I write many positive reviews here–and I honestly consider that a good thing–but I did not expect to be doing that when I first opened these pages. With a flashy title I anticipated a lot of science fluff, where the author uses showy cool facts to wow the reader, but lacks the substance. I have never been more surprised with a non-fiction book. Great Adaptations immediately became one of my favorites. The key here is that the author isn’t simply an author, he’s a researcher. His stories may be showy and cool, but they are ones he put the back-breaking effort into learning in the field and lab. I don’t want to demean those who are science writers and present others’ work, but sometimes there is a substantive difference.

Many authors try to put themselves into the story, which sometimes succeeds and sometimes flops, but worked well for Kenneth Catania. He has a way of writing that works well, subject matter that entices, and the right mix of detail without tedium.

I really can’t choose a favorite thing from this book that is just full of favorite things, but my favorite is probably how shrews smell the water by blowing an air bubble partway out its nose and then breathing the bubble back in. Smelling air in water is not something I ever would have considered. Sure, all the electric eel information is great, but we already know that before we know anything about electric eels. The shrews’ surprise was better for having come from a shrew.