Lloyd, Christopher. 2009. What on Earth Evolved: 100 Species that Changed the World. Bloomsbury USA, New York. ISBN 978-1-59691-654-8. Hardcover, alkaline paper, 401 pages, brief bibliography, index.
What on Earth Evolved: 100 Species that Changed the World tells the story of evolution by highlighting the roles of 100 mammals, plants, insects, fishes, dinosaurs, hominids and viruses that, according to science writer Christopher Lloyd, were most successful in colonizing planet earth.
History of Life on the Planet
What on Earth Evolved is organized roughly into two parts: before and after humans. Eight chapters describe viruses, plant life, fish, dinosaurs and the rise of mammals; six chapters organize plants and animals into discussions of agriculture, domestication, drugs, wealth and competition among humans. Introductions of each of the fourteen chapters set the collections into context; and each of the ~1,500-3,000 word essays describes the history and importance of potatoes or quetzalcoatlus or earthworms or penicillin. Many of the chapters include literary and mythological references reflecting the ancient and modern histories of the impact these species have had on the world.
As a final postcript, Lloyd lists the top 100 species, carefully detailing his ranking system. The top ten, you'll be relieved to know, include three bacteria, two fungi (yeast and penicillium), one invertebrate (earthworm), one fish, one virus (influenza), one non-flowering plant, and one mammal (Homo sapiens). We're number 6, says Lloyd; the earthworm is number 1, as earth's most "robust, enduring and environmentally beneficial creature".
For Middle School Kids... and their Parents
With a colorful design, photographs and illustrations by Andy Forshaw, What on Earth Evolved is intended, I would guess, primarily for middle school students. But What on Earth Evolved is plenty engaging for the parents of those kids and might find a comfortable place in a school library as well.
This book is for dipping. Sure, your kids could read about these species on the Internet. But there is something so tactile, so peaceful about hiding in your room surreptiously learning from a big colorful book about how the world works, that every kid deserves to have this book lying around their house.
What on Earth Evolved? is a companion book to What on Earth Happened?, a similarly encyclopedic look at the history of the world, also from Christopher Lloyd and Bloomsbury USA.
