Exceptional. Thomas King opts to present history from his own lens with his own personality and the result is an exceptionally witty dialogue with historical events. He points out the stereotypes most associated with indigenous peoples and where they came from, disarming them effortlessly.

Every argument I’ve heard from people about what indigenous peoples’ “problems” are, is interrogated aptly and succinctly here.

It also goes into a surprisingly comprehensive look at events in all of North America and contrasts United States and Canada, disallowing the typical arguments you hear from people from either country.

He does all of this with his own voice. And states his intentions up front, knowing full well some people would attempt to discredit this history lesson because of goal posts set as to how a history book ought to be presented. And he doesn’t care at all. The result of allowing himself his own voice and history within the text, in my mind, creates an accurate picture that comes with the lived experience of a person who knows what he is talking about.

It’s the best book on the subject I’ve read. Period. And I have read quite a few.