The Science of Monsters

In 'The Science of Monsters', Matt Kaplan examines the biological and cultural roots of monster myths, explaining how real animals and natural phenomena inspired legendary creatures.

The book blends natural history, evolutionary biology, and historical anecdotes to demystify famous monsters.

Kaplan uses scientific evidence to separate fantasy from plausible biology, showing how human perception and environment shape monster lore.

He also explores how monsters reflect human fears and the limits of scientific understanding in different eras.

The work serves both as popular science and as a commentary on how science informs storytelling.