“If categorization is crucial to making sense of the world, how should we classify Carl Linnaeus? . . . Broberg’s biography dutifully accompanies Linnaeus every step of the way.”—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker
“Whether we realize it or not, we live in a Linnaean world. . . . [A]n excellent starting point for the general reader. Dispensing with the prevalent image of Linnaeus as nature’s dullest bookkeeper, Broberg paints a moving portrait of a profoundly vulnerable human being.”—Christopher Irmscher, Wall Street Journal
“A detailed account of his subject’s work as well as his ‘darker aspects.’ . . . Writing for a general audience. . . . Everything you ever wanted to know about Linnaeus and more.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A rich portrait. . . . [Broberg] offers readers an immersive glimpse into the life of a scientist who was instrumental to the formation of botany, zoology, and taxonomy. . . . The Man Who Organized Nature is sure to become the definitive biography of Linnaeus.”—Darren Incorvaia, Science
“A striking addition to the list of key scientific biographies.”—Brian Clegg, Popular Science
“A reminder of the remarkable life Linnaeus lead and the influence he had on the development of modern biology. . . . His work deserves to be remembered in magisterial biographies like this.”—Laurence A. Marshall, Natural History
“A thorough compilation of knowledge about the great systematizer. From local trees in Sweden to global natural history, this new appreciation of Linnaeus helps us better understand the history and heritage of biodiversity.”—Alison Bashford, author of The Huxleys: An Intimate History of Evolution
“Carl Linnaeus is one of the people who shaped the way we all view the world, but few of us know about the man behind the naming system. Gunnar Broberg’s lyrical biography brings him to life, not just as a scientist but as a human being, from the sometimes harrowing events of his childhood through the full flower of his genius to his reflections in later years. Throughout, the social, political, and scientific contexts are center stage, making this essential book not just the story of a man and his times, but also of a man in his times.” —Matthew Cobb, author of The Idea of the Brain: A History
“Gunnar Broberg leaves no archival page unturned in this authoritative and captivating biography of Linnaeus. Thirty-eight vignettes, richly interlaced with voices from the past, cover every aspect of the great systematist’s life, including its dark and irrational sides.”—Staffan Müller-Wille, University of Cambridge
“Gunnar Broberg’s monumental biography places Linnaeus’s accomplishments as a naturalist in the context of his long and busy life, including family, friends, rivals, finances, travels, and institutions. It is an understatement to call Linnaeus a prolific author, and Broberg draws on an impressive range of published and unpublished writings.”—Harriet Ritvo, author of Noble Cows and Hybrid Zebras: Essays on Animals and History
