Ben McFarland teaches biochemistry and chemistry at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle WA. He received a dual B.S. in Chemistry and Technical Writing from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Biomolecular Structure and Design from the University of Washington. His research uses the rules of chemistry to redesign immune system proteins.

"The narrative should appeal to anyone interested in viewing chemistry and biology from a general, perhaps poetic, perspective. Although intended for a general audience, some background knowledge of chemistry, biology, and evolution of the world is probably needed to fully appreciate the story. The style is informal, and the presentation includes many intriguing real-world contexts and examples, and numerous thought-provoking metaphors and analogies." -- David M. Hanson, Quarterly Review of Biology

"Like all good works of science for the general public, McFarland's is full of fascinating examples, a dash of humor, and just plain cool facts." --Publishers Weekly

"McFarland's unique way of looking at things gives new insights to the reader on the topic established in the subtitle: how the periodic table shaped life." --Popular Science Blog

"The author makes a decent argument for the chemical predictability of evolution as a bridge between biology and physics. The book's chronological structure and colloquial writing style make the book easy to read. ... I would recommend this book to non-specialist people with an interest in evolution, it might also be useful for students before starting university." --Rosie Cawkwell, Rosie Writes... Blog

"To quote, this book is "natural history told by a chemist"-and this chemist and author does a superb job. ... As this work is written for non-scientists at an elementary level, it is recommended for all audiences-general and scientific." --CHOICE