On Growth and Form

In this seminal work, D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson critiques traditional biological approaches that rely on teleological interpretations and instead advocates for empirical and mechanical explanations for organic forms.

The book explores how physical forces such as gravity, surface tension, and scale influence the shapes and structures of living organisms.

It covers a wide range of topics, including the effects of scale on animal and plant shapes, the arrangement of leaves, and the logarithmic spirals in mollusk shells.

Thompson's work revolutionized the field of biology by integrating physical science into the study of biological forms and growth.