The Jesuit and the Skull - by Amir Aczel (Paperback)

About the Book

From the "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Fermat's Last Theorem" comes a story of discovery, evolution, science, and faith, involving French Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and his beloved Catholic Church.

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Fermat's Last Theorem, ?an extraordinary story?( Philadelphia Inquirer) of discovery, evolution, science, and faith.

In 1929, French Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a part of a group of scientists that uncovered a skull that became known as Peking Man, a key evolutionary link that left Teilhard torn between science and his ancient faith, and would leave him ostracized by his beloved Catholic Church. His struggle is at the heart of The Jesuit and the Skull, which takes readers across continents and cultures in a fascinating exploration of one of the twentieth century's most important discoveries, and one of the world's most provocative pieces of evidence in the roiling debate between creationism and evolution.

Review Quotes

?[A] superb story.?
?"Los Angeles Times"

?[Aczel] writes elegantly and accessibly about the history of science...An important work of historical excavation.?
?"Boston Globe"

?Exiled from France, forbidden to publish on evolution, denied prestigious academic appointments, Teilhard suffered mightily for his conviction. Aczel...is such a good storyteller, that I was caught up in the scientific discovery and taken by the personal anguish of this remarkable priest.?
?"Cleveland Plain Dealer"

?An absorbing read.?
?Ian Tattersall, and author of "Human Origins"



a[A] superb story.a
a"Los Angeles Times"
a[Aczel] writes elegantly and accessibly about the history of science...An important work of historical excavation.a
a"Boston Globe"
aExiled from France, forbidden to publish on evolution, denied prestigious academic appointments, Teilhard suffered mightily for his conviction. Aczel...is such a good storyteller, that I was caught up in the scientific discovery and taken by the personal anguish of this remarkable priest.a
a"Cleveland Plain Dealer"
aAn absorbing read.a
aIan Tattersall, and author of "Human Origins"

About the Author

Amir D. Aczel, PhD, is the author of 17 books on mathematics and science, some of which have been international bestsellers. Aczel has taught mathematics, statistics, and the history of science at various universities, and was a visiting scholar at Harvard in 2005 to 2007. In 2004, Aczel was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. He is also the recipient of several teaching awards and a grant from the American Institute of Physics to support the writing of two of his books. Aczel is currently a research fellow in the history of science at Boston University.