Reviews for Confronting the Drug Control Establishment: Alfred Lindesmith as a Public Intellectual

The average rating for Confronting the Drug Control Establishment: Alfred Lindesmith as a Public Intellectual based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-09-07 00:00:00 Virginia Wilbur An Indian Boyhood Revisited In 1902, Charles Eastman, or Ohiyessa, wrote an account, "Indian Boyhood" of his Dakota Sioux childhood. Eastman (1858 -- 1939) lived a remarkable life in two cultures. Up to the age of 15, he was raised in the Sioux culture he described in "Indian Boyhood". Eastman went on to graduate from Dartmouth College and from the medical school of Boston College. He had a career as a physician, worked as a field secretary for the YMCA, helped found the Boy Scouts, and wrote eleven books beginning with "Indian Boyhood". Eastman's life was featured in the 2007 HBO documentary, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", but he remains all-too-little remembered today. This new book, "Indian Boyhood: The True Story Of A Sioux Upbringing" is an adaptation of Eastman's 1902 book for children between Kindergarten and third grade. Michael Fittzgerald, the author of two books about Eastman among other works, arranged Eastman's story for young readers while Heidi Rasch, an artist who has been adopted into the Crow Tribe, prepared the illustrations. Charles Trimble, an author, member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and former Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, wrote a short, elegant Foreword to the story. Eastman's story introduces readers of all ages to a lost world of freedom and romance. "What boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest life in the world?", the book begins. "This life was mine". Eastman describes how he was raised by his grandmother upon the death of his mother and how his father apparently died in 1862 during the Sioux uprising. Eastman describes what he calls his "wild life" which continued until the age of 15. At that time, his father who had been pardoned by President Lincoln, returned and the young boy began his education in the larger society. For a few years of childhood, Eastman hunted, told stories, prepared for war, crossed the Missouri River in buffalo-skinned boats, and lived what he remembered as a life of total freedom. It is a romantic story which children and grown-ups will find immediately appealing. Rasch's illustrations are lovely and include notes at the end of the book which readers may share with the children. I loved this little children's book and wanted to learn more about Eastman. Children will love and learn from the book. The book is published by Wisdom Tales, which specializes in spiritually-themed books from around the world with an emphasis on Indian cultures. Wisdom Tales' parent company, World Wisdom, has published Fitzgerald's two other books about Eastman for interested readers. Wisdom Tales kindly sent me a copy of "Indian Boyhood" to review. Robin Friedman

Review # 2 was written on 2013-06-22 00:00:00 Pip Dirk The reason I enjoy reading Ohiyesa's books so much is his unique perspective, one that came from living in two different worlds, native and mainstream American. This book traces his life in the first world, growing up in a Sioux camp. Most of his account is set in Canada where he went into exile after being separated from his father and siblings following the 1862 Dakota War. Before Indian Boyhood, I read Old Indian Days and my favourite story in that book was based on this event; it was interesting to find out that the author was more closely connected to it than I imagined. I guess I should have read Mr. Eastman's biography more closely (and perhaps I should be referring to him as Dr. Eastman instead). As always, his writing is honest and his depiction of Sioux life without pretension, whether he talks of hunting or making sugar, feasts or evenings in the lodge with his grandmother and uncle. The latter comes across as a truly admirable human being, whether because of his skill as a hunter or his simple but honest opposition to slavery. While Dr. Eastman writes from a clearly Sioux perspective, he isn't really biased either as in his retelling of a Cree legend where the Sioux are the antagonists. I like that even though the philosophies here are meaningful and spiritual, they avoid cliched mysticism as if their spirituality exists only to offer solace to jaded modern readers. At the same time, these are ideas that you can appreciate learning from, like when Ohiyesa's uncle says, "I think we are really bravest when most calm and slow to action." The book is also full of homely pleasures, like the hilarious story about Chadozee and the bear (especially the bit about the bear scowling at him :P) as well as the ones Smoky Day (whom I first met as a fictional character in Wigwam Evenings) tells. I love that in Sioux society, solitude is not necessarily a bad thing. As someone who enjoys the refreshing calmness of being alone and is often questioned about this supposedly strange habit, I am grateful for Ohiyesa's defence of it. This book also helped me understand many of the things Dr. Eastman talks about in The Soul of the Indian. On the other hand, the author's narration feels a little abrupt sometimes, especially when he shuffles between the first person and the third person. Reading this book creates a strange sort of wistfulness. Ohiyesa never paints his life as some sort of New Age hippie paradise - Indian life back then was clearly difficult and not always simple. And yet, he makes it clear that it was a good life. The sheer freedom without avoiding a sense of duty, the luxury of solitude combined with the warmth of community living is something I wish still existed.