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Biology: The Whole Story

Author: Lindsay Turnbull @oxfordbiology

Illustrator: Cecile Girardin @cecilegirardin

Published by: David Fickling Books @DFB_storyhouse

Published on: 3rd August 2023

First line: Physics is often described as the science of the twentieth century, but biology has staked a bold claim to be the science of the twenty-first.

Price: £24.99

Genre: Non-fiction, Science, Biology

ISBN: 978 1 78845 193 2

What’s it all about? This book is a fully comprehensive look at the subject of biology. It takes you on a journey from the very beginning (literally the beginning) of life on Earth and helps to explain (sometimes in minute detail) the answers to some of the biggest questions we tend to plague ourselves with as humans. Why are we here? How did we get here? Who am I? The book is neatly divided into chapters about sex, bacteria, evolution, animals, plants etc. It also ends with a serious look into the future and how what we have learnt might help us in the future, and how we might save our planet and all its amazing biology.

Why should I read it? I loved biology at school and studied it up to A-level. It may have been amazing teachers or just that it runs in the genes (my sister is a biochemist, my dad an engineer and my mum a medical secretary). However, apart from teaching science at school I haven’t really thought about it in much depth for a long time. This book brought that spark back! It’s really well written, and is perfect for the layman or experienced student of science. There were only a few sections which I found too detailed and heavy and had to skip those, and those were mainly in Chapter 4 – Energy, but the rest was a fascinating read. I feel that I now have a much better understanding of the beautiful intricacies that governor our planet. Also, I’m more ready for biology questions on University Challenge! I like the simple structure of the chapters, and how they lead you almost chronological through life on Earth from the smallest and earliest single celled forms to the massive, complex and unique multicellular forms that surround us today or existed in the past. The world really is an amazing place when looked at through a biologist’s lens. The pictures are super and do help to explain the detail; however, I would hope for more in new editions, as I felt there were some parts that really needed a diagram to help explain them.

Thanks to LoveReading4Schools @lr4schools for the review copy.