NaturalistEdward O. Wilson -- University Professor at Harvard, winner of two Pulitzer prizes, eloquent champion of biodiversity -- is arguably one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. His career represents both a blueprint and a challenge to those who seek to explore the frontiers of scientific understanding. Yet, until now, little has been told of his life and of the important events that have shaped his thought.In Naturalist, Wilson describes for the first time both his growth as a scientist and the evolution of the science he has helped define. He 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. He recounts with drama and wit the adventures of his days as a student at the University of Alabama and his four decades at Harvard University, where he has achieved renown as both teacher and researcher.As the narrative of Wilson's life unfolds, the reader is treated to an inside look at the origin and development of ideas that guide today's biological research. Theories that are now widely accepted in the scientific world were once untested hypotheses emerging from one mans's broad-gauged studies. Throughout Naturalist, we see Wilson's mind and energies constantly striving to help establish many of the central principles of the field of evolutionary biology.The story of Wilson's life provides fascinating insights into the making of a scientist, and a valuable look at some of the most thought-provoking ideas of our time. |
Contents
CHAPTER ONE Paradise Beach | 5 |
CHAPTER TWO Send Us the Boy | 16 |
CHAPTER THREE A Light in the Corner | 33 |
Copyright | |
9 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Alabama animals ants arthropods began Bert Hölldobler biodiversity biogeography biologists Biophilia birds boys cadets called character displacement close collect colony culture Darlington discipline distance dream E. O. Wilson early ecology edge entomology environment Ernst Mayr ethology evolution evolutionary biology fauna field Finschhafen fire ant Florida Florida Keys genes genetic Guinea habitat Harvard Hölldobler human human sociobiology idea island island biogeography islets kin selection kind knew laboratory land later learned Lewontin living look MacArthur mangrove meters mind Mobile molecular Museum National native natural history naturalist nearby nest never organisms patterns pheromone plants population biology professor rain forest Renee River Robert MacArthur scientific scientist Scout Simberloff Slobodkin snakes social behavior social insects sociobiology soon South specimens swamp theory thought tion took trail trees tropical turned University walked Wilson workers young Zoology