The Wasp That Brainwashed the Caterpillar: Evolution's Most Unbelievable Solutions to Life's Biggest Problems

by Matt Simon Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross

Overview

From the man behind the popular Wired series "Absurd Creature of the Week," a fun, fascinating collection of unique animals and the unbelievable evolutionary traits they use to survive the most extreme scenarios From Wired columnist Matt Simon, The Wasp that Brainwashed the Caterpillar is an absurdist, comical romp through evolution's weirdest solutions to - appropriately enough - the hazards that evolution itself produces. Each original entry talks about a creature and its amazing adaptation, using Matt's signature blend of scientific accuracy and humor that has made his Wired column and accompanying web show so popular. The creatures themselves are absolutely mind-blowing, with zombie ants mind-controlled by a fungus; beautiful salamanders that can regenerate any part of their bodies including their brains; the mantis shrimp, which fires its club-like appendage so fast that the surrounding water becomes as hot as the surface of the sun; the Antechinus, whose runaway testosterone levels cause them to have so much sex during their three-week mating session that they bleed internally, go blind, and drop dead; and many more.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

09/12/2016
Simon, a science writer at Wired magazine, lays out an entertaining look at evolution’s frightening billion-year arms race. All species must adapt to changing environments to survive; many do it in strange ways, and Simon delivers a well-written, if light, recitation of some of the weirdest. There are camouflage creatures: the spider-tailed horned viper, whose accurately named tail lures prey; the orb weaver spider, which spins a web to mimic “bird turds”; a “satanic” gecko that’s shaped like a leaf; and the cuttlefish, which is capable of imitating any background. Simon also profiles some mind controllers, including Glyptapanteles wasps, which inject their eggs into caterpillars so that the resulting larvae can puppet them into being their bodyguards, and the Ophiocordyceps fungus that “invades ants’ brains and mind-controls them up into trees.” Many animals live in odd places—such as the gonads of sea cucumbers or the tongues of fish—and others wield bizarre weapons (heated hammer hands, intoxicants, glue). This is not an in-depth look at evolutionary processes; each entry in the parade of creatures is brief. Simon’s wit, combined with the genuine eccentricity of his subjects, make this a fun and accessible book. Agent: David Fugate, LaunchBooks. (Nov.)

From the Publisher

Winner of the American Library Association’s Alex Award

“A veritable parade of eccentric animal profiles that make you laugh so hard you won’t even realize you’re learning a thing or two about niche distribution and adaptive camouflage.”
—Wired (“Required Science Reading from 2016”)

“A bizarre collection of evolution tales . . . the weirder, the better.”
—Entertainment Weekly

“A quick, fun read that’s . . . heavy on snark. . . . The book is packed full of fascinating facts that will both impress and creep out.”
—Science News

“An entertaining look at evolution’s frightening billion-year arms race. . . . Simon’s wit, combined with the geniune eccentricity of his subjects, make this a fun and accessible book.”
—Publishers Weekly

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170842896
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	10/15/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos