Ed Yong delivers another Science and Nature entry off the heels of his previous masterpiece. Yong is perhaps the best contemporary scientific writer. He is unrivaled in his ability to distill down the most complex topics for the everyone without devaluing the actual scientific process. His narrative style layered on gives this one the read of an existentialist treatise paired with biology. In this one the get introduced to my new favorite word Umwelten. A concept that we don’t just get introduced to but earn a micro-masters degree in by completing this tome. Umwelten, in a sense is the multiverse of sensory experiences across the spectrum of living creatures. Those sensory divergences underscore the gulf between species but how each experience the physical world. Another interesting takeaway is how traces a thread between feedback loops between the senses and evolutionary outcomes. In one hand, we learn about how sensory traits impact selection and ultimately outward evolutionary patterns. On the other hand, he shows us how the pandemic shutdowns demonstrated how modern life impacts the sensory experiences of animals and humans alike. All of the detail Yong shares emphasizes just how immense our world is and make for a massive read. One that I hope gets paired with a Discovery Channel style documentary that pulls in the video footage and visuals to illustrate in real time some of the beautifully descriptive paragraphs we get of sensory experiences. Such a pairing may help remove the anthropomorphism we place on our surrounding world and creatures when the Umwelten outside of our own resemble nothing of the sort.

I think this is my favorite book ever. It’s fascinating start to finish and I enjoy the author’s writing style. Even though it is nonfiction it’s hard to put down. I recommend it to family and friends regularly and can’t help sharing interesting tidbits I’ve learned from my reading.

Well written, but info you can find in sky good newspaper or magazine. Not worth the read. Rather boring.

This is also a great, eye-opening, mind-blowing book. TONS of top-notch research, yet easy and fun to read.

Simply the most exciting book on nature I’ve read in years.