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Summary
Summary
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.
Author Notes
Donald R. Prothero is a Research Associate in Vertebrate Paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He has taught college geology and paleontology for 40 years at institutions such as Columbia University, Vassar College, Knox College, and Pierce College, and currently at Cal Poly Pomona. For 27 years, he was Professor of Geology at Occidental College in Los Angeles and Lecturer in Geobiology at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in geological sciences from Columbia University. He is the author of over 300 scientific papers published in leading journals and over 30 titles in geology, paleontology and evolutionary biology.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Loxton and Prothero (Reality Check) stake out the world's best-known (if never observed) cryptids and-unsurprisingly-come up with zilch. But that doesn't mean the hunt isn't an interesting one. In their breakdown of cryptozoology, the skeptical duo (Loxton is the editor of Junior Skeptic magazine) covers a vast swath of territory, from biology, geology, paleontology, and genetics, to anthropology, sociology, and folklore. Classic cryptids like Bigfoot, the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and sea serpents, as well as the lesser known Mokele Mbembe, an Apatosaurous-like dinosaur supposedly rampaging through the Congo, each get their due (and are duly dismissed as myths) in chapter-long entries. Loxton and Prothero ultimately conclude that "there is no solid evidence that any of the cryptids discussed in this book exist and much evidence that their existence is extremely unlikely." So why the obsession with these fanciful beasts? And what of the weird world of amateur cryptozoologists? The authors address these questions and others in the illuminating final pages, where they rail against the dangers of pseudoscience and provocatively tie cryptozoology to the politics of creationism. This work is as valuable for its analysis of the hunted as it is for the light it shines on the still-hopeful hunters. 88 illus. and photos. (Aug. 6) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Choice Review
There is no end to nonsense presented in the guise of science, and thus there will always be a need for sensible, comprehensive books like this. Writer/journalist Loxton and noted paleontologist Prothero (formerly, Occidental College) have written the best and most useful book yet on the phenomenon of illusory "cryptids" like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Cryptozoology will always be, at least conceptually, caught between real exploratory science and myth mongering. Abominable Science! not only explores this boundary zone with authority, but delves deep into the historical origins of the most famous monsters and then addresses why so many people are convinced they really exist. The illustrations are spectacular, and the book is very well referenced and up-to-date. The prose combines scientific rigor with journalistic flash. One of the best chapters, especially to jaded skeptics, is on the evolution of the sea serpent meme, which is complexly intertwined with the world's growing maritime experience. This reviewer suspects a new edition might even include mythic fossil sea monsters like the recently proposed "Triassic kraken." This book is valuable for all libraries because interest in this topic is high in virtually all age and scholarship groups. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. M. A. Wilson College of Wooster
Library Journal Review
Loxton (staff writer, Skeptic magazine) and Prothero (research associate, vertebrate paleontology, Los Angeles Cty. Natural History Museum; Catastrophes! Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes, and Other Earth-Shattering Disasters) present the stories behind five notable cryptids, or creatures proposed as existing but not accepted by scientists: Bigfoot, the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, sea serpents, and Mokele-Mbembe (the Congo "dinosaur"). The authors carefully explain how most, if not all, of the "evidence" supplied in support of these creatures consists of hoaxes and specious arguments. Sightings are often unverifiable or turn out to be misidentifications of something unremarkable, such as a tree stump. Physical proof, in the form of a specimen or a fossil, is never available; the authors logically and persuasively explain why it is unlikely ever to be found. Loxton and Prothero retain their distinct voices by splitting up authorship of the chapters. While Loxton sees some aspects of cryptozoology as endearing, Prothero warns that it encourages its overly credulous audience and contributes to scientific illiteracy. Their accessible and absorbing book is enriched by Loxton's experiences with questionable beast encounters and Prothero's account of his appearance on the TV show MonsterQuest. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers looking for scientific but accessible evaluations of the existence of five notable cryptids that have captured our imaginations. Likely to be popular.-Laurie Neuerburg, Victoria -Coll.-Univ. of Houston Lib. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
| Foreword | p. ix |
| Preface | p. xiii |
| Acknowledgments | p. xv |
| 1 Cryptozoology: Real Science or Pseudoscience? | p. 1 |
| 2 Bigfoot: The Sasquatch | p. 29 |
| 3 The Yeti: The Abominable Snowman | p. 73 |
| 4 Nessie: The Loch Ness Monster | p. 119 |
| 5 The Evolution of the Sea Serpent: From Hippocamp to Cadborosaurus | p. 177 |
| 6 Mokele Mbembe: The Congo Dinosaur | p. 261 |
| 7 Why Do People Believe in Monsters? The Complexity of Cryptozoology | p. 297 |
| Notes | p. 337 |
| Index | p. 395 |
