Five star review, originally posted here on October 22, 2017.
If you like Erik Larson books and are looking for something similar, definitely read this book. Prentice has that same talent as Larson for making a non-fiction tale feel like an intriguing novel with an over-the-top plot. I honestly have no clue how these people can go into so much detail, but dang. The basic story isn’t particularly surprising (spoiler alert: man brings tribe to the US, exploits them, skews the truth). But along the way there are still plenty of surprises and tons to learn. How was the tribe’s treatment affected by the current political climate and debates over Imperialism? How willing were the Filipino participants? Is a human display inherently dehumanizing, or can it be done in a positive way? How aware were the displayed Filipinos of what was happening around them? Etc. A truly fascinating story and some truly fascinating, expertly told in a way that will make you think.
