Professor Alexey Shipunov is one of the world's foremost botanists. A graduate of Moscow State University, he held positions at the Kew Gardens, London, and Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, and was a faculty member at the Minot State University, North Dakota, and a visiting professor at Kyoto University, Japan. During the 31 years of his scientific career he authored 221 publications, including 74 peer-reviewed articles and 17 books. This book is intended for any biology student who wants to know the subject better. It concentrates on the history of life, diversity of plants, protists and animals, and some other general aspects including elements of biogeography.