Science Ink: Tattoos of the Science Obsessed

More than a coffee table book, as there are not-quite-brief enough explanations of the science behind each image. I kept getting sucked into reading instead of skimming as I'd intended, but didn't wind up actually learning anything.

Most are just images - I guess I was hoping for some creative pieces that actually used the body's shape & function to enhance the artistic value, instead of just treating the skin like plain old canvas. A snake around an arm, that was about the scope of the creativity.

Only one artist, and only one venue, iirc, got credit. Many of these are much more than just a copy of a sketch, and, though I don't actually know anything about needle art, it seems to me the person who put the dye in the skin deserves praise, show more no?

The pieces I book-darted are the Strebe Projection world map, the Tree (of Life) with a double helix trunk, the Darwin's finches (four, beak-to-beak, so at first glance it looks like a butterfly), and the Siberian Pazyryk tattooed mummy which was encased in ice for 3K years. This last, actually, I admit, is new to me and worth investigating for more information... just imagine, 3,000 years old, interred with silk, a mirror, gold, and several graceful tattoos. show less

This is a wonderful book! I love Zimmer's other books, but this is something special. Photos of scientific tattoos are accompanied by the tattoo-ee's statement about the personal meaning of the tattoo, followed by a cogent explanation of the science underlying the tattoo by Zimmer. I have to buy a copy of this. Highly recommended for geeks of all stripes.

Aside from a very small number of typos, reading about the math, physics, and other related meanings behind these tattoos was enough to remind me I want another one. It was also a quick lesson in science, math, and history as well. A fabulous collection of fine-looking tattoos!

This book convinced me if/when I ever go to grad school, I want part of my thesis inked on me. Or something related to it.

Everyone I mentioned this book to was immediately excited and came up with ideas for tattoos they hoped were included. Most of them weren't. So get on it people!

Broader range of tattoos designs