The book of I. I. Kanaev highlights the natural science activities of Goethe, which the poet himself considered, and not without reason, more important than his artistic work. The biography of Goethe the naturalist is given and the most important areas of his scientific research are characterized: plant and animal morphology, color vision psychophysiology, meteorology and geology with mineralogy. In the history of science, Goethe was a major creative figure. Goethe the natural scientist is inseparable from Goethe the thinker and the poet; acquaintance with his scientific work will also help to understand his works of art. For the first time in Russian, the versatile activity of Goethe the naturalist is shown. The book is designed for a wide range of readers interested in the development of world science and culture.