Over his long career, Edward O. Wilson has transformed our understanding of the natural world and human nature and provided an eloquent voice for the need to preserve and protect the biodiversity of our planet. 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. Naturalist is a wise and personal account of Wilson’s growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define.
This 25th Anniversary Edition celebrates Naturalist as a modern classic. Wilson traces the trajectory of his life—from a childhood spent exploring the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida to life as a tenured professor at Harvard—detailing how his youthful fascination with nature blossomed into a lifelong calling. With humor and insight, Wilson recounts his days as a student at the University of Alabama and decades at Harvard University, where he has achieved renown as both teacher and researcher.
As relevant today as when it was first published, Naturalist is a poignant reminder of the deeply human side of science and an inspiring call to celebrate the little things of the world.
Check out Chapter 10 “The South Pacific” below, or download the PDF here.
