What do you think?
Rate this book
Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects
From a single beginning, countless millions of stories from the animal kingdom have – and continue to – run their course.Museum objects allow us to investigate some of those stories. Animal Kingdom journeys through both the evolutionary history of animals, and the ways that people have interpreted them in museums. Animals in museums are not only representatives of their entire species, but they also tell us something about the time in which they were collected. They provide windows into the past as well as data for the present. They embody centuries of natural ecosystems and human cultures.Through a selection of 100 objects, telling 100 stories, this beautifully illustrated book explores the diversity of animal life over the past 600 million years, and delves into some of the most exciting mechanisms in evolution. By understanding some of the key stories of how nature operates, we can gain amazing insight into the systems underlying life itself.
328 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2017
8 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 18, 2017
Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects is a fascinating read for anyone interested in nature and the evolution of species. On almost every page, the author presented me with something new to think about and over and over, I felt a sense of wonder at the amazing diversity of life that surrounds us. I also enjoyed the many illustrations.
This is not a book to be read cover to cover in a few sittings; rather, it is one to be savoured and enjoyed and kept on your shelves as a reference. 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
This is not a book to be read cover to cover in a few sittings; rather, it is one to be savoured and enjoyed and kept on your shelves as a reference. 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
November 27, 2017
From Netgalley for review:
This book is so much fun! It is a very approachable look at the evolution of life, from the lowly sponge to the mighty rhino. Really though I think the section on sponges was probably my favorite because they are such strange animals, even compared to more 'simple' creatures like jellies and anemones, sponges just baffle me.
If you have an interest in Phylogeny or just animals in general, give this book a read. You will get to learn things (great weird trivia to share at parties) and you can enjoy some awesome photos, which I imagine are even better on print compared to the ARC version.
This book is so much fun! It is a very approachable look at the evolution of life, from the lowly sponge to the mighty rhino. Really though I think the section on sponges was probably my favorite because they are such strange animals, even compared to more 'simple' creatures like jellies and anemones, sponges just baffle me.
If you have an interest in Phylogeny or just animals in general, give this book a read. You will get to learn things (great weird trivia to share at parties) and you can enjoy some awesome photos, which I imagine are even better on print compared to the ARC version.
January 29, 2018
This book does exactly what it says on the cover - it provides a natural history of the animal kingdom in 100 objects. The objects in the title refer to museum objects - specimens of various animals found either on display or in the museum's storage facilities.
The book is divided into 4 parts: (1) Understanding Diversity; (2) Life's Turning Points; (3) Natural Histories; and (4) Displaying Nature. Each part has a variety of very short animal/object chapters highlighting various scientific concepts, observations and historical anecdotes. The narrative at the beginning of each part is rather useful and informative in tying all the separate objects and concepts together. Each chapter also includes a photograph/illustration of the object as well as additional illustrations or diagrams as required. The writing is clear, concise and easy to read, without bogging the reader down in too much scientific jargon.
Ashby starts off by discussing the diversity that exists in the animal kingdom by using 18 different museum objects that represent 18 major groupings of the animal kingdom. These 18 selective objects don't generally receive a great deal of attention, so there was generally something new to learn for each short (extremely short) chapter on each animal.
Life's Turning Points takes a look at 10 objects that represent 10 points of evolution that lead to mammals:. This section includes the Cambrian Explosion, jawless fishes, cartilaginous fishes, ray-finned fishes, lobe-finned fishes, tetrapods and vertebrate life on land, amphibians, amniotes (e.g. reptiles), mammal-like reptiles, and modern mammals (e.g. the horse).
The Natural Histories section deals with how evolution works. So objects/animals have been selected to discuss such concepts as: natural and sexual selection; convergent evolution; biogeography; processes underlying animal adaptations; animal senses; genetic systems underlying animal ecology; symbiotic and parasitic relationships; how humans are affecting the world today; etc.
The final section of the book takes a look at how museums obtain, preserve, display their specimens and represent nature. It also examines the purpose of museums and their relationship with the public. This is a particularly interesting section since the subject of preserving and displaying specimens that aren't always in a good condition is a fascinating subject.
The author manages to condense a variety of biological concepts and extras, in plain language, in 100 short chapters without being boring. His selection of objects to represent various concepts is interesting and provides an opportunity to highlight several uncommon animals, as well as provide fascinating information about each animals. This book lends itself well to reading a chapter or two at a time. The expert zoologist or biologist will probably not find very much new information in this book, but the general interested public may find a great deal they haven't come across before.
The book is divided into 4 parts: (1) Understanding Diversity; (2) Life's Turning Points; (3) Natural Histories; and (4) Displaying Nature. Each part has a variety of very short animal/object chapters highlighting various scientific concepts, observations and historical anecdotes. The narrative at the beginning of each part is rather useful and informative in tying all the separate objects and concepts together. Each chapter also includes a photograph/illustration of the object as well as additional illustrations or diagrams as required. The writing is clear, concise and easy to read, without bogging the reader down in too much scientific jargon.
Ashby starts off by discussing the diversity that exists in the animal kingdom by using 18 different museum objects that represent 18 major groupings of the animal kingdom. These 18 selective objects don't generally receive a great deal of attention, so there was generally something new to learn for each short (extremely short) chapter on each animal.
Life's Turning Points takes a look at 10 objects that represent 10 points of evolution that lead to mammals:. This section includes the Cambrian Explosion, jawless fishes, cartilaginous fishes, ray-finned fishes, lobe-finned fishes, tetrapods and vertebrate life on land, amphibians, amniotes (e.g. reptiles), mammal-like reptiles, and modern mammals (e.g. the horse).
The Natural Histories section deals with how evolution works. So objects/animals have been selected to discuss such concepts as: natural and sexual selection; convergent evolution; biogeography; processes underlying animal adaptations; animal senses; genetic systems underlying animal ecology; symbiotic and parasitic relationships; how humans are affecting the world today; etc.
The final section of the book takes a look at how museums obtain, preserve, display their specimens and represent nature. It also examines the purpose of museums and their relationship with the public. This is a particularly interesting section since the subject of preserving and displaying specimens that aren't always in a good condition is a fascinating subject.
The author manages to condense a variety of biological concepts and extras, in plain language, in 100 short chapters without being boring. His selection of objects to represent various concepts is interesting and provides an opportunity to highlight several uncommon animals, as well as provide fascinating information about each animals. This book lends itself well to reading a chapter or two at a time. The expert zoologist or biologist will probably not find very much new information in this book, but the general interested public may find a great deal they haven't come across before.
February 13, 2018
In his book, Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects, Jack Ashby, the manager of the Grant Museum in London, chose 100 objects from the museum to illustrate evolution and diversity as well as loss of species. He also discusses the history of museums, their beginnings, how they acquire objects, how they decide which get displayed for the public and how they are prepared for display including mistakes made about what an animal would have looked like in life. He explains how and why museums are an important window into the natural world not only to the past but to the present. And he does it with beautiful illustrations of those 100 objects including Dodo bones.
I won’t say I liked every picture – there was one object in particular that, admittedly, I found somewhat shocking, a reaction I apparently share with most people and his explanation of why we react this way was both insightful and somewhat disheartening for the protection of many species who we don’t have a close relationship with. I can also say that, despite, its importance as shown by Ashby, I will probably never applaud leeches.
Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. He explains things in ways that nonscientific people like me can easily understand and the illustrations (even the leeches) are not only beautiful but help to enhance and clarify many of the scientific terms. An excellent book for anyone who loves museums or is interested to understand the amazing diversity of life that exists or existed on our planet.
Thanks to Netgalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I won’t say I liked every picture – there was one object in particular that, admittedly, I found somewhat shocking, a reaction I apparently share with most people and his explanation of why we react this way was both insightful and somewhat disheartening for the protection of many species who we don’t have a close relationship with. I can also say that, despite, its importance as shown by Ashby, I will probably never applaud leeches.
Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. He explains things in ways that nonscientific people like me can easily understand and the illustrations (even the leeches) are not only beautiful but help to enhance and clarify many of the scientific terms. An excellent book for anyone who loves museums or is interested to understand the amazing diversity of life that exists or existed on our planet.
Thanks to Netgalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
January 31, 2019
I went to Jack Ashby's talk at the Grant Museum in London (where he gets the specimens from and is the curator) and was so inspired by what he was talking about, but also the accessible way in which he presented his ideas, that I just had to buy his book right there and then.
Honestly his book is just as accessible as his talk was, and it's constantly interesting! Who would have thought I would be riveted by a chapter on some microscopic worm, and yet I am! My favourite part is how he discusses the practice of Naural History through his exploration of the specimens, and it s genuinely something I think about all the time. The way I view Natural History has been forever changed by reading this book, and I am just about to start reading it all over again!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, honestly. It is easy to read and interesting. I read it all the way through, but it is easy to dip into different chapters, or reference when you have a specific query. I laughed out loud at certain phrases even! It seems inexplicable that a science book could be so funny, but it is. 10/10
Honestly his book is just as accessible as his talk was, and it's constantly interesting! Who would have thought I would be riveted by a chapter on some microscopic worm, and yet I am! My favourite part is how he discusses the practice of Naural History through his exploration of the specimens, and it s genuinely something I think about all the time. The way I view Natural History has been forever changed by reading this book, and I am just about to start reading it all over again!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, honestly. It is easy to read and interesting. I read it all the way through, but it is easy to dip into different chapters, or reference when you have a specific query. I laughed out loud at certain phrases even! It seems inexplicable that a science book could be so funny, but it is. 10/10
January 6, 2021
An outstanding book that captures the imagination of the natural world through anthological stories.
March 16, 2022
A very intersting collection of natural history objects.
February 12, 2018
This book is fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story of natural history told in 100 objects. All of these objects are museum specimens from the animal kingdom. Everything from invertebrates to dinosaur bones are found here. Can the story of the animal kingdom by told in only 100 objects? Read it and you will see.
The author, Jack Ashby, is a zoologist at the Grant Museum of Zoology at the University College London. He selected 100 objects found in the museum’s collection to tell this story. Through these objects, he tells the reader a really detailed and thorough history of the animal kingdom. He begins with invertebrates, which tend to be left behind when it comes to selecting things to display in museums, in favor of bigger or furrier animals. The next section deals more with the mammals and their place on the tree of life. In the third part of the book, the author looks at some of the mechanisms of evolution. The last section deals with how and why certain specimens are selected for museum display while others are kept in the storeroom. This was a pretty interesting section because I had no idea that display specimens were selected with such care and thought about public perceptions, but it makes sense.
Throughout the book, the author exhibits a wonderful sense of humor. It is not over the top, but it is very entertaining. I think the author’s humor really makes this story so much more enjoyable. His writing style is not as formal as that of a textbook. It’s more personable and easy to read. It is certainly educational and full of scientific information, but I think it’s readable for most all audiences. It will be especially interesting to those of us who studied the biological sciences although it is not a textbook.
The objects the author features range from preserved worms to hair from a mastodon to dinosaur bones. Who knew that most of the dinosaur bones you see in museums are actually well-made painted plaster replicas? I had no idea. As most of us do, I just assumed those bones were the real thing. But, apparently the real thing is much too heavy to be held up by the floor of most museums, so replicas have to be made for the displays. It is interesting tidbits like this that made this such a fun book to read. I learned a lot about how museums operate and how they select displays. This is sort of an insider’s view of museum operations as well as a tremendous natural history lesson, all in one book.
Some of these objects could be featured in art galleries, like the beautiful glass replicas. These were made because soft-tissued animals do not preserve well in fluid-filled jars. Their color tends to leach out and they look nothing like the real animal. Several of the glass replicas pictured in the book could be considered works of art themselves. Finely detailed and colorful, they are both delicate and beautiful.
There are some objects that could be disturbing, like the preserved cat that was pregnant. Or the half head of a red panda. Other objects are things that would provoke various reactions from museum visitors like the “penis worms” displayed in jars, or human skulls or skeletons.
When I think of museums, I think of all the displays I’ve seen, but I rarely think about what sort of thought and planning went into selecting and placing those objects for the public to see. Nor do we really see the whole picture of the story of the entire animal kingdom because many objects are sitting in storerooms. Museums simply don’t have enough space to display every single object they own, so most things are not seen by the public, although they are available to researchers.
Interestingly, museum objects can help in the study of our changing climate. Objects collected 200 years ago may differ from specimens of the same species collected in modern times. Changes in species over time can be tracked in this way.
Overall, I give this book my highest recommendation. It was a joy to read and I learned a ton of new information. The author writes very well and his style is inviting to the reader. The book covers a vast amount of detail and does it very well. You will learn plenty about natural history, and also about the objects themselves and the museums that house them. This is quite an entertaining and educational book and I can’t recommend it enough. You will enjoy it.
The author, Jack Ashby, is a zoologist at the Grant Museum of Zoology at the University College London. He selected 100 objects found in the museum’s collection to tell this story. Through these objects, he tells the reader a really detailed and thorough history of the animal kingdom. He begins with invertebrates, which tend to be left behind when it comes to selecting things to display in museums, in favor of bigger or furrier animals. The next section deals more with the mammals and their place on the tree of life. In the third part of the book, the author looks at some of the mechanisms of evolution. The last section deals with how and why certain specimens are selected for museum display while others are kept in the storeroom. This was a pretty interesting section because I had no idea that display specimens were selected with such care and thought about public perceptions, but it makes sense.
Throughout the book, the author exhibits a wonderful sense of humor. It is not over the top, but it is very entertaining. I think the author’s humor really makes this story so much more enjoyable. His writing style is not as formal as that of a textbook. It’s more personable and easy to read. It is certainly educational and full of scientific information, but I think it’s readable for most all audiences. It will be especially interesting to those of us who studied the biological sciences although it is not a textbook.
The objects the author features range from preserved worms to hair from a mastodon to dinosaur bones. Who knew that most of the dinosaur bones you see in museums are actually well-made painted plaster replicas? I had no idea. As most of us do, I just assumed those bones were the real thing. But, apparently the real thing is much too heavy to be held up by the floor of most museums, so replicas have to be made for the displays. It is interesting tidbits like this that made this such a fun book to read. I learned a lot about how museums operate and how they select displays. This is sort of an insider’s view of museum operations as well as a tremendous natural history lesson, all in one book.
Some of these objects could be featured in art galleries, like the beautiful glass replicas. These were made because soft-tissued animals do not preserve well in fluid-filled jars. Their color tends to leach out and they look nothing like the real animal. Several of the glass replicas pictured in the book could be considered works of art themselves. Finely detailed and colorful, they are both delicate and beautiful.
There are some objects that could be disturbing, like the preserved cat that was pregnant. Or the half head of a red panda. Other objects are things that would provoke various reactions from museum visitors like the “penis worms” displayed in jars, or human skulls or skeletons.
When I think of museums, I think of all the displays I’ve seen, but I rarely think about what sort of thought and planning went into selecting and placing those objects for the public to see. Nor do we really see the whole picture of the story of the entire animal kingdom because many objects are sitting in storerooms. Museums simply don’t have enough space to display every single object they own, so most things are not seen by the public, although they are available to researchers.
Interestingly, museum objects can help in the study of our changing climate. Objects collected 200 years ago may differ from specimens of the same species collected in modern times. Changes in species over time can be tracked in this way.
Overall, I give this book my highest recommendation. It was a joy to read and I learned a ton of new information. The author writes very well and his style is inviting to the reader. The book covers a vast amount of detail and does it very well. You will learn plenty about natural history, and also about the objects themselves and the museums that house them. This is quite an entertaining and educational book and I can’t recommend it enough. You will enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews