Science from an Easy Chair is a collection of essays on science written by the noted British zoologist Sir Edwin Ray Lankester. The book contains papers that he contributed to the British newspaper Daily Telegraph between 1908 and 1909.
The book's essays aim to make scientific concepts accessible to a wider audience, and the title reflects this goal. The book covers a range of scientific topics based on Lankester's vast knowledge of natural history. An earlier, smaller volume of his essays, titled From an Easy Chair, was published in 1908.
About the author
Sir Edwin Ray Lankester (1847–1929) was an influential figure in the fields of zoology, comparative anatomy, and popular science.
Career: A protégé of T. H. Huxley, Lankester held prestigious positions throughout his career, including:
Professor of Zoology at University College, London (1874–1890)
Linacre Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Oxford University (1891–1898)
Director of the Natural History Museum, London (1898–1907)
Publications: He authored numerous scientific papers and books for both scientific and general audiences. His books include Diversions of a Naturalist (1915) and Great and Small Things (1923).
Other achievements: He was an early proponent of neo-Darwinism and played a key role in the founding of the Marine Biological Association.