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Title: Great fiction, assuredly not history
Review: While it is true that the Ming treasure fleets sailed extensively, and could conceivably have reached Australia or the Americas, Menzies certainly doesn't prove it. Others here have picked apart the inconsistencies and just plain falsehoods in "1421" better than I could.But as fiction, it's a pretty darn entertaining read (4 stars, maybe).To other reviewers: 1) No, not everyone criticizing the book's scholarship is "racist." I, for one, would be quite intrigued if it were true, and did initially find it plausible, before I went fact-checking. Notice also the several reviews by Chinese readers who found the book poorly researched. 2) Quit being so China- and Eurocentric, respectively. No culture is perfect. 3) The prevalence of "Well, circumstantial evidence and outright lies are okay, because he writes convincingly and has an interesting idea" makes me weep for the quality of education in our society.
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