“Original and awe-inspiring . . . an exhilarating tour of some of the most profound and important ideas in biology.”― New Scientist Where does DNA come from? What is consciousness? How did the eye evolve? Drawing on a treasure trove of new scientific knowledge, Nick Lane expertly reconstructs evolution’s history by describing its ten greatest inventions―from sex and warmth to death―resulting in a stunning account of nature’s ingenuity. 20 figures "The emergence of life itself remains obscure. But as Lane shows with clarity and vigor, fascinating studies on the subject abound." ― The New York Times "Excellent and imaginative and, similar to life itself, the book is full of surprises." ― Nature "Lane lays out processes of dizzying complexity in smooth, nimble prose." ― Kirkus Reviews "If Charles Darwin sprang from his grave, I would give him this fine book to bring him up to speed." ― Matt Ridley, author of The Red Queen Nick Lane is professor of evolutionary biochemistry at University College London and an award-winning author of five books. He codirects UCL’s Centre for Life’s Origins and Evolution (CLOE) and lives in London. Bill Gates calls him “one of my favorite science writers.”