"From Fish to Philosopher is a broad epic of life, based on the special knowledge of an eminent physiologist. The kidney, more than any other organ, is responsible for maintaining the internal environment of the body. In this book Homer Smith shows how kidney function has permitted adaptation of animals to the diverse waters and lands of the earth. He further discusses how a regulated internal environment has accompanied the expansion of consciousness and led finally to the thought of the philosopher and the dexterity of the musician."--George Gaylord Simpson, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology, Harvard University