Image via Amazon.com

I’ve just returned from Science Online 2013 with a galley proof of Brian Switek‘s new book, My Beloved Brontosaurus.

From Amazon.com:

“Switek reunites us with these mysterious creatures as he visits desolate excavation sites and hallowed museum vaults, exploring everything from the sex life of Apatosaurus and T. rex’s feather-laden body to just why dinosaurs vanished. (And of course, on his journey, he celebrates the book’s titular hero, “Brontosaurus”—who suffered a second extinction when we learned he never existed at all—as a symbol of scientific progress.”

I dove into the book on the plane ride home, and I’m loving it! So, I am inviting fellow SciO13 attendees who snagged a copy (and anyone else with a copy, for that matter) to join me in a read-along on Twitter. Whether you’re at home, or on a mobile device, you can join in the conversation and share your thoughts about the book.

Here’s how it works:

  • I’ll post a schedule, below, for discussion of each chapter. You can read ahead, but don’t tweet ahead so that we don’t spoil it for each other! (Don’t worry, I will send out reminders on Twitter.)
  • Each week, we’ll have an hour to tweet and chat about the reading together. I’ll pick different days and times to try to accommodate everyone.
  • Don’t worry if you can’t make it during the scheduled time.  Feel free to continue the conversation throughout the week, and I will Storify our discussion of each chapter!
  • Use the hashtag #dinochat to discuss the book. Search the hashtag to see what others are saying about it.

Brian has graciously agreed to do a G+ Hangout with the Mad Scientist Book Club at the end of the read. Watch the #dinochat hastag for the date as we get closer to the end of the book. If you don’t have a copy of the book and would like to pre-order it, you can do that at Amazon.com. You can also check out Brian’s work at National Geographic and Slate.

Reading Schedule:

Tuesday, Feb. 5 @ 7pm EST: Prologue (yes, that’s tomorrow!)

Monday, Feb. 11 @ 8pm EST: Chapters 1 & 2

Sunday, Feb. 17 @ 4pm EST: Chapters 3 & 4

Tuesday, Feb. 26 @ 9pm EST: Chapters 5 & 6

Wednesday, March 6 @9pm EST: Chapters 7 & 8

Saturday, March 16 @ 12 NOON EST: Chapters 9, 10, & Epilogue

Please comment, let me know if there are any errors in the schedule. Happy Reading!!

Links to Storify Posts: 

#Dinochat – Chapters 1 & 2

#Dinochat – Chapters 3 & 4

#Dinochat – Chapters 5 & 6

#Dinochat – Chapters 7 & 8 – Coming soon!

#Dinochat – Chapters 9 & 10 – Coming soon!