Holiday Gifts for Forensic Science Enthusiasts and Students

Whether your friend or family member simply enjoys watching the television show CSI or has a more active interest in forensic science, there are many gifts that are sure to please your forensic science enthusiast. From forensic science books to crime scene lanyards, you have many great gifts to choose from.

Books

As a forensic science lover, I can tell you with some authority that the following is true: books about forensic science are among the best gifts you can give a person interested in forensic science.

Here are some books I recommend:

Death's Acre, by William Bass and Jon Jefferson, with a forward by Patricia Cornwell.

William Bass is a well-known forensic anthropologist. He founded the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Facility, a facility otherwise known as The Body Farm. Death's Acre details his life and the early years of the body farm.

Beyond the Body Farm, also by William Bass and Jon Jefferson.

You can read an excerpt from Beyond the Body Farm here. (Note: There are no photos in this excerpt-- however, there are explicit details that may be disturbing to some readers).

Beyond the Body Farm is available from that site, and can also be purchased from Barnes and Noble, and other retailers.

Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook, by Douglas Ubelaker and Henry Scammel.

This interesting book, by forensic anthropologist Douglas Ubelaker, is widely available online at reasonable prices. Check out Amazon.com, Alibris.com or the book seller of your choice.

The Human Bone Manual, by Tim D. White and Pieter Arend Folkens.

This invaluable book provides extensive, detailed photographs and descriptions of all bones of the body. This is a must-have for anyone studying osteology or forensic anthropology.

Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers, by Michael Baden. Michael Baden is a renowned forensic pathologist.

Other gifts for forensic science enthusiasts:

For CSI television show fans:

If the person on your list simply enjoys the show CSI, there are CSI t-shirts available online at the cbs store (the link is available in resources section of this article). If your CSI fan enjoys video games, CSI: Hard Evidence would make a great gift. CSI: Hard Evidence is available from Circuit City and other retail stores. The game is intended for adults over 17.

For forensic science enthusiasts and students:

If you have hundreds of dollars to spare, you could buy a full replica of a skeleton or a skull. You can choose from a variety of skulls and skeletons here .

If you do not have a few hundred dollars sitting around waiting to be spent, consider the following gifts from Crimescene.com.

Latent Fingerprint kit: This is a real print kit, stocked with the necessary items. It is around 30 dollars

"Crime Scene Do Not Cross" ID lanyard. This is a perfect gift for only $7.

If your friend or family member is interested in forensic anthropology, 6 inch sliding calipers ( in good quality stainless steel) make a great gift. Sliding calipers are readily available in many stores.

Whether you choose one of the suggested books or another gift, your forensic science lover will thank you for choosing a gift that matches their interests.