Animals and society Books

Book SynopsisBeginning with the very origins of life on Earth, Woolfson considers pre-historic human-animal interaction and traces the millennia-long evolution of conceptions of the soul and conscience in relation to the animal kingdom, and the consequences of our belief in human superiority. She explores our representation of animals in art, our consumption of them for food, our experiments on them for science, and our willingness to slaughter them for sport and fashion, as well as examining concepts of love and ownership. Drawing on philosophy and theology, art and history, as well as her own experience of living with animals and coming to know, love and respect them as individuals, Woolfson examines some of the most complex ethical issues surrounding our treatment of animals and argues passionately and persuasively for a more humble, more humane, relationship with the creatures who share our world.

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Book SynopsisAs one of the largest predators left in Britain, the fox is captivating: a comfortably familiar figure in our country landscapes; an intriguing flash of bright-eyed wildness in our towns.; Yet no other animal attracts such controversy, has provoked more column inches or been so ambiguously woven into our culture over centuries, perceived variously as a beautiful animal, a cunning rogue, a vicious pest and a worthy foe. As well as being the most ubiquitous of wild animals, it is also the least understood.; In Foxes Unearthed Lucy Jones investigates the truth about foxes in a media landscape that often carries complex agendas. Delving into fact, fiction, folklore and her own family history, Lucy travels the length of Britain to find out first-hand why these animals incite such passionate emotions, revealing our rich and complex relationship with one of our most loved - and most vilified - wild animals. This compelling narrative adds much-needed depth to the debate on foxes, asking what our attitudes towards the red fox say about us and, ultimately, about our relationship with the natural world.Trade Review"Jones's history of our complex relationship with the fox is revealing... to discover there was an 18th-century sport of 'fox tossing' almost makes this worth the purchase alone" -- John Lewis-Stempel, The Times Books of the Year 2016; "The fox has for centuries been held as the incarnation of such unlovely traits as deviousness, cunning and cruelty. ... However, the characteristic that emerges most strongly from the nature writer Lucy Jones's book about Vulpes vulpes is its ambiguity. ... [An] intriguing compendium of fox lore." -- Michael Prodger, The Times; `Engaging and hugely enjoyable' - Tom Holland, Times Literary Supplement; "A fantastic tour of the fox and us - Lucy Jones takes an intelligent, measured and humane look at the intimate, contradictory and occasionally crazy relationship between Homo sapiens and Vulpes vulpes" -- Patrick Barkham, author of Badgerlands and The Butterfly Isles; "A foxy little book, offering a rich brew of nature and history and culture. An exemplary instance of fine research leading to balance and sanity on a subject usually lacking in either. Deeply enjoyable and informative" -- Sara Maitland, author of Gossip from the Forest: The Tangled Roots of Our Forests and Fairytales; "Fascinating ... [a] well-balanced exploration of our tempestuous relationship" -- Country Life; "Beautifully written and signals a conspicuous new talent ... She traces the place of the fox in our culture over many centuries" -- Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph; "A fascinating discussion of the history of our attitude to the fox ... it will almost certainly teach you something new" -- The Spectator; "This well-researched, engaging account of their lives, behaviour and cultural impact from fox-loving journalist Jones is filled with interesting information and evocative description" -- Top 20 Holiday Reads, i-newspaper; "Brave, bold and honest - finally the truth about foxes" --Chris Packham, TV presenter and naturalist; "A commendably impartial book ... expresses [Jones's] sincere love of the countryside and the animals in it" -- Patrick Scrivenor, Literary Review; "A sensitive and illuminating investigation into our complex and ever-evolving relationship with the most intriguing, incredible and intractable of British mammals. Through a keen eye and bright prose, Jones traces the trail of the fox through history, myth and current debates, exploring the roots of our love and hate from all perspectives. This is a beautiful book that will change the way you think about the fox, whatever you think about the fox." -- Rob Cowen, author of Common Ground and Skimming Stones; "Foxes Unearthed separates fact from fiction, studying the evolution of foxes in our stories and the cold hard facts... Whether you're fascinated by foxes, wild for wildlife or completely new to the realm of non-fiction, I recommend picking up this book! I've come away from Foxes Unearthed feeling like I've really learned something new" -- themoormaiden.blogspot.uk; "Lucy Jones' investigative study explores the romantic myth and harsh reality of the fox with the unflinching rigour of a true journalist and heart of a poet" --Benjamin Myers, author of Beastings and Pig Iron; "A page turner [and] a timely examination of one of our more iconic animals ... A well balanced, well researched book ... it's also a pleasure to read" -- desperatereader.blogspot.uk; "A thorough and captivating history of our relationship with the fox. It is satisfying that a book which conveys an uncomplicated delight in the natural world ... simultaneously sends such a sobering message" -- Diva Harris, Caught by the River; "I loved the readability of the book, combining fact with fiction, folklore and magic with cold hard facts, but always, what shines through is the author's commitment to telling it like it is, with no superfluous waffle, not overly fanciful, just a really interesting look at the role foxes have in our rural and urban environments. The detail is good, the author's opinions are clearly expressed and throughout the book are intelligent observations from specialist contributors which help to give the book an overall balanced view." -- jaffareadstoo.blogspot.co.uk; "Lucy Jones' book packs a serious and intelligent punch. Her meticulous research takes her back into Indo-European literature and contemporary linguistic analysis, and her journalist's nose takes her out into the countryside with hunters and saboteurs alike." -- Richard Littledale, The Preacher's Blog; "A distinctly human story ... Through spending time with those who would lay down their lives for a fox and those who range from appearing non-plussed to hell-bent on bloody extermination, Jones brilliantly (and often bravely) captures two uniquely British subcultures. Being buried in these opposed worlds, enables Jones to fuse her talent for research with journalistic reporting. ... It is also worth mentioning Jones' refreshing honesty" --Matt Gaw, journalist and columnist; "A subtle, richly layered and deeply satisfying read, full of energy" - Kate Blincoe, Running Wild blog; "Stunning ... if you like to read non-fiction, love foxes and/or want to reconnect with mother nature, there aren't many better books on the market... This is a beautiful book" --socialbookshelves.com; "Truly magnificent ... it's striking and beautiful ... an absolutely fascinating read" -- The Quiet Knitter; "Jones is thorough in her research and captivating in her writing style ... Foxes Unearthed is a refreshingly honest and impartial account of our changing relationship with foxes in the British Isles" - Ben Eagle, thinkingcountry.com; "Thought-provoking and entertaining" - Beyondedenrock.com; "You're unlikely to come across a more gorgeous book this year" - BookishBeck.wordpress.com; "A real page turner - packed full of fascinating information conveyed with clear, clever prose" - TheBookBag.co.uk; "Enchanting ... very thought-provoking and well researched" - Emma Caton, TheWildlifeChannel.co.uk; "A fascinating read" - ShortBookAndScribes.uk; "Genuinely compelling; one truly does not wish to put it down ... seek out and purchase a copy to discover just how much enlightening information as well as reading enjoyment its pages contain" - The Well-read NaturalistTable of ContentsContents; Prologue 1; 1 As Cunning as a Fox 7; 2 Fox in the Henhouse 67; 3 To Catch a Fox 97; 4 Tally Ho! 139; 5 Friends and Foes 189; 6 The Fox Next Door 225; Epilogue 273; Notes 277; Bibliography 291; Acknowledgements 299; Index 303; About the Author 312

