The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy
The laws of physics and chemistry apply throughout the Universe, while those of biology apply only on a single planet, right? No, wrong. At least that’s what this book says, and the case it makes is persuasive.
The basis is that natural selection applies to life everywhere. Hence, on exoplanets with Earth-like environments, similar life forms will evolve. Such natural selection could apply to pretty much everything, from the chemical and cellular basis of life through to the behaviour of large life forms. Kershenbaum focuses on the latter, so you won’t find anything about carbon chauvinism, or the special qualities of water. No worries: his subject is huge enough, and he deals with it brilliantly.
I loved his introduction of ‘the speed of smell’ when considering possible forms of communication. His discussion of intelligence is excellent, as is his consideration of whether there might be a common feature to intelligent life forms everywhere.
Do I have any quibbles? No one can write a book of 300-plus pages without there being a few things that some don’t agree with, and even a few things that aren’t quite right. He says that “for the first 3,200 million years, no one ate anything other than sunlight.” This comment about life on Earth is only true for a very narrow definition of ‘eating’, because microbes have been eating things for eons. But every author is entitled to a few slips of the pen. Would I rob this author of a star for such a slip? Perish the thought. It’s a terrific book. ★★★★★