Cryptozoology Gets Respect While Bigfooters Behave Badly

Cryptozoology Gets Respect While Bigfooters Behave Badly
A new book is out about the study of legendary hidden animals -- Bigfoot, Yeti, Loch Ness Monster, Mokele Mbembe -- and it's getting positive attention from science outlets. Surprising? Not really. Cryptozoology is a fascinating topic that many of us can't help but enjoy. We love the ideas of monsters still out there in the shadows or deep under water. While the likelihood is that Bigfoot and his fellow cryptid creatures are not actually as they are portrayed in pop culture, cryptozoology is a social phenomenon worthy of attention.

The book, ABOMINABLE SCIENCE: ORIGINS OF THE YETI, NESSIE AND OTHER FAMOUS CRYPTIDS by Daniel Loxton and Donald Prothero is very different than other monster books. You can get an idea about the quality of the volume from the reviews by "Nature", the "Wall Street Journal", "The Times" of London, "Discover" magazine, etc. here. They liked the book. It's beautifully produced, level-headed, readable, and chock-full of fine scholarship with references to original sources.

Who didn't like the book? Bigfooters.

Why didn't they like it? Because it effectively poked holes in their beloved idea of Bigfoot reality. It clearly made the case that the current practice of popular cryptozoology is a cheap imitation of science. This book is a challenge to their structure. One reviewer even

Posted by Unknown | at 6:07 AM