The Naming of the Shrew: A Curious History of Latin Names

by John Wright

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About this book

Latin names--frequently unpronounceable, all too often wrong, and always a tiny puzzle to unravel--have been annoying the layman since they first became formalized as scientific terms in the eighteenth century.

Why on earth has the entirely land-loving Eastern mole been named "Scalopus Aquaticus" or the Oxford ragwort been called "Senecio Squalidus" (translation: "dirty old man")? What were naturalists thinking when they called a beetle "Agra Katewinsletae," a genus of fish "Batman," and a trilobite "Han Solo"? Why is zoology replete with names such as "Chloris Chloris Chloris" (the greenfinch) and "Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla" (a species of, well, gorilla)? The Naming of the Shrew will unveil these mysteries, exploring the history, celebrating their poetic nature, and revealing how naturalists sometimes get things so terribly wrong.

“To me, and to everyone whose curiosity knows no sensible bounds, names are not mere appellations, but things in themselves. Each has its own history and revealing etymology.”

Count Your Coffees

This was a bit of a strange read. It is the type of book I would normally adore and score much higher than an average three Coffees. The first half of the book was everything I had hoped for, and frankly, everything the blurb promised: a very well-written, witty and funny history of scientific names. Riddled with fun facts, it is a light read on what could very well be a heavy topic.

Then, strangely enough for the second half, the book changes tones and the writing becomes much more serious and heavier. The wit seems to vanish and there are far less laughs. All of a sudden, it has become an actual, serious science book, which is much more catered to those invested in the topic than the 'science-curious'.

Don't get me wrong, it is still a very interesting book, which I enjoyed greatly at times, but the sudden change in tone puts me off it becoming one of my favorite go-to rereads.

Buy this book: https://amzn.to/3VtnY7e

Disclaimer: This site earns a small commission fee if you buy using any of the commercial links. This will not cost you anything extra, but helps me invest in the content I offer you free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your patronage, it makes all the difference!