Staff Reviews

Don't let the format fool you. EO Wilson is highly intellectual and wise, one of the world’s premier scientists and writers. His lifetime body of Harvard research on ants and the evolution of species as they spread across continents is as revered as the body of books he's written about life on Earth. But it’s the act of discovery that’s driven him, the “grubbing around,” finding things nobody had ever seen, learning what nobody knew. The graphic format is perfect for that man, who never grew out of his childhood “bug period.” The pictures make the physical, sensory intensity of his work jump out, and they make his intellect clearer and more personal as he takes us back to his childhood and then forward to now. I appreciate the way he gives us the lowdown about scientists and their sometimes bitter divisions over theories, and also the way he talks directly about his own white privilege when he realized that he could do things which others would be denied. He’s open to seeing his own mistakes and to learning from anyone, including adversaries. It’s a relief to feel such pure honesty and humility during this time of political manipulation. It's a beautiful book about a literally wonderful man!