Butterfly Who Dreamt He Was a Man

This is a new book. Condition: Brand New.

Reveals how insects help us understand change, identity, and the meaning of extinction.

From ancient fables to modern science, insects and their metamorphoses have long inspired human understanding of life's transitions. This original and engaging book traces how these transformations have shaped rituals around birth, marriage and death, while also provoking deep questions about identity. Through stories that connect Zhuang Zhou's butterfly dream to figures such as Kafka, Merian and Durer, it explores the strange, beautiful and sometimes unsettling ways in which cultures have understood insects - as miracles, messengers or monsters. Blending humour, history and environmental insight, Boria Sax offers an imaginative lens on the growing crisis of insect extinction. More than just a natural history, this is a cultural and philosophical journey that shows why losing insects means losing part of ourselves.

Book details and technical specifications

Format: Hardback
ISBN13: 9781836391654
Published: June 2026

Number of pages: 280
Width: 138 mm
Height: 216 mm
Depth: not specified

Publisher: Reaktion Books