Description
Book SynopsisThe Variety of Life can be read at many levels. Not least it is an extraordinary inventory - an illustrated summary of all the Earthly creatures that have ever lived. Whatever living thing you come across, from E coli to an oak tree or an elephant, The Variety of Life will show you what kind of creature it is, and how it relates to all others. Yet there are far too many creatures to present merely as a catalogue. The list of species already described is vast enough - nearly two million - but there could in reality be as many as 30 million different animals, plants, fungi and protists - and perhaps another 400 million different bacteria and archaea. In the 4,000 million years or so since life first began on Earth, there could have been several thousand billion different species. The only way to keep track of so many is to classify - placing similar creatures into categories, which nest within larger categories, and so on. As the centuries have passed, so it has become clear that the dif
Trade ReviewReview from previous edition The first part of The Variety of Life provides an excellent discussion and explanation of the systematisation of life, which is far from being static and boring. * The Herald 09/02/00 *
This is much more thatn a beautifilly illustrated, engagingly written catalogue * The Independent 09/03/2002 *
..wonderful encyclopedic "labour of love". * The Herald 09/02/2000 *
Hopefully, the success The Variety of Life deserves will help encourage us "to share (our planet) with so many goodly creatures". * The Herald 09/02/2000 *
The Variety of Life is far more than just another good popular science book. It's a celebration of the "huge privilege" it is to share the planet with so many fantastical creatures. * Independent Weekend 08/04/00 *
Taxonomy may sound dull, but Tudge makes a brilliant case for it. A seasoned science writer with a delightfully light touch, he can make the most arcane subject appealing... a beautifully illustrated introduction to everything that's ever lived. * Independent Weekend 08/04/00 *
...exceptionally clear, user-friendly, and up-to-date...a valuable introduction to the higher classification of organisms and an easily accessible reference work to the entire spread of biodiversity. * Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University *
...For all natural historians and anyone professing biology The Variety of Life is a must * Douglas Palmer, Amazon.co.uk January 2000 *
Throughout the book, which one might expect to be dryly taxonomical, he inserts adjectives like "fascinating", "marvellous", and "extraordinary". I will let his own words describe his book. * Richard Ellis, The Times 16th March 2000 *
This book is a remarkable achievement, giving an authoritative overview of the whole of life in a readable way that should be accessible to anyone with an interest in natural history. Find an excuse to buy it. * Bulletin of the British Ecological Society 2000 *
...this is a lovely and accessible book...It will be hugely valuable as a source-book for student libraries, and highly informative for any enthusiastic lay naturalist curious about the life around them and the fossils beneath them. * Nature September 2000 *
The book is excellently produced, can be recommended unreservedly to all interested in the life sciences (especially molecular biologists), and is remarkably good value for money. * Galton Insitute Newsletter September 2000 *
Table of ContentsCLASSIFICATION AND THE SEARCH FOR ORDER; THE NATURAL ORDER: DARWIN'S DREAM AND HENNIG'S SOLUTION; DATA; CLADE, GRADE, AND A PLEA FOR NONLINNEAN IMPRESSIONISM ; THE DOMAIN OF THE PROKARYOTES: BACTERIA AND ARCHAEA;THE DOMAIN OF THE NUCLEUS: THE EUCARYOTA; MUSHROOMS, MOULDS AND LICHENS: RUSTS, SMUT AND ROT: THE KINGDOM OF THE FUNGI;THE ANIMALS; ANEMONES, CORALS, JELLYFISH AND SEA-PENS; CLAMS AND COCKLES, SNAILS AND SLUGS, OCTOPUS AND SQUIDS; ANIMALS WITH JOINTED LEGS; LOBSTERS, CRABS, SHRIMPS, BARNACLES AND MANY MORE BESIDES; THE INSECTS; SPIDERS, SCORPIONS, MITES, WATER-SCORPIONS, HORSESHOE CRABS, AND SEA SPIDERS; STARFISH AND BRITTLE STARS, SEA URCHINS AND SAND DOLLARS, SEA LILIES, SEA DAISIES AND SEA CUCUMBERS; SEA-SQUIRTS, LANCELETS, AND VERTEBRATES; SHARKS, RAYS AND CHIMAERAS; THE RAY-FINNED BONY FISH; LOBEFINS AND TETRAPODS; THE REPTILES; THE MAMMALS; LEMURS, LORISES, TARSIERS, MONKEYS AND APES: THE ORDER OF THE PRIMATES; HUMAN BEINGS AND OUR IMMEDIATE RELATIVES; THE BIRDS; THE MODERN BIRDS; THE PLANTS; THE FLOWERING PLANTS; DAISIES, ARTICHOCKES, THISTLES AND LETTUCE ; EPILOGUE ; INDEX
