Author:Arik Kershenbaum
A Times/Sunday Times Book of the Year
DISCOVER HOW LIFE REALLY WORKS - ON EARTH AND IN SPACE
'A wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology' Richard Dawkins
'Crawls with curious facts' Sunday Times
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We are unprepared for the greatest discovery of modern science. Scientists are confident that there is alien life across the universe yet we have not moved beyond our perception of 'aliens' as Hollywood stereotypes. The time has come to abandon our fixation on alien monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing.
Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin's theory of evolution - which applies throughout the universe - Cambridge zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like. This is the story of how life really works, on Earth and in space.
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'An entertaining,eye-opening and, above all, a hopeful view of what - or who - might be out there in the cosmos' Philip Ball, author of Nature's Patterns
'A fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like' Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins
'If you don't want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth' Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug
I love The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy by Arik Kershenbaum. Although it sets out to be (and is) about alien life, what emerges is a wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology
—— Richard Dawkins, via TwitterIf you don't want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth.
—— Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last HugA fun, and thoroughly biological, exploration of possible and impossible alien beings. If you'd love to know what real aliens from other planets might really be like, this is the book for you
—— Susan Blackmore, author of Seeing MyselfSurveying the deep-time of evolution on Earth and his own cutting-edge research into animal communication, Kershenbaum provides a fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like
—— Lewis Dartnell, author of OriginsWhen we search for aliens, what are we searching for? If life exists on other worlds, it might look very different to life 'as we know it', but Arik Kershenbaum makes a persuasive and entertaining case that we needn't be completely in the dark. There are some rules that all beings with a claim to be alive must observe, and for which life on our planet can serve as a guide. This is an eye-opening and, above all, a hopeful view of what - or who - might be out there in the cosmos
—— Philip Ball, author of Nature's PatternsEvolutionary theory helps us explain patterns in the past, and combined with a rich understanding of natural history and biodiversity, predict what might be discovered in the future. Arik Kershenbaum takes us on a joyous voyage of animal diversity and illustrates the singular importance of natural selection in explaining life - here on Earth - and what will likely be discovered throughout the galaxy. A stimulating read!
—— Daniel T. Blumstein, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los AngelesThis is no mere frivolous exercise in arm-waving (or tentacle-waving) and baseless speculation. Instead, what emerges is a fascinating plunge into the deep-time history of life on Earth and animal evolution in all its glorious diversity . . . To comprehend the alien is to know thyself
—— Lewis Dartnell , The TimesThe book crawls with curious facts . . . [Kershenbaum] is fascinating on how aliens might communicate
—— James McConnachie , The Sunday TimesA wonderful mix of science-based speculation and entertaining whimsy
—— David P. Barash , Wall Street JournalPsychotherapist superstar helps with energy
—— ZestologyLiving While Black, with its radical foundations and extensive content, is groundbreaking in nature. It's not about merely surviving racism, it's about thriving in spite of it ... [it is] like validation for all that I have felt, reassurance that racial trauma is not only real but incredibly harmful, and also hope for the future.
—— Bad Form ReviewI'm blown away by her ability to communicate difficult ideas with ease, simplicity and practicality. Amazing. Go and buy it now!
—— Jay ShettyThis book is a goldmine. I truly treat it like a handbook now - when I feel an unpleasant feeling brewing or come up against a tricky moment at work or in my relationships, my first thought is to wonder what Smith might suggest
—— StylistA guide for optimal mental wellbeing that you can dip into whenever you need
—— Women's HealthWise words and compassionate tone . . . Smith's work is hugely important in bringing applied psychology into the public realm
—— The PsychologistSo much advice on such a wide variety of things: it's brilliant. So helpful
—— Katie PiperSmith . . . is especially adept at addressing the insecurities afflicting a younger generation raised on social media
—— Financial TimesIf you have never read a self-help book before, this is the book to read
—— Ireland AMSuch a brilliant book
—— Steven Bartlett , Diary of a CEO podcastVery helpful
—— BBC Radio 2 , Michael BallTake care of your mental health with these bite-size tips on everything from how to manage anxiety to coping with grief
—— Woman & Home[She] is a sort of human oxytocin
—— The Times