"Ask experts on American Indians to comment on any tribe except the one among whom they are doing field work, and they are likely to say, "that's not my tribe." Hultkrantz treads where other angels fear to with this audacious and clear overall survey. He leaves room for specialists to debate and generalists to quicken curiosity. A must. Begin here. Grow here."
-- Christian Century

"A clearly written, sober, comprehensive survey...Hultkrantz is a notable Swedish scholar, active in the field for over 25 years...Here he summarizes the gigantic corpus of modern anthropological scholarship on Amerindian religion (of both continents, but primarily North America), dealing first with tribal religions, and then with the religions of the "American high culture" (Incas, Mayas, Aztecs, and related peoples)....a highly useful and reliable guide."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"Hultkrantz is not concerned with giving a minutely detailed account of Amerindian religions, but rather with providing an overall view of these religions that will be able to provide a sense of the meaningfulness of the religious world of Amerindians....Overviews of Amerindian religions are, curiously, almost nonexistent; this one, based as it is on wide and solid scholarship, should easily become the standard introduction to the religions of North and South American Indians."
-- Adris Newsletter

"Although there are hundreds of tribal groups throughout the Americas each with its own language, culture, and local religion, there are certain basic patterns to be found in many neighboring religions and even among separated groups. The author...has used a phenomenological, historical, and ecological approach....a major...survey."
-- New Review of Books and Religion

"Outlines, in broad strokes, the main features of Native American religions; it is based on an exhaustive study of historical and ethnographic texts. The material is divided into two parts....Both sections provide fundamental knowledge and point to generic connections between cultural areas. A well-researched work with comprehensive bibliography, sure to be of interest to historians of religion and those interested in American culture."
-- Library Journal