This rapid environmental change has created a "mismatch" where our bodies are ill-suited to the demands and excesses of modern life. Furthermore, Lieberman introduces the concept of "dysvolution," where cultural and technological solutions often mask the symptoms of this mismatch without addressing the root causes, perpetuating the problem.

• Evolutionary History:
  • Bidepalism & Endurance The evolution of bipedalism he argues comes from having to venture further foor food due to historical climate change 6 million years ago. This not only freed our hands but also transformed our ability to walk and run long distances, making us exceptional endurance athletes. This adaptation was crucial for hunting, scavenging, and migration, shaping our metabolism and musculoskeletal structure.
  • Teeth, Jaws & Brains Changes in our diet, first weaning off fruits and eating less desirable foods, then the consumption of cooked food, led to smaller teeth and jaws, freeing up energy for the development of larger brains. We basically outsourced part of food processing to tools and cooking. This evolutionary trade-off fueled our cognitive abilities and complex social structures.
  • Fat The ability to store fat and how it interacts with our metabolism was a crucial adaptation for survival during periods of food scarcity, providing a vital energy reserve.
• Cultural Evolution:
  • Agriculture The shift to agriculture provided a more stable food supply but also led to a less various diet, particularly in a rise in carbohydrates and a decrease in fiber and proteins, as well as the increasing population density and interactions with cattle which both amount to never before seen hygiene issues.
  • Industry The Industrial Revolution brought about unprecedented technological progress but also led to more sedentary lifestyles, exposure to new pollutants (air/water quality but also light and noise), and excessive food processing, further exacerbating the mismatch between our evolved hunther-gatherer biology and our modern industrial environment.
• Mistmatch & Dysvolution:
  • Too much A primary mismatch is the overabundance of readily available, energy-dense food, far exceeding our evolved need and capacity for energy expenditure. This surplus leads to a cascade of metabolic disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Dysvolution is evident in our reliance on labor-saving devices (e.g. cars and elevators) and the reduced need for physical exertion.
  • Too little Conversely, our modern lives often involve too little of certain ancestral exposures. Reduced physical activity leads to musculoskeletal disorders. Lack and varying times of natural light and excessive artificial light contribute to rising rates of circadian disruption and myopia. Reduced exposure to diverse microbes may underlie the increase in autoimmune diseases. Dysvolution is seen in the necessity of glasses to correct vision and the reliance on labor-saving tools that diminish physical demands.
  • Too new Our bodies are also poorly adapted to entirely novel aspects of our modern environment. Ultra-processed foods, with their high levels of refined sugars, fats, and artificial ingredients, contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Prolonged sitting in chairs and the structure of modern shoes can lead to musculoskeletal problems. Dysvolution is exemplified by overly supportive footwear that weakens the intrinsic muscles of our feet.

O'Mara delves into the science behind walking, exploring its evolutionary origins, its effects on the brain and body, and its role in shaping our cognitive abilities. He argues that our increasingly sedentary lifestyles are detrimental to our health and that incorporating more walking into our daily routines is essential for optimal well-being.

• Evolutionary Advantages of Bipedalism:
  • Energy Efficiency Walking on two legs is remarkably energy-efficient, a crucial advantage for early humans engaged in endurance hunting and long migrations out of Africa.
  • Hands-Free-Humans Bipedalism changed the anatomy of the hands themselves by removing the constraints of walking on them and freed the hands for tool use, a pivotal development in human evolution, allowing for greater manipulation of the environment and the development of complex technologies.
• Walking and Brain Effects:
  • Origins Sessile organisms, rooted in place, don't require brains, whereas motile organisms do. Brains evolved, in part, as a response to the challenges of movement.
  • Develpment Walking stimulates blood flow to the brain, promoting the growth of new neurons and enhancing cognitive function.
  • Engagement Moving through the environment actively engages our senses, providing a constant stream of information that sharpens our perception and enhances our understanding of the world.
  • Integration The act of walking requires the coordination of multiple brain regions, from spatial navigation to balance and social tracking. This interconnectedness fosters information sharing and enhances cognitive flexibility.
• Walking and Wanderlust:
  • Creativity Walking has been linked to increased creativity, as the rhythmic movement and exposure to new environments can stimulate new ideas and perspectives.
  • Sociality Walking also promotes social bonding and community cohesion, as it encourages face-to-face interactions and shared experiences.
  • Mental Health Furthermore, walking has been shown to reduce stress, and improve moods, making it an excellent activity for managing mental health.

