The Insect Epiphany

From one of America's leading entomologists comes a buzz-worthy exploration of the many ways insects have affected human society, history, and culture



Insects surround us. They fuel life on earth through their natural biological functions as pollinators, predators, and prey, but they also play an often overlooked role in our culture. Their anatomy and habitats have informed how we live, how we build, how we create art, and how we take flight. In Insect Epiphany, author Barrett Klein shares his expert insights into the outsize influence that insects have had on civilization. Our world would look very different without insects, not just because they are part of the food chain, but because they have inspired so many aspects of our cultural output. Barrett Klein studied entomology at Cornell University and the University of Arizona, and received a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. He has fabricated natural history exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History, and joined the University of Wisconsin La Crosse faculty in 2012.