Vine Deloria Jr.'s Custer Died for Your Sins is a landmark work of Indigenous political writing, using sharp wit and devastating analysis to dismantle stereotypes and demand sovereignty. Through chapters on anthropologists, missionaries, and government policy, Deloria exposes how institutions claim to help Indigenous people while perpetuating harm. The book becomes both manifesto and masterclass in political satire, proving that Indigenous intellectuals have always been here and that humor is a powerful tool for truth-telling.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Deloria wrote the book that changed how Indigenous people are understood in America, and did it with humor that makes the medicine go down. This classic reminds us that Indigenous political thought is sophisticated, that anthropologists deserved to be roasted, and that some books remain essential decades later.

DETAILS: • Author: Vine Deloria Jr. • Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: May 15, 1988 • ISBN: 9780806121291 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days