An awe-inspiring exploration of how symbiosis can change the way we understand our world, ourselves and our future
From evolution to capitalism, ‘survival of the fittest’ has shaped our view of the world. But we got it wrong – and our mistake has brought us to the brink.
For the history of life on Earth is much more than a story of competition. The natural world has been forged and sustained by small miracles of co-operation between animals and plants, insects and fungi, fish and bacteria – these partnerships are ubiquitous, lifelong and an essential guide for a better future.
In TOGETHERNESS, Rowan Hooper reveals the intimate connectedness of nature through these remarkable stories of symbiosis. From the female wasp venturing deep inside a fig and the intricate relationship between corals and the algae that sustain them to the symbiotic gut microbes that influence our moods, he explores how co-operation is fundamental to life itself and to protecting our shared future.
TOGETHERNESS will change the way you see the world, our place in it and our obligation to its hidden wonders.
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Publishing 4 June 2026
Cover design by @juliacconnolly@vintagebooks@pew_literary@rowhoop
A belated round-up of PEW books to feature in 2024 Books of the Year lists.
1. Some of our top titles of 2024.
2. Peter Marshall’s STORM’s EDGE, chosen by Tom Holland for the TLS.
3. and 4. Helen Castor’s THE EAGLE AND THE CHILD, featured in the Times’ 21 Best History Books of 2024 and as the Telegraph’s No. 1 Best Book of 2024.
5., 6., and 7. Martin Goodman’s MY HEAD FOR A TREE, Helen Castor’s THE EAGLE AND THE HEART, James Holland’s CASSINO ’44 and Madhumita Murgia’s CODE DEPENDENT in The Spectator’s lists, chosen by Andrea Wulf, Tom Holland and Mark Piesling.
8. Tom Holland’s DOMINION, chosen by Andrew Marr for the New Statesman.
9. Peter Marshall’s STORM’S EDGE, again chosen by Tom Holland for the Wall Street Journal.
10. Helen Castor’s THE EAGLE AND THE HEART and Catherine Coldstream’s CLOISTERED, featured in Prospect Magazine.
11. Catherine Nixey’s HERESY and James Holland’s THE SAVAGE STORM, featured on the Waterstones Blog Best History Books of 2024.
12. Madhumita Murgia’s CODE DEPENDENT and Catherine Coldstream’s CLOISTERED, featured on the Waterstone’s Blog Best Popular Science Books and Best Biographies of 2024, respectively.
13. Helen Castor’s THE EAGLE AND THE HEART, chosen by Stuart Walton for the London Magazine.
An exciting day for politics and books!
Gavin Pretor-Pinney’s CLOUDSPOTTING FOR BEGINNERS (beautifully illustrated by William Grill), Tom Heap’s LAND SMART, the paperback of Tom Parfitt’s HIGH CAUCASUS and the paperback of Tom Holland’s PAX (3 Toms and a non-Tom!) are all out today!
Two wonderful books by PEW authors out today.
1. Naoko Abe’s THE MARTYR AND THE RED KIMONO, the rich and inventive tale of two men - Tomei Ozaki and Masatoshi Asari - whose lives were shaped by Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
2. Adam Smyth’s THE BOOK MAKERS, which chronicles the history the book as object through the lives of 18 individuals who shaped it.
Happy publication day to Peter Marshall!
Heralded by The Times as “a surprising page-turner”, STORM’S EDGE is a remarkable and radical new history of the Orkney Islands, from native Orcadian and 2018 Wolfson Prize winner, Peter Marshall.
We couldn't be more thrilled to find Madhumita Murgia's CODE DEPENDENT (releasing tomorrow in India!) on the shortlist of the 2024 @WomensPrize For Non-Fiction! Many congratulations @madhumitav !
Pre-order here: https://amzn.eu/d/7MOQTUX
#bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #womensprize #womensprizeshortlist @pew_literary
“I love this book because of the way she intertwines a subtle and tender love of her father with a deep understanding of Dutch art.”
So delighted to have another wonderful title on the shortlist for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, Laura Cumming’s stunning and poignant THUNDERCLAP. Thanks again to the judges and congratulations to the other shortlistees.
“A chilling and essential read about AI and the way it imports and exacerbates existing social inequalities.” ~ Professor Nicola Rollock
Absolutely thrilled that Madhumita Murgia’s CODE-DEPENDENT, a timely and sympathetic exploration of the impact AI has on ordinary lives, has been shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. Many thanks to the judges and huge congratulations to all the other shortlistees.
Two marvellous book by PEW Literary authors published in the UK today.
1. Madhumita Murgia’s CODE DEPENDENT, a chilling exploration of the impact of AI on ordinary lives, published by Picador and longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction (pictured here the Putney branch of Waterstones).
2. Lisa Ko’s MEMORY PIECE, a novel spanning over half a century about friendship, art and how best to live your life, published by Dialogue Books.
Absolutely thrilled that Michael Magee’s CLOSE TO HOME won the inaugural @nerobookawards Debut Fiction category.
Huge congratulations too to Paul Murray, whose novel THE BEE STING won the Nero Gold Prize, and to all other category winners.
We’re absolutely delighted that Laura Cumming’s THUNDERCLAP won the non-fiction category at The Writer’s Prize yesterday evening!
A wonderful prize and some truly amazing winners!
