to read it as soon as possible, and I was not let down. In my opinion this is a must read for everyone. It is full of research and information regarding the enslavement of Native Americans from the arrival of the first European to modern day. While it is full of research, Fisher makes it an accessible read that is easy to follow and process. I find myself continuing to think on what I learned and know that this is one that will stick with me for a long time. When this is released on April 28, I highly recommend that you go out and get a copy!

[Anniee Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the gifted copy.
Stealing America is a thought-provoking and eye-opening read that explores the complexities of early American history, particularly through the lens of Indigenous experiences and colonial encounters. Linford D. Fisher presents a well-researched narrative that challenges familiar perspectives and encourages deeper reflection. It’s informative, engaging, and an important contribution to understanding the past more fully.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5.0 stars)

Meticulously researched and detailed. This book is informative. The subject matter is disturbing, it should be shocking, but if your eyes are open, you can see that America wasn't built on the perseverance and grit of innovators and hard working entrepreneurs, but instead it was built on the back of stolen labor, on stolen land, and with stolen knowledge.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched and heartbreaking book about one of the most underacknowledged areas of U.S. history. 5 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.