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The Mysterious Monsters
"The Mysterious Monsters" is the most comprehensive study of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Abominable Snowman to date!
- GenresNonfictionCryptozoology
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 17, 2022
"Bigfoot" and "Nessie" really broke into the mainstream in the mid-1970's, with movies like THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, and shows like IN SEARCH OF bringing them to audiences that had never heard of such things. This book is the companion to one of the many documentaries (and quasi-documentaries, and outright faked footage movies) that sprung up around the same time.
Yes, it's horribly dated, and most of the contemporary accounts are from the late 1960's and early 1970's. Yes, it's remarkably naive, essentially making the assumption that in just a few years science would prove the existence of both creatures. It's not perfect, but it's a fun time capsule of a time when it really did seem like these mysteries would be solved soon, and it does a fairly even-handed job of looking at the researchers and witnesses active at the time of publication. There are certainly better and more recent books on the subject, but this one is worth seeking out for nostalgia and for an example of what some of the earlier books on the subject were like.
Yes, it's horribly dated, and most of the contemporary accounts are from the late 1960's and early 1970's. Yes, it's remarkably naive, essentially making the assumption that in just a few years science would prove the existence of both creatures. It's not perfect, but it's a fun time capsule of a time when it really did seem like these mysteries would be solved soon, and it does a fairly even-handed job of looking at the researchers and witnesses active at the time of publication. There are certainly better and more recent books on the subject, but this one is worth seeking out for nostalgia and for an example of what some of the earlier books on the subject were like.
October 22, 2014
This is an intriguing book on a topic which, I'm sure, many people would not consider worthy of such scrutiny. But, I think this book does justice to its elusive subjects, mainly the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot (with a brief look at the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman). The author started this book as a skeptic, but by the time the book was finished, he had become a believer. He tells us why in his logical, step-by-step analysis of the evidence, flimsy as it often is. Or is it?
Probably the most frustrating aspect of the whole "Nessie" or Bigfoot arena is the overwhelming amount of evidence, such as blurry photos and eyewitness testimony, yet no tangible proof, not even the remains of a dead Bigfoot or even conclusive photos or movies. We have tons of "evidence", but no real proof. This is probably the main reason most scientists ignore the claims, no matter how many accumulate over the years. "Show me a Bigfoot monster, living or dead, or don't bother."
I think what I like most about this book is the way the author balances the possible with the known (or at least accepted). He lays the facts before the reader and examines them, discarding the ones he believes don't hold up to closer scrutiny, but also acknowledging that, maybe, just maybe, not everyone who claims they saw Bigfoot is either lying, hallucinating, or wrong in one way or another. The author don't reject any claims outright, he sifts through them first and if the claims seem to warrant further investigation, he forges ahead, speculating on what the "eyewitnesses" might have actually seen and experienced.
In the search for the truth about these creatures, the author also enlists the aid of an impressive variety of experts, including scientists, former big game hunters, polygraph experts, and yes, professional monster investigators. The variety of information and opinions is stimulating, such as the question of how best to prove the existence of Bigfoot... shoot it, capture it, photograph it, or just leave it alone.
This last option is part of what I admire most about this book. One of the last chapters is an attempt to create a "profile" of what Bigfoot creatures are really like, including their origin, lifestyle, etc. One view held by many people is that, regardless of what they are or how they got here, they are basically peaceful, gentle creatures, nomads living off the land, at one with Nature. This portrayal may be another reason the Bigfoot "myth" is so popular. Not only do mysterious monsters bring some welcome excitement to the lives of so many, but maybe some of us are fascinated by the idea that, even today, it is possible for some creatures to live in harmony with Nature, taking only what they need and moving on.
Overall, I think the book does an excellent job of treading the middle ground between fantasy and reality and skillfully manages to be both open-minded and discerning. As a side note, this book (co-written with the author's wife, Frances) is a companion volume to the excellent documentary of the same name, hosted by Peter Graves and released in 1975. I highly recommend both.
Probably the most frustrating aspect of the whole "Nessie" or Bigfoot arena is the overwhelming amount of evidence, such as blurry photos and eyewitness testimony, yet no tangible proof, not even the remains of a dead Bigfoot or even conclusive photos or movies. We have tons of "evidence", but no real proof. This is probably the main reason most scientists ignore the claims, no matter how many accumulate over the years. "Show me a Bigfoot monster, living or dead, or don't bother."
I think what I like most about this book is the way the author balances the possible with the known (or at least accepted). He lays the facts before the reader and examines them, discarding the ones he believes don't hold up to closer scrutiny, but also acknowledging that, maybe, just maybe, not everyone who claims they saw Bigfoot is either lying, hallucinating, or wrong in one way or another. The author don't reject any claims outright, he sifts through them first and if the claims seem to warrant further investigation, he forges ahead, speculating on what the "eyewitnesses" might have actually seen and experienced.
In the search for the truth about these creatures, the author also enlists the aid of an impressive variety of experts, including scientists, former big game hunters, polygraph experts, and yes, professional monster investigators. The variety of information and opinions is stimulating, such as the question of how best to prove the existence of Bigfoot... shoot it, capture it, photograph it, or just leave it alone.
This last option is part of what I admire most about this book. One of the last chapters is an attempt to create a "profile" of what Bigfoot creatures are really like, including their origin, lifestyle, etc. One view held by many people is that, regardless of what they are or how they got here, they are basically peaceful, gentle creatures, nomads living off the land, at one with Nature. This portrayal may be another reason the Bigfoot "myth" is so popular. Not only do mysterious monsters bring some welcome excitement to the lives of so many, but maybe some of us are fascinated by the idea that, even today, it is possible for some creatures to live in harmony with Nature, taking only what they need and moving on.
Overall, I think the book does an excellent job of treading the middle ground between fantasy and reality and skillfully manages to be both open-minded and discerning. As a side note, this book (co-written with the author's wife, Frances) is a companion volume to the excellent documentary of the same name, hosted by Peter Graves and released in 1975. I highly recommend both.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews