Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You: A Lively Tour Through the Dark Side of the Natural World

As a father and a scientist, Dan Riskin handles big important questions every day, but one question has plagued him. Knowing what he knows about evolution and biology, he questions whether his love for his son is less sincere or meaningful because it’s a biological imperative. After all, that affection inspires him to protect his offspring at all cost, but what does that mean about the affection itself?

In Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You, Riskin seeks to answer that question by analyzing animal and plant behaviors through a very familiar lens: the seven deadly sins. It’s a thoroughly entertaining concept that allows him to constantly compare human behavior and culture with the peculiarities of various species. Whether he’s talking about bats or parasites, giant mice or shrews, he presents the weird, wonderful, and sometimes gross aspects of nature with heartfelt humor and impressive scientific insight.

From sex and parenting to survival and scavenging, the topics Riskin touches on span the spectrum of animal behaviors, making this a terrific glimpse into numerous animal ecosystems without bogging down too much in any one area. This is great stuff all around.