Bigfoot! The True Story of Apes in America by Loren Coleman. Do I believe in Bigfoot? Depends on what you mean. If by "Bigfoot" you mean some terrifying creature of the night that is superhumanly intelligent, attacks people, and has an affinity for UFOs, no. If you mean some sort of unknown North American primate, yes. There have been way too many sightings, consistent over the years, for me to think that there isn't something there. The "what" of that something evades us, but I figure there is definitely more to it than a bunch of pranksters. After all, Bigfoot sightings go back hundreds of years. Before reading this book I had done some very slight research, enough to know what not to say when talking about Bigfoot, but not much more. This book was written for people like me, who have little or no knowledge of the mystery, but are interested in learning a bit more.
The book has a strange organization, almost a stream of consciousness instead of neatly categorized. While this doesn't detract from the book too much, there were moments that I expected more than I got because the author would finish with a topic before I thought he ought to be done. It's a minor quibble, but definitely impacts how much some people will enjoy the book.
Coleman covers the legends of Bigfoot from a handpicked few of the earliest native legends up to the latest sightings. He takes care to point out which sightings he feels are real events while also deconstructing some of the ones that are probably fake. While he does this, he lays out the patterns of fraud and tricksterism in the Bigfoot world so that the reader can judge. There is no shortage of incredible characters in the modern story of bigfoot. From self-proclaimed Bigfoot hoaxer Ray Wallace to feuding modern "experts", the story is rife with controversy and pig-headed adventurers intent on doing their own thing. Coleman puts it all in, yet even with the insanity, the patterns of sightings go on relentlessly... arguing the case that there really is something out there.
Coleman's book also answered a question I never thought to ask about regional differences between sightings. From reading the book, you might conclude that there are at least three distinct species that are known to the world as "Bigfoot". Luckily for me, the most peaceful type apparently lives around here in the Pacific Northwest. Coleman also shows some distaste for a local Bigfoot hunter who lives in my hometown of Bothell, Cliff Crook. After hunting down Crook's website for more information, I wasn't too impressed with the guy, either. People who feel secure about themselves don't make pages that say "I'm not a hoaxer" on free webhosting services.
Overall, this is not a book I'd recommend to serious Bigfoot experts who have already spent years in the field and have set ideas about all the stories surrounding the mystery. But for anyone who has a limited knowledge of the subject and wants to read some ripping good tales and understand the background of Bigfoot research, including some dirty laundry, this is your book. Recommended.
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