Being a white male (although one who's interested in Native American literature) certainly influenced my reaction to this book. That said, I think it's invaluable reading--probably a "must read" for those really interested in the field of Native American studies. I found it extremely interesting and useful. I also found it unsettling and even offensive in places. In spite of attacking white culture for reducing everything to ethnocentric formulas (a point she illustrates very persuasively), Allen seems to me to do the same thing throughout the book. While criticizing white academics for robbing Native Americans of thier complexity as individuals, she tends to see every possible issue through a polarized perspective--Native American=Good, White culture=bad. Doesn't this, in fact, rob Native Americans of their complexity as individuals and lead to the very romanticizing that Allen objects to?

Still, as irritating as I find this reductive way of arguing, I have to admit that this is a very valuable book.

This white feminist found The Sacred Hoop eye-opening and mind-expanding. While I cannot presume to be able to truly understand tribal thinking, I nonetheless found the concepts and philosophies described here to be completely pertinent to my place in existence. I am struggling to realize my place in a multifaced, complex web-world and have never felt comfortable with the typical feminist need to stand out in the foreground. It is also very empowering to see that there have been many versions of woman-based cultures. Unlike those in Crete, for example, tribal cultures were fully functioning in North America less than 500 years ago! It is unfortunate (though not at all surprising, given the difficulty of writing about concepts in the language of the patriarchy) that this gospel of hope and renewal is not reaching many, many people--especially our young people in colleges and universities. Don't take this wrong, Paula Gunn Allen, but you go, girl!

As a young American Indian woman, reading PGA's book was like finding my own personal bible. Finally, someone who was telling me the same things about myself that my mother had taught me. Excellent chapters like "The Red Roots of White Feminism" and "When Strong Women Throw Down Bundles" are not to be missed. PGA your my shimasaani!

"Spider Woman's Granddaughters" is a collection of traditional and modern short stories concerning Native American women. With the exception of the traditional stories and myths, Indian women wrote all of the stories. This was just one text out of many assigned for a class I took on Native American religion. At first glance I really didn't think this book would be very interesting. Most of the stories looked so short in length that I couldn't imagine they could convey anything of value. I was wrong. Most of the stories here are powerful evocations of Indian spirituality. A few are downright moving on an emotional level. The editor of this book wisely placed traditional stories before more modern stories that are based on that particular tradition or myth. This makes it much easier to understand the context for certain stories. Some stories lack a traditional base and deal with extremely modern issues such as homosexuality. In short, whatever type of story you may be looking for, you can probably find it in this book.

Arguably the best story in the book is "Grace," a moving tale about two Indian siblings adopted by a friendly Indian couple. The two children suffered terribly in an orphanage and don't know how to respond to the kindness they receive from the couple. The children are taught some things about their culture by the couple and begin to come around, but within a few months the father dies and the kids are sent back to the orphanage. A very moving story that is tough to read. This story alone is worth the price of the book.

Try to find this book if you're interested in Native American topics. I see Amazon has found some copies of the book recently. It was listed as out of print on Amazon for some time, but the copy I bought for class in the school bookstore was brand new. If you want to read this, you'll find a copy. Recommended (with conditions).

What a great book. So many books that are available are on the stories of men (these are important too) but women are seldom heard from. We usually only hear of vision quests and warriors. This is a book that would introduce students to both sides of the story and the intro gives such insight to the Native American woman. Allen states the plights and goals of their women clearly and understandably. What is available in the canon is limited. This is a great book to lead into discussions and comparisons. It shows the otherside of stereotypes. It is interesting enough that students would not be bored. There are many selections that could be assigned and finished in one class period. A must for any language arts teacher or person interested in Native American lit- also great for a feminist point of view of another culture.

I'm sorry, but this book just did not work for me. I sympathize with many eco-feminist notions, but this book makes poorly researched and shaky claims, seeking to link together variables that have no connection, making generalized, fluffy arguments.

The main point of this book is, of course, the linkage between patriarchial society and the nuclear age. The writer provides very strange and eclectic examples from popular culture which are vague, at best, and more often it seems that the writer sought to locate casual references to suit her claim. For example, in several places, the writer refers to titles of different articles about nuclear weapons and about the dangers of maleness (incest - which she seems to regard as a general trait of fatherhood) which happen to appear in the same issue of Time or Newsweek - not as a coincidence, but as a joint issue. She looks at the cover of a magazine, citing different article names, and we're supposed to reach a conclusion that this linkage is not coincidental, and that it is part of the alleged male-nuclear conspiracy.

The writer analyzes similar material in opposite ways when it supports her argument - first identifying the bomb with the male, then with the female. She seems to have thrown the darts before marking the target.

Another disturbing factor is the generalized and problematic, to say the least, condemnation of what the writer describes as "nuclear fatherhood". All fathers are compared, as a general group, to Reagan and Freddy Krueger. Need I say more?

I did find the spiritual contents of this book (such as the idea of the Gorgon) fascinating and useful - especially due to the (regrettable) lack of serious and intelligent discussion of Feminist spirituality as a deserving issue and not merely a bag of love spells. I wish these contents could be given to us separately, and not within a poorly researched scholarly work that does not give credit to its readers as intelligent beings who can evaluate material by themselves, without being spoonfed the conclusions which by no means stem from the material. As a woman who cares deeply about women's issues and about this planet, I believe this book does damage to the general cause by alienating 99.99% of the people who could be responsive to eco-feminism and its ideas. It's sad, really.

