Jonathan Silvertown

www.JonathanSilvertown.com

I am Professor of Evolutionary Ecology in the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Edinburgh and author of > 130 academic papers, a successful textbook and 5 popular science books, the most recent of them translated into 8 languages.

My signature approach as an author is to take a subject of everyday interest (plants, seeds, life span and ageing, food, humour) and to show how evolutionary biology illuminates our understanding in surprising and fascinating ways. All of my books have met with high praise, often being described as erudite and witty.

Dinner with Darwin: Food, drink and evolution (2017)

"The Darwinian dining served up by evolutionary ecologist Jonathan Silvertown in this delectably erudite study is all about tracing the impact of natural selection on foods. ...This intricate scientific banquet is a marvellous read: bon appétit.” — Nature

"…a wide-ranging natural history of our diet, crafted at a pitch-perfect level for the science buff and the general reader alike. Silvertown is also a wonderful writer: erudite, informative, and thoroughly entertaining." — Washington Independent Review of Books

“Silvertown is a gifted writer who engages as much as he amuses. His observation that 'A heroin addict is a bystander casualty of the war between poppies and caterpillars' is the kind of wit you would expect from a biologist…" — Natural History Book Service

The Long and the Short of it: The science of Life Span and aging (2013)

“Aging is a complex topic, but the author mixes art, science, and humor to brew a highly readable concoction.” — Publishers’ Weekly

“Interwoven with history and poetry, his erudite and eloquent book concisely explains the mechanisms underlying the lifespan of organisms…” — New Scientist

“Silvertown is an elegant and vivid communicator, conveying complex ideas and processes in accessible ways without dumbing down his subject matter.” — The Australian

An Orchard Invisible: A natural history of seeds (2009)

"...a fabulous book on the natural history of seeds and their evolution ... Silvertown has produced a gem” — Times Higher Education

"For all its erudition, however, this is not an encyclopaedia of botanical lore, nor a definitive text, but rather a little gem of science writing that deserves a spot on any natural history lover’s bedside bookstand." — Natural History Magazine

“...a subtle but engaging narrative of the evolutionary struggles of seeds.” — Times Literary Supplement

Demons in Eden: the paradox of plant diversity (2005)

“Demons in Eden is a grand scientific narrative, full of vivid description, clear analysis, and personal warmth—an enthralling read and an important contribution to our understanding of biodiversity.” — Oliver Sacks

"Reading Demons in Eden: The Paradox of Plant Diversity is like listening to a great professor deliver a stellar lecture..." — Science (2006)

“The author is so clear, concise, engaging, friendly, funny, and adept with the techniques of narrative writing … that this is a pleasant read over and above the rich content.” — William Allen