In 2024, as in other years, I read many books outside of my book club selections. Among them, my "Book of the Year" is "Why Fish Don't Exist" by Lulu Miller, a brilliant science journalist.
When I first opened this book, I had a vague hesitation, thinking it might be a dry, technical science text. To my surprise, it was an easy, engaging, and thrilling read. It felt like a thriller with constant twists and ended so romantically that it almost felt like a love story. Although the characters are real people, the book seamlessly blends fiction, non-fiction, essays, science, history, mystery, gender, and the social issues created by eugenics. To me, it was a philosophical lesson on the relationship between chaos and order, and between belief and reality.
The story unfolds by intertwining the author's personal growth with the life of scientist David Starr Jordan. The author recalls asking her father as a child, "What is life?" to which he replied, "Chaos." This word, "Chaos," is so central that it could be called the theme of the book. While she didn't understand it as a child, the word took on deeper meaning as she navigated the disorder of her own adult life.
Heartbroken after a seven-year relationship ended, the author became curious about David Starr Jordan, a taxonomist who dedicated his life to finding order in nature. She hoped he might hold a secret—perhaps about persistence or purpose—that she desperately needed. She studied him like a savior, hoping his refusal to give up in the face of crisis would provide her with hope. However, through Jordan’s failures, she realizes how easily human-made order can crumble. She learns the importance of acknowledging chaos, accepting the world as it is, and finding meaning within that uncertainty.
David Starr Jordan was a 19th-century scientist who named thousands of fish to bring order to the natural world. Yet, his efforts were repeatedly thwarted. When the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed his specimens, he desperately tried to re-label them by sewing name tags directly onto the fish. Miller interprets this as an "obsession with meaningless order." This wasn't just a scientific error; it was a chilling warning about how violent human hierarchies (like eugenics) can become. When the category of "fish" collapses, we can finally see beings for who they truly are, rather than the labels we give them.
According to modern taxonomy, the concept of a "fish" is too broad. For instance, a lungfish is genetically closer to a cow than to a salmon. Nature does not fit into the neat boxes we create. Jordan’s life shows the futility of trying to perfectly organize the world. Instead of seeking perfect order, true wisdom lies in acknowledging uncertainty and living flexibly.
My Key Takeaways:
Life is Chaos: We must create meaning within uncertainty rather than clinging to total control.
Question Authority: Science is not an absolute truth but evolves over time. We must remain critical and curious.
The Trap of Naming: Once we label something, we stop truly looking at it. To see clearly, we must admit that we don't fully understand what we are looking at.
The Danger of Collection: While collecting can provide a sense of control for those feeling anxious or powerless, it can turn from a joy into a destructive obsession.
We must remain open to the idea that the world is not what we think it is. By blurring the lines and boundaries we draw, we can see both sides of a story and welcome new people and events into our lives. Only then does life become truly rich and deep.
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