Biologist Carol Kaesuk Yoon explores the historical tension between evolutionary biology and taxonomy. Carl Linnaeus struggled in the eighteenth century to define species in light of their mutability while still relying on intuitive, visual judgments. As taxonomy modernized, it moved into labs, yielding results counterintuitive to humanity s innate predisposition to order the world. By conceding scientific authority to taxonomists, Yoon argues, we ve contributed to our own alienation from nature."

Containing all drawn figures from the text in full color, with ample space for notes-a valuable resource for both note-taking and reference.