Review by 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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by 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.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by 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
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
