Why Fish Don't Exist

Miller's “Why Fish Don't Exist” (WFDE) at first glance is about how one should (or even can) overcome difficult times. What motivates us to push through? Why push through at all, when everything seems to be falling apart? The book is about hope—sure—but it has a unique take on nihilism that I haven't come across before. Ultimately I'm not sure YET if the words here will be life changing (it may well be), they certainly motivated me to reflect more deeply on the hard times. The book takes a stab at answering “what is the meaning of life?” In my opinion, it answers that pretty well. It sort of reframes the question. Instead of focusing on life's meaning, think about the possibility of all that awaits you.

In the author's words, this book is “a prescription for hope....the promise that there are good things in store...to wonder about the reality waiting behind our assumptions.”

I gave the book 4/5 because the way it gets here is somewhat roundabout—and you certainly need to be with the author on the journey (i.e you shouldn't know the full story of David Starr Jordan). DSJ is not the most well known figure, but I do think I had to somewhat suspend disbelief that (given how extensively and commendably Miller researched him, even as much as going to hold a fish in the archives that he discovered), she didn't uncover his horrible beliefs earlier. I was skeptical of Miller's deep desire to reconcile her father's world view with that of Jordan's (or Darwin's). It felt like a quest for absolute capital T Truth, that seemed perhaps naive at times. But the ending ultimately reflects on this in a mature and self aware way, that mostly makes up for it.

My favorite moments were Anna/Mary, and Miller's vignette of her sister finding a home for herself in Boston. I also enjoyed Miller's own ending (or new beginning depending on how you see it)—I think anyone who has felt heartbreak could relate.