First published in 2002

The image of a dragon- magnificent, terrifying, voracious and powerful- is ingrained in our culture. But where did it originate? And how is it that people from Africa to China to America picture it the same?

An Instinct for Dragons is anthropologist David E. Jones's account of his search for the mysterious birth of this ubiquitous monster. Not only does virtually every culture in the world have a name for dragons—smok in Polish, tatsu in Japanese, unktena in Cherokee— but dragons everywhere share many of the same characteristics: multiple heads, blazing eyes, earth-shaking roars, fiery breath, and the abduction of princesses.

Spanning dragon lore from all places and periods, Jones scrutinizes sightings and references from dragon inscriptions on cave walls, cliffs and pots to the Loch Ness monster to the Internet. Jones's research is erudite, and his conclusion is stunning; not only is our fear and fascination with dragons a direct result of the predators who threatened our evolution, but humankind is essentially hardwired to believe in the dragon.

This book will fascinate any reader interested in the cultural history of this most venerable of monsters.