The ants is a zoology textbook by the german entomologist bert holldobler and the american entomologist e. Wilson interweave their personal adventures with the social lives of ants, building, from the first minute observations of childhood. He was also the foremost proponent of sociobiology, the study of the genetic basis of the social behaviour of all animals, including humans wilson received his early training in biology at the university of alabama b. On the eve of his 90th birthday, he continues to argue for the relevance of evolutionary and ecological science to human affairs. The winner of two pulitzer prizes, wilson is a professor emeritus at harvard university and lives with his wife, irene, in lexington, massachusetts. Wilson of ants and men chronicles the famed biologist and pulitzer prizewinning authors lifelong love for the natural world and the groundbreaking research that would establish him as the foremost authority on ants. By the time he completed graduate school he was already winning recognition as the worlds foremost authority on ants. Winner of 2 pulitzer prizes, and considered by many to be the worlds leading authority on ants, e. Wilson has written over 20 books, mostly nonfiction, anthill is his first fiction title. Most recently i read a short kindle version on ants by wilson and someone else.
He was also the foremost proponent of sociobiology, the study of the genetic basis of. Wilson, the harvard professor of biology who is the. Holldobler and wilson have also written a much shorter and more accessible popular book, journey to the ants. In the final chapter of the book sociobiology wilson argues that the human mind is shaped as much by genetic inheritance. The ants is a stunningly attractive volume that belongs as much on the coffee table as it does on the lab bench the 20 chapters are organized thematically, and they are written in a clear, accessible and engaging style. Wilsonof ants and men to premiere september 30 on pbs.
The pulitzer prizewinning authors of the ants render the extraordinary lives of the social insects in this visually spectacular volume. Oct 10, 2014 the biologist and naturalist edward o. Wilsons books, starting with the diversity of life. Wilson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The other specialist material is scattered through the remainder of the book, in the form of tables showing the taxonomic distribution of particular traits or features. O wilson takes cue from ants in his views on human social. The ants bert holldobler, foundation professor of biology. Wilson, including the diversity of life, and the future of life, and more on. Sep 21, 2015 beginning with his unusual childhood in alabama, e.
He is the author of several books, including the ants, for which he and his coauthor, e. O wilson takes cue from ants in his views on human. Wilson, in his new book, which is modestly titled the meaning of human existence, puts our pygmy planet in a different context. This omits most of the fascinating biological detail as well as the reference material and technical apparatus, focusing on some of the more dramatic and unusual ants. The bulk of the book falls roughly into two parts, with the chapters in the first covering general features of ant life cycles.
The winner of two pulitzer prizes, wilson is a professor emeritus at harvard university and lives with his wife, irene, in. I had read wilson s and holldoblers popular account of ant societies. Wilson, is an american biologist, naturalist, and writer. Mar 28, 1990 i had read wilsons and holldoblers popular account of ant societies. Wilson is a renowned american biologist who is a specialist in the study of ants or myrmecology. The superorganism, with bert holldobler, a new book with information on termites, wasps, bees and ants, will be published in november. In large format, with almost a thousand line drawings, photographs, and paintings, it is one of the most visually rich and allencompassing views of any group of. Ap wilson synthesized his enormous body of knowledge on the social insects ants, bees, wasps and termites in his masterful work, the insect societies, published in 1971. In it he proposed the eponymous term, which literally means love of life, to label. A story of scientific exploration by bert holldobler.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Wilson received the pulitzer prize for nonfiction writing in 1991. Wilson is a worldrenowned expert on ants, but his work in recent years has shifted toward conservation and reconciling the oftencompeting arenas of religion and science in that effort. Wilson is the pulitzer pricewinning author of the ants and the naturalist. The ants is a stunningly attractive volume that belongs as much on the coffee table as it does on the lab bench the 20 chapters are organized thematically, and they are written in. It is an exciting journey of ideas but also an endearing portrait of a. One of the leading figures in sociobiology, he is often dubbed as the father of sociobiology. Wilson pulitzer prizewinning author of on human nature and the ants a dazzling journey across the sciences and humanities in search of deep laws to unite them. Edward osborne wilson, university research professor emeritus at harvard, is the guiding force that shapes the mission of the e. Wilson is the author of more than thirty books, including anthill, a novel, and the meaning of human existence, a finalist for the national book award. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, counsels the book of proverbs, consider her ways and be. The book bursts to life with wilson s observations of nature, from fire ants and social spiders to starlings. Wilson s childhood fascination with insects and other living things matured into an intellectual passion that fired one of the greatest careers in modern science.
