Building Bridges Through Books: 1491, by Charles C. Mann

Join us in building community together. Come be a part of something truly special: A monthly gathering to explore race, faith, identity, and community through books and readings selected by the group itself. Facilitated by Joyce Sharrock-Cole (Ossining Village Historian) with Abbe Marcus (Executive Director, JTC Experiences), these gatherings begin with light refreshments and informal exchange, followed by an hour of focused discussion. By meeting monthly, the intent is to build understanding, relationships, and community over time. Schedule: We meet at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity from 7 to 8:30 PM—usually on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Materials: Books are available for purchase (for a 10% discount off the cover price) at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity. Cost: There is no fee to participate; we simply ask for your RSVP below for planning purposes. About the Book For our October 6 gathering, we’re reading 1491, by Charles C. Mann. From Bookshop.org: Contrary to what so many Americans learn in school, the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; rather, there were huge numbers of Indians who actively molded and influenced the land around them. The astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan had running water and immaculately clean streets, and was larger than any contemporary European city. Mexican cultures created corn in a specialized breeding process that it has been called man’s first feat of genetic engineering. Indeed, Indians were not living lightly on the land but were landscaping and manipulating their world in ways that we are only now beginning to understand. Challenging and surprising, this a transformative new look at a rich and fascinating world we only thought we knew. NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking work of science, history, and archaeology that radically alters our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492—from “a remarkably engaging writer” (The New York Times Book Review). Stop by the bookstore and pick up a copy for 10% off.