The emergence of natural history as a distinct field of inquiry in Renaissance Italy. Paula Findlen's work examines the transformation of natural history from a marginal pursuit in 1500 to a celebrated discipline by the mid-sixteenth century, marked by the establishment of the first natural history museums. The book details how Italian patricians, driven by exploration and humanist ideals, amassed extensive collections to understand and gain prestige from the natural world. Findlen utilizes a rich array of archival sources, including visitor logs, correspondence, and travelogues, to reconstruct the social dynamics surrounding these early museums and the broader study of natural history as it moved beyond universities into scientific societies, religious orders, and princely courts.

Paula Findlen's "Possessing Nature" is recognized for its meticulous reconstruction of the social world surrounding early natural history museums in Italy. The book is lauded for its extensive use of archival materials, offering a vivid account of how collecting and scholarly pursuits intertwined during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It effectively argues that the burgeoning discipline of natural history played a crucial role in the broader scientific revolution by mediating between established ancient wisdom and emerging experimental scholarship. The work is considered a significant contribution to the history of science and museum studies.