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Book SynopsisMeet the inspirational animals who went from being rescued to becoming rescuer in these incredible true stories You’ll read all about… Constantine and Crystal, the guinea pigs who gave a bullied girl with autism a reason to smile Alex, the tiger who inspired a homeless drug addict to get her life back on track Angel, the horse who helped her owner to lose weight and regain her confidence Daniel, the duck who was rescued from a food market and succeeded in soothing his owner’s PTSD … as well as many other animal heroes who came to their owner’s aid – whether it was helping them to recover from mental illness, relationship breakdown or bereavement. These remarkable creatures all repaid the love and appreciation that their human companions displayed in caring for them. Let these uplifting stories warm your heart, and show you that adopted animals can heal our pain and transform our lives.

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Book SynopsisThe love and bond shared between a dog and human is unconditional. Dogs are the most loving, loyal companions. Losing a dog is heartbreaking. In this little book, I have written about my own memories of my late dog, Max, and my experience of grief, and how I dealt with it. The book explains the five stages of grief

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Book Synopsis''One of history''s most impressive field studies; an instant animal classic'' TIMEJane Goodall''s classic account of primate research provides an impressively detailed and absorbing account of the early years of her field study of, and adventures with, chimpanzees in Tanzania, Africa. It is a landmark for everyone to enjoy.

