logo

49 pages 1 hour read

Why Fish Don't Exist

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2020

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Lulu Miller

Why Fish Don't Exist

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2020
Book Details
Pages

225

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Various • 20th-21st Century

Publication Year

2020

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller blends the life story of American scientist David Starr Jordan with Miller's own personal reflections, exploring themes of scientific certainty, morality, and existence. Miller delves into Jordan’s persistence despite repeated setbacks, such as the 1906 earthquake, and examines his controversial support of eugenics, searching for insights to navigate her own life’s struggles. The book discusses suicide and mental health struggles.

Mysterious

Contemplative

Informative

Melancholic

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.2

43,765 ratings

79%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Lulu Miller's Why Fish Don't Exist is lauded for its inventive blend of biography, memoir, and scientific exploration, challenging readers with its thought-provoking narratives. Praised for eloquent prose and deep insights, some critics found its structure disjointed. Overall, it's a compelling read, marked by Miller's unique storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Why Fish Don't Exist?

Readers who savor deep dives into science, eccentric biographies, and the intertwining of personal narrative with intellectual exploration will relish Lulu Miller’s Why Fish Don't Exist. Fans of Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Helen Macdonald’s H Is for Hawk will find Miller’s work equally captivating.

4.2

43,765 ratings

79%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Character List

Lulu Miller

An American radio producer and science journalist, who narrates her exploration into themes of order and chaos while reflecting on her personal journey and interest in David Starr Jordan.

A 19th-century taxonomist and founding president of Stanford University, notable for his extensive work in fish classification and advocacy for eugenics, whose life and career are examined by Miller.

Book Details
Pages

225

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Various • 20th-21st Century

Publication Year

2020

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.