Today’s nonfiction post is on Abominable Science! The Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and other famous
Cryptids by Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero. It is 411 pages long
including notes and an index. The cover has a yeti on it looking very fierce.
The intended reader is someone who wants to know more about cryptids or about
cryptozoology. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The
information about the cryptids is given in interviews and papers by both
believers and skeptics. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the dust jacket- 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.
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.
Review- If you are a skeptic but still like crytids
and cryptozoology then you should read this. Loxton loves cryptozoology and
started out as a believer who now is a skeptic. Prothero is a hard-core skeptic
but he does not let that stop him from hearing people in cryptozoology culture.
The book overall is about the most famous crytids. The book discusses the evidence
from videos to pictures and makes them stand up to true scientific study. Now
that I have this book I can watch some of the Bigfoot shows and I can see where
the flaws are. The writing can get a little stale at time but considering that
this is a hard core science book that is not surprising. If you are having
trouble with it this is what I did- I would one section then do or read
something else. However if you are a believer then read this book with
knowledge that the authors are not. They take every piece of evidence of
crytids and they work with it to the end of disproving the crytid.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for
my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
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