Big Book Updates
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted. I’ll get back to posting more often soon, it’s just been a busy month with home renovations, planning for fall festivals, and opening a new spooky themed store (more on that to come).
I’m planning to write a new post on the science behind the sci-fi genre (similar to my post about the science behind the horror genre) and a new one on the difference between hatred and anger. Both based on research projects that are in the works.
In the meantime, I thought I’d share some great book news that I’ve received over the past couple of weeks.
Book Tour
First, my book tour has filled up most of October and part of November. The week October 20-25 is when I’ll be back in Eureka Springs for the Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival, and Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl. The week after is also mostly full in LA with some private events and in-studio interviews that aren’t listed on the tour schedule.
If you live near any of these cities on my tour, I’d love to see you at the event. Or, if there is a really cool bookstore in your town, feel free to recommend an event. October is full, but I have a few spots left in the second week of November.
Translations and Audiobook
So far, Morbidly Curious will be translated into at least 5 other languages: Russian, Portuguese (but only in Portugal), Thai, Slovak, and Korean. It will also be available in English in The US, Canada, and UK. Still waiting on an Australian publisher to buy the English rights for Australia, and hopefully we’ll get some more languages once it’s released.
I’m also planning on recording the audiobook sometime in the next couple of weeks. I’ll be narrating the English version.
Early Planned Press
It’s still early, but you should be seeing and hearing about Morbidly Curious in the press around October. I’ve already recorded several podcast interviews for it, and have a few more big ones planned. While I’m in LA, I’ll be in studio with Dax Shepard for Armchair Expert and NPR for All Things Considered.
On the print side of things, expect a New Scientist article, an excerpt from the book in The Atlantic, and a review in the New York Times Book Review.
Advance Praise for Morbidly Curious
Finally, I thought I’d share some of the trade reviews and early blurbs for the book. I was delighted to have so many people whom I highly respect comment on advanced copies of the book. Morbidly Curious also received a starred review from Library Journal, so hopefully it will be available pretty widely at public and university libraries upon release.
In the meantime, don’t forget that if you pre-order Morbidly Curious, you can send a screenshot of your order confirmation to MorbidlyCuriousBook@gmail.com to receive 3 complimentary months of the paid version of my Substack.
“A science-based romp through horror, terror, gross-outs, and other things that go bump in the night.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A remarkable journey that delves into why humans can’t seem to look away from the things that some would refer to as unhealthy, shocking, or fearsome. . . . This book is a must-read for those who can’t help looking at the scene of an accident, gazing cautiously at a menacing-looking animal hiding behind a bush, watching horror movies or combat sports with unfiltered fixation, or cautiously walking through a dark house to find the source of a random sound. . . . Refreshing.”
—Library Journal (STARRED review)
“Who doesn’t slow down at a car crash? Need to hear all the gory details of someone’s messy divorce, or cheating scandal? . . . . The wish to see the worst that life can offer can be a form of self-education, or even preparation, like stockpiling a survival kit. Scrivner blends research, analysis, folk-tales, and pop culture to create a fascinating portrait of the human mind: why we seek the darkness, and what we can learn from it.”
—Lit Hub, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025, Part Two”
“A fascinating examination of a feature of human nature that all of us have, most of us deplore (at least in others), and few of us understand.”
—Steven Pinker, New York Times bestselling author of Rationality and Enlightenment Now
“What sort of sickness drives our fascination with true crime, slasher films, and all things macabre? In this wonderfully unsettling exploration, Coltan Scrivner shows that morbid curiosity isn’t a pathology at all—it’s a form of preparation, one that deepens our empathy and builds our resilience. Morbidly Curious is sharp, humane, and a delight to read.”
—Paul Bloom, author of Against Empathy and Psych
“I can’t look away from this book. Dr. Scrivner doesn’t shy away from explaining some of the darkest recesses of our curious mind, and as a result we learn so much more about humans.”
—Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Wired to Create and Transcend
“An exhilarating and wise exploration. Through lively storytelling and fresh research, Scrivner illustrates how safely engaging with frightening experiences better prepares us for actual dangers. From predator detection in animals to the human fascination with horror films, morbid curiosity is revealed as a vital, evolved tool for survival.”
—Rob Henderson, bestselling author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
“A riveting exploration of our deepest, darkest fascinations. Once you start reading, you won’t be able to look away.”
—Steve Stewart-Williams, author of The Ape That Understood the Universe
“Morbidly Curious is like a guided tour through a haunted mansion – a carefully crafted expedition with an expert guide to unveil the psychology behind the sinister and the spooky. Coltan Scrivner has a gift for extracting deep insights from our darker compulsions.”
—Tania Lombrozo, director of the Concepts & Cognition Lab at Princeton University
“Morbidly Curious is a smart, surprising, and even uplifting look at why we’re drawn to true crime and horror. Scrivner uses cutting-edge science to show that our fascination with fear isn’t something to hide from—it’s a powerful instinct that keeps us safe and makes us human.”
—Kurt Gray, author of Outraged
“Why are humans so captivated by blood and gore? In this razor-sharp book, Coltan Scrivner explains why our morbid curiosity is nothing to be ashamed of: it’s a survival strategy honed by millions of years of natural selection. Combining cutting-edge science with mastery of pop culture, Morbidly Curious is a paean to the horror genre—and a window into human nature.”
—David Pinsof, evolutionary psychologist and co-creator of Cards Against Humanity
“The title piqued my curiosity. As I read, I became morbidly curious. By the end, I had a great time. In Morbidly Curious, Coltan Scrivner takes us on a fascinating journey through horror films, true crime, haunted houses, and psychological experiments, revealing how engaging with fear can be a form of play that eases anxiety and even makes us better people. A fun, stimulating, and enlightening read!”
—Daniel T. Blumstein, author of The Nature of Fear
“Why are we drawn to death, danger, and disaster? In this fun, fascinating, and surprising book, behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner shows that morbid curiosity isn’t a flaw—it’s a survival strategy in a world where risk and uncertainty are inevitable. Blending cutting-edge science with gripping stories, Scrivner reveals why the things that can harm us so often capture our attention.”
—Athena Aktipis, author of A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times