Volume One of the Reference Series

The E. O. Wilson Reader

A chronological, chapter-by-chapter review

Twenty-eight original synthesizing essays across seven parts — from the social insects of Wilson's early science to the largest questions of human nature, knowledge, and meaning.

Begin with Part I Order this book

Contents

Seven parts, twenty-eight chapters

Each chapter is a self-contained essay synthesizing one subject from across Wilson's books. All seven parts are open for reading.

Order this book Begin with Part I

The E. O. Wilson Reader, Volume 1 — brown leather hardcover

Each chapter is a self-contained essay synthesizing one subject from across Wilson's books. Part I is open for reading; the remaining parts are being prepared for the web edition.

Part I

Social Insects

Chapters 1–4 — The insect societies, the ants, chemical communication, and the world of termites, bees, and wasps.

Part II

Behavior & Evolution

Chapters 5–8 — The evolution of social behavior, sociobiology, natural selection, and animal populations.

Part III

Ecology, Islands & Biodiversity

Chapters 9–12 — Island biogeography, ecosystems, biodiversity, and the conservation of nature.

Part IV

Biology, Genetics & the Scientist

Chapters 13–15 — The philosophy of biology, gene-culture coevolution, and Wilson's own life as a naturalist.

Part V

Human Nature

Chapters 16–19 — Human evolution and sociobiology, the social conquest of Earth, the psychology of human nature, and human ecology.

Part VI

Knowledge & Meaning

Chapters 20–24 — Consilience, philosophy and meaning, ethics, religion, and creativity.

Part VII

Across the Disciplines

Chapters 25–28 — The earth sciences, the humanities, society and economy, and the life sciences beyond zoology.