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Nominee for the 2026 Goodreads Choice Awards
The Museum of Lost Things: True Tales of Fabled Treasures, Legendary Cities, and Mythical Creatures That Vanished From History
Discover the astonishing story of the world's greatest lost treasures in this enthralling narrative by a writer with "the anecdotal flourishes of Oliver Sacks and the populist accessibility of Malcolm Gladwell." (Entertainment Weekly)
Spanning a million years of history, the mysteries in these pages include fabled relics, legendary cities, mythical species, and undeciphered languages that have bedeviled seekers for centuries.
Perhaps the single most common theme across all of history is loss. The loss of lands, loss of sacred objects, loss of languages, of rights, of life—the past groans with disappearances of all kinds. This enthralling narrative collects the most spellbinding tales of these experiences and weaves them into a thoughtful meditation on what it all means across the sweep of human history and the scope of human lives,
The long-lost city of TroyThe hidden tomb of Genghis KhanThe destruction of the fabled library of AlexandriaThe near-destruction of the Mona Lisa and other artThe decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphsThe extinction—and potential resurrection—of dodos, mammoths, and other iconic species
Provocative, surprising, and above all entertaining, this globe-trotting narrative acknowledges the sheer scale of humanity's losses, celebrates the treasures we have managed to retain, and reveals why they continue to captivate us centuries later.
Spanning a million years of history, the mysteries in these pages include fabled relics, legendary cities, mythical species, and undeciphered languages that have bedeviled seekers for centuries.
Perhaps the single most common theme across all of history is loss. The loss of lands, loss of sacred objects, loss of languages, of rights, of life—the past groans with disappearances of all kinds. This enthralling narrative collects the most spellbinding tales of these experiences and weaves them into a thoughtful meditation on what it all means across the sweep of human history and the scope of human lives,
The long-lost city of TroyThe hidden tomb of Genghis KhanThe destruction of the fabled library of AlexandriaThe near-destruction of the Mona Lisa and other artThe decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphsThe extinction—and potential resurrection—of dodos, mammoths, and other iconic species
Provocative, surprising, and above all entertaining, this globe-trotting narrative acknowledges the sheer scale of humanity's losses, celebrates the treasures we have managed to retain, and reveals why they continue to captivate us centuries later.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
About the author
Sam Kean
15 books2,114 followersSam Kean is the New York Times-bestselling author of seven books. He spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now lives in Washington, D.C. His stories have appeared in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Slate, among other places, and his work has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab”, “Science Friday”, and “All Things Considered.” The Bastard Brigade was a “Science Friday” book of the year, while Caesar’s Last Breath was the Guardian science book of the year.
from SamKean.com
(Un)Official Bio:
Sam Kean gets called Sean at least once a month. He grew up in South Dakota, which means more to him than it probably should. He’s a fast reader but a very slow eater. He went to college in Minnesota and studied physics and English. At night, he sometimes comes down with something called “sleep paralysis,” which is the opposite of sleepwalking. One of his books appeared in an iPhone commercial once. Right now, he lives in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master’s degree in library science that he will probably never use. He feels very strongly that open-faced sandwiches are superior to regular ones.
from SamKean.com
(Un)Official Bio:
Sam Kean gets called Sean at least once a month. He grew up in South Dakota, which means more to him than it probably should. He’s a fast reader but a very slow eater. He went to college in Minnesota and studied physics and English. At night, he sometimes comes down with something called “sleep paralysis,” which is the opposite of sleepwalking. One of his books appeared in an iPhone commercial once. Right now, he lives in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master’s degree in library science that he will probably never use. He feels very strongly that open-faced sandwiches are superior to regular ones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
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May 22, 2026OMGS, I WON THE GIVEAWAY FOR THIS!!!
Read
September 9, 2026Oh how I love a Sam Kean book. Shoutout to the author for my eARC. ✨🤟🏻
November 10, 2026
Sam Kean does it again in this delightful exploration of not only things we’ve lost—languages, art, treasures, species, and more—but the things we’ve managed to hold onto despite the ravages of time and the chaos that is human civilization. Quibble with his historical accuracy here and there if you must, but the man can spin a yarn and impart all sorts of fascinating information along the way.
If we had a Secretary of Science and Cool Fact Stuff, I would nominate Kean.
If we had a Secretary of Science and Cool Fact Stuff, I would nominate Kean.
April 28, 2026
This is my ideal book. Sam Kean researches and reports back to all of the curious among us about lost graves, lost cities, lost people, lost relics, lost bones, lost civilizations, lost languages, lost knowledge, lost gold, lost art, lost loot, lost technologies, and lost species. The stories are quirky and unexpected, whimsical and fun. A fascinating read!
June 7, 2026
Thank you to National Geographic for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of The Museum of Lost Things.
If you’ve read any of Sam Kean’s previous books, you already know that he occupies a distinctive space in nonfiction. Kean has built a reputation for taking subjects that could easily feel academic or specialized and transforming them into engrossing human stories. Whether exploring chemistry in The Disappearing Spoon, genetics in The Violinist’s Thumb, neuroscience in The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, or espionage and science in The Bastard Brigade, his greatest strength has always been the same: he understands that facts become memorable when they are attached to fascinating people, strange events, and compelling mysteries.
The Museum of Lost Things may be his most ambitious project yet.
At its heart, this book is about loss—not merely personal loss, but the disappearance of things that once shaped civilizations. Kean takes readers on a sweeping journey through history, examining what humanity has misplaced, destroyed, forgotten, buried, stolen, or simply allowed to vanish. Organized around different categories of loss, the book explores lost graves, lost cities, lost people, lost relics, lost bones, lost civilizations, lost languages, lost knowledge, lost gold, lost art, lost loot, lost technology, and even lost species.
Along the way, readers encounter some of history’s most enduring mysteries. I was particularly fascinated by the discussions of lost graves, including the continuing search for the tomb of Genghis Khan, as well as vanished cities, forgotten cultures, and individuals who disappeared into the cracks of history. The scope is remarkable. One chapter may transport you to ancient Troy, while another investigates Renaissance masterpieces, extinct species, missing technologies, or treasures swallowed by time.
