Telling Stories of the Past: An Archaeologist's Memoir

Brian Fagan was an internationally recognized authority on global prehistory and one of the best-known archaeologists of the past half century. His nine textbooks introduced hundreds of thousands of students to archaeology. His numerous popular books, on everything from Ancient Egypt to early seafaring, brought archaeology to a broad swath of the public, and sometimes landed on The New York Times bestseller list. He wrote columns for archaeology magazines and for general ones, and also appeared on TV shows and documentaries about the past.

Telling Stories of the Past is Fagan's memoir of his life and work, completed only days before his death in July, 2025. In this book, he charts his early career as a field archaeologist in Africa, his work as a museum officer, his entry into academic life, his writing and teaching at University of California, Santa Barbara, and his long career as a consultant working with the National Geographic Society, the BBC, and other media organizations. He won numerous awards for his public writing, teaching, and media work.

He focuses the most attention on his work as a writer and teacher, describing his process for developing trade books and textbooks, and his approach to attracting students to archaeology through innovative teaching methods. The guidance he provides here will be of great value to younger scholars and writers of all ages.

Fagan also discusses his concern with climate change, resulting in a series of four recent books on the subject. A lifelong sailor, Brian shows how the discipline required for sailing impacted his ability to both think and write. His interaction with many of the legendary figures in archaeology are recounted as well.

Written in Fagan's clear, popular style, this volume provides direction for younger archaeologists who wish to engage with the general public, and is an illuminating guide to archaeology for non-specialist readers.