Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab The Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales
2 journalers for this copy...
Amazon Editorial Review
In this memoir, Bass, a premier forensic anthropologist, recounts how a life spent studying dead bodies led to the creation of "The Anthropolgy Research Facility" (aka the Body Farm), a plot of land near the University of Tennessee Medical Center where Bass and his colleagues monitor the decomposition of human corpses in various environments. The book is structured around the 1981 creation of the Body Farm, and the early chapters focus on some of Bass's trickier cases to demonstrate his need for more information about the science of forensics. The later chapters take a closer look at how the scientific analysis of Body Farm corpses has helped Bass and other anthropologists solve some of the toughest and most bizarre cases of their distinguished careers. Though professional and conscientious when describing the medical facts of each case, Bass, writing with journalist Jefferson, proves to be a witty storyteller with a welcome sense of humor. He also does a nice job balancing accounts of death and decomposition with decidedly not-so-morbid tidbits from his personal life. Furthermore, the poignancy of how he reacts to the deaths of his first two wives reflects the compassion he feels for the dead and their surviving family members he encounters in his working life. Bass may deal with the dead, but he has a lust for life that comes across in his writing. While the grisly details may not make this a must-read for everyone, those who do pick it up might just be pleasantly surprised by how Bass brings death to life.
In this memoir, Bass, a premier forensic anthropologist, recounts how a life spent studying dead bodies led to the creation of "The Anthropolgy Research Facility" (aka the Body Farm), a plot of land near the University of Tennessee Medical Center where Bass and his colleagues monitor the decomposition of human corpses in various environments. The book is structured around the 1981 creation of the Body Farm, and the early chapters focus on some of Bass's trickier cases to demonstrate his need for more information about the science of forensics. The later chapters take a closer look at how the scientific analysis of Body Farm corpses has helped Bass and other anthropologists solve some of the toughest and most bizarre cases of their distinguished careers. Though professional and conscientious when describing the medical facts of each case, Bass, writing with journalist Jefferson, proves to be a witty storyteller with a welcome sense of humor. He also does a nice job balancing accounts of death and decomposition with decidedly not-so-morbid tidbits from his personal life. Furthermore, the poignancy of how he reacts to the deaths of his first two wives reflects the compassion he feels for the dead and their surviving family members he encounters in his working life. Bass may deal with the dead, but he has a lust for life that comes across in his writing. While the grisly details may not make this a must-read for everyone, those who do pick it up might just be pleasantly surprised by how Bass brings death to life.
One word completely sums up this book: Fascinating.
Will be mailing off next week to glade1 for the wishlist tag game.
Will be mailing off next week to glade1 for the wishlist tag game.
Journal Entry 3 by book_drunkard at Wishlist Tag Game, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, May 5, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (5/6/2013 UTC) at Wishlist Tag Game, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to glade1 for wishlist tag game.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
I've been wanting to read this one for some time. Thanks for the tag, hostile17! I don't know when I'll get around to reading it, as I keep tagging people with other TBRs, but it's safe with me until then.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
This is an excellent book, telling Dr. Bass's entire story, including his time prior to the Body Farm. He has had a wonderful career and seems to be a good scientist: both curious and selfless. How rewarding it must be to see you work lead to justice in criminal cases. This book was even better than I had hoped. Well-written and intriguing!
Passed along to a coworker so I'll mark this one as traveling.
Passed along to a coworker so I'll mark this one as traveling.
