The book chronicles the dramatic decline and near-extinction of the American bison, a species once numbering in the tens of millions and central to the ecosystems and cultures of the Great Plains. It delves into the complex factors driving this extermination, including the expansion of American settlers, the ideology of Manifest Destiny, the economic interests of hunters (particularly the use of hides and pemmican), the actions of the US government and the US military, and the devastating impact on Native American tribes who depended on the bison for survival. The narrative covers the period from the bison's near disappearance during the 19th century to the later efforts of conservationists to restore the species.