Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MODERN TAKE & A FASCINATING BOOK!, June 14, 2006
Like most amateur Bigfoot enthusiasts, I have read dozens of books on the phenomenon, but Thom Powell's THE LOCALS is truly the new standard to which all future books on the subject will be compared.
There are a number of reasons why this is such an excellent Bigfoot/Sasquatch book; however, rather than write endless paragraphs on them, allow me to make my points as a list:
1. Powell doesn't waste his or the reader's time by rehashing (at least in lengthy detail) the "classic" cases--the Albert Ostman story, Ruby Creek, Mt. St. Helens, the Patterson film, etc. Instead, Powell focuses his energies on relating and interpreting more modern (or previously less publicized) accounts.
2. Unlike some Bigfoot researchers who do what Sherlock Holmes described as a "cardinal" error--using facts selectively to fit theories--Powell lays out the facts of Bigfoot encounters as patterns, then develops theories that fit those patterns. This is truly the use of scientific method, and in an arena where conjecture runs rampant, Powell's approach is refreshing.
3. As far as I know, Powell is the first Bigfoot researcher who has posited the idea that Bigfoots may possess "alternative" higher abilities, which would explain both the eerie similarities between accounts of encounters and the reason why the creatures have managed to elude humans so well for so long. For example, Powell spends several pages in the book discussing the possibility that Bigfoots may possess infrasound capabilities (emitting low-level frequencies to paralyze and disorient humans or prey). Bigfoots having this ability would explain the "I'm being watched" sensation so often felt by people venturing into an area populated by Bigfoots.
4. As a writer myself and former philosophy major, I was impressed by Powell's reference to Occam's Razor--the idea that when faced with several competing theories or explanations for a phenomenon, the simplest is usually the best. Powell uses Occam's Razor to show that Bigfoots existing makes more sense than the main alternative: it is the result of a widespread hoax/mass hallucination. There are many other moments in his work where he lucidly describes complex ideas and scientific theories.
5. The book is very well-written, a fact which makes up for the lack of pictures and illustrations.
6. Powell's discussions of remote cameras, the Skookum Cast, and habituation are both enlightening and entertaining.
My only criticism of this book is that I don't agree with Powell's idea that we should be trying to habituate Bigfoots to human presence. I have a moral problem with that; most of the time, whatever we humans touch that is part of Nature, we only ruin. Searching for them, on their own turf, is one thing; making them comfortable around humans is another.
Overall, I have to say that if you have even a fleeting interest in this subject, THE LOCALS is the book to buy. Powell has raised the bar for all future Bigfoot books, and he has set a new standard for a truly scientific approach to the problem.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshingly different, October 26, 2005
This is the best book I have read about the Bigfoot phenomena since "In the Footsteps of the Russian Snowman". Thom Powell intelligently examines all of the various aspects of phenomena, giving possible credence to every explanation and ariiving at some potential possibilities of his own. What I particularly like was Thom Powells non-arrogant approach - he doesn't demean or mock people but gives each point of view consideration.
Essentially Thom looks at the conflicting approaches of the Bigfoot phenomena. The scientific standpoint which supposes that Bigfoot are real flesh and blood animals, with no particular qualities albeit being especially intelligent in comparison to any other animal. This is in opposition to the other school of thought that attribute Bigfoot to the realms of the supernatural or as being visitors from other worlds (either in time or space).
The book very coherently explores both these possibilities - backing them up with various case studies. I had not heard these case studies before and it was pleasant to read them rather than the usual Ostman, Ape Canyon, Patterson stories. On this point alone the book is very refreshing.
Thom is very respectful in terms of his regard for Native American traditions regarding Bigfoot and suggesting that many Native American beliefs stating that Bigfoot is both real and 'spirit' quite possibly makes the most sense as a way of understanding the phenomena. This is not to say that there is not a rational, 'scientific' explanation of Bigfoot but that science currently does not have the knowledge/ tools/ open-mindedness to understand the phenomenon and that perhaps science needs to address it own attitudes towards the universe.
Interestingly Thom draws many of the same conclusions as the author of 'In the Footsteps of the Russian Snowman'. Firstly that Bigfoot/ Bigfeet can be best explained not as supernatural but as 'super-animals'. Secondly that the best way of achieving contact will be through prolonged habituation in which co-existence is established between humans and bigfeet through gradual trust building. Cases are presented where this has happened and is currently happening.
Thom also explores some aspects of the Bigfoot phenomena such as involvement of other faceless and not no faceless agencies that are keen to play down or outright seek to ridicule the Bigfoot phenomena. Thom again poses some possibilities as to who these people might be and their motivations but avoids the whole intense conspiracy theory route.
Take the time to read this book - I suspect that within a few years it will be as much of a classic as John Greens ' Sasquatch - The Apes Among Us'
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Strange book but nicely up to date, October 1, 2004
I enjoyed reading The Locals - but, I feel that it is not the real investigative book that it pitches itself as. It is well written; however, the investigation is lacking in much meat that would make the book and the investigator credible. For instance, the researcher goes off on some expeditions and finds some evidence which either startles him, he runs out of time or just gives up. The reader (and theorist) is left wondering -- why??? If you are on the tracks of collecting pictures and sounds or having a genuine contact, why would you leave the scene and just explain that you ran out of time or gave up? I dont think that is very good science or investigative research. Other than that, its a nice read. It was good fun to read as I traveled through the Skookum/St Helens area myself.
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