Native Nations: A Millennium in North America

DuVal’s (history, Univ. of North Carolina; Independence Lost) comprehensive latest is a thought-provoking account of the history and achievements of Indigenous peoples in North America. In this impressively researched book, DuVal focuses primarily on the contiguous United States, debunking the idea that Indigenous civilizations were destined to fall before the might of European nations. She argues that complex and mighty societies existed long before colonizers arrived, and many thrived after, even when new European neighbors fell prey to plague, famine, and conflict. Narrator Carolina Hoyos is a measured, nuanced guide through the dense hours of DuVal’s work. Each chapter brims with revelations and facts. Hoyos adds enough variation to her narration to capture listeners’ attention without rising into a popular history voice that risks losing vital gravitas. The breadth of the book requires repetition throughout chapters and section summaries to highlight important ideas. Hoyos’s similar delivery of these pieces feels almost like an underline for key passages, enhancing what might otherwise feel tedious.