In recent years I’ve developed an increasing interest in conspiracies and cults, most especially in what sorts of people are the most likely to believe in them and what exactly drives them to do so. You can’t really delve into this subject without also touching upon folklore and cryptozoology, and my fondness for horror and relative open-mindedness about such things means I wouldn’t want to avoid them. As a result, I was very intrigued by John O’Connor’s The Secret History of Bigfoot, a book which purported to examine both the myth itself and its most ardent believers, but which unfortunately turned out to feel more and more like the author’s philosophical ramblings as it went on.

It begins well enough, as O’Connor regales the reader with his exploits trekking along the Appalachian Trail, in search of the elusive creature and those who claim to have seen it. He writes in a fun, conversational style, laced with beautiful descriptions of the natural world around him and frequent diversions into David Sedaris-like humor. The first several chapters carry on in much the same enjoyable way. Some psychological theorizing is peppered throughout these early sections and it offers some keen insights into the parts of modern life that might make people susceptible to believe so deeply in something so seemingly impossible.

About halfway through the book though, the psychoanalysis and philosophizing almost completely take over, with mentions of Bigfoot becoming rarer and rarer. The author makes several good points, most especially as to how the whole thing relates to our planet’s dwindling natural resources, and remains pleasant enough to read, but as he gets further and further from the stated subject of the book, one questions what it’s even about. The surprisingly high number of liberal talking points is also likely to put off some readers entirely, and usually feels completely out of place.

In the end, O’Connor brings it back around and attempts to draw some conclusions from his experiences. He refreshingly avoids coming down for or against Bigfoot’s existence, though is clearly skeptical, and expresses at least some respect towards the different people he encountered along the way (I suspect at least a few are unlikely to speak to him again after reading this however). He also manages to leave the reader with a lingering wistfulness for the amount of the natural world that has already been lost forever. It is frequently posited herein that one of the reasons we want so badly to believe in Bigfoot and his ilk is that it allows us to believe that there is still something of mystery out there, despite mankind’s never-ending encroachment into the wilderness. It feels like there is something to the theory. As author and naturalist Peter Matthiessen is quoted saying in the book, “I think it’s going to be a very dull world when there’s no more mystery at all.” ★★★

Thanks to John O’Connor, SOURCEBOOKS and Netgalley for access to the advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been interested in Bigfoot since I was young and was excited to see The Secret History of Bigfoot to read some new, significant information. Ultimately, I was disappointed.

The title promises a secret history. While there is some information that provides a historical context, it didn’t come across as a history on the topic. I also didn’t sense there was much that was secret either and the multiple, long forays into politics were also off putting. This really is a narrative of a quest to explore and learn more about Bigfoot and the people involved in similar quests today. Perhaps if the book had been titled consistent with that, I might have had different expectations and enjoyed the book more.

I found this book very interesting. I was intrigued from the first couple of pages and loved reading about bigfoot.

A Secret History of Bigfoot is not just a book about the mysterious Sasquatch that wanders North America, but about the places it has been sighted in, the people who have sighted them and discerning credible accounts from hoaxes.

There is a lot of information contained within these pages and John O'Connor is an engaging writer, keeping my interest with an immersive narrative that flows beautifully from one chapter to the next

I requested this book because I visited New Hampshire a few times over the last cople years and my friends told me that sightings (or claims thereof) had increased in recent years, alongside the increase in commercial souveniers of the same. I considered my friends comments to be made with an amount of cynicism and I can truthfully say that this book has given me some wonderful insight (plus an extensive armoury of perspectives) about which to banter about on my next foray into the mountains of North-East America

A wonderful book for fans of the squatch and mysteries in general, also those who enjoy the ecology and natural environment of North America

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher Sourcebooks and the author John O'Connor for this enjoyable and enlightening ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O'Connor is categorized as History, Nonfiction and Travel which grabbed my attention immediately. However, after reading political barb after political barb (I'm not even American) and nothing about travel, I disagree. My hopes were to learn more about Bigfoot but the social commentary quickly overshadowed the allure of Bigfoot. What a shame. The wit was sometimes humorous but other times missed the mark completely.

So many disappointments here prevented me from finishing this book. Not at all what I had envisioned when requesting the ARC.

I was hoping for some good narrative nonfiction or travel writing, but this fell a little flat for me. It was almost as if there was a line of humorous and serious that was being walked and the story didn't know which side to walk on.

I am such a fan of myths and "urban legends" so I was really excited to get this book. It was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I eat up anything Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster so I flew through this one.

