SCIENCES

Darwin’s Love of Life: A Singular Case of Biophilia

by Kay Harel
Columbia Univ. Oct. 2022. 184p. ISBN 9780231208086. $26. NAT HIST
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Science journalist Harel’s first book takes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to Charles Darwin’s life. This book explores Darwin’s own contradictions in digestible chunks of interrelated essays that combine history, science and even poetry. Readers should expect to pull out a dictionary a few times; the vocabulary is beautiful and accurate but not always common. Some other collections and subject areas that this book would complement are design, evolutionary biology, naturalism, critique of scholarly study, dogs, truth and facts, carnivorous plants, the contribution of wives of “great thinkers,” and sex and gender.
VERDICT A wonderful holistic understanding of Charles Darwin’s life and his own evolution. Recommended for fans of biologist/writer E. O. Wilson.
Reviewed by Naomi Toftness , Sep 01, 2022
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