Customer Reviews

Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life

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I read this on my Kindle.
Iverson's book is clearly dated in its approach not only to cryptozoology but also to anthropology (both biologic and cultural), but he does cover an amazing amount of ground. He manages to touch upon every major "viewing area" for man-like cryptids around the world, and to come up with a theory of speciation for the various types he identifies.

The book contains lots of maps--Iverson's favorite teaching tool--but on the Kindle they are a pain to try to read. If you need reading glasses, and you're not too good at geography to begin with, you'll be out of luck on this one!!

I found reading the book interesting, but several times was drawn up short by Iverson's lack of deep understanding (of the sort we take for granted in 2011) of peoples with other cultures or languages, despite his wide experience with them.

If you're into cryptozoology, for sure read this book, but perhaps get it in print so that you can see the maps a bit better. . .

I first read this book back in junior high school in the early 1970's. It was one of my favorite books, about a very arcane subject, the Abominable Snowman! I can't tell you how excited I was to find a copy and one that is like new no less. If you are interested in unusual subjects, like the Yeti or Sasquatch, then this is the book for you. Not sensationalist in the least, it tries very hard to examine the subject from a truly scientific point of view. An excellent read, even if a bit dated.

Evan if you don't believe in monsters and things that go boo in the wilderness, this is a dandy book. It's well written by a man who at least was a zoologist and a natural journalist. He has some entertaining things to say about the more exotic and mysterious things that live on the earth,including us. Many good anecdotes, quite a few scientific facts, and a general sense of what makes a whopping story. It's a pity that so many people have put so much effort into trying to prove a possibiity with crummy fake feet and fur, and teeth and skulls. I'd be just as happy to simply have the mystery left where it should be, in the mind of the reader.