The title of this book lures you in, but soon you're reading about the unearthing of Peking Man. Since this was, at the time, the most famous discovery of hominid fossils ever, the details become quite absorbing for the reader.

Ancient Chinese apothecaries believed that the teeth of dragons could be used as medicine for epilepsy and madness. They could also calm the soul. Thus, the book starts with a decent historical perspective and then moves into the Boxer Rebellion, which in turn introduces us to the archaeologists who made the famous fossil discovery.

This really is an enthralling read. It's also a nice book, with good typeset and perfect for holding with one hand while balancing the other on commuter train grips.

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time"

Book Season = Summer (makes you want to sign up for an expedition dig) ( )

Not bad, not great.
Some interesting China history, some interesting updates on the state of paleoanthropology. ( )