How Zoologists Organize Things: The Art of Classification

Humankind’s fascination with the animal kingdom began as a matter of survival—differentiating the edible from the toxic, the ferocious from the tractable. Since then, our compulsion to catalogue wildlife has played a key role in growing our understanding of the planet and ourselves, inspiring religious beliefs and evolving scientific theories. The book unveils wild truths and even wilder myths about animals, as perpetuated by zoologists—revealing how much more there is to learn, and unlearn. This book tells the fascinating, visual story of this process. The wonderful zoological charts reflect prevailing artistic trends and scientific discoveries, as well as telling us as much about ourselves as they do about the creatures depicted.(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)