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Naturalist [Paperback]

Edward O. Wilson
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)


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Book Description

December 1, 1995
Recalling his life from a childhood exploring the Gulf Coast of Alabama to a career as a Harvard professor, Pulitzer Prize-winner Wilson details how a boyhood enchantment with nature became a lifelong calling. He provides insight into the origin and development of the ideas that have shaped his biological research and defines the central principles of evolutionary biology.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

E. O. Wilson, among the most prominent biologists working today, has made signal contributions to the field both large and small. As an entomologist, and especially as a student of several kinds of ants, he is famed among a small audience. He is better known for his work in the controversial subdiscipline of sociobiology for his formulations of island-biogeographic theory, and for his catastrophic view of modern extinctions. His lucid memoir, Naturalist, treats all these matters and more, and it celebrates the sea change in our view of nature--namely, that we now see that "we are bound to the rest of life in our ecology, our physiology, and even our spirit"--that has come about in no small measure because of Wilson's distinguished career.

From Publishers Weekly

"Most children have a bug period," writes the author. "I never grew out of mine." Winner of two Pulitzer prizes, pioneer in sociobiology, distinguished entomologist and teacher, Wilson has written an absorbing memoir that charts his development as a scientist. From the age of seven, he wanted to be a naturalist; an accident that left him blind in one eye determined his field, and he settled on ants. Wilson recounts with affection his student days at the University of Alabama. In 1951 he enrolled at Harvard to complete his Ph.D.; there he began to study the evolution of social ecology among animals. Memorable field trips-to Cuba, Central America, the South Pacific-led him into new disciplines (biogeography and biodiversity). Noting that he has been "blessed with brilliant enemies," he gives a lively account of academic infighting between molecular (James Watson of DNA fame) and evolutionary biologists during the 1960s. Wilson discusses his collaboration with Bert Holldobler and the controversy that arose from the publication of Sociobiology: The New Synthesis in 1975. Wilson's memoir gives a rare glimpse into the evolution of scientific theory. 40,000 first printing.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (December 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446671991
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446671996
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #874,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent September 2, 2002
Format:Audio Cassette
An engaging and well-written account of the famous biologist's intellectual development from his early to his mature years and most important achievements. Nice discussions of some of his most interesting and important ideas punctuate this history. For example, there's a good section on the origin and development of his ecological ideas and the theory of island biogeography. Wilson is always a cautious but careful writer and thinker, but in a couple of the sections, he gets at least a little bit speculative and is all the more entertaining for it. For example, his discussion of the innateness of our fear of spiders and snakes is entertaining (Wilson himself is very phobic about spiders). Equally entertaining is the section where he discusses people's preference for a particular type of environment or ecology (subalpine or montane foothills parkland or partially wooded savannah with some lakes). Wilson attributes this to it being the environment where we originally evolved. Overall it counts as one of the best scientific biographies I've ever read.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiration for young scientists August 30, 2000
Format:Hardcover
How far have city-bred enterprises removed us from our natural heritage? E.O. Wilson, author of so many wonderful ideas and books, has here revealed himself as a human being of immense strength and courtly self-awareness. Sharing with us so many aspects of his personal life and scientific endeavors, Wilson shows how a bit of dedication can overcome obstacles most of us find daunting. Raised in the rural South, losing the sight of one eye, his struggles to gain a place as a scientist are inspiring. More importantly, he makes clear how much remains to be done by the upcoming generations in determining our true place in the natural order. This work is a clarion call for aspiring young scientists to enter research, following paths similar to his own.

The editorial reviews here focus overmuch on the sociobiology 'controversy'. Sociobiology is a major thesis in examining humanity's place in nature. Rejecting this idea out of hand continues to impair understanding of how important an idea sociobiology is, although he spends little time on it in this book. Much of his work has focussed on animal behaviour from ants through mammals. People remain resistant to the idea that we are somehow associated with 'the beasts', but Wilson demonstrates the continuity of behaviour patterns throughout the animal kingdom. Until we address that issue honestly, which is a major aspect of Wilson's work, we will never understand who we truly are. His studies stress that until we achieve that understanding, we will continue to unwittingly intrude on our own environment. The loss of species threatens our own existence.

The major advantage of this book is its honesty. Wilson pulls few punches and reviews his own prejudices and how he overcame them. He demonstrates how important this self assessment is to scientists and the public alike. The growth of understanding of genetics has impacted all biology. Wilson relates candidly his own grudging acceptance of the new ideas genetic research have given us. He's to be commended for both his candor and flexibility.

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most interesting autobiographies ever July 1, 2003
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
To me, it looks as if Wilson turned to be a great scientist against all odds. He did not come from the academic royalty, but from a broken family in Alabama. With strong intuition, lot of hard work and endless enthusiasm, he became one of the great scientists of the 20th century. A well written book, that would probably change the course of my life have I read it at the right age...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A Rich Life
Dr. Wilson is an excellent writer and storyteller. How could anyone else make the study of ants so exciting and write a book difficult to put down. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Bonnie Leigh
5.0 out of 5 stars Right Up there with Einstein
I have not read "Naturalist," but I recently finished his "The Social Conquest of Earth," and it is one of the finest, most lucid and most thoughtful books I've read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational for the naturalist, amateur or professional alike/
The wonderful autobiography of EO Wilson....argueably our pre-eminent naturalist and entomologist. Got a superb copy used through Amazon....at an unbelievably low price. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Steven F. Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for a teenager who is interested in Biology.
Any kid who wish to study live sciences, should read this book. This is how we should teach different branches of sciences, discovery method. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Vinay K. Duggal
5.0 out of 5 stars Just as described
Saved $20 by buying this book. Great condition, just as described. It was my first time using Amazon, and now I will use it again to buy books. The book itself is boring though.
Published on January 31, 2011 by Rico
5.0 out of 5 stars An autobiography and much, much more!
I picked up a copy of this book in a Thrift. It was my first E. O. Wilson and I have not stopped acquiring and reading him since. Read more
Published on January 17, 2011 by Panayoti Kelaidis
4.0 out of 5 stars Insight from a Harvard Professor
I have read it twice and both times it has inspired me to be a better scientist, a nature-philiac and a strong believer in setting your own scientific ethics and sticking to them. Read more
Published on January 4, 2011 by Lucia
4.0 out of 5 stars The education of a scientist
How does one grow up poor and unsettled in the deep South in the Depression and go on to become a leading figure in science with a lifetime career at Harvard and, oh, a Pulitzer... Read more
Published on October 27, 2010 by Taylor McNeil
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Wilson delivers a compelling and inspirational account of his scientific career from age 5 onward, and some touching personal details explaining what drew him to nature. Read more
Published on October 16, 2007 by E. Havstad
1.0 out of 5 stars Wilson's Paradox
Edward Wilson's works unravel of their own accord.

He tells us that human beings do not have free will. Read more
Published on November 4, 2005 by Barry B. Anderberg
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