The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture
By (Author) Barrett Klein
Workman Publishing
Timber Press
10th December 2024
United States
General
Non Fiction
Insects (entomology)
Applied ecology
595.7
Hardback
368
Width 174mm, Height 232mm, Spine 34mm
1020g
From one of America's leading entomologists comes a buzz-worthy exploration of the many ways insects have affected human society, history, and culture
Insects surround us. They fuel life on earth through their natural biological functions as pollinators, predators, and prey, but they also play an often overlooked role in our culture. Their anatomy and habitats have informed how we live, how we build, how we create art, and how we take flight. In Insect Epiphany, author Barrett Klein shares his expert insights into the outsize influence that insects have had on civilization. Our world would look very different without insects, not just because they are part of the food chain, but because they have inspired so many aspects of our cultural output."The Insect Epiphany has substantially broadened my appreciation of insects, with a fascinating dive into the services--beyond the ecological ones--that they perform. Indeed, this book has given me my own unexpected epiphany that insects have impacted human cultures and molded our lives in myriad ways I hadn't imagined."--Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Nature's Best Hope
"A personal--and personable--guide to cultural entomology. 'Tour de force' doesn't do The Insect Epiphany justice. It's a triumph!"--May Berenbaum, National Medal of Science award-winning entomologist
"Playful, erudite, endlessly imaginative, and written with exacting clarity, The Insect Epiphany is overflowing with fascinating information and deep scholarly knowledge. An enthralling ride, it will change how you think about insects and, perhaps more importantly, it will also change how you think about yourself."--Hugh Raffles, author of Insectopedia
"The Insect Epiphany is exceptionally beautiful, deeply enlightening, and just a little bizarre. If you're a stranger to Barrett Klein, entomologist and artist extraordinaire, then this book is an ideal way to make his acquaintance and enjoy his special knowledge."--Thomas D. Seeley, author of Honeybee Democracy
Barrett Klein studied entomology at Cornell University and the University of Arizona, and received a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. He has fabricated natural history exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History, and joined the University of Wisconsin La Crosse faculty in 2012.