A look at what was going on in North America during the 100 years between Columbus and the Pilgrims. It's heavy on the conquistadors, which is fair because that's who was mucking around in North America at that time. What really makes it a good read is how the author always brings it back to the now, showing us what became of these invaded/explored areas and what modern residents think about their local history. ( )

Excellent details on the early explorers and settlers in America. Very interesting and I recommend this. ( )

I found this book to be very enjoyable. I read this book as extra credit for one of my classes but liked it nonetheless. I really love learning about history but some academic history books can be very dry and boring to read so I like history books like this where it was written for a broad audience. There was a lot of stuff in this book I didn't know but also lots and lots of facts that I did know. This is probably partially because I'm in an American history class right now but some things that the author discovered where he was like "this is so cool I had no idea this happened!" I already knew about it and it was less exciting. I would say definitely pick up this book if you are interested in learning more about who the earliest settlers of America were, where the went, what they did, and how they affected the native peoples. Very informative and I pretty interesting read. ( )

Since I am a fan of Horwitz's wife, Geraldine Brooks, I thought I'd pick up this work of historical investigative journalism from her husband. Traveling with him to discover the history of North America before and until the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, was a treat.

This is not a romanticized version of what happened. He takes pains to interview not only historians but ancestors of the Native Americans whose heritage was completely upended as well. At times it was funny, his description of his experiences in a Micmac sweatlodge had me laughing. Things he found out about Hernando de Soto made me furious. But no matter where he was in the Carribean or the United States, and no matter whose historical record he was examining, I was fascinated. The pages turned themselves.

This is not really a feel-good story for any of us. But Horwitz did his best to find the truth of what happened. The result is a satisfying read. ( )

U.S. History is probably taught in different ways across the Country, but few programs, if any, seem to cover the story on our shores in the period between the Columbus discovery and the arrival of the Pilgrims over 100 years later. Yet there were many stories, primarily of the Spanish, but also including the French and British, which are given only the briefest of mention. Horwitz fills that gap, and retells the forgotten stories of the native Americans and earliest explorers. The story is told as part of his own travels across the Country, retracing the steps of many of these early settlers in our Country. It's not just a history review, but historical information told as part of the authors travels, keeping the story fresh and interesting. ( )