An expansive look at the surprisingly exciting life and work of the father of biology.
Ellen Adair narrates this biography of French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Spanning the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Lamarck’s attempts to understand and categorize the natural world served as a precursor to the evolutionary theories of Darwin and others, including many who rejected his conclusions. Adair’s precisely articulated narration guides the listener through often complicated scientific principles with ease. Her humorous tones lighten the mood when discussing Lamarck’s habit of throwing himself headlong into dangerous situations, especially at the height of the French Revolution. The audiobook’s opening and closing chapters feature a passionately voiced defense of Lamarck’s often derided legacy and its undercelebrated place in modern biology.
An expansive look at the surprisingly exciting life and work of the father of biology.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 40 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281640
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The prose and Athavale’s expertly restrained performance meld gracefully in this flawless audiobook.
Narrator Vidish Athavale's voice is softly indelible, like the snow that blankets the Himalayan landscape the author so beautifully describes. An Indian wildlife biologist, Suryawanshi has spent decades studying snow leopards and their ecosystem among the planet's highest mountain peaks. What differentiates the author's scientific work, and his enthralling narrative, is his goal to understand and protect rather than conquer. The author also achieves a near-perfect balance between insightful and entertaining personal observations of remote communities (both animal and human); his own growth as a scientist, husband, and father; and the difficult and dangerous scientific work he and his colleagues have undertaken.
The prose and Athavale’s expertly restrained performance meld gracefully in this flawless audiobook.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336845
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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