Not what I was expecting, and I usually shy away from the journalistic travel memoir, but I was pleasantly surprised. Mainly because Horwitz gets his history quite right, researches deeply, and even discusses scholarly disagreements and controversies. His "Note on Sources" is scholarly, thorough, and interesting. I knew of most of these pre-Pilgrim voyages, as I teach U.S. history, but it was good to read this account. I learned more about the Vikings particularly. Good maps, but I wish that there were more images (I usually do). And he didn't address (except a passing reference) the Spanish settlement in Virginia called Ajacán and the intriguing (and unlikely theory) that Opechancanough was Don Luis (a.k.a. Paquiquino). Look it up. ( )

A smart, well-researched book that blends history and travel narrative to tell the story of the first century of European exploration in the New World. (Also, Vikings.) As usual, Horwitz excels not only at delivering sensitive readings of American history, but at sussing out what the past has come to mean for people today. (Which is to say, get ready for some weirdo fraternal and lineage organizations, folks.)

For purposes of producing a readable work of popular nonfiction, Horwitz focuses on narrative rather than analysis and provides limited context for European exploration and Native resistance/accommodation. This book is not a survey: I will have to find some other book to tell me about the first North American slave revolt or the failed Spanish mission that preceded Jamestown. I did sometimes feel the lack of these episodes - it's important to remember that for every surviving narrative of American exploration, there are a half-dozen failures that barely made it to the historical record.

A satisfying kickoff to my current reading project, All of Southeastern History, Semi-Decolonized, in Chronological Order: Lazy Reader's Edition. Next stop, Tsenacommacah!

A look at what was going on in North America during the 100 years between Columbus and the Pilgrims. It's heavy on the conquistadors, which is fair because that's who was mucking around in North America at that time. What really makes it a good read is how the author always brings it back to the now, showing us what became of these invaded/explored areas and what modern residents think about their local history. ( )

Excellent details on the early explorers and settlers in America. Very interesting and I recommend this. ( )

I found this book to be very enjoyable. I read this book as extra credit for one of my classes but liked it nonetheless. I really love learning about history but some academic history books can be very dry and boring to read so I like history books like this where it was written for a broad audience. There was a lot of stuff in this book I didn't know but also lots and lots of facts that I did know. This is probably partially because I'm in an American history class right now but some things that the author discovered where he was like "this is so cool I had no idea this happened!" I already knew about it and it was less exciting. I would say definitely pick up this book if you are interested in learning more about who the earliest settlers of America were, where the went, what they did, and how they affected the native peoples. Very informative and I pretty interesting read. ( )