I loved "1491" and this is every bit as good. Everyone that I know who has read it (including me) can't help rushing to tell their friends about the things they've learned that explode their mind about the past. Who knew that most of the precious metals from Spain's mines in the America's didn't go to Spain, but to China? That American crops didn't just transform Europe (potatoes, tomatoes, corn) but Asia as well (sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, tobacco, rubber). A really interesting read.