The secret history of Bigfoot : field notes on a North American monster

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Physical Description:

289 pages ; 24 cm.

Summary:

Bigfoot is an instantly recognizable figure. Through the decades, this elusive primate has been featured in movies and books, on coffee mugs, beer koozies, car polish, and CBD oil. Which begs the question: what is it about Bigfoot that's caught hold of our imaginations? Journalist and self-diagnosed skeptic John O'Connor is fascinated by Sasquatch. Curious to learn more, he embarks on a quest through the North American wilds in search of Bigfoot, its myth and meaning. Alongside an eccentric cast of characters, he explores the zany and secretive world of "cryptozoology," tracking Bigfoot through ancient folklore to Harry and the Hendersons, while examining the forces behind our ever-widening belief in the supernatural. As O'Connor treks through the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest, listens to firsthand accounts, and attends Bigfoot conventions, he's left wondering―what happens when the lines between myth and reality blur? Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson and Douglas Preston, and with sharp wit and an adventurous spirit, this heartfelt exploration of a cornerstone of American folklore unpacks why we believe in the things that we do, what that says about us, and how it shapes our world.

Subject Term:

Cryptozoology

Sasquatch

Publication Info:

[Naperville, Illinois] : Sourcebooks Inc, 2024.

Subject:

Cryptozoology

Sasquatch

Big foot (Creature)

Bigfoot

SAILS ISBN:

9781464216633

Available:

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Searching... Acushnet Library	001.944 OCO 2024	NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
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Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"A winning portrait of America at its weirdest." -- Publishers Weekly STARRED Review

From the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest to off-the-wall cryptozoological conventions, one man searches high and low for the answer to the question: real or not, why do we want to believe?

Journalist and self-diagnosed skeptic John O'Connor is fascinated by Sasquatch. Curious to learn more, he embarks on a quest through the North American wilds in search of Bigfoot, its myth and meaning. Alongside an eccentric cast of characters, he explores the zany and secretive world of "cryptozoology," tracking Bigfoot through ancient folklore to Harry and the Hendersons, while examining the forces behind our ever-widening belief in the supernatural. As O'Connor treks through the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest, listens to firsthand accounts, and attends Bigfoot conventions, he's left wondering--what happens when the lines between myth and reality blur?

Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson and Douglas Preston, and with sharp wit and an adventurous spirit, this heartfelt exploration of a cornerstone of American folklore unpacks why we believe in the things that we do, what that says about us, and how it shapes our world.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

What does it mean that so many Americans believe a large ape-like creature roams the country's forests? Journalist O'Connor attempts to answer this question in an amusing and thoughtful debut that focuses on "bigfooters" as much as on the legendary beast itself. Through fieldwork and interviews, O'Connor analyzes the belief as a social phenomenon while also cataloging the long history of sightings and noting links to Native American legends concerning a wild man living in the woods. He gives space to serious believers (their ranks include two-time National Book Award winner Peter Matthiessen, who claimed he may have spotted a yeti in 1970s Nepal and thought a similar creature could exist in North America) while also citing fellow author Robert Michael Pyle, a bigfoot agnostic, who theorizes that both bigfooting and Trumpism are related "expressions of disproportionally white, male, middle-aged American angst." (Though not everyone who believes in bigfoot is drawn to the hunt for such reasons, O'Connor points out.) Plunging into the mystery directly, O'Connor participates in a recreation of the famed 1967 Patterson-Gimlin footage (which purported to show a bigfoot walking for several seconds in California) that fails to prove the figure depicted was above average height. Throughout, O'Connor uses bigfoot as a launching point into rewarding ruminations on pop culture, psychology, and philosophy. It's a winning portrait of America at its weirdest. (Feb.)

Booklist Review

Americans are cryptid crazy. From Mothman to the Jersey Devil to Chupacabra, they can't get enough. But when it comes to American cryptids, Bigfoot reigns supreme. The hairy fiend can be found everywhere, in movies and television commercials, on beer cans, and on scented candles. Why has Bigfoot captured the imagination of a nation? Journalist O'Connor takes readers on an eccentric expedition to answer that burning question. From the Pacific Northwest to the mountains of Appalachia, O'Conner travels the country meeting "Bigfooters," joining them on quests, and attending cryptozoological conventions. Through his interactions, he begins to unravel the psyche of Sasquatch supporters and the human need to believe. He also investigates other questionably existent beings like the ivory-billed woodpecker. Throughout the book, O'Conner provides context regarding Bigfoot's origins (Indigenous lore and European myths) and rise to fame (the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film). Playful and chock-full of kooky characters (human and beast), this informative yet raucous account is perfect for fans of Louis Theroux.

Library Journal Review

What does Bigfoot have to do with Trumpism, economic insecurity, or the ivory-billed woodpecker? Quite a bit, according to O'Connor, a journalist and self-labeled skeptic. He takes readers on what he calls a "Bigfoot walkabout," which stretches from Walden Pond, MA, to Texas. This is unlike the average book about Bigfoot: it's elevated by O'Connor's jaunty writing style, which flows as he recounts famous encounters with the humanlike legendary creature and relates relevant factoids from American history (sprinkled with the occasional expletive) and anecdotes from folks he meets as he explores in the woods, on porches, in cultural centers, and at conventions. Along the way, he discusses some interesting facets of "squatching," the search for and investigation of the mythical creature. For example, he notes the solidarity and community-building that Bigfoot hunting provides, along with the problematic aspects of mostly white Bigfoot enthusiasts appropriating Indigenous stories and retroactively applying them to Bigfoot lore. He also explains the difference between the two camps of Bigfoot searchers: "the flesh-and-blood" and "the woo." VERDICT This wildly informative investigative narrative about Bigfoot is definitely worth reading. It's best suited for nonbelievers, but readers convinced that Bigfoot exists will have a great time too.--Jack Phoenix

Prologue	xi
Shadow Country	1
Entering Squatchachusetts	43
Here There Be Monsters	77
All Kinds of Mysterious Craziness	105
The Legend of Bayou De View	136
Glooskap and the Forest Walkers	169
The Center of the World	193
Consolations of Squatchology	228
Epilogue	262
Acknowledgments	265
Reading Group Guide	267
Bibliography	269
Index	274
About the Author	290

Available:

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Booklist Review

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents