What do You think about Trail Of Feathers: In Search Of The Birdmen Of Peru (2003)?
I've read one other book by this author, which I enjoyed very much. When I started this one, I thought "Uh, not as the other one". This book is different and much to my surprise, very interesting.Starting with an interest in South American shrunken heads, Tahir Shah, begins his research and search for them. In Peru, he comes across the legend of the Birdmen of pre- columbian South American and begins his search for the tribe that was infamous for making them. His travels takes him down the coast of Peru, back to Lima then into the Peruvian Amazon basin. On the whole, a rousing adventure.
—Georgene
Tahir Shah is an English travel writer and adventurer. In this book he follows up on a long-time obsession with the notion that certain "bird-men" were able to fly across the jungles of Peru, following from early accounts by the Spanish conquistadors. He obssesion leads him to Peru, including the ruins of Macchu Picchu and a trip up the furthest reaches of the Amazon with a superstitious crew to find head-hunting members of the Shuar people whose still claim to have to have the ability to fly. Not without a few slow spots, this book is still a treat for those who enjoy these kind of informative but tounge in cheek adventure stories. Defintely worth the psychdelic conclusion.
—Cecil Lawson
An interesting read, and very informative! I've always wanted to go to Peru to see its wonders, and Shah's account of his experience there is steeped in rich detail so that I could appreciate its beauty vicariously through him. Not forgetting his quest into whether the ancients flew (an interesting topic, I might add!) this book explores ancient wisdoms, focusing on an interesting theory behind the Nazca Lines and the shrinking of heads. It seeks to answer ancient questions, whilst simultaneously dredging up new ones. A very good read overall, with some light-hearted comedy thrown in. Pleasurable and surprisingly amusing.
—Kelly