Geddes meticulously examines how sunlight influences various physiological processes, from vitamin D synthesis to circadian rhythm regulation. She highlights the delicate balance between the benefits of sun exposure and the risks of overexposure, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting the sun's power.

• Sunlight's Multifaceted Effects:
  • Circadian Rhythm In the eyes, photosensitive retinal ganglion cells notice light and send it through the optic nerves to the optic chiasma and suprachiasmatic nuclei, where sunlight suppresses melatonin release, promoting wakefulness and synchronizing the circadian rhythm. This rhythm governs numerous bodily functions, emphasizing the importance of morning sunlight and reduced evening light for optimal health and sleep.
  • Vitamin D Sunlight is crucial for vitamin D synthesis, which supports bone health and immune function.
  • Cardiovascular Health It triggers the release of nitric oxide, lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health.
  • Immune System While it locally suppresses the immune system in the skin (increasing skin cancer risk), this suppression can be beneficial in killing bacteria and aiding in wound healing.
• The Impact of Indoor Living:
  • Sleep schedules Indoor light intensity is significantly lower than outdoor light while artifical light makes our indoor days longer, disrupting/flattening circadian rhythms and negatively affecting focus and physical and mental health.
  • Recovery Hospitals with increased natural light or simulated daylight schedules show shorter patient recovery times, suggesting the importance of light in healing.
  • Eye Formation Rising rates of childhood myopia are linked to reduced outdoor time, as sunlight is essential for proper eye development. Schools and offices should prioritize natural light and outdoor activities.
• Balancing Benefits and Risks:
  • Effective Exposure While moderate sun exposure is beneficial, excessive exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen, shade, and UV index awareness are crucial for safe sun exposure.
  • Complex Benefits Interestingly, despite the increased risk of skin cancer, people who spend more time outdoors may have a higher life expectancy due to the overall health benefits of sunlight and outdoor activity.
• Spiritual and Historical Connections:
  • Scientific Spiritualty Ancient civilizations recognized the sun's importance, incorporating it into their spiritual beliefs and practices. Monuments like Stonehenge, Chaco Canyon, and Newgrange demonstrate the historical significance of solstices and equinoxes, highlighting the long-standing human connection to the sun's cycles.

Although the jury is still out on most of the research, it seems that plants are much more complex than we give them credit for. Unsurprisingly, really, since they have had much longer to evolve while having to find different solutions than animals have. Here are some key takeaways from the book:

• Plants can see and respond to light: Plants don't just absorb light for photosynthesis; they also use it as an information source. They can detect different wavelengths of light, signaling when to grow, flower, or defend themselves. Some plants, like Boquila trifoliolata, can even mimic the leaves of their surroundings to avoid predation.
• Chemical conversations in the forest: Trees and plants release airborne chemicals to warn others of danger. For example, it seems that when acacia trees are grazed upon, they release ethylene gas to signal neighboring trees to produce more tannins, making their leaves less palatable. Forests also communicate through mycorrhizal networks, where fungi connect the roots of different plants, allowing them to exchange nutrients and information.
• Picking up vibrations: Many plants can detect vibrations in their environment, such as the sound of insects chewing on leaves or the footsteps of approaching animals. Some plants, like Mimosa pudica, can even respond to touch by folding their leaves—a defense mechanism against herbivores.
• Plants have a form of memory: Research shows that plants can "remember" environmental stressors. The Mimosa pudica, a plant that folds its leaves when touched, can learn to stop reacting to harmless stimuli over time—suggesting a primitive form of memory.

