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The Forgotten Teachers: How Nature Wrote the Story of Life
Interweaving science and storytelling, spirituality and art, a neuroscientist and an artist guide us toward a deeper understanding of how radically interconnected all of life is.
Starting from science, while reaching for spiritual truth, The Forgotten Teachers charts the evolution of life on Earth under the mentorship of six Ocean, Air, Theia (through collision with this planet, Earth was set on its tilt), Sun, Plants, and Symbionts. Ideas from the field of evolutionary biology, accompanied by watercolor illustrations, guide this factual yet mytho-poetic exploration of life.
Motivated by their shared concern over the severance of science from the sacred, and humans from their place within nature, Isett and Biçen set out to write a scientific wonder story for our times—to enchant readers with the strangeness and beauty of evolutionary biology, while reintegrating us into the natural world.
As Rachel Carson did in her time and as Wendell Berry has done as a poet and essayist across the years, Isett writes with precision and urgency to remind us that we participate in a story that is far larger than ourselves, and that to see ourselves more truly would be to see the many ways in which we belong to the molecules and mysteries of the living world.
Starting from science, while reaching for spiritual truth, The Forgotten Teachers charts the evolution of life on Earth under the mentorship of six Ocean, Air, Theia (through collision with this planet, Earth was set on its tilt), Sun, Plants, and Symbionts. Ideas from the field of evolutionary biology, accompanied by watercolor illustrations, guide this factual yet mytho-poetic exploration of life.
Motivated by their shared concern over the severance of science from the sacred, and humans from their place within nature, Isett and Biçen set out to write a scientific wonder story for our times—to enchant readers with the strangeness and beauty of evolutionary biology, while reintegrating us into the natural world.
As Rachel Carson did in her time and as Wendell Berry has done as a poet and essayist across the years, Isett writes with precision and urgency to remind us that we participate in a story that is far larger than ourselves, and that to see ourselves more truly would be to see the many ways in which we belong to the molecules and mysteries of the living world.
104 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2025
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2026
This was a strange find in the children's section at the library because I'm not sure it's a kid's book. It reads like a kids book and breaks down the complexity of life so that it is easy to understand. For many kids though they probably would find the amount of text a bit overwhelming. If this is given to kids to read then parents should know that there is a few paragraphs about psychedelic plants and there use.
What makes this book even stranger is that it's a science book except the illustrations are very new agey. There's even some illustrations that were a bit trippy like eyeballs with legs or trees with hands. I think the art doesn't work well in a book that discusses scientific topics.
I am giving this book 2 stars because it because it does a good job of explaining a difficult topic. It's easy enough that an older kid or teen to read and understand what is being discussed. I would have given it 3 stars but I took away a star for the new age style illustrations.
What makes this book even stranger is that it's a science book except the illustrations are very new agey. There's even some illustrations that were a bit trippy like eyeballs with legs or trees with hands. I think the art doesn't work well in a book that discusses scientific topics.
I am giving this book 2 stars because it because it does a good job of explaining a difficult topic. It's easy enough that an older kid or teen to read and understand what is being discussed. I would have given it 3 stars but I took away a star for the new age style illustrations.
January 5, 2026
not really what i was expecting tbh but beautiful art and very accessible and enjoyable writing!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews