Whether you’ve read the book or are simply curious about how the ancient world still shapes us today, this promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking evening in Hall Auditorium. Sam Kean will speak on the fascinating world of experimental archaeology, bringing ancient cultures to life through the stories in his national bestselling book, Dinner with King Tut. Rather than simply studying artifacts, Kean explores how scientists recreate ancient tools, food, engineering, and daily life to better understand how people once lived. The result is a talk filled with surprising discoveries, humor, and unforgettable stories. Dinner with King Tut was a national bestseller and named a top book of the year by The New Yorker, Amazon, Smithsonian, and the History Channel. It also received the Non-Obvious Book Award for Most Original Book.

Mr. Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including Dinner with King Tut, The Icepick Surgeon, The Bastard Brigade, and The Disappearing Spoon. He edited The Best American Nature and Science Writing in 2018, and his stories have appeared in National Geographic, The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, and Slate. His work has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab,” “Science Friday,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air,” and his podcast, The Disappearing Spoon, debuted at #1 on the iTunes charts for science podcasts.

Thanks to a generous gift, the first 250 ticket holders attending the event will receive a complimentary copy of Dinner with King Tut!