Why Fish Don't Exist

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Why Fish Don't Exist
First edition cover of Why Fish Don't Exist
AuthorLulu Miller
IllustratorKate Samworth
LanguageEnglish
GenreMemoir
PublisherPushkin Press
Publication date
April 30, 2020
Publication placeUnited States
Pages225
ISBN978-1501160271
590.92
LC ClassQL31.J6 M55

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life is a 2020 personal memoir written by American science reporter and author Lulu Miller and illustrated by scratchboard artist Kate Samworth.[1][2] It incorporates the life and work of 19th century fish taxidermist David Starr Jordan, exploring the search for objective meaning and order "against the chaos of the world".[3] The memoir was published by Pushkin Press.[3] In 2025, it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction.[4]

Synopsis

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The book has a non-linear narrative structure, interspersing Miller's account of Jordan's life with personal anecdotes, including her experience with depression and her relationship with her father, Chris Miller, who manages to find beauty in life despite his belief that it is meaningless.[5]

Throughout her memoir, Miller grapples with the conflict between her admiration for Jordan's relentless determination in his work and her research into his alleged involvement in the death of Jane Stanford, and his ardent support for eugenics.[6] Examining the psychological debate around "positive illusions" and Jordan's fixation on the preservation of biological hierarchy, she warns against his dogmatic and certain approach to order, pointing to recent scientific breakthroughs that have diminished the existence of fish as a distinct evolutionary category as evidence that "nature is more boundless and bountiful than anything we can imagine".[3][7] Miller concludes, contrary to the beliefs of her both her father and Jordan, that, whilst the universe is fundamentally chaotic, the subjective search for meaning is attainable, through our interpersonal relationships with one another and curiosity for the world around us.[2][8]

Reception

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In 2020, Why Fish Don't Exist was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize for Science and Technology.[9] In 2022, it was chosen as one of the novels for Stanford's Three Books program, on the theme of biodiversity.[8] Booklist described it as "gripping, and sure to be on readers' minds long after the final pages" whilst Folio Prize winner Carmen Maria Machado described it as "a sumptuous, surprising delight".[3][10] Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Christoph Irmscher wrote: "leavened by a healthy dose of self-irony, Ms. Miller wields this familiar format with panache, spinning a tale so seductive that I read her book in one sitting".[1] New York Times bestselling author Mary Roach commented: "this book is perfect, just perfect. It's both lyrical and learned, personal and political, small and huge, quirky and profound".[3]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Irmscher, Christoph (April 17, 2020). "'Why Fish Don't Exist' Review: Getting Back in the Swim". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life | Washington Independent Review of Books". www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Miller, Lulu (April 14, 2020). Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5011-6027-1.
  4. ^ "Why Fish Don't Exist". The Guardian Bookshop. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  5. ^ Priddy, Naomi (September 5, 2022). "Review: Lulu Miller's 'Why Fish Don't Exist' is a must-read". The Arbiter. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. ^ inquisitivebiologist (April 23, 2021). "Book review – Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life". The Inquisitive Biologist. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  7. ^ Shapiro, Ari (April 17, 2020). "Learning Lessons From Inspiration, Despite Complexity, In 'Why Fish Don't Exist'". NPR. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Lulu Miller talks purpose, disability and biodiversity in Stanford lecture". October 19, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Here are the finalists for the 2020-21 L.A. Times Book Prize". Literary Hub. March 2, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "Booklist Online: Leading Book Discovery". www.booklistonline.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.