The Science of Life
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder | H. G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, G. P. Wells |
| Products | Popular biology books |
| Parent | The Waverley Publishing Company Ltd. |
The Science of Life is a three-volume work published between 1929 and 1930, authored by H. G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G. P. Wells through The Waverley Publishing Company Ltd. This extensive popular biology text reflects the scientific understanding of the 1920s and has been acclaimed as "the first modern textbook of biology" as well as "the best popular introduction to the biological sciences." Despite its publication date, much of its scientific content remains relevant.
After the remarkable success of his previous publication, The Outline of History, which sold over two million copies, H. G. Wells sought to create an equally approachable biology volume aimed at the "intelligent lower middle classes." Julian Huxley, a distinguished zoologist and grandson of T. H. Huxley, collaborated with Wells’s son, G. P. Wells, dividing the initial writing responsibilities between them. H. G. Wells oversaw the editing process, coordinated with the publisher, and ensured adherence to deadlines, using this project as a focus during his wife’s terminal illness.
Presented as a joint endeavor by the so-called "triplex author," royalties were allocated with Wells receiving 40%, while Huxley and G. P. Wells shared the remainder; Wells later passed his rights on to his son. In 1927, Huxley resigned from his Zoology professorship at King's College, London to dedicate himself fully to this undertaking, subsequently shifting his career toward administration and experimental research following the book's success.
Initially released in 31 biweekly installments, The Science of Life was eventually compiled into three volumes (1929–30) and later issued as a single volume in 1931, containing over 300 illustrations. Although it enjoyed strong sales, factors such as the Great Depression and a decline in book club memberships constrained further expansion.
Significantly, Book Four ("The How and Why of Development and Evolution") offers one of the clearest lay explanations of evolutionary theory available at the time and introduced ideas that would later contribute to the Extended evolutionary synthesis. The text also promoted contemporary ecological concepts and highlighted behaviorism alongside Jungian psychology, while recognizing Freud’s foundational influence on human intellectual development.
In its final sections, the book transitions from scientific exposition to practical ethical advice, addressing readers as "Mr. Everyman" and urging them to develop self-awareness, reliability, and empathy toward others. It concludes with Wells encouraging an understanding of one’s role within a larger collective entity—whether termed "the Deity" or "Man"—rather than focusing on belief in individual immortality.
Publication record
The Science of Life: a summary of contemporary knowledge about life and its possibilities was initially distributed in 31 fortnightly parts by Amalgamated Press during 1929–30 before being compiled into three volumes. A mail-order edition was also produced but discontinued following the 1929 stock market crash. Cassell published the first single-volume edition in 1931, with subsequent reprints in 1934 and 1937; a thoroughly revised popular edition featuring a new preface by H. G. Wells appeared in 1938. Between 1934 and 1937, Cassell issued separate volumes focusing on subjects such as The living body, Patterns of life, Evolution—fact and theory, and Man's mind and behaviour. In New York, Doubleday, Doran & Co. released editions in 1931, 1934, and 1939, including a limited four-volume set of 750 copies signed by the authors. Additionally, Doubleday published three Cassell spin-offs in 1932: Evolution, fact and theory, The human mind and the behaviour of Man, and Reproduction, genetics and the development of sex. The work was translated into French, and during World War II a one-volume edition was prepared specifically for military education programs. Its usage extended into American college curricula as late as 1960.
Of particular note is Book Three – The Incontrovertible Fact of Evolution, which provides an extensive scientific overview of evolution shortly after the Scopes Trial era, discussing fossil records, anatomical structures in plants and animals, variation patterns, geographic distribution, and human evolutionary history. Book Four tackles evolutionary controversies head-on while reaffirming Darwinian principles.
The chapter titled "The Ecological Outlook" prefigures major themes later embraced by environmental movements by stressing pollution control measures, protection for endangered species, and exploration of alternative energy sources.
While this edition is comprehensive, other publishers or versions may exist under different titles or translated into various languages.
Outline
- Introduction
- The Scope, Character, and Examination of Living Organisms 1
- Book One—The Living Organism
- The Body as a Machine 24
- The Intricate Body-Machine and Its Operation 32
- Coordination and Regulation within the Body-Machine 97
- Wear and Tear of the Machine and Its Regeneration 140
- Book Two—Principal Life Forms
- The Primary Major Phylum: Vertebrates 168
- The Secondary Major Phylum: Arthropods 194
- Additional Patterns of Distinct Animal Life 210
- Less Distinct Animal Forms 235
- Plant Life 253
- The Simple and Minute Organisms 268
- Is Our Understanding of Life Forms Exhaustive? 311
- Book Three—The Undeniable Reality of Evolution
- The Fact to Establish 314
- Rock Evidence 318
- Structural Evidence from Plants and Animals 356
- Evidence from Variation and Distribution of Species 374
- Human Evolution 402
- Book Four—Mechanisms and Reasons Behind Development and Evolution
- Core Debates on Evolution 425
- Origins of Individuals 433
- Inheritance Mechanisms 459
- Genetics Fundamentals 468
- Individual Growth Processes 508
- Determinants of Sex 552
- Species Variation 576
- Evolutionary Selection Processes 600
- Is There a Mystical Drive in Evolution? 629
- Book Five—Life’s History and Journey
- Introduction 644
- Pre-Fossil Life 660
- Age of Crawling and Swimming Creatures 675
- Life’s Emergence on Land 701
- Complete Terrestrial Conquest 738
- Contemporary Era 774
- Human Emergence on Earth 796
- Book Six—The Panorama of Life
- Habitats Overview 823
- Marine Life 839
- Freshwater and Terrestrial Life Forms 878
- Distinctive Aspects of Life 922
- Ecology as a Science 961
- Life under Regulation 1012
- Book Seven—Health and Illness
- Contagious and Infectious Diseases 1033
- Body Nourishment 1054
- Importance of Fresh Air and Sunlight 1076
- Current Health Status of Homo Sapiens 1089
- Book Eight—Behavior, Emotion, and Cognition
- Foundations of Behavior 1102
- Behavior in Insects and Other Invertebrates 1147
- Behavioral Evolution in Vertebrates 1200
- Consciousness Explored 1270
- The Advanced Brain Structure 1278
- Functioning of the Cortex 1288
- Human Behavior and Mind Dynamics 1318
- Contemporary Perspectives on Conduct 1390
- Fringe Science and the Issue of Personal Survival 1411
- Book Nine—Human Biology
- Unique Traits of Homo Sapiens Species 1436
- Current Stage of Human Society 1454
Index pages: 1481–1515 Page numbering corresponds to the Literary Guild edition from 1934.
External links
- Digital version —1931 facsimile edition hosted by Internet Archive