Sitting Bull

By: Bill Yenne

Narrated by: Bill Fike

Sitting Bull’s name is still the best known of any American Indian leader, but his life and legacy remain shrouded with misinformation and half-truths. Sitting Bull’s life spanned the entire clash of cultures and ultimate destruction of the Plains Indian way of life. He was a powerful leader and a respected shaman, but neither fully captures the enigma of Sitting Bull. He was a good friend of Buffalo Bill and skillful negotiator with the American government, yet erroneously credited with both murdering Custer at the Little Big Horn and with being the chief instigator of the Ghost Dance movement.

The reality of his life, as Bill Yenne reveals in his absorbing new portrait, Sitting Bull, is far more intricate and compelling. Tracing Sitting Bull’s history from a headstrong youth and his first contact with encroaching settlers, through his ascension as the spiritual and military leader of the Lakota, friendship with a Swiss-American widow from New York, and death at the hands of the Indian police on the eve of the massacre at Wounded Knee, While Sitting Bull was the leading figure of Plains Indian resistance his message, as Yenne explains, was of self-reliance, not violence. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull was not confronting Custer as popular myth would have it, but riding through the Lakota camp making sure the most defenseless of his tribe - the children - were safe. In Sitting Bull we find a man who, in the face of an uncertain future, helped ensure the survival of his people.

The book is published by Westholme Publishing. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2009 Bill Yenne (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Yenne's book excels as a study of leadership." (The New Yorker)

"Indispensible to Native American studies. (Booklist)

"Stirring biography...remarkable, tragic portrait..." (Publisher Weekly)

Great History of Sitting Bull

I struggled to finish this. Although I had a desire to learn more about this great man, and it did give me incredible insight, it was laden with dates and other historical facts. It was more history book than memoir. In the end, I am glad I finished it and have an even greater respect for Sitting Bull and Native American people.

An Amazing Story of an Amazing Man

This book was well-written, interesting and educational. It achieved intensiveness and extensiveness in scope at the same time. A great read which made me more knowledgeable about Sitting Bull, The Lakota and the mid-late 1800s in North America.

The bad done in the name of progress, in terms of settlement

Liked it all, gave insight into how the Indigenous people felt about the invasion of whites into their land

A worthy tribute to a holy man

I am really impressed at the amount of research and the amount of true knowledge gained. This is a wonderful book and should be a part of every history class.

Wow

I like the honesty and not choosing sides just telling the story.this story is well worth a listening to.