What makes the book engaging is that it constantly reminds us that history is not a complete record—it is a fragmentary one. For every artifact uncovered by archaeologists, countless others remain lost forever. For every civilization we think we understand, there are gaps, silences, and missing pieces. Kean repeatedly asks readers to consider what those absences mean and how they shape our understanding of the past.
The book’s greatest strength is its sheer thoroughness. Kean clearly conducted an extraordinary amount of research, and his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. Nearly every chapter contains a mystery intriguing enough to inspire a separate book. I frequently found myself pausing to look up people, places, and events because the stories were so captivating.
That same strength can occasionally become a weakness. Because the subject matter is so expansive, the narrative sometimes feels overwhelming. Kean often moves from one fascinating subtopic to another before circling back to his larger argument, and there were moments when I felt slightly lost amid the abundance of information. Yet even then, I never found the material dull. If anything, the structure mirrors the experience of wandering through a real museum—turning a corner and unexpectedly discovering another exhibit you hadn’t planned to spend time with but suddenly can’t leave.
What I appreciated most was the book’s sense of wonder. Kean understands that curiosity is one of humanity’s defining traits. He introduces a mystery, allows it to linger, and then gradually reveals what historians, archaeologists, linguists, scientists, and treasure hunters have uncovered—or failed to uncover. The result is a book that continually sparks questions and then rewards readers for asking them.
Beyond the mysteries themselves, The Museum of Lost Things becomes a meditation on impermanence. Languages disappear. Species vanish. Cities crumble. Art is stolen. Knowledge is forgotten. Yet in exploring these losses, Kean also highlights humanity’s enduring desire to remember, recover, and understand. The book ultimately asks what future generations might lose from our own era—and what traces of us will remain.
Recommended for readers who enjoy narrative history, archaeology, science writing, unsolved mysteries, and books that make you look at the past—and the present—with fresh eyes.
If you’ve read any of Sam Kean’s previous books, you already know that he occupies a distinctive space in nonfiction. Kean has built a reputation for taking subjects that could easily feel academic or specialized and transforming them into engrossing human stories. Whether exploring chemistry in The Disappearing Spoon, genetics in The Violinist’s Thumb, neuroscience in The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, or espionage and science in The Bastard Brigade, his greatest strength has always been the same: he understands that facts become memorable when they are attached to fascinating people, strange events, and compelling mysteries.
The Museum of Lost Things may be his most ambitious project yet.
At its heart, this book is about loss—not merely personal loss, but the disappearance of things that once shaped civilizations. Kean takes readers on a sweeping journey through history, examining what humanity has misplaced, destroyed, forgotten, buried, stolen, or simply allowed to vanish. Organized around different categories of loss, the book explores lost graves, lost cities, lost people, lost relics, lost bones, lost civilizations, lost languages, lost knowledge, lost gold, lost art, lost loot, lost technology, and even lost species.
Along the way, readers encounter some of history’s most enduring mysteries. I was particularly fascinated by the discussions of lost graves, including the continuing search for the tomb of Genghis Khan, as well as vanished cities, forgotten cultures, and individuals who disappeared into the cracks of history. The scope is remarkable. One chapter may transport you to ancient Troy, while another investigates Renaissance masterpieces, extinct species, missing technologies, or treasures swallowed by time.
What makes the book engaging is that it constantly reminds us that history is not a complete record—it is a fragmentary one. For every artifact uncovered by archaeologists, countless others remain lost forever. For every civilization we think we understand, there are gaps, silences, and missing pieces. Kean repeatedly asks readers to consider what those absences mean and how they shape our understanding of the past.
The book’s greatest strength is its sheer thoroughness. Kean clearly conducted an extraordinary amount of research, and his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. Nearly every chapter contains a mystery intriguing enough to inspire a separate book. I frequently found myself pausing to look up people, places, and events because the stories were so captivating.
That same strength can occasionally become a weakness. Because the subject matter is so expansive, the narrative sometimes feels overwhelming. Kean often moves from one fascinating subtopic to another before circling back to his larger argument, and there were moments when I felt slightly lost amid the abundance of information. Yet even then, I never found the material dull. If anything, the structure mirrors the experience of wandering through a real museum—turning a corner and unexpectedly discovering another exhibit you hadn’t planned to spend time with but suddenly can’t leave.
What I appreciated most was the book’s sense of wonder. Kean understands that curiosity is one of humanity’s defining traits. He introduces a mystery, allows it to linger, and then gradually reveals what historians, archaeologists, linguists, scientists, and treasure hunters have uncovered—or failed to uncover. The result is a book that continually sparks questions and then rewards readers for asking them.
Beyond the mysteries themselves, The Museum of Lost Things becomes a meditation on impermanence. Languages disappear. Species vanish. Cities crumble. Art is stolen. Knowledge is forgotten. Yet in exploring these losses, Kean also highlights humanity’s enduring desire to remember, recover, and understand. The book ultimately asks what future generations might lose from our own era—and what traces of us will remain.
Recommended for readers who enjoy narrative history, archaeology, science writing, unsolved mysteries, and books that make you look at the past—and the present—with fresh eyes.
October 24, 2026
A delightful conglomeration of tales of treasures lost, found, almost lost, and never found. Sam Kean recounts some serious shenanigans and occasionally self-serving behavior on the part of individuals on quests that seemed foolhardy, except when they succeeded. Writing with wry humor (He refers to one dogged researcher as “the Travis Bickle of linguists.”), Kean also offers a certain sense of wonder and at times regret about the mind-boggling variety of beautiful and miraculous things that have come and gone through throughout history
October 3, 2026
Content is giving three stars- that said, I really did appreciate the contextualization in each chapter. Snark is five-I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe so many times listening to this. So a solid four.
October 14, 2026
To think I read my first Sam Kean book at 14 and this man is still putting out phenomenally researched fun non-fiction books when I’m almost 30 is an absolute blessing.
September 25, 2026
I always love and learn from a Sam Kean book! Thanks, Isaac, for the ARC <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m only at the halfway point of the ARC, but i feel like i can provide a meaningful review for prospective readers.
