The Cambrian, Exploded

As previewed in an earlier post, I joined Tristan Hughes on The Ancients, a podcast from History Hit, to detonate the Cambrian. And here it is.

The History of Life In Your Pocket

Some time ago JC Lattes published the French-language version of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth. That was then. It's now been joined by this mighty mini version. Just the same as the full size version. 

Only smaller. 

Now you can carry the whole of the history of life in your pocket.

A Podcast Event

As previously discussed I always have a great time as a guest on The Ancients, a podcast fromHistory Hit hosted by Tristan Hughes. We have always recorded each episode remotely ... until now. A few days ago I visited the studio in person so Tristan and I could explore the Cambrian Explosion for a forthcoming edition of the show. Safe to say that the Cambrian was duly exploded. Watch this space, as they say. 

And now, in Vietnamese

The translation in Vietnamese makes 26 editions in languages other than English, all thanks to the wonderful team at Pan Mac Rights who have secured 26 translated editions - at least, the official ones. There is a pirated edition in Bengali. For more about translation rights click here. 

Podcast Fun

I always have a great time when Tristan Hughes invites me on to The Ancients, the podcast he hosts for History Hit. Here is a recent excerpt for an episode we did about the Age of Dinosaurs. You cn listen to the full episode here.

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And Today's Bookstore Is...

 

 ...Waterstones in Norwich (photo of reader Ms. E. used by permission)

Norwich Science Festival Show SOLD OUT

 

If you were still thinking of coming along to the official launch of The Wonder of Life on Earth at the Norwich Science Festival on Wednesday (18 February) - I'm sorry, but you can't. I'm pleased and amazed to say that it's sold out. Still lots of other things to see and do, though, and the book will be available at the Festival Bookshop.

Second Sighting...

The Wonder of Life on Earth has been spotted in the wild by Mrs H. F. of Edgefield, Norfolk, at the Norfolk Childrens' Book Centre.

It's Out Now

 The Wonder of Life on Earth is out now! Click here for more details.

First Time In The Wild

THE WONDER OF LIFE ON EARTH isn't officially out until Thursday, but Professor S. B. has already spotted one in the wild, at the Edinburgh Bookshop.

Limited Edition signed copies of 'The Wonder of Life on Earth'

 

The time is rapidly coming up to fast approaching the publication of The Wonder of Life on Earth, written by me, illustrated by Raxenne Maniquiz and published by Two Hoots (an imprint of Pan Macmillan) -- it's aimed at preteens but is really for people of Very All Ages. For full details click here. I'll be launching the book at the Norwich Science Festival on 18 February - tickets are now on sale. But wait, there's more: a special release of 1000 signed copies with free poster is available from independent bookstores. My favourite independent bookstores are The Book Hive in Norwich and Chicken and Frog in Brentwood, Essex, though I'm sure others are available. Support your local independent bookseller!

A Wondrous Wonder

Greeting me on my return from the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology meeting in Birmingham, UK yesterday was the first actual copy of The Wonder of Life on Earth. With the lovely, rich illustrations from Raxenne Maniquiz it's a joy to behold. 

It'll be published on 5 February but it's already available for pre-order, and you can find more details here.

Une (très) Brève Histoire - in paperback

The paperback of the French edition of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth will be published tomorrow, 9 October. You can order it here. 

A Return to the Norwich Science Festival

A quick diary note here - once again I shall be doing my thing at the Norwich Science Festival, at 3pm on 18 February 2026.  This will effectively be the official launch of The Wonder of Life on Earth, which is a retelling of the same story in A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth but completely rewritten for pre-teens and lavishly illustrated by Raxenne Maniquiz.

Kindle Special Offer for May 2025

 

A Turkish Delight

 A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth is available to read in Turkish from Yeditepe.

The Shape of Life

I've long been a fan of Alaskan artist Ray Troll, so imagine my pleasure when I was asked to guest on his PaleoNerds podcast (which you can find here). And more than that -- Ray asked me to script and narrate an animation called the Tree of Life, which is now online here: 

It's part of an education resource called the Shape of Life, a new resource for students and teachers of evolutionary biology. Dig in!

On The Bright Side of Life

It's always a thrill to get a celebrity endorsement, especially as they don't happen very often, so I am unreasonably tickled with a review of A (Very) Short &c &c in the book blog of Eric Idle. Just mosey over to his reading blog, or, for the hard of scrolling, read this: 

My favourite book of the year and maybe the decade. Henry Gee is both brilliantly funny and brilliantly informative. So many times I found myself saying out loud “Oh my gawd” as some fact or information came at me. We are not the end of evolution. We are not even the summit of it. We are mistaken about our place in the incredible and very long evolution and continuous breaking of new life forms on earth. I shall read this book again and again. You might find the early chapters a little dense because there are so many monocellular Latin forms of life. Don’t be afraid to skip, move forward, the story gets better and better with incredible chapters on animal life and the evolution of mammals. Learn your place in the Universe, which is both incredible and unlikely and puny. 

This has to be the apotheosis of my zenith this week. Especially as he says my book is 'brilliantly funny'. Now, that's a compliment and a half.

Review and Interview in Estado de Minas (Brazil)

Here's a review and an interview in Estado de Minas, a paper from Belo Horizonte in Brazil, home of, among other things, the terrific heavy metal band Sepultura. Enjoy! (in Portuguese).

Canterbury Festival

I'll be doing my thing at the Canterbury Festival on 30 October. Find all the details here.