People Andes

Richardson has produced a masterly synthesis of Andean prehistory. The book is well-written, without jargon. Professional and layperson alike will find it a fascinating story and the source of many ideas to be tested in the coming decades. It is superbly illustrated with color maps and many photos, all in color except for old archival shots in B & W. Although some scholars might object to the overtly environmentalist perspective, this reviewer finds the approach convincing while providing coherence to the panoply of the Andean past. And all of this for under $20--for which the Smithsonian Institution should be roundly applauded