As always, sam kean’s research and writing abilities for this book are outstanding. He delves into his topics and synthesizes a thoroughly readable and fascinating account of his findings. Each chapter begins with a compelling narrative that draws the reader in and makes us want to keep reading. I put him on a level with mary roach for his ability to captivate readers in subjects that don’t necessarily draw much of an audience on their own. For people who love learning and discovery for their own sakes, his books are some of the best available, and this one does not disappoint.
My single complaint is with the volume of information included for each chapter. As a representative of the group of readers mentioned above (general learners), i read books like this hoping to discover areas of interest that i didn’t even know existed. I want a sort of survey of the topics. After reading several chapters around a common theme - lost things, in this case - i want to be inspired to pursue further reading in one or two specific areas of particular interest to me. Lost languages, say, or lost civilizations. I want to take away an expanded awareness of each chapter’s contents, but not necessarily go deep on every one of them. This book does not allow for that, as each chapter contains the deep dive.
Instead of sparking my interest, most of these chapters exhausted my interest. It’s just way more depth and too many examples and offshoots than i’m looking for in a survey-type book. To use my previous author example - and there are several - mary roach really nails the depth-of-coverage issue in her books. With a tighter focus, this would be an easy 5-star review, as well. Great narrative science/history.
As always, sam kean’s research and writing abilities for this book are outstanding. He delves into his topics and synthesizes a thoroughly readable and fascinating account of his findings. Each chapter begins with a compelling narrative that draws the reader in and makes us want to keep reading. I put him on a level with mary roach for his ability to captivate readers in subjects that don’t necessarily draw much of an audience on their own. For people who love learning and discovery for their own sakes, his books are some of the best available, and this one does not disappoint.
My single complaint is with the volume of information included for each chapter. As a representative of the group of readers mentioned above (general learners), i read books like this hoping to discover areas of interest that i didn’t even know existed. I want a sort of survey of the topics. After reading several chapters around a common theme - lost things, in this case - i want to be inspired to pursue further reading in one or two specific areas of particular interest to me. Lost languages, say, or lost civilizations. I want to take away an expanded awareness of each chapter’s contents, but not necessarily go deep on every one of them. This book does not allow for that, as each chapter contains the deep dive.
Instead of sparking my interest, most of these chapters exhausted my interest. It’s just way more depth and too many examples and offshoots than i’m looking for in a survey-type book. To use my previous author example - and there are several - mary roach really nails the depth-of-coverage issue in her books. With a tighter focus, this would be an easy 5-star review, as well. Great narrative science/history.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
My first time winning a giveaway!
This book was a good read. Kean dives into a lot of lost history that, if mostly Western, touches on a lot of different cultures and broad topics. There is definitely a lot of interesting history here. However, a lot of history is very surface-level, as evidenced by the short bibliographies and inaccuracies, and the book ends up being a kind of Wikipedia rabbit hole in book form.
This doesn't need to be the most academic book to still be interesting--and spark enough interest to get readers to further research the topics. I do wish Kean had included some less well-trodden history and things, though maybe it was all so familiar to me because I'm very interested in it, so I can't really knock him for that. Though I did take issue with the chapter on Lost Species. Giving any credence to Colossal Biosciences work "resurrecting" lost species is incredibly problematic (the Behind the Bastards podcast has a fantastic series on Dr. George Church). Though his writing in this book on the ivory-billed woodpecker was extremely moving, as was his afterword dedicated to the idea of the Anthropocene.
All in all, this was an entertaining read!
This book was a good read. Kean dives into a lot of lost history that, if mostly Western, touches on a lot of different cultures and broad topics. There is definitely a lot of interesting history here. However, a lot of history is very surface-level, as evidenced by the short bibliographies and inaccuracies, and the book ends up being a kind of Wikipedia rabbit hole in book form.
This doesn't need to be the most academic book to still be interesting--and spark enough interest to get readers to further research the topics. I do wish Kean had included some less well-trodden history and things, though maybe it was all so familiar to me because I'm very interested in it, so I can't really knock him for that. Though I did take issue with the chapter on Lost Species. Giving any credence to Colossal Biosciences work "resurrecting" lost species is incredibly problematic (the Behind the Bastards podcast has a fantastic series on Dr. George Church). Though his writing in this book on the ivory-billed woodpecker was extremely moving, as was his afterword dedicated to the idea of the Anthropocene.
All in all, this was an entertaining read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and National Geographic for an advance copy of this book that looks at the history of things that have been lost to time, war and or greed, the tombs of leaders, the libraries of learned people, languages and even people.
Just before the Millennium I lent about 10 compact discs to somebody. I never heard from the somebody again. They were a mix of bootlegs and soundtracks, some from across the ocean and other rarities. In all honesty I have not listened to a compact disc in years, vinyl yes, streaming while in the car yes I still listen to. However the idea of those lost cds haunt me in ways I can't explain. Where are they? Who has them? Are they in boxes, being used, used as landfill. Would my life be different, happier by having them. Why do they haunt me so. Questions like this occured to me while reading this book about lost items, from human remains to human thoughts. Where are they. Will they ever be found. And would humanity be better for finding them. The Museum of Lost Things: True Tales of Fabled Treasures, Legendary Cities, and Mythical Creatures That Vanished From History by Sam Kean is a history or loss, of things misplaced, stolen, wiped from history, and those who have spent much trying to find them, or how their lives were changed by their discoveries.
The book is broken into different sections, dealing with well different lost things. The book opens with tales of lost tombs, and lost cities. From the discovery of Troy, to lost cities in Turkey. A grim tale of the final resting place of Genghis Khan, and how his followers covered up the final location of the Great Leader. Spoiler, it involved a lot of murder. There are tales of discovery also. Of languages translated, parts of the Bible found. In addition to the history Kean also looks at those who search. The dreamers, and a lot of the time schemers, who became obsessed with finding lost places. And how their discovery changed them, and even changed the world.
