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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(6 of 9 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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(5 of 9 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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(8 of 13 readers found this comment helpful)
Read the INK Q&A with Nikolai Grozni and save 30% on Turtle Feet: The Making and Unmaking of a Buddhist Monk.
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.(6 of 9 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.
(5 of 9 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.(8 of 13 readers found this comment helpful)