October 11, 2010

Bindernagel’s New Bigfoot Book

The Discovery of the Sasquatch

In The Discovery of the Sasquatch, biologist John Bindernagel reconsiders much of the prevailing knowledge regarding the sasquatch. Illustrating evidence which contradicts the widely held perception of the sasquatch as merely a cultural phenomenon—a myth, hallucination, imaginary being, misidentified bear, or hoax—he explains why criteria such as testability, consistency, predictive power, and simplicity actually support an alternative hypothesis: the sasquatch as an extant mammal.

This is a book about the sasquatch, but it is more specifically about the discovery process. It examines scientific and social factors that can prevent discoveries from being recognized, particularly when a discovery claim is perceived as unlikely, premature, or without a theoretical basis. Bindernagel examines how these factors have affected our perceptions of the sasquatch, and how they may have influenced scientific attitudes toward this controversial subject. By reconciling the social and scientific components of discovery, he shows how the various forms of evidence for the sasquatch can be viewed in the context of a prolonged discovery process. In doing so, he provides a bold new perspective explaining the need to reconsider—and perhaps challenge—long-standing prevailing knowledge about the sasquatch.

The Discovery of the Sasquatch offers important insights not only about a potentially uncataloged species, but also about the humans who have thus far declined to investigate it. Bindernagel’s scholarship unlocks a door to discovery that was carelessly shut long ago, but now stands wide open, waiting for us to walk through. — from the Foreword by Leila Hadj-Chikh, PhD

John Bindernagel has given us a closely argued, cogent, convincing explanation why the evidence has not brought widespread acknowledgment that sasquatches are extant. In doing so he underscores how impressive that evidence actually is. This ingenious, insightful approach has increased drastically my personal estimate of the probability that sasquatch is an extant North American ape…. But the book’s value goes beyond the topic of sasquatch. Bindernagel illustrates the need to compare hypotheses, a salutary lesson. Most of us have or spare little time to look in depth at every interesting and controversial subject, so it’s easy to succumb to a lazy skepticism that accepts hoaxing, say, as an adequate explanation. But lazy skepticism is just laziness, not skepticism, and Bindernagel demonstrates just how farfetched the hoaxing hypothesis is in this instance…. People who like to think will love this book. — Henry Bauer, PhD, Dean Emeritus of Arts & Sciences
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry & Science Studies
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

…one of the most brilliant pieces of work I have ever read. What a fabulous reminder of what science is and how science should be examining this issue… simply brilliant.” — Kathy Strain, Forest Archaeologist, U.S. Forest Service

This engrossing book explores two questions: (i) What is the evidence for a rare, large, secretive species of primate (or “great ape”) living in North America at present? (ii) Why do so many people who know of it disbelieve in it, ascribing reported sightings as tales by hoaxers or people who they think must have been hoaxed or deluded?…. Dr. Bindernagel presents opinions on these matters from a wide range of biologists, paleontologists, psychologists, sociologists, and others. A really good read, and an eye-opener for mindless believers and mindless disbelievers alike. — Chris Pielou, PhD, ecologist and author of
After the Ice Age: the Return of Life to Glaciated North America
The Energy of Nature, and The World of Northern Evergreens

The Discovery of the Sasquatch
Reconciling Culture, History, and Science in the Discovery Process

John A. Bindernagel, PhD
Foreword by Leila Hadj-Chikh, PhD

Beachcomber Books
[email protected]

ISBN: 9780-0-6682887-1-9

7″ x 10″
perfect binding with flaps

325 pages, including
64 figures comprised of:

* 99 photographs
* 35 drawings
* 20 maps

Publication date: Fall 2010

$55 USD (includes shipping & handling)

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About Craig Woolheater
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005. I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films: OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.

Filed under Bigfoot, Bigfoot Report, Books, Cryptozoology, Evidence, Eyewitness Accounts, Footprint Evidence, Forensic Science, Men in Cryptozoology, Sasquatch