Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble
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Marilyn Johnson. (2014). Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble. HarperCollins.

Marilyn Johnson. 2014. Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble. HarperCollins.

Marilyn Johnson, Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble. HarperCollins, 2014.

Marilyn Johnson. Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble. HarperCollins, 2014.

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Lives in Ruins

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Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble

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     Marilyn Johnson is a former editor and writer for Life, Esquire, and Outside magazines, and lives with her husband, Rob Fleder, in New York's Hudson Valley.

   • name: Marilyn Johnson

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2014-11-11T00:00:00-05:00

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Lives in Ruins

fullDescription

The author of The Dead Beat and This Book is Overdue! turns her piercing eye and charming wit to the real-life avatars of Indiana Jones—the archaeologists who sort through the muck and mire of swamps, ancient landfills, volcanic islands, and other dirty places to reclaim history for us all.

Pompeii, Machu Picchu, the Valley of the Kings, the Parthenon—the names of these legendary archaeological sites conjure up romance and mystery. The news is full of archaeology: treasures found (British king under parking lot) and treasures lost (looters, bulldozers, natural disaster, and war). Archaeological research tantalizes us with possibilities (are modern humans really part Neandertal?). Where are the archaeologists behind these stories? What kind of work do they actually do, and why does it matter?

Marilyn Johnson’s Lives in Ruins is an absorbing and entertaining look at the lives of contemporary archaeologists as they sweat under the sun for clues to the puzzle of our past. Johnson digs and drinks alongside archaeologists, chases them through the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and even Machu Picchu, and excavates their lives. Her subjects share stories we rarely read in history books, about slaves and Ice Age hunters, ordinary soldiers of the American Revolution, children of the first century, Chinese woman warriors, sunken fleets, mummies.

What drives these archaeologists is not the money (meager) or the jobs (scarce) or the working conditions (dangerous), but their passion for the stories that would otherwise be buried and lost.

reviews

1. • premium: False
   • source: Entertainment Weekly
   • content:

     "As she did in her previous books about librarians and obituary writers, Johnson finds that the line between inspirationally nutty and actually crazy is measured in the joy of the work." — Entertainment Weekly

     "An engrossing examination of how archaeologists re-create much of human history, piece by painstaking piece." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

     "A lively love letter to archaeologists...Many archaeologists credit Indiana Jones with sparking their passion, and Johnson may well inspire a new generation to take up this calling." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

     "World travel, drinking, lust in the dust-our lives are all in ruins, indeed, and Johnson reveals why we wouldn't want it any other way." — Sarah Parcak, National Geographic Society Fellow and author of Satellite Remote Sensing for Archaeology

     "The great pleasure with which I read this book took me back to when I was eight years old and wanted to be an archaeologist. Marilyn Johnson does a wonderful job uncovering the delight in this tough, important, and exhilarating profession." — Ian Frazier, author of Great Plains, Travels in Siberia, and Humor Me: An Anthology of Funny Contemporary Writing

     "Johnson's contribution to this genre is unmatched...wonderful and engaging work peels back the superficial glamour surrounding archaeology and archaeologists...Without glitz, the author has created a very enjoyable work that will be appreciated by experts in the field and casual readers alike." — Library Journal (starred review)

     "Lives in Ruins is...delectable." — Salon

     "Johnson writes in a charming and thoughtful manner, weaving in her personal observations, insightful quotes from her subjects and a wide-eyed fascination with her subjects." — Seattle Times

     "Johnson writes entertainingly, employing many quirky tidbits gleaned from the likably eccentric intellects she meets." — New York Times Book Review

2. • premium: True
   • source:
   • content:

     Starred review from September 15, 2014
     In this lively love letter to archaeologists, former Esquire editor Johnson (This Book is Overdue!) travels the world, getting her hands dirty as she studies archaeologists in their natural habitats. She joins field schools, attends conferences, and chats with the legendary and the up-and-coming practitioners of the discipline and displays infectious enthusiasm for the material. Johnson samples drinks prepared from recipes discovered in ancient tablets, braves bad weather and worse food, visits body farms, and hobnobs with the military all in an effort to examine and explore every aspect of archaeologist’s life. Her experiences are eye-opening, engaging, and occasionally frustrating, and she talks about the downsides of the occupation: “Those who persevere in the profession fight like cats to get these jobs and work like dogs to keep them. And for all their expertise, competence, breadth of experience, and even cockiness, they are continually humbled by their subject. For people who know so much, there is so much they can never know.” But, as Johnson states, it’s all about “trying to locate a spark of the human life that had once touched that spot there.” Many archaeologists credit Indiana Jones with sparking their passion, and Johnson may well inspire a new generation to take up this calling. Agent: Chris Calhoun, Chris Calhoun Agency.

3. • premium: True
   • source:
   • content:

     November 1, 2014
     

     Johnson's (This Book Is Overdue) wonderful and engaging work peels back the superficial glamour surrounding archaeology and archaeologists, offering an account that is a step above the typical book on the subject. The author sets out to explore what archaeology is really like and puts herself in the mainstream of her subject. Through personal experiences, interviews, and research, she exposes the suffering that archaeologists must endure to pursue their "craft" and honestly portrays the relentless, glamourless pursuit of the human condition through material culture. While Johnson provides great insight into why someone would choose to become an archaeologist, she also notes that success rarely occurs from monumental or notable discoveries. Rather, victory for an archaeologist is often found in the small, the hidden, and often unimpressive bits of flotsam and jetsam of prehistory. Johnson's contribution to this genre is unmatched. VERDICT Without glitz, the author has created a very enjoyable work that will be appreciated by experts in the field and casual readers alike. Well suited to anyone contemplating archaeology as a career, those curious about what the profession is like, lovers of history and science, and readers who enjoy and are grateful for the lure of prehistory and discovery as a mental process.--John Dockall, Austin, TX

     Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

4. • premium: True
   • source:
   • content:

     February 23, 2015
     Johnson takes a compelling jaunt into the world of archaeology to distinguish the prized artifacts from the debris, highlighting the hard and often thankless work of archaeologists. Reader Huber does a fantastic job of capturing Johnson’s witty, conversational prose, which both informs and entertains listeners. She adequately narrates the technical details and information with a balanced mixture of emphasis and pacing, and she embraces the author’s quirky asides narrating with the perfect amount of confident sass and exuberance. She comes across as the authentic voice of the text. A Harper hardcover.

popularity

281

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4. • value: Nonfiction

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shortDescription

The author of The Dead Beat and This Book is Overdue! turns her piercing eye and charming wit to the real-life avatars of Indiana Jones—the archaeologists who sort through the muck and mire of swamps, ancient landfills, volcanic islands, and other dirty places to reclaim history for us all.

Pompeii, Machu Picchu, the Valley of the Kings, the Parthenon—the names of these legendary archaeological sites conjure up romance and mystery. The news is full of archaeology: treasures found (British king under parking lot) and treasures lost (looters, bulldozers, natural disaster, and war). Archaeological research tantalizes us with possibilities (are modern humans really part Neandertal?). Where are the archaeologists behind these stories? What kind of work do they actually do, and why does it matter?

Marilyn Johnson’s Lives in Ruins is an absorbing and entertaining look at the lives of contemporary archaeologists as they sweat under the...

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Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble

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HarperCollins

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2. • code: REF007000
   • description: Reference / Curiosities & Wonders
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   • description: Social Science / Archaeology