Publisher's Synopsis
This unique book is a treasure-trove of information about the natural world, presented in a truly original and attention-grabbing way. Instead of being arranged in the usual categories - plants, fungi, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals - species are arranged by how long they live. The approach taken is one of objective wonder - from astonishment that the mayfly lives its full life in less time than it takes to read this book, to the awe inspired by trees over a thousand years old and colonies of simple life forms that have existed since before recorded time. At the heart of the book is the human story: a section looks at human life expectancy today and historically.
An outstanding introduction to the diversity and variety of life on Earth
Over 230 individual species covered
Includes feature spreads examining key issues such as evolution, life cycles, biodiversity and extinctions
