This unique book is organised as a timeline spanning over 30,000 years.
The approach taken is one of objective wonder — from astonishment that the mayfly can enjoy a full life in less time than it takes to read this book, to the awe that is inspired by trees over a thousand years old and colonies of simple life forms which have existed since before recorded time.
At the heart of the book is the human story: a central section looks at life expectancy among the human population today and historically through time, examining the many and varied factors that influence longevity.