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Publications

Books

Black has published several non-fiction books which are well received by authors and academics alike:

Did You See That Dinosaur?

Did You See That Dinosaur?: Search the Page, Find the Dinosaur in a Fact-Filled Adventure (Rockridge Press, 2020. ISBN 9781641527064) is an interactive children's book about dinosaurs, illustrated by comic book artist Scott Koblish. Editorial reviews by Paleontologists provided by the publisher include:

• "What kid doesn’t dream of becoming a dinosaur hunter? A charming safari through time, Riley masterfully brings the familiar and unfamiliar extinct creatures of the Mesozoic Era to life in this fun, seek-and-find adventure. Whimsical and scientifically accurate, this book will delight both parents and dinosaur-obsessed kids alike.” —Julia B. McHugh, Ph.D., Curator of Paleontology
• “As a paleontologist, I love seeing new discoveries and old favorites from around the world featured in this book. As a mom, the additional facts Riley Black slipped into the story and the surprises Scott Koblish hid in the artwork made reading it with my kids even more fun.” —Stephanie K. Drumheller-Horton, Ph.D., Lecturer and Paleontologist at the University of Tennessee
• “Even the most dinosaur-savvy kid is likely to find something new in this book! Did You See That Dinosaur? has a winning blend of old favorites as well as fossil discoveries that are hot off the presses. Riley Black's engaging presentation of ancient animals in a fun storyline along with Scott Koblish's lively illustrations make the book a winning combination for both dedicated dinosaur fans and unfossilized newbies. This is a great one for kids and adults to read together, and for kids to explore on their own!” —Andy Farke, Ph.D., Paleontologist

Skeleton Keys

Skeleton Keys: The Secret Life of Bone (Riverhead Books, 2019. ISBN 9780525539124) details the natural and cultural history of bone and the role it plays in the human body and beyond. It has received 9 editorial reviews.

• Rose George in the New York Times, when reviewing Skeleton Keys, describes Black as "an affable guide, and affability is required when the depth and breadth of his subject is so vast".
• It was described by John J. Ross in the Wall Street Journal as “A provocative and entertaining magical mineral tour through the life and afterlife of bone”.

• In a Nature article, Jan Zalasiewicz, a professor of palaeobiology at the University of Leicester, describes Skeleton Keys as “A thoughtful, engaging meditation on the origins of the human skeleton, how it functions (or malfunctions) and how we come to terms with our essential but unsettling osseous framework.”

Prehistoric Predators

Prehistoric Predators (Applesauce Press 2015. ISBN 9781604335521) is a children's book about Carnivorous dinosaurs, illustrated by paleoartist Julius Csotonyi.

My Beloved Brontosaurus

My Beloved Brontosaurus: On the Road with Old Bones, New Science, and Our Favorite Dinosaurs (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. ISBN 9781466836761) is an informative cross-country adventure exploring new discoveries in paleantology. Chosen as one of Amazon.com's Best Science Books of 2013 as well as a Hudson Booksellers Staff Pick for the Best Books of 2013, one of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Spring Science Books, and a Bookshop Santa Cruz Staff Pick. It has received over 30 editorial reviews.

• It was described by John Noble Wilford in the New York Times as "Charming . . . We are beneficiaries of Mr. Switek's undiminished passion . . . The book is a delight, coming along when so much has changed in our understanding of dinosaurs, ever since the beginning of a renaissance in dinosaur studies in the 1970s and '80s . . . This may be the one book for catching up on what has become of the dinosaurs you thought you knew from grade school."

• Allison Bohac from ScienceNews describes the book as "a lifeline for the dinosaur enthusiast—an entertaining guide to the latest science of dinosaurs.”
• To the publishers, Prof Kevin Padian from University of California Museum of Paleontology wrote “With this new book, Brian Switek reaffirms his status as one of our premier gifted young science writers. It's an exciting time for dinosaur research, and Brian is the best guide I know.”

Written in Stone

Written in Stone: Evolution, the Fossil Record, and Our Place in Nature (Bellevue Literary Press, 2010. ISBN 9781934137291) was the first book Black published and describes evolutionary history as preserved in fossils. It has received 10 editorial reviews including:

• “It is hard not to be awed reading Brian Switek’s magisterial Written in Stone.  Part historical account, part scientific detective story, the book is a reflection on how we have come to know and understand ancient events in the planet’s history.  Switek’s elegant prose and thoughtful scholarship will change the way you see life on our planet. This book marks the debut of an important new voice.” — Neil Shubin
• “In Written in Stone, Brian Switek simultaneously depicts our place in Nature while capturing the flavor of discovery and understanding our remote past in the fossil record. Elegantly and engagingly crafted, Switek’s narrative interweaves stories and characters not often encountered in books on paleontology—at once a unique, informative and entertaining read.” — Niles Eldredge
• “Brian Switek proves himself a compelling historian of science with Written In Stone. His accounts of dinosaurs, birds, whales, and our own primate ancestors are not just fascinating for their rich historical detail, but also for their up-to-date reporting on paleontology’s latest discoveries about how life evolved.” — Carl Zimmer