Why read Death on Earth?

Book cover of Death on Earth: Adventures in Evolution and Mortality

Book description

There is nothing more life-affirming than understanding death in all its forms.

Natural selection depends on death; little would evolve without it. Every animal on Earth is shaped by its presence and fashioned by its spectre. We are all survivors of starvation, drought, volcanic eruptions, meteorites, plagues, parasites, predators, freak…

Explore

Topics

Genres

Science

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Death on Earth as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Erica Buist

Author

This may seem like an odd recommendation, but Jules’s exploration of the way death keeps the earth going is not only fascinating, but it also widens the perspective away from humans to the animal kingdom—a handy reminder that we’re as much a part of said kingdom as any others species. It’s always a useful reminder that, despite what our individualist culture and stories and tell us, death is not always an aberration, something a sneaky lawyer hid in the small print; it’s normal, necessary, and actually very helpful.

From Erica's list on The best books to deal with general death anxiety.