Bill Schutt is a scientist with a knack for making complex and bizarre topics accessible and entertaining. With unexpected wit and a wealth of knowledge, Schutt separates fact from fiction to reveal the true science and history behind an array of fascinating but often misunderstood topics. These topics range from vampirism and cannibalism in the animal kingdom to the workings of the heart—human and otherwise.

Schutt is a master at demystifying the gross and sensationalized—from the use of leeches in medicinal blood-letting to the widespread occurrence of cannibalism in the animal kingdom. From the feeding habits of vampire bats to the possibility that cannibalism led to the extinction of the Neanderthals, Schutt compiles the latest cutting-edge science on a long list of subjects that both enthrall and repel us.

Emeritus Professor of Biology at LIU Post, Schutt is a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. His research on bats (especially vampire bats) has taken him around the globe. His latest book is titled Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans. From three-inch fang blennies to thirty-foot prehistoric crocodiles, from gaboon vipers to Neanderthals, Bite is a fascinating journey through the natural, scientific, and cultural history of something right in front of—or in—our faces: teeth.

Bill Schutt’s research has been featured in Natural History magazine as well as the New York Times, Newsday, the Economist, and Discover magazine. He is the author of seven books, including Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History which was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and an Amazon “best book of the year.” He has given informative and entertaining talks at universities, libraries, garden clubs, conventions, and natural history and science museums all over the world.