How Zoologists Organize Things
The Art of Classification
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Quarto Publishing PLC
Published:1st Sep '20
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This book explores the history and significance of categorization in understanding the animal kingdom, revealing insights and myths. How Zoologists Organize Things invites readers to rethink their perceptions.
In How Zoologists Organize Things, readers embark on a journey through the intricate world of categorization and its profound impact on our understanding of nature. The book reveals how humans have historically distinguished between the edible and the toxic, the fierce and the tame, driven by a primal need for survival. This quest for knowledge has not only expanded our comprehension of the animal kingdom but has also influenced religious beliefs and shaped scientific theories over time.
The narrative delves into the obsession of early scientists who, long before Darwin's theories, sought to uncover the visual similarities and differences among various species. Their efforts to create order from chaos led to a variety of classification schemes, reflecting a deep desire to understand the interconnectedness of all life. This exploration of our ancestors' intellectual pursuits highlights the artistic legacy that has emerged from our attempts to catalogue wildlife, spanning from ancient folklore to modern scientific practices.
Through captivating illustrations and zoological charts, How Zoologists Organize Things tells the story of humanity's enduring fascination with the natural world. These visual representations not only capture the essence of the creatures they depict but also serve as a mirror reflecting our own complexities and curiosities. The book invites readers to reconsider what they think they know about animals and to embrace the ongoing journey of discovery and unlearning.
"With amazing artwork on every page, Bainbridge’s book traces man’s quest to classify animals and explain their similarities and differences in art ranging from sketches to painting to computer images." -- Marcus Schneck * PennLive *
"...this book is highly recommended for general readers wanting a visual introduction to the classification of living species." * Booklist *
"Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "How Zoologists Organize Things: The Art of Classification" will prove to be a unique and welcome addition to personal, professional, high school, community, college, and university library Contemporary Science collections in general, and zoology supplemental curriculum reading lists in particular." * Midwest Book Review *
"While not classified as ‘light reading,’ How Zoologists Organize Things by British author David Bainbridge is a fascinating lookat humanity’s struggle to understand the animals with which we share theworld." * WhiteTail Magazine *
“This book is so much more than an explanation of the title; it is a visual feast. Every page has carefully chosen and beautifully reproduced illustrations. The author has selected from a huge range of zoological material and has included medieval bestiaries from as early as the 1200s, to present-day genetics diagrams which are in themselves a visual delight, to subtly coloured electron microscope photographs of chromosomes. The text is well written and concise, giving a clear interpretation of the illustrations and enough background to enable one to understand something of the many zoologists who created numerous ways to understand the natural world of animals. This is a worthwhile account covering the work of many of the scientists, from a Western perspective, who have over the ages attempted to illustrate the order in Earth’s animal biodiversity. 5 stars”
-- Ray Heaton * The Fortean Times *
ISBN: 9780711252264
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
256 pages