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Sam Kean

Sam Kean

New York Times Bestselling Author & Science Educator

Travels From Travels From:
Washington, DC, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000
Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Authors, Bestselling Authors, Host & Emcee, Innovation, Podcast Hosts, Science, TED
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Sam Kean Biography

Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of "The Disappearing Spoon," "Dinner with King Tut," "The Icepick Surgeon," "The Bastard Brigade," "Caesar’s Last Breath," "The Dueling Neurosurgeons," and "The Violinist’s Thumb."

"The Bastard Brigade" was an NPR Science Friday book of the year, while "Caesar’s Last Breath" was the Guardian science book of the year in 2017 and a runner-up for book of the year from the National Academies of Science. In addition, "The Disappearing Spoon" was a runner-up for the Royal Society of London's book of the year for 2010, and "The Violinist’s Thumb" and "The Dueling Neurosurgeons" were nominated for the PEN/E.O. Wilson award for literary science writing in 2013 and 2015, as well as the AAAS/Suburu prize. He also won the 2021 national Grady-Stack award for outstanding scientific communication.

Kean edited the 2018 edition of "Best American Nature and Science Writing," and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times Magazine, Psychology Today, and Slate, among other publications, and he has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab,” “Science Friday,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air.” His books have been translated into twenty-four languages around the world. One of his books even appeared in an iPhone commercial. Finally, his podcast, The Disappearing Spoon, debuted at #1 on the iTunes charts for science podcasts.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/30/2025.

Sam Kean Speaking Topics

  • Spoons and Thumbs: Funny, Spooky, Poignant, and Completely True Science Stories - and How You Can Harness Them to Find Your Passion and Boost Education Outcomes

    Science, math, and tech can be discouraging. All too often, people get bogged down and quit before reaching their potential. Which is a shame. All of us, when we were younger, experienced the awe and wonder of science at some point—whether it involved gaping at dinosaurs at a museum, or catching glimpses of exotic animal at the zoo, or seeing a shooting star streak overhead at night. Sam Kean helps people of all ages tap into that child-like wonder, and make science come alive again.

    His talks cover stories from his New York Times bestselling books, on everything from scientific true crimes tales to the nerdy joys of the periodic table or human genome to experimental archaeology—a field where scientists recreate the meals King Tut ate and make human mummies in modern times. In addition to entertaining, he explains how he turned his passion for science into a career outside the lab, as well as offers concrete details for how to harness the power of storytelling to make science come alive and make it stick in people’s minds.

Sam Kean Videos

  • Sam Kean | TEDxDavenport
    Sam Kean | TEDxDavenport
    The Violinist's Thumb
  • Sam Kean - Southern Utah University A.P.E.X.
    Sam Kean - Southern Utah University A.P.E.X.
    Spoons & Thumbs: Funny, Spooky and Completely True Science Stories
See All Videos »

Sam Kean Books

  • Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations
    Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations
  • The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science
    The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science
  • The Bastard Brigade
    The Bastard Brigade
  • Précis De Microscopie: Technique, Expérimentation, Diagnostic... (French Edition)
    Précis De Microscopie: Technique, Expérimentation, Diagnostic... (French Edition)
  • The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery
    The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery
  • The Violinist's Thumb
    The Violinist's Thumb

FAQs on booking Sam Kean

  • How do I book Sam Kean to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Sam Kean

    Speaking fees for Sam Kean, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Sam Kean are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sam Kean, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Sam Kean speak about?

    Sam Kean is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Bestselling Authors, Host & Emcee, Innovation, Podcast Hosts, Science, TED.

  • Where does Sam Kean travel from?

    Sam Kean generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Sam Kean’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Sam Kean for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sam Kean for your next private or corporate function.

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Sam Kean is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Spoons and Thumbs: Funny, Spooky, Poignant, and Completely True Science Stories - and How You Can Harness Them to Find Your Passion and Boost Education Outcomes. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sam Kean for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Sam Kean generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Edward Tenner, Mitch Resnick, Daniel Suarez, Walter Isaacson and Clay Shirky. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sam Kean for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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