In this book nominated for the National Book Award, the author presents the past, present, and future of the Indians of North, Central, and South America with current archaeological findings which add to the knowledge about Indians. As noted, the volume contains information from the works of a large number of people who, since the time of Columbus, have contributed to present-day knowledge about Native Americans. The author stresses the point that beliefs, ways of life, and roles of the American Indians are interwoven intimately with the cultures and histories of all the modern nations of the Americas but, even today, the Indian has been a familiar but little known--and often an unreal--person to the non-Indian. Among the major areas discussed in the book is the Indian's struggle for survival in a world that has replaced his original way of life. Several tribes are mentioned to give a brief comparative analysis of the Indian ways of life and the rate of acculturation into the white world. Also explored is the present-day "pan-Indianism" movement among the younger Indians. Black-and-white photographs of Natives representative from Alaska to South America are included, along with demographic maps. A bibliography and index are appended. (EL)