*The World of Living Nature* is the second volume in a four-part series of the popular encyclopedia *The Joy of Discovery*, published in Russian by Mitchell Beazley. Like the other volumes in the series, this book is organized around individual scientific questions—specifically, biological ones—each spread across a double-page. The sections are thematically linked, forming distinct parts dedicated to botany, zoology, zoogeography, conservation, and more. Because of this structure, you may encounter the same facts in different sections. The book is designed not for linear reading but for selective exploration of various biological topics. The illustrations are somewhat unusual: they predominantly feature images of exotic species of animals and plants, many of which are native only to small, specific regions—such as isolated oceanic islands—and most of these species do not have Russian names. This curated selection of images broadens the reader’s horizons and aligns with the book’s popular science approach. *The World of Living Nature* is a comprehensive overview that presents the most fascinating facts about life on Earth. Our goal was to convey this information as a coherent, logically structured, and meaningful narrative, avoiding the chaotic accumulation of facts. — From the preface to the Russian edition, adapted from James Mitchell