05/02/2022
Entomologist Sumner debuts with a tour de force on the world of wasps, delving into their daily lives, economic value to society, and the important ecological niches they fill. Though they have a bad rap, the insects are full of surprises, Sumner writes. For example, they’re the evolutionary precursor of both bees and ants, and their social structures feature “divisions of labour, rebellions and policing, monarchies, leadership contests... negotiators, social parasites, undertakers.” Their genetics open the door to a deep consideration of the evolution of altruism, “one of the longest-standing puzzles in the natural sciences,” Sumner writes, because their willingness to “sacrifice themselves to promote the survival of their relatives” is a central feature of the life of a hive. She recounts their reproductive strategies of paralyzing prey then laying eggs in the bodies, suggests that wasps and bees can recognize individual human faces, and extends her study into a clever calculation of the economic value of wasps, noting that they account for “almost 50 per cent of the 230 invertebrate species that are commercially used as biocontrol agents,” which has an “estimated value of well over $400 billion a year.” Funny, informative, and zippy, this is just the thing for budding entomologists. (July)
Presenting her work as a counterweight to the “bee-bias” of much scientific literature, [Sumner] expounds on wasps’ social organization and reproductive habits, and lays out a case for further research into this ‘challenging child of the insect world.’” — The New Yorker
“Sumner’s compelling account of nature’s coherent beauty teaches that it is time for the utilitarian attitude toward nature to be replaced with appreciation and conservation, something long overdue.” — Wall Street Journal
“A witty, readable and unusual account of the world’s most maligned and misunderstood insect: the wasp.” — Forbes
"A wasp admirer makes a delightful case for their importance.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Sumner successfully makes the case for wasps in this engaging read with her deft humor, thorough research, and astute analogies." — Library Journal (starred review)
“Endless Forms is a labor of love, designed to alter fundamentally the narrative surrounding wasps, presenting budding naturalists and amateur entomologists with a transformative lens through which to appreciate the "gangsters of the insect world.” — Shelf Awareness
“Entomologist Sumner debuts with a tour de force on the world of wasps, delving into their daily lives, economic value to society, and the important ecological niches they fill.” — Publishers Weekly
“Wasps, in all their endless forms, are not the annoying monsters we often believe them to be. Instead they are fascinating foundations of entire ecosystems, and essential to our lives. Sumner’s tale is thrilling, warm, and scholarly in equal measure, and brilliantly repairs the reputation of wasps—most beautiful and wonderful as they truly are.” — Adam Rutherford, author of A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
“A book that draws us in to the strange beauty of what we so often run away from.” — Robin Ince, author of The Importance of Being Interested
“If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Why do wasps exist?’ you must read this book. There is so much more to them than you ever imagined. A funny and beautifully written welcome to the enigmatic, weird, and wonderful world of wasps. Wasps are seriously cool.” — Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth
“I thought I knew about wasps—I was wrong. Wasps are perfectly adapted to life on earth—I want to come back as one. A cracking good read that left me buzzing with excitement.” — Dr. George McGavin, zoologist, broadcaster, and author of All Creatures Small and Great: How Insects Make the World
“[Sumner’s] passion for wasps and their global importance as both predators and pollinators is compelling…This interesting and entertaining work is sure to leave readers buzzing.” — Booklist
“Sometimes the most perfect books are those that shine a light on surprising, neglected subjects. Endless Forms is just such a book. Seirian Sumner writes lucidly and entertainingly about this most fascinating of creatures. You’ll never ask ‘What’s the point of wasps?’ again.” — Will Storr, author of The Status Game
A book that draws us in to the strange beauty of what we so often run away from.
If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Why do wasps exist?’ you must read this book. There is so much more to them than you ever imagined. A funny and beautifully written welcome to the enigmatic, weird, and wonderful world of wasps. Wasps are seriously cool.
I thought I knew about wasps—I was wrong. Wasps are perfectly adapted to life on earth—I want to come back as one. A cracking good read that left me buzzing with excitement.
Sometimes the most perfect books are those that shine a light on surprising, neglected subjects. Endless Forms is just such a book. Seirian Sumner writes lucidly and entertainingly about this most fascinating of creatures. You’ll never ask ‘What’s the point of wasps?’ again.
[Sumner’s] passion for wasps and their global importance as both predators and pollinators is compelling…This interesting and entertaining work is sure to leave readers buzzing.
Wasps, in all their endless forms, are not the annoying monsters we often believe them to be. Instead they are fascinating foundations of entire ecosystems, and essential to our lives. Sumner’s tale is thrilling, warm, and scholarly in equal measure, and brilliantly repairs the reputation of wasps—most beautiful and wonderful as they truly are.
[Sumner’s] passion for wasps and their global importance as both predators and pollinators is compelling…This interesting and entertaining work is sure to leave readers buzzing.
★ 05/01/2022
Sumner (behavioral ecology, Univ. Coll. London) argues that wasps are the least-loved, most enigmatic of insects. Designed as a defense of wasps, this book explores the lifespan, social behavior, and crucial roles these insects play in earth's ecology. She uses pasta—yes, pasta—as a way to explain evolution, the forms of a potato to explain pleiotropy, and a fictitious dinner with Aristotle to juxtapose past research studies with much-needed future scientific inquiries. Wasps are chemists, mathematicians, and, Sumner points out, less understood and studied than bees, who are really just wasps that have forgotten how to hunt. There are references to Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, an analogy about shopping for jeans, and an impressively accessible explanation for Hamilton's Rule, all bundled in with the historical narrative of key discoveries of earlier scientists (Jean-Henri Fabre; George and Elizabeth Peckham; Margaret Morley). Science-curious or garden-devoted readers of any level will emerge from Sumner's book with a better understanding of ecology and a new appreciation for wasps. VERDICT Sumner successfully makes the case for wasps in this engaging read with her deft humor, thorough research, and astute analogies.—Tina Panik
★ 2022-04-19
An appealing study of the almost universally despised “gangsters of the insect world.”
“The wasp has long been a powerful metaphor for an evil, devious character who does no good,” writes British entomologist and behavioral ecologist Sumner. Fascinated by wasps since childhood, the author points out that wasps are voracious predators who eat a wide range of insects, including agricultural pests. In some parts of the world, they are farmed on a factory scale and released into fields to destroy caterpillars and other pests. Without them, we would need to use more toxic insecticides. “Without the services of wasps as pest controllers, pollinators, seed-dispersers and decomposers, our forests, grasslands, parks, gardens, deserts, highlands, moorlands and heathlands would not support planetary health in the way they currently (just about) do,” writes the author. Wasps make up over 80% of the order Hymenoptera, which includes bees and ants. There are around 150,000 described species of Hymenoptera, but perhaps 10 times more yet to be described, making them the most numerous insect order, and their communities rival those of ants and humans in complexity, division of labor, and pugnacity. Almost all wasps are solitary, tiny parasitoids, which lay their eggs on or inside other insects, not excluding other wasps. When they hatch, the larvae eat the living host as they grow. Sumner excels in describing historical naturalists (“wasp whisperers”), and she offers an imaginative chapter on Aristotle, who shared her unfashionable fascination and showed impressive imagination and endurance while crawling around to learn the secrets of the often miniscule insects. Sumner devotes considerable attention to the relevant research about the social structure of wasp communities, the details (and mathematics) of their impressive altruism, and descriptions of their evolution in light of modern genetic analysis. A nature documentary would likely pass over these complexities, but they are accessible in Sumner’s skillful hands.
A wasp admirer makes a delightful case for their importance.
★ 12/01/2022
Entomologist Sumner's first nonacademic book, exploring the secret lives of wasps, is educational, important—and extremely funny. At first glance it may seem targeted at a narrow audience, those interested in insects or keenly aware of pollinator decline. Those listeners will find much to love here, but the humor and joy that surrounds the information makes it a must-buy for any popular science collection. Sumner's narration and writing imbue her subject with an amusing charm that never interferes with the facts but makes way for laugh-out-loud sections that enhance the pleasure of learning captivating, lesser-known truths. Sumner, who is a professor of behavioral ecology at University College London, narrates with enthusiasm and a trustworthy, conversational manner that keeps listeners' interest piqued. After finishing this audiobook, listeners may be unable to see these almost universally feared creatures in the same light. They'll know that wasps are vital to our world and one of the most intriguing creatures of the past millennia. So entrancing is this work that listeners might grab the print book, too, so they can listen and take notes. VERDICT Engaging, informative, and fun, this audio will be a hit with popular science and nonfiction readers.—Matthew Galloway
With her strong British accent, author Seirian Sumner’s narration takes a little getting used to. But she projects an attractive personality and proves to be a knowledgeable, engaging narrator. Her expansive study of one of nature’s most abundant forms—the much-despised wasp—makes for fascinating listening and will have listeners taking a fresh look at their backyards. The narrative is personal and benefits from the author’s own investment in her subject, a thread listeners can easily connect with. The science itself is easy to grasp and unexpectedly rich and involving. Sumner shows the way into a world barely imaginable in its vastness of forms and adaptations. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
With her strong British accent, author Seirian Sumner’s narration takes a little getting used to. But she projects an attractive personality and proves to be a knowledgeable, engaging narrator. Her expansive study of one of nature’s most abundant forms—the much-despised wasp—makes for fascinating listening and will have listeners taking a fresh look at their backyards. The narrative is personal and benefits from the author’s own investment in her subject, a thread listeners can easily connect with. The science itself is easy to grasp and unexpectedly rich and involving. Sumner shows the way into a world barely imaginable in its vastness of forms and adaptations. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