This book is definitely very well written and I did like the adventure that it catalogues throughout. The only problem I ended up having is that for a book that says it's about Bigfoot I felt like he was more of a side character to everything. Still very much worth reading.

This isn't just a book about Bigfoot. This is a book about nature, the environment, history, and animals in general. It is funny and so interesting I couldn't stop reading once I started.
I felt this in my soul. Yes it can be male centric but bigfooting is kind of a man's sport.

Protect our wild spaces!
I loved every single word.

I enjoyed all the parts that specifically had to do with Bigfoot, however, the author did go off on many side tangents that made it less interesting to me. I sometimes skimmed to get back to the actual Bigfoot stuff. I did enjoy the added bits of humor, and the facts and history he added surrounding Bigfoot.

Interesting look at Bigfoot hunters and why they do what they do. I found there were way too many political references in the book for a non-political topic. I was hoping for more observations made by the author himself rather than rehashing sightings made by others. Instead, this felt more like cheap shots at a segment of the population that the author doesn't agree with masquerading as a informative guide on Bigfoot and how to find him.

My review for this book is published in LIBRARY JOURNAL. The link is provided. I nominated it for a starred review, and it was accepted. This was a pleasure to read, surprising in so many ways

I like the perspective this story takes. Instead of focusing specifically on evidence for or against the existence of bigfoot, It looks at the hype around why people are so focused on the potential of its existence or proving that it doesn't exist. I think the author's beliefs in regards to bigfoot are clear, but I think the book can be enjoyable even if yours are different. The humor was fun in some areas, but felt out of place at times.

My dirty little secret has always been my love of cryptids and the unexplained. I love cryptozoology and am an avid follower of sightings around the United States, both of Bigfoot and the others. So when I was approved to read this I immediately dived in and was glad I did. John O’Connor’s humor throughout made it fun to read and overall was very informative. I would recommend this book to all of my fellow paranormal junkies!

"Playful and chock full of kooky characters (human and beast), this informative yet raucous account is perfect for fans of Louis Theroux..." - full review to appear in BookList

A look into the American myth and legend - Bigfoot. I wanted to like this more because my husband and I love cryptids, but the writing just felt a little chaotic for me. Still interesting, just thought it could have been less all over the place in terms of writing style.

In THE SECRET HISTORY OF BIGFOOT: FIELD NOTES ON A NORTH AMERICAN MONSTER, John O’Connor recounts some of his adventures on bigfoot hunts and at conventions. He speaks with both believes and naysayers throughout his adventures.

I’ve never had an encounter, but I’m a believer in Bigfoot. That being said, I didn’t really learn anything new about Bigfoot from reading this book. The author is neither a believer or a disbeliever, and he makes it clear that none of his experiences will sway him either way. The title is also misleading—there are no secrets revealed and it doesn’t really go into too much of the history of Bigfoot. There were also a lot of unflattering comparisons between Bigfoot believers and Trump supporters. In the end, there are some interesting sections in the book that are worthy of checking out.

A delightful romp of a journey through Bigfoot's history and the links that belief in the unexplainable create in the long story of humanity. O'Connor crafts both a wistful travelogue through Bigfoot's territories and navel-gazing examination of why people believe. Rather than a linear examination of the historical record of Bigfoot stories, O'Connor meanders from topic to topic seeking not the capital T Truth about Bigfoot, but the individual truths of Bigfoot hunters. Highly recommend.

After the hot mess that 2023 proved to be, I thought what better way to close it out than to read a book about BIGFOOT!

As I read this book, it became clear that, as John O'Connor pointed out, there are two basic types of folks. There are those who live in the world of facts, evidence, and the verification of the aforementioned facts and evidence. Then there are those folks who have, shall we say, less affinity for facts and lean far heavier on the mythic, the folklore, and non-verified but believed *facts* in their known world.

And whether we apply the above to the search for say BIGFOOT, SASQUATCH, YETI, UFOs, and other assorted things that add mystery and wonder to our world, we can absolutely apply the same dynamic to other aspects of our lives. It is fair to say that America is a land of contradictions, strongly held beliefs (and opinions), and an ever burgeoning quest to understand our world and our place within it. As O'Connor posits, perhaps it is both divergent positions that have always informed human nature. By embracing both, we might be better equipped to understand ourselves better; and through that knowledge bring more clarity (and unity) to our shared world.

Thanks to the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of "The Secret History of Bigfoot."

This book has an anticipated publish date of February 6,2024.

#thesecrethistoryofbigfoot
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#mysteries of our naturalworld

Having bigfoots, cryptids, and classic poets like Keats all mentioned in the same book was something I'd never expected to read. John O'Connor's vast knowledge really makes this an interesting read.