“A man is known by the books he reads…” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, great!

When I was a kid, the Weekly Reader book orders and RIF (Reading Is Fundamental, remember that one) book fairs kept me well stocked on a variety of topics that fall under the umbrella of “pseudoscience.” In addition to Bigfoot, there were sea serpents, UFOs, ESP, poltergeists, The Bermuda Triangle, haunted houses and a myriad of other “strange but true” phenomena that tantalized my active imagination.
For better or worse, the grown-up version of me is a bit more skeptical than the 70s version. But it’s still fun to go back there, and with a house full of youngsters I still get ample time to be a kid too. And just like 40 plus years ago, there have been a more than a few Bigfoot books show up in my home via book fairs and library collections.

It’s funny when looking through some of the newer publications with my boys that I find many familiar faces and tales in those pages. My oldest son, Jayce, seems impressed with my knowledge of the people and events as we flip through the pages of a Bigfoot library book. He also finds it hard to believe that many of those tales have been around longer than his dad.

But those old tales are still the best and my “research” collection and wish list below include more than a few that are less than new.

The Mysterious Monsters (1975) by Robert & Frances Guenette – This is the one that started it all for me and is considered a classic by many Bigfoot fans. I’ve got this one stored away somewhere and need to track it down and read it again in order to see if it can amaze at fifty like it did at ten. It was also made into a documentary film and my general opinion is that the books are always better than the movies. If you’ve seen the film…well, that’s for another day.

Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the Dark Divide (1995) by Robert Michael Pyle – This lepidopterist (butterfly guy) with a Ph.D. from Yale University takes a lengthy trek through the Dark Divide region of Washington State’s Cascade Mountains with Bigfoot on his mind. The book reads variously as a field guide to the area’s flora, fauna and geography, as an editorial on the U.S Forestry Service and as a Bigfoot biography. For me it’s at its best when exploring the Bigfoot myths, possibilities and the cast of characters associated with the hunt. It’s cleverly written, insightful, thought provoking and entertaining to the point that I’ve read it three times. Notable quote on finding evidence for Bigfoot via his bathroom habits: “So what does Bigfoot do? When Sasquatch goes apesh**, does it hide the evidence as careful as people do?”

Bigfoot Sasquatch Evidence (1999) by Dr. Grover Krantz – The late Washington State University professor was one of the few academics to explore the topic and admit a belief in the creature’s existence. The book uses detailed analysis of the evidence in presenting some pretty convincing arguments although it can get a bit technical and dry. It took me a while to wade through this one after a number of fits and starts. It comes out of the gate well and finishes strong but some of the analytical portions in between got me bogged down. Notable quote on the legitimacy of an Indiana footprint cast: “It also showed the two sasquatch traits that I have never revealed to anyone.” And from what I can gather he never did, what’s up with that?

The I-Files: True Reports of Unexplained Phenomena in Illinois (1999) by Jay Rath – While quite entertaining, this book only dedicates a small portion to Bigfoot amidst other topics such as UFO’s, ghosts, giant birds, killer kangaroos and The Mad Gasser of Mattoon just to name a few. Notable quote from the cover: “True reports of unexplained phenomena in Illinois” Clever, just because the reports exist doesn’t necessarily make their content true.

Cryptozoology A to Z (1999) by Loren Coleman and Jerome Clark – Cryptozoology can be defined as “the search for animals whose existence has not been proven.” Well, this reference book has plenty of cryptids (proposed animals) to offer along with brief bios on some of the major players in the history of this discipline. While I believe that all of the people exist(ed), as far as all of the creatures, not so much. Notable quote from the cover: “The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras and Other Authentic Mysteries.” Similar to the previous publication, an “authentic mystery” doesn’t necessitate the existence of such creatures, but it sure sounds good.

The Field Guide to Bigfoot, Yeti and Other Mystery Primates Worldwide (1999) – Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe – I love field guides and have an extensive collection of Peterson, Audubon Society and Stokes editions. They are invaluable resources for those looking to learn about the great outdoors. This guide, on the other hand, is an incredible source of something, and I’ll keep it clean here by just saying “entertainment” or “legend.” It contains entries for more than fifty different creatures, many of which seem the same, categorized into nine classifications. The introduction and afterword contain some interesting discussion while the rest gets a bit redundant and fanciful. Notable quote – “If there is any truth to the testimony of eyewitnesses worldwide…” begins the second sentence of the book and the authors appear to have discounted very few, if any, reports throughout history.

And now, the Wish List (only 60 shopping days until Christmas)

The Search for Bigfoot: Man, Monster or Myth? (1960) by Peter Byrne – Although nearly sixty years old, the fact that it was penned by a Bigfoot hunting legend would make it worth a look.

Sasquatch/Bigfoot: The Search for North America’s Incredible Creature (1993) by Don Hunter with Rene Dahinden – Same as above for a book co-authored by the colorful Dahinden. If his written prose resembles his dialogue, it could certainly be a hoot.

The Myth of Bigfoot: The Inside Story (2004) by Greg Long – The premise here is that the Patterson-Gimlin Film features a man in a monkey suit. It sounds interesting to check out a skeptical investigation of one of the most compelling pieces of evidence.

The Best of Sasquatch Bigfoot (2004) by John Green – This one is actually a combination of two older books written by one of the foremost authorities on the subject. Those titles, “On the Track of Sasquatch” and “Encounters with Bigfoot” are published here in one volume along with some more recent information/updates. Once again, having been written by a legendary researcher I’ll put it on my wish list.

Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science (2006) by Jeffrey Meldrum – A professor at Idaho State University, Meldrum utilizes a scientific approach and experts in various fields to examine the evidence. I have the companion video and it would be interesting to read and compare.

So, there you have it. Your assignment is to select one of these books and submit at least 500 words by Thanksgiving break. Ready, set, read…and don’t forget, nearly a week of Bigfoot left to go.

Talk to you tomorrow. Troy