This book, like the author’s 2018 The Ascent of Birds – reviewed here, is a very clear and interesting explanation of a complicated and technical story. How did mammals evolve into species as different as the Duck-billed Platypus, Blue Whale, Vampire Bat and you and me? The answers are here and they appear to be right up to date with the science which moves pretty fast.
I have looked into some of the online references and they are not easy for a layperson to understand so the author has done us a great service by making the complex simple enough, yet still true, for us to grasp. And that’s what he says he likes to do as the author is a retired consultant haematologist so this book, and its earlier companion, are not accounts of the subject which filled the author’s working life – he’s tackling them through interest and for fun!
Did I think I wanted to know this much about mammalian evolution? To be frank, no. Because of a life with birds I was more naturally drawn towards his earlier volume but the quality of that work made me keen to read this one and I wasn’t disappointed and was very glad I did. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but the quality of the writing means that it will be to the taste of far more people than the subject matter might suggest.
I wonder what the author has in mind for his next book? Whatever it is (within reason!) I’ll want to read that too.
I started reading this book 10 days ago and noticed a glowing tribute from the author to my erstwhile schoolmate, Hugh Brazier, for his work on editing this book. Such mentions of Hugh are common across many books of scientific non-fiction, including some of my own. Sadly for those who knew him, Hugh passed away last Sunday. He will be missed by family and friends but also by a large network of writers of scores of books across many different publishers.
The cover? Just right. I’d give it 9/10.
The Ascent of Mammals: how DNA discoveries are rewriting our story by John Reilly is published by Pelagic.
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Thank you for the insightful review!
I hadn’t realised you had been at school with Hugh Brazier. Hugh edited my first book and we became quite close through the process. He was a gem – helpful, receptive, professional and friendly and not one to shy away from telling you where you’d gone wrong. I’m certain my book was vastly improved by his input and advice.
I met him once. At the BirdFair in 2023. What a lovely man he was.
I was hoping he would edit my next book, currently in the works.
He will be greatly missed.