Customer Reviews

No Bone Unturned: The Adventures of a Top Smithsonian Forensic Scientist and the Legal Battle for America's Oldest Skeletons

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2 star:		(1)
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Two major issues in archaeology have come to the fore over the past decade, namely do the dead have rights, and who "owns" history? No Bone Unturned by Jeff Benedict is the second book on the topic of Kennewick Man and the legal and political battle over his remains that I've read these past few months. Ancient Encounters: Kennewick Man and the First Americans by James C. Chatters gives the perspective of the first forensic anthropologist to study the remains and attempt to preserve them. No Bone Unturned, written by a journalist, discusses the involvement of the Smithsonian forensic archaeologist/anthropologist Douglas Owsley in the legal battle itself. While the former work gives the reader a good perspective on the significance of the material remains themselves and certainly illustrates the hazards of working in the field of archaeology today, the latter book puts the entire debate into more striking relief.

The book reads like a novel, carrying the reader through Owsley's childhood fascination with bones and what they can tell us of the being when living to his college years and professional growth at the national museum. The researcher is made very human by the details of his childhood, friendships and family relationships. His ability as a researcher is hardly left in doubt. Tales of his work with the remains of the recently dead, such as those of the Waco disaster, those of two murdered journalists in South America, and those of the victims of the 9/11 disaster, make his personal bravery as well as his focus and perseverance abundantly apparent. Stories of his work with historical remains makes his ability to piece together the story of the past through the scant skeletal material left in burials reads like a mystery book.

Jeff Benedict the author is himself an interesting character. An investigative journalist with five books to his credit, he holds a J.D., an M.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in History, and in 2002 was a candidate for U.S. Congress from Connecticut. His credentials make his political and legal assessment of the events and significance of the Kennewick debate more than idyll. Probably more important than what the bones can tell us of the history and settlement of the continent is what was nearly made precedent, namely the clandestine activities of several governmental agencies looking for an expedient way to deal with a trying situation, the pressure by government agencies on their own scientists, impinging upon their civil rights, and the arbitrary decisions made by political leaders and government agencies with respect to what constituted "acceptable data" upon which they might base their decisions. In short, "acceptable data" became whatever the agency decided it was and private individuals were expected to accept that as final. Scary.
Junior high students can probably understand the vocabulary and might enjoy the science, but probably only senior high and older will understand the implications of the judicial debate. An interesting and exciting book. Well written and easy to read. Very informative. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in history, archaeology, anthropology, forensic science, modern biography, political science or jurisprudence. TAKE NOTE, those writing papers, this would definitely make a good topic for a political science class.

It's rare for a work of science journalism to read like a thriller, but that old cliche "I couldn't put it down" definitely applies to this book. Writer Jeff Benedict follows Smithsonian forensic osteologist Doug Owsley through some fascinating and at times bizarre investigations in Guatemala, Waco, Jamestown, and the Pentagon (9/11 aftermath). Most of the book, though, is concerned with Owsley's epic six-year legal battle to prevent the federal government from reburying a scientifically important 9,600 year-old-skeleton known as "Kennewick Man."

Combining John Grishom and Indiana Jones, this book will appeal to anyone interested in forensic science, Native American politics, the paleoanthropology of ancient North America, or who just wants to read a rootin' good story.

Jeff Benedict depiction of the distinguished career of Doug Owsley of the Smithsonian, almost reads like a novel. This page-turner of a book increases in intensity from descriptions of Dr. Owsley's work in Guatemala and his involvement in identifying victims of Waco, to the legal battle started by Dr. Owsley, needed to force the federal government to allow study of a 9,000 years skeleton that could shed light on the history of the Americas.
Move over CSI, "No Bone Unturned" is more real, more enthralling, and more honest.

It was easy to get involved in the story with the author able to pull the reader in to the point of holding the book at arms length as body bags were unzipped. I yelled at the book in outrage as government attorneys tried to steal Kennewick man from the American people. From the dedication to the last entry in the index, Adams to Zulu, Author Benedict emerges as a hero of the people with his telling of a great story.

For those interested in forensic science and human anthropology Jeff Benedict's new book on Dr. Douglas Owsley's (The Smithsonian) study of the 9,600 year old Kennewick Man is a must read. In No Bone Unturned Mr. Benedict has managed to take this scientific wonder and wrap it in a detective story that makes for a great read. I was rivited by the details of this important study and landmark legal case. As an author of several books Benedict has his pen on the pulse of investigative reportage.

I have read quite a few books by or about anthropologists, but this is certainly the most moving and exciting! Once started, I couldn't put it down and was moved to tears at times. Mostly, I was envious of the fulfilling and important work Dr. Owsley performs and the energy he puts into it. The author certainly immortalizes Dr. Owsley beyond credible human stature in a few places, but overall seems to depict a very driven and admirable scientist.

If you have any interest in anthropology at all, you should read this book. It is an interesting look into the life of one of the country's top anthropologists and reads like a thriller!

This book hooks you on page one and hold you to the very end. The biggest dissapointment is that it ends. I wanted more. Jeff Benedict previously wrote two great exposes, one on criminals in the NFL (Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL) and one about a phony Indian tribe that built the biggest casino in the world (Without Reservation). But No Bone Unturned is the best book yet. When you read it you feel like you are traveling with the most incredible forensic anthropologist on the planet. This is an adventure tale, legal drama and political firestorm all in one. It action packed and yet so incredibly personal in terms of documenting the life of this most fascinting man, the Smithsonian's Dr. Doug Owsley.

I say bring on Hollywood.

I first became a Benedict fan reading his books about professional athletes and their ability to get away with violence off the field of play. He's a remarkable storyteller with a journalistic style. I was again outraged at my government taking a lax view of science unless it serves the corporations' interests. I certainly want to know more about Kennewick Man. Well done, Jeff!

I found the book enlightening about the forensic work of Doug Owsley and the legal pursuit of some scientists against US government agencies to make the skeleton known as Kennewick man available for study. I was amazed at just how much information such a skeleton could reveal about the physical and even cultural aspects of early americans.

Forensic science, at least by one definition, is science applied towards resolving legal issues. This excellent book certainly contains what one would expect in a book on forensic science - primarily the identification of the remains of recently (and not so recently) deceased individuals. The book is centered on the life of forensic anthropologist Dr. Doug Owsley and includes what are probably some of his more exciting cases. About two-thirds of this book is about a legal battle pitting Dr. Owsley and a team of like-minded scientists (represented by a devoted pair of first class lawyers) against the U.S. government regarding the right of the scientists to study an ancient 9800 year old skeleton recently found near Kennewick, Washington, instead of immediately giving it to local Native American tribes for reburial; the skeleton - dubbed Kennewick Man - was found to be anthropologically inconsistent with Native Americans. The book is very well written, exciting and difficult to put down. It would be of interest to forensic science buffs as well as those with an interest in legal issues and how they may be resolved. Highly recommended!