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2020 book by Arik Kershenbaum From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy. What Animals on Earth Reveal about Aliens – and Ourselves is a 2020 popular science book by the Cambridge University zoologist Arik Kershenbaum. It discusses the possible nature of life on other planets, based on the study of animal life on Earth.
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (April 2021) |
Author | Arik Kershenbaum |
---|---|
Subject | Evolutionary biology Astrobiology |
Genre | Popular science |
Publisher | Viking-Penguin |
Publication date | 2020 |
Publication place | UK |
Pages | 368 |
The book argues that the evolutionary processes that are observed operating on Earth are universal, and a necessary requirement for the presence of complex life on any planet. As a result, many aspects of animal behavior are likely to be present in the equivalent lifeforms on alien planets. This includes certain features of social behavior, communication, and movement, the evolutionary origin of which on Earth is underpinned by universal processes.
The book has been praised by critics for its accessibility and engaging conversational tone,[1] and described by Richard Dawkins as "A wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology".[2]
Kershenbaum is a College Lecturer at Girton College, University of Cambridge,[3][4] and an academic visitor at the Department of Zoology.[5] He studies animal communication[6] and particularly the vocal communication of wolves[7] and dolphins.[8]
Although the field of astrobiology usually investigates possibilities of simple lifeforms that may exist on alien planets, The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy considers the possibilities of complex life, and in particular, life that might be considered as animal life. The book begins by laying out the argument that evolution by natural selection is the only mechanism by which complex life can evolve. It then examines the implications of natural selection for life on other planets. The book ends by examining the question of whether humanity is a parochial Earth-centric concept, or whether intelligent alien life should also be considered human.
The book draws on the work of paleontologist Simon Conway Morris on convergent evolution,[9] and on Universal Darwinism, popularised by Richard Dawkins.[10]
The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy was featured as one of the New York Times Editors' Choice of books.[14]
Professor Lewis Dartnell, writing in The Times, summarised, "Pondering scientifically on the concept of the extraterrestrial, of universalities and alternatives, is to hold a full-length mirror up to ourselves. This allows us to deconstruct everything from our physiology to psychology, and so explore why humans are the way we are. To comprehend the alien is to know thyself."[15]
In The Sunday Times, titled Using Darwinism to imagine what extraterrestrials may really be like James McConnachie wrote, "Arik Kershenbaum is a Cambridge zoologist who wants to prepare us for first contact. When we finally discover aliens, what might they be like?... Where much writing on astrobiology is joyously speculative, Kershenbaum is doggedly cautious, building his case from first evolutionary principles."[16]
Primatologist Frans de Waal wrote, "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. Assuming these laws to be universal, Arik Kershenbaum predicts what alien organisms might look like."[1]
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