X-Book

Metamorphosis

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

A search for the meaning of one of nature's greatest riddles: why do so many creatures transform?

“How many creatures walking on this earth / Have their first being in another form?” the Roman poet Ovid asked two thousand years ago. He could not have known the full extent of the truth: today, biologists estimate a stunning three-quarters of all animal species on Earth undergo some form of metamorphosis. 
 
But why do tadpoles transform into frogs, caterpillars into butterflies, elvers into eels, immortal jellyfish from sea sprigs to medusae and back again, growing younger and younger in frigid ocean depths? Why must creatures go through massive destruction and remodeling to become who they are? Tracing a path from Aristotle to Darwin to cutting-edge science today, Harman explores that central mystery.    
 
Metamorphosis, however, isn’t just a biological puzzle: it takes us to the very heart of questions of being and identity, whatever kind of change we humans may undergo. Metamorphosis is a new classic of natural history: a book that, by unveiling a mystery of nature, causes us to relearn ourselves.   
 

Critics Review

"An absorbing and beautifully written exploration of biological transformation and generation, winding through the startling history of this field, accompanied by an array of fascinating characters, and with a moving personal dimension."—Peter Godfrey-Smith, author of Other Minds
"Oren Harman’s 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."—Lauren Redniss, author of Radioactive
"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
"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
"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
Author Oren Harman
Narrator Jefferson Mays
Duration 10 hours and 58 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781668653067
Format Audiobook
Publisher Hachette Audio
Genre Ecological science, the Biosphere, History of science
Availability US

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.