A review by hollysbookadventure
Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

 I didn't know what to expect getting into Why Fish don't exist. Part memior, part history book, part disability advocacy, and so much more. 

David Starr Jordan was a taxonomist who is credited with discovering a fifth of the fish we know of today. His journey of discovery wasn't easy, and he faced many set backs- including when all his specimen were destroyed in an earthquake.  When NPR reporter Lulu Miller heard of Jordan, she took away a cautionary tale. But as she faced the chaos of life, Lulu sought clarity and guidance from Jordan, but what she found would shift the world from under her feet. 

I am grateful to Lulu Millar for bringing awareness to the forced sterilization projects of the United States. I was surprised when the book took a turn into this area, considering I thought the book was going to be about Fish, but I was am unsurprised by how the topics are connected. More attention needs to be brought to this history, and it's current repercussions . 

I feel like there were a few central themes to this book. One being that chaos is inevitable, and order is easily upset - even in the scientific world. But also,  how important order and connections are to people and understanding the history of the world. 

I really enjoyed how this book doesn't fall into one category. As it's a book about life, and life hardly ever falls into one category. The way Lulu Millar winds together many different topics within one theme is very impressive. 

The title, Why Fish Don't Exist, is eye catching. Infact it's why I picked up The book. I went in open minded, albeit a little confused as to how something I have seen would not exist. But when you think on it, it's true. Fish as we know it, probably don't exist. When I think on it, it's a little bit of chaos that changes how I see the world.