The Soul of the White Ant cover art

The Soul of the White Ant

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The Soul of the White Ant

By: Eugene Marais
Narrated by: David Major
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About this listen

This audiobook by Eugène Marais is a passionate, insightful account into the world of termites. It is a meticulously researched expose of their complex, highly structured community life.

Originally translated into English in 1937, the quality of research remains as relevant today as it was when it was first published. This illuminating account will not only appeal to those with a scientific interest in termites, but will similarly enthrall listeners who are new to their captivating world. An exceptional feature of his detailed research is the extraordinary psychological life of the termite.

While the studies are based in South Africa, the extensive research also includes the termites of Magnetic Island, Australia. You will be taken on an exciting journey into the amazing life of termites, as their astonishing world of hierarchy and roles within their community is revealed in captivating detail.

His years of unceasing work on the veld led Eugène Marais to formulate his theory that the termite nest is similar in every respect to the organism of an animal. He observed that the workers and soldiers resemble red and white blood cells, while the fungus gardens are the digestive organ. The queen functions as the brain, controlling the collective mind, and the sexual flight of the kings and queens is similar in every aspect to the escape of spermatozoa and ova.

Contents:

  1. "The Beginning of a Termitary"
  2. "Unsolved Secrets"
  3. "Language in the Insect World"
  4. "What Is the Psyche?"
  5. "Luminosity in the Animal Kingdom"
  6. "The Composite Animal"
  7. "Somatic Death"
  8. "The Development of the Composite Animal"
  9. "The Birth of the Termite Community"
  10. "Pain and Travail in Nature"
  11. "Uninherited Instincts"
  12. "The Mysterious Power Which Governs"
  13. "The Water Supply"
  14. "The First Architects"
  15. "The Queen in Her Cell"
Public Domain (P)2018 David Major
Animals Biological Sciences Biology Outdoors & Nature Science Royalty

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All stars
Most relevant  
So informative, I really liked this book, wonderfully narrated by David Major, so glad Eugene Marais lives on in his writing :)

Brilliant

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Marais was a unique and gifted man. This is an amazing body of work, beautifully written, and sensitively described, always to high scientific principles.
It is a pity that the narrator has such a monotonous delivery and mispronounces all South African words, which pronunciations should have been easy to check. It rather spoiled this audible version of the book.

Outstanding

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Utterly enchanting and magical, moreso when one learns of the tragic author's life. Poetry and insight throughoout - I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

A delight!

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I was so looking forward to this. It is a wonderful and unique and sensitive book but ruined by an Australian voice artist who cannot pronounce simple South African words like "veld". David Major does his best and it isn't his fault but why didn't the producers use one of hundreds of very competent voice people in South Africa--and abroad--who can pronounce the many place names, animal names and general, natural and cultural landscapes that abound in this work. There are 11 languages in the country and these trickle through all areas of the natural and built environments. Any local voice artist would have been quite competent to do the book justice. I actually couldn't finish listening.

Why an Australian Voice Artist ?

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