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Infinite Life: An Epic New Story of Life on Earth
Every animal on the planet owes its existence to one crucial piece of evolutionary the egg.
It's time to tell a new story of life on Earth.
'Jules Howard's egg's-eye view of evolution is dripping with fascinating insights' ALICE ROBERTS
If you think of an egg, what do you see in your mind's eye? A chicken egg, hard-boiled? A slimy mass of frogspawn? Perhaps you see a human egg cell, prepared on a microscope slide in a laboratory? Or the majestic marble-blue eggs of the blackbird?
Every egg there has ever been, is an emblem of survival. Yet the evolution of the animal egg is the dramatic subplot missing in many accounts of how life on Earth came to be. Quite simply, without this universal biological phenomenon, animals as we know them, including us, could not have evolved and flourished.
In Infinite Life, zoology correspondent Jules Howard takes the reader on a mind-bending journey from the churning coastlines of the Cambrian Period and Carboniferous coal forests, where insects were stirring, to the end of the age of dinosaurs when live-birthing mammals began their modern rise to power. Eggs would evolve from out of the sea; be set by animals into soils, sands, canyons and mudflats; be dropped in nests wrapped in silk; hung in stick nests in trees, covered in crystallised shells or secured by placentas.
Whether belonging to birds, insects, mammals or millipedes, animal eggs are objects that have been shaped by their ecology, forged by mass extinctions and honed by natural selection to near-perfection. Finally, the epic story of their role in the tapestry of life can be told.
It's time to tell a new story of life on Earth.
'Jules Howard's egg's-eye view of evolution is dripping with fascinating insights' ALICE ROBERTS
If you think of an egg, what do you see in your mind's eye? A chicken egg, hard-boiled? A slimy mass of frogspawn? Perhaps you see a human egg cell, prepared on a microscope slide in a laboratory? Or the majestic marble-blue eggs of the blackbird?
Every egg there has ever been, is an emblem of survival. Yet the evolution of the animal egg is the dramatic subplot missing in many accounts of how life on Earth came to be. Quite simply, without this universal biological phenomenon, animals as we know them, including us, could not have evolved and flourished.
In Infinite Life, zoology correspondent Jules Howard takes the reader on a mind-bending journey from the churning coastlines of the Cambrian Period and Carboniferous coal forests, where insects were stirring, to the end of the age of dinosaurs when live-birthing mammals began their modern rise to power. Eggs would evolve from out of the sea; be set by animals into soils, sands, canyons and mudflats; be dropped in nests wrapped in silk; hung in stick nests in trees, covered in crystallised shells or secured by placentas.
Whether belonging to birds, insects, mammals or millipedes, animal eggs are objects that have been shaped by their ecology, forged by mass extinctions and honed by natural selection to near-perfection. Finally, the epic story of their role in the tapestry of life can be told.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2024
36 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 8, 2024
As soon as I set up my NetGalley account, I was immediately drawn to the Science category. The very first book I chose—and fervently hoped to receive—was *Infinite Life* by Jules Howard. It felt like fate: a book centered on eggs, the very earliest stage of development, was a perfect match for a freshly minted PhD in Developmental Biology like myself. Popular science books on my field are rare, so you can imagine my joy at discovering this one. Even better, it’s not just a developmental biology book; it’s an ode to evo-devo (evolutionary developmental biology).
I loved Howard's approach because, as he points out, eggs are often disregarded and forgotten, yet they have their own fascinating evolutionary backstory. The book is written with the general public in mind, using anecdotes and real-life references to make complex concepts accessible. Guiding readers through the dense forests of genetics, molecular biology, and embryology, as well as the lofty peaks of geology and evolutionary biology, is no easy task. However, Howard manages it with grace and humor. For instance, his description of natural selection as a "growing accumulation of successful mistakes" is brilliant. Many clever techniques are employed to keep the reader entertained and engaged.
