Who Discovered America? audiobook

I found this book after a curiosity with DNA research led me to it. I'm also a biologist and after having my own DNA run and discovering a huge percentage of what is called "Asian/Native American Admixture" I had to do more research. I'm Puerto rican and I knew I was part Native American but Asian??? The black/white xtian thing is so dominant here in the US conversation that we just ignore anything that doesn't fit our stupid idea of MURICA. I remember never liking history as a kid. It was blatantly obvious even by a child that it was skewed by whomever wrote it regardless of truth. Natives were here FIRST and where did they come from...oh yes, the ridiculous "armchair" Bering Straits theory...and even then we were told the civilizations that existed here weren't important and didn't contribute. All I can say...I read this book in about a week and it was GREAT. This needs to be taught in class.

A very interesting read. So much of the archaeological history of south and North America was unknown to me. I am convinced that Columbus was the last to discover America, after the Asians before then prehistoric Europeans.

I had read 1421 and was fascinated. Menzies has discovered and studied the fact that China launched the largest and most successful fleet for a voyage of discovery in the history of the world more than 70 years before Columbus. 1421 focuses on the archeology that supports his findings throughout Polynesia, Oceania and South America. He spends some time on findings in North America, but that is not the focus of 1421, it's the focus of Who Discovered America?I'm not so cynical as to believe the "true" history of the world has been subverted. I am at my desk in my home in Suburban Connecticut because of a series of events that began with Columbus. Never the less, it is clear from my study of history that the world knew North America was here. The genius of Columbus was to have found a route that he was able to repeat and thus open the way for Spain to colonize South America. However, it would be naive to believe that people of the East could build the Great Wall but not find a way across the Pacific.In this fascinating little book, Menzies goes beyond the idea that China had found the Americas before Columbus and shows evidence that Asians peopled the Americas not by crossing the Bering Straights, but by sailing for thousands of years. He presents DNA evidence as well as cultural artifacts that are quite compelling. I really enjoy this kind of revisionist history. In light of newly re-discovered evidence, we have a responsibility to re-assess our understanding of the way things happened and how our world came to be what it is today. I believe our author is on to something, but if you read and do not, it is still fascinating. Well researched, well written, important and entertaining. Really, check this out.

I've read 1421 and 1434, which were enlightening. This book is filled mostly with evidence and research done by others. It references several other books related to Native American and maps and perhaps too much reference to his previous books. Mr. Menzies does additional visiting to new sites and describes the research that has been ongoing or what his team observes. I don't think his team is performing deep research but perhaps trying to understand what is going on to improve the big picture understanding of what might have happened. I like the fact that he specifically has expanded his material to address critics of his previous books. 1421 focused on a specific period of voyages by the Chinese, this book discusses travels over at least a 1000 year period and ends with historical data spanning several thousand years. It isn't just about Chinese, but Japanese, Korean, Minoan and even Russian visits to the new world and all by sea.

Menzies passed away last year but my just discovering his books has me riveted. The vast sources of evidence makes it difficult to believe that a 15th century A.D. European found the Americas. Menzies quotes physical, DNA and anecdotal evidence to support the idea that many peoples have traveled to the Americas by ship. The history books will have to change in light of more research and excavation concerning the peoples of the Americas and where and how they came.

Eye Opener for Those Willing to See Our Ancient Past in a New LightVery eye opening. Sheds new light on our ancient past so often shrugged off by more than a few mainstream archeologists and historians, yet evidence is there. Glad this author has the guts to bring it forth to those with an open mind.

An interesting read with some compelling evidence. I have no idea how much his claims stand up to scrutiny, but he does a good job laying out the case that China had significant interactions with peoples in the Americas for thousands of years. It's at least worth reading to see the viewpoint.

This is groundbreaking, earth-shattering, mind-blowing stuff and I’m here for it.I come away from this one with an even greater conceptualization and understanding of the history of the Americas and the ancient world. This one is definitely worth reading.Happy reading, everybody!

Interesting hypothesis.

Audiobook... This topic never stops being interesting to me!

Smart stuff and mostly new to meWell written, covers enormous ground and opens big new doors of understanding. Still lots of questions but very helpful. Thanks.

Really good history lesson!

History remadeOutstanding book changing history of the Americas and the Chinese. His proof is very compelling as to their presence in the Americas 2000 years before Columbus.

Extremely interesting but I do question some of his conclusions.

Fascinating read. Authors could have spent more time on other ancient civilizations discovering the New World before Columbus, but seem to be fixated on Chinese having the honor. Highly recommended.

The author doesn't have the normal academic background as a historian, so some from the ivory towers discount Menzies' claims.For the general reader, Menzies make a strong claim that America was discovered by China and that there were numerous sea voyages from the old world across both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Recommended for those who would like to see a fresh light on pre-Columbian history.

Holy crow. Ever read a book that makes you feel like you woke up on an alien world, that everything you were ever told about history was wrong? That's this book.Even if the author's exact conclusions are off, the evidence that his generalizations are correct is overwhelming, and ignored by mainstream history. There is overwhelming evidence that Asian peoples were routinely coming to the Americas by boat, long before the Europeans - making it as far as Nova Scotia - *which the Europeans acknowledged repeatedly* and the archeology for exists - yet you are told none of this - even a possibility - in any schoolbook. The list of oddities is too long to put here - from Apache being so similar to Mongolian dialects they can speak to each other, to Zuni being the same to Japanese, to the Chincoteague ponies being here BEFORE the Europeans and most directly DNA linked to Mongolian horses, to DNA evidence, flora, fauna, cities, and more. The book seems looser to me than his Atlantis book, but having studied Mediterranean cultures far more, I was not floored by his theories in that book. This - and with so much overwhelming yet ignored evidence - made my head explode. This book is easy to read - don't fear it at all - and goes by very quickly. It was absolutely amazing, and will knock you on your head.