Stephen T. Asma is a professor of philosophy at Columbia College in Chicago. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears and Why I am a Buddhist (both forthcoming in 2009); The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha; and Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads: The Culture and Evolution of Natural History Museums. His Web site is at www​.stephenas​ma​.com.