Customer Reviews

The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book, originally released in 1999, was controversial for the sheer number of different species covered in it. Perhaps the most controversial classification was the oceanic primates, or "mer-beings." This book is not exactly a "straight" reprint of the original volume from 1999; there is a new preface in the beginning and a new index in the back. The rest of it is the original 1999 material, but a good deal of it is relevant to the present-day reports, and the book can be very useful for those searching for these animals. The illustrations are very well-done from other's descriptions (and in some cases, photos and film) and show a diversity of sizes and shapes and colors in these mysterious primates. I do highly recommend this volume (both versions) to give the reader an idea of the different hairy bipeds around the globe.

Bigfoot, Yeti, Yowie, Orang Pendek, and Agogwe. All the most recognizable names in the world of mystery Cryptozoological primates are here. But the not so recognizable names really sale this book. Names like the Jimbra, Ngoloko, Tjangara, and the Tano Giant. And then there are those you may be a little more familiar with, like the Alma and the Didi. How about the Chinese Wildman, or the Yeren? Whether familiar or not, its probably mentioned in this guide. But that is also one of the shortcomings of the Field Guide; so many subjects, too few eyewitness accounts. My one reason for not giving it a 5 star rating. Hopefully more page additions are forthcoming in future revisions.

This is the best book for reading about the myths or facts of the mysterious sightings of humaniod apes from around world. In addition to the wonderful facts there is also many great pictures to identify any of these wonderful elusive beasts.

While I honor the purpose and effort applied to this work, I think the choices of the authors may do as much harm as good! The study of unknown hominids/hominoids/pongids is fraught with controversy, particularly within the scientific community, as they really have a tough time dealing with Cryptozoology as a whole in any case.

The problem is that so many times the really interesting, credible, and scientifically valid Cryptozoologic cases get lumped in with the most preposterous reports, with everything from 'boogie-men' to space aliens and mermaids. Few self-respecting scientists are willing to invest a lot of time or effort in the field, and often write off the whole subject as merely hallucinations or folk-tales (and if you examine some of the tales, it is easy to see why!).

This is a mistake, as there ARE very credible and scientifically useful cases and evidence that can provide the basis for sound investigations, and a few good people are beginning to do just that (Jeff Meldrum is a shining example). This book creates a compendium of different types of unknown creatures, and is intended to be used in the field when speaking to eye-witnesses, etc as a basis for identification. Fair enough! Unfortunately, there is also included a bunch of frankly, quite fanciful creatures ('mer-beings' and others) that really have no business in a work of this type, and can only draw the ridicule of the scientific community if it is used as the basis for any sort of reporting. In addition, the drawings are quite crude, and while this allows a certain amount of flexibility when used as intended, the cartooonish nature of many of these illustrations just is not up to snuff when the level of knowledge and scientific interpretation already obtained is considered.

In sum, if you are looking to get much in the way of the current level of knowledge on this subject, then this is not really the book for you, but instead, I can suggest two other works, the venerable 'Abominable Snowmen, Legend Come to Life' by Ivan T. Sanderson (get the unabridged version), which is STILL, after forty years one of the best investigations into the subject, and second, 'Sasquatch; Legend Meets Science' by Jeff Meldrum, which is the best recent work, and includes analysis of the most recent cases.

How can a book that treats mermaids, lake gremlins, and dozens of different species of apemen as real, biological entities be taken seriously? Well, it can't...But it's fun to read never the less!

I have no doubt that Coleman can't SERIOUSLY believe any of the stuff in his book. Can ANYONE give honest consideration to reports of legless, fish-tailed water monkeys? I mean, without the assistance of some pharmaceutical substances.

Coleman yet again shows that he is completely unfamiliar with any sort of paleoanthropology or primate systematics when he mixes and matches genus and species names and utilizes taxonomies from nearly a century ago. But hey, he's only throwing out 10 cent word to try to convince the gullible that he's up on the latest, greatest, scientific information...he clearly is not.

The drawings are comic-book quality and many look more like Jim Henson creations than real primates. The text is full of unverified speculation, and the whole mess would have benefitted greatly from at least a once-over by an editor. If you're a fan of this sort of thing (and I am), it's worth buying this book just as a novelty. Don't make the mistaken assumption that there's any useful or new information in it. You've seen or heard this all before in more detail, and with better writing.