In the Beat of a Heart by John Whitfield – review

A book that beautifully explores the astonishing variety and complexity of life iterated across the species in an attempt to answer the biggest question of all: why is life the way it is?

This is a book that addresses fabulous and life-enhancing themes. It is written beautifully enough to take your breath away, even as its author writes about trying not to hyperventilate. A book through which ideas, energy and food for thought cycle across every page; a book that attempts to address the biggest questions of all: why is life the way it is, why are big things so different from small things, why are there so many creatures and if that's the wrong question, why are there so few?

But first, a spoiler. The questions are enormous but the answers are ultimately inconclusive. Few arguments are clinched, or cases closed. That is no fault of the book. Some questions are hard to answer because life's like that.