The Insect Epiphany

From entomologist Barrett Klein comes a buzz-worthy exploration of the many ways insects have affected human society, history, and culture

As heard on Science Friday.

Insects surround us. They fuel life on Earth through their roles as pollinators, predators, and prey, but rarely do we consider the outsize influence they have had on our culture and civilization. Their anatomy and habits inform how we live, work, create art, and innovate. Featuring nearly 250 color images—from ancient etchings to avant-garde art, from bug-based meals to haute couture—The Insect Epiphany proves that our world would look very different without insects, not just because they are crucial to our ecosystems, but because they have shaped and inspired so many aspects of what makes us human.

• “The Insect Epiphany has substantially broadened my appreciation of insects, with a fascinating dive into the services—beyond the ecological ones—that they perform. Indeed, this book has given me my own unexpected epiphany that insects have impacted human cultures and molded our lives in myriad ways I hadn’t imagined.”

  Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope

• “The Insect Epiphany is exceptionally beautiful, deeply enlightening, and just a little bizarre.  If you're a stranger to Barrett Klein, entomologist and artist extraordinaire, then this book is an ideal way to make his acquaintance and enjoy his special knowledge.”

  Thomas D. Seeley, author of Honeybee Democracy

• "Playful, erudite, endlessly imaginative, and written with exacting clarity, The Insect Epiphany is overflowing with fascinating information and deep scholarly knowledge. An enthralling ride, it will change how you think about insects and, perhaps more importantly, it will also change how you think about yourself."

  Hugh Raffles, author of Insectopedia

• “A personal—and personable—guide to cultural entomology. ‘Tour de force’ doesn’t do The Insect Epiphany justice. It’s a triumph!”

  May Berenbaum, National Medal of Science award–winning entomologist

• “Adorned with vivid illustrations and artwork, this distinctive work of cultural entomology will likely leave readers itching to learn more.” 

  Booklist

• “Now, this is the way to write a conservation book. Klein, an entomologist, illustrates not just how the planet needs its bugs but how much humans have appreciated their very insect-ness over the millennia and expressed that in art, industry, technology, fashion, and our core cultural systems. Along the way he delivers a vital history that paves the way for the future.”

  The Revelator

• “For other folks who have spent their careers studying insects, every patch of green on Earth is a kind of secret garden filled with entomological wonders. Klein shares this garden with the world with his titular Insect Epiphany.”

  Science Magazine

• “Now, this is the way to write a conservation book. Klein, an entomologist, illustrates not just how the planet needs its bugs but how much humans have appreciated their very insect-ness over the millennia and expressed that in art, industry, technology, fashion, and our core cultural systems. Along the way he delivers a vital history that paves the way for the future.” 

  The Good Men Project