Lyall Watson (12 April 1939 – 25 June 2008) was a South African botanist, zoologist, biologist, anthropologist, ethologist, and author of many books, among the most popular of which is the best seller Supernature. Lyall Watson tried to make sense of natural and supernatural phenomena in biological terms. He is credited with coining the "hundredth monkey" effect in his 1979 book, Lifetide;[1][2] later, in The Whole Earth Review, he conceded this was "a metaphor of my own making".[3]
Malcolm Lyall-Watson was born in Johannesburg. He had an early fascination for nature in the surrounding bush, learning from Zulu and !Kung bushmen. Watson attended boarding school at Rondebosch Boys' High School in Cape Town, completing his studies in 1955. He enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1956, at the age of 15 where, by the time he was 19, he had earned degrees in both botany and zoology, before securing an apprenticeship in palaeontology under Raymond Dart, leading on to anthropological studies in Germany and the Netherlands. Later he earned degrees in geology, chemistry, marine biology, ecology, and anthropology. He completed a doctorate in ethology at the University of London, under Desmond Morris. He also worked at the BBC writing and producing nature documentaries.
Around this time he shortened his name to Lyall Watson. He served as director of the Johannesburg Zoo from the age of 23, an expedition leader to various locales, and Seychelles commissioner for the International Whaling Commission.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s Watson presented Channel 4's coverage of sumo tournaments.[4]
Watson married Vivienne Mawson in 1961, and they divorced in 1966. His second wife was Jacquey Visick, and his third wife, Alice Coogan, died in 2003.[5] He was the eldest of three brothers, one of whom (Andrew) lived in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. It was while visiting Andrew that he died of a stroke on 25 June 2008.[5][6][7] He lived in Cork, Ireland.
Writing careerEdit
Watson began writing his first book, Omnivore during the early 1960s while under the supervision of Desmond Morris, and wrote more than 21 others.
BibliographyEdit
Omnivore: The Role of Food in Human Evolution (1972)
Supernature: A Natural History of the Supernatural (1973)
The Romeo Error (1974) (Later reprinted as The Biology of Death)
Whales of the World: A Field Guide to the Cetaceans (1981)
Lightning Bird: An African Adventure (1982)
Heaven's Breath: A Natural History of the Wind (1984)
Bali Entranced: A Celebration of Ritual (1985) - published in Japanese only
Earthworks: Ideas on the Edge of Natural History (1986) (Later reprinted as Dreams of Dragons)
Beyond Supernature: A New Natural History of the Supernatural (1986) (Later reprinted as Supernature 2)
The Water Planet: A Celebration of the Wonder of Water (1988)
Neophilia: The Tradition of the New (1989)
Sumo: A Guide to Sumo Wrestling (1989)
The Nature of Things: The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects (1990)
Gifts of Unknown Things: A True Story of Nature, Healing and Initiation from Indonesia's ''Dancing Island'' (1992)
Lasting Nostalgia: Essays Out of Africa (1992) - published in Japanese only
Turtle Islands: Ritual in Indonesia (1995)
Dark Nature: A Natural History of Evil (1995)
Dreams of Dragons:An Exploration and Celebration of the Mysteries of Nature (1996)
Monsoon: Essays on the Indian Ocean (1996) - published in Japanese only
Lost Cradle: A Collection of Dialogues (1997) - published in Japanese only
Warriors, Warthogs, and Wisdom: Growing up in Africa (1997)
Jacobson's Organ and the Remarkable Nature of Smell (2000)
Elephantoms: Tracking the Elephant (2002)
The Whole Hog: Exploring the Extraordinary Potential of Pigs (2004)
ReferencesEdit
^Amundson, Ron (Summer 1985). Kendrick Frazier (ed.). "The Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon". Skeptical Inquirer: 348–356.
^Galef, B. G. (1992). "The question of animal culture". Human Nature. 3 (2): 157–178. doi:10.1007/BF02692251. PMID 24222403. S2CID 15087165.
^Grimes, William (21 July 2008). "Lyall Watson, 69, Adventurer and Explorer of the 'Soft Edges of Science,' Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
^Gould, Chris (August 2008). "SFM Obituary - Dr. Lyall Watson" (PDF). Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
^ abBarker, Dennis (22 July 2008). "Obituary: Lyall Watson". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
^. Liverpool Daily Post. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
WATSON, Lyall International Who's Who. accessed 3 September 2006.
