What can snorkelling at Shark Bay teach us about the evolution of sex? Will the secrets of our gendered society be uncovered by stick insects? And why did we evolve to spend a third of our life asleep?

Some questions have nipped at humanity’s heels for as long as we’ve been…well, humans. Why Are We Like This? takes us behind the scenes of the evolutionary paradoxes that make up life on this planet. Exploring with scientists, from freezing in Tasmanian sleet to a laboratory of sleeping sharks in North Queensland, we see how these evolutionary mysteries might just uncover the secrets of a better life for humans and the creatures we share the planet with.

Zoe Kean shows us that the ancient ancestors of life on Earth faced the same challenges we do, so let’s learn a lesson or two about how they dealt with them.

‘Evolution is not perfect, just good enough. This book brilliantly guides you through this complexity, showing us how we evolved to be marvelously imperfect. Read this book, and learned up.’ – Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

‘A witty and inquisitive exploration of humans’ place in the web of life – full of wonder, curiosity and tenderness.’ – Tegan Taylor