Books: 1491 by Charles C. Mann

We had heard a lot of this book, 1491, before we ever picked it up, mostly on libertarian-esque blogs. The book's subtitle proclaims it contains: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, and it delivers as promised. The book chronicles the history of Native Americans and what they had really been up to before Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

This book was written to answer a question, what were the Americas like before European settlers arrived? There are many misconceptions that the Native Americans were a bunch of Nobel Savages who lived in harmony with the land and didn't attempt to alter their environment in any way. This book disproves that theory, as well as describing several theories for human migration into the Americas, and chronicling many of their civilizations and their relationship with their environment. It was fascinating to see a myth that we had been taught since we were puppies disproved so soundly in this hefty book.


Quick vote: This book was quite thick, but we really enjoyed it. If you're interested in truth and Native Americans, check it out!


Thanks to all of our loyal readers that attended our Aunt Jiggy's dedication at Beaver Mountain this past Saturday! We're sorry we missed you!