Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life

This was an incredibly interesting book. She paints such a vivid picture in all the scenes, even the ones she didn't witness. I was very curious about the name of the book, I was also curious about the importance of this taxonomist. It was a gripping read, fascinating really. The audiobook version is wonderful, and I found the little nugget included at the end so heartwarming. This definitely made me want to read more book about natural history.

I absolutely did not expect the plot twists to include murder and eugenics! I think it's very interesting how Robert Starr Jordan went from allegedly covering up a murder, feeling wracked with guilt about it, to making eugenics his new purpose in life. What an absolute monster. The book is a masterclass in how to write a villain. In the beginning you hear mostly praise for him, there are definitely criticisms but you can see the author choosing to focus in his great capacity for perseverance, only for it to take a dark change, and for him to end up being responsible for the death, torture and mutilation (amongs other things) of tens of thousands in the US alone. Also, the US was the first country to make eugenics into national law. Which is so interesting considering the national narrative about it role in WW2. Not the least surprising though. I am surprised at how engaging this book was, considering I didn't like the author at all. Her writing is great, but she did not pass the vibe check. Also, fish dont exist as a category, that's the answer to the title. And Robert Starr Jordan can suck on that!

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lesbianelvira's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

i wish this book were longer. i love books like this that weave genres together, specifically science with history and memoir. learning about david starr jordan — who i knew nothing about previously — was an incredibly wild ride & i’m very moved by how i was taken on the journey lulu went through

: fascination, empathy, inspiration, disappointment, and horror.

i will say i was left wanting so much more of lulu miller herself. she was extremely relatable and compelling for me. i find myself wanting to see her work at NPR, other writings, and reach out to her. i wanted more from this book because i think it could’ve cracked me open the way heartbreak: a personal and scientific journey did. even still, i was crying at the library finishing it, and i’m absolutely going to see about getting my hands on the book she recommended: naming nature by carol yoon, stay alive: a history of suicide by jennifer hecht, and what a fish knows by jonathan balcombe. & i did immediately tell my students about how fish don’t exist, pairing it with the knowledge lulu references that i learned previously: (from paleopod) that bats are from ungulates, and (from a paleo tiktok) whales descending from deer. i love nature. so chaotic.

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bleach226's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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maddiearthur's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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del_phinium's review against another edition

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inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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mirto's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

If I could give this 6 stars, I would. Brilliant book. I would even say Lulu Miller created a whole new genre. Memoir, biography, essay, nature book, history book, sociology, psychology, murder mystery, whatever, you name it. Made me feel so many things, all at once. I learnt a lot, from science to giving myself the life I want. Why Fish Don't Exist will stay with me forever.

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