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Book SynopsisShare[s] the life-enhancing joys of the humble hen' Sunday TimesClocks our obsession with chicken-keeping Brilliant' New York MagazineAn immersive blend of chicken-keeping memoir and animal welfare reporting by a journalist who accidentally became obsessed with her flock.Since first domesticating the chicken thousands of years ago, humans have become exceptionally adept at raising them for food. Yet most people rarely interact with chickens or know much about them. In Under the Henfluence, Tove Danovich explores the lives of these quirky, mysterious birds who stole her heart the moment her first box of chicks arrived at the post office.From a hatchery in Iowa to a chicken show in Ohio to a rooster rescue in Minnesota, Danovich interviews the people breeding, training, healing and, most importantly, adoring chickens. With more than 60 billion chickens living on industrial farms around the world, they're easy to dismiss as just another dinner ingredient. Yet Danovich's reporting revealsTrade Review‘Share[s] the life-enhancing joys of the humble hen’ Sunday Times ‘A call to arms, but in an entertainingly written, well-paced way. It certainly makes you think.’ Kate Green, Country Life ‘Under the Henfluence clocks our obsession with chicken-keeping. Highbrow / Brilliant.’ New York Magazine ‘Not intended to be a how-to for amateur poultry breeders, Danovich’s work does offer broad and compelling insight into how raising chickens transforms and enriches human lives.’ Booklist ‘The author writes with warmth and candour, sharing her obvious love for her feathered pets … Informative and engaging’ Bookmunch ‘A heartfelt account of raising pet hens … [that] endears and provides an intimate look at animals more often thought of as food than friends … Anyone who’s mulled the possibility of setting up a backyard coop will find this the next best thing.’ Publisher’s Weekly ‘A delightful peep into an old business, refreshed for a new generation’ Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders ‘A moving tribute to the world’s most numerous birds. It will change the way you look at chickens.’ Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why it’s so hard to think straight about animals ‘Danovich’s book is a gem’ Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals ‘A realistic and immersive look into our relationship with those beings in our care … Under the Henfluence makes it impossible for the reader not to think of – and possibly love – the idea of chickens in a new way.’ Mira Ptacin, Modern Farmer ‘The company of hens could be the best cure for depression … Their jostling energy and distinct personalities bring joy … Interweaving reflection and reportage, Danovich leads us down [these and other] bizarre byways’ Spectator

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Book SynopsisCozy up and relax with this adorable feline desktop collectible, the Desktop Cat Nap!- Unique Collectible: Features a 3-inch cat tree hammock on a flocked base with two miniature molded cats- Special Sound Effect: Hear the soothing purrs of sleepy cats at the touch of a button- Mini Book Included: Also includes an illustrated, 32-page book with tips and advice from a cat on how to relax - An Irresistible Gift: Cat lovers will love displaying this one-of-a-kind item at home and work Requires two AAA batteries (not included).

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Book SynopsisCan horses feel shame? Do deer grieve? Why do roosters deceive hens? We tend to assume that we are the only living things able to experience feelings but have you ever wondered what’s going on in an animal’s head? From the leafy forest floor to the inside of a bee hive, The Inner Life of Animals opens up the animal kingdom like never before. We hear the stories of a grateful humpback whale, of a hedgehog who has nightmares, and of a magpie who commits adultery; we meet bees that plan for the future, pigs who learn their own names and crows that go tobogganing for fun. And at last we find out why wasps exist.Trade ReviewAlways fascinating… Wry, avuncular, careful and kind, Wohlleben guides us from one creature to the next -- Richard Kerridge * Guardian *Wohlleben presents short chapter in bite-sized portions, so the reader has a constant sense of learning something new almost with every page ... The formula is provably winning. I still felt I was on a robust learning curve as subjects as diverse as motherly love, gratitude, deception, desire, shame and knowledge of good and evil were explored one by one ... fascinating -- Katharine Norbury * Observer *Wohlleben is connecting with something big here… He truffles up some wonderful animal facts, too… Wohlleben’s empathy with animals can be touching and illuminating -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Entertaining and enthusiastic -- Tim Smith-Laing * Daily Telegraph *The Inner Life of Animals will rock your world. Surprising, humbling, and filled with delight, this book shows us that animals think, feel, and know in much the same way as we do -- and that their lives are, to them, as precious as ours are to us. -- Sy Montgomery, author of THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS

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Book Synopsis''Evocative and beautifully written, it''s a deeply immersive read'' Observer''Enchanting and emotional...personifies its characters as they navigate the new wild and its trials.'' Chris Packham''Charles Foster is the most original voice in nature writing today - funny, urgent, poetic, philosophical and deeply moving'' Patrick Barkham''Utterly exhilarating... This book demands we change our ways'' Lee Schofield''There aren''t many writers like Charles around... a deeply thought-provoking book'' James Aldred''Reading this book feels like being made suddenly omniscient. In other words, you really have to'' Tom Moorhouse''Astonishingly playful, humorous, immensely varied and outrageously intelligent... The most inventive British writer presently at work on the theme of nature'' Mark CockerWhat is it like to live in a world built by humans? These eight genre-b

