Nature's Memory

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 *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 *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 *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 HallidayTruly 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 MuseumThis 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

Jack Ashby is the Assistant Director of the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. He is also 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. Jack is a winner of the Zoological Society of London’s award for communicating zoology. He lives in Hertfordshire.

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