Master of the creepy universe

At times armed with little more than a soda straw, paper clip and a dab of wax, Eisner has filled his life with dramatic scientific discovery. He has published hundreds of papers on his studies of how insects defend themselves.

If this sounds dull and sleep-inducing, prepare to be amazed. Brimming with enthusiasm, Eisner reveals a world of unbelievable majesty and complexity in the simplest of insects.

The photographs alone are worth the price of the book, but the text crackles with the electricity of a brilliant genius at work, as Eisner leads the reader from simple observation to major scientific breakthrough. In fact, this book should be required reading for every biology student because it illustrates the basic principle that passion and curiosity are the twin pillars of all great science.

-- David Lukas