Alive

An immersive and awe-inspiring exploration of the diversity of life on earth that reveals humans are far from the only intelligent species in our restless, ever-evolving world.

What does it mean to be alive, form a consciousness, possess a soul? If the Big Bang was an effect without a discernable cause, what is the significance of creating meaning, of moving through a seemingly arbitrary world with purpose and intelligence? Do we have free will? And if so, are we the only ones?

Life Is an Act of Rebellion sets out to answer these and more fascinating questions by observing a variety of life forms—from single cells to cats, slime molds to woodpeckers—and surveying a wide range of definitions of life across cultures. Part personal essay, part natural history, part philosophy, this grounded examination of our world guides readers through the vastness of life from its emergence on a cellular level to its expansions into the realms of perception, consciousness, and agency. 

Along the way, Melanie Challenger draws on the knowledge of some of the world’s leading specialists, rendering in-depth research in beautifully crafted prose that sparks wonder and curiosity. The result is the remarkable assertion that intelligence is both far more common and more extraordinary than we could have ever imagined.