Sam Kean author page

Sam Kean biography

Sam Kean is an American science writer and author of popular non-fiction noted for blending history with clear scientific explanation. He made his debut with The Disappearing Spoon (Little, Brown and Company, 12 July 2010), a collection of tales from the periodic table. He followed this with The Violinist’s Thumb (17 July 2012) on genetics and DNA, and The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons (6 May 2014) on the history of the human brain. Subsequent books include Caesar’s Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us (18 July 2017), named the Guardian’s Science Book of the Year, The Bastard Brigade (2019) on the race to thwart the Nazi atomic programme, and The Icepick Surgeon (13 July 2021), a survey of crimes and ethical breaches in the name of science.

Kean’s writing has appeared in major outlets and he maintains an official site detailing his books and events. He also hosts The Disappearing Spoon, a science-history podcast featuring overlooked episodes from the past, produced in partnership with the Science History Institute.

His work is published internationally in multiple formats, including audiobooks from Hachette Audio. Publisher listings record standard bibliographic details for schools and libraries, with Little, Brown and Company as the primary US publisher across his titles.

Kean’s latest book, Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations, was published on 8 July 2025 by Little, Brown and Company.

The Disappearing Spoon (12 July 2010); The Violinist’s Thumb (17 July 2012); The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons (6 May 2014); Caesar’s Last Breath (18 July 2017); The Bastard Brigade (2019); The Icepick Surgeon (13 July 2021); Dinner with King Tut (8 July 2025).