Revisionist history with a scientific backbone. Charles Mann has succeeded in knitting archaeological and anthropological findings together to turn our orthodox beliefs about the Americas, pre-Columbus, on their heads. Much of this science is not really new and many of the findings are regional and incremental. But his skill in connecting the dots presents a startling new picture of the New World, one quite at odds with the conventional textbook stories of a vast, empty continent. He starts each section with a clear overview of the new view he will be charting, then descends into sometimes complex, sometimes arcane pieces of anthro- or archaeological work. Just as it's getting pretty dense for the lay-reader, he has the good sense to link back to the bigger picture. I learned a good bit about the work of these history detectives, as well as getting a very, very different picture of the peoples that lived here for millennia before Columbus.
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(15 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)
This is a great read touching on complex subjects. First, the environmental component - people living simply, escaping from a consumer-crazed society. Second, the coming-of-age aspect of a young man who doesn't fit in, but with a novel twist.
I read this book with pleasure, recommended it to an enviro-reading group who also enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to curling up with it again this winter.
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(12 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
Gibon's prose is relaxed and confident, though the newness of his cyber themes is worn a bit thin. At heart this is a simple mcguffin concept and the ending left me a bit disappointed. Still, a good summer read.
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(25 of 41 readers found this comment helpful)
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Peter Saucerman has commented on (3) products.
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
Peter Saucerman, April 6, 2007
Revisionist history with a scientific backbone. Charles Mann has succeeded in knitting archaeological and anthropological findings together to turn our orthodox beliefs about the Americas, pre-Columbus, on their heads. Much of this science is not really new and many of the findings are regional and incremental. But his skill in connecting the dots presents a startling new picture of the New World, one quite at odds with the conventional textbook stories of a vast, empty continent. He starts each section with a clear overview of the new view he will be charting, then descends into sometimes complex, sometimes arcane pieces of anthro- or archaeological work. Just as it's getting pretty dense for the lay-reader, he has the good sense to link back to the bigger picture. I learned a good bit about the work of these history detectives, as well as getting a very, very different picture of the peoples that lived here for millennia before Columbus.(15 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)
Ordinary Wolves by Seth Kantner
Peter Saucerman, November 13, 2006
This is a great read touching on complex subjects. First, the environmental component - people living simply, escaping from a consumer-crazed society. Second, the coming-of-age aspect of a young man who doesn't fit in, but with a novel twist.I read this book with pleasure, recommended it to an enviro-reading group who also enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to curling up with it again this winter.
(12 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
Peter Saucerman, August 16, 2006
Gibon's prose is relaxed and confident, though the newness of his cyber themes is worn a bit thin. At heart this is a simple mcguffin concept and the ending left me a bit disappointed. Still, a good summer read.(25 of 41 readers found this comment helpful)