I have long enjoyed Sam Kean and his writing, and this one was particularly interesting as it dealt with so many subjects. Kean has a nice writing style. One never feels lost in Kean's books, everything is easy to follow, and best of all makes sense. I love to learn new things and I always walk away from Kean's books the better for them. Kean also captures the people, the human factor that makes many of these stories so interesting. A woman so sure where a King was buried they dug up a parking area, to success. An amateur so sure he found Troy that he destroyed more than he discovered. A not unknown story it seems in many of these cases. I knew of Peking Man, but not the whole story, nor that the fossils were lost to World War II, casual indifference, and being buried deep in a US Marine base in China. All fascinating stuff that I enjoy.
Kean has a real gift for merging science, medicine, the past and the present with profiles that really come alive. A really interesting book, that covers a lot of subjects. Even more it asks questions that really don't have simple answers. What have we lost, and will we better for finding them. Or are mysteries more important than facts. Questions I still wonder about, as much as I wonder about where my compact discs are.
Just before the Millennium I lent about 10 compact discs to somebody. I never heard from the somebody again. They were a mix of bootlegs and soundtracks, some from across the ocean and other rarities. In all honesty I have not listened to a compact disc in years, vinyl yes, streaming while in the car yes I still listen to. However the idea of those lost cds haunt me in ways I can't explain. Where are they? Who has them? Are they in boxes, being used, used as landfill. Would my life be different, happier by having them. Why do they haunt me so. Questions like this occured to me while reading this book about lost items, from human remains to human thoughts. Where are they. Will they ever be found. And would humanity be better for finding them. The Museum of Lost Things: True Tales of Fabled Treasures, Legendary Cities, and Mythical Creatures That Vanished From History by Sam Kean is a history or loss, of things misplaced, stolen, wiped from history, and those who have spent much trying to find them, or how their lives were changed by their discoveries.
The book is broken into different sections, dealing with well different lost things. The book opens with tales of lost tombs, and lost cities. From the discovery of Troy, to lost cities in Turkey. A grim tale of the final resting place of Genghis Khan, and how his followers covered up the final location of the Great Leader. Spoiler, it involved a lot of murder. There are tales of discovery also. Of languages translated, parts of the Bible found. In addition to the history Kean also looks at those who search. The dreamers, and a lot of the time schemers, who became obsessed with finding lost places. And how their discovery changed them, and even changed the world.
I have long enjoyed Sam Kean and his writing, and this one was particularly interesting as it dealt with so many subjects. Kean has a nice writing style. One never feels lost in Kean's books, everything is easy to follow, and best of all makes sense. I love to learn new things and I always walk away from Kean's books the better for them. Kean also captures the people, the human factor that makes many of these stories so interesting. A woman so sure where a King was buried they dug up a parking area, to success. An amateur so sure he found Troy that he destroyed more than he discovered. A not unknown story it seems in many of these cases. I knew of Peking Man, but not the whole story, nor that the fossils were lost to World War II, casual indifference, and being buried deep in a US Marine base in China. All fascinating stuff that I enjoy.
Kean has a real gift for merging science, medicine, the past and the present with profiles that really come alive. A really interesting book, that covers a lot of subjects. Even more it asks questions that really don't have simple answers. What have we lost, and will we better for finding them. Or are mysteries more important than facts. Questions I still wonder about, as much as I wonder about where my compact discs are.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sam Kean’s latest book is a joyful read—lively, colloquial, and unmistakably in the voice familiar to listeners of The Disappearing Spoon. It’s one of his most engaging works, no doubt, written squarely for a non specialist, American audience. The tone is exuberant, sometimes hyperbolic, but always eager to pull the reader along. His enthusiasm, as they say, is contagious.
Kean’s strengths as a popularizer are on full display. He has a gift for vivid anecdote and breezy pacing, and he’s not afraid to address the reader directly—occasionally even as “dude.” The result is a book that feels conversational, almost like an extended, high energy podcast episode. And at times, his descriptions are genuinely beautiful. His passage on the coelacanth, with its “mermaid” lungs and alternating limb like fins, is a perfect example of how succinctly he can capture scientific wonder.
But the same qualities that make the book fun also limit its depth. Kean often favors colorful surface detail over sustained intellectual engagement. You learn what someone’s eyebrows looked like, but not how their wave theory challenged Newton’s particle model—only that it did. Characters tend to be cast in broad strokes (tragic, evil, visionary), and complex scientific disputes are sketched rather than explored. Some readers may find the book too facile, a quick skim across the surface of history rather than a dive.
Kean is not a primary or even secondary researcher, and the book doesn’t pretend otherwise. There’s no evidence he knows the languages or has lived in the places he writes about so confidently. He is, essentially, an exceptionally enthusiastic bookworm—someone who has grazed widely so that the rest of us don’t have to. Fortunately, he includes a solid bibliography for readers who want to follow the trail more deeply.
A recurring frustration is the absence of visuals in the reviewer’s edition. Kean frequently references diagrams and images that would be genuinely helpful. His explanation of the toggle harpoon, for instance—how the asymmetric barb pivots into a T shape under backward drag—begs for a diagram. Without one, the description feels abstract, and readers may find themselves turning to YouTube for clarity.
There are also occasional lacunae. A long section on the dodo emphasizes the monumentality of its extinction, yet makes no mention of the passenger pigeon—an omission that feels surprising given the pigeon’s equally, if not more, remarkable story.
Still, the book ends on a high note. The epilogue zooms out to offer a meta reflection on the entire project, giving readers a bird’s eye view of the forest after wandering through so many trees. It’s a thoughtful, satisfying close.
All told, Kean delivers a wonderfully readable book—light, exuberant, and full of curious detail. In an age of AI summaries and misinformation, it’s a reminder that human storytellers still know best what will fascinate other humans.
Kean’s strengths as a popularizer are on full display. He has a gift for vivid anecdote and breezy pacing, and he’s not afraid to address the reader directly—occasionally even as “dude.” The result is a book that feels conversational, almost like an extended, high energy podcast episode. And at times, his descriptions are genuinely beautiful. His passage on the coelacanth, with its “mermaid” lungs and alternating limb like fins, is a perfect example of how succinctly he can capture scientific wonder.
But the same qualities that make the book fun also limit its depth. Kean often favors colorful surface detail over sustained intellectual engagement. You learn what someone’s eyebrows looked like, but not how their wave theory challenged Newton’s particle model—only that it did. Characters tend to be cast in broad strokes (tragic, evil, visionary), and complex scientific disputes are sketched rather than explored. Some readers may find the book too facile, a quick skim across the surface of history rather than a dive.
Kean is not a primary or even secondary researcher, and the book doesn’t pretend otherwise. There’s no evidence he knows the languages or has lived in the places he writes about so confidently. He is, essentially, an exceptionally enthusiastic bookworm—someone who has grazed widely so that the rest of us don’t have to. Fortunately, he includes a solid bibliography for readers who want to follow the trail more deeply.
A recurring frustration is the absence of visuals in the reviewer’s edition. Kean frequently references diagrams and images that would be genuinely helpful. His explanation of the toggle harpoon, for instance—how the asymmetric barb pivots into a T shape under backward drag—begs for a diagram. Without one, the description feels abstract, and readers may find themselves turning to YouTube for clarity.
There are also occasional lacunae. A long section on the dodo emphasizes the monumentality of its extinction, yet makes no mention of the passenger pigeon—an omission that feels surprising given the pigeon’s equally, if not more, remarkable story.
Still, the book ends on a high note. The epilogue zooms out to offer a meta reflection on the entire project, giving readers a bird’s eye view of the forest after wandering through so many trees. It’s a thoughtful, satisfying close.
All told, Kean delivers a wonderfully readable book—light, exuberant, and full of curious detail. In an age of AI summaries and misinformation, it’s a reminder that human storytellers still know best what will fascinate other humans.
October 12, 2026
Do you enjoy armchair archeology? If so, Sam Kean has a deal for you! In The Museum of Lost Things, he provides the reader with a plethora of lost items to explore and
After an introduction to set the stage of being in a literary museum, Sam Kean opens with a chapter on lost graves such as Alexander the Greats, Egyptian mausoleums, and a host of others. Then the reader is escorted to a room filled with lost cities - Troy being the major focus. After lost cities, we visit lost people with a examination of the Dorak-Yortan cultures of Anatolia in Turkey, Then there are the lost relics such as the scrolls discovered at Nag Hammadi (Egypt). Anyone up for deciphering lost languages - Linear B, hieroglyphics, and cuneiform. Lost bones, especially the Peking Man bones, have their own room. There is also a room for lost civilizations such as the Mohenjo-daro of India. A whole room discussing lost knowledge caused by the destruction of libraries at Alexandria and elsewhere with an interesting discussion on who really destroyed the Library! For the treasure hunters, there is a room for lost gold with Kankan Musa, the Lion of Mali highlighted. Then there is the room of lost art with Leonardo da Vinci and his many unfinished projects on display. Out of World War II comes a room of lost loot specifically the Amber Room from the Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Soviet Union). The room for lost technology examines the finding of the Antikythera Device. and the final room is host to lost species such as the coelacanth.and the ivory-billed woodpecker. Sam Kean finishes the book with an afterword discussing what future archeologists and geologists might find out about us from what we are leaving behind. He also provides the reader with a list of his sources for those who want to delve deeper into various topics.
If you have read Sam Kean's books before, you know that he provides an easy reading book filled with tidbits of interesting information. His Museum of Lost Things fits that mold perfectly!
Thanks Netgalley and National Geographic Partners for the pleasure of reading this title!
After an introduction to set the stage of being in a literary museum, Sam Kean opens with a chapter on lost graves such as Alexander the Greats, Egyptian mausoleums, and a host of others. Then the reader is escorted to a room filled with lost cities - Troy being the major focus. After lost cities, we visit lost people with a examination of the Dorak-Yortan cultures of Anatolia in Turkey, Then there are the lost relics such as the scrolls discovered at Nag Hammadi (Egypt). Anyone up for deciphering lost languages - Linear B, hieroglyphics, and cuneiform. Lost bones, especially the Peking Man bones, have their own room. There is also a room for lost civilizations such as the Mohenjo-daro of India. A whole room discussing lost knowledge caused by the destruction of libraries at Alexandria and elsewhere with an interesting discussion on who really destroyed the Library! For the treasure hunters, there is a room for lost gold with Kankan Musa, the Lion of Mali highlighted. Then there is the room of lost art with Leonardo da Vinci and his many unfinished projects on display. Out of World War II comes a room of lost loot specifically the Amber Room from the Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Soviet Union). The room for lost technology examines the finding of the Antikythera Device. and the final room is host to lost species such as the coelacanth.and the ivory-billed woodpecker. Sam Kean finishes the book with an afterword discussing what future archeologists and geologists might find out about us from what we are leaving behind. He also provides the reader with a list of his sources for those who want to delve deeper into various topics.
If you have read Sam Kean's books before, you know that he provides an easy reading book filled with tidbits of interesting information. His Museum of Lost Things fits that mold perfectly!
Thanks Netgalley and National Geographic Partners for the pleasure of reading this title!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, Sam Kean, and National Geographic for allowing me access to a free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sam Kean always has a unique way of looking at science and history that I love because it changes my perspective. In this book he manages to cover A LOT of topics, in spite of the book's average size. It is divided into thirteen chapters and an Afterward which cover some of the following items lost to us: Graves (including Ghengis Khan's and Alexander the Great's), Cities (including the rediscovery of Troy), People (including the discoveries of neolithic cultures at Catalhoyuk, and Dorak), Relics (including the Nag Hammadi manuscripts), Bones (including Peking Man), Civilizations (including the Indus Valley Civilization), Languages (including the work done to translate Linear A, Linear B, and ancient Mayan), Knowledge (including how the Alexandrian lighthouse burned down, two lost Shakespearian plays, the vast store of human knowledge lost when the Alexandrian library burned down, the exact location of said library, and the loss of knowledge contained within Hernando Colon's library in 1500s Spain), Gold (including the gold of what was likely the richest person ever, the King of Mali in the 1300s, Mansa Musa), Art (including lost and recovered works by Leonardo da Vinci), Loot (including the mostly still missing Amber panels from Leningrad that were stolen by the Nazis in WWII), Technology (including the Antikythera Mechanism), and Species (including the Ivory Billed Woodpecker and the Coelacanth). All of this is discussed with witty and entertaining insight by Sam Kean. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in history, science, art, or treasure hunting!
