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Most Delicious Poison

From Spices to Vices – The Story of Nature’s Toxins
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( 820 ratings, 152 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Most Delicious Poison by Noah Whiteman explores the fascinating world of toxins and their evolutionary journey across species. It delves into how nature's poisons serve as both defence mechanisms and tools for survival, affecting interactions between organisms, including humans. The book offers a unique perspective on the complex relationships between species in the natural world, highlighting the dual nature of these powerful substances.
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Format: Hardback
$4499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the intriguing world of toxins and their paradoxical role in nature as both deadly and beneficial. Blending science with captivating storytelling, it explores how humans and animals have adapted to these poisons throughout history, offering a fresh perspective on their significance in evolutionary biology.

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Most Delicious Poison

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about poisons but have been too afraid to ask…

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about poisons but have been too afraid to ask…

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A deadly secret lurks within our kitchens, medicine cabinets and gardens.

Scratch beneath the surface of a coffee bean, a red pepper flake or an apple seed, and we find a bevy of strange chemicals. We use these to greet our days (caffeine), titillate our tongues (capsaicin) and even kill our enemies (cyanide). But what is the reason plants and fungi produce such chemicals? And how did we come to use and abuse them?

Based on cutting-edge science in the fields of evolution, chemistry, and neuroscience, Most Delicious Poison is the first book to reveal the origins of plant and fungal toxins, the mechanisms animals have evolved to overcome them, and how a co-evolutionary arms race made its way into the human experience. This perpetual chemical war not only drove the diversification of life on Earth, but is also intimately tied to our own successes and failures as a species.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Most Delicious Poison by Noah Whiteman is praised for its fascinating exploration of the evolution and impact of toxins in our lives. The book is described as deeply researched and illuminating, offering insights into how plants and their chemicals have shaped human history. Whiteman's engaging narrative and enthusiasm make complex scientific concepts accessible, providing readers with an inspiring and entertaining look at how humans have harnessed these natural substances.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780861544516

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Noah Whiteman is a professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley and one of the world’s leading evolutionary biologists. He has been featured in Der Spiegel, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science, Scientific American, and has appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition and, most recently, alongside the late Stephen Hawking for his last television series, Genius by Stephen Hawking. noahwhiteman.org

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