• Mechanisms for Diversity:
  • Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) lack a fixed structure, allowing them to adapt to different shapes and interact with multiple molecular partners, contributing to cellular versatility and adaptability.
  • Alternative Splicing can produce multiple protein variants from a single gene by rearranging its RNA transcripts in different ways, vastly increasing the diversity of proteins without expanding the genome.
  • Genetic Domains are modular regions within proteins or genes act as building blocks that can combine in various ways, enabling functional flexibility and evolution.
  • Epigenetic and non-coding DNA regulate gene expression and cellular behavior without altering the genetic code, providing additional layers of control and complexity that cannot be described by the base pair code itself.
• Cell Specialization and Development:
  • Waddington's Landscapevisualizes cell differentiation as a ball rolling down a landscape with branching valleys. The ball's path is influenced by the cell's genetic and environmental context, leading to specialization into different cell types.
  • Proximity Signalsinfluence the outcome of cells, e.g. too much mechanical stress means that a tissues has proliferated too much and cell apoptosis needs to kick in. Another example I liked is that bone cells form when they are next to a rigid material, like bone, creating a simple rule to not grow bone where there is none.
  • Attractor States are stable configurations that cells tend to reach during development, like the final state of a cell's differentiation (even though it can be altered through effort). These states are influenced by the cell's genetic program and the signals it receives from its surroundings, and can be seen as program/tracks that guide development along certain lines instead of random progress.
• Emergence:
  • Causal Emergence suggests that higher levels of biological organization (e.g., tissues, organs) can exhibit behaviors and properties not predictable from lower-level components like molecules or cells. These emergent properties have their own causal power and cannot be fully explained by reductionist approaches.
  • Agency is Ball's idea on how living systems can act with purpose and intentionality, even though they are made up of non-living components. This is a way to describe the self-organizing and self-regulating behaviors of living systems that are not reducible to their individual parts, and according to Ball one of the aspects of life.
  • Emergent Engineering introduces the idea of designing systems by harnessing emergent behaviors, such as creating materials or biological systems that self-organize and adapt in ways inspired by living systems.

Maloof explores the diverse roles that trees play in our lives and the environment, from providing oxygen and shade to serving as habitats for wildlife. Here are some key takeaways from the book:
(1) Tree Anatomy: Trees are complex organisms with intricate structures that allow them to grow, reproduce, and interact with their surroundings. Maloof delves into the anatomy of trees, from their roots and trunks to their leaves and branches, from and treerings and heartwood to meristem and phloem/xylem.
(2) Remarkable Trees: The book introduces you to unique species like the baobab, with its massive trunk for water storage, and the Fitzroya, one of the longest-living trees on Earth.
(3) Ecology and Trees: Trees play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems and supporting biodiversity. Maloof discusses the interconnectedness of trees with other organisms, including fungi, insects, and birds.
(4) Conservation: The book highlights various humans and organizations focusing on preserving forests and protecting tree species that are threatened by deforestation, pests, climate change, and other human activities.
Packed with illustrations and interesting facts, "Treepedia" is a perfect companion for anyone who appreciates the beauty and importance of trees.

In Fungipedia, Millman sheds light on fungal symbiosis, from lichens to parasites, and the crucial role fungi play in ecosystems. Here are some highlights from the book:
(1) Fungal Family: Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants!
(2) Fungal Fun Facts: Some termites and ants cultivate fungi for food, while others use fungi to protect their homes from pathogens. Fungi can also form symbiotic relationships with plants, providing nutrients in exchange for sugars.
(3) Fungi from Fairytales: Millman explores the presence of fungi in literature like Alice in Wonderland and radially growing and sprouting mushrooms in fairy rings.
(4) Fungi Fear and Fiction: The book tackles the dangers of poisonous mushrooms but also explores the medicinal possibilities of some fungi, urging caution against unsubstantiated claims.
"Fungipedia" offers a delightful mix of scientific knowledge and cultural anecdotes, making the world of mushrooms both engaging and thought-provoking.

