Have you ever wondered what would happen to the animals on Earth if humans either a) migrated to a space colony or b) died? Well, this is the book for you. Speculative anthropology is possibly my new favorite genre of all time. It is all grounded in science.

The author explains how each of these critters came to be aka what caused different genes to be more important evolutionarily. Why some animals developed wings, why some have feathers or fur, why some grew longer necks or different beaks: all of this is explained and explored.

And not just explained, but explained in a way that makes sense to those not as well-versed in science.

I, for one, learned almost nothing in biology class. Our teacher read us Hot Zone, and we had to make up a song (with choreography) about photosynthesis. So it’s safe to say that my knowledge of evolutionary biology is limited at best.

But this book explains it all in a way that makes sense. It is so well-written and well-illustrated. It leaves you both entertained and with a better understanding than when you first opened the book.

It is just such a good book that you should definitely check it out for yourself.