Review
“What is natural and what is artificial in the era of the Anthropocene? This is the core question addressed by Kent Redford and William Adams’s book Strange Natures. . . . It is impressive how the book manages to be so rich in perspectives on such a complex and controversial phenomenon, yet so cautiously and open-mindedly written that it invites contemplation and reflection rather than hasty conclusions.”—Adam Wickberg, Global Environmental Politics
“Strange Natures . . . is an accessible overview of the scientific background and possible conservation applications for gene editing and synthetic biology. The book is historically informed and philosophically sensitive, tracking interactions between scientific knowledge, values, and environmental management priorities. . . . Strange Natures succeeds at the ambitious goal of satisfying both specialist and general audiences.”—Evelyn Brister, Metascience
“An insightful critique of emerging approaches to environmental conservation. . . . A good book for libraries supporting programs in environmental science, environmental ethics, and public policy.”—B. R. Shmaefsky, CHOICE
“Conservation scientist Kent Redford and geographer William Adams eloquently philosophize about how the emerging scientific field of synthetic biology might provide new tools for conservationists. . . . Strange Natures [is] an excellent overview of the current state of conservation.”—John O’Brien, Issues in Science and Technology
“When speaking of the role of technology in nature conservation, one might envisage drones to survey habitat destruction, or endangered elephants with radio collars. But technology might go much further. In this book, the authors show how genetics could help us to re-engineer species, even entire food webs, to meet the environmental challenges of the future.”—Menno Schilthuizen, Shepherd.com, in “Best Books on Conservation Biology”
CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2022
“Brilliant, challenging and fresh: Kent Redford and Bill Adams’s focus on genetics as a means of conservation raises fascinating ethical and scientific questions, and helps us understand why we so often fail.”—Fiona Reynolds, author of The Fight for Beauty
“A fantastic, readable primer on genetic technologies for conservationists and on conservation for geneticists—with the ultimate aim of charting an ethical course forward for both fields.”—Emma Marris, author of Rambunctious Garden and Wild Souls
“Strange Natures is a ground-breaking work, the first book to investigate the multiple challenging questions of synthetic biology in biodiversity conservation for a broad audience.”—Thomas Brooks, International Union for the Conservation of Nature
“At last: Strange Natures goes to the very heart of the intersection of gene technology, conservation and ethics. Kent Redford and Bill Adams are thoughtful, sure-footed guides through this scientific and ethical thicket. An amazing book!”—Thomas E. Lovejoy, University Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
“An essential guide to the future of nature; a future that you may not know is already underway. Strange Natures succinctly introduces a most urgent dilemma that all life has a stake in.”—Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, artist/ lead author of Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology’s Designs on Nature
About the Author
Kent H. Redford is Principal at Archipelago Consulting and has worked for The Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society. William M. Adams is Emeritus Moran Chair of Conservation and Development at the University of Cambridge.
