Death on Earth: Adventures in Evolution and Mortality

Zoologist Howard, who has written for the Guardian, the Independent, and BBC Wildlife, wrestles with death and its biological underpinnings. The book begins with a discussion of how to define the concept. Is a fridge that can regulate its own temperature alive? Is fire, which grows and spreads, alive? Though death is usually a somber subject, this title is filled with humorous details, such as the example of newspaper headlines in Britain that featured a "killer" spider that is actually harmless. The most gruesome chapter is Howard's visit to a research farm that consisted of decaying pigs. There's also a section on animal mourning, which the author acknowledges is largely built around anecdotes. In a segment on gerontology, Howard explains recent research on animals that successfully rejuvenate themselves and live much longer than humans. Fans of Howard's first title, Sex on Earth: A Journey Through Nature's Most Intimate Moments, will find the same wittiness, mindfulness, and clever presentation of scientifically sound ideas here.