Naturalist

InNaturalist, Wilson describes for the first time both
his growth as a scientist and the evolution of the science
he has helped def ine. He traces the trajectory of
his life—from a childhood spent exploring the Gulf
oast of Alabama and Florida to life as a tenured
professor at Harvard—detailing how his youthful
fascination with nature blossomed into a lifelong
calling. He recounts with drama and wit the adventures
of his days as a student at the University of
Alabama and his four decades at Harvard University,
where he has achieved renown as both teacher and researcher.
As the narrative of Wilson's life unfolds, the reader is treated to an
inside look at the origin and development of ideas that guide today's
biological research. Theories that are now widely accepted in the scientific
world were once untested hypotheses emerging from one man's
broad-gauged studies. Throughout Naturalist, we see Wilson's mind
and energies constantly striving to help establish many of the central
principles of the field of evolutionary biology.
The story of Wilson's life provides fascinating insights into the making
of a scientist, and a valuable look at some of the most thought-provoking
ideas of our time.