How Would You Survive as an Aztec?

At first glance this book is virtually indistinguishable from others covering the same ground. An introductory section on basic facts about Aztec life is followed by fourteen double-page spreads covering topics such as family life, government, farming and beliefs. Each is profusely illustrated with colourful artwork and bordered with small captioned picture-strip sequences which augment the main text. The question implicit in the title is no rhetorical whim however. Right from the start the reader is personally involved in the information gathering process (what would you eat and drink?) and can even choose in what order data is accumulated (what was life like for an Aztec child? Go to pages 16-17). At the end questions are posed to determine whether one has absorbed enough knowledge to have survived. This intriguing, innovative approach may not appeal to some purists, but there is no doubt that by involving readers in an interactive way, it might also capture the interest of those for whom more conventional history books hold little appeal.