The Ants 1st Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 87 ratings
ISBN-13: 978-0674040755
ISBN-10: 9780674040755
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Due Date: Dec 14, 2022 Rental Details
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Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Worn edges and covers and might have small creases. Item is free of any major damage. Might have a moderate amount of markings on the pages. Might or might not be ex-library or missing its dust cover. Otherwise item is in good condition. Returns are easy and welcome if this item is not as expected!
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  • The Ants
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is the definitive scientific study of one of the most diverse animal groups on earth; pretty well everything that is known about ants is in this massive work. But books do not win Pulitzer Prizes, as this one did in 1991, for exhaustiveness; besides being the last word in science, this work is beautifully written, and accessible to the lay reader. Wilson, of Harvard, and Holldobler of the University of Wurzburg, may inspire a whole new generation of budding entomologists. Every branch of biology is covered, from evolution to taxonomy to physiology to ecology. Lavishly illustrated, it is full of amazing facts, many concerning the incredible social behavior of these creatures.

Review

“A monumental achievement, the last word in myrmecology, the study of ants… It is likely the average adult…will be intrigued by passages about these ubiquitous and complicated creatures.”Paul Galloway, Chicago Tribune

The Ants is a stunningly attractive volume that belongs as much on the coffee table as it does on the lab bench… The 20 chapters are organized thematically, and they are written in a clear, accessible and engaging style… Only Hölldobler and Wilson could have written such a comprehensive and integrated treatment of ant biology. It represents a herculean labour of love, and it sets a new standard for synthetic works on major taxa… The Ants will undoubtedly remain in active service for decades, guiding both tourists and seasoned travellers through a strange and wonderful world.”Donald H. Feener, Jr., et al., Nature

“While it is impossible to write a definitive tome and make it 100 percent transparent to the nonscientist, this volume achieves the utmost clarity… Science is rarely good literature.
The Ants is an exalting exception.”Thomas E. Lovejoy, New York Times Book Review

“Hölldobler and Wilson’s mighty tome will surely take its place among the greatest of all entomology books…it will inspire many new generations of students with its blend of scholarship, enthusiasm, and unabashed delight.”
Science

“This magnificent and long-awaited volume is the definitive work on [ants]… Every imaginable area of interest to a biologist, a sociologist, even a curious citizen, is covered… At once remarkably exhaustive and parsimonious, the book does not stint on exhaustive detail wherever such detail is required.”
William Brown, Scientific American

The Ants is not only another milestone in a remarkable career but also a high point in crossover publishing. For the specialist, Hölldobler and Wilson bring elegance and order to a complex subject. For the curious layman, there is a glimpse into the workings of evolution.”R. Z. Sheppard, Time

“The beauty of this heavily illustrated tome is that it conveys this message to both the lay reader and the professional entomologist with equal aplomb. For the interested but ignorant, Hölldobler and Wilson provide a gentle introduction into the complex and bizarre reality of life as an ant… This myrmecological bible―with its 50-page key to ant classification, 60 pages of detailed anatomical drawings and hundreds of other sketches and photos―is a scientific and artistic accomplishment of historic significance. Yet it succeeds in convincing even the most casual reader of―as the first chapter is titled―the Importance of Ants.”
Rick Weiss, Washington Post

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0674040759
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University Press; 1st edition (March 28, 1990)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 732 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780674040755
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0674040755
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.76 x 1.72 x 12.72 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 87 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
87 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 17, 2021
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 11, 2020
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5.0 out of 5 stars Empire of the Ants
By Kindle Customer on August 11, 2020
Wow. I've wanted this book ever since I browsed through it years ago at the Raven bookstore in Harvard square. I decided to spoil myself and am so happy I did. Even for a layman it is fascinating. It's informative but still approachable. Non fiction rarely succeeds so well at revealing a hidden world full of wonders. If you study of keep ants, enjoy science, or even science fiction, you will be amazed by this book. It's expensive but just bite the bullet (ant) and thank me later.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 21, 2012
18 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 30, 2021
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2009
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 11, 2010
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 29, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 25, 2014
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Top reviews from other countries

Katka kukurova
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book but Problems
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 30, 2019
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4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book but Problems
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 30, 2019
It was an excellent book but it was expensive and it was slightly damaged with a few scratches on the back and some dents and some pages seemed quite bendy
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José Antonio
5.0 out of 5 stars Imprescindible
Reviewed in Spain 🇪🇸 on May 15, 2013
L.E. Heinrichs
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 20, 2014
One person found this helpful
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T R Ramanathan
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on June 28, 2019
Manuel San Payo
5.0 out of 5 stars All you wanted to know about ants but were afraid to ask
Reviewed in Spain 🇪🇸 on November 29, 2018