This book, although educational and very informative, was not what I expected at all. I recommend it to those of indigenous background that also love history.

The author begins with this powerful statement: "This book questions the dominant narrative that civilization is in fact humanity's greatest achievement. I contend that it is not."

The heartbeat that pulses through this narrative stems from the pride of the Indigenous peoples whose stories are being told throughout. "Civilization eventually whittled away at these beliefs," the author writes, "surrendering to the Achilles heel of humanity - its tendency to place its own self-interest above that of the rest of creation."

Through the author's gravitas and focused research, as well as multiple cultures' knowledge and wisdom from around the globe, the reader is presented a vivid tapestry of life before - and beyond - civilization.

"Remember," the reader is told, "Indigenous Peoples regard their sacred duty as one of respect for creation and living in harmony. The action of placing humanity and its selfish interests above all else was a critical mistake."

Ultimately the author calls for global reform, and for the thoughtfulness of world-leading entities and individuals alike.

Interesting perspective presented. The subject matter attracted me to read this book. Subject content was thought provoking and well written.

This is a wonderful little primer on indigenous stewardship in the past and how indigenous thinking can improve our modern world. It is concise and easy to follow.

The book turned out to be quite different from my initial expectations. It was a well-researched and thought-provoking piece of literature, although occasionally challenging one analogy to another. I am uncertain whether the book is geared toward an academic audience or those who appreciate historical literature. Nonetheless, I found the read quite enjoyable and fascinating, even prompting me to consider reading the other two books. All things considered; it was a well-written book.

I read the first two chapters of this book but kept having issues about how the word "Civilization" is being used. Most of the time the negative civilization the author is talking about is more "Urbanization".
I also think the author's anti-western views are making them gloss over the true history of what is now China to use it as an example of a country that has not made a effort to invade and conquer lands. China is made up of hundreds of different cultures that have been combined together by different dynasties to create the land it had now.

Dr A. Blair Stonechild is a Cree-Saulteaux member of the Muscowpetung First Nation, professor of Indigenous Studies at First Nations University of Canada, a residential school survivor, and the author of several books on Indigenous history and spirituality. Stonechild’s Challenge to Civilization perfectly captures humanity’s current precarious position at the brink of self-destruction and makes the dual points that there was nothing inevitable about the rise of Western civilisation — one need only look to the Australian Aborigines’ sixty-thousand years of continual culture to recognise that a life lived in spiritual harmony with the environment is stable and indefinitely sustainable, whereas our six thousand year journey of greed and expansion since the first city at Ur has brought us to the point of collapse — and that it’s not too late to embrace the original, Indigenous practices that were once common to everyone on earth. I found quite a bit of this confronting, but mostly because I’m a product of Western culture and its education system; really thinking about what Stonechild has to say, it’s hard to find fault with his conclusions. Fascinating, mind-expanding read.