Why Fish Don't Exist (a Story Of Finding Our Way In A Chaotic World)

By (author) Miller, Lulu
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The quirky and profound international bestseller - at once a life-affirming memoir on how to live well in a world governed by chaos, and a darkly astonishing scientific biography
Description:

Longlisted for the Women''s Prize for Non-Fiction 2025.

The profound and life-affirming memoir about finding our way in a chaotic world.

''A sumptuous, surprising, dark delight'' Carmen Maria Machado

''Her book took me to strange depths I never imagined, and I was smitten'' NYT

As the daughter of a scientist, Lulu Miller was taught that chaos will come for us all. There is no cosmic destiny, no grand plan. But years later, reeling from heartbreak, she stumbles upon the story of David Starr Jordan - a fearless taxonomist devoted to order.

Looking to cure her crisis of confidence, Lulu is intrigued by the hubris of this mighty biologist, who refused to admit defeat when lightning struck his laboratory and earthquakes shattered his collection. Until, digging deeper, she makes a startling discovery. One that will upend her wish for a neatly catalogued existence and reveal the profound beauty of embracing chaos.

PRAISE FOR WHY FISH DON''T EXIST:

''Shimmering'' Guardian

''Astonishing'' Prospect

''Compelling'' The Times

''Fascinating'' Daily Mail

''Revelatory'' Women''s Prize for Non-Fiction

''Remarkable'' LA Times

''Magical'' Susan Orlean

''Perfect'' Mary Roach

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This genre-defying journey into the science of classification weaves memoir and history in shimmering prose
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I want to live at this book''s address: the intersection of history and biology and wonder and failure and sheer human stubbornness. What a sumptuous, surprising, dark delight
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Her book took me to strange depths I never imagined, and I was smitten
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Here is a book that hops nimbly between biography and autobiography, gritty science and lovelorn self-help. And its final, happy leap into the unknown is just astonishing
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A story told with an open heart, every page of it animated by verve, nuance, and full-throated curiosity
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A bold and original blend of memoir and science, it combines the exhilaration of discovery with the unexpected and revelatory
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This book will capture your heart, seize your imagination, smash your preconceptions, and rock your world
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Strangely compelling
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Moves gracefully between reporting and meditation, big questions and small moments. A magical hybrid of science, portraiture, and memoir-and a delight to read
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This book is perfect, just perfect. It''s both lyrical and learned, personal and political, small and huge, quirky and profound
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A tale so seductive that I read her book in one sitting
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Stunning and brilliant and completely un-sum-up-able... I love this book so much!
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Remarkable... Lulu Miller draws a heartening lesson-that chaos, which comes for us all, can be defeated by sheer human stubbornness
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Wholly unique and a true delight
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A wild ride... that upends our idea of what fish (and we) are in the grand scheme of things
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A touching blend of biography, science, philosophy and self-reflection. Like its provocative title, it''s full of surprises
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Engrossing... thought-provoking... Lulu Miller does the job with style and intelligence
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