The Almasty, Orang Pendek, Yeti, and numerous other names around the world that describe upright walking apes that indigenous cultures including one right in America’s backyard. Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science by Dr. Jeff Meldrum explores if there is scientific merit to investigating “Bigfoot” by looking at all the available evidence.

Meldrum begins the book by recounting how he actively started exploring the possibility of the upright walking ape in North America from his background as an anatomist and anthropologist. Following this up he goes into the history of looking for unknown animals from the 1700s to the present, including how the Abominable Snowman and Yeti entered the western lexicon. The 1950s beginnings of “Bigfoot” are discussed followed by the hoax claims of various individuals before Meldrum introduces the Native American view of Sasquatch. From this point on “legend” faded to the background as Meldrum begin scientifically looking at the evidence brought forth over the past 60 years including castings of body prinks and footprints, hairs, and the Patterson-Gimlin film from 1967 including analysis from numerous experts in their fields. In his conclusion Meldrum states while the available evidence does not prove the existence of a bipedal North American ape but does warrant the larger scientific community to realize that what is being found cannot be explained as men in costumes with wooden cutout feet or misidentifications of known animals.

The book’s larger than normal dimensions provide for numerous photographs and illustrations that add to the text they share on the page, but also help the scientifically jargoned impaired understand what Meldrum explaining. Yet Meldrum’s analysis of the Patterson-Gimlin film and his knowledge of foot anatomy in discussing purported foot tracks are the sections of the book that stand out the most, the former because it literally still is the best evidence for the existence of Sasquatch while also standing up to measurable scientific scrutiny and the latter because its evidence that Meldrum is professionally expert on that has him putting his reputation on the line.

Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science looks at the question of if a bipedal ape is roaming the North American wilderness. Dr. Meldrum does not claim at any point that there is indeed an actual animal, but the persuasive circumstantial evidence in his view warrants inquiry from the scientific community. If you’ve ever wonder if there is something to “Bigfoot” then I recommend reading this book. ( )

With a front cover blurb by Jane Goodall and 320 pages of rigorous scientific analysis by Jeff Meldrum (Associate Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology at Idaho State University), Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science is likely the closest that any exploration of this subject will ever come to pleasing skeptics. Meldrum painstakingly examines the best evidence of Bigfoot's existence (including the 1967 Roger Patterson film and the plaster body cast taken at Skookum Meadows, Washington in 2000), handily dispels the myth that the initial footprint discoveries in the 1950s were all attributable to hoaxers, and demonstrates how--according to the anthropological and geological record--it is possible for a large bipedal North American ape to exist. The theory remains less than entirely convincing only because physical remains have never been found. Still, if your mind is even cautiously open, you'll find Meldrum's book interesting. ( )

Dandy sasquatch book. Lots of good science-based research data. ( )