What Animals on Earth Reveal about Aliens – and Ourselves

The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy

A Times/Sunday Times Book of the Year 
 
 DISCOVER HOW LIFE REALLY WORKS - ON EARTH AND IN SPACE 
 
 'A wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology' Richard Dawkins 
 
'Crawls with curious facts' Sunday Times 
_________________________ 
 
We are unprepared for the greatest discovery of modern science. Scientists are confident that there is alien life across the universe yet we have not moved beyond our perception of 'aliens' as Hollywood stereotypes. The time has come to abandon our fixation on alien monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing. 
 
Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin's theory of evolution - which applies throughout the universe - Cambridge zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like. This is the story of how life really works, on Earth and in space. 
_________________________ 
 
'An entertaining, eye-opening and, above all, a hopeful view of what - or who - might be out there in the cosmos' Philip Ball, author of Nature's Patterns 
 
'A fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like' Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins 
 
'If you don't want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth' Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug

I love The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy by Arik Kershenbaum. Although it sets out to be (and is) about alien life, what emerges is a wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology

If you don't want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth.

Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug

A fun, and thoroughly biological, exploration of possible and impossible alien beings. If you'd love to know what real aliens from other planets might really be like, this is the book for you

Surveying the deep-time of evolution on Earth and his own cutting-edge research into animal communication, Kershenbaum provides a fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like

When we search for aliens, what are we searching for? If life exists on other worlds, it might look very different to life 'as we know it', but Arik Kershenbaum makes a persuasive and entertaining case that we needn't be completely in the dark. There are some rules that all beings with a claim to be alive must observe, and for which life on our planet can serve as a guide. This is an eye-opening and, above all, a hopeful view of what - or who - might be out there in the cosmos

Evolutionary theory helps us explain patterns in the past, and combined with a rich understanding of natural history and biodiversity, predict what might be discovered in the future. Arik Kershenbaum takes us on a joyous voyage of animal diversity and illustrates the singular importance of natural selection in explaining life - here on Earth - and what will likely be discovered throughout the galaxy. A stimulating read!

Daniel T. Blumstein, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles

This is no mere frivolous exercise in arm-waving (or tentacle-waving) and baseless speculation. Instead, what emerges is a fascinating plunge into the deep-time history of life on Earth and animal evolution in all its glorious diversity . . . To comprehend the alien is to know thyself

The book crawls with curious facts . . . [Kershenbaum] is fascinating on how aliens might communicate

A wonderful mix of science-based speculation and entertaining whimsy

We are unprepared for the greatest discovery of modern science. Scientists are confident that there is alien life across the universe yet we have not moved beyond our perception of 'aliens' as Hollywood stereotypes. The time has come to abandon our fixation on alien monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing. 
 
Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin's theory of evolution - which applies throughout the universe - Cambridge zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like: how these creatures will move, socialise and communicate. The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy is the story of how life really works, on Earth and in space.

Arik Kershenbaum

Wonderful . . . Endlessly interesting and beautifully written

Kershenbaum helps us perceive how other animals sense their worlds, and in doing so, explores the evolutionary roots of our own advanced language skills. It is fitting that a book about communication is so conversational and engaging, and it will give you a new perspective on the richness of nature

Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

Quirky, insightful . . . based on a deep understanding of recent research

Tim Clutton-Brock, author of Meerkat Manor

An entertaining journey through the science of animal communication, taking us into the oceanic 
world of dolphin clicks and teaching us about wolves’ accents – all while shedding light on our own language and world.

A delightfully entertaining journey through the science of animal communication, Why Animals Talk takes us into the oceanic world of dolphin clicks, teaches us about wolves' accents, shows us the power of parrot' chatter - all whiles shedding light on out own language and world

inews' The best new books out this January'

The New Science of Animal Communication

Why Animals Talk is a scientific journey through the untamed world of animal communication. From the majestic howls of wolves and the enchanting chatter of parrots to the melodic clicks of dolphins and the spirited grunts of chimpanzees, these diverse and seemingly bizarre expressions are far from mere noise. In fact, they hold secrets that we are just beginning to decipher. 
 
For example, wolves – just like humans – possess unique accents that distinguish their howls; gibbons have different alarm-calls for leopards and snakes, and sing romantic duets with their partners; and dolphins not only give themselves names but respond excitedly to recordings of the whistles of long-lost companions. 
 
Chapter by chapter and animal by animal, Kershenbaum draws on his extensive research and observations of animals in the wild to explain the science behind why animals are communicating. Also revealing profound insights into our own language and why it is different, In doing so, Why Animals Talks tells the comprehensive story of communication and how it works across the entire animal kingdom.

Arik Kershenbaum

Praise for Why Animals Talk

Wonderful . . . Endlessly interesting and beautifully written

Steady-headed and fun

He writes like me

Wonderful . . . Endlessly interesting and beautifully written

Steady-headed and fun

He writes like me

Wonderful . . . Endlessly interesting and beautifully written

Steady-headed and fun

He writes like me

Books by Arik Kershenbaum

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