Bite

Named a Best / Most Anticipated Book of the Season by Amazon Book Review, the Next Big Idea Club, Parade, and more.

"Lively… wide-ranging… [with] an enthusiasm that’s infectious... Schutt calls teeth 'time capsules,' and aptly so. Crack one open, and anything and everything, from the silly to the sublime, can tumble out. Even the stories of less exotic teeth provide fascinating insight into evolutionary history."

Bite doesn’t disappoint… the book’s unpredictable structure… perfectly reflects its subject.

"Engrossing… seriously fun… arresting… zoologist Bill Schutt’s Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans [is] an engaging trans-species chronicle of teeth."

"I can’t wait to read Bite, a look at teeth throughout the ages and the animal kingdom. Zoologist Bill Schutt... gives an engaging account of the role teeth played both in nature and culture. I’m going to read it as soon as I finish flossing."

“Who knew hagfish could be so interesting? Bite ranges across millions of years of evolution as Schutt explores the surprising importance of these stony nuggets inhabiting the mouths of animals. His writing is a mélange of science, history, and humor, as delightful to read as it is informative. Including a cast of quirky scientists as well as sharks, narwals and even George Washington, Schutt makes it all very accessible.”
 

“Bite is a comprehensive jaunt through comparative biology, history, and popular culture regarding those critical itty bits. Worth sinking your teeth into.”
 

 "A lively, deeply informed investigation of the origin, development, and significance of teeth... Schutt’s purview is wide ranging and his curiosity insatiable... A fascinating romp through evolutionary history."

"Zoologist Schutt (Pump: A Natural History of the Heart, 2021) enthusiastically and wryly polishes the profile of dentition, including fangs and tusks... Plenty of interesting material for readers to sink their teeth into."

“Schutt’s tone is dryly funny, and his conversational prose reads as if an erudite friend were explaining their life’s passion over drinks. Pop science aficionados will want to sink their teeth into this.”

"Another tightly focused book to chew on"

"A zoologist and author makes an unlikely subject — teeth — fascinating in this book you may want to devour in one sitting... You’ll love reading the examples of the ways different species, from dinosaurs to prehistoric humans to vampire bats, have used their teeth to survive and thrive in the world."

"Bill Schutt does an excellent job unveiling fascinating insights into how teeth can establish dominance, explain evolution, and even improve our mental health. Plenty to chew on."

"Wide ranging, accessible, and fascinating."

"Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans might have a daunting title, but Bill Schutt has managed to make the topic interesting as well as digestible... Schutt presents to readers a smart, highly technical book that thoroughly explores his title subject in an approachable way."

"Readers who've never considered the mouths of unfamiliar beings will be surprised at what they learn, and delighted at the tiny drops of knowledge to be had here. You'll cringe, you'll be amazed, and you'll feel like a real scientist because the information is easy to understand."