Naturalist, Edward O. Wilson
Naturalist, Edward O. Wilson
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Naturalist

Author: Edward O. Wilson

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Unabridged: 13 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Island Press

Published: 06/02/2020

Synopsis

Edward O. Wilson—winner of two Pulitzer prizes, champion of biodiversity, and Faculty Emeritus at Harvard University—is arguably one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. Yet his celebrated career began not with an elite education but from an insatiable curiosity about the natural world and drive to explore its mysteries. Called “one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written” by the Los Angeles Times, Naturalist is a wise and personal account of Wilson’s growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define.At once practical and lyric, Naturalist provides fascinating insights into the making of a scientist, and a valuable look at some of the most thought-provoking ideas of our time. As relevant today as when it was first published twenty-five years ago, Naturalist is a poignant reminder of the human side of science and an inspiring call to celebrate the little things of the world.

About Edward O. Wilson

Edward O. Wilson (1929-2021) was the author of more than thirty books, including Anthill, Letters to a Young Scientist, and The Conquest of Nature. The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, he was a professor emeritus at Harvard University.

About Grover Gardner

Grover Gardner has recorded more than 650 audiobooks since beginning his career in 1981.  He's been named one of the "Best Voices of the Century" as well as a "Golden Voice" by AudioFile magazine.  Gardner has garnered over 20 AudioFile Earphones Awards and is the recipient of an Audio Publishers Association Audie Award, as well as a three-time finalist.  In 2005, Publishers Weekly deemed him "Audiobook Narrator of the Year." Gardner has also narrated hundreds of audiobooks under the names Tom Parker and Alexander Adams.  Among his many titles are Marcus Sakey's At the City's Edge, as well as Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and John Irving's The Cider House Rules.  Gardner studied Theater and Art History at Rollins College and received a Master's degree in Acting from George Washington University.  He lives in Oregon with his significant other and daughter.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Courtney on January 22, 2011

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much when I first started reading this book. I mean, it's an autobiography of a biologist. Even though I am a biologist, I still expected to have to tape my eyes open to get through it. However, I was pleasantly surprised - this book is amazing! It was hard for me......more

Goodreads review by Cassandralynn on July 26, 2009

I have followed this guy since I met him on a plane at 19 on my way to a conference where he happened to be the keynote speaker. He is a true scientist, crawling through the grass and on the ground chasing bugs. His career has more highlights than many scientists could claim in two lifetimes. This b......more

Goodreads review by Benjaminxjackson on November 23, 2019

In his essays, the French philosopher Montaigne suggests that education be based on Plutarch's Lives, which are biographies of historical figures. After reading Wilson's autobiography, I can see how an argument could be made for a similar approach to education today. Wilson's book, while a biography......more

Goodreads review by Nick on June 29, 2020

This is one of my favorite books of all time, in my top 3 most formative in life so far. Third time reading. It seems like Wilson has had the perfect scientific life and accomplished so much in so many different disciplines. He is a giant of biology and a personal hero. Summary: Wilson grew up mostly......more

Goodreads review by Ben on June 27, 2020

For a scientist's memoir, there was disappointingly little science. I suspect Wilson wanted to avoid repeating what he had already said in his other popular books. (My favorite Wilson books were coauthored with Bert Hölldobler, though, and maybe I just prefer Hölldobler's style.) Too little science,......more

Quotes

“A wise personal memoir…A mixture of loneliness, amusement, curiosity, and intellectual rigor makes the voice of this thoughtful man unforgettable.” New York Times

“[Naturalist] is one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written, by one of the finest scientists writing today.” Los Angeles Times

“What distinguishes Wilson’s story is its handsome prose, honed by years of practice into a concise and sly discourse. Among literary scientists, no one since Rachel Carson has more effectively joined humble detail to a grand vision of life processes and structures.” Washington Post

“Vividly, often beautifully written. Wilson emerges not only as a gifted scientist, but also as a likable, passionate, eloquent person.” New York Review of Books

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