The Re-Origin of Species

‘[T]his excellent book, written with a deceptively light touch (in Fiona Graham’s translation) … raises a number of deep questions and paradoxes about our relationship with nature.’

* The Guardian *

‘It’s a beautifully written and perceptive book, that also poses sharp questions about environmental nostalgia and the true value of species.’

-- Number 4 of the ‘Best Books of The Year 2018’, Steven Poole * The Daily Telegraph *

‘Kornfeldt does an excellent job of exposing the ethical dilemmas of bringing extinct creatures back to life.’

-- Kathryn Hughes * The Mail on Sunday *

‘The Re-Origin of Species is an engrossing exploration of a controversial area, written with a light touch and a journalist’s eye for detail.’

* Irish Examiner *

‘The author's careful synthesis of accomplishment versus aspiration is also spot-on—even world-class scientists will be dreamers, and there is much more research to be conducted before mammoths once again lumber across the tundra. Wondrous tales of futuristic science experiments that happen to be true.’

* Kirkus Reviews *

‘Extinction might not be forever! ... Free of most scientific jargon, Kornfeldt’s book is an eye-opening introduction to an important new field of study that”s well fit for public library audiences.’

* Booklist *

‘Pick up this book and you’ll be glued to its pages, and soon convinced that bioengineering will continue to change the world in ways difficult to imagine.’ 4.5 STARS

* Good Reading *

‘Kornfeldt interviews researchers intent on recreating mammoths and passenger pigeons, saving the northern white rhino, and reintroducing chestnut trees to North America.’

* Publishers Weekly *

‘Reading The Re-Origin of Species was a delightful adventure. Torill Kornfeldt took me by the hand and led me all around the world, and back through history, teaching me about how extinction works and how the restoration of all kinds of species, from the woolly mammoth to feathered dinosaurs, just may be a part of our future.’

-- Tim Urban, Wait But Why?

‘Any number of terms apply to Torill Kornfeldt's fascinating overview of this profoundly important subject: clear-eyed. Skeptical. Open-minded. But the word that sticks with me is one I haven't had cause to use in a very long time: hopeful. The Re-Origin of Species gives me hope.’

-- Peter Watts, author of Blindsight and Starfish

‘[E]xpresses the full complexity of this topic in a lighthearted, masterful way, raising critical questions … which guide the reader to develop informed opinions about how humankind can limit the ongoing destruction of nature.’

* Adelaide Advertiser *

‘It’s less like reading a college text book and more like reading about a famous explorer digging into cultures not seen since the dawn of time. It’s like Indiana Jones light, for the scientist.’

* Adventures in Poor Taste *

‘This thought-provoking and deeply engaging book throws into the question the very meanings of life and death as we understand them.’ STARRED REVIEW

* Shelf Awareness *

‘[T]he projects Kornfeldt writes about are incredibly compelling, given that we are living through a mass-extinction event that threatens the stability of the world’s ecosystems.’

* The New Yorker *

‘In her cleverly titled book, The Re-origin of the Species, Swedish science journalist Torill Kornfeldt examines the world’s most famous (or perhaps most infamous) attempts to resurrect extinct species ... Crisscrossing the globe to interview the world’s leading experts on de-extinction, she offers her personal impressions of their laboratories, their research, and even their motivations ... The Re-Origin of the Species is a welcome addition to the growing corpus on de-extinction, and a strong debut by a gifted writer.’

-- Abraham H. Gibson * The Quarterly Review of Biology, Stony Brook Universi