Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World

Such a marvelous look into another cultural cosmology, and told with such humor! I'm sure that there is much more to be said about the richness of the author's aboriginal culture, and I always rue the idea that I am trapped in my own, so that I am slow to appreciate the richness of others' ways of being on the planet. It's most definitely worth a read.

A great read. It has greatly expanded my understanding and appreciation for a unique perspective on our World and how to exist in relationship to it. I really like the concept of being a custodian/steward, rather than a taker.

Profoundly insightful, completely applicable information we all need to incorporate NOW to move forward sustainably. Wise, articulate, funny and accessible. A Must Read!

Loved Yunkaporta's clarity in contrasting the Western mindset with Aboriginal thinking and how it affects how we show up in the world, our relationships, our decision-making, our priorities in life. He has a great sense of humor as well.

I love this book. It's absolutely one of the best non fiction books I've ever read. I think everyone should read it. And boy is it dense. I found it VERY hard to get through. I eventually bought the audio book version too and it definitely helped listening to the author read it. I highly recommend reading and re-reading it multiple times, but it will probably take some serious pushing through!

Thank you Tyson! Reminds of the great book by Anne Wilson Schaef called Living in Process. Very helpful read. Well done.

So much wisdom with subversive humor. Everyone should read it!

The author is very grounded, articulate and has a unique perspective.

This book has a few interesting stories, but for the most part it left me cold. Either I couldn’t follow his indigenous way of thinking or it was written in such rambling style that it lost me. I agree with him that modern colonizers tend to start at the end, with direct, move to reflect, and end at respect, when we should begin with respect. In fact I agreed with several things he said, I just didn’t like the convoluted ways in which he said them.

This book should be a #1 Best Seller of all times, because it is an incredibly beautiful and important book. It is an easy read and goes to the heart of the shattered human condition and how we can repair and overcome the chaos of modern society to restore balance and unity, in a realistic, sincere, and efficient way.

Great book in great shape, delivered on time and in the condition described.

You won't relate easily to all this author says if you are from European Western Modern culture - but the author uses story, art, his own intelligence, education and understanding to show that human thriving or even survival depends on respect for and understanding of the whole of creation - not just what humans like - and further that we will achieve this through listening, learning, respect and cooperation with the whole - not through conquest or individualism! What he says needs to be taken seriously, even if not yet fully understood

Take the time to breathe in an open mind and exhale that which you have not allowed to be anything else other then what you have labeled or defined it as. Letting go of what we defensively claim as our identity thats wrapped up in what we have labeled and defined allows us to respect, connect, reflect and direct

Many enjoyable moments, but if it was 100 pages shorter I would have given it 5 stars without hesitation.

Elegantly helps Westerners access ways of being, thinking and communicating common to indigenous people and inspires one to get out of the silos we build that constrain our creative energy so desperately needed to help sustain a climate on earth that will support human life. There are no cliches here.

Human owners manual content. Works as expected. Unorthodox format but appropriate considering the author is conveying timeless insight.

I learnt a lot about Aboriginal culture reading this book. It’s a must read for anyone who wants to understand Aboriginal psychology. I just wish it went a little deeper into its claims. The tone was too colloquial and not erudite enough for me.More soon.

Like Robin Wall Kimmerer's bestseller, Braiding Sweetgrass, we have a cross-cultural treasure in Tyson Yunkaporta and his gorgeous book Sand Talk. They are both Indigenous (in her case, Native American, in his case Aboriginal) people who are also Western-trained academics, and further, they were both moved to try to give voice to the core insights and ways of being from their culture of origin in ways that can translate and transmit successfully to help us during our climate disruption crisis.Both books are creations of lyrical beauty in and of themselves. And what they point to is the beauty of the natural world, and our place in it. They also point directly at the purpose of our lives, the meaning of our lives, which we have mistakenly missed since at least Descartes. Each chapter of Sand Talk hinges on a principle and a specific sand-drawing that becomes a teaching conversation, or yarn. What is important is grasping the meanings and implications of those stories, and to begin to practice applying them to our understanding and our actions, our ways of being in the world.I appreciate that Yunkaporta recognizes his own flaws and growth edges, as we all should, and meets them with wryness and good humor that is a model for those of us who may be too self- or other-critical. Now that we know the story of the egotistical Emu, we can recognize and work with those selfish characteristics when they show up in ourselves.Rather than spoon feed us step-by-step instructions, Yunkaporta and Kimmerer both offer us alternative ways of being in the world, that come from an experience of deepest reciprocity with the land itself. They point us to our own responsibility to become proximate to that land, wherever we may be, and begin to foster that relationship just like we would any of the other most vital relationships in our lives. For indeed if we do not care for the Earth, we are surely lost. If we do restore our connection to Earth in these ways, we may collectively evolve into a strong hybrid of multiple cultures - leaving behind what no longer serves, and embodying the shared climate future where all can thrive.

It is rare for me to recommend a book, but I am pitching this one to almost everyone I see. Tyson takes on the challenge of sharing non-linear perspective in a linear format and delivers with amazing heart and mind. I feel like a have a new friend on the other side of the planet.

"We-Two" is very key, as in we need each other to survive, and thrive, this Time we're living through and beyond- our children, grandchildren, GREATS. Read this book carefully, much knowledge, wisdom Yunkaporta has gathered from Elders, Aunties, Grannies, Song Lines, Dream Time, within this book. He also makes me smile often- wisdom without big fat ego. He writes to gather We-Twos, wherever we are...