Sea People
By Christina Thompson
The Puzzle of Polynesia. HarperCollins, 2019.
Summary of Sea People book by Christina Thompson
Charting the history of people who sailed across Earth’s largest ocean and came to live in isolation on the numerous islands, many miles from any great continent, until European explorers found them and attempted to figure out the enigma of their origins.
Chapters in Sea People book summary
What do you get from this book? An exhilarating voyage through the theories of Polynesian settlement
Europeans were looking for a continent somewhere in the Pacific Ocean when they came upon inhabited islands
Early contact between Polynesians and Europeans was often tense, as explorers rode the currents and came upon remote Pacific islands
More expeditions to the Pacific Ocean revealed the Society Islands, where Captain Cook and others found a wealth of knowledge
Tupaia shared an astounding amount of geographic information, inspiring Cook to make more trips to Polynesia in the future
Following Cook’s exploration, more people flocked to the Pacific, and created other theories about Polynesian origins
European and Polynesian cultures were vastly different, but some people tried putting together a history based on their stories
The conclusions drawn from somatological studies were murky and unreliable—more meaningful evidence was found in artifacts
Significant digs revealed a wealth of information about Polynesian history, including earlier groups of people than the current inhabitants
The theory behind Kon-Tiki and another about Polynesians “accidentally” reaching islands were both met with criticism
Both computers and mid-century sailors put the controversy over navigation or drifting to rest
A resurgence in Polynesian interest led to DNA studies that solved the problem—proving that the native peoples’ oral history was accurate
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
Unlock all 15 chapters of Sea People — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
Sea People — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Sea People book
- archaeologists
- anthropologists
- natives of Polynesia and their descendants
- those who wonder how ancient people inhabited far away islands
About the author of Sea People
Christina Thompson
Christina Thompson is an award-winning essayist and writer with dual citizenship in Australia and the United States. She has contributed to numerous publications, including the American Scholar, Vogue, and Best Australian Essays, and is a recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar Award. In addition, Thompson is the editor of the renowned Harvard Review.
Books similar to Sea People
Related books that explore themes found in Sea People
Rebecca Rupp
Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables. Storey Publishing, 2011.
Linda Jaivin
From the Ancient Dynasties to a Modern Superpower—A Retelling for Our Times. The Experiment, 2021.
Tracey Baptiste
Ten People Who Shaped History. Algonquin Young Readers, 2021.
Larry Flaxman
How the Truth of the Ancients Was Encoded and Passed Down Through Legend, Art, and Architecture. New Page Books, 2014.
Christopher Kemp
The Neuroscience of Navigation. W. W. Norton and Company, 2022.
Rob Ruck
The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL. The New Press, 2018.
Topics related to Sea People book
Explore topics that share themes with Sea People across Lobab's library
Categories Sea People book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as Sea People
If you liked Sea People, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside Sea People
Neil Price
A History of the Vikings. Basic Books, 2020.
Kassia St. Clair
The Secret Lives of Color. Penguin Books, 2017.
Toby Wilkinson
The Golden Age of Egyptology. W.W. Norton & Company, 2020.
Laura Lee
How the Weather Has Changed History. HarperCollins, 2006.
Timothy C. Winegard
A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator. Dutton, 2019.
Mark Miodownik
Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape Our Man-Made World. Mariner Books, 2015.
David Goldblatt
A Global History of the Olympics. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
Rebecca Rupp
Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables. Storey Publishing, 2011.
David Leavitt
Alan Turing and the Invention of the Computer. Atlas Books, 2006.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
Rejection Proof
Jia Jiang
A fascinating look at rejection from every angle, from understanding and overcoming the fear of rejection to learning how to increase your chances of a yes while becoming perfectly okay with a no.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader