I just finished the book 1491, by Charles C. Mann. I'm no John Stewart, this book took me four months.
The book was a kaleidoscope of Indian cultures, with respect to the book, that is the title they would prefer to be referred to as. It was a unique mosaic of Incas (Inkas!), Mayans, Amazonians, and maize.
The ideas Mann puts forth deserve scrutiny for sure, but he inspires a number of insightful theories: