If you’re a regular reader of David’s Basement of the Bizarre, then you know how fascinated I am with things that others may find to be a turn-off. Shrunken heads are one of these things. I even wrote a blog on the subject previously (see HERE). The process of creating a shrunken head is pretty grisly and to be honest, I never thought about what the person went through whose head was shrunken. Hopefully they died in battle before the process began.
In late 2024 I started seeing advertising on social media for a book called “Shrunken Heads: Out of the Dark, Into the Light,” by author Glenn McGinty, published by Eleventh Gate Publishing. The ad kept popping up and I started following the author on Facebook. The more I saw the ad, the more I knew I wanted the book for my library. The feedback on the book was very promising and I took the plunge.
When it arrived, three days early, I was in awe. First off, I want to comment on the packaging, which was perfect. The book was double-wrapped and the outside packaging featured images of shrunken heads (I do wonder what my mail person thought of this). After opening the package, not only did I find a massive book, but there were also two additional envelopes. These contained some fun advertising, stickers, photos, and even a bookmark. I hadn’t even opened the book, and I was amazed with what I had received.
For the most part, this is a photo book showcasing actual shrunken heads. The pictures are amazing and in full color (except in cases where the age of the photo didn’t lend itself to color). The text is a fast read and adds so much context to the history of shrunken heads. My favorite aspect is Glenn’s respect for shrunken heads, acknowledging regularly that these are human beings and as such, deserve our respect. He calls them “little lost souls,” which is perfect.
For me, “Shrunken Heads” is a must-have book. It’s a coffee table book that is perfectly at home in my house. Not only do I find myself looking through it a lot, I know my guests will as well. I’d love to know your feedback if you decide to own this book!
Don’t forget to read the other blogs in my BASEMENT BOOK SHELF series.