Written in Bone, Sue Black
Written in Bone, Sue Black
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Written in Bone
Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind

Author: Sue Black

Narrator: Sue Black

Unabridged: 11 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/20/2021

Synopsis

In her memoir All That Remains, internationally renowned forensic anthropologist and human anatomist Dame Sue Black recounted her life lived eye to eye with the Grim Reaper. During the course of it, she offered a primer on the basics of identifying human remains, plenty of insights into the fascinating processes of death, and a sober, compassionate understanding of its inescapable presence in our existence, all leavened with her wicked sense of humor. Now in this book, Black builds on that memoir, taking us on a guided tour of the human skeleton and explaining how each person's life history is revealed in their bones, which she calls the last sentinels of our mortal life to bear witness to the way we lived it. Her narrative follows the skeleton from the top of the skull to the small bones in the foot. Each step of the journey includes an explanation of the biology—how the bone is formed in a person's development, how it changes as we age, the secrets it may hold—and is illustrated with anecdotes from the author's career helping solve crimes and identifying human remains, whether recent or historical. Full of entertaining stories that read like scenes from a true-life CSI drama, Written in Bone is infused with humor and no-nonsense practicality about the realities of corpses and death.

About Sue Black

Sue Black, DBE, FRSE, is one of the world's leading anatomists and forensic anthropologists. She is also the pro‑vice chancellor for engagement at Lancaster University. Her forensic expertise has been crucial to solving high‑profile criminal cases. The lead anthropologist for the British Forensics Team's work in the war-crimes investigations in Kosovo, she also worked in Thailand after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She makes regular appearances on radio and television and lives in Scotland.

Reviews

Goodreads review by karen on June 07, 2020

bones bones bones bones bones are awesome. and this is a great book for kids who are budding forensic anthropologists. you know you are out there - KIDS, STOP WANTING TO BE ASTRONAUTS - ASTRONAUTS DON'T EVEN EXIST but this book shows all manner of cool stuff - how people were buried, what they were w......more

Goodreads review by Tina on November 25, 2019

This book is amazing! I honestly loved every second of it! Granted I'm obsessed with skeletons, but that's beside the point. The author worked alongside different groups of archaeologists while they excavated various places settled in colonial America, taking notes, studying, and watching as new dis......more

Goodreads review by Laura on April 26, 2011

Listening to this book was so cool! I've been a fan of fictional forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan since long before the TV show Bones. I like what she's able to do with contemporary bodies, but I'm always interested in the asides about her ventures with older, more historic graves. This book......more

Goodreads review by Maddie on April 29, 2014

In a captivating book about the unearthing of the Jamestown Colony graves in Virginia, Sally Walker discusses the lives of eight colonists. With the help of archaeologists and anthropologists, Walker tells the stories of a teenage boy, a ship captain, and indentured servant, a colonial officer and h......more

Goodreads review by Sharon on June 10, 2014

Loved this book. I'm a bit of a history buff and perhaps a little morbid as well. I never really thought about what it takes to exhume history from the ground and can say now, my eyes have been opened. To be a forensic anthropologist has got to be one of the most amazing jobs ever. The detail in whic......more

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