'An Immense World' by Ed Yung

An Immense World, Ed Yong (4.0)

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I’d say it was eye-opening, but that just underlines the hubris humans have with our favorite sense. It’s easy to forget that virtually every other creature on earth has stronger senses, most of them quite amazing. I enjoyed how in each chapter the author selected a sense (touch, sight, sound, magnetic sensitivity etc.) and illustrated how particular creatures utilized that sense to understand their surroundings. My issue with the second half was the length of examples. I felt it was not as concise with the descriptions and examples which led to information fatigue. As someone in the sciences, I realize if we do ever meet beings from elsewhere, we have very little chance of being able to communicate if we can’t even really understand how the majority of the creatures on earth sense and communicate!