Palaeontology in Public - by Chris Manias (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An excavation of everything from Victorian fossil hunters to Jurassic Park, Chris Manias explores how paleontology's greatest discoveries have always been entangled with popular culture.

From towering dinosaurs to early human ancestors, paleontology has long captured the public imagination, yet its scientific standing has often been precarious. Palaeontology in Public studies how paleontology's public presence has shaped both the field itself and broader cultural understandings of science and nature. Through case studies spanning two centuries, this book explores the deep entanglement between vertebrate paleontology and popular culture, from early fossil discoveries to modern cinematic depictions.

Dinosaurs naturally take center stage, taking Spinosaurus, Jurassic Park, and Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur, for instance. However, equally important are the stories of Glyptodons, Mesozoic mammals, and early human fossils like Neanderthals and Australopithecus. The book draws from history, art, literature, archaeology, and science communication to depict how public fascination has fueled scientific discovery while also shaping our collective vision of life's ancient past.

A compelling read for historians of science, paleontologists, and those with a special interest in prehistoric creatures, Palaeontology in Public highlights the enduring power of fossils also as cultural icons that continue to inspire and spark debate.

Review Quotes

"In this sweeping multi-authored compilation, reviews consider how ancient animals have been presented to the public, for good or for ill. From Lucy the australopithecine to Gertie the dinosaur and Jurassic Park, never before has so much scholarly content on palaeontology's popularisation been amassed in a single volume."-- "Darren Naish, vertebrate palaeontologist and author"

"Palaeontology is a strange science, at times arcane yet so accessible that many children dream of hunting for dinosaurs among sun-beaten badlands. Palaeontology in Public digs into the overlap of these two realms, and offers a much-needed exploration of how prehistoric beings emerge from stone and enter our collective imagination."-- "Riley Black, author of Last Days of the Dinosaurs and When the Earth Was Green"

"Surely there is a one-way traffic from science to the media? In this remarkable collection of papers, Chris Manias and the authors explore palaeontological themes from the origin of life to interpretations of human culture, through dinosaurs (of course) and many other fossil taxa."-- "Michael J. Benton OBE, FRS, FRSE, University of Bristol"

About the Author

Chris Manias is a senior lecturer in the history of science & technology at King's College London.