Abominable Science!: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids

· Columbia University Press
4.2
6 reviews
Ebook
434
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

“A sharp analysis of the quest for unreal critters―cryptids, as they are called―and the people who pursue them . . . entertaining and thoroughly documented.” —The Wall Street Journal
 
Throughout our history, humans have been captivated by mythic beasts and legendary creatures. Tales of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are part of our collective experience. Now comes a book from two dedicated investigators that explores and elucidates the fascinating world of cryptozoology.
 
Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero have written an entertaining, educational, and definitive text on cryptids, presenting the arguments both for and against their existence and systematically challenging the pseudoscience that perpetuates their myths. After examining the nature of science and pseudoscience and their relation to cryptozoology, Loxton and Prothero take on Bigfoot; the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, and its cross-cultural incarnations; the Loch Ness monster and its highly publicized sightings; the evolution of the Great Sea Serpent; and Mokele Mbembe, or the Congo dinosaur. They conclude with an analysis of the psychology behind the persistent belief in paranormal phenomena, identifying the major players in cryptozoology, discussing the character of its subculture, and considering the challenge it poses to clear and critical thinking in our increasingly complex world.
 
“As valuable for its analysis of the hunted as it is for the light it shines on the still-hopeful hunters.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Highly recommended for readers looking for scientific but accessible evaluations of the existence of five notable cryptids that have captured our imaginations.” —Library Journal (starred review)

Ratings and reviews

4.2
6 reviews

About the author

Michael Shermer (Ph.D. in the history of science from Claremont Graduate School) is a teaching fellow at Chapman University, founder of Skeptic Magazine, and a monthly columnist for Scientific American.He is the author of Why People Believe Weird Things, How We Believe, and The Science of Good and Evil, published by Henry Holt/Times Books.

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