The Springfield Free Public Library's (Really Good) Book Discussion Group will meet on Thursday, October 4th at 7 p.m. to discuss 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann. In Charles Mann's bestselling book, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Mann (correspondent, "Atlantic Monthly," "Science" and "Wired") focused on the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. He described a hemisphere that was heavily populated and culturally diverse, with communities that dwarfed many European cities and agricultural achievements enabling the feeding of large populations. In his new bestselling book, 1493, Mann turns his attention to the so-called Columbian Exchange, the years after Columbus set foot in the Americas. The Columbian Exchange was the most momentous biological event since the death of the dinosaurs. When Christopher Columbus sailed from the Americas back to Europe, he set off an ecological convulsion as European vessels carried thousands of species to new homes across the oceans. Presenting the latest research by ecologists, anthropologists, archaeologists and historians, Mann shows how the creation of this worldwide network of ecological and economic exchange fostered the rise of Europe, devastated imperial China, convulsed Africa, and for two centuries made Mexico City--where Asia, Europe and the new frontier of the Americas dynamically interacted--the center of the world.
Discussions take place at 7 p.m. in the Palmer Museum on the first Thursday of the month from October-June. Refreshments are served. New members are welcome. To reserve your copy of the book call 973-376-4930 x229 or send an e-mail: questions@sfplnj.org.
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