Sam Kean
AUTHOR

Sam Kean

Science & Engineering | Health & Wellness | Biographies & Memoirs
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Official bio: Sam Kean spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now he's a writer in Washington, D.C. His new book is The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons. His first two books, The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb were national bestsellers, and both were named an Amazon "Top 5" science books of the year. The Disappearing Spoon was nominated by the Royal Society for one of the top science books of 2010, while The Violinist's Thumb was a finalist for PEN's literary science writing award. His work has also been featured on "Radiolab" and NPR's "All Things Considered," among other shows. You can follow him via Twitter @sam_kean, and read excerpts at http://www.samkean.com. (un)Official bio: Sam Kean gets called Sean at least once a month. He grew up in South Dakota, which means more to him than it probably should. He's a fast reader but a very slow eater. He went to college in Minnesota and studied physics and English. At night, he sometimes comes down with something called "sleep paralysis," which is the opposite of sleepwalking. Right now, he lives in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master's degree in library science that he will probably never use. He feels very strongly that open-faced sandwiches are superior to regular ones.
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Caesar's Last Breath

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The Best Fiction Podcasts for Listeners Who Love a Good Story

You can’t beat a good story. Luckily, humans are great at storytelling, and the best fiction podcasts are all the proof that the modern listener requires. Get the popcorn ready; it’s storytime.

Featured Article: The Best Fiction Podcasts for Listeners Who Love a Good Story

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  • The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons cover art

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  • The Icepick Surgeon cover art

    • The Icepick Surgeon

    • Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science
    • Written by: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Ben Sullivan
    • Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
    • Release date: 2021-07-13
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

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  • The Bastard Brigade cover art

    • The Bastard Brigade

    • The True Story of the Renegade Scientists and Spies Who Sabotaged the Nazi Atomic Bomb
    • Written by: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Ben Sullivan
    • Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
    • Release date: 2019-07-09
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

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  • The Violinist's Thumb cover art

    • The Violinist's Thumb

    • And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code
    • Written by: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Henry Leyva
    • Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
    • Release date: 2012-07-17
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

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  • Caesar's Last Breath cover art

    • Caesar's Last Breath

    • Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us
    • Written by: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Ben Sullivan
    • Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
    • Release date: 2017-07-18
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

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  • The Disappearing Spoon: Young Listeners Edition cover art

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  • Unlocking the Hidden History of DNA cover art

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  • Dinner with King Tut cover art

    • Dinner with King Tut

    • How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations
    • Written by: Sam Kean
    • Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
    • Release date: 2025-07-08
    • Language: English
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