Title: How the Zebra Got Its
Stripes: Darwinian Stories Told Through Evolutionary Biology
Author: Léo Grasset
Publication Date: May 9, 2017
Pages: 256
Publisher: Pegasus
Date Started: March 10, 2017
Date Finished: April 5, 2017
Format: Adobe Digital
*I would like to thank
the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in
exchange for an honest review*
When I was a young child,
my mother would read me stories from Old
Mother West Wind. They asked the questions of “why,” “how,” and “when” and
gave reasons to the strange traits that we observe on animals today. The
stories contained in the volumes are what we now describe as “Just So” stories,
providing anecdotes that may not make actual sense, but explain why things are
the way they are. How the Zebra Got Its Stripes
by Léo Grasset takes this same approach, except gives the real reasons and the
science behind animal characteristics.
And that’s what I absolutely
love about this novel. It brings
together the intriguing stories of the weird things animals do, or the absurd
way animals look, and provides a scientific story and the logic behind its
purpose. Each chapter takes a characteristic of a species, and explores it with
an evolutionary perspective, with a tendency to focus on the “why.”
An unexpected twist to
the novel revolves around presenting science in its true form. Many things are
still unknown, and filling these gaps is the purpose of current science. And
Grasset admits that. At times this lack of conclusion punches the reader in the
gut, for how could we not know why
female hyenas have penises? This novel sparked memories and old passions in
myself, so I have no doubt it will inspire future scientists, who will discover
the answer to the cliffhangers presented within the pages.
Several chapters were
captivating and thought-provoking, such as the one centering on the political
systems used by differing animal species. Others chapters were short and I just
wanted more, more, more! But then again, being an evolutionary biologist, I am
probably just a tad bit biased. Where I found the book to be light and
refreshing, others may find inspiration and excitement where before they just
saw a freaking awesome animal. Or a boring animal, because some animals are
secretly cool.
Overall, I really liked
this book. For those with a scientific background, this book is a quick,
enjoyable read. For those who are interested in learning more about biology I
would highly recommend this book. There is not too much terminology, and the
questions raised are universally fascinating.
Overall, 4/5 moose
Comments
Post a Comment