The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on an American Monster by John O’Connor

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

John O’Connor spent months writing a Sasquatch monster movie which was never produced—and that’s probably all to the good.  As O’Connor admits, research was limited and even that is a generous assessment.  Years later he became interested in the search for the apelike cryptid who goes by so many names:  Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch, and even our own “Wood Booger.” He reached out to some groups who search for the creature and spent some time in the woods with them.  He even helped an attempt to re-create the famous Bigfoot footage shot by Roger Patterson in 1967.

However, don’t expect this book to prove Bigfoot exists.  And don’t expect it to prove that it doesn’t exist.  This book is more about human nature and why we believe or, more to the point, why we want to believe in the things we do.

Since we were doing a display on cryptids, I decided I’d give this one a try. Right off the bat, O’Connor lets you know that he doesn’t take himself too seriously and that the book is going to more light-hearted than most on the topic.  He makes some flippant remarks about some Bigfoot enthusiasts, but he obviously likes and respects the people he met.  They come from all walks of life, but they all bond over Bigfoot.  O’Connor does a good job of presenting the arguments for and against the existence of such a creature, and also compares the search to others—including the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, thought to be extinct until a researcher claimed to have evidence to the contrary. The jury is still out on that one as well.

For me, the book did take very seriously the question of belief.  I found that to be thought-provoking and made me consider some of my own biases.  It is definitely not an argument against believing in Bigfoot, ghosts, or Ivory Billed Woodpeckers but just asks the reader to ponder.  There is an epilogue which really puts it all in perspective and had a definite effect on the way I saw the book overall.

Cryptids!

 

So what exactly is a cryptid?  It’s a creature unknown to science but rumored to exist.  Some of the most famous are Bigfoot aka Sasquatch aka the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and Mothman, but there are many others.  While stories about them have been around for years, they seem to be enjoying a resurgence recently in books, movies, TV shows, and in art—just check out some of the offerings in local craft shops.  In fact, HollerHouse in downtown Bristol is having an exhibition, The Cryptozoologist, starting June 7, 2024.

We all thought this was such a fun idea that we put up a book display. Okay, so Andrew did all the work. Anyway, if we have piqued your interest, here are some of the non-fiction books we suggest:

The West Virginia Book of Monsters by George Dudding and John Dudding note that West Virginia is known for “punching above its weight” in several areas and cryptids is a prime example.  West Virginia is home to the iconic Mothman and a personal new favorite, the Flatwoods Monster.   But wait, there’s more! In this book you will also learn about the Grafton Monster, the Wampus Cat, and the Snallygaster, just to name a few.

Chasing American Monsters by Jason Offutt covers the fifty states in alphabetical order, giving brief reports on some of the most notable creatures spied there.  This is a good choice if you are only interested in cryptids in particular states.  The book claims more than 250 beasts are described within, and the author even tells us the one that started his lifelong fascination:  Momo, the Missouri Monster, who is a Bigfoot like creature.

The United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters by J.W. Ocker is a sea to shining sea tour of creatures and beings.  Ocker begins in the Northeast and heads west, visiting not only the iconic creatures but the lesser known ones as well. This is a well-written, very entertaining guide with a sense of humor.  As Ocker explains, most of those who love crypids “love the idea of them; we love the stories.  And whatever you may think about cryptids, the stories are true.”  In other words, whether or not the creatures are real, the stories are—and that’s what attracts us. He goes on to say that believing in cryptids helps us to believe the world still holds mysteries and wonder. So he’s ready to show us the Lizard Man, the Tennessee Terror, the Batsquatch, the Jackalope, and, yes, the Woodbooger!