Deciphering Ancient Minds: The Mystery of San Bushmen Rock Art Hardcover – June 1, 2011

This is an exceptionally well researched and documented account if how San paintings in different parts of Southern Africa were first interpreted and recorded. If you are planing a trip to see these paintings this book is a must read. If you are interested in primitive cave drawings all over the globe, thus is a must read. If you want a fascinating look at early man and shamanistic rituals, this book is for you. Well written with beautiful pictures of the drawings and excellent descriptions of the languages (click language).

There are relatively few books available on these people and their art.This writer is an expert on them. Enjoy!gillicab

Excellent book, well written. Blend of hypothesis and solid research, so it made a convincing argument. You should read it.

Some unusual but compelling insights. But these insights are repeated too much.

Worthwhile for my study of Neuroconnective Paleontology

A wonderful book which I am reading in conjunction with a number of others. Lewis-Williams is a brave academic and his theory of neuropsychology makes so much sense and at last, gives us the opportunity to understand the mute testimony of not just the San but all our other ancestors around the world. Writing is not the beginning of civilisation, thinking is and this book allows us to see how they thought.

The birth of religion was far more beautiful than it's dottering old age which we are experiencing now. A wonderful if slightly academically cautious study how we live by art in this indecipherable world.

Well written.

Because the authors are deciphering mindset from pictures, they must use all the academic justifications, which can slow down the reading a bit. But they do succeed, with the help of present day San informers (double checked meticulously), in bringing to life both mindset and practices of this ancient people through their wonderful art. Well worth the time for those of us passionate about rock art.