EVERY LIVING THING (RACE TO KNOW ALL LIFE) (PB)

In the 18th century, two men dedicated their lives to the same daunting task: identifying and describing all life on Earth. Stunned by life's diversity, both fell far short of their goal – but they articulated starkly different views on nature and humanity. Carl Linnaeus gave the world such concepts as mammal, primate and homo sapiens - but he also denied species change and promulgated racist pseudo-science. George Louis de Buffon coined the term reproduction, formulated early prototypes of evolution and genetics, and argued passionately against prejudice. Their rivalry created reverberations that still echo today.