'Are we alone?' ... Kershenbaum...takes a novel and rewarding approach to this question. He is not too concerned about the evidence for or against the existence of extraterrestrial life; rather, he is interested in hypothesizing about what forms it might take, given what we know about conditions on other worlds ... As befits a good biologist, Mr. Kershenbaum presents insights informed by what we know about the process of evolution by natural selection ... a wonderful mix of science-based speculation and entertaining whimsy ... He’s always mindful to anchor his conjectures on what is already known—not just about well-studied terrestrial species but, crucially, about universal (hence universe-wide) evolutionary principles. Mr. Kershenbaum proceeds to argue, persuasively, that 'we have enough of a diversity of adaptations here on Earth to give us at least potential mechanisms that seem appropriate solutions even on worlds almost unimaginably different from ours' ... A skeptic—even if one accepts the prospect of complex extraterrestrial life—might object that Zoologist’s Guide is too steeped in Earth-centrism. But one benefit of Mr. Kershenbaum’s method is that, while imbibing credible theories about the possible nature of extraterrestrial life, the reader will learn much about the actual nature of life on Earth ... Mr. Kershenbaum’s answers to the questions he raises are every bit as original and have the added advantage that they could well be true.
... as an expert in animal ecology and communication at the University of Cambridge, [Kershenbaum's] perspective is fascinating ... a fascinating plunge into the deep-time history of life on Earth and animal evolution in all its glorious diversity ... These later chapters on communication and intelligence are where Kershenbaum really settles into his stride ... 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.
... provocative ... The author acknowledges that his arguments might not convince all readers and are unlikely to be tested in our lifetimes because the likelihood of meeting intelligent aliens anytime soon is /so remote as to be almost dismissed./ Until that first encounter, though, theorists like Kershenbaum will be free to float through an atmosphere unweighted by evidence.
All this is partly reassuring — but also disappointing. Where much writing on astrobiology is joyously speculative, Kershenbaum is doggedly cautious, building his case from first evolutionary principles. He can be dry. What saves the book are the animal examples ... The book crawls with curious facts too ... Kershenbaum’s own research is on wolf howls and dolphin squeaks, and he is fascinating on how aliens might communicate.
The book strikes a fine balance, going into enough depth with the science to engage intellectually while never forgetting the fundamental fun that comes with this sort of speculation (the Douglas Adams allusion of the title is undoubtedly intentional). Dr. Kershenbaum gives the impression of a scientist and academic who has managed to maintain his sense of wonder, making him an ideal creator for this sort of work. He takes his flights of fancy, to be sure—and a work like this needs those flights—but even when he sails into the clouds, his feet remain firmly planted upon a foundation of sound scientific thought. Again, it’s all guesswork, but it would be difficult to find a more educated guesser than Kershenbaum ... a pop science delight, a book unafraid to have fun with its premise even as it refuses to lower its expectations of its audience ... this is as thoughtful and engaging a set of hypotheses you’re likely to find on the subject.
His expertise in the field of animal behavior adds weight and validity to his arguments ... Helpful definitions and explanations guide the reader through concepts such as chaos theory, natural selection, form versus function and convergent evolution ... Through these examples, which he mixes with humor and even references to science fiction books and films, Kershenbaum relays fascinating scientific concepts in layman’s terms. The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy will appeal to anyone who ponders what life is like among the stars.
Included are illustrations of some of Earth’s most fascinating animals, such as the Portuguese man o’ war, as well as insight into their behavior. Throughout, Kershenbaum also provides a thorough review of why life on Earth exists in all of its variety today ... A highly entertaining, science-based consideration of what alien life might be like.
In captivating detail, the author explores how the concept of convergent evolution can be used to deduce how aliens may use language and communication, socialize, move, and develop organic and artificial intelligence ... The author successfully conveys tricky subjects without sacrificing clarity or letting his narrative get buried in technical discussions, and he writes with an enthusiasm that is infectious despite the fact that his core argument—that alien life must exist—has no empirical evidence. This is a fun, rewarding journey, and by the end, his analysis teaches readers as much about life on Earth as it does elsewhere ... A fresh take on an always fascinating subject.
... entertaining ... Rather than offer a fantastic version of extraterrestrial life, [Kershenbaum] gives readers something logical to consider, and in so doing provides insight on animals and humans as he explores how life, communication, and movement have evolved. This quirky study of biology is sure to please readers looking to learn about life on other planets, or even here on Earth.