Despite my familiarity with the subject (particularly the facts in the latter part of the book), I learned a lot. Howard's vivid language sparks the imagination—images of zombie cockroaches and cuckoo mafias still haunt my nightmares. I also appreciate how he addresses areas where science has yet to provide clear answers, presenting multiple hypotheses to cover the big open questions in biology.
As a woman, I found the section on the parasitic aspects of human pregnancy both brutal and important, especially in a world where women are sometimes treated as mere incubators. The book has inspired me to do further reading on several points, such as the connection between adult regeneration and germ line specification. I particularly applaud Howard for his clear explanation of the different membranes in the amniotic egg (which any developmental biology researcher working with chick or mouse embryos would largely appreciate!).
I’m not sure if the printed edition includes more illustrations, but they would definitely enhance the reading experience. Lastly, a hallmark of a great popular science book is the inclusion of a glossary and further reading references, which *Infinite Life* provides.
Eggcelent job (sorry, I had to).
Thank you Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley for providing this book for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved Howard's approach because, as he points out, eggs are often disregarded and forgotten, yet they have their own fascinating evolutionary backstory. The book is written with the general public in mind, using anecdotes and real-life references to make complex concepts accessible. Guiding readers through the dense forests of genetics, molecular biology, and embryology, as well as the lofty peaks of geology and evolutionary biology, is no easy task. However, Howard manages it with grace and humor. For instance, his description of natural selection as a "growing accumulation of successful mistakes" is brilliant. Many clever techniques are employed to keep the reader entertained and engaged.
Despite my familiarity with the subject (particularly the facts in the latter part of the book), I learned a lot. Howard's vivid language sparks the imagination—images of zombie cockroaches and cuckoo mafias still haunt my nightmares. I also appreciate how he addresses areas where science has yet to provide clear answers, presenting multiple hypotheses to cover the big open questions in biology.
As a woman, I found the section on the parasitic aspects of human pregnancy both brutal and important, especially in a world where women are sometimes treated as mere incubators. The book has inspired me to do further reading on several points, such as the connection between adult regeneration and germ line specification. I particularly applaud Howard for his clear explanation of the different membranes in the amniotic egg (which any developmental biology researcher working with chick or mouse embryos would largely appreciate!).
I’m not sure if the printed edition includes more illustrations, but they would definitely enhance the reading experience. Lastly, a hallmark of a great popular science book is the inclusion of a glossary and further reading references, which *Infinite Life* provides.
Eggcelent job (sorry, I had to).
Thank you Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley for providing this book for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2024
An accessible, readable and well-written look at the humble egg throughout time, from the first egg-like structures through to current forms, from insects to birds to mammals and everything in between.
Divided up into geological periods, Howard looks at the evolutionary changes seen in the fossil record, how different paths were taken, often repeatedly, and how environmental changes influenced the eggs that developed.
Howard also considers not just how different factors influenced the egg, but also how changes, mutations in egg structures drove evolutionary change- such as changes that allowed eggs to survive in drier conditions allowing species to expand their range and drive diversification.
The final section considers how climate change is influencing changes to eggs and how they may change in the future.
For anyone with an interest in evolution, palaeontology, biology or nature generally. This isn't a textbook but rather a narrative driven non-fiction that makes this quite niche topic accessible to anyone regardless of their previous knowledge
Thank you to Elliott & Thompson for providing a netgalley copy for review
Divided up into geological periods, Howard looks at the evolutionary changes seen in the fossil record, how different paths were taken, often repeatedly, and how environmental changes influenced the eggs that developed.
Howard also considers not just how different factors influenced the egg, but also how changes, mutations in egg structures drove evolutionary change- such as changes that allowed eggs to survive in drier conditions allowing species to expand their range and drive diversification.
The final section considers how climate change is influencing changes to eggs and how they may change in the future.
For anyone with an interest in evolution, palaeontology, biology or nature generally. This isn't a textbook but rather a narrative driven non-fiction that makes this quite niche topic accessible to anyone regardless of their previous knowledge
Thank you to Elliott & Thompson for providing a netgalley copy for review
January 23, 2024
A love letter to, of all things, eggs. The book takes us on a journey from the creation of Earth to the current climate crisis, through the lens of egg evolution and development. The subject matter comes with a dire risk of tedium, but Howard's prose is smooth, entertaining, and at times, sardonic. Despite the moments of brevity, I found a certain melancholic air in the whole narrative. There's certainly something optimistic about the millions of species that have experimented with and perfected different forms of reproduction, yet thinking about any of these organisms on an individual level leaves me feeling deeply inconsequential.
As for the science, explaining evolution in metaphors of contract negotiations, crime sprees, and star-crossed lovers manages to simplify incredibly complex concepts without coming across as reductive or condescending. The book easily could have been double the length, and I am deeply grateful that it was not. The brevity was well-executed - each chapter provided a solid overview of each era without droning. Howard was great about refreshing the reader on previously-explained science when needed, but never edging into the repetitive.
TLDR: The science was interesting, the length was perfect, and the author's voice is compelling.
Also, thank you to Elliott & Thompson publishing house for allowing me to read this ahead of publication.
As for the science, explaining evolution in metaphors of contract negotiations, crime sprees, and star-crossed lovers manages to simplify incredibly complex concepts without coming across as reductive or condescending. The book easily could have been double the length, and I am deeply grateful that it was not. The brevity was well-executed - each chapter provided a solid overview of each era without droning. Howard was great about refreshing the reader on previously-explained science when needed, but never edging into the repetitive.
TLDR: The science was interesting, the length was perfect, and the author's voice is compelling.
Also, thank you to Elliott & Thompson publishing house for allowing me to read this ahead of publication.
January 26, 2025
"There are times in this book when it may seem as if eggs have desires, wants or needs: that eggs wanted to move from the sea to the land; that eggs sought safety in the mammal uterus or hid themselves in crystalline bird eggshells. Nevertheless, eggs – devoid of a brain and incapable of an instructive thought – can clearly do very little else than simply be an egg. Eggs are not capable of knowing their journey. I give them agency at particular moments only to better tell an engaging story."
Howard has a knack with imaginative prose, and would make for a great introduction to writing about evolution. He conjures up vivid images of the worlds in which eggs evolved, and populates them with creatures just started to swim, crawl, and, yes, lay eggs. The explanations of why the egg has mattered so much are well done, and you may never look at an egg white again quite the same way. However, it did lag at times and, strangely, also lack compelling detail in parts.
Howard has a knack with imaginative prose, and would make for a great introduction to writing about evolution. He conjures up vivid images of the worlds in which eggs evolved, and populates them with creatures just started to swim, crawl, and, yes, lay eggs. The explanations of why the egg has mattered so much are well done, and you may never look at an egg white again quite the same way. However, it did lag at times and, strangely, also lack compelling detail in parts.
July 4, 2024
4.5
[EN] It felt refreshing to finally read about this often overlooked part of the cycle of life.
[PL] Dobrze było w końcu poczytać o tej często pomijanej części kręgu życia.
[EN] It felt refreshing to finally read about this often overlooked part of the cycle of life.
[PL] Dobrze było w końcu poczytać o tej często pomijanej części kręgu życia.
April 6, 2024
Infinite Life was a fascinating trip through the evolution of animals, using the egg as our guide. We are led on a journey from early life to the present day, with stops along the way at major points in animal and egg development to get a closer look at one of the reproductive structures that are necessary for reproduction. From water to land, the egg is key to adaptation and survival. In the hands of Jules Howard, viewing evolution through changes in the egg goes beyond textbook information and becomes something more of an interactive historical timeline. Just how does the changing egg fit into the spread of animals from water to land? How does the egg change from animal to animal? What is special about eggs that makes them (whether inside a body or outside) key in adaptation to a changing environment?
With enough information to make a biologist happy, and enough explanation to bring in the casual enthusiast, Infinite Life is a glimpse into a niche of science that many may often overlook. With engaging descriptions and an easy narrative flow, this book is an excellent foray into evolutionary biology from a unique perspective.
I read this as an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher. All opinions are my own.
With enough information to make a biologist happy, and enough explanation to bring in the casual enthusiast, Infinite Life is a glimpse into a niche of science that many may often overlook. With engaging descriptions and an easy narrative flow, this book is an excellent foray into evolutionary biology from a unique perspective.
I read this as an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher. All opinions are my own.
December 23, 2025
A fascinating read. I got this after a live event for NI Science week back in February this year. Some new and strange facts that stood out to me were that trilobites laid eggs on clutches of seven in a hexagonal shape (so bizarre), that a mother fish fossil from the Cambrian period was found with a baby fish and umbilical cord connected (even more bizarre) and that mite hatchlings mate with each other inside their mother's body causing pregnancy inside pregnancy (very disturbing!). The book ended on a sad note about the impact of climate change on moths and butterflies, laying eggs up to a week earlier than a decade ago and how bird eggshells are thinner as a result of acidification of water.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2024
An absolutely dazzling piece of scientific non fiction. The author traces the ecological and evolutionary history of eggs - from the early part of Earth's history to us. The first few chapters left me a little wanting but after that it was more fun than I expected - from evolution of egg laying on land to invasive placentas, from live births in placoderms to egg coloration in dinosaurs and birds. Lots to learn from this well crafted book!
February 8, 2024
‘Re-framing the story of animal evolution through the lens of the egg’ (Loc.80)
This is a quirky approach to the history of evolution and it really works. An otherwise enormously vast and complicated era with myriads of creatures, is streamlined into an interesting and engaging story which revolves around eggs.
We hear of competing strategies among primitive animals, some preferring to produce large quantities of eggs, and some preferring a more qualitative approach of producing fewer but caring for them. We also hear of the development of wombs and umbilical cords, with the oldest identified so far being the 2005 discovery of the 380 million year old Materpiscis.
Where helpful the book also includes modern observations and discoveries. Many readers will be surprised to hear that chickens seem to have a strange ability to regulate the shell of their eggs, depending upon the altitude that the eggs are being laid at. Science has yet to crack the mechanism which triggers that effect.
In places the book also suggested that traditional narratives of evolution may be too simple. For example, the success of insects has long been attributed to their ability to fly. But the author notes that their success also correlates with developments and improvements to their eggs. Could their overall success owe as much to eggs as it does to flight?
Towards the end of the book we hear of dinosaur eggs, and some of the fascinating research that is drawing tentative conclusions about the colours of dinosaur eggs.
Overall, this was a very interesting and original approach to the narration of evolution. It will appeal to those with an interest in History or Science, both those engaging with the issues for the first time, and those looking for a fresh approach to some otherwise well-trodden territory.
These are honest comments on a DRC (Digital Review Copy) version of the text, accessed in February 2024.
This is a quirky approach to the history of evolution and it really works. An otherwise enormously vast and complicated era with myriads of creatures, is streamlined into an interesting and engaging story which revolves around eggs.
We hear of competing strategies among primitive animals, some preferring to produce large quantities of eggs, and some preferring a more qualitative approach of producing fewer but caring for them. We also hear of the development of wombs and umbilical cords, with the oldest identified so far being the 2005 discovery of the 380 million year old Materpiscis.
Where helpful the book also includes modern observations and discoveries. Many readers will be surprised to hear that chickens seem to have a strange ability to regulate the shell of their eggs, depending upon the altitude that the eggs are being laid at. Science has yet to crack the mechanism which triggers that effect.
In places the book also suggested that traditional narratives of evolution may be too simple. For example, the success of insects has long been attributed to their ability to fly. But the author notes that their success also correlates with developments and improvements to their eggs. Could their overall success owe as much to eggs as it does to flight?
Towards the end of the book we hear of dinosaur eggs, and some of the fascinating research that is drawing tentative conclusions about the colours of dinosaur eggs.
Overall, this was a very interesting and original approach to the narration of evolution. It will appeal to those with an interest in History or Science, both those engaging with the issues for the first time, and those looking for a fresh approach to some otherwise well-trodden territory.
These are honest comments on a DRC (Digital Review Copy) version of the text, accessed in February 2024.
May 30, 2024
Amazon Affiliate Link for purchasing the Book
I am on the quest for promoting lesser-known books here on Goodreads and make your reading experience more varied. Click on the link above if you want to add this book to your TBR.
I am a huge fan of Tim Birkhead's The Most Perfect Thing : Inside (and Outside) a Bird’s Egg.
It regales the egg being ‘a self-contained life support system.’ Inspired by Birkhead's book and the marvel that eggs are in nature, Jules Howard presents a wider evolutionary story of eggs spanning millennia.
Infinite Life is not just about bird eggs but begins with the origin of life itself. Right from when tiny microorganisms called the cyanobacteria started forming a protective covering outside them called cysts. And so, began the resting state of cells instrumental in the dissemination of genetic material over the history of this planet.
We travel from the earliest egg-like microfossils found from the Ediacaran period (635 million years ago) to the development of structural and defensive features like the marsupium sac and separation of germ lines during the Cambrian explosion. Throughout these early chapters we meet interesting prehistoric creatures like millipedes, velvet worms, and sea scorpions who developed specific ways of laying eggs, depositing eggs during copulation, and fertilization. Finally, we reach the pinnacle of egg evolution in the humid and fern-y Carboniferous Forest and encounter the birth of the amniotic egg. The eggs finally crossed the oceans and became what Howards calls 'land-proofed' enabled by these fluid-filled membranous compartments in the amniote eggs. The book ends in the Cenozoic era, about 66 million years ago, with the development of the placenta in vertebrates.
Often chronological prose in natural history books can become cumbersome for the uninitiated. But Howards' playful and imaginative writing eases the presence of myriad zoological details for the readers. It's quite an achievement to make invertebrate paleontological findings interesting. But I do wish there were some figures and pictures of fossils throughout the book. I absolutely loved the bibliography having read many titles from the list. This book felt like I was back in my zoology class looking at specimens and memorizing names. What terrific fun!
I am on the quest for promoting lesser-known books here on Goodreads and make your reading experience more varied. Click on the link above if you want to add this book to your TBR.
I am a huge fan of Tim Birkhead's The Most Perfect Thing : Inside (and Outside) a Bird’s Egg.
It regales the egg being ‘a self-contained life support system.’ Inspired by Birkhead's book and the marvel that eggs are in nature, Jules Howard presents a wider evolutionary story of eggs spanning millennia.
Infinite Life is not just about bird eggs but begins with the origin of life itself. Right from when tiny microorganisms called the cyanobacteria started forming a protective covering outside them called cysts. And so, began the resting state of cells instrumental in the dissemination of genetic material over the history of this planet.
We travel from the earliest egg-like microfossils found from the Ediacaran period (635 million years ago) to the development of structural and defensive features like the marsupium sac and separation of germ lines during the Cambrian explosion. Throughout these early chapters we meet interesting prehistoric creatures like millipedes, velvet worms, and sea scorpions who developed specific ways of laying eggs, depositing eggs during copulation, and fertilization. Finally, we reach the pinnacle of egg evolution in the humid and fern-y Carboniferous Forest and encounter the birth of the amniotic egg. The eggs finally crossed the oceans and became what Howards calls 'land-proofed' enabled by these fluid-filled membranous compartments in the amniote eggs. The book ends in the Cenozoic era, about 66 million years ago, with the development of the placenta in vertebrates.
Often chronological prose in natural history books can become cumbersome for the uninitiated. But Howards' playful and imaginative writing eases the presence of myriad zoological details for the readers. It's quite an achievement to make invertebrate paleontological findings interesting. But I do wish there were some figures and pictures of fossils throughout the book. I absolutely loved the bibliography having read many titles from the list. This book felt like I was back in my zoology class looking at specimens and memorizing names. What terrific fun!
July 17, 2024
To people who normally encounter them in culinary form, the structure of eggs may seem rather basic: yolk, white, shell, plus these pesky bits of membrane that make peeling difficult. But in Infinite Life: A revolutionary story of eggs, evolution and life on earth, Jules Howard demonstrates that eggs are anything but simple. Their production is a feat of engineering (the detailed descriptions of “nozzles”, “chemical treatment”, calcium “applied to the egg” and so on, evoke images of a car factory). They come in an incredible array of shapes, colours, formats, durabilities and origins. And they are one of the key reasons for why life on Earth is so diverse.
Read the full review for the TLS here: https://www.the-tls.co.uk/science-tec...
Read the full review for the TLS here: https://www.the-tls.co.uk/science-tec...
May 8, 2024
Thanks a lot Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley to give me the ARC for an exchange of honest review!
It is a wonderful and informative read about the history and evolution of eggs. I was impressed from the very beginning, with a detailed explanation of the Earth's and moon's history, setting a great foundation to start the book.
I found the book very engaging and understandable. However, I wish there had been more pictures or diagrams to help visualize some of the descriptions. It would have made the reading experience even better. Perhaps in the future, there will be a visualized version of this book.
A perfect book for anyone interested in the science and history of eggs.
It is a wonderful and informative read about the history and evolution of eggs. I was impressed from the very beginning, with a detailed explanation of the Earth's and moon's history, setting a great foundation to start the book.
I found the book very engaging and understandable. However, I wish there had been more pictures or diagrams to help visualize some of the descriptions. It would have made the reading experience even better. Perhaps in the future, there will be a visualized version of this book.
A perfect book for anyone interested in the science and history of eggs.
May 11, 2024
The unassuming animal egg takes center stage in this journey from the Cambrian shores to the rise the mammals. Learn how ecology, mass extinctions, and natural selection have molded these tiny wonders, playing a pivotal role in the grand history of life.
This easy-to-read book expertly explores an aspect of evolution that’s often overlooked. Immersive and engaging, the book is as entertaining as it is informative.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This easy-to-read book expertly explores an aspect of evolution that’s often overlooked. Immersive and engaging, the book is as entertaining as it is informative.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
February 11, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I found it highly informative with some good explanations where Howard simplified the science. I also found the interludes fun to read. I did have a quibble with the book, in that I found that the language was sometimes more literary than conversational thus breaking up the flow. Overall this book is well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for the advance reader copy.
January 2, 2025
Fascinating and readable account of eggs through the course of animal evolution, broken down into logical geological periods. Only danger is that there are enough interesting sidelines you could explore that you can easily go off into an internet rabbit hole. Only reason for removing one star is that so many times I really wanted a picture that would illustrate what was being said.
February 28, 2024
An absolutely amazing history of the egg! In an age where reproductive rights and the origins of life are being challenged by different religious views, this book is an important scientific and historical tour de force!
October 9, 2024
I didn't know that eggs began so early in the development of life on earth! Eggs go back to the earliest bacteria/one-celled animals. Whether enclose in mucus, a shell, or whatever, how to fashion an egg and "use" it is a fascinating question solved in by birds, bacteria, insects, mammals, etc.
December 31, 2024
This is a fascinating book. Very few books I have read on the subject of evolution state it like this. The author uses the egg to take us through on an evolutionary journey spanning several hundred million years. The story of the egg is worth knowing so this book is definitely recommended.
August 14, 2025
A fabulous read from start finish.
Taking the reader through evolution and the dramatic twists and turns of life on earth, the author takes us on an enjoyable educational tour of the importance and development of life’s most basic starting point.
I loved this book.
Taking the reader through evolution and the dramatic twists and turns of life on earth, the author takes us on an enjoyable educational tour of the importance and development of life’s most basic starting point.
I loved this book.
July 10, 2024
An interesting thesis about the importance of eggs for all of life and the development of the egg through history.
October 9, 2024
Another story about sex, but this one is different from both the Jane Austen and Hugh Hefner varities.
June 18, 2025
Fascinating, well written and very readable.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews