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Great Adaptations: Star-Nosed Moles, Electric Eels, and Other Tales of Evolutionâs Mysteries Solved
Top of the pile
87
/100
I Index Overall Rating
Readers
78/100Critics
96/100Scholars
Author:
Kenneth Catania
Publisher:
Princeton University Press
Date:
September 15, 2020
From star-nosed moles that have super-sensing snouts to electric eels that paralyze their prey, animals possess unique and extraordinary abilities. In Great Adaptations, Kenneth Catania presents a look at some of nature's most remarkable creatures. Telling the story of his biological detective work, Catania sheds light on the mysteries behind the behaviors of tentacled snakes, tiny shrews, zombie-making wasps, and more.
What The Reviewers Say
Nearly 50 years ago, the philosopher Thomas Nagel wrote an influential paper titled 'What Is It Like to Be a Bat?' Although the article’s implications have been much debated, the answer is: We’ll probably never know. Kenneth Catania, professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, probably doesn’t know either, but his book Great Adaptations gives us the next best thing: a view into the lives of many strange and wonderful critters, whose windows to the world are no less remarkable than the sonar used by many species of bats to catch flying insects and avoid obstacles.
Using a variety of visual aids to good effect, Catania explores how the humblest species may have developed their remarkable abilities. The author wants us to learn something not only about these extraordinary creatures, but about the process of discovery as well.
By blending accessible writing with cutting-edge science, Catania, professor of neuroscience at Vanderbilt University and a MacArthur Fellowship winner, demonstrates how exciting the process of scientific investigation can be in his invigorating debut.
