The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Science and the Global Quest for Fossils

The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Science, and the Global Quest for Fossils tells the fascinating true story behind a dinosaur fossil that sparked an international battle over science, commerce, and who has the right to own pieces of the prehistoric past. Journalist Paige Williams follows fossil dealer Eric Prokopi and the sale of a nearly complete Tarbosaurus bataar skeleton, uncovering the complex world of fossil collecting and the blurred lines between scientific discovery, commercial trade, and fossil poaching.

Why You’ll Love This

• Explores the science, history, and global politics surrounding dinosaur fossils
• Follows the real-life story of a spectacular Tarbosaurus bataar skeleton and its controversial sale
• Examines the tensions between paleontologists, commercial fossil collectors, museums, and private collectors
• Explores how fossils can reveal Earth's past while also becoming valuable and contested objects
• Written as a compelling work of narrative nonfiction that combines natural history, science, crime, and human obsession
• A great read for dinosaur enthusiasts, fossil collectors, paleontology fans, and natural-history lovers

Go beyond the dinosaur skeletons and discover the complicated human story behind who finds fossils, who owns them, and how they become part of our understanding of the prehistoric world.