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Fresh Air

Fresh Air

David Treuer traces America's relationship with violence back to the frontier

Oct 20, 2026 · 45m

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On this episode

About this episode

Ojibwe writer David Treuer’s new book, The Savage Mind: An American Legacy , is written as a letter to his three children. It examines how the violence that shaped America's founding still influences who we are today. Treuer has spent much of his career challenging the idea that Native American history is a story of tragedy and disappearance, and that Native culture is a thing of the past. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about why he felt compelled to write the book now. Plus, rock critic Ken Tucker reviews an extended version of Stevie Wonder’s iconic 50 year-old album Songs in the Key of Life . Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube channel…