Sam Kean always has a unique way of looking at science and history that I love because it changes my perspective. In this book he manages to cover A LOT of topics, in spite of the book's average size. It is divided into thirteen chapters and an Afterward which cover some of the following items lost to us: Graves (including Ghengis Khan's and Alexander the Great's), Cities (including the rediscovery of Troy), People (including the discoveries of neolithic cultures at Catalhoyuk, and Dorak), Relics (including the Nag Hammadi manuscripts), Bones (including Peking Man), Civilizations (including the Indus Valley Civilization), Languages (including the work done to translate Linear A, Linear B, and ancient Mayan), Knowledge (including how the Alexandrian lighthouse burned down, two lost Shakespearian plays, the vast store of human knowledge lost when the Alexandrian library burned down, the exact location of said library, and the loss of knowledge contained within Hernando Colon's library in 1500s Spain), Gold (including the gold of what was likely the richest person ever, the King of Mali in the 1300s, Mansa Musa), Art (including lost and recovered works by Leonardo da Vinci), Loot (including the mostly still missing Amber panels from Leningrad that were stolen by the Nazis in WWII), Technology (including the Antikythera Mechanism), and Species (including the Ivory Billed Woodpecker and the Coelacanth). All of this is discussed with witty and entertaining insight by Sam Kean. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in history, science, art, or treasure hunting!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of Sam Kean’s The Museum of Lost Things!
Having read numerous Sam Kean books before, I knew going in that it was going to be a fun romp into the world of archaeology, science, and popular culture! I was not disappointed!
Through chapters ranging from lost art to lost technology, lost civilizations to lost languages, and more, Kean takes us on a fascinating journey into the world of things lost, things found, and things thought lost but subsequently found!
He also provides character studies of those who searched for or contributed to the losses including an amateur archaeologist who was so obsessed that he destroyed instead of uncovered, multiple bird lovers searching for a presumed extinct woodpecker, and numerous Nazis who looted, stole, and appropriated others’ findings.
As the book went on, it did become somewhat tedious for me to read about more stolen art or artifacts. But that’s just a preference thing, not a ding on the writing or the book itself! For me, the most interesting chapters were the ones about topics I’d never heard of before. The search for Genghis Khan’s burial site with it’s questioning of cultural sensitivity and the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism with its debate about how advanced ancient technology actually was were the most fascinating!
Readers who love archaeology, awe inspiring books, and books that have you questioning the historical record would love this book!
Having read numerous Sam Kean books before, I knew going in that it was going to be a fun romp into the world of archaeology, science, and popular culture! I was not disappointed!
Through chapters ranging from lost art to lost technology, lost civilizations to lost languages, and more, Kean takes us on a fascinating journey into the world of things lost, things found, and things thought lost but subsequently found!
He also provides character studies of those who searched for or contributed to the losses including an amateur archaeologist who was so obsessed that he destroyed instead of uncovered, multiple bird lovers searching for a presumed extinct woodpecker, and numerous Nazis who looted, stole, and appropriated others’ findings.
As the book went on, it did become somewhat tedious for me to read about more stolen art or artifacts. But that’s just a preference thing, not a ding on the writing or the book itself! For me, the most interesting chapters were the ones about topics I’d never heard of before. The search for Genghis Khan’s burial site with it’s questioning of cultural sensitivity and the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism with its debate about how advanced ancient technology actually was were the most fascinating!
Readers who love archaeology, awe inspiring books, and books that have you questioning the historical record would love this book!
October 11, 2026
In thirteen chapters chock-full of fascinating information -- historical, scientific, biographical, artistic -- author Kean tells us about many lost things: lost graves (like Richard III's, eventually found), lost cities, lost people, lost relics, lost bones, lost civilizations, lost languages (such as Egyptian hieroglyphs, deciphered after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone), lost knowledge, lost gold, lost art, lost loot, lost technology, lost species (there are projects afoot to bring back the woolly mammoth and the dodo). Among the amazing facts are these: at one time, whaling was the fifth largest industry in the United States, the Nazis appropriated an estimated 20% of extant Western art, and the Greeks had developed a computer c100 BC (the so-called Antikythara Mechanism). We meet intriguing individuals like Kankan Musa, the Lion of Mali, regarded as the richest person who ever lived; the brilliant engineer Hero of Alexandria, who built the first-known steam engine; and Lewis Temple, a Massachusetts blacksmith born a slave in Virginia, who developed a toggle harpoon for whaling (a refining of Inuit technology). Then there is Çatalhöyük, the first true city in history, discovered in Antatolia, Türkiye; the at-times bitter rivalry between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo; the possibility that Julius Caesar may actually have been the person responsible (albeit unintentionally) for burning down the great Library of Alexandria; and the fact that, although it is known where the fabulous wealth of the Incas is buried (Cocos Island, in the Pacific, near Costa Rica), it has never been located. This book is a treasure trove all its own and is enthusiastically recommended to all. The is, literally, something for everyone in this volume.
October 26, 2026
The Museum of Lost Things: True Tales of Fabled Treasures, Legendary Cities, and Mythical Creatures That Vanished From History. Sam Kean. National Geographic, 2026. 400 pages.
History is full of things we’ve lost, things we’ve destroyed, and things we’re still looking for. Some disappeared by accident, others through war, greed, or sheer human stupidity. In The Museum of Lost Things, Sam Kean explores this historical junk drawer, taking readers from vanished treasures and forgotten knowledge to the mysteries that continue to frustrate historians and archaeologists. Along the way, we meet the people who have searched for what’s missing, sometimes uncovering something remarkable and sometimes adding a little more confusion to the story. Kean has a knack for finding the odd, entertaining detail that makes history worth reading in the first place. Topics range from the city of Troy, the tomb of Genghis Khan, the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs and Mayan writing, the extinction of the dodo, and more. The result is a reminder that the past isn't a neat collection of facts waiting to be cataloged. It's full of holes, unanswered questions, and tantalizing clues to things we may never recover. If you're a fan of Sam Kean's previous books and his Disappearing Spoon podcast, as I am, a few of the stories may be familiar, but it's still a fun read.
