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
Cooper proves a sure guide for Levenson’s argument for the critical importance of vaccines.
Levenson argues that present-day anti-vaxxers like Robert Kennedy Jr. use historical arguments that may have had some validity when vaccines were first developed but have since been debunked and are now being recycled cynically. Mike Cooper’s energy and British accent ensure clear communication of the history and science behind the safe and effective vaccine system we have today. He occasionally employs a snarky tone that strikes just the right note as Levenson discusses Andrew Wakefield’s discredited beliefs about the link between vaccines and autism and Kennedy’s comparison of vaccines to genocide. Levenson takes on the philosophical question of individual rights and vaccine mandates but notes that state power is being used to prevent mandates that would ensure the health of all.
Cooper proves a sure guide for Levenson’s argument for the critical importance of vaccines.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217286645
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
