This Is Life: How the Science of the Cosmos Explains What We Are

From the author of the international bestseller The Universe in Your Hand, a riveting and comprehensive guide to everything we know about life, from the impossibly intricate workings of cells to the mind-boggling mechanics of evolution. ´What a fun book! Like having a chat with a friendly scientist over a coffee´ – Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs ´I can´t remember when I last enjoyed a biology book so much´ – Brian Clegg, author of The Universe Inside You ´A gorgeous, glorious romp through the sciences´ – David Tong, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge What is life? How did it first appear? Where else in the universe might we find it? In This Is Life, acclaimed science communicator and Stephen Hawking’s former Ph.D. student Christophe Galfard takes you on a wonder-filled journey through the complete history of life on earth, from its birth and the mysterious colonies of bacteria that lived billions of years ago, through the extreme evolutionary turns that saw sea scorpions grow to the size of dogs and trees covered in scales, to the visionary discoveries of the past two centuries that have allowed us to understand what we, humans, and all other living organisms really are. Through brilliant storytelling and delightful humour, Galfard makes the secrets of the living world accessible to all. This Is Life will transform the way you see the world, and your place in it.