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The Toughest Indian in the World
Sherman Alexie. Grove Press: 2001 (paperback). ISBN: 0802138004. 250 pages.
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About the Author
A page of detailed biographical information on Sherman Alexie, including excerpts from interviews in which Alexie interprets his own work.
Sherman Alexie is perhaps best known for his recent and provocative film Smoke Signals. But he’s been setting fictional fires for quite some time before that. Check out this section to absorb some of the life, words, and times of one of America’s most intriguing authors.
All in the Family
A synopsis of the literary traditions and genres with which The Toughest Indian in the Worldis affiliated and a brief explanation of these connections, giving your book group the opportunity to understand Alexie’s novel in a larger literary perspective.
We could say that Alexie’s work belongs to the category of Contemporary Native American Literature. But what does this heading mean, exactly? Who does it include, or exclude? To learn more about this problematic nature of genre, turn to this section.
Character Tree
A list of major characters and their dominant characteristics and values, showing characters’ relationships to each other.
You’ll find this helpful to think about the many characters of the collection’s individual stories and the collection as a whole. Just a quick look at this section will encourage you to begin looking for some major patterns in the lives of Alexie’s characters.
Streams of Themes
A breakdown of potential major discussion themes in Alexie’s collection, including ways these themes are interconnected.
On the Rez, On the Town: these are two very different places for Alexie’s Indian characters. For a comprehensive discussion of the way that reservation life versus city life is represented in the collection, as well as of other central thematic concerns, visit this section of the guide.
Talk Back to the Critics
Excerpts of some major critical reviews of The Toughest Indian in the World from authoritative journals, newspapers, and magazines. We encourage your book group to enjoy the opportunity to argue with expert opinion.
Most critics agree that Alexie is one of the most important writers to be working in America today—in fact, The New Yorker placed him on their list of the best writers under the age of forty. But how do those in the know respond to this short story collection, his latest effort? Move to this section and see what you think about what they think.
Doorways to Discussion
A chronologically and thematically organized list of discussion questions, which function to explore, in a logical and thoughtful manner, the questions and possibilities that The Toughest Indian in the World evokes.
“What is an Indian?” That question is asked, most explicitly and repeatedly, by the caretaker character in the final story of this collection. We’ve added on to this question to help you break it down. Flip to the question section to get started on what is sure to be a heated discussion.
Taste Test
A selection of other books on subjects similar to those in The Toughest Indian in the World to consider for future book group meetings or for private reading.
Looking for more fiction by today’s most influential Native American authors? Hunting for another great short story collection? Don’t forget to glance at our Taste Test for some promising suggestions.
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