Kermit Pattison is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, GQ, Fast Company, Runner's World, and Time, among many other publications. He has spent more than five years researching this story, including extensive time in the field with Tim White's team. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"[A] riveting account. ... In places, Fossil Men seems
more reality television show than a work of popular science, as we
follow an outrageous cast. ... The story lines border on the
insane: There are civil wars, gunfights, at least one grenade
rolling around the feet of scientists as they drive into the
desert. ... Pattison... is every bit as good as the best
scientist-writers. He describes the intricacies of the human wrist
and foot with the skill of a poet... [and] explains in clear and
compelling prose how scientists build family trees of ancient
species." — New York Times Book Review
"Entertaining. ... Satisfying. ... Gripping. ... Big personalities,
simmering turmoil, and fascinating popular science." — Kirkus
Reviews (starred review)
“At the core of Kermit Pattison’s rip-roaring tale is the prickly,
obsessive, brilliant American paleonaut, Tim White, who braves
revolutions, tribal warfare, and bitter scientific rivals to
unearth ancient bones, without which there would be no pre-history,
no civilization, no humanity.”
— PETER NICHOLS, New York Times bestselling author of The Rocks and
Evolution's Captain
“Reads like an Indiana Jones sequel. ...This is a book about the
ongoing quest to find us—and what human nature is at its core.” —
Politico
"Brilliant. ... A work of staggering depth. ... Pattison deftly
weaves strands of science, sociology and political science into a
compelling tale that stretches over decades. ... His prose is
lively and accessible. ... An ambitious work that fully justifies
the extraordinary effort that went into it, both by the fossil men
and by the writer who chronicled their work." — Minneapolis Star
Tribune
“Fossil Men is a wonderful mix of history, science and politics,
full of pathos and insight in equal measure. I found it difficult
to put down, and I didn’t want it to end....This book should be
required reading for all those who care about how science may help
answer the question of who we are as humans. A monumental
achievement!”
— HASOK CHANG, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science,
University of Cambridge
"An exciting book, full of colorful personalities, momentous
discoveries, and new ideas that challenge us to reconsider
everything we believed about the evolution of humankind." —
Booklist
"Compelling science. ... Perfect for National Geographic readers
who want to dig deep into the human evolutionary tree." — Library
Journal
"A riveting story of academic, political, and personal intrigue." —
Christian Science Monitor (Best Books of November 2020 Roundup)
"A dazzling journey into deep geological time. ... Pattinson
combines his meticulously researched examination of the science of
ancient humans with a visceral and penetrating tale of... intrigue,
academic rivalry, pathological jealousy and intellectual
inertia. He uses his first-hand experience of being on site in
Ethiopia to detail the art, science, joys and challenges of
fossil-hunting. ... Fascinating. ... Unexpected and revelatory." —
The Spectator (London)
"Equal parts biography and adventure novel, Pattison
illustrates the colorful characters — flaws and all — whose
research has shaped our origin story as we know it today." —
Discover magazine
“[A] lively debut. … Pattison ably combines the adventure yarn with
scientific minutiae. … Those interested in human origins should
check out this vivid and thorough study.” — Publishers
Weekly
"Blends science and drama to tell the story of a major
paleoanthropology find. ... For anyone interested in fossil
hunting, evolutionary science and a hominid skeleton like no other,
this book delivers." — Science News
“Pattison weaves the multiple intrigues of science, politics, and
personalities into a masterly structured tale…. Leaves readers with
a new sense of wonder at the origins of humankind.” — Christian
Science Monitor
"Fascinating. ... Exciting." — Twin Cities Pioneer Press
"Any science-minded person... will truly enjoy Fossil Men." —
Danville Commercial-News
"Perceptive and revealing. ... Pattison has a commendable and
enviable grasp of a wide range of difficult methods and concepts,
and he does a fine job of presenting and explaining the many
scientific developments that have enriched the way we interpret the
hominin fossil record.” — Journal of Human Evolution
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