The Bone Lady: Life as a Forensic Anthropologist

Hooked from page 1! Great book, fast read. I loved it so much I bought her other books to!

Forensic anthropology has been an interest of mine ever since I read Dr. Maple's book, "Dead Men do Tell Tales." I was hooked, but not under the impression that I could do much with a degree lower then a doctorate in the subject. Mary Manhein is an equally engaging author,yet is encouraging throughout the book. She tells of her own life and how she returned to school after her children got older. She doesn't have a doctorate, but she still teaches college courses and is an active forensic anthropologist. Her story is equally balanced with details of her personal life and her career. The book gives an excelent perspective on what a forensic anthropologists experience in the context of reality.

It is rare when a book captivates such a variety of people, but this book does it. I bought The Bone Lady after several suggestions to do so and I was not disappointed, you will not be either. Only a gifted author, such as Manhein can weave a delicate web of childhood stories, forensic anthropology basics, and actual forensic cases in an autobiography. This book is everything-humorous, enlightening, inspiring, and it is for everyone.

Ms. Manhein's story telling and humor kept me glued to the pages of her book. It's not an easy task to describe the complicated world of Forensics in a way for others to understand. Yet, Ms. Manhein accomplishes this in an informative, yet simple manner. Her humorous stories mixed in with her own personal life, not only made me feel as if I knew a little more about Forensic Anthropology, but I knew her famly and the state of Louisiana as well. She is an excellent writer and congratulate her on a job well done.

Having known Mary Manhein when she enrolled in her very first anthropology course, I was thrilled to read her first book. She is an accomplished scholar who has excelled at her chosen profession and has now taken the time to describe, in an understandable way, just what it means to work as a forensic anthropologist. Her book is an excellent introduction, and I hope it will find its way onto the required reading list for high school and college students who want to know more about forensic anthropology. My only criticism is that I wanted to read more about the cases that she describes! I look forward to her next book, be it fiction or nonfiction, though I hope that we will hear more about her cases.

This masterful work covers a topic that sparks an interest in everyone. It is simply fascinating. The tone that Manheim accomplishes with this book is pure genius. You need not be a medical expert to appreciate and understand her accounts as she lays them out for the reader from her point of view. She is able to present herself as a real person that any reader can easily relate with, yet is careful to leave a few blanks for you, the reader, to fill in. If her intention was to create a book that satiates the intrigue in all of us with death, mystery, and a degree of detective work through a person's eyes who we can all understand...she absolutely nailed it! Bravo!