History is full of things we’ve lost, things we’ve destroyed, and things we’re still looking for. Some disappeared by accident, others through war, greed, or sheer human stupidity. In The Museum of Lost Things, Sam Kean explores this historical junk drawer, taking readers from vanished treasures and forgotten knowledge to the mysteries that continue to frustrate historians and archaeologists. Along the way, we meet the people who have searched for what’s missing, sometimes uncovering something remarkable and sometimes adding a little more confusion to the story. Kean has a knack for finding the odd, entertaining detail that makes history worth reading in the first place. Topics range from the city of Troy, the tomb of Genghis Khan, the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs and Mayan writing, the extinction of the dodo, and more. The result is a reminder that the past isn't a neat collection of facts waiting to be cataloged. It's full of holes, unanswered questions, and tantalizing clues to things we may never recover. If you're a fan of Sam Kean's previous books and his Disappearing Spoon podcast, as I am, a few of the stories may be familiar, but it's still a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you to the National Geographic for this ARC. I enjoyed this nonfiction read. This book is a well researched. The footnotes were extensive. Many unanswered questions about items lost to history such as where is Genghis Khan buried and why don't we know this and where is the lost art of daVinci for example, are included.
The book is divided into 13 chapters. Each chapter delves into another category of loss. The most difficult section for me to grasp was the discussion of the lost languages. He discusses hieroglyphs in great detail. (Maybe too much detail...) There was no chapter that I didn't relish. I would quote sections to my husband. It was all so interesting. One other reviewer mentioned that anyone who grew up with encyclopedias will enjoy this book. I agree.
The writing style is very casual. As I read it, I felt that Mr. Kean was sitting across from me and just talking. There is nothing academic or stiff. The author uses slang, asides, etc to create this easy reading style.
I could go on. But I won't. I recommend this book to one and all. It is a special read.
The book is divided into 13 chapters. Each chapter delves into another category of loss. The most difficult section for me to grasp was the discussion of the lost languages. He discusses hieroglyphs in great detail. (Maybe too much detail...) There was no chapter that I didn't relish. I would quote sections to my husband. It was all so interesting. One other reviewer mentioned that anyone who grew up with encyclopedias will enjoy this book. I agree.
The writing style is very casual. As I read it, I felt that Mr. Kean was sitting across from me and just talking. There is nothing academic or stiff. The author uses slang, asides, etc to create this easy reading style.
I could go on. But I won't. I recommend this book to one and all. It is a special read.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
First off, I did NOT rate this book four stars, I rated it five! It will not allow me to change the rating.
Second, thank you to National Geographic Books for the advance copy through Goodreads Giveaways. I've always liked National Geographic Books. As a child my grandmother regularly gave them to me for Christmas and birthdays.
Now, I love this book (which is why it's a five star not a four star)! So much interesting information I didn't know. Sure, I've heard of many of the people, but not in such fascinating detail. Or the lost species, art... gold! It starts out with Lost Graves, which is much more interesting that it sounds! I loved the section on Genghis Khan, and how even after hundreds of years he name causes terror in some governments and brings them to commit murder.
I do wish it had an index. Seeing the chapter titles there were times I wondered if there would be information about a certain person, animal, or event. If it were an eBook, which I don't read, I will assume the reader can search.
Second, thank you to National Geographic Books for the advance copy through Goodreads Giveaways. I've always liked National Geographic Books. As a child my grandmother regularly gave them to me for Christmas and birthdays.
Now, I love this book (which is why it's a five star not a four star)! So much interesting information I didn't know. Sure, I've heard of many of the people, but not in such fascinating detail. Or the lost species, art... gold! It starts out with Lost Graves, which is much more interesting that it sounds! I loved the section on Genghis Khan, and how even after hundreds of years he name causes terror in some governments and brings them to commit murder.
I do wish it had an index. Seeing the chapter titles there were times I wondered if there would be information about a certain person, animal, or event. If it were an eBook, which I don't read, I will assume the reader can search.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been a huge fan of archaeology and history for as long as I can remember, so The Museum of Lost Things was the perfect book to satisfy my curiosity and love of learning about the pieces of history that have been lost throughout time.
Sam Kean does a wonderful job exploring major historical events, fascinating figures, and mysteries that have captivated people for centuries. He examines questions that historians, archaeologists, and curious minds have tried to answer for generations, bringing these stories to life in a way that is both informative and entertaining.
While reading this book, I felt transported back in time through Kean’s exquisite details and storytelling. I especially enjoyed his approach to the subject matter. He presents historical information in a way that is engaging and easy to understand without making the book feel like a textbook.
I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who shares a love of history and archaeology.
Sam Kean does a wonderful job exploring major historical events, fascinating figures, and mysteries that have captivated people for centuries. He examines questions that historians, archaeologists, and curious minds have tried to answer for generations, bringing these stories to life in a way that is both informative and entertaining.
While reading this book, I felt transported back in time through Kean’s exquisite details and storytelling. I especially enjoyed his approach to the subject matter. He presents historical information in a way that is engaging and easy to understand without making the book feel like a textbook.
I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who shares a love of history and archaeology.
November 7, 2026
The Museum of Lost Things by Sam Kean is a very interesting book. It is not only informative but also highly entertaining, thanks to the author's writing style and engaging narrative voice.
The author has gathered and presented an impressive amount of information about historical events and facts. The extensive bibliography included in the book is a testament to his hard work and thorough research.
In this single volume, the author presents stories of lost civilizations, cities, and people; forgotten languages and, along with them, lost knowledge; as well as lost works of art, relics, and much more. As the author himself puts it, “(…) history has always been rife with loss,” making loss an inseparable and inevitable part of human existence. Our sense of loss often allows us to appreciate achievements, progress, and change even more.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The author has gathered and presented an impressive amount of information about historical events and facts. The extensive bibliography included in the book is a testament to his hard work and thorough research.
