The Lakota Ritual of the Sweat Lodge: History and Contemporary Practice (Studies in the Anthropology of North American Indians)

Excellent book about the Lakota sweat lodge ceremony. Highly recommended.

this book is uber technical, as you might expect from an jesuit. the descriptions are very anthropological, and overly complete, but it is quite a book. i intend to finish it, but it is rather dry. I have been doing ceremony on a lakota reservation for 25 years, and know a lot about the ceremony. have sweat with dozens of medicine men, and others. so far, the book is a tough read and not what I had expected, but there is a long way to go, and i think it is not a waste of time.I don't know what i was expecting, but am utterly relieved to NOT read some new age drivel about a lakota ceremony. Jesuits are usually rather accurate, albeit academic. This writer writes from experience, with a strong academic flavor.

About a year ago, a neighbor talked about a Lakota Sweatlodge that several men were involved in. He further suggested that because I was in recovery from alcoholism, that I'd be welcome, despite my European heritage and ignorance of Indian affairs. After attending, enjoying and wanting to try again, I've been a regular attendee at least once a month. Since I've been a regular, they've even invited me to other Sweats. These men are serious about their beliefs and helpful with newcomers. This book has helped me engage in conversation as much of their practice is sacred and not exactly 'advertised'.

This book is a historical and educational book about the ritual of the sweat lodge. Unless you are wanting that approach to learning about the sweat lodge ritual, it can be a little dry, like a textbook. My husband attends a sweat lodge ceremony each month. Therefore, he experiences and is emersed in the rituals that are part of the sweat lodge ceremony, so he enjoyed the book and read it cover-to-cover.

This book is great for someone doing Native American studies. Gets into the anthropology aspects and details of the spiritual side of the Lakota rituals of the sweat. I perform Crow Indian Sweats and this was helpful for background and understanding fellow plains indian rituals.

Husband loves it

great book - excellent transaction

Great work!!!

This book is a reference. Fascinating.