This book was disappointing. This book is 95% biographical anecdote (which got boring after a while) and 5% science, environmentalism and politics explained in the most vague manner possible. I also found the book somewhat disjointed.  The message this author wishes to convey is important, he just doesn't do the subject justice.

Other recommended books:

- Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations by David R. Montgomery
- Earth Matters: How Soil Underlies Civilization by Richard D. Bardgett
- Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Civilization by Richard Manning
- Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival? A Scientific Detective Story by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, John Peterson Myers
- What Has Nature Ever Done for Us?: How Money Really Does Grow on Trees by Tony Juniper

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

                I have never seen the Lascaux Cave paintings, at least not the real ones.  I did see the traveling reconstruction exhibit, which was very cool.  But truth be told, I have never really thought about cave paintings very much, outside of abstract desire to see them.

                David and Lefrere, however, seem to have spent a significant about of time thinking about cave paintings.  This is a good thing. 

                In this short book, it is possible to read this in an hour or so, David and Lefrere make a pretty good case for the cave paintings’ creation – both the how and the why.

                The theory about the why is one of those moments that at first seems so out there but makes such prefect sense when they lay out the details and take the reader along with them on the journey of discovery. 

                I am not entirely sure if I fully believe all the why part of the theory.  While the authors make a very good case, there are too many variables that can be called into account.  The process of how the art made it on to the wall – the “technology”/technique – of the animals on the walls of the cave.

                The book is very readable because the structure is done in steps.  The reader goes on the journey of discovery with the authors.

Celts: The history and Legacy of One of the Oldest Cultures in Europe by Martin J Dougherty is an easy to read introductory book on the Celts.  This book provides an informative and interesting overview of the subject matter, but tends to be rather superficial in detail.  To a certain extent, this is due to lack of information since the Celts left behind no written material of their own.  The contents of the book is also short on archaeological details.  On the other hand, there are no irrelevant personal anecdotes.  This is a book that conveys information about Celts and that's it.

The author discusses who the Celts were; what their society was like; their customs; their art and religions; technology; and warfare.  There is also an extensive overview of Celtic myths and legends.  The author also provides a history of the Celts in terms of their expansion and decline in Europe with a look at how Celts in Gaul and the British Isles fared through history.  The book includes numerous illustrations and maps.  However, the maps were completely illegible (too small) in the e-book version.

I would recommend this book as an introduction to the Celts for someone new to the subject and not interested in extensive details or military histories.  The book may also be of interest to younger readers.