Seeking recommendations for non-fiction books focused on a specific area of Native American culture

[Amerigo Vespucci]

I am a small business owner, and as such, I am my "sales force." Like the saying goes, "If it is to be, it is up to me."

I've read all of the old-school sales books by guys like Zig Ziglar, and all of the new ones by guys like Jeffrey Gitomer.

I've also read Sun Tzu's "Art of War."

I have Native American ancestry, on my mother's side. I've read a limited amount about the Native American mindset when it comes to battle. It's sometimes unavoidable, like being a small business owner in a bad economy. You're doing battle with your competition, you're doing battle with customers who want to beat you up on price (even though your competition may offer a significantly inferior product or service).

But what I am seeing so far is that the central element in the Native American approach to unavoidable conflict is the preservation of honor and dignity, regardless of the nature of the battle. That's what I'm interested in, that mindset, the philosophy of suiting up for a do-or-die battle without copping an attitude of arrogance or hatred for your opponent or the situation.

Obviously, no philosophy holds true for 100% of the people 100% of the time. I realize that there were probably Native American warriors who killed people and enjoyed every second of it. I'm not looking for that kind of book. I'm looking for one about the honorable warriors, the ones who faced whatever crossed their path with dignity and confidence.

THAT SAID...

...if you have a recommendation for a specific book that addresses this (not a general book on Native American culture, as enjoyable as it might be, because I don't have the time to read it), please pass it along.

Thanks!

[Warpy]

1. Books about the Plains tribes are your best bet

especially about the Lakota tribes.

Two histories I remember that had quite a bit of their philosophy of warfare were "Black Elk Speaks," http://www.amazon.com/Black-Elk-Speaks-Being-Oglala/dp/0803283598 and "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" http://www.amazon.com/Bury-My-Heart-Wounded-Knee/dp/0805086846/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255800433&sr=1-1

Both are well worth reading. Neither is as cut and dried as Sun Tzu is and contain much more than the philosophy of warfare, but it's there.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Thank you, that's what I'm looking for...

I hear what you're saying about "Neither is as cut and dried as Sun Tzu"...unfortunately, so many people in business picked up a copy of "The Art of War" an attempted to use it as a manual for conducting themselves in business. I'm also looking for "more than the philosophy of warfare," as long as warfare is part of that philosophy. That's where the trouble starts, I believe...trying to isolate one aspect of human behavior while ignoring the others. That's what has attracted me to a deeper study of Native American thought. From what I've seen...in my admittedly limited exposure so far...it's integrated thought. It's life as a whole. That's the life I'm trying to live and right now it's tough...for a lot of other people as well, obviously.

I have two very good local libraries, and your books sound like excellent recommendations. I will check to see if they are available. Thank you!

[Warpy]

5. Business as warfare?

That certainly explains a lot about why the workplace is getting less humane all the time.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. I know people who bought "Art Of War"...

...specifically to learn how to beat the other guy, and beat him with relish and glee.

When I worked at Cisco, one of their competitors...Juniper Networks...had layoffs. The director of my department was running a communications meeting and told my group...maybe 125 people...about the layoffs and encouraged them to engage in a round of high-fives, woo-hoos and applause.

It made me sick. Yeah, they were the competition. They also had husbands, wives, children, mortgages, and credit card debt.

And the worst part is that in that same meeting, layoffs at Cisco were addressed. The director basically did a "READ MY LIPS...NO LAYOFFS HERE" response.

More high-fives, woo-hoos and applause.

A couple of months later, the Cisco June 2001 layoffs, affecting 8500+ people.

That's when I started my own business. That's why I'm interested in how Native American warriors navigated similar waters. Different century, same opponent.

:patriot:

[Warpy]

7. They certainly have a lot to say about maintaining honor

and dignity during times of extreme hardship. They faced the utter destruction of their culture, not just the relatively mild personal disaster of job loss.

[htuttle]

2. "I Will Fight No More Forever" about Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce

I think it fits what you're looking for to a 'T'.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Thank you

I will look for it.