From the author of Bird Sense and The Wisdom of Birds, a revealing and enthralling book about the extraordinary creation that is a bird's egg

Shortlisted for Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize 2016.

The title is also a perfect description of the book itself - full of wonder and surprise and beautifully written -- Nick Davies, author of Cuckoo Birkhead's approach to writing - hard, clear sentences; deep, revelatory looking - has the same effect as his microscope, bringing objects to light that were previously hidden, making us see the familiar with new eyes ... After reading The Most Perfect Thing, you'll never dip your morning soldiers without a shiver of wonder at the complexity and resourcefulness of the humble egg. -- Alex Preston Observer Eye-opening ... Thoroughly engaging, it also gives us a thrilling sense of the vast, unmapped territories that lie beyond, waiting to be discovered Sunday Times Superb ... like having the top of your own head lifted off and its contents deliciously stirred: no one after reading this book could think it was possible to know too much, no one could think science removes us from feeling Observer What Birkhead does is show to anyone interested in nature why any such object is a source of wonder and fascination ... Innovative work. Birkhead has made birds' eggs interesting again, by giving us a new way of looking at them: not as commodities to be drooled over and collected, but as wonders of natural science ... Birkhead answers all the basic questions with panache, but other, stranger facts caught my imagination even more ... Yet it is the incredible mechanisms of the life-support system, which Birkhead lays bare with perfect clarity, that are the most wondrous -- Michael McCarthy Independent Quirky and revealing ... Many fascinating facts ... Birkhead writes in a jaunty and compelling style, and is not afraid to deal head-on with the politics of eggs ... This book is illustrated with a fine selection of photographs showing the extraordinary variety of shapes, sizes and colours of eggs ... Tim Birkhead is one of Britain's leading zoologists, yet he skilfully bridges the gap between scientists and non-scientists ... Impressive - an important contribution to our understanding of the world around us, and its extraordinary natural wonders -- Stephen Moss Daily Mail Birkhead has made birds' eggs interesting again, by giving us a new way of looking at them: not as commodities to be drooled over and collected, but as wonders of natural science Independent So full of fascinating facts. The author is to be congratulated on a major step forward in our understanding of eggs that in the past we just accepted and did not query. The reader will never look in eggs the same way again -- Ray Collier Highland News Group He takes us on an epic journey, from the outer shell of an egg to its genetic core ... It is a voyage packed with astonishing details -- James Attlee Independent Justly acclaimed for his brilliance at explaining complex science in a beguilingly lively style ... Though it is only April, I suspect that this beautifully written volume will end up the best bird book of 2016 BBC Wildlife Excellent ... the author is exceptionally versed in the literature on eggs, from speculative 17th-century texts to the sprawling data pumped out by the poultry industry today Wall Street Journal Anyone drawn to the natural sciences will relish it ... There are curiosities at every stage Spectator A wonderful insight into one of nature's most fascinating processes Countryside Photographer A text that bubbles with enthusiasm ... A book that will keep you enthralled from your morning egg to your evening quiche. A delight New Scientist Anyone drawn to the natural sciences will relish it ... The story of learning delights Birkhead as much as our current accumulation ... Birkhead's telling is joyful -- Horatio Clare Spectator Superb ... an enthralling, immensely readable book that combines deep scientific knowledge, lightly worn, with an awareness of history and a refreshing willingness to give the early pioneers of British ornithology - notably Francis Willoughby and John Ray - their due -- Nigel Andrew Literary Review Birkhead's enthusiasm for this "everyday miracle of nature" is infectious and his erudition lightly worn ... A magical account Times Literary Supplement A delightful blend of amazing facts and hard science. You'll never look at a chicken in quite the same way again -- Stephen Moss Guardian From the handsome coloured pictures to the fascinating details about the sex life of birds, this is that rare thing: a scientific book to delight the general reader -- Books of the Year Daily Mail I cannot think of a science book that is better written -- John Lewis-Stempel The Times

Tim Birkhead is a professor at the University of Sheffield where he teaches animal behaviour and the history of science. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and his research has taken him all over the world in the quest to understand the lives of birds. He has written for the Independent, New Scientist, BBC Wildlife. Among his other books are Promiscuity, Great Auk Islands, The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Birds which won the McColvin medal, The Red Canary which won the Consul Cremer Prize, The Wisdom of Birds and Bird Sense. He is married with three children and lives in Sheffield.