Togetherness (Symbiosis and the Hidden Story of Life's Greatest Collaborations)

A wondrous, eye-opening exploration of the surprising ways life is interconnected—and why it matters

"Absolutely enthralling. I was hooked from the first sentence." —Bill Bryson, author of A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Body

From evolution to capitalism, our belief in the “survival of the fittest” has shaped our view of the world. But we got it wrong—and our mistake has brought us to the brink.

In Togetherness, evolutionary biologist Rowan Hooper shows us that all life on Earth hinges on collaboration. From the rich underbrush, to the murky ocean depths, to the human body itself, Hooper uncovers the poetry of life’s greatest collaborations. The female wasp venturing deep inside a fig to pollinate the fruit and lay her egg; the intricate relationship between corals and the algae that sustain them; the symbiotic gut microbes that influence our moods. These are just a few of the intimate negotiations that animate and connect all living things. But, as Hooper explains, they also provide a guide to a more sustainable future.

Dazzlingly clever and suffused with awe, Togetherness will change the way you see the world, our place in it, and our obligation to its hidden wonders.