{"title":"Mackenzie Cooley","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the collection of works by Mackenzie Cooley, a distinguished author and historian whose insightful books unravel the intricacies of history with a fresh perspective. Specialising in the fields of history and military, Cooley delves into the intricate tapestry of the past, offering readers a vivid exploration of historical contexts and their enduring impacts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong her renowned works is \u003cem\u003eThe Perfection of Nature\u003c\/em\u003e, a compelling book that examines the interplay between natural history and human understanding. Through comprehensive research and engaging narratives, Mackenzie Cooley invites readers to journey through time, revealing how perceptions of the natural world have influenced various facets of life, from science to philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a history enthusiast or new to the subject, Cooley's works promise to captivate and educate, providing a deeper understanding of how historical narratives shape our present and future. Explore her collection today to discover the profound connections between history, nature, and human culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-perfection-of-nature-by-mackenzie-cooley-9780226822280","title":"The Perfection of Nature","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA deep history of how Renaissance Italy and the Spanish empire were shaped by a lingering fascination with breeding.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Renaissance is celebrated for the belief that individuals could fashion themselves to greatness, but there is a dark undercurrent to this fêted era of history. The same men and women who offered profound advancements in European understanding of the human condition—and laid the foundations of the Scientific Revolution—were also obsessed with controlling that condition and the wider natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTracing early modern artisanal practice, Mackenzie Cooley shows how the idea of race and theories of inheritance developed through animal breeding in the shadow of the Spanish Empire. While one strand of the Renaissance celebrated a liberal view of human potential, another limited it by biology, reducing man to beast and prince to stud. “Race,” Cooley explains, first referred to animal stock honed through breeding. To those who invented the concept, race was not inflexible, but the fragile result of reproductive work. As the Spanish empire expanded, the concept of race moved from nonhuman to human animals. Cooley reveals how, as the dangerous idea of controlled reproduction was brought to life again and again, a rich, complex, and ever-shifting language of race and breeding was born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdding nuance and historical context to discussions of race and human and animal relations, \u003ci\u003eThe Perfection of Nature\u003c\/i\u003e provides a close reading of undertheorized notions of generation and its discontents in the more-than-human world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000804688108,"sku":"9780226822280","price":71.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20451083482268.jpg?v=1763306239"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/mackenzie-cooley.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}