Primer Mover. A natural history of muscle

When we blink an eye, lift a finger, walk, run, or merely breathe, we use muscle. Although muscles differ little in appearance and performance across the animal kingdom, they accomplish tasks as diverse as making flies fly, rattlesnakes rattle, and squid flare their tentacles. In today’s world, machines whirl and pound and purr away, doing our bidding in return for a lit-tle petroleum, a hefty wind, or falling water. But for most of our time on earth our own muscles were our primary source of power. In recent years, we’ve come to understand both the way muscle works and its strength, in part by exploring how different animals use it.
The story of muscle is largely the story of humankind, and Steven Vogel, internationally hailed as a leader in the fascinating and burgeoning field of biomechanics, is its storyteller. His talents as both scientist and writer shine in this masterful narrative of biological ingenuity.
“Fascinating… [Vogel’s] interests seemingly know no bounds, and he takes the readers along with him on a complex, absorbing journey of exploration notable for its unexpected twists and turns.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Lucid explanations…. Vogel’s latest success informs and delights.” Science
“Positively gripping.” Booklist
Steven Vogel is the James B. Duke Professor of biology at Duke university. He is the author of many books, including the prize winning Cats’ Paws and Catapults.