Surekha Davies

Surekha Davies spent her childhood watching Star Trek and planning to become an astronaut. By the end of her freshman year there was no warp drive, never mind comfy starships. She became a historian of science instead, specializing in the histories of exploration, cartography, cross-cultural encounters, and monsters in the era from Columbus to Captain Cook. Davies has a BA and an M.Phil. in history and philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. from the University of London. She is the author of the multi-award-winning RENAISSANCE ETHNOGRAPHY AND THE INVENTION OF THE HUMAN: New Worlds, Maps and Monsters. After working as a curator and as a history professor, Davies became a full-time author, speaker. Her next book, HUMANS: A Monstrous History will be available for preorder by Sept. 2024 and will be published on Feb. 4, 2025. For book and tour updates and occasional essays, sign up for her free newsletter on her personal website.