Life Under the Sun

The essays in Peter A. Ensminger's book cover vision, photosynthesis, and phototropism, as well as such unusual topics as the reason why light causes beer to develop a "skunky" odor. He introduces us to the kinds of eyes that have evolved in different animals, including those in a species of shrimp that is ostensibly eyeless; gives us a better appreciation of color vision; explains how plowing fields at night may be used to control weeds; and tells about variegate porphyria, a metabolic disease that makes people very sensitive to sunlight and may have afflicted King George III of England.

These engaging essays present a complicated yet fascinating subject in an accessible way. The book will be treasured by anyone interested in the wonders of biology.

Vision is, indeed, the most important of our senses. Ensminger notes that "a single glance instantly gives us information about our surroundings that is much more sophisticated than that from our other senses." It is important for countless other species as well; as many as 40 visual systems have evolved separately in invertebrates, following different principles of optical design. In his lively, well-illustrated text, Ensminger offers an overview of these many visual systems, while considering the manifold workings of sunlight. He even explains why you should eat your carrots, and why the old farmer's saw that it's best to plow by moonlight is true. --Gregory McNamee