The book explores these complex partnerships between microbes and various creatures, including humans, deconstructing the view that microbes are bad and symbiosis is necessarily good. Here are some interesting facts you'll encounter:
(1) Microbes have been around for so long that all life forms have evolved in their presence, shaping our biology and behavior. Modern day hygiene practices may have unintended consequences by disrupting these ancient relationships, as can be seen in the rise of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
(2) Animals (and everything else) are teeming with microbes that influence our development, immune system, and even behavior. Microbes in cows and termites help them digest food that their bodies can't break down on their own. Some deep-sea dwellers rely entirely on microbes for energy.
(3) Microbes can transfer genes between species, allowing them to adapt to new environments and challenges with extreme speed. This gene swapping can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the spread of beneficial traits in other organisms by selecting/nurturing those microbes that help them survive.
(4) Microbiome as an ecosystem: The human body is a complex ecosystem where microbes interact with each other and with our cells. Disruptions in this ecosystem may lead to diseases like obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Understanding these interactions can help us develop 'new' treatments such as faecal transplants, and be weary of the unintended consequences of antibiotics.
Through these examples, Yong argues that we should see ourselves not as individual organisms, but as complex ecosystems shaped by our microbial companions; truly a grander view of life.

"Immune" takes readers on a journey through the intricate workings of the immune system, from its basic components to its remarkable ability to defend against pathogens and maintain overall health. Dettmer discusses various aspects of immunity, including the roles of white blood cells, antibodies, and cytokines, as well as the processes of inflammation and immunological memory. He also explores the ways in which the immune system can malfunction, leading to autoimmune diseases, allergies, and immunodeficiency disorders. Throughout the book, Dettmer emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced immune system through proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management.
(1) Immune Cells: The human body contains several types of immune cells, each with its own specialized functions. These include macrophages, T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, all of which work together to identify and eliminate threats to the body.
(2) Antibodies: Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are proteins produced by B cells in response to specific antigens, presented via MHC molecules. They play a crucial role in neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, preventing them from causing harm to the body.
(3) Immunological Memory: One of the most remarkable aspects of the immune system is its ability to remember past encounters with pathogens. This immunological memory allows the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon subsequent exposure to the same pathogen, providing long-lasting protection against reinfection.
(4) Hygiene Hypothesis: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that the increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases and allergies in modern society may be partly attributed to reduced exposure to infectious agents during childhood. According to this hypothesis, early exposure to certain microbes helps train the immune system and reduce the risk of developing autoimmune disorders.

The book argues that a central role in life's origin and function belongs to the Krebs cycle, a series of chemical reactions that can both break down molecules for energy and build them up for growth. Lane proposes that:
(1) Life's Origin at Deep-Sea Vents: The book suggests that early life forms might have emerged near deep-sea hydrothermal vents where the right chemical gradients existed to drive the Krebs cycle in reverse, building organic molecules. This theory posits us as literal children of the planet as life mimics the battery-like processes of the Earth's crust on our cell membranes.
(2) Metabolism Takes Center Stage: Understanding life revolves more around how cells manage energy and transform molecules than just genetic information.
(3) Krebs Cycle And Genes: The ability to harness energy through the Krebs cycle may have existed before the complex machinery of genes and proteins came into play. Moreover, the Krebs cycle's intermediates and mitochondrial DNA can have many complex effects on nuclear gene expression.
(4) Cancer and Aging: Lane proposes that the differences between healthy and cancerous cells lie partly in their metabolic efficiency and the signals metabolic intermediates release, with cancer cells prioritizing rapid growth over efficient energy use, and ageing cells being in an epigenetic setting that corresponds to low metabolic turnover.
Overall, "Transformer" offers an interesting and fresh perspective on life, emphasizing the primacy of metabolism and the Krebs cycle in shaping the living world from its origins to the complexities of health and disease.

(1) The Cell: The basic unit of life, cells are complex and organized entities separate from their environment.
(2) The Gene: These blueprints carry hereditary information and are crucial for reproduction and variation.
(3) Evolution by Natural Selection: This theory explains how life adapts and changes over time.
(4) Life as Chemistry: Underlying all biological processes are intricate chemical reactions.
(5) Life as Information: Living things store and use information encoded in molecules like DNA.

