How Flowers Made Our World

Brought to you by Penguin.

In How Flowers Made Our World, biologist David Haskell redefines our understanding of flowers, casting them as powerful revolutionaries at the heart of Earth's story. Far from being mere ornaments, flowers have shaped the very fabric of life on our planet. When they first evolved, they triggered a cascade of biodiversity, transforming oceans, creating new habitats, and even altering the climate. Their beauty turned adversaries into allies, and their adaptability turned environmental upheavals into opportunities for renewal.

Haskell reveals how flowers have built and sustained ecosystems from rainforests to prairies, and how they have been pivotal in the evolution of species like butterflies, bees, and birds. Flowers also played a crucial role in human history, flowering grasses calling to our ancestors to leave the trees, laying down the foundation for agriculture and modern civilization.

Through vivid storytelling and profound insights, Haskell illuminates flowers as portals into deep time and essential players in our ecological future. How Flowers Made Our World invites readers to see these delicate blooms in a new light—as the dynamic and influential forces they truly are.

© David Haskell 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026