Insectopedia, by Hugh Raffles
Do not judge this book by its cover! Despite what the name would suggest, this is not a comprehensive encyclopedic volume that encompasses insect knowledge related to matters like species, classification, diets, orders and general factoids. No, no, this is a different branch in the world of insect exploration. The passages, stories and analysis of 'Insectopedia' are more philosophical, anthropological (based on human society and culture) rather than locked into a box of science and research (though they do play a big part of this book). Compared to the previous literature showcase, 'Sting of the Wild', this book is far more unconventional and explores a wider range of topics, but having read it twice now, I think it offers something that very few other works can. It's one thing to outline insect facts, research, discoveries and their place in the world; it's another thing entirely to examine how insects impact the world & humanity, how humanity impacts insects, how cultures, traditions and ideas can be shaped through our hexapod friends. This book embraces the eclectic and shares it as a multitude of essays and stories that truly highlight how curiosity and fascination can develop into passions, discoveries, introspections, livelihoods and in some cases, obsessions. This collection of musings and insight is also reinforced by a citation heavy note section and bibliography and countless anecdotes across 26 chapters (named alphabetically).
In a sense, it resonates like a collection of short stories or a scientific journal publishing with a great scope of content and findings to comb through. My personal favorite chapters are the ones on 'Languages' (see Picture 5) and the 'O' chapter (not pictured), which deserves to be experienced fresh. All I'll leave you with is the name of that chapter, 'On January 8, 2008, Abdou Mahamane Was Driving through Niamey...". Both are among the longest chapters this work has to offer, but there are many more bite-sized chapters that offer stories that are short and sweet. There's little to no connectivity between each chapter and though the material may bounce back and forth wildly and some chapters barely reference insects (though nature is still an important focus), reading earlier chapters will likely reinforce appreciation for the subject material in the later sections. All that said, I think this book would be best recommended for those entering high school or university and to those who like their material dry and matter-of-fact, but also engaging (somewhat like a passionate lecture). Once again, the subject matter is the onus for a small age-gate or maturity-gate for this book, but it is a small gate. In particular, chapters C, J, Q and S are intended for more mature readers, but if you can understand and handle the subject matter, great knowledge will be your reward (for example, Chapter 'C' is 'Chernobyl', featuring a woman who examines radiation-induced insect deformities).
I know I've been somewhat vague on the exact information that can be gleamed from Insectopedia, but this is a deliberate choice. The material in this book should be read with an open mind and there shouldn't be any spoiled surprises for the journeys and insights discussed from cover to cover. If you seek examples for the type of material this book has to offer, Pictures 3-9 offer the tiniest gate to sample what Insectopedia can offer (and as prefaced at the beginning of the book, "The minuscule, a narrow gate, opens up an entire world" - Gaston Bachelard). You will not find identification guides in it nor will you find ways to distinguish one insect order from another, but it may grant some enlightenment or stir passion, discussion or a curiosity to further explore the ideas presented within and how they've evolved since the book's publishing in 2010. This may provide a great starting point for any students in need of a thesis topic! I suppose Picture 10 (presented by the Knight and a glow-in-the-dark Caterpillar) summarizes it far better than I could. I may have expected something more conventional in the beginning, I am definitely recommending this book and I'll be reading it again after I explore some of the papers within the bibliography. For me, this was the surprise of the year, and while there are times where I think it may be to eclectic (nearing "all over the place"), I was exposed to many new areas of study and I appreciate the stories and points of view I would never have heard had I stuck to only the usual material.
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