Some Assembly Required

the German poet and philosopher, once remarked on them. Present in both oceanic and freshwater species, these sacs fill with air and then deflate, offering neutral buoyancy as a fish navigates different depths of water. Like a submarine that expels air following the call to dive, dive, dive, the swim bladder s air concentration changes, helping the animal move about at vary­ing depths and water pressures.
 
More dissection revealed the real surprise: these air sacs were connected to the esophagus via a small duct. That little duct, a tiny connection from the air sac to the esophagus, had a large impact on Saint-Hilaire s thinking.
 
Watching these fish in the wild only confirmed what Saint-Hilaire inferred from their anatomy. They gulped air, pulling it in through the holes in the back of their heads. They even exhib­ited a form of synchronized air sucking, with large cohorts of them snorting in unison. Groups of these snuffling fish, known as bichirs, would often make other sounds, such as thumps or moans, with the swallowed air, presumably to find mates.
 
The fish did something else unexpected. They breathed air. The sacs were filled with blood vessels, showing that the fish were using this system to get oxygen into their bloodstreams. And, more important, they breathed through the holes at the top of their heads, filling the sacs with air while their bodies remained in the water.
 
Here was a fish that had both gills and an organ that allowed it to breathe air. Needless to say, this fish became a cause célèbre.
 
A few decades after the Egyptian discovery, an Austrian team was sent on an expedition to explore the Amazon in celebra­tion of the marriage of an Austrian princess. The team collected insects, frogs, and plants: new species to name in honor of the royal f

scientific storyteller at the height of his talents." Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh paleontologist and author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

Shubin is a brilliant scientist storyteller an eloquent narrator, who draws you into his rich, evolving world of walking fish and mutant flies, prehistoric birds and precocious biologists. Part adventure, part mystery, with twists and turns you couldn t make up if you tried, Some Assembly Required is an irresistible read!" Robert M. Hazen, Carnegie Institution for Science, and author of Symphony in C

"Through tales of remarkable creatures, and some even more remarkable people who study them, Neil Shubin unravels the mystery at the heart of evolution how nature invents. From bacteria to brains, fish lungs to ballistic salamander tongues, Shubin decodes the surprising origins of the marvelous gadgets that have driven the riot of life s diversity. Sean B. Carroll, author of The Serengeti Rules and Brave Genius

"[Shubin's] four-billion-year history from ancient fossils to DNA presents the true picture to the general reader, with engaging portraits of contributing scientists past and current." Nature

"He has done it again. Shubin gives us an insightful, fun, and authoritative look at the big story of life and its major transformations. In Some Assembly Required, one encounters curious scientists, surprising histories and a clear sense of the ways in which a diversity of scientific perspectives provides a richer view of life than could any one perspective on its own. This terrific book is new and exciting enough to engage a biology professor (Rob) and clear and engaging enough to fascinate a high school student (Olivia). We couldn t put it down (or rather, one of us would put it down for a minute only to have the other pick it up)." Prof. Rob Dunn, author of Never Home Alone and Olivia Sanchez Dunn, high school student

"Enjoyable . . .  Eloquent . . . This superb primer brings the intellectual excitement of the scientific endeavor to life in a way that both educates and entertains." Publishers Weekly (starred)

A welcome new exploration of the evolution of human and animal life on Earth . . . Shubin explores it with his characteristic enthusiasm and clarity . . . A fascinating wild ride. Kirkus Reviews (starred)

Exhilarating . . . [Shubin] is one of the best. Booklist (starred)

A pleasure to read . . . The exposition is clear enough to be followed by readers without background scientific training, but the range of topics discussed, the choice of illustrative details, and the historical and biographical background are such that I would expect even experts to find much in this book to inform and delight. The endnotes, as well as providing leading references and background material of interest to those who wish to dig deeper, add numerous interesting details worthy of the attention of any reader. 3 Quarks Daily