This book by Professor Daniel Pauly is for people interested in fishes, in Charles Darwin, or just plain interested in natural history. Darwin is known for writing about many things, with superb works on orchids and barnacles and, of course, on natural selection. Many authors have written about him and we often hear reference to ‘Darwin's finches’. I suspect few people connect Darwin with fishes: this now will change. Daniel Pauly has done a superb job in this book in showing us the many connections between Darwin and fishes. He does this in a delightful way, mixing subtle, cryptic humour with academic discussions. Pauly gives us a tour in discovering fascinating facts; it's a great way to learn about fishes.

Daniel Pauly is internationally known for his work on fish growth and mortality, tropical fisheries management, and ecosystem modelling. A recognized leader in studies of fish population dynamics, he is also well known for his insights into the historic and socio-economic factors that intervene when fish populations are exploited. These, combined with his wide interests in evolutionary subjects, allowed a masterful treatment of Darwin's contributions to ichthyology, the subject of this book.

The book is arranged like an encyclopedia, with items in alphabetical order. The generous cross-references allow the reader to start with a given term of interest and go on an exciting voyage of discovery, exploring all sorts of worlds.