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Edward O. Wilson

    10 giugno 1929 – 26 dicembre 2021

    Edward Osborne Wilson è stato un biologo e teorico americano il cui lavoro si è concentrato sulla mirmecologia, lo studio delle formiche. È stato vincitore per due volte del Premio Pulitzer per la saggistica generale. Wilson è rinomato per i suoi contributi scientifici, la sua difesa dell'ambientalismo e le sue visioni secolar-umaniste su questioni religiose ed etiche. La sua scrittura esplora spesso l'interconnessione tra biologia, etica e il posto dell'umanità nel mondo naturale.

    Edward O. Wilson
    Naturalist
    Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration
    E. O. Wilson: Biophilia, the Diversity of Life, Naturalist (Loa #340)
    The Superorganism
    L'armonia meravigliosa. Dalla biologia alla religione, la nuova unità della conoscenza.
    Anthill
    • Anthill

      • 342pagine
      • 12 ore di lettura

      Anthill narra le avventure di un moderno Huckleberry Finn, Raff Cody. I1 suo amore pazzo, improbabile e più forte di ogni ostacolo per le formiche e il regno naturale a cui appartengono trasformerà per sempre la vita del ragazzo e quella degli abitanti di Nokobee County, una magnifica riserva naturale insidiata dalle speculazioni edilizie e da affaristi senza scrupoli. Parallela alle avventure di Raff, scorre epica e potente la saga di alcune colonie di formiche della stessa riserva di Nokobee, vera e propria epopea di guerre, conquiste, creazione e distruzione, alla quale il giovane assiste affascinato e meravigliato. Edward O. Wilson, due volte Premio Pulitzer per la propria opera scientifica, in questo suo primo magnifico romanzo ci racconta l'insolita storia di un ragazzo coraggioso e idealista che cresce determinato a salvare il mondo dal suo nemico più grande: l'Uomo.

      Anthill
      3,6
    • The Superorganism

      The Beauty Elegance And Strangeness Of Insect Societies

      • 556pagine
      • 20 ore di lettura

      The Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of "The Ants" render the extraordinary lives of the social insects--ants, bees, wasps, and termites--in this visually spectacular volume. 110 color and 100 black-and-white illustrations.

      The Superorganism
      4,5
    • This collected edition features the works of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and esteemed biologist, showcasing the wonders of biodiversity amidst the urgent challenges of climate change and mass extinction. It offers profound insights into the intricate relationships within ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of preserving the planet's diverse life forms.

      E. O. Wilson: Biophilia, the Diversity of Life, Naturalist (Loa #340)
      4,6
    • Hailed as "a masterpiece" by Scientific American and as "the greatest of all entomology books" by Science, Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson's monumental treatise The Ants also was praised in the popular press and won a Pulitzer Prize. This overwhelming success attests to a fact long known and deeply felt by the authors: the infinite fascination of their tiny subjects. This fascination finds its full expression in Journey to the Ants, an overview of myrmecology that is also an eloquent tale of the authors' pursuit of these astonishing insects

      Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration
      4,5
    • Naturalist

      • 416pagine
      • 15 ore di lettura

      In Naturalist, Wilson describes for the first time both his growth as a scientist and the evolution of the science he has helped define. He traces the trajectory of his life - from a childhood spent exploring the Gulf Coast 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 Edward O. 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.

      Naturalist
      4,4
    • The eminent biologist reflects on his own response to nature and the aesthetic aspects of his exploration of natural systems in an intensely personal essay that examines the essential links between mankind and the rest of the living world.

      Biophilia
      4,3
    • Farewell Dinner for a Spy

      • 368pagine
      • 13 ore di lettura

      William Catesby - the suave, cynical spy with a conscience - returns in a mission that will take him from the docks of Marseille to the highlands of Laos

      Farewell Dinner for a Spy
      5,0
    • Sociobiology

      The Abridged Edition

      • 384pagine
      • 14 ore di lettura

      "An evolutionary event" wrote John Pfeiffer in the New York Times Book Review when Sociobiology was published in 1975, "announcing for all who can hear that we are on the verge of breakthroughs in the effort to understand our place in the scheme of things." Praised by many and damned by some, Sociobiology provided the framework for a new science--the study of the biological basis for social behavior in every species, from the lowliest amoeba colony to modern human society. In this abridged edition, Edward O. Wilson trims his monumental work to its essential argument and most compelling examples. He retains the full basic structure of the original book, while eliminating the technical discussions and data summaries. Because of the unusual amount of interest and commentary it has generated, the final chapter on human social behavior remains virtually intact. The book has been completely reset to accommodate a convenient 8 1/2 x 11 format, and Sarah Landry's superb drawings of animal societies still accompany the text. New students and general readers can discover for themselves what sociobiology is all about and why there is so much furor surrounding it.

