“Each species, including the human species, is the metamorphosis of all those that preceded it – the same life, cobbling together a new body and a new form in order to exist differently.”
Metamorphoses by Emanuele Coccia (translated by Robin Mackay) is a symphony of thought and wonder that delves deep into the mysteries of transformation. Like a river that flows endlessly, the book meanders through the rich landscapes of philosophy, art, and culture, illuminating the myriad ways in which metamorphosis has been experienced, imagined, and represented throughout human history.
Through Coccia’s eyes, we see the world not as a collection of static and fixed entities, but as a swirling dance of matter and energy that is forever in motion. We are invited to shed the shackles of our fixed identities and to embrace the open and porous nature of our being, to revel in the constant dialogue we share with the world around us.
With a masterful hand, Coccia weaves together a rich tapestry of ideas and images, drawing on a vast array of sources to illuminate the many facets of metamorphosis. From ancient Greek philosophy to contemporary art and literature, the book takes us on a journey of discovery that is both exhilarating and profound.
At its heart, Metamorphoses is a celebration of the power of change and transformation, a hymn to the eternal dance of life and death that we are all a part of. It is a reminder that we are not fixed or predetermined, but rather beings of infinite potential and possibility, forever in motion, forever becoming. A true masterpiece, this book is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the mysteries of existence and the beauty of the ever-changing world around us.
“Emanuele Coccia defines anew the relationship between humans and nature – a fascinating inquiry, and one which we urgently need in order to open our eyes to the world around us.”
―Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees
“Emanuele Coccia’s Metamorphoses is effectively Darwinian and also profoundly philosophical. With lyric prose sparkling with ideas at every turn, the work is inspiring, insightful, and stimulating.”
―Environmental Philosophy
Emanuele Coccia is Associate Professor at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), Paris.
