“Florida Man” by Allen Hunter

The boys drink and review Chocolate Cherry Stout by Firestone Walker Brewing, then discuss an alternative history book about the evolution of humans.  In this view of human evolution, a different group of humans – the Floyds – took over Beringia and then migrated into America. When Columbus came to the Americas, he didn’t find Homo Sapiens. He found the Floyds.  The book starts by introducing us to this alternative modern life, where modern man and this other version of man are living side by side. We learn the history – from Beringia until the conflict with Columbus.  First contact took place in Florida, which is why they’re called “Floros,” politely, or “Floyds,” derogatively.  The Floros are very compact and strong, and very useful in close-in fighting. They were captured en masse and taken to Europe to serve as infantry in everybody’s armies.  They integrated into society to some extent, but remained second-class citizens.  Once warfare modernized, and close-in fighting was not prized to the same extent, the Floros lost some of their utility in the infantry. They still did manual labor, which they were very good at, but they didn’t bring particularly good skills.  Modern man (homo sapiens) tried to integrate them into society.  One flaw in the book is an unrealistic expectation that there was no interbreeding – because the Floyds were not very attractive.  The Floridius Rights Movement advocates for the Floros and tries to help them, but the Floros don’t want the help.  The book pokes fun at a couple modern themes.  Liberal woke activists who protest on some people’s behalf, but those people don’t really want it.  A simpler life is a worse life, and more material stuff makes a better life.  After the end of the book review, P&C discuss some of the issues raised by the book, such as why are we the only version of “man” left on the planet? Why did the Neanderthals and Denisovans die out?  P&C go into an extensive discussion of differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, and why we may have replaced them.