Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads: The Culture of Natural History Museums

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Science museums can be illuminating, exciting, and disturbing--just like the collectors that make them possible. Scholar Stephen T. Asma turned his professional curiosity about preserving bodies into an engrossing, wide-ranging exploration of the nature of these places and their curators. Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads: The Culture and Evolution of Natural History Museums brings a refreshing vitality to a subject usually thought boring, if not morbid. Asma's writing ranges from expositive to chatty, and it occasionally feels like a travelogue or memoir, as he investigates the American Museum of Natural History, the Galerie d'anatomie comparée, and other collections in the U.S. and Europe. This informality keeps the reader engaged throughout. Referring to the process of skeletonizing specimens--while maintaining his hold on all but the most sensitive--he writes:

I stepped into the foulest, most pestiferous stench you can imagine.... Inside each tank were thousands of dermestid beetles, otherwise known as flesh-eating beetles, blissfully chewing the meaty chunks and strands off the bones. Each bug was no bigger than a watermelon seed, but en masse they could strip a skeleton clean in two short days.

To Asma's credit, the bulk of the text is less a gross-out fest than a consideration of the hard, sometimes obsessive work of the men and women behind the displays. He examines the role of museums and collectors in the great evolutionary debates of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the future of these institutions as they come more and more to depend on corporate largesse. Equally enlightening and entertaining, Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads is a perfectly exhibited specimen. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

The natural history museum is a place where the line between "high" and "low" culture effectively vanishes--where our awe of nature, our taste for the bizarre, and our thirst for knowledge all blend happily together. But as Stephen Asma shows in Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads, there is more going on in these great institutions than just smart fun. Asma takes us on a wide-ranging tour of natural history museums in New York and Chicago, London and Paris, interviewing curators, scientists, and exhibit designers, and providing a wealth of fascinating observations. We learn how the first museums were little more than high-toned side shows, with such garish exhibits as the pickled head of Peter the Great's lover. In contrast, today's museums are hot-beds of serious science, funding major research in such fields as anthropology and archaeology. "Rich in detail, lucid explanation, telling anecdotes, and fascinating characters.... Asma has rendered a fascinating and credible account of how natural history museums are conceived and presented. It's the kind of book that will not only engage a wide and diverse readership, but it should, best of all, send them flocking to see how we look at nature and ourselves in those fabulous legacies of the curiosity cabinet."--The Boston Herald.

Customer Reviews:

Bizarre and Brilliant!.......2004-02-26

This is an excellent and provocative book. Asma ranges widely, but also deeply, over the relatively uncharted territory of museum practices and theories --some mainstream and others quirky and idiosyncratic. One of the great virtues of the book is that it consciously avoids the typical postmodern cultural studies lingo that most of the other recent museum books invoke. This is clear and thoughtful analysis of the tradition of natural history collecting --analysis that brings us face to face with oddball curators like Peale and Hunter. But it also connects the older forms of edutainment (early taxidermy, etc.) with the more contemporary and controversial forms (Hollywood-type displays of dinosaurs, etc.). Two other important aspects of the book are scarcely mentioned in the promo blurbs, but they make for fascinating reading. One, is a fresh, if ocassionally dense, tour of European scientific classification theory --a philosophically important and often ignored area. And two, a powerful argument for evolution theory as against creationism and the increasingly popular "intelligent design" theory. Great writing and very intelligent!

The evolution of natural history museums around the world.......2001-08-08

Stephen Asthma's Stuffed Animals And Pickled Heads surveys the presence and evolution of natural history museums around the world, interviewing curators, scientists and exhibit designers and providing many observations of the history of these museums and how their contents and approaches have evolved. The result is an excellent and intriguing story of the evolution of natural history collections.

Mummies, Museums, and Metaphysics.......2001-04-23

If you do not want to know the nuts and bolts (or rather, the knives and molds) of the craft of taxidermy, but you want to know about why people might be interested in such an activity, what happens to their exhibits in museums, how museums express cultural and scientific philosophy, and how we come to categorize the biology that fills our world, then Stephen T. Asma's _Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads: The Culture and Evolution of Natural History Museums_ (Oxford University Press) will do nicely. It is an amusing ramble through museums, but since Asma is a professor of philosophy, it veers through much larger ideas.

Asma obviously likes museums, and he has gained entrance to the back rooms denied to other mortals. He is delighted to report his findings, such as the dermestid beetle room at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. These beetles, held in a stinky sealed room that has a door like a submarine hatch, swarm over the skinned bodies of specimens, literally gnawing them to the bone in a couple of days. He has interviewed curators and exhibition designers, and has them explain what they are trying to accomplish in their exhibits. But they may not know; how a display is arranged depends on scientific and social philosophy which varies from time to time and from nation to nation, and may be covert. Louis Agassiz displayed human racial artifacts at Harvard to emphasize that races were different, having been separately and specially created, rather than showing the continuity of human descent. The natural history museum in England have exhibits that emphasize Darwin, but the French hardly mention him. The Americans will have the most modern philosophy of taxonomy.

Comfortable with including Plato, James, Wittgenstein and others from his own field, Asma gives a wide-ranging discussion of epistemological issues that is academic but is never stuffy and never loses its sense of fun.

Book Description

Perfect for weekend getaways, each In Your Pocket guidebook is divided into four sections. The Background sets the stage with information on region's history, culture and geography. The Exploring section details "must see" sights, classified according to Michelin's renowned star-rating system. A helpful calendar of holidays, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife suggestions as well as important hotel and restaurant information is described in Enjoying Your Visit. The A-Z Factfinder is a reference section, packed with useful information on what travelers need to know when visiting a destination.

