The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus

This is a very well researched book that will tell you everything that is known about the Tainos. My only complaint with the book is that it told me more than I ever wanted to know. I really was only looking for some information about who the Tainos were and how they lived before heading to Puerto Rico on vacation. This book is much more detailed and analytical. It's great if you're really, really interested in knowing all the details but it is not by any means "an easy read." If you're looking for a "beach read" this probably isn't it-- unless you have a Phd focused on ancient cultures.

This book is quite outdated. It still seem to think that Tainos became extinct. After testing the DNA of hundreds of Puerto Ricans, it was discovered that the reports of extinction were highly (very) exagerated. Not a surprise for those of us who knew better. Still there is some information that is still valid, just don't swear by it.

As a Puerto Rican looking to learn more about my heritage (pre-European) this book was FANTASTIC!

This book is great. Very informative and well written. I learned a great deal about my cultue, heritage and ancestry. It left me with a thirst for more.

When writting this book, Dr. Rouse put a lifetime of research and studies on the Indians of the Caribbean into one work.
Since Rouse is considered the "Dean of Caribbean Archaeology", this book is a "must have" for anyone interested in the region and its native inhabitants.
Very few people have worked for so long, in so many locations and with such dedication as Dr. Rouse.