October 18, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Lyall Watson news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Lyall Watson 12 April 1939 25 June 2008 was a South African botanist zoologist biologist anthropologist ethologist and author of many books among the most popular of which is the best seller Supernature Lyall Watson tried to make sense of natural and supernatural phenomena in biological terms He is credited with coining the hundredth monkey effect in his 1979 book Lifetide 1 2 later in The Whole Earth Review he conceded this was a metaphor of my own making 3 Lyall WatsonBornMalcolm Lyall Watson 1939 04 12 12 April 1939Johannesburg South AfricaDied25 June 2008 2008 06 25 aged 69 Gympie Queensland AustraliaOccupationScientist authorNationalitySouth AfricanEducationRondebosch Boys High SchoolAlma materWitwatersrand UniversityUniversity of London Contents 1 Life 2 Writing career 3 Bibliography 4 ReferencesLife EditMalcolm Lyall Watson was born in Johannesburg He had an early fascination for nature in the surrounding bush learning from Zulu and Kung bushmen Watson attended boarding school at Rondebosch Boys High School in Cape Town completing his studies in 1955 He enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1956 at the age of 15 where by the time he was 19 he had earned degrees in both botany and zoology before securing an apprenticeship in palaeontology under Raymond Dart leading on to anthropological studies in Germany and the Netherlands Later he earned degrees in geology chemistry marine biology ecology and anthropology He completed a doctorate in ethology at the University of London under Desmond Morris He also worked at the BBC writing and producing nature documentaries Around this time he shortened his name to Lyall Watson He served as director of the Johannesburg Zoo from the age of 23 an expedition leader to various locales and Seychelles commissioner for the International Whaling Commission In the late 1980s and early 1990s Watson presented Channel 4 s coverage of sumo tournaments 4 Watson married Vivienne Mawson in 1961 and they divorced in 1966 His second wife was Jacquey Visick and his third wife Alice Coogan died in 2003 5 He was the eldest of three brothers one of whom Andrew lived in Gympie Queensland Australia It was while visiting Andrew that he died of a stroke on 25 June 2008 5 6 7 He lived in Cork Ireland Writing career EditWatson began writing his first book Omnivore during the early 1960s while under the supervision of Desmond Morris and wrote more than 21 others Bibliography EditOmnivore The Role of Food in Human Evolution 1972 Supernature A Natural History of the Supernatural 1973 The Romeo Error 1974 Later reprinted as The Biology of Death Gifts of Unknown Things An Indonesian Adventure 1976 Lifetide a Biology of the Unconscious 1979 Whales of the World A Field Guide to the Cetaceans 1981 Lightning Bird An African Adventure 1982 Heaven s Breath A Natural History of the Wind 1984 Bali Entranced A Celebration of Ritual 1985 published in Japanese only Earthworks Ideas on the Edge of Natural History 1986 Later reprinted as Dreams of Dragons Beyond Supernature A New Natural History of the Supernatural 1986 Later reprinted as Supernature 2 The Water Planet A Celebration of the Wonder of Water 1988 Neophilia The Tradition of the New 1989 Sumo A Guide to Sumo Wrestling 1989 The Nature of Things The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects 1990 Gifts of Unknown Things A True Story of Nature Healing and Initiation from Indonesia s Dancing Island 1992 Lasting Nostalgia Essays Out of Africa 1992 published in Japanese only Turtle Islands Ritual in Indonesia 1995 Dark Nature A Natural History of Evil 1995 Dreams of Dragons An Exploration and Celebration of the Mysteries of Nature 1996 Monsoon Essays on the Indian Ocean 1996 published in Japanese only Lost Cradle A Collection of Dialogues 1997 published in Japanese only Warriors Warthogs and Wisdom Growing up in Africa 1997 Jacobson s Organ and the Remarkable Nature of Smell 2000 Elephantoms Tracking the Elephant 2002 The Whole Hog Exploring the Extraordinary Potential of Pigs 2004 References Edit Amundson Ron Summer 1985 Kendrick Frazier ed The Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon Skeptical Inquirer 348 356 Galef B G 1992 The question of animal culture Human Nature 3 2 157 178 doi 10 1007 BF02692251 PMID 24222403 S2CID 15087165 Grimes William 21 July 2008 Lyall Watson 69 Adventurer and Explorer of the Soft Edges of Science Dies The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 3 October 2020 Gould Chris August 2008 SFM Obituary Dr Lyall Watson PDF Sumo Fan Magazine Retrieved 22 August 2016 a b Barker Dennis 22 July 2008 Obituary Lyall Watson The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 3 October 2020 Lyall Watson The Telegraph 2 July 2008 Lyall Watson Liverpool Daily Post 4 July 2008 Archived from the original on 22 November 2008 Retrieved 8 September 2023 WATSON Lyall International Who s Who accessed 3 September 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lyall Watson amp oldid 1174518434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
