An absolutely fascinating read of the real impact of Christopher Columbus and the search for a western passage to the East Indies.

Namely, it's what Mann calls the "homogenocene" -- that is, the cross-introduction of flora and fauna across continents that had been separated for millions of years.

Be it the potatoes and corn that lessened the impact of mass European and Chinese famines; the mosquitoes and blood diseases that were the driving forces behind African slavery in the New World; or the global demand that has changed landscapes in unanticipated ways in unwitting places, the real story of the discovery of the Americas lies in the effective return to a single continent, at least in the biological sense, argues Mann.

He makes his points exceptionally well and in significant detail. However, unlike some books, which pile fact upon fact in monotone, Mann's exceptional prowess with prose makes reading this book more like taking on an exceptionally long magazine or Sunday newspaper article.

Some quick notes:

-- Check your political sensitivities and fourth-grade history at the door. Mann gives both sides of the Columbus debate fair audience, but doesn't come down on either side. Rather, he relates the facts -- as told largely by Europeans, but also by Americans -- as best we know them. On those occasions where he offers a judgement, it is almost always, "It was a different time and a different world, applying today's mores isn't appropriate for context."

-- Prepare to learn things. Tucked away every half-dozen pages or so was something I did not know, and I'm no dummy.

-- I wouldn't exactly call this night stand reading. That's how I read it, and it was doable, but the chapter length and organization is really more slated to purposeful consumption. In other words, plan a week's worth of afternoon readings to get best results.

What a joy to read and what a fascinating read at that. It's convinced my I need to read 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.