      Sociobiology
      4,3
    • In his new Preface E.O. Wilson reflects on how he came to write this book: how The Insect Societies led him to write Sociobiology, and how the political and religious uproar that engulfed that book persuaded him to write another book that would better explain the relevance of biology to the understanding of human behavior.

      On Human Nature
      4,2
    • South Atlantic Requiem

      • 384pagine
      • 14 ore di lettura

      A brilliant, eye-opening espionage thriller by a former special forces officer 'now at the forefront of spy writing'

      South Atlantic Requiem
      4,1
    • The Midnight Swimmer

      • 304pagine
      • 11 ore di lettura

      A brilliant Cuban Missile Crisis spy thriller by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

      The Midnight Swimmer
      4,2
    • The Diversity of Life

      • 424pagine
      • 15 ore di lettura

      Harvard Professor and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Wilson takes readers through time--tracing the processes that create new species, the five cataclysmic events that have disrupted evolution over the past 600 million years, and how humans are destroying diversity at a projected rate of 20 percent over the next 30 years.

      The Diversity of Life
      4,2
    • The Future of Life

      • 256pagine
      • 9 ore di lettura

      Our world is far richer than previously conceived, yet so ravaged by human activity that half its species could be gone by the end of the present century. These two contrasting themes--unexpected magnificence and underestimated peril--have originated during the past two decades of research. In this timely and important new book, one of our greatest living scientists describes exactly what treasures of the natural world we are about to lose forever and what we can do right now to save them. Destruction of natural habitats, the rampant spread of invasive species, pollution, uncontrolled population growth and overharvesting are the main threats to our natural world. Wilson explains how each of these elements works to undo the web of life that supports us, and why it is in our best interests to stop it. THE FUTURE OF LIFE is a magisterial accomplishment - both a moving description of the world's astonishing animals and plants and a guidebook for the protection of all its species, including our own.

      The Future of Life
      4,2
    • A Very British Ending

      • 352pagine
      • 13 ore di lettura

      A gripping espionage thriller about an establishment plot to take control of 1970s Britain, by a writer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

      A Very British Ending
      4,1
    • Tales from the Ant World

      • 240pagine
      • 9 ore di lettura

      "Summary Edward O. Wilson recalls his lifetime with ants-from his first boyhood encounters in the woods of Alabama to perilous journeys into the Brazilian rainforest." Ants are the most warlike of all animals, with colony pitted against colony. ... Their clashes dwarf Waterloo and Gettysburg," writes Edward O. Wilson in his most finely observed work in decades. In a myrmecological tour to such far-flung destinations as Mozambique and New Guinea, the Gulf of Mexico's Dauphin Island and even his parents' overgrown yard back in Alabama, Wilson thrillingly evokes his nine-decade-long scientific obsession with more than 15,000 ant species. Wryly observing that "males are little more than flying sperm missiles" or that ants send their "little old ladies into battle," Wilson eloquently relays his brushes with fire, army, and leafcutter ants, as well as more exotic species: the Matabele, Africa's fiercest warrior ants; Costa Rica's Basiceros, the slowest ants in the world; and New Caledonia's Myrmecia apicalis, the most endangered of them all. A personal account by one of our greatest scientists, Tales from the Ant World is an indispensable volume for any lover of the natural world"-- Provided by publisher

      Tales from the Ant World
      4,1
    • The Social Conquest of Earth

      • 330pagine
      • 12 ore di lettura

      In a generational work of clarity and passion, one of the greatest living scientists directly addresses these three fundamental questions of religion, philosophy, and science. Includes 90 illustrations.

      The Social Conquest of Earth
      4,0
    • Half-Earth

      • 272pagine
      • 10 ore di lettura

      The worlds greatest naturalist (Jeffrey Sachs) proposes a plan to save Earths imperiled biosphere.