Gracie dives into various aspects of plants and botany, from the anatomy to the absurd names and the botanical artists who captured their beauty. The book explains anatomy from flower and roots to leaves and stems, anthers, petals, tepals, rays and disks (and much more), and the various types of inflorescences. She describes orchids that look like bees to attract the pollinator without the need for nectar, or the carnivorous plants that lure insects into their traps with carrion odours, or the co-evolution of figs and fig wasps, where the figs provide a safe haven for the wasps to lay their eggs, and the wasps pollinate the figs in return.

The book delves into the basics of biochemistryand the structure and function of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. It also covers the function and primary to quaternary structure of proteins, the structure of DNA and RNA, cell signalling, and the role of enzymes in catalyzing biochemical reactions. The penultimate chapters are on energy in biological systems and ana- & metabolic pathways like glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. The final part deals with lipids, from their structure and function in membranes and molecules like vitamins.

Life on the Edge delves into how bizarre quantum phenomena like superposition (existing in multiple states simultaneously) and tunneling (passing through barriers seemingly impossible in the classical world) might be influencing fundamental biological processes. For instance, it examines the possibility of quantum mechanics influencing how birds navigate using Earth's magnetic field or how our sense of smell works on a molecular level (interesting in combination with An Immense World by Ed Yong). The book also explores the role of quantum mechanics in photosynthesis, proposing that plants might be using quantum coherence to achieve near-perfect energy transfer. Or, how an enzyme's efficiency might be enhanced by quantum tunneling, or how the seemingly random mutations in DNA might be influenced by the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. While the book delves into theoretical scientific concepts, it does so in a plausible way, the authors carefully balance the known with the still very speculative.

The book explores how advancements like super-resolution microscopy with GFP (green fluorescent protein) and laser technology allow us to see the inner workings of cells in never-before-seen detail. Imagine watching proteins interact and diseases develop on a cellular level! Davis delves into the latest research on fetal development, revealing how the environment can influence a baby's health even before birth. The book also highlights the fascinating world of the gut microbiome and its profound impact on our overall health. You'll learn how gut bacteria can influence digestion, immunity, and even mental health, raising the possibility of personalized dietary recommendations based on your unique microbiome (see I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong). Packed with fascinating facts, the book reveals how scientists are using fecal transplants to treat certain diseases, how our immune system can be "trained" to fight cancer, and how our genes might hold the key to personalized medicine. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the immense potential within each of us.

The book explores the exciting potential of fungi. Their ability to break down pollutants and even some plastics is being harnessed for bioremediation. Fungi are also being explored for their potential use in medicine and psychedelic therapies, or sustainable packaging material. Sheldrake weaves a captivating story that goes beyond the mushrooms we see. He explores the vast network of fungal threads hidden beneath the surface and the fascinating ways fungi communicate and interact with their environment and us. The book delves into the intriguing connection between fungi and our minds. Sheldrake explores the use of psilocybin mushrooms and the potential impact of fungi on human consciousness.

Calvo delves into the intricate ways plants communicate with each other and with other organisms, such as through chemical signals and root networks. The book discusses evidence suggesting that plants exhibit intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and even memory, challenging the notion of intelligence as solely an animal trait. While the theories are built on compelling theories, the empirical evidence is still lacking. Calvo explores the sensory capacities of plants, including their ability to perceive and respond to environmental cues such as light, touch, and sound. The author examines various plant behaviors, from the way they adapt to changing conditions to their strategies for survival and reproduction. Finally, he posits this behaviour to be a form of predictive processing (see Being You by Anil Seth; Active Inference by Thomas Parr; The Hidden Spring by Mark Solms), a theory of brain function that suggests organisms generate models of the world to anticipate and respond to changes in their environment.

Dawkins argues that genes are "replicators" - their primary function is to make copies of themselves and pass them on to future generations. Organisms (or vehicles), in this view, are simply "survival machines" built by genes to ensure their own propagation. Altruistic behaviors, from a gene's perspective, are only beneficial if they ultimately increase the chances of that gene surviving and being replicated. He introduces the concept of memes - ideas or cultural traits that spread through imitation, similar to how genes replicate. This concept has been debated and expanded upon in the field of cultural evolution. The "Extended" concept expands the scope of selection. Dawkins proposes that genes can exert their influence not just on individual organisms but also on their environment and the behavior of other organisms.