Pride and Prejudice and Mantis Shrimps
I collect information the way crows collect shiny things! Historically, this impulse to collect the weird and wonderful found expression in cabinets of curiosities: precursors of modern museums assembled by aristocrats, explorers, and early scientists. While I acknowledge the devastating context of colonialism* in which these cabinets were assembled, I share the deep sense of awe and wonder that motivated their creators. And so:
Welcome to my own cabinet of curiosities—facts, quotes, and oddments about pretty much everything!
If you’re an adult fan of my science books for kids, there’s a good chance you enjoy reading science books written for adults, too. Ed Yong’s An Immense World is one of the best science books I’ve ever read – well-organized, clearly-written, and overflowing with mind-blowing facts. I’m an actual animal expert, and I learned something new on every single page.
The thing I enjoyed most however, is Yong’s sense of humour. I’ll share just two examples:
Imagine you are a mantis shrimp. It is a truth universally acknowledged that you are in want of something to punch.
Bonus points for the Pride and Prejudice reference, Mr. Yong! I had barely finished giggling when he followed up with this, perhaps my favourite line in the whole book:
Mantis shrimps throw punches like humans throw opinions—frequently, aggressively, and without provocation.
Highly recommended to adults and science-loving teenagers. It would also be an incredible resource for sci-fi or fantasy writers looking to develop their own non-human life forms.
* For more info on historical cabinets of curiosities, check out these articles:
Smithsonian Mag: How Cabinets of Curiosities Laid the Foundation for Modern Museums
Sotheby’s Institute of Art: Cabinets of Curiosities and the Origin of Collecting
Art & Object: The Cabinet of Curiosities & Colonialism
https://www.artandobject.com/news/cabinet-curiosities-colonialism
