Birds, Bats, Bugs, Beavers, Bacteria

Nature has produced a nearly endless variety of organisms. This collection of 37 essays spans the spectrum of life from viruses and bacteria to fungi, plants, and animals. The stories not only touch on the lives and habits of the organisms themselves, but also delve into folklore, myth, and the history of discovery by people who advanced scientific knowledge. The stories also highlight how life has solved many of the technical and engineering problems that people are currently working on, and the lessons we can learn from even the simplest of creatures. Each essay is presented in a short, humorous, and nontechnical fashion and includes autobiographical sketches about how biology has shaped the author's life and attitudes.