      Half-Earth
      3,9
    • Genesis

      • 160pagine
      • 6 ore di lettura

      Asserting that religious creeds and philosophical questions can be reduced to purely genetic and evolutionary components, and that the human body and mind have a physical base obedient to the laws of physics and chemistry, Genesis demonstrates that the only way for us to understand human behaviour fully is to study the evolutionary histories of nonhuman species. Of these, Wilson demonstrates that at least seventeen -- among them the African naked mole rat and the sponge-dwelling shrimp -- have been found to have advanced societies based on altruism and cooperation. Whether writing about midges who 'dance about like acrobats' or schools of anchovies who protectively huddle 'to appear like a gigantic fish, or proposing that human society owes a debt of gratitude to 'postmenopausal grandmothers' and 'childless homosexuals', Genesis is a pithy yet pathbreaking work of evolutionary theory filled with the lyrical biological and humanistic observations for which Wilson is known.

      Genesis
      3,9
    • This book brings together some of Wilson's most profound and significant writings on the rich diversity of life on Earth, our place in it, and our obligation to conserve the planet's fragile ecosystems

      Every Species is a Masterpiece
      3,8
    • Catesby Series: The Darkling Spy

      • 288pagine
      • 11 ore di lettura

      In 1956 London, a generation of British spies grapples with the betrayal of former allies. Henry Bone, a Mandarin spymaster, discovers that "Butterfly," the ultimate prize in Cold War intelligence, is an aristocratic pervert with a penchant for identifying traitors and the spies who aided them. Catesby, a disgraced British spy, devises a plan to expose Butterfly by feigning defection. His dangerous mission takes him from Berlin to Budapest, where he navigates chaos and violence, culminating in a tense dinner with the notorious East German espionage figure, Mischa Wolf. The gripping conclusion promises to reshape perceptions of the Cold War. Critics praise the novel for its intelligent narrative and historical accuracy, highlighting its cerebral tension and depth. Readers seeking a thrilling espionage story that prioritizes intrigue over action will find much to appreciate in this meticulously crafted tale.

      Catesby Series: The Darkling Spy
      3,9
    • Portrait of the Spy as a Young Man

      • 304pagine
      • 11 ore di lettura

      A thrilling SOE spy novel by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

      Portrait of the Spy as a Young Man
      3,5
    • The Meaning of Human Existence

      • 208pagine
      • 8 ore di lettura

      A twenty-first-century philosophical argument against mechanistic views of human life outlines expansive and advanced theories on human behavior to consider how humans are supremely different from all other species

      The Meaning of Human Existence
      3,9
    • The Envoy

      • 288pagine
      • 11 ore di lettura

      The brilliant opening novel in the Catesby series, by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

      The Envoy
      3,8
    • The Origins of Creativity

      • 240pagine
      • 9 ore di lettura

      "Reflecting on the deepest origins of language, storytelling, and art, Wilson demonstrates how creativity began not ten thousand years ago, as we have long assumed, but over one hundred thousand years ago in the Paleolithic age. Chronicling this evolution of creativity from primate ancestors to humans, The Origins of Creativity shows how the humanities, spurred on by the invention of language, have played a largely unexamined role in defining our species. And in doing so, Wilson explores what we can learn about human nature from a surprising range of creative endeavors--the instinct to create gardens, the use of metaphors and irony in speech, and the power of music and song. Our achievements in science and the humanities, Wilson notes, make us uniquely advanced as a species, but also give us the potential to be supremely dangerous, most worryingly in our abuse of the planet. The humanities in particular suffer from a kind of anthropomorphism, encumbered by a belief that we are the only species among millions that seem to matter, yet Wilson optimistically reveals how researchers will have to address this parlous situation by pushing further into the realm of science, especially fields such as evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and anthropology."-- Provided by publisher

      The Origins of Creativity
      3,8
    • The Whitehall Mandarin

      • 384pagine
      • 14 ore di lettura

      A captivating spy thriller taking the reader from 60s sex scandals to the Vietnam War, by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

      The Whitehall Mandarin
      3,8
    • Australia Felix

      Cartoons from the daily life of an infectionate uncle

      • 34pagine
      • 2 ore di lettura

      This book presents a distinctive life story illustrated through watercolours, blending art with narrative. Each page offers a visual journey that enhances the emotional depth of the experiences shared, inviting readers to explore the interplay between the illustrations and the personal journey depicted. The combination of vivid imagery and storytelling provides a refreshing perspective on life's complexities and beauty.

