The Seeds of Life: From Aristotle to da Vinci, from Sharks’ Teeth to Frogs’ Pants, the Long and Strange Quest to Discover Where Babies Come From
Why cracking the code of human conception took centuries of wild theories, misogynist blunders, and ludicrous mistakes
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Throughout most of human history, babies were surprises. People knew the basics: men and women had sex, and sometimes babies followed. But beyond that the origins of life were a colossal mystery. The Seeds of Life is the remarkable and rollicking story of how a series of blundering geniuses and brilliant amateurs struggled for two centuries to discover where, exactly, babies come from.
Taking a page from investigative thrillers, acclaimed science writer Edward Dolnick looks to these early scientists as if they were detectives hot on the trail of a bedeviling and urgent mystery. These strange searchers included an Italian surgeon using shark teeth to prove that female reproductive organs were not ‘failed’ male genitalia, and a Catholic priest who designed ingenious miniature pants to prove that frogs required semen to fertilize their eggs.
A witty and rousing history of science, The Seeds of Life presents our greatest scientists struggling-against their perceptions, their religious beliefs, and their deep-seated prejudices-to uncover how and where we come from.
Review
Finalist for the 2017 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction
“An engaging and exuberant tour through centuries of thought about reproduction.”
―Wall Street Journal
“Dolnick weaves a suspenseful tale of discovery, failure and often just plain weirdness while never losing sight of the mystery at hand.”
―Scientific America
“As a record of a long biological quest, The Seeds of Life is full of detours, but that structure mimics the nature of scientific progress, illustrating how science is promoted or held back by colorful characters, by state and church intrusion or assistance, never lacking for rivalries and power struggles. Fascinating reading, Dolnick’s book should evoke in us a sense of humility rather than amusement at the ignorance of the scientists of old.”
―New York Times Book Review
“Full of intriguing anecdotes and colorful historical figures.”
―Science Magazine
Get immediately download Edward Dolnick – The Seeds of Life
“Edward Dolnick’s absorbing detective story spans outlandish ancient theories on baby-making and the nineteenth-century dawn of embryology, led by pioneers such as Oscar Hertwig.”
―Nature
“The Seeds of Life is science-history writing at its very best. It tells a great story that reads like a mystery novel. But Dolnick also uses the story to demonstrate how science advances: through curiosity, brilliant insight, analogy, logic, experimentation, and hard work. Equally, he shows how it can be retarded by unexamined assumptions, ad hominem arguments, misplaced ego, and stubborn adherence to outworn theories.”
―Commentary Magazine
“Combining first-class research and a truly delightful writing style, Dolnick shares his fascination with the
history of science and our perception of reproduction in this enlightening and enjoyable read.”
―Booklist
“A story with many wrong turns and near misses, skillfully tantalizing modern readers with hints of a great truth obscured by lack of information. [Dolnick] does an excellent job of explaining the critical role that religion played for early modern biologists.”
―Library Journal
“A delightful history…[The Seeds of Life is] the best sort of science history, explaining not only how great men made great discoveries, but why equally great men, trapped by prejudices and what seemed to be plain common sense, missed what was in front of their noses.”
―Kirkus, starred review
About the Author
Edward Dolnick is the former chief science writer for The Boston Globe and is the author of, among others, The Rush and The Clockwork Universe. He splits his time between Virginia and New York City.
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