Nothing More of This Land, Joseph Lee
Nothing More of This Land, Joseph Lee
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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Nothing More of This Land
Community, Power, and The Search for Indigenous Identity

Author: Joseph Lee

Narrator: Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Unabridged: 7 hr 43 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/15/2025


Synopsis

Finalist for the 2026 PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction

A Time Must-Read Book of 2025

An NPR Books We Love Most pick

A Tribal College Best Native Studies Book of 2025

From award-winning journalist Joseph Lee, a sweeping, personal exploration of Indigenous identity and the challenges facing Indigenous people around the world.

Before Martha’s Vineyard became one of the most iconic vacation destinations in the country, it was home to the Wampanoag people. Today, as tourists flock to the idyllic beaches, the island has become increasingly unaffordable for tribal members, with nearly three-quarters now living off-island. Growing up Aquinnah Wampanoag, journalist Joseph Lee grappled with what this situation meant for his tribe, how the community can continue to grow, and more broadly, what it means to be Indigenous.

In Nothing More of This Land, Lee weaves his own story and that of his family into a panoramic narrative of Indigenous life around the world. He takes us from the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the icy Alaskan tundra, the smoky forests of Northern California to the halls of the United Nations, and beyond. Along the way he meets activists fighting to protect their land, families clashing with their own tribal leaders, and communities working to reclaim tradition.

Together, these stories reject stereotypes to show the diversity of Indigenous people today and chart a way past the stubborn legacy of colonialism.

About Joseph Lee

Joseph Lee is an Aquinnah Wampanoag writer based in New York City. He has an MFA from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at Mercy University. His writing has been published in The GuardianBuzzFeed NewsVoxElectric Literature, High Country News, and more. He was a Margins Fellow at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and a Senior Indigenous Affairs Fellow at Grist. He has won multiple awards from the Indigenous Journalists Association for environmental coverage, health coverage, and beat reporting and was awarded a 2024 Silvers Grant for Work in Progress. Follow him on X at @JosephVLee and on Instagram at @Joseph.V.Lee. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Courtney on July 29, 2025

I learned so much from this book. Most of it is set in Martha’s Vineyard, which is local to me, and I was shocked by how much of the information was completely new. It was eye-opening to realize just how much Native history has been erased from American history—even when it’s happening right outside......more

Goodreads review by Jordyn on July 19, 2025

i honestly learned so much from this book and appreciate how the author managed to tell the history of his people while also incorporating very unique stories of his growing up. we didn’t learn very much the history of indigenous people in the US when we were younger so this was fascinating to learn......more

Goodreads review by Geoffrey on May 05, 2025

(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley) As a non-native American, I appreciated the opportunity that author Joseph Lee provided for me to explore previously unrealized complexities when it comes to major issues of indigenous identity, sovereignty, and community,......more

Goodreads review by Lauren on July 30, 2025

Just finished, “Nothing More of This Land,” an incredible memoir and analysis of the history of the Aquinnah Wampanoag on Martha’s Vineyard and beyond. Weaving personal stories of trying to find identity, with meticulously researched history, Lee discusses how the Aquinnah have fought (and still are......more

Goodreads review by Heather on July 24, 2025

I had heard this author, Joseph Lee, interviewed on NPR as he spoke about being Aquinnah Wampanoag. In doing my genealogy I discovered I am a descendant of the Wampanoag people (Quadequina Chief Wampanoag 11th great grandfather) so I was excited to read this book. I learned many things and I'm grate......more


Quotes

"Shaun Taylor–Corbett provides a layered delivery of this audiobook about the Wampanoag tribe of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. While the island may evoke images of the wealthy elite, the tribe, of which the author is a member, had a thriving culture there much earlier. Lee reflects on tourists’ fundamental lack of understanding of tribal history. Listeners will also find the deep discussions on the nature of sovereignty engaging. Lee asks how Indigenous people are impacted when it’s the federal government that defines tribal sovereignty. And how does a person with mixed Indigenous ancestry identify with their own tribe? Taylor–Corbett's voice captures the inquisitive tone of this work."