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Snake Men

Rebels, Reptiles, and the Race to Name the Creatures of Earth
Brief Description
Raymond Hoser is known as the Snakeman, a moniker that he has zealously defended. As a day job, Hoser runs a Melbourne business that offers services such as snake removal and snake shows. But by the 2010s, he became famous around the world for an entirely... Read More
Format: Hardback
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A wry and thought-provoking tale about the defiant, eccentric figures obsessed with Australia’s deadliest reptiles

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Raymond Hoser is known as the Snakeman, a moniker that he has zealously defended. As a day job, Hoser runs a Melbourne business that offers services such as snake removal and snake shows. But by the 2010s, he became famous around the world for an entirely different activity: naming thousands of new species, including more snakes than any other scientist. To some, Hoser's accomplishments were a scientific triumph. But others have accused Hoser of what they call "taxonomic vandalism," the results of which, they argue, could alter the very course of life on Earth.

Snake Men recounts this outrageous story, tracing the surprising intersection between taxonomists, the scientists who have for centuries worked to understand the order of life, and Raymond Hoser and other snake men. The chaotic results hint at the rebellious impulse that lies coiled somewhere deep inside us all.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781324021681

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 July 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 160.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 432g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Zach St. George is a science journalist and author of The Journeys of Trees. His writing has been published in National Geographic, the New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Magazine, the Atlantic, Outside, Smithsonian, Scientific American, and more. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

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