People use that phrase all the time til it has no meaning but when I read this book it really did blow my mind. A powerful trip through modern culture that really holds nothing back. I was in a daze after reading this book but am so very glad I did. It gave me a whole new perspective on why modern society is so messed up. It condems the social construct that allows people to hurt and even distroy one another and our home the earth with out remorse. I totally love this book and wish more people would read it.

Do Not read this book if you are attached to the cultural ideal of Men being automatically better than Women & that they only have worth if the are dominating somesome.

I just wish I could write a review as brilliently as Jane Caputi writes so more people would check out this awesome book!

Gunn and Smith struggled valiantly to shape a collection of 9 biographies of Native American achievers, blending the historical and the personal in a somewhat old-fashioned style of narration that young people will find attractive. The biographical sketches review the life and achievements of Weetamoo, an Indian woman who figured in very early white-Indian skirmishes, Geronimo, Will Rogers, Jim Thorpe, Maria Tallchief, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Wilma Pearl Mankiller, Michael Naranjo (Vietnam War Veteran), and Louise Erdrich. Yet, this reviewer believes that most libraries will not want to purchase it this book. First of all, the title picks up an egregious lie that appeared in many treaties that were later broken. The authors admit knowing this but used it anyhow. The persons pictured, for the most part, became successful in the white world on white terms. In the story of Jim Thorpe, Gunn and Smith tell of a battle in which 300 Sac and Fox Indians were killed, and include parenthetically a comment by Lincoln that, during his war experience at this time, he "could not remember meeting any enemy except mosquitoes." The authors refer to the disparaging term "blanket Indians," which is very nearly as offensive as the n word to black Americans. They say that Quakers forced an Indian young person to do indoor chores but provide little context. They comment that Senator Campbell made jewelry but never got to the point of selling it for income; also, that he was married in a sleazy wedding chapel. The authors refer, directly or indirectly, to disparaging stereotypes this reviewer has not heard for half a long lifetime: laziness, drunkenness, and unwillingness to embrace reasonable white demands for education, private ownership of land, and relocation to urban areas. They may not have intended to offend, but they have a glaring lack of intuitive sense of what Native American culture is all about today. Add this to the unattractive packaging of the book--black and white portraits, large print, and narrow margins. Schools should reject this collection.

Did you know Will Rogers was American Indian? Want to know about Balancine's wife? Read this book. It's good

I had to read this book for a Women and Spirituality class at my college. Coincidentally, I also has to read (for a different class) "Fantasies of the Master Race" by Ward Churchill. WEll, thank God! Churchill's book exposes people like Paula Gunn Allen for the shams that they are in Native American studies! You're tipped off to it in her preface which states,"THe first section, like the others, contains myths, not necessarily as recorded or told, but as I understand them." WEll, there you have it--the stories are being made up as she goes along with scant references that are often taken out of context to suit her needs. THe stories themselves are confusing and non-cohesive. In her intros to each chapter, Allen often attempts to connect her story to completely irrelevant pieces of history. Yet another attempt to validate the crock of bull that she puts out there under the label of "Native American/Goddess Spirituality". You know what's really sad? This is the last thing that the Women's Movement needs...another reason to halt our progress. Inaccurate dribble portrayed as fact. I wanted to love this book!....

i read this book awhile ago and can't really write a review that gives it justice. i will reread it and post another review.... no where in the book does allen talk about facts.it is a book of mythology. myths and tales are not meant to be taken as fact in the scientific sense--they are true on a spiritual level. the book does not claim to be portraying an acurate picture of native american life. it is a picture of the mythic or spiritual life of native american women. this is not a book of anthropology and never claims to be.we are lucky to have p.g. allen. the work she does is important both in remembering the past and remytholgizing the present. the author does not make up stories as she goes along. she is a storyteller and every storyteller tells a story in her own way. but these are legitimate myths, not something that allen made up.i pray that this book finds its way to readers who need to hear its healing message. i pray that more people will take the time to review this book. and i will get to rereading it so i can give it a decent review.you can't go wrong with this book if you are intersted in women's spirituality or native spirituality or if you have a spirit ...

I was very disappointed in this book. I got it because of the authors Sulieman Allen, LeAnne Howe, and Julian Lang, none of whom are in the book. The writers in the book are all very good, but I really wanted to read more of LeAnne Howe's work!

If you truly want to understand the spirituality of Native Americans, you must read their poetry and fiction, not some white person's weekend workshop going on a spirit quest. Native spirituality is embedded in Indian humor, reflections on nature, and the tears that have been spilled dealing with the aftermath of 300 years of persecution. I laughed and cried as I read such literary treasures as "Old Harjo" and "How Coyote Lost His Manhood." The majority of the these stories are modern, and they show us that Indian literature is richly poignant. The anthology is compiled by Paula Gunn Allen, America's Indian Poet Laureate, and is a wonderful addition Gunn Allen's other fine books.