Pathfinders: A Global History of Exploration

I'm taking a star away from my first review that I did when I hadn't finished reading it. I agree with another review that there aren't enough maps in the book and those that are in the book are not really clarifying the subject. I kept an atlas beside me to get a better picture of what the author was trying to say.Further along in the book, the atlas wasn't the only thing I had beside me. My mother tongue is not English (it's Dutch), but I've been reading English books almost exclusively for over 10 years. I can't remember the last time I had to use a dictionary. While I was reading this book, I had to use it several times per page and even then, some sentences were just too poetic to allow for a smooth reading and they rarely added meaning to the overall picture. I suspect that this book doesn't read smoothely even for those who are natively speaking English.No complaints about the delivery or state of the second-hand book, though.

Prompt delivery and I love it.

This was an excellent historical book about the European age of exploration. What motbated the explorers, what was their thought process, thwir environment etc. The author does not deify the explorers nor does he say that the events were inevitable.A very good critical look at the age of exploration. Highly recommended.

One cannot praise enough this book for its clarity and profoundity, when the author unravels the paths pursued by humanity in exploring the world and other cultures.Armesto's fine intuitions and great storitelling make this book a true masterpiece.

I love this book. I cannot say this enough. I had to buy it for my history class, but it's a book I read for fun - even chapters I'm not required to read. Well written, a flowing style, and a little touch of snarky attitude from the author makes this book exceedingly entertaining.