An immensely intriguing read from start to finish. Grann documents the mysterious pull of El Dorado, or Z, as explorer Percy Fawcett dubs the elusive city of a grand Amazonian civilization. It was so interesting to see so many characters try and search this city out. The majority of the book was dedicated to "the indestructible" Percy Fawcett and his various expeditions into the heart of the Amazon. A true survival tactician, Fawcett's passion was addictive and his disappearance in 1925 spurred search parties out the wazoo, resulting in 100+ deaths. Throughout the whole book, Grann attempts to solve the mystery where so many others have perished. Only until the end does he reveal the current hypothesis surrounding the Lost City of Z.

Spoiler

Thought to be a civilization of 1 million in the Amazon, a city of a population of 2,000-5,000 has been uncovered in recent years. The buildings made of organic materials have long since vanished but there remains deep, concentric moats with holes that delve deeper, possibly once having housed wooden poles which were the framework of a mighty wall. Furthermore, hills that rise above the flat, rainforest lands could possibly be man-made and are being compared to the Egyptian pyramids in relation to time, effort, and design. Finally, there are several areas of rich soil amidst vast swathes of inhospitable land that is believed to have produced food for a city.