Life at the Extremes: the Science of Survival

As an A-level student I have found it hard to find a scientific book which perfectly sets the tone between excitement and education, being both engaging and readable and broadening my knowledge. Frances Ashcroft’s ‘Surviving at the Extremes’ sets this tone superbly as her own passion really comes across in each chapter which takes the reader to another of Earth’s extremes. Ashcroft documents her own experience alongside interesting and absurd case studies that help to bring the complex physiology of the human body to life in a book that has the reader in awe at the tenacious nature of life on Earth. Not only does this book help explain simple yet strange problems such as how do you go to the loo in space and how deep can we really swim but it explores a more philosophical approach as well questioning the possibility of future exploration and evolution. Your own curiosity will be quenched by Ashcroft’s various descriptions of death by cold, pressure, heat etc. and how your body will break down in this process. Whilst this is a grave topic the book is still fairly light hearted in nature and a great read for anyone irrespective of scientific understanding and ability.  

-Izzie