Thompson, Christina. 
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia. 
HarperCollins. 
2019. 
324 pages. 
ISBN 9780062060877. 

This fascinating and well-documented account of the origins of the Polynesian people reads like a compelling adventure story.  How did thousands of tiny islands in the vast Pacific Ocean come to be inhabited long before European explorers of the 16th to 18th centuries chanced upon them? 

The author deftly sifts through evidence from anthropology, archeology, linguistics, meteorology, geography, biology, radio-carbon dating, DNA analysis, computer simulations, early first-hand accounts, and modern-day voyages of re-enactment to spin an eminently readable tale of Polynesian origins.

Cook enthusiasts will appreciate the Prologue, titled “Kealakekua Bay,” that sets the stage for the book.

The book is divided into six main parts: The Eyewitnesses (1521-1722), Connecting the Dots (1764-1779), Why Not Just Ask Them? (1779-1920), The Rise of Science (1920-1959), Setting Sail (1947-1980), and What We Know Now (1980-2018).

Part 2 is devoted to Cook and Tupaia.  It is subtitled “In which we travel with Captain Cook to the heart of Polynesia, meet the Tahitian priest and navigator Tupaia, and sail with the two of them to New Zealand, where Tupaia makes an important discovery”. 

In the very last chapter of the book, when reviewing the myriad pieces of the puzzle that have been uncovered over time, the author writes, “Some of the best ideas were had way back at the beginning (Cook’s early insight about the Asian origin of the Polynesians)”.  Thus, the book nicely places Cook’s contributions in the larger context of the settlement of the Pacific islands.

My only (minor) complaint is about the small maps at the front of the book.  Larger maps with more detail would be a welcome improvement.  Nevertheless, they serve their purpose.  I highly recommend this book to CCS members and anyone interested in human geography.

Harry Stern

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 20, volume 48, number 4 (2025).