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Wainwright Prize 2024 for Nature Writing?????The TelegraphOne of the most remarkable figures in British conservation.'The ObserverThere have been several books on the fate of British wolves, but this is the best.'The SpectatorGow reinvents what it means to be a guardian of the countryside.''GuardianAuthor ofBringing Back the Beaverand Britain's favourite maverick rewilder Derek Gow embarks on an adventure to uncover the mythology, mystery and history of wolves in Britain.Derek Gow's dream is that one day we will see the return of the wolf to Britain. Wolf rewilding projects have been successfully implemented across the world so what is holding us back in the UK?Hunt for the Shadow Wolf

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Book SynopsisShe has to be OK, I pleaded silently to myself. She has to be.We've alerted the RNLI and they're sending a lifeboat out.' The RNLI?' I said, surprised. They do that?' Saved from the Waves is a heart-warming collection of first-hand accounts from RNLI volunteers of the myriad dangers they face during each mission to save beloved pets, wildlife and livestock. This remarkable book shines a light on the bravery of the volunteers, and the necessity of these rescues not only to save animals at risk of drowning, but to prevent people putting themselves in danger when trying to save a cherished furry friend.Each mission requires courage, determination and an unrelenting commitment to helping those in danger. Each day brings a new challenge for the extraordinary volunteer crews who are the lifeblood of the RNLI.

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Book SynopsisShare[s] the life-enhancing joys of the humble hen' Sunday TimesClocks our obsession with chicken-keeping Brilliant' New York MagazineAn immersive blend of chicken-keeping memoir and animal welfare reporting by a journalist who accidentally became obsessed with her flock.Since first domesticating the chicken thousands of years ago, humans have become exceptionally adept at raising them for food. Yet most people rarely interact with chickens or know much about them. In Under the Henfluence, Tove Danovich explores the lives of these quirky, mysterious birds who stole her heart the moment her first box of chicks arrived at the post office.From a hatchery in Iowa to a chicken show in Ohio to a rooster rescue in Minnesota, Danovich interviews the people breeding, training, healing and, most importantly, adoring chickens. With more than 60 billion chickens living on industrial farms around the world, they're easy to dismiss as just another dinner ingredient. Yet Danovich's reporting reveals

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Book Synopsis'BEAUTIFULLY, A BOOK ABOUT BIRDS' The Sunday Times 'ENGAGING AND EYE-OPENING' The Countryman Uncover the life of owls through this beautiful guide to these secretive and charismatic birds from the bestselling author of The Robin, The Wren, and The Swan.Owls are among the most mysterious birds in the world. Their hauntingly beautiful calls and mostly nocturnal habits have long captured our collective imagination, inspiring more superstitions, folktales, and myths than any other group of birds. Seven species of owl - the tawny, little, barn, long-eared, short-eared, snowy and eagle owl - can be found in the British Isles (out of sixteen different kinds across Europe). They have lived alongside people for thousands of years, yet we still know so little about their day-to-day lives.Discover their fascinating lives, from the moment they first hatch, to the way they hunt their prey and how they raise the next generation. Explore the rich folklore they've inspired around the world and learn how, with a bit of luck, you can catch a glimpse of them yourself.With beautiful illustrations throughout, and expert birdwatching tips, this eye-opening biography reveals the hidden secrets of one of the world's most famous and beloved birds.Trade ReviewSeven species of owl make their home in the British Isles, and this stunning volume is a worthy tribute to them. It shouts quality with luscious cream-coloured paper and wonderful illustrations. That said, the main delight is in Stephen's detailed examination of these nocturnal birds. His engaging and eye-opening text covers fascinating facts, history, science myths and folklore as well as providing birdwatching tops. This book will not only be well-read but will also be kept as a useful reference. -- Lorraine Connolly * The Countryman *A captivating look into the lives and legends surrounding some of Britain’s most enigmatic avians… This book offers an engaging and rewarding flight * Birdwatch *

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Book Synopsis"This book is fabulous and takes you close inside the wild world, where you feel the creatures whispering your old name."?Craig Foster, My Octopus TeacherLearn how to decode the secret conversations of wild animals all around you.From a Yellowstone naturalist and expert in animal language comes ?a tantalizing guide to revamping our approach to wild things.? (WSJ) Growing up in rural New York, as a young man George Bumann learned to track deer and turkeys as a hunter. Then everything changed. He left his hunting days behind and began an extraordinary journey into the more-than-human world ?Humans once relied on the calls of wild animals to understand the natural world and their place within it. Now, this remarkable guide reveals what our ancestors knew long ago?that tuning in to the owl in the tree, the deer in the gully, can tell us important information and help us feel connected to our wild community.In Eavesdropping on Animals, George Bumann shares the fascinating stories and insights he has gained from studying wildlife around the world for more than forty years, the last twenty of which have been spent leading popular programs on animal language and intelligence in Yellowstone National Park. Bumann shares tips, tricks, and advice for readers living in urban, suburban and rural areas and clearly shows us that you don?t need an exotic vacation or a biology degree to have transformative wildlife encounters. Listening to and observing creatures in your own backyard, on nearby trails, and in local parks, seashores, fields, and forests can lead to extraordinary experiences and a profound sense of belonging.Are you ready to eavesdrop on your wild neighbors? Are you ready to learn how to tell a warning call from a mating call, a purr of satisfaction from idle chatter? Then this book is for you!

