'I can't remember when I last enjoyed a biology book so much' – Brian Clegg, author of The Universe Inside You

'A gorgeous, glorious romp through the sciences' – David Tong, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge

What is life? How did it first appear? Where else in the universe might we find it?

In This Is Life, acclaimed science communicator and Stephen Hawking’s former Ph.D. student Christophe Galfard takes you on a wonder-filled journey through the complete history of life on earth, from its birth and the mysterious colonies of bacteria that lived billions of years ago, through the extreme evolutionary turns that saw sea scorpions grow to the size of dogs and trees covered in scales, to the visionary discoveries of the past two centuries that have allowed us to understand what we, humans, and all other living organisms really are.

Through brilliant storytelling and delightful humour, Galfard makes the secrets of the living world accessible to all. This Is Life will transform the way you see the world, and your place in it.

I can't remember when I last enjoyed a biology book so much. Christophe Galfard brings to life with remarkable storytelling his exploration of where we come from as a species -- Brian Clegg, author of The Universe Inside You
A gorgeous, glorious romp through the sciences to address the biggest question of all: What is life? The reader is in safe hands with Christophe Galfard, whose charming, expressive writing leads you gently through some of the greatest discoveries humans have ever made -- David Tong, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge

Christophe Galfard holds a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Cambridge, where he was Stephen Hawking’s graduate student from 2000 to 2006, researching the so-called black hole information paradox. With Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking, he co-authored George’s Secret Key to the Universe. His international bestseller, The Universe in Your Hand, has been translated into over twenty languages.