I learned so much from this book. Most of it is set in Martha’s Vineyard, which is local to me, and I was shocked by how much of the information was completely new. It was eye-opening to realize just how much Native history has been erased from American history—even when it’s happening right outside your door. I really appreciated how Lee wove in his personal experiences with his Native identity while also highlighting the rich and diverse histories of Indigenous peoples around the world. This book definitely inspired me to dig deeper into the history of the land I live on.

As Joseph Lee reviews the history of his tribe, he pulls in information from other tribes and indigenous peoples. I lived in Alaska for many years. I currently live in Oklahoma. Both states have developed an uneasy co-existence with their history. Lee's experiences mirror those of most members; in order to survive, they must put aside their history. To preserve their history, they must remain in areas with little chance of advancement. There is a growing tribal presence that helps to advance the retention of languages and culture. Lee's book is one of the many that have helped garner support for American history to include the true stories of the first peoples.

In "Nothing More of This Land, " Joseph V. Lee blends his own life story with those of Indigenous communities across the world, creating a powerful and personal read that will stick with readers for a long time.

Lee is a journalist and member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe, and what makes this book stand out is how real and grounded it feels. Lee isn’t trying to speak for all indigenous people, but instead shows just how wide and varied Indigenous experiences truly are. He starts on Martha’s Vineyard, where his own tribe has deep roots, and takes readers on a global journey from Alaska to the UN and places in-between. Along the way, readers are able to meet people trying to hold on to their culture, fight for their land, and find their place in a world that often pushes them aside.

This book is not just a dry lesson in history; it’s truly honest, eye-opening, and feels deeply human. While Lee doesn’t shy away from hard truths, he does make room for hope, resilience, and pride. For readers seeking a better understanding of Indigenous identity and the real current issues facing these communities, "Nothing More of This Place" is a great place to start learning.

This novel touches on colonialism, and the indigenous experience of what it means to find belonging and home. I was definitely expecting to enjoy this book, but it blew past everything I could have expected, so now I will definitely have to get a copy for my nonfiction shelf.

It touches on community, and the newer threats indigenous people face in today's world.

Overall I really really enjoyed this book!

Conversations about tribal identity, community, membership, and citizenship can be hard to navigate in our Indigenous communities. Through his writing and the experiences he shares, Joseph reminds us that maintaining an honest, open curiosity is a solid path forward in growing our own understandings of Indigenous community and identity.

I hope this book starts similar conversations throughout our Indigenous communities. It’s a quick, thoughtful read—perfect for the season and the conversations that come so naturally in these long days and warm summer evenings.

Enjoy this one, then start a conversation
Tokša aké, bookfriends 📚☕️

Pidámaya Joseph for sharing these personal and shared experiences and what you’ve learned from them along the way, @atriabooks and @netgalley for the eARC 📚

Thank you @Atriabooks for the gifted advance reader's copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Nothing More of This Land is part memoir, part epistemological exploration on the meaning of Indigenous identity to the author, and frames the same question more broadly with accounts from Indigenous people throughout the world. I found this book packed with historical and modern context I had yet to connect to experiences of East Coast tribes and appreciate the author's voice which brings an energetic curiosity to answering incredibly nuanced questions.

The book begins with introduction to the Wampanoag creation legend (I LOVE creation stories!!!) and is frequently referenced throughout the book when drawing parallels with modern issues (which I think is genius). I found myself relating to several levels of this personal narrative including being of mixed heritage as a result of global imperialism and appreciate how much information is provided for various movements that Indigenous people here and around the world are leading. (Not so?) Fun fact: because my father's side was displaced during the British occupation of Punjab and forced into East Africa, most of the stories I heard growing up were of my dad's experiences growing up with his Maasai peers. I remember him telling me that traditional Maasai practice before an animal butcher is to give an offering to the land and the soul of the animal. I drew a parallel when I learned that some Native American tribes offer tobacco to bless a space or endeavor in the same way. The Maasai are mentioned quite a bit in this book and the author's conversations with them bring me back to this learned principle that Indigenous people are not a monolith but they are always connected to their land.

There is a part of this book talking about ceremonial burns that was especially powerful to me as someone who lives in Southern California and sees wildfire decimate entire towns yearly. Lee describes a picture of a forest he encounters while visiting the Kurok tribe in Northern California where one side of trees are treated with ceremonial burns and the other without. The side that received prescribed ceremonial burns was of course, untouched by future wildfires and thriving while the side that did not was scorched. This is only one example of how the US project undermines Indigenous knowledge to the detriment of our ecology.

I could honestly go on about the many extremely powerful things discussed in this book but I'll wrap this review up here. I'd recommend Nothing More of This Land to anyone looking to learn more about Indigenous communities in (so-called) North America and beyond, folks seeking education on the Landback movement, and anyone who wants to be an informed ally.

Beautifully written and thought-provoking look at native lands and the indigenous people whose cultural identity is so closely tied to them. On Martha's Vineyard, the rising property values are pricing out tribal members who live on the island. Families are forced to sell their private land when they are unable to afford rising property taxes. I enjoyed his unique perspective on community and a sense of belonging that is intimately connected to certain places and people.

Note: A special thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of this title.

Nothing More of This Land isn’t a light read, but it is such an important book that offers a unique and personal look into the struggles of an Indigenous tribe located in the area now known as Martha’s Vineyard. The author takes us through the challenges his tribe faces as they try to survive in a place where the cost of living has skyrocketed due to tourism, and average homes are selling for millions.

What makes the book really compelling is the author’s heartfelt argument for the rights of Indigenous people to not just survive but thrive in their ancestral lands, despite the economic forces at play. Lee shows that somewhere that may be seen as paradise by outsiders is grappling with issues such as gentrification, rising property prices, and the slow erasure of native communities.

This isn’t just a book about the past, it’s a powerful, urgent call for recognition and respect for Indigenous cultures and histories. If you’re looking to better understand the complexities of these issues and the fight to protect cultural heritage, this book is a must-read. It’s not just an eye-opening story, it’s a reminder of how important it is to support Indigenous communities and their right to shape their own future.

As a non-native American, I appreciated the opportunity that author Joseph Lee provided for me to explore previously unrealized complexities when it comes to major issues of indigenous identity, sovereignty, and community, amongst other issues.

And as a born-and-raised New Englander, I also was honestly very thankful for the opportunity to learn so much about the Aquinnah Wampanoag - a native nation that has been existing right here in my home region that I was admittedly completely unaware about until I first picked up this book.

And in general, as someone whose education was almost dead silent on all things indigenous, I’m just appreciative in general for “Nothing More of This Land” and all that I was able to take from it.

This was such an eye opening memoir, I learned so much. This is not a light read, this has so much information and gives a lot of insight to the author's community. It's insane the amount of history all those generations of people in his family have with being on the reservations and off island. I am first generation but the similarities of their experience and mine were mindblowing. The meetings for their community to come together, the need to keep a language alive because if not it'll die out that much sooner, as well as the feeling of otherness. This country was taken and because of the amount of people and the way this country was built, the history of this country is so complex. I knew that we were not getting the full story in school, we got a version of history but never the full thing. We need to read more diverse stories like this to get another piece of the puzzle that is the history of this country. Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.