by Autumn Williams
Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (May 17, 2010)
ISBN-10: 145154992X
ISBN-13: 978-1451549928

Book Review by Pat Barker

I read a friend's copy of this book last time I was in camp. And I must admit, I couldn't put it down, devouring it over a two day span (well monopolizing it, really ... LOL). Yes, I gave it back. And yes, I now have my very own copy, so I can re-read it as many times as I like.

Autumn was contacted by the witness, Mike, in the fall of 2009 because he wanted to tell someone he could trust what he's been experiencing at a site in Florida. Through emails and many long phone conversations, Autumn has gotten to know Mike. Over the course of many months, a special bond of mutual trust and friendship has grown between them. Mike has shared a lot of details with Autumn, which she feels are genuine.

Mike began working this active location approx. ten years ago. The first four were spent "beating the bush" using typical methods employed by most bigfoot researchers. But when none of this was working, there came a point when Mike decided to just be out there without looking for proof. This method was far more successful. What he experienced after changing his approach is the subject of the book.

Mike gradually met a wild man. And slowly, over time, became his friend. Mike named the wild man, Enoch, because the wild man often repeated "Enuk", a sound that was similar. He befriended Enoch by feeding him copious amounts of fruit and sweets, learning as he went what sorts of things the wild man liked. He also learned what he doesn't like, with some nearly disasterous consequences to his own health and well-being. All of this taught Mike that there cannot be friendship with this creature/being without trust, something he often had to learn the hard way. He also learned that the traditional methods most sasquatch researchers use should be thrown out with the dishwater. They are not working, nor will they ever work, because we are grossly underestimating the intelligence of these wild men and women. Currently, most researchers take the view that sasquatch are just higher order primates with only slightly better reasoning ability than gorillas. He is saying they live like wild animals, but they have the sensibilities and intelligence of early humans, they have family units, possibly rudimentary language, and a societal order that he has witnessed for himself. He was present during a gathering of these wild people where he was able to observe many behaviours, some of which he has shared with Autumn.

Autumn decided to write the book after getting permission from the witness, because she was so moved by what he told her. The book is not only about Mike's burgeoning friendship with Enoch. It's also about Autumn's burgeoning friendship with Mike. And in both cases trust plays a crucial role.

As for my take on this book, I've known Autumn's name for a long time. She's been involved in bigfooting far longer than I have. I have had a few very productive exchanges with her, and know her to be someone who is sincere, intelligent, and not easily fooled. Not only has she has been interviewing witnesses for a very long time, she is a childhood witness herself. Recently, she has become vocal about witness advocacy, and the need for researchers/investigators to take a more gentle, sensitive and understanding approach with people who have seen something that isn't supposed to exist.

Autumn took a courageous step in publishing ENOCH knowing that the bigfooting community would be calling for proof of Mike's story. As she explains in the book, based on her years of experience interviewing long-term witnesses, she trusted her judgment that Mike was telling her the truth.

And I trust Autumn's judgment. I highly recommend this book. In fact, it should be required reading for all would-be sasquatch researchers and investigators. It not only answers a multitude of questions about the wild man and woman, it teaches us a lot about ourselves and that if we change what we're doing, we might have more success than our present methods are giving us.