First published 2023
Richard Rhodes presents the authorized biography of Edward Osborne Wilson, the Alabama-born biologist who became one of America's most influential and divisive scientists. Rhodes had complete access to Wilson, his colleagues, and his personal papers to construct this portrait of a man fascinated by ants from childhood. Wilson's field research on social insects expanded scientific understanding of countless species and their behaviors. His 1975 work Sociobiology sparked fierce academic debate by arguing that evolution and genetics govern all animal behavior, including human conduct. At 91, Wilson emerged as a leading advocate for biodiversity conservation while working to bridge science and humanities. Rhodes, the Pulitzer Prize winner behind The Making of the Atomic Bomb, delivers a comprehensive account of a scientist whose career spans decades of discovery and controversy. The biography captures Wilson's view of nature as both sanctuary and adventure, revealing how one man's passion for the natural world shaped modern biology.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, evolution, non-fiction, 21st-century, biology, conservation, academic
Vibes: comprehensive, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: authorized-biography, bridging-disciplines, lifelong-passion
Setting: Alabama
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
304 pages · Paperback · Vintage