Lucy's Bones, Sacred Stones, & Einstein's Brain: The Remarkable Stories Behind the Great Objects and Artifacts of History, from Antiquity to the Modern Era (Henry Holt Reference Book) [Hardcover]

Harvey Rachlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996 | Series: Henry Holt Reference Book

Beginning in antiquity (the Black Stone of the Ka'bah, the Crown of Thorns), moving through the Dark and Middle Ages (Columbus' Books of Privileges), and finally arriving at the modern era (the Enola Gay, the rifle that killed JFK), this unique book pictures and describes the world's most fascinating artifacts, detailing the causes of their fame, recording their past and present ownership, and celebrating their lasting legend. 80 photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Shroud of Turin, George Washington's false teeth, King Tutankhamen's royal burial treasures, a three-billion-year-old Ethiopian king Hammurabi are among the artifacts and relics spotlighted in this entertaining and enlightening survey. Organized in rough chronological order, from the sacred Black Stone revered by Muslims in Mecca to Voyager 2's gold-plated phonograph record for extraterrestrials, the 50-plus objects make up a pageant of human aspiration, achievement, obsession and belief. Some of the artifacts are heartrending (the bed Lincoln died in, Anne Frank's diary); some are momentous (the Declaration of Independence, the Wright brothers' biplane); and others are nostalgic (London Bridge, Babe Ruth's 60th-home-run bat). And some are bizarre, like the Elephant Man or the fake, wood-carved gun that John Dillinger used to bluff his way out of an Indiana jail. Photos.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Rachlin (The Making of a Detective, LJ 11/1/95) has written a fascinating trivia book covering over 50 artifacts and objects in history. Each relatively short entry follows the same format-"Date," "What It Is," and "What It Looks Like." The prose is sprightly and often witty. Such topics as George Washington's False Teeth, the Shroud of Turin, and Napoleon's Penis are bound to pique readers' interest. The book is soundly researched; in the field of U.S. history, for example, only one minor chronological misplacement was found. Some selections will surely whet the appetite for additional reading. Books of this nature have been very popular in recent years, e.g., I Love Paul Revere, Whether He Rode or Not (HarperCollins, 1992). This title should prove no exception.
Stephen G. Weisner, Springfield Technical Community Coll., Mass.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 402 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co; 1st edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805039643
• ISBN-13: 978-0805039641
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,742,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What A Find, August 23, 2000

By 

"jiminair" (work) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucy's Bones, Sacred Stones and Einstein's Brain (Paperback)

I watch the History Channel too but somehow missed this. Working for an airline I do not have alot of time to spend on novels etc. But this is right up my gangway. Neat stuff to tuck away in my brain for a rainy day or maybe a gameshow! Glad I saw it here.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great book for short attention spans, May 17, 2000

By 

Jeffrey Hathaway - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucy's Bones, Sacred Stones and Einstein's Brain (Paperback)

the vast array of "trivia-type" information found in this collection would be an excellent prep for a game show contestant. everything from the book of kells to the code of hammurabi is explained in as little as three-to-five pages per item. a must have read for anyone interested in historical little known facts

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Coverage!, July 26, 2001

By 

Joe Kavanagh "cyberjoek" (MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucy's Bones, Sacred Stones and Einstein's Brain (Paperback)

This is a good book for Triva buffs and History buffs that discribes where all sorts of interesting items have gone and where they are now. This is a book that will make a great one time read and referance book. It is also big and looks good on a book shelf!