Customer Reviews:

Not the Greatest of Books on Tuscany!.......2007-08-11

I bought a bunch of books on Italy for my trip this Sept. This is my least favorite, I will be leaving this one home, if not in the trash!

Customer Reviews:

What a smart boy and the amazing horse!.......2004-06-19

Alexander and the Stallion is very well-written with beautiful and descriptive illustrations. This exciting story will appeal to all young children whether reading it with the family or in school. As a former teacher, I strongly recommend this book to all librarians working in children's literature as well as all early elementary school teachers.

Great book for kids.......2004-04-06

I gave this book to my nephew and he loved it very much.
The pictures were very nice and he really enjoyed the horse.

This book does a very good job of integrating folk ancient history (the Taming of Alexander the Great's great horse) with a fun picture book for kids.

Definiate recommendation!

Living History.......2004-04-03

What a fun way to introduce kids to Alexander thr Great!! The text is engaging and well written. E. Westra has a real talent for finding that perfect slice of history and bringing it to life. A great addition to any home, school, or library.

The grade stallion situation in Wisconsin (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)

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The grade stallion situation in Wisconsin (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00089OTZU

Distribution of licensed stallions in counties of Wisconsin (Circular of information)

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Distribution of licensed stallions in counties of Wisconsin (Circular of information)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station of the College of Agriculture
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BBM6M

Distribution of licensed stallions in the counties of Wisconsin during 1912 (Circular of information)

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Distribution of licensed stallions in the counties of Wisconsin during 1912 (Circular of information)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BBMM6

Distribution of public service stallions (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)

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Distribution of public service stallions (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Wisconsin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00089OYWS

Distribution of public service stallions enrolled in the counties of Wisconsin during 1913 (Circular of information)

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Distribution of public service stallions enrolled in the counties of Wisconsin during 1913 (Circular of information)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BBNAW

Distribution of public service stallions enrolled in the counties of Wisconsin during 1914 (Wisconsin circular)

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Distribution of public service stallions enrolled in the counties of Wisconsin during 1914 (Wisconsin circular)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Wisconsin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BBOQK

Distribution of public service stallions in Wisconsin (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)

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Distribution of public service stallions in Wisconsin (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Wisconsin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00089OZBI

The distribution of stallions in Wisconsin (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)

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The distribution of stallions in Wisconsin (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00089OTYQ

Progress in Wisconsin horse breeding: With lists of stallion licenses and transfers for 1908 (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)

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Progress in Wisconsin horse breeding: With lists of stallion licenses and transfers for 1908 (Bulletin / University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station)
A. S Alexander
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Aquatic Toxicology examines research findings on the chronic effects of pollutants on aquatic species. Understanding these chronic effects is vital to determining the impact of small concentrations of pollutants on aquatic life in rivers, estuaries, lakes, and coastal waters. Featuring research from renowned experts in the field, this book evaluates modern techniques in the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry. It is indispensable to aquatic toxicologists, aquatic biochemists, fisheries scientists, industrial chemists, and researchers at federal, state, and university levels.

Book Description

This research-level book presents up-to-date information concerning recent developments in convex functions and partial orderings and some applications in mathematics, statistics, and reliability theory. The book will serve researchers in mathematical and statistical theory and theoretical and applied reliabilists.

Key Features
* Presents classical and newly published results on convex functions and related inequalities
* Explains partial ordering based on arrangement and their applications in mathematics, probability, statsitics, and reliability
* Demonstrates the connection of partial ordering with other well-known orderings such as majorization and Schur functions
* Will generate further research and applications

Convex Functions, Partial Orderings, and Statistical Applications

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Convex Functions, Partial Orderings, and Statistical Applications
Josip E. Peajcariaac
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OH6O7M

Book Description

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) is known for his innovative method of philosophical inquiry which mixes the anecdotal and the personal with serious critiques of human knowledge, politics and the law. His rejection of fanaticism and cruelty and his admiration for the civilizations of the New World mark him as a predecessor of modern notions of tolerance and acceptance of otherness. An international team of contributors explores the range of his philosophy and also examines the social and intellectual contexts in which his thought was expressed.

Customer Reviews:

A wide ranged guide to Montaigne.......2005-09-30

I have found the book useful and full of bright insights about Montaigne, his person and his time. It is clear, well written, scholar but plain in language.

The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne.(Book review): An article from: Renaissance Quarterly

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The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne.(Book review): An article from: Renaissance Quarterly
Richard L. Regosin
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000WE28JU
Release Date: 2007-09-24

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Renaissance Quarterly, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2006. The length of the article is 640 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne.(Book review)
Author: Richard L. Regosin
Publication: Renaissance Quarterly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Page: 890(3)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne.(Book review): An article from: The Modern Language Review

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The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne.(Book review): An article from: The Modern Language Review
Jean Braybrook
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Modern Language Review, published by Thomson Gale on April 1, 2006. The length of the article is 673 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne.(Book review)
Author: Jean Braybrook
Publication: The Modern Language Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 101 Issue: 2 Page: 534(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO MONTAIGNE. Cambridge Companions to Philosophy

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THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO MONTAIGNE. Cambridge Companions to Philosophy
Ullrich (editor). Langer
Manufacturer: Cambridge Univ. Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ND1LHU

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