Table of Contents

Introduction
1: Special chemistry
2: A quick start
3: Cells with Nuclei
4: Jellyfish, polyps and worms?
5: Claws, rasps and shells
6: Sand, mud and shallow seas
7: The giant continent forms
8: A sparse start
9: The world of the dinosaurs
10: Today's world dawns
11: The evolution of the able ape
12: Humans - the great modifiers
Further reading
Acknowledgements
Index

About the Author

Professor Sir Richard Southwood FRS, was head of both Imperial College and Oxford Zoology Departments, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, holder of thirteen honorary degrees and, above all, a life-long natural historian with an enduring curiosity about the lives of the other inhabitants of Earth. As well as writing and researching, he played a major role in public policy related to the environment.

Reviews

`This remarkable book succeeds, within less than 300 pages, in summarizing everything essential about all living creatures for more than three billion years. If you are looking for one convenient, reliable, highly readable reference to replace your whole library, this is it.'
Professor Jared Diamond
`You will learn more from this book than any number of television programmes, and I hope that, like me, you find the unfashionable approach both refreshing and something of a relief.'
British Wildlife
`As scholarly as any textbook, the book would make a ready read on an airplane trip. It can be heartily recommended to the aficionado and the student alike. It should even appeal to that eclectic readership, the general public, so that people can gain an insight into the astonighing abundance and variety, and the pedigree, of our planet's chief feature.'
Norman Myers, Bioscience
`Extremely few scientists would be able to cover the entire history of life authoritatively, with wisely chosen examples and principles, presented in lucid prose, and all in fewer than 260 well-illustrated pages. Richard Southwood is one of them, has done so, and I accordingly recommend this book to scientists and public alike.'
Professor E O Wilson
`Southwood displays an impressive sweep of knowledge about life . . . a swift, efficient delivery of the most important information we have on how life has blossomed on Earth.'
Carl Zimmer, Nature
`This is a lovely book. It is short, nicely presented, authoritative, and friendly. This must find a place in every school library.'
Jack Cohen, Biologist
`Besides being a gripping yarn, The Story of Life is an impeccable review of the science.'
New Scientist
`We could all benefit from enrolling for his course.'
The Scotsman
`an excellent and accessible overview.'
BBC Wildlife
`Comprehensive and thorough.'
Focus