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Book SynopsisCats Work Like This is for cat lovers who know that even after ten thousand years of living with cats, no one really has a clue what their cat is thinking. In this insider''s guide to the habits of these puzzling animals, the authors offer insights from two generations of watching their cats work. They share the sometimes hilarious and often astonishing observations on cats that have accumulated over ages, and offer some useful insights into how to understand your own cat. Though there are many famous felines, it is the day to day cat which provides the most enduring interest. Though each one''s behaviour and mannerisms are unique, we can find enough practices in common to guide you to becoming an expert in how cats work.Chapters include Habits, with an insight into how cats train you to have the right ones; and The Scientific Cat, with observations and empirical learning following the classic scientific method, as cats don''t listen well enough to be subjects in any other kind of experimentation.Learn how cats practice their values and explore what your cats know about you. Find out what cats do while you sleep, what a cat''s eyes can tell you and what there is to understand about political and & eco'' cats. With a focus on attention, emotion, cute affection, manipulation, cunning and cussedness, Cats Work Like This gives a rare insight into the workings of a cat''s elusive mind.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR Out on the road, no one speaks, everything talks. Hard-drinking, foul-mouthed grandma Jean has never been good at getting on with other humans, apart from her granddaughter, Kimberly. Instead, she surrounds herself with animals, working as a guide in an outback wildlife park. Then, a strange pandemic begins sweeping the country, its chief symptom that its victims begin to understand the language of animals. Many infected people lose their minds, including Jean’s son, Lee. When he takes off with Kimberly, Jean follows, with Sue the dingo riding shotgun. As they travel, they discover a stark, strange world in which the animal apocalypse has only further isolated people from other species.Trade Review‘A fierce debut novel … Her writing about people is filthy, fresh, and funny; this is prose on high alert, hackles up and teeth bared in every sentence. The novel becomes both a stirring attempt to inhabit other consciousnesses and a wry demonstration of the limits of our own language and empathy. ’ -- Justine Jordan * The Guardian *‘This is a game-changing, life-changing novel, the kind that comes along right when you need it, and compels you to listen to its terrifying poetry. Compulsively readable and yet also pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of language and narrative, this is a brilliant and disturbing book that will make you rethink everything you thought you understood about non-human animal sentience and agency. I don’t think any reader can ever forget a voice like Sue the dingo’s — wise and obscene in equal measure. A triumph.’ * Ceridwen Dovey, author of Only the Animals *‘A heartfelt novel.’ * Psychologies *‘A taut exploration of loneliness and devotion, The Animals in That Country is rich with raw heartache and strange, carnal poetry.’ -- Sue Rainsford, author of Follow Me to Ground‘A powerful, uncanny tale.’ -- Justine Jordan * The Guardian *‘A hidden treasure … Read it!’ -- Foyles Bookstore‘Wow! The Animals in That Country is refreshingly original and totally bonkers, and I read it at a furious pace. Jean Bennett is one of the most memorable characters I’ve read in a long time. I loved her brass and her messiness, and when the end of times comes, most of us will be lucky to have half her loyalty and determination. The story is hugely imaginative and fully realised, with McKay in total control of her creative vision. She explores the potential of human/nonhuman communication, and the result is as poetic as it is surprising. A great debut novel.’ -- Alison Huber, Book Division Manager Readings‘This novel is one wild ride, from beginning to end. I loved Jean’s character — middle-aged, flawed, and foul-mouthed — desperately trying to keep herself together and to hold on to the family she has left. Sue the dingo is a glorious character, full of wild instinct yet all-knowing about the humans she encounters. This is one of the most unique, quirky stories I’ve read in a long time and a telling insight into how we see and relate to native wildlife. Laura Jean McKay’s is a fresh, innovative voice with a story that grabs you by the muzzle, leading you on an apocalyptic trip that you won’t forget easily.’ * Jenny Barry, Booksplus Bathurst *‘This book drips with angst and excitement … a truly original story teeming with intrigue.’ -- Suzie Bull, Farrells Bookshop‘Reminiscent of Ceridwen Dovey’s Only the Animals, McKay offers an exciting and necessary new voice in Australian fiction. We’ve all wished we could talk to animals, but McKay teaches us that we really should be careful what we wish for. By turns bizarre and profound, this is a striking debut.’ -- Jaclyn Crupi, Hill of Content Bookshop‘In this warm, wild, and irreverent debut, Laura Jean McKay takes us into the minds of animals to reveal the complexity of their lives. The Animals in That Country avoids the trap of anthropomorphism, showing instead the absurd, intense, and shifting bonds between humans and animals.’ -- Mireille Juchau, author of The World Without Us‘McKay is a master at building tension through sparse, abrupt language that mirrors Jean’s decades of alcohol abuse, and the excellent world-building is enhanced by the exquisite chemistry between Jean and her canine companion Sue. Visceral and discombobulating yet tender, The Animals in That Country will appeal to readers who enjoyed the animal-led stories in Ceridwen Dovey’s Only the Animals, and the foreboding road trip in Romy Ash’s Floundering.’ -- Sonia Nair * Books+Publishing *‘Deliriously strange, blackly hilarious, and completely exhilarating, The Animals in That Country is a wonderful debut from a genuinely original and exciting new voice.’ -- James Bradley, author of Clade‘Engrossing, subversive, and surprisingly profound, The Animals in That Country does something only the best fiction can do: it has the power to skew the reader’s perspective on the world. This story will stay with me for a long time, and its protagonist, Jean Bennett, will be with me even longer.’ -- J.P. Pomare, author of Call Me Evie‘Weird, wonderful and strangely moving. I will be thinking about this strange book, about Jean and Sue, for a long long time.’ -- Eloise Grills, author of Big Beautiful Female Theory‘An imaginative tour de force — assured, compelling, and utterly original, this book will change how you see the world. Laura Jean McKay's powers are in full evidence here: her singular gift for empathy, enviable storytelling chops, and deftly elegant language will shift your frame of reference and leave you altered, in the best of ways. A unique and important work that explores the bond between humans and animals — and indeed throws the whole dividing line between us into doubt.’ -- Meg Mundell, author of The Trespassers‘You know when you finish a book and you know that book will occupy your mind for a long time? The Animals in That Country is one of those. I haven’t read a book like it and I don’t think I will again ... The speech is almost poetic, full of metaphors and stunted syntax that (initially) confounds those hearing it ... This book is simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny and soul-crushingly depressing, in a way I can only describe as reminiscent of Waiting for Godot.’ FIVE STARS -- Max Lewis * Good Reading *‘If you read The Animals in That Country, it will be the wildest ride you take all year.’ -- Maria Takolander * The Saturday Paper *‘The writing is vibrant, energetic, and refreshing, and the narrative leaps off the page ... a wild, engaging ride for readers.’ -- Karen Viggers * The Australian *‘A wild and original ride of a read.’ * New Idea *‘Laura Jean McKay, an expert in animal communication, has her animals speaking in hallucinogenic haikus — it’s disturbing but compelling, and somehow totally believable. I loved every bizarre, unexpected moment.’ -- Corinna Hente * Herald Sun *‘An incredible achievement in storytelling, and absolutely worth your time ... one of the best Australian novels of the year.’ -- Nicholas Wasiliev * Booktopia *‘Eerily prescient … The Animals in That Country offers a timely take on the fraught ways animals feature in our lives, and how devastating it would be if we heard what they had to say.’ FIVE STARS -- Erin Stewart * ArtsHub *‘This is a work of not only remarkable linguistic skill but also one that brilliantly captures our relationship with the inhabitants of this wild world.’ FOUR STARS -- Mitchell Jordan * The Big Issue *‘The genius stroke of The Animals in That Country is the preternatural ‘body talk’ of its animals ... an affecting book, one that gets remarkably close to the unknowable wildness of animal sentience.’ -- Jack Callil * The Age *‘A standout debut novel of 2020 ... Original, hugely entertaining, and superbly crafted, this is one heck of a road-trip novel, whose timing and insights into human behaviour in a crisis could not be more prescient.’ -- Alison Huber * Readings Booksellers *‘Strikingly original ... It’s a tale that is at turns bizarre and surprisingly affecting, populated by a cast of richly idiosyncratic characters and posing timely questions about the ways we relate both to animals and to each other.’ -- Gemma Nisbet * The Weekend West *‘This is a beguiling, thought-provoking story penned with passion, intricate animals knowledge and great creativity ... Disturbing, challenging, and addictive, the book prompts you to wonder about what animals are really thinking.’ -- Sue Wallace * The Weekly Times *‘McKay is a master of voice-driven narrative. I never thought a substance-abusing grandmother was just who I needed to take me on an apocalyptic road trip — and that long after I gulped the book down, I'd be haunted by the words of a dingo called Sue.’ -- Sofija Stefanovic, author of Miss Ex-Yugoslavia‘This is an absorbing and affecting book, and one to which I’m able to pay the highest compliment: that, in the days after finishing it, the world felt different to me, its animals not speaking but not silent either.’ -- Ben Brooker * Australian Book Review *‘The beauty of this book is that it never quite goes where the reader expects it to go. McKay zigs when the reader expects her to zag. And the whole builds to a kind of slow-moving climax ... The Animals in That Country takes an intriguing premise and absolutely runs with it. While delivering one of the strangest road trips ever, McKay considers the nature of family, the human response to the unknown and our relationship with the animals kingdom, among other things.’ -- Robert Goodman * The Blurb *‘[A] compelling and haunting debut … Scattered with dark humour and driven by a compelling plot, The Animals in That Country is an outstanding and timely examination of human morality. It will change the way you view both animals and the world.’ -- Chloë Cooper * Audrey Magazine *‘McKay has written a searing dystopian critique of our relationship with the natural world … Through poetic projections of what the animals might say if they could, McKay highlights our limited capacity to communicate with language, and our human-centric view of the natural order … Earthy, visceral, at-times obscene, and all-too-real, The Animals In That Country is nevertheless compelling and oddly buoying … McKay is a masterful storyteller, and her talent truly shines in this quest for family and belonging.’ -- Sheree Strange * Primer *‘As we grapple with a worldwide pandemic, Australian author McKay’s novel is incredibly timely and feels all the more real for it … filled with humour, optimism, and grace: a wild ride worth taking. An eye-opening glimpse into a world that’s turned upside down and eventually becomes its own version of whole.’ -- Carol Gladstein * Booklist *‘Part pandemic novel and part beast fable, McKay’s novel, which takes its title from a Margaret Atwood poem, imagines a disease that causes humans to understand animal language, down to the lowliest insect. Acerbic wildlife guide Jean and a dingo named Sue set off through the Australian Outback in pursuit of the former’s son, who has absconded south after losing his mind, like so many others, due to the new voices that now seemingly occupy every space.’ * Publishers Weekly, ‘Going Viral: New Science Fiction and Fantasy 2020’ *‘A bravura investigation of the relations between humans and animals.’ -- Lara Freigel * The Guardian *‘Disturbingly timely, The Animals In That Country chronicles the journey of one no-bullshit woman and her half-wild dingo as they race against a deadly pandemic. Jean is brilliantly crafted — unapologetically rough and yet filled with hidden vulnerability. McKay's tale pulled me in with its entertaining nature then dragged me under with its profound nuance.’ -- Laura Graveline * Brazos Bookstore *‘Surprising and surprisingly-convincing characters, and a well-realised, inventive premise.’ -- Kate Evans * ABC News *‘A gritty and innovative wonder about an animal-borne virus (yep) that cracks opens channels between interspecies communication. The result is a raucous fever dream of a road story, evocative of Kenneth Cook, Hunter S. Thompson, and Ceridwen Dovey – but ultimately, McKay defies comparison.’ * Josephine Rowe *‘A timely dystopian novel in which a dangerous flu sweeps across Australia, giving those infected the power to speak with animals, with dark, disturbing results.’ -- Maxine Beneba Clarke‘A wildly inventive dystopian adventure … Both a hell of a ride and a revealing thought experiment about our place in the natural world.’ -- Dan Kois * Slate *‘The Animals in That Country is an uncanny book, in no small part because it was released in March and has a pandemic is at its centre … McKay’s book is madcap and poetic by turns; concerned about exactly what constitutes the relationships between humans and animals, and how we see each other and interact in this world we share.’ -- Fiona Wright * The Guardian *‘This book changed the way I look at the relationship between humans and animals, and it has one of the most wonderful dingo protagonists in Sue.’ -- Krissy Kneen * Broadsheet *‘Bold and strikingly inventive.’ -- Gemma Nisbet * The Weekend West Australian *‘The Animals in That Country is not a philosophical or moral tale. An experiment, rather than a lecture, the book invites readers to reflect on the fact that we belong to Mother Nature, instead of the other way around. And we are not her only child … A wildly imaginative and adventurous story that challenges the boundaries of both our language and our empathy for other creature surviving, living and thriving in this world.’ -- Christine Sun * Upper Yarra Mail *‘McKay does not offer us anthropomorphised cartoons, but a vocabulary formed by scent and breath … As the novel progresses, and more animals are introduced, it becomes impossible not to believe in McKay’s creative choices. In the arrangement and the rhythms and the personalities of each animal she translates, it is obvious McKay withheld nothing … McKay has not written a white lie about how lovely it would be to speak with a dog. Instead, she has asked that necessary, and uncomfortable question: Do we really want to know what the rest of the planet thinks of us?’ * Necessary Fiction *‘It was an absorbing read. Really inventive storytelling.’ -- Kate Miller-Heidke * Sydney Morning Herald *‘The Animals in that Country is that rare thing: an intellectually ambitious, formally innovative Australian novel that is accessible to a broad readership. It’s also wonderfully macabre … This is a work of fiction utterly capable of swaying the cultural imaginary … well-researched, impeccably crafted, and, above all, intelligent.’ -- Julienne van Loon * The Conversation *‘Amazing.’ -- Pip Adam * Stuff *‘The exploration of kinship, the untrusting nature of people and how different animal species view humans are stand-out aspects of this novel. The ‘rough as guts’ Jean is a loveable and humorous narrator and her relationship with Sue makes for great comedic relief during the times in the story when they are in unwelcoming company and ‘animal free’ zones … [B]eing offered glimpses into animals’ minds was one of the most powerful offerings of this novel. This is a book for anyone who has ever wanted to talk to animals, or even just looked at their pet and wondered what they were thinking.’ -- Nelya Valamanesh * InDaily *‘[The Animals in That Country] is disturbing and darkly comic, disrupting anthropocentric assumptions, revealing how animals might see our often violent intrusion into their lives … McKay’s innovation lies in the startlingly newness of the plot and the innovations in form in conveying animal voices as agentic and different … The Animals in that Country marks a striking new moment in animal representation in Australian fiction.’ * ALS Gold Medal Judge's' Citation *‘[A] bravura investigation of the relations between humans and animals.’ -- Lara Feigel * The Guardian *‘A cross between Thelma & Louise and Doctor Doolittle ... I really enjoyed this book.’ -- Andy Miller * BBC Radio 4 A Good Read *‘A stunning and disquieting account of a virus which gives infected humans the ability to understand animals.’ * Massey University *‘Delves into relationships, how we communicate, and our often complicated relationships with family members. A book that explores more than your typical road trip, with a certainly less than typical sidekick, the book is fresh, funny, and full of characters.’ * Forbes *‘While humour is rampant, [The Animals in That Country] is all too disturbingly believable. By them being given a voice, a set of languages humans can understand, animals’ intelligence— and rights—are recognised. [This novel] is a barking, squawking, roaring, brawling free-for-all. And considering it was written pre-corona, yes, preposterous in its prescience, too.’ -- Craig Pearce * Wild Magazine *‘[Laura Jean McKay's] book is like two novels sandwiched together: one about an outback road-chase involving a hard-living, middle-aged woman, the other a dystopian tale of a pandemic, the main symptom of which causes societal collapse. What is admirable is how the excitement of the first and the significance of the second intertwine so that both become part of a whole, where the philosophical questions raised by the power shift between animals and humans are present without overburdening the action of the chase. Darkly funny, this engrossing novel has a surprisingly affecting end.’ -- Janet Newman * Landfall Review Online *‘The winner of the 2021 Victorian Premier’s Prize for Fiction, among many other accolades, sees a pandemic (coincidentally) raging through Australia, in which those infected with ‘zooflu’ can understand the various languages of animals. The big question, and the one McKay handles beautifully, is what, exactly, those animals are saying and what effect that has on the people who can’t help but listen.’ -- Paul Dalgarno, Herald Sun's Top 50 Summer Reads 2022

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Book SynopsisJohn Berger broke new ground with his penetrating writings on life, art and how we see the world around us. Here he explores how the ancient relationship between man and nature has been broken in the modern consumer age, with the animals that used to be at the centre of our existence now marginalized and reduced to spectacle.Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

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Book SynopsisMan’s best friend, domesticated since prehistoric times, a travelling companion for explorers and artists, thinkers and walkers, equally happy curled up by the fire and bounding through the great outdoors—dogs matter to us because we love them. But is that all there is to the canine’s good-natured voracity and affectionate dependency? Mark Alizart dispenses with the well-worn clichés concerning dogs and their masters, seeing them not as submissive pets but rather as unexpected life coaches, ready to teach us the elusive recipes for contentment and joy. Dogs have faced their fate in life with a certain detachment that is not easy to understand. Unlike other animals in a similar situation, they have not become hardened, nor have