Wilson harvard university museum of comparative zoology 26 oxford street cambridge ma 0282902 email. Wilson s twentyfirstcentury statement on darwinian evolution. This is a beautiful and comprehensive book that summarizes what is known about ants. Download the ants pdf by bert holldobler, edward o.
March 19, 2019 the acclaimed naturalist delivers a pithy summary of evidence for darwinian evolution of human behavior. He was also the foremost proponent of sociobiology, the study of the genetic basis of the social behaviour of all animals, including humans. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants, on which he has. Wilson is pellegrino university professor, emeritus, at harvard university. Wilson would like ants to play a large role in the novel, given. The ants is a pulitzer prizewinning book, written in 1990, by bert holldobler and e. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the leafcutter ants. Wilson, is an american biologist who is widely considered to be the worlds leading authority on ants. Wilson on how a pivotal childhood experience helped shape his career.
Wilson is writing a book on the forces of social evolution. The book is intended for specialist, but is readable by anyone with a basic background in natural history. In 1984, edward wilson published a slim volume called biophilia. Apr 01, 2008 in 1984, edward wilson published a slim volume called biophilia. If you try to read this in bed, you wont be able to breathe because of the mass on your chest. Look to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise, says the proverb. In it he proposed the eponymous term, which literally means love of life, to label what he defined as humans innate tendency to. The winner of two pulitzer prizes, wilson is a professor emeritus at harvard university and. Wilson of ants and men will be broadcast nationwide on pbs on september 30 at 9 p. So, i wanted that word biodiversity to remind us how little we know about the natural world and of the danger that we destroy it before we even know its there. Wilson of ants and men is a film about the life and extraordinary scientific odyssey of one of americas greatest living thinkers, e.
View a collection of videos on professor wilson entitled on the relation of science and the. Wilson has a new book, the social conquest of earth, and it is already prompting sharp criticism from fellow scientists. Wilson made his first major entomological discovery at age. Wilson, the influential naturalist, evolution theorist and author who introduced the idea of sociobiology in the 1970s, sits in his home office. Edward wilson is an entomologist specializing in ants, social animals that are as different from humans as any on earth. Wilson from the arctic to south africa one finds them everywhere. Wilson and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Making up nearly 15% of the entire terrestrial animal biomass, ants are impressive not only in quantitative terms, they also fascinate by their highly organized and complex social system. It brings back the joy of science and restores the sense of wonder, it is truly food for thought. Wilson is also professor emeritus at harvard, so there are many reasons why one should give this work some time and energy to read. Wilson, coauthor of the ants, which won the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. Ants by bert holldobler, edward o wilson powells books. Wilson asks if there is anything more important than human nature or, in other words, who we are and why. The beauty, elegance and strangeness of insect societies. Wilson 1929 is a naturalist, environmentalist, ecologist, entomologist, and humanist who is acclaimed as the father of biodiversity. At once remarkably exhaustive and parsimonious, the book does not stint on exhaustive detail wherever such detail is required. A monumental achievement, the last word in myrmecology, the study of ants. Wilson have joined together to tell how they took this.
His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants, on which he has been called the worlds leading expert. This is the definitive scientific study of one of the most diverse animal groups on earth. Wilson, in full edward osborne wilson, born june 10, 1929, birmingham, alabama, u. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Wilsons new take on human nature the eminent biologist argues in a controversial new book that our stone age emotions are still at war with our hightech sophistication. I saw the ants in a bookstore and was amazed by the book, its breadth of subject, physical layout, and photography. The truth of human physical evolution, although denied by many laymen, hasnt troubled scientists since the 19th century. Wilson s books, starting with the diversity of life. This biography provides detailed information regarding his childhood, profile, career and timeline.