Description
Book SynopsisIn this unconventional book, Kay Harel uses biophilia as a lens to explore Charles Darwin’s life and thought in deeply original ways. In a set of interrelated essays, she considers how the love of life enabled him to see otherwise unseen evolutionary truths.
Trade ReviewA playful, erudite, and fresh take on the emotional and imaginative dimensions of Darwin’s work, probing the many connections between his family relationships and the spirit of wonder with which he observed relationships in the living world. -- Ruth Padel, author of
Darwin: A Life in PoemsThis is a joyful book. Instead of dwelling on the role of competition and extinction in Darwin's theory, as is so often done, Kay Harel emphasizes that love of life in all its varieties is crucial to Darwin's thinking and practice. The result is a deeply sympathetic study. -- Gillian Beer, author of
Darwin’s Plots: Evolutionary Narrative in Darwin, George Eliot, and Nineteenth-Century Fiction[A] mighty debut. Harel’s lyrical musings delight, and they make for an original approach to a familiar topic. The science- and literary-minded alike will relish this thoughtful collection. * Publishers Weekly *
A wonderful holistic understanding of Charles Darwin’s life and his own evolution. Recommended for fans of biologist/writer E. O. Wilson. * Library Journal *
Gentle but stirring essays. [Kay] Harel's focus on the confluences of Darwin's life rather than its conflicts offers a refreshing take on his legacy. * Scientific American *
A "must read." * The Next Big Idea Club *
Table of ContentsPreface
1. A Study in Biophilia
2. It’s Dogged as Does It
3. The Glories and Limits of Facts
4. The Dance of Plants, the Roots of Mind
5. The Varieties of Passionate Experience
6. Beauty Is Life, Life Beauty
7. The One Great Love of Two True Minds
Selected Bibliography
Index
