The Science of Monsters: The Origins of the Creatures We Love to Fear

This book was recommended to me, actually to a whole class, by my Psychology professor. I am an enthusiast of all mythological/magical creatures and I undoubtedly love to dive into books so, to say the least, I was intrigued. It didn't take long before I got my hands on this book. The shipping process was pretty fast! Upon reading the actual book, well, I wasn't able to put it down! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves monsters and wants to find out why they are what they are and how they came to be. This is one of those books that I will re-read over and over again.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, this book masterfully explores the philosophy and psychology behind the various fears we have had as human beings. Second, the author did an excellent job of including relevant scientific research that directly relates to the questions the book explores. Finally, the author had a very engaging writing style, which was both very humorous as well as thought provoking.

After hearing Matt Kaplan's interview on NPR's Science Friday, I immediately purchased the book for my Kindle. I devoured it that weekend. I love mythology and legends, and I'm always fascinated by the origins of stories. I found Kaplan's book accessible and engaging, especially for a general audience. I really enjoyed how he balanced his scientific information with a discussion of how the monster or legend has been depicted in art and developed through storytelling, even in modern films. However, I did appreciate that he did not dilute or disguise the scholarly nature of his sources.I very much enjoyed the book though I wish it had been longer, more developed and detailed. I would like to know more about the research into zombie creation or the historical circumstances leading to the rise of the vampire and werewolf legends. However, Kaplan's purpose is to entertain as much as to inform, so I understand the need to keep the book balanced. His list of sources is extensive; I have every confidence that I'll be able to sate my appetite for more information.This book is a wonderful introduction into how monsters reveal our humanity.

My son is 11 and really enjoyed reading this. He learned a variety of magical things!

This was one of those books that I went around recommending it to everyone who would listen when I read it. He has such a playful and intelligent writing style you will be captivated back to front. So interesting and Entertaining that I've gone on to purchase another book by the same author. I would definitely recommend you do too!

It was a competent introduction to the subject. However, this read more like a magazine article than a scholarly analysis of the topic.There should be little surprise in this given that the author is a science journalist. In the end, though, I felt more substance was needed and never brought to bear.Good introduction to the topic but not penetrating.

As soon as I parked the car after hearing the Science Friday interview with the author, Matt Kaplan, I ordered Medusa's Gaze for my Kindle. A very entertaining treatment of these mysteries and legends which have chilled centuries of souls while giving the treatment of serious scientific information from a serious scientist. Endlessly enjoyable and one does not have to read it from cover to cover. It is a great bathroom book!S

This was our October Science Book club choice and I will say it's a fine choice. It's got some interesting historical facts and inferences. My main detractor is that it relies too heavily on modern cultural references.

This is a really good book, with good investigation about the topic and a clear explanation. A quick but entertaining read.

Great book, entertaining and insightful. I felt the analysis of monsters was reasonable and well thought out. A joy to read, would recommend.

Amazing read, utterly unique with a rather poignant conclusion. It seems science has a way of explaining everything except that which we refuse to see within ourselves.

Interesting and entertaining reading. The title says it all what this book is about. The author tries to explain how people could possibly think such things up in the first place and gives the reader much insight into how people lived in the past.

Matt Kaplan's book is an interesting, informative and very entertaining read. The author stands well back and takes a very broad look at his subject - the science of monsters - including examples from around the world and from all ages, from ancient Rome and Greece onwards.What could be a dry and overly academic read is made easy to understand by Mr Kaplan's engaging writing style and well reasoned arguments. The attempts at humour don't always work though. At one point he appears to write off the entire Scottish nation for believing in the Loch Ness monster.But I guess what will always be a problem with a book with such a broad scope as this, is not what you include but what you leave out and, for me, there are several glaring omissions.For example: I know it's not possible to include everything but why is there no mention of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or Jekyll and Hyde, stories in which humans essentially become the monster? Surely these must have something to offer a book as preoccupied with psychology as this one.Why no mention of Godzilla, that most political of all monsters? The original movie was released in 1954, just 9 years after atomic weapons were detonated over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The monster called Godzilla is radioactive and contaminates people with his radioactivity. Godzilla is thought to be the first Japanese science fiction film and the first depiction of radiation sickness in a Japanese movie. And in the end the monster is destroyed by a new weapon of mass destruction - the fictional 'oxygen destroyer'. And yet none of this is mentioned - not in the chapter on dragons (5), nor in the chapters on science and resurrected dinosaurs (8 and 9).The book blurb says that Matt Kaplan lives in London, so I also find it slightly odd that there is no mention of the British TV series Doctor Who either. This show has been putting very original monsters on British (and more recently, the world's) TV screens for 50 years. It is loved by the young and old alike and yet there is no mention of the Daleks, not even in chapter 10 (extraterrestrial threats)!Of course these are my personal views and I don't want to put anyone off buying this book. Medusa's Gaze and Vampire's Bite is a very enjoyable read. For all its (relatively few) faults and scientific subject matter it is very much easier to get to grips with than the similar book, On Monsters by Stephen T. Asma, which I confess I found completely impenetrable.