Preview
  • Native American Mythology

  • The Myths of the North American Indians with a Summary
  • By: Lewis Spence
  • Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
  • Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (21 ratings)

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Native American Mythology

By: Lewis Spence
Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
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Publisher's summary

Great Collection of the Timeless Myths of the Native Americans

Be ready to immerse yourself into the myths and long forgotten stories of the Native Americans. Discover how those myths took life through many stories, and what they were at their core.

Native Americans were one with nature, and that’s why their myths are so fascinating as well.

This book by author Lewis Spence serves as an insight into how the First Nations saw the world and how they forged history as we know it through their beliefs and traditions, before the impact of other cultures.

In this book, you will find a collection of the first Native American tales and legends dating around the end of the 19th century. Now more than ever, it is time for us to reconnect with nature and seek the unique wisdom of the old days.

Drawn from the myths and legends of the Algonquins, Iroquois, Sioux, Pawnee, and Northern and Northwestern Indians, these enchanting tales offer insights into tribal character and beliefs.

Selected by the distinguished British anthropologist and folklorist Lewis Spence, they range in theme from romantic love to rivalry between warriors to victory over powerful forces. The details of their recounting evoke images of Native Americans' innermost aspirations and fears, as well as their larger worldview.

A major forerunner of modern studies of myth, this compelling book blends the legends with factual material, giving each myth a meaningful perspective. Students of anthropology and ethnology will prize the especially rich variety of mythical imagery in this collection, which features a simple, direct manner of storytelling that will appeal to children as well as to adults. All listeners will find in this audio a treasury of suspenseful tales that reveal much of the spirit of North America's original cultures.

Some of the popular myths included in this book are:

  • The Story of Blue Jay and Ioi
  • The Marriage of Ioi
  • A Fishing Expedition in Shadow-land
  • Blue Jay and Ioi Go Visiting
  • The Heaven-Sought Bride
  • The Chinooks Visit the Supernaturals
  • The Four Tests
  • The Thunderer's Son-in-Law
  • The Myth of Stikua
  • The Birth of Sîñ
  • Master-Carpenter and Southeast
  • The Beaver and the Porcupine
  • The Devil-Fish's Daughter
  • Ictinike and the Buzzard
  • Ictinike and the Creators
  • The Story of Wabaskaha
  • The Men-Serpents
  • The Boy Magician
  • The Friendly Skeleton
  • Bear Magic
  • The Young Dog Dance
  • The Medicine Wolf
  • The Story of Scar-face
  • The Great Turnip
  • The Magical Serpent
  • And many more inside!

The audiobook narration of Jim Johnston complements the old storytelling very well. You will find yourself thinking you are listening to these stories by a great Chief himself around a warm fire smoking a calumet or peace pipe.

No time to waste. Buy it now, and immerse yourself into the great myths of the Native Americans!

Public Domain (P)2021 Chronos Publishing
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Native American Mythology

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  • Overall
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Native American Mythology

Myths and legends from a variety of Native American tribes that really shed light on their history. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these tales, and I now feel like I have a better understanding of their cultures.

Lewis Spence compiled an incredible collections stories. They are very informative as well as entertaining.

The narration by Jim D. Johnson brought the stories to life. His tone and pacing fit perfectly.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

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A Collection of North American Indian Myths

This collection of Indian myths is divided by tribe and provides a useful history at the beginning. A scholar with an interest in aboriginal culture cannot but be impressed at the thoroughness of Spence's work and the care with which he worked to preserve tales that were likely part of the oral culture of the tribes he collected them from.
Spence's attitudes toward his subjects are likely to make a 21st century student wince. While he clearly loved the stories, repeatedly expresses the opinion that all of the North American nations were "savages" until "very recently". Even though his viewpoint is likely to make a modern reader blush at his political incorrectness, it must be remembered that Spence was born well before the dawn of the 20th century and his viewpoint and attitudes were very much a product of his time.
In spite of that attitude, these tales are not only invaluable in understanding native culture, but they provide many hours of thoroughly enjoyable stories.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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not quite what I thought

some of the terms used in the text such as Savage or Eskimo seem to be a bit out of place in usage for today. The first portion of the book is a bit of a slog if you have a basic understanding of Native American mythology. some of the connection to Norse mythology is a bit thin.

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Average

Fair survey cover several tribes in with listening to especially useful for those interested in mythology native Americans from east to west coast

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Wow!

I recently had the pleasure of immersing myself in the world of Native American mythology through an audio book narrated by an exceptional reader. The combination of the rich storytelling and the captivating voice of the reader made for an unforgettable experience.

The audio book delved into the enchanting tapestry of Native American myths, legends, and folklore, providing a comprehensive overview of the diverse cultures and beliefs across different tribes. The reader's skillful interpretation allowed me to fully appreciate the nuances and depth of the stories, transporting me to a world filled with spirits, heroes, and epic adventures.

What truly sets this audio book reader apart is their ability to bring the characters to life. With each voice and accent, I could almost envision the mythical figures standing before me, sharing their wisdom and engaging in extraordinary feats. The reader's attention to detail and authenticity in representing the various tribal traditions added an extra layer of authenticity to the experience.

Furthermore, the pacing and intonation of the reader were superb. They effortlessly captured the emotions embedded within the stories, whether it was the joy of triumph, the sorrow of loss, or the awe of encountering supernatural beings. This skillful delivery kept me fully engaged throughout the entire journey, making it difficult to pause or put the audio book down.

In addition to the exceptional narration, the audio production quality was top-notch. The clarity of the recording and the seamless integration of background music and sound effects enhanced the overall immersion, making it feel like I was sitting around a campfire, listening to the tales being shared by tribal elders.

Overall, I highly recommend the audio book reader for their outstanding performance in bringing Native American mythology to life. Their talent for storytelling, character portrayal, and attention to detail truly enhanced my understanding and appreciation of this rich cultural heritage. Whether you are a mythology enthusiast or simply seeking an enthralling storytelling experience, this audio book is guaranteed to leave you captivated and inspired.

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interesting book

This is a very interesting and informative book. I enjoyed the narration of the book, but would suggest that in the future the narrator take a pause between stories and chapters.

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Native American Mythology

If you are at all interested in Native American Mythology, this is a wonderful book. Well researched and well-written, the author has included a lot of history as well as the mythology of several Native tribes. I am sure that I will listen to this book again since it so full of wonderful stories and history. I don't know much about mythology, but I intrigued by it and find that much of the mythos around the world is very similar. Each culture has a creation story and some of the others are very similar.

The narrator did a great job and his performance added a lot to the book. I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book by the publisher and chose to review it.

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Captivating

loved the stories from different tribes. was interesting to hear how many Tribes had similar stories.

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Great collection of stories

I have always been fascinated by mythologies though I admit I was ignorant to Native American mythology. It was refreshing to hear these new stories which provide some insight into Native American culture. There are a myriad of stories contained in this book. The narrator does a fantastic job bringing the stories to life.

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Backward Language Usage Is Quite Jarring

While the subject matter is interesting, the verbiage used felt disrespectful, with a lot of references to indigenous people as savages, barbarians, and at one point, scoundrels. I don't know if I missed an annotation that letters or journals of settlers were being quoted, but it was definitely uncomfortable.

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