      Australia Felix
    • The Tanner Lectures on Human Values

      • 270pagine
      • 10 ore di lettura

      A prestigious series of lectures that are international and intercultural, and transcend ethnic, national, religious, and ideological distinctions.

      The Tanner Lectures on Human Values
    • Die Hälfte der Erde

      • 256pagine
      • 9 ore di lettura

      Die Hälfte der Erdoberfläche der Natur zu überlassen - das ist die Forderung des weltberühmten Biologen Edward O. Wilson. Sein Buch ist das Testament eines großen Forschers und Schriftstellers, der wie kein anderer erkannt hat, dass der Mensch trotz aller unübersehbaren Fortschritte eine biologische Spezies bleibt, die den früheren Lebensbedingungen auf unserem Planeten besser angepasst ist als der Umwelt, die wir gerade erschaffen. Geschichte zu haben ist kein Privileg des Menschen. Und dennoch ignorieren wir die Geschichten von Millionen anderen Arten, die durch unser Verhalten vom Aussterben bedroht sind. Wilson ist davon überzeugt, dass wir nur dann den lebendigen Anteil unserer Umwelt retten und die für unser eigenes Überleben nötige Stabilität herstellen können, wenn wir den halben Planeten zum Naturschutzgebiet erklären. Wenn die Menschheit sich nicht sehr viel mehr Wissen über die globale Lebensvielfalt aneignet und sich nicht schnell dazu entschließt, sie zu schützen, dann werden wir schon bald die meisten Arten, in denen sich das Leben auf der Erde manifestiert, unwiederbringlich verlieren.

      Die Hälfte der Erde
      2,0
    • Podtitul: „Máme svobodnou vůli, nebo je naše chování řízeno genetickým kódem?“

      O lidské přirozenosti
      3,7
    • Opowieści ze świata mrówek

      • 232pagine
      • 9 ore di lettura

      W Opowieściach ze świata mrówek dwukrotny zdobywca Nagrody Pulitzera zabiera nas w podróż do tak odległych miejsc, jak Mozambik i Nowa Gwinea, wyspa Dauphin w Zatoce Meksykańskiej, a nawet zarośnięte podwórko jego rodziców, z pasją opowiadając o swojej trwającej od lat obsesji na punkcie ponad 15 000 gatunków mrówek. Wilson wzbogaca swoje naukowe obserwacje wspaniałymi historiami, które doskonale ilustrują, w jaki sposób mrówki „mówią”, węszą i smakują, a także walczą o dominację. Opisuje bardzo rzadkie gatunki, takie jak Matabele, najbardziej zaciekłe mrówki wojownicze Afryki, których łowczynie mogą nosić w szczęce do piętnastu termitów; „mrówki żniwiarki”, które, gdy dochodzi do konfrontacji z mrówkami ognistymi, uwalniają chmurę alarmowych feromonów, aby wezwać na pomoc swoich współtowarzyszy; czy Basiceros, najwolniejsze i najbrudniejsze mrówki ze wszystkich, które pokrywają swoje ciała kurzem i śmieciami dla kamuflażu. Opowieści ze świata mrówek to obowiązkowa lektura dla każdego miłośnika przyrody.

      Opowieści ze świata mrówek
    • Kijk op de natuur

      • 140pagine
      • 5 ore di lettura

      Verhalen over biologische onderwerpen met als rode draad een evolutionaire kijk op gedrag van mens en dier.

      Kijk op de natuur
    • Blattschneiderameisen herrschen über Wälder, Wiesen und Ackerland – von Louisiana bis Patagonien. Jede Ameisen-Kolonie umfasst fast fünf Millionen Arbeiterinnen, alles Töchter einer einzigen Königin. Ihr Nest kann sich auf eine Länge von bis zu knapp 10 Meter erstrecken, bestehend aus Hunderten von Kammern. Das weltberühmte Autorenduo liefert mit dem Band die detaillierteste Beschreibung einer Ameisenspezies, die es je gab. Das mit exzellenten Fotos versehene Werk wendet sich sowohl an gebildete Laien als auch an ein wissenschaftliches Publikum.

      Blattschneiderameisen – der perfekte Superorganismus