A History of Biology

By: Michel Morange, Teresa Lavender Fagan - Translated by, Joseph Muise - Translated by

Narrated by: Julian Elfer

This book presents a global history of the biological sciences from ancient times to today, providing needed perspective on the development of biological thought while shedding light on the field's upheavals and key breakthroughs through the ages. Michel Morange brings to life the dynamic interplay of science, society, and biology's many subdisciplines, enabling listeners to better appreciate the interdisciplinary exchanges that have shaped the field over the centuries.

Morange covers everything from the first cell theory to the origins of the concept of ecosystems, and offers perspectives on areas that are often neglected by historians of biology, such as ecology, ethology, and plant biology. Along the way, he highlights the contributions of technology, the important role of hypothesis and experimentation, and the cultural contexts in which some of the most breathtaking discoveries in biology were made.

Unrivaled in scope and written by a world-renowned historian of science, A History of Biology is an ideal introduction for students and experts alike, and a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the present state of biological knowledge.

©2016 Éditions du Seuil; English translation copyright 2021 by Princeton University Press (P)2021 Tantor

Comprehensive Yet Concise

This is a superb overview of the history of biology that manages to be concise at the same time. However, this concision is due to this book being written for biologists; i.e., you will not find lengthy explanations of biological facts and concepts since it is assumed that you already know them. For this reason, I would not recommend this book to the lay reader.

Just Bad

Haven’t learned anything…skips over thousands of years in a few minutes. Bland and boring.