Restless Creatures cover art

Restless Creatures

The Story of Life in Ten Movements

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Restless Creatures

Written by: Matt Wilkinson
Narrated by: Matt Wilkinson
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About this listen

Despite the overwhelming diversity of life on Earth, one theme has dominated its evolution: the apparently simple act of moving from one place to another.

Restless Creatures is the first book for a general audience telling the incredible story of locomotion in human and animal evolution. Evolutionary biologist Matt Wilkinson shows why our ancestors became two-legged, why we have opposable thumbs, why the backbone appeared, how fish fins became limbs, how even trees are locomotion-obsessed, and how movement has shaped our minds as well as our bodies.

He explains why there are no flying monkeys or biological wheels, how dinosaurs took to the air, how Mexican waves began in the animal kingdom, and why moving can make us feel good. Restless Creatures opens up an astonishing new perspective: that nothing in life makes sense except in the light of movement.

©2016 Matt Wilkinson (P)2016 Audible Studios Biological Sciences Physics Science
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What a well written story of the most powerful force in the story of life: all the amazing aspects of how locomotion has shaped life on Earth. There is a great effort to explain the biomechanics and the significance of many adaptations. One of the best part is to hear of all the strange and yet strangely suited motions of animals and plants (!). The marine transitions from motile to sessile back to motile are fascinating. this book seems to cover the whole tree of life in an meaningful narrative, and ends with a reflective on the how human society today may be ignoring one of our greatest natural heritages. A wonderful book, highly recommend for those who like to learn about our world.

A riveting story, yet scientifically detailed.

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