In this single volume, the author presents stories of lost civilizations, cities, and people; forgotten languages and, along with them, lost knowledge; as well as lost works of art, relics, and much more. As the author himself puts it, “(…) history has always been rife with loss,” making loss an inseparable and inevitable part of human existence. Our sense of loss often allows us to appreciate achievements, progress, and change even more.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sam Kean is always good for interesting history, plenty of detail, and well crafted dry sarcasm. He does not disappoint here. I had heard of some of these lost treasures, but not all. I certainly didn’t know enough about any of them. My favorite section was about Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Mona Lisa. The idea of this book is one of absence, not presence. That which is lost to us, be it lost language, art, even civilizations-is a source of endless interest. I did get lost in the section on languages that have been lost and rediscovered. Needless to say, this is not a book I’d expect high school students to be interested in or completely understand. However, as a teacher resource, it is a good one, With a little tailoring and tucking, it could become a series of lesson plans well suited to world geography and history classes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A new book by Sam Kean? Gimme, gimme, gimme! True to type, The Museum of Lost Things was a rollicking good time, and I felt a lot smarter when I finished. It's a winning combination that I never tire of. This time around Kean fills us in on some of the thing that have been lost over time, languages, painting, architecture, and so much more.
I want to know more about Indus Valley Culture, if only we had more to know. I want to browse the scrolls in the Library of Alexandria and pour over a volume by Archimedes or one of the countless Mayan books burned by the Spanish. I want to understand Linear A and Rongorongo. I want to sit and soak in the beauty of the Amber Room and then explore a gallery filled with all the pieces of art that Leonardo never quite finished. I long to observe a dodo, a passenger pigeon and a Carolina parakeet.
None of those things are likely to happen. I mourn them, but I'm kind of glad that I know what I'm missing. Thanks, Sam.
p-s s-n v-s
I want to know more about Indus Valley Culture, if only we had more to know. I want to browse the scrolls in the Library of Alexandria and pour over a volume by Archimedes or one of the countless Mayan books burned by the Spanish. I want to understand Linear A and Rongorongo. I want to sit and soak in the beauty of the Amber Room and then explore a gallery filled with all the pieces of art that Leonardo never quite finished. I long to observe a dodo, a passenger pigeon and a Carolina parakeet.
None of those things are likely to happen. I mourn them, but I'm kind of glad that I know what I'm missing. Thanks, Sam.
p-s s-n v-s
September 30, 2026
Sam Kean always puts together books that are highly pleasing to me. I always learn a lot and enjoy immensely his decided knack for storytelling and his dry, sarcastic South Dakotan sense of humor. I am married to a South Dakota guy. I know that humor well.
This time, he is curating a tour of the Museum of Lost Things, leading us through exhibits, as promised, of vanished civilizations, destroyed or pilfered works of art, abandoned technology, lost languages, extinct (or are they?) species, and so much more. He peppers each stop with tales that bring out the human dimension of the displays, narrating stories both thrilling and heartbreaking, funny and frustrating, playing his audience like a fiddle, just like a good docent should.
I knew from the moment I saw this book pop up in my timeline somewhere or another that I would love it. It did not disappoint!
This time, he is curating a tour of the Museum of Lost Things, leading us through exhibits, as promised, of vanished civilizations, destroyed or pilfered works of art, abandoned technology, lost languages, extinct (or are they?) species, and so much more. He peppers each stop with tales that bring out the human dimension of the displays, narrating stories both thrilling and heartbreaking, funny and frustrating, playing his audience like a fiddle, just like a good docent should.
I knew from the moment I saw this book pop up in my timeline somewhere or another that I would love it. It did not disappoint!
November 12, 2026
I think this has been one of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. If you grew up with National Geographic magazines in the 50s and 60s as a young child and loved thumbing through them for the articles concerning lost civilizations, ancient ruins and ancient and medieval art and treasures this is a must read. Carter, Bingham and Indiana Jones would be enthralled with these chapters and I enjoyed all the new facts I got from it. My favorite vignette dealt with the King of the Kingdom of Mali and his hajj to Mecca but there are so many others. A great fun read. I didn't realize he is also the author of Dinner with King Tut which is another offering of his I enjoyed immensely. A fun author who entertains while teaching you something new. Like Mary Roach, another of my favorites
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Museum of Lost Things by Sam Kean was an ideal mix of storytelling and well-researched historical information. I truly enjoy it when nonfiction engages my brain so deeply that I want to research additional sources to expand on what's shared. That is exactly what Sam Kean has done—a treasure trove of facts about a variety of subjects and moments scattered throughout our history.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Sam Kean, and the publishing team at National Geographic for the opportunity to read this informational narrative. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to NetGalley, author Sam Kean, and the publishing team at National Geographic for the opportunity to read this informational narrative. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars. I was pretty tired while reading this (almost exclusively reading this at night when I really ought to have been asleep) but I found it pretty surface-level. Many of the examples and objects were things I had already read about it other sources.
The writing is good, so this could be suggested as an introduction to micro-histories to readers newer to nonfiction reading, or to history as a subject/genre. It may function more as a jumping-off point for several of the topics; each chapter really could (should?) have been its own book.
eARC from NetGalley.
The writing is good, so this could be suggested as an introduction to micro-histories to readers newer to nonfiction reading, or to history as a subject/genre. It may function more as a jumping-off point for several of the topics; each chapter really could (should?) have been its own book.
eARC from NetGalley.
October 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, which explores things lost to history while weaving together science and history. What I found most fascinating was the sheer variety of subjects covered—lost civilizations, treasures, technologies, art, and more. Each chapter introduced me to something I knew little or nothing about, and I loved the sense of discovery that came with it. This kind of book that serves as a great launching pad for exploring other topics in greater depth. Would definitely read more books from this author
October 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and National Geogrpahic for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was interesting, learned a lot about various topics, and thought it was an interesting example sets for each of the topics.
Author used humor effectively and writing style was more like listening to a podcast vs reading a traditional history book. Overall would recommend it both for casual and hardcore history fans
This was interesting, learned a lot about various topics, and thought it was an interesting example sets for each of the topics.
Author used humor effectively and writing style was more like listening to a podcast vs reading a traditional history book. Overall would recommend it both for casual and hardcore history fans
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