Science writer Brian Switek says human bones are often a symbol of death, but they also represent deep truths about who we are. His latest book is a cultural and natural history of our bones.
Science writer Brian Switek has spent his career thinking about the bones of dinosaurs. Those fossilized remains are a glimpse into the past, and represent, he says, “life resurrected.” Human bones though, he explains in his new book, are a symbol of death. Think of the skeletal grim reaper or the jolly roger heralding danger. But for Switek, our skeletons also represent hard truths about who we are. He joins us Tuesday to talk about the cultural and natural history of our bones.
Brian Switek is a free-lance science writer based in Salt Lake City. he blogs about paleontology for Scientific American, and has written for National Geographic, Smithsonian and many others. Among his books are My Beloved Brontosaurus and his latest Skeleton Keys – The Secret Life of Bone. [Indie bookstores|Amazon|Audible]
Tuesday, March 5 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, Switek will be signing books at The King’s English bookshop, 1511 South 1500 East in Salt Lake City. There’s more information at kingsenglish.com
