Sierra Club: Great Exploration Hoaxes

This book is not only looks into the hoaxes by the psyche of the hoaxsters. Why would they do it? What were their motivations? What do they have in common. Equally interesting is the individual who actually accomplished his exploration but was accused of pulling a hoax. He had all the evidence to prove his claim but would not use it! Why? His psyche had common ground with hoaxsters. To find out more you will have to read the book. It is an interesting read.

The problem with Dave Roberts is that he has established himself in a particular genre - i.e. intense, concise and slightly acerbic adventure writing. As a result, you tend to expect that approach from all his writing, which isn't really fair, but there you have it.In Great Exploration Hoaxes, Roberts steps outside his usual format to do some research. I'm not really surprised. Comments in the introductions to his previous collections make it clear he is intrigued by the workings of the human psyche as well as the thrill of high risk adventure. However, this book is definitely a departure, and reads like a series of well-written research papers - which I guess, in essence, they are.There is nothing wrong with Great Exploration Hoaxes. It is a good read and I recommend it, especially if you are interested in what history says versus what actually happened. The problem lies with Robets tackling historical data. It is hard to bring the dead back to life, especially when their writing is not available for comment. For example, Roberts does a fine job of getting the reader interested in John Cabot, but must rely on the work of Cabot's contemporaries and other researchers to substantiate his theories. Roberts is at his best when he is relating the story and not supporting his hypothesis with data. But since he is trying to debunk some old myths, he naturally has to support his statements. It is an uneasy alliance that works, but is not the usual Roberts fare.I recommend the book, but will be looking forward to Roberts' next tale of his own wanderings and resulting insights.

The author presents an interesting collection of well documented essays (and a few historical photographs) that intrigue and educate the reader about some of the greatest adventurer and discovery hoaxes over the centuries. His most interesting inquiry is saved for the reader to ponder. "How many claimed discoveries and adventures that we unquestionably and faithfully accept as true were also mere fantasy?" Did Hannibal really cross the Alps? Was it Tenzig Norgay first to summit on Everest or was it Hillary? If Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, who took the famous picture of him descending from the space capsule planting a foot firmly onto Moon soil? This book can get you thinking.

David Roberts, in the re-released Great Exploration Hoaxes by Modern Library Exploration, looks at nine exploration hoaxes and one poor fellow (Abyssinian James Bruce) whose adventures turned out to be true while being believed as a hoax in his own lifetime. The short chapters detailing each hoax are fascinating and the book is a wonderfully entertaining little read. Once one reads the first hoax one will be hooked and the rest of the book will quickly cascade from one folly to another. The author presents each case quite clearly and, though, supporters of various of these explorers, such as Peary and the North Pole, will balk, the average reader will come away with a little wisdom and a touch of cynicism about the great adventure yarns we all grew up learning. And that can be a good thing. A delighful little collection of adventures that should lead the reader to other true adventure stories with a greater understanding and appreciation.