Buzzwords: A Scientist Muses on Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll - Hardcover

Berenbaum, May R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0309070813 ISBN 13: 9780309070812

Publisher: Joseph Henry Press, 2000

Synopsis

What sort of person devotes their life to the study of bugs? How do you picture your average, every-day entomologist? "I've been photographed on several occasions," writes author May Berenbaum, "and it seems that every time, photographers ask me to pose in one of three ways: seated in front of a microscope, with an insect (usually a cockroach) on my face, or with an insect net clutched in my hand."

In Buzzwords, Berenbaum expertly blows away these stereotypes with short takes on all things entomological--from the story of a pet ant kept for 14 years to major motion pictures featuring cockroaches.

Buzzwords showcases the Best of Berenbaum, a selection from her humor column in the American Entomologist professional journal, accompanied by a number of original pieces written for this book. "I know people are reading these columns," she notes, "because they write me letters that point out all the mistakes I've made!"

The book comes in four parts:

• How entomologists see insects, including their view of a U.S. government plan to eradicate illicit coca fields by dropping caterpillars from airplanes.
  
• How the rest of the world sees insects, with Berenbaum's proposed classificatory scheme for placing Spider Man, Firefly, and other cartoon superheroes into well-defined taxa.
  
• How entomologists view themselves--featuring Bambi Berenbaum, a gorgeous entomologist created for an episode of TV's popular "The X-Files," whose character was inspired when the scriptwriter consulted Berenbaum's books.
  
• How entomologists see their colleagues, with various views on scholarly citation, motion sickness, and more.

Along the way are some thought-provoking observations--for example, about the impact of television on public knowledge of science. In one poll, Berenbaum writes, 35% of adults said they believed that prehistoric humans coexisted with dinosaurs, a la the Flintstones.

Berenbaum even takes on the controversy over alternative medicine, fearlessly purchasing Chinese medicinal insects during a professional trip to Vancouver, which also happened to be her honeymoon. "Okay, so maybe giving two talks at an International Congress of Entomology is not everybody's idea of a romantic honeymoon venue, but it seemed like a good idea at the time."

Berenbaum is a noted scientist in a field that doesn't always gets the respect it deserves, but she shows us that there's a fun and even freaky side of life with insects. While working on the University of Illinois' annual Insect Fear Film Festival she received a letter from a "crush freak" who waxed lyrical about a young, sexy babe with a size 9 or 10 shoe. Berenbaum writes, "On the one hand, it's almost gratifying to think that insect pest management can arouse people's interest to such an extreme extent. On the other hand, it has convinced me not to list my shoe size in the biographical sketch of my next book."

Readers will appreciate learning how the word "shloop" was introduced to the medical literature when physicians used a metal suction tip to remove a cockroach from a patient's ear canal, and how one investigator named a series of subspecies bobana, cocana, dodana, and so forth, "anticipating by 60 years the song, 'The Name Game,' by Shirley Ellis."

Although you'll chuckle all the way, Berenbaum has the last laugh, giving powerful lessons in the spectacular diversity of the insect world and the nature of scientific discovery, cleverly packaged as witty observations on subjects far and wide.

If you're a scientist or you like reading about science--better yet, if you've ever found a fly in your soup (or worried that you might have unknowingly just slurped one down with your tomato bisque--this book is for you.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• HOW ENTOMOLOGISTS SEE INSECTS
• HOW THE WORLD SEES INSECTS
• HOW ENTOMOLOGISTS SEE THEMSELVES
• HOW AN ENTOMOLOGIST SEES SCIENCE
• References
• Index

About this title

From the Inside Flap

"May Berenbaum entices readers to consider and take a closer look at a big part of our own world-the world of insects-with accessible, current, and punfully playful prose. Berenbaum once again bridges that gap between readers and the natural world. A must read for anyone interested in the world around them."
-- Nathan Erwin, Manager of the Smithsonian Institution's Insect Zoo

What sort of person devotes their life to the study of bugs? How do you picture your average, everyday entomologist? In Buzzwords, May Berenbaum blows away any stereotypes you might have with wild and witty short-takes on all things entomological.

One of the nation's leading entomologists, Berenbaum is not only fascinated by insects, but she shares her long-standing enthusiasm with a brand of humor rarely encountered in a serious scientist. She'll have you laughing out loud - and nervously checking for bugs crawling up your sleeve!

Whether discussing the longevity of ants (the oldest one on record is 15 years old), the sexual habits of dragonflies (the whole thing is often so brutal that it leaves the female disfigured and the male clinging to life), termite flatulence (cows can't - and shouldn't - hold a candle to these bugs when it comes to methane production), or how best to remove a cockroach from the ear canal (two schools of thought: freeze 'em versus flood 'em), Berenbaum's delightful new book is equal parts funny and informative.

Berenbaum, a noted scientist in a field that doesn't always gets the respect it deserves, shows us that there's a fun and even freaky side of life with insects. From the role that insects play in popular culture to the creepier, crawlier bits of insect lore, you'll chuckle all the way to the last page. But Berenbaum has the last laugh, giving powerful lessons in the spectacular diversity of the insect world and the nature of scientific discovery, cleverly packaged as amusing observations on subjects far and wide. This is science with flair and humor!

About the Author

by May R. Berenbaum; a Joseph Henry Press Book

Edition details

• Publisher: Joseph Henry Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0309070813
• ISBN 13: 9780309070812
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 318