Walking Sideways: The Remarkable World of Crabs

Science and daily life are often best understood in narrative, and here Weis (biology, Rutgers Univ.; Do Fish Sleep?) relates the often-fascinating story of crabs from their origins in the Jurassic period to the modern dinner table. Along the way, examples of the nearly 7000 known species are Weis's protagonists in discussions of habitats, anatomy and physiology, reproduction, behavior, ecology, and relationships with humans in mythology, literature, art, film, and the beach. She relates research findings through stories about the scientists who uncovered them. Recent discoveries of new species like the hairy-legged Yeti crab in the deep ocean remind readers that there is much more to know about the world (and about crabs). The sidebars interspersed throughout the book tackle such topics as why "cancer" is both a crab and a disease, that horseshoe crabs are not crabs, and the roles of the creatures in neuroscience.