Manlike Monsters on Trial: Early Records and Modern Evidence
Marjorie Halpin (editor)
1980, Univ of British Columbia Press
370 pp
This is a scholarly book, a collection of papers from the conference “Sasquatch and Similar Phenomena” that took place in May 1978 at the Museum of Anthropology at U of British Columbia. The authors include subject matter experts in physical sciences, social sciences, folklorists, historians, and psychology. This is the must read book for everyone who says Bigfoot has a long history as evidenced by its inclusion in Native American lore. It appears they haven’t read it. Many different geographical areas and indigenous tribes have legends of spirit creatures, monsters, entities, and folklore figures that are compared to modern descriptions (pre-1980) of Bigfoot/Sasquatch. The experts here explain why it is complicated and often flat-out wrong to cherry pick ideas from other cultures to support your perceived idea about a modern concept of Bigfoot. This book is sympathetic to beliefs of all kind and is objective. Most of the papers are not overly dense but can be challenging. Still, the challenge is worth it. Considering how often cryptozoologists say that native stories are evidence for a long history of an animal known as Bigfoot, the understanding and nuance presented here makes this book essential. Find it in university libraries. It will keep you busy for a long while.
Modern Cryptozoology 