Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History

Metamorphosis explores one of biology’s most astonishing and enigmatic phenomena: the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Inside its chrysalis, the caterpillar dissolves and reconstructs itself, forming a new brain, wings, and legs—raising questions about why nature invests so much energy and time in this process. Oren Harman traces the untold story of metamorphosis over two millennia, revealing why it has fascinated and inspired humans. Along the way, readers encounter poets, artists, philosophers, and a cast of colorful scientists—from Aristotle pondering whether cucumbers have souls, to Sigmund Freud searching for eel testicles, to a Japanese zoologist singing karaoke to a baby jellyfish. Journeying through the lives of creatures that metamorphose—from starfish reproducing in reverse in ocean depths to poison dart frogs in rainforest canopies, and even to human adolescents grappling with change—Metamorphosis is a modern classic of natural history, offering a profound exploration of nature that reshapes the way we see ourselves.