49 pages • 1 hour read
Lulu MillerWhy Fish Don't Exist
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller blends the life story of American scientist David Starr Jordan with Miller's own personal reflections, exploring themes of scientific certainty, morality, and existence. Miller delves into Jordan’s persistence despite repeated setbacks, such as the 1906 earthquake, and examines his controversial support of eugenics, searching for insights to navigate her own life’s struggles. The book discusses suicide and mental health struggles.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Lulu Miller's Why Fish Don't Exist is lauded for its inventive blend of biography, memoir, and scientific exploration, challenging readers with its thought-provoking narratives. Praised for eloquent prose and deep insights, some critics found its structure disjointed. Overall, it's a compelling read, marked by Miller's unique storytelling.
Who Should Read Why Fish Don't Exist?
Readers who savor deep dives into science, eccentric biographies, and the intertwining of personal narrative with intellectual exploration will relish Lulu Miller’s Why Fish Don't Exist. Fans of Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Helen Macdonald’s H Is for Hawk will find Miller’s work equally captivating.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Science / Nature
Philosophy
Animals
Identity: Race
Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Philosophy
Biography