42 Tales From Life

Author: Richard Dawkins

Popular science | Zoology & animal sciences

Published on 5^th November 2026 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (Apollo) in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 368 pages, 140 colour illustrations
236mm x 158mm | 820g

In 42 Tales from Life, the world’s greatest popular science writer takes us through a menagerie of tales about how animals have evolved into such intricately beautiful, intriguing forms.

Through 42 different tales, Richard Dawkins reveals the fundamental truths behind even the most unfathomable animal behaviours – the galloping of fish, the shape of the rhinoceros’ horn, the surprising similarities between horses and lizards, and why hummingbirds glow in such brilliant hues.

This is popular science and incisive Darwinian analysis at its best. Each tale is richly illustrated with artwork by Ernst Haeckel, whose stunning depictions of plants, sea creatures and other animals have fascinated Dawkins all his life.

This is a book to learn from, to delight in, and to treasure.