The Biophilia Hypothesis

by Edward O. Wilson (Editor), Stephen R. Kellert (editor), Scott McVay (Contributor)

Why is it that most of us find baby animals irresistibly cute? Why do so many people fear even the sight of snakes? What prompts us to feed birds, to allow cats to roam around the house at will, to admire the lines of dogs and horses? Stephen Kellert and Edward Wilson, the prolific Harvard biologist, gather essays by various hands on these and other questions, and the result is a fascinating glimpse into our relations with other animals. Humans, Wilson writes, have an innate (or at least extremely ancient) connection to the natural world, and our continued divorce from it has led to the loss of not only "a vast intellectual legacy born of intimacy" with nature but also our very sanity. There is much to ponder in this timely book.

Genres: Science, Nature, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Biology, Psychology, Environment

496 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

Edward Osborne Wilson, sometimes credited as E.O. Wilson, was an American biologist, researcher, theorist, and author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, a branch of entomology. A two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction, Wilson is known for his career as a scientist, his advocacy for environmentalism, and his secular-humanist ideas pertaining to religious and ethical matters. He was the Pellegrino University Research Professor in Entomology for the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is a Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism.

Reviews

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fascinating concept (which is why I wanted to read the book), but it is a collection of essays ... most of which are unreadable utter crap.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very mixed. I found the preface fascinating, and it got me so excited to read the individual essays, and then they were all over the map. Lots of interesting ideas, but often not very readable.

[Dan Slone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many books cause me to rethink everything. This one does. It has caused me to think about the fiction I write as well as the work on biodiversity I'm doing now. What an amazing assemblage of writers/thinkers. The essays progress to build on the central premise of biophila, but simultaniously question and probe the implications of the hypothesis. While it doesn't invite the most likely critics into the room (eco-feminists and neo-marxists), the essays reference their critiques as well. This book is a full course in biophilic theory and practice. Wow! Both Kellert and Wilson are gone now, but what a legacy.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Carolina Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notable essay for those who need to understand the human relation with our common biota.

[Mark Petrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kellert edited this book with E. O. Wilson, who wrote the original treatise on biophilia. I found this book more accessible, being the presentation of many astute voices on the human/nature connection.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book for the unscientifically minded. I spent a lot of time reading, reviewing, and researching, and I really enjoyed doing so. I realize everyone is not inclined to such heavy subject matter, but for those of us that are -enjoy.

[Jeanine]

Discussed during "Climate Change As Spiritual Practice: A Deeper Exploration TRANSFORMING ANXIETY INTO EMPOWERMENT" workshop, 6/27/22 with David Schenck, Larry Churchill, Joanna Macy and Jonathan Gustin.

[Wrdwrrior · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect book for geeks who enjoy learning about connections between humans and nature. Really enjoyed even though it was written in a textbook, professorial style

[Robert Hult · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent scientific work and an underpinning success to the process of evolution.

[Story · Rating 3 out of 5]

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