"This beautifully illustrated book covers four billion years of biology history, from the origins of life to the discovery of Denisovan DNA and is arranged chronologically in 250 chapters. For each entry, Gerald (pharmacy, Univ. of Connecticut; "The Drug Book") has written several paragraphs describing the historical event, discovery, or individual, including a brief discussion of how the past relates to our current world. Topics represent the entire range of biological knowledge, from genetics to brain science to mummification. Chapters are cross-referenced to related chapters and each is accompanied by a full-page illustration. . . . The concise summaries, written for the layperson, make this work appealing for readers with little to no background in science. VERDICT Well suited to reference collections in secondary schools; also an optimal pick for general readers with an interest in biology or the history of science." --"Library Journal"

Michael C. Gerald, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut and has served as Dean of the school. He was previously a professor of pharmacology and Associate Dean at the College of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University and a consultant to the World Health Organization in Geneva. Formerly a member of the Board of Directors of the Patient Access Network Foundation, he has written more than 100 publications and five books, including "The Drug Book" (Sterling), "The Poisonous Pen of Agatha Christie" (University of Texas Press), and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Prescription Drugs" (Alpha). He lives in Storrs Mansfield, CT, with his wife, Gloria.