Metamorphosis A Natural and Human History

"Metamorphosis is a soulful, genre-defying inquiry into the nature of transformation. Harman interweaves a history of scientific discovery with philosophy and memoir, introducing readers to astonishing characters and discoveries that bring us from the depths of the ocean to the furthest reaches of outer space. Metamorphosis asks difficult questions with great tenderness and deep humanity. It is a book full of wonder and revelation"
– Laura Redniss, author of Oak Flat

"A masterful tale of the long quest to understand one of the most wondrous and enigmatic phenomena in the animal world. Fueled by Oren Harman's boundless curiosity and rich storytelling, Metamorphosis roams the globe to meet fascinating creatures and equally colorful naturalists determined to penetrate their secrets. A thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating journey"
– Sean B. Carroll, author of The Serengeti Rules

"Stranger than the strangest imaginings of ancient mythology or science fiction are the metamorphoses undergone by the most unprepossessing of organisms: the immortal medusa, the starfish that is simultaneously child and adult, the axolotl in which the parent is the child to its offspring. Oren Harman weaves together science, history, philosophy, and the musings of a parent-to-be in this beautiful book about the twists and turns in the plot of life"
– Lorraine Daston, author of Objectivity

"Inspired by history, language, and biology, Oren Harman explores a wonderland of animal lifecycles to tell a truly fascinating tale of transformations in body and identity. His story culminates in the growth of a human child and asks how is it possible to remain ourselves while changing all the time? A book to treasure"
– Janet Browne, Harvard University, author of Charles Darwin: A Biography