The idea of the Native American living in perfect harmony with nature is one of the most cherished contemporary myths. But how truthful is this larger-than-life image? According to anthropologist Shepard Krech, the first humans in North America demonstrated all of the intelligence, self-interest, flexibility, and ability to make mistakes of human beings anywhere. As Nicholas Lemann put it inCompleted in 1989, Aira's near-memoir is a foreboding fable of life and art.An utter faith in his fabulous tales is all this author can offer&such marvelous fantasies. A good story and first-rate social science.