Nature's Memory - by Jack Ashby (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A 'compelling, arresting' (New Scientist) behind-the-scenes tour through the world's greatest natural history museums, revealing their hidden secrets

Zoologist Jack Ashby spends his life working in Britain's natural history museums, and in Nature's Memory he guides us through a series of extraordinary collections, from marvelous mounted whale skeletons and impossibly tiny insect cabinets to buried treasures in vast museum storehouses.

But look more closely at these displays: all is not as it seems. While most exhibits succeed in communicating feelings of wonder and awe - a vital function when less people than ever before have access to the outdoors - Ashby argues that the version of nature natural history museums present does not always reflect reality, with specimens revealing more about the biases of curators than they do about the species they represent. Likewise, the ways in which museums have traditionally told the story of their own histories has disproportionately elevated the contributions of certain kinds of people whilst diminishing the work of others, often ignoring their complex colonial heritage altogether. But Ashby contends that these issues are precisely why it's such an exciting time to be a natural historian, for while society shapes museums, so too can museums shape society - for the good. And as we face the existential threat of cataclysmic biodiversity loss, natural history museums will emerge as indispensable resources in the fight against climate catastrophe.

Weaving together fresh historical research, entertaining zoological trivia and insider stories from Ashby's distinguished natural history career, Nature's Memory is a charming ode to the joys, eccentricities and planet-saving potential of the world's best-loved museums.

Review Quotes

Compelling, arresting... Reality bites, as Ashby deftly shows in this engaging book, which persuasively casts a critical eye over the imperfections of museums and how they aren't what we have often thought them to be--Chris Stokel-Walker "New Scientist"

Engaging, a timely reminder... Ashby has expertly navigated challenging topics and suggested clear and actionable solutions. In our current age of extinction, natural history museums can be powerful catalysts for change, spaces for honest narratives, and places where science meets society. Nature's Memory makes a thoughtful, readable and urgent case for why that matters--Claire Browning "Nature"

Inspiring, engaging... Ashby makes a vital contribution to the literature on the history of natural history museums... Museum professionals and students aspiring to join their ranks will benefit from reading this carefully crafted book, as will anyone for whom natural history museums spark joy, wonder, curiosity, discomfort, or suspicion, and perhaps also a richer connection to nature and our living world--Kristan M Hanson "H-Net Reviews"

Very engaging, well researched and wide-ranging, Ashby knows more about this topic than anyone. He makes you look at museums in a different way, seeing the stories and choices beneath the surface of the displays--Thomas Halliday

An "access all areas" pass to the great natural history museums of the world... One of the great joys of Nature's Memory is Ashby's ability to write with all the nerdy enthusiasm of a science teacher in charge of a school party. Or to put it another way, he is not a man to ignore an interesting fact--Kathryn Hughes "The Times"

This book is like many a museum - full of wonder and intrigue. Ashby opens the doors to their inner workings, telling us how they developed and how they are developing. Some of the stories are frustrating, others fantastical, some may even make you laugh (honestly who knew that about the Penguins) but all are thought-provoking--Erica McAlister, author of The Secret Life of Flies

Truly an accessible and memorable read for the naturally curious! Each page opens up the world of museums for all, as Ashby takes us through a wealth of insights on museum objects, specimens and stories. This book makes the unseen seen--Miranda Lowe CBE, Principle Curator at the Natural History Museum

About the Author

Jack Ashby is the Assistant Director of the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, an honorary research fellow in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London, and the President of the Society for the History of Natural History. He is the author of Platypus Matters: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Mammals and Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects, and winner of the Zoological Society of London's award for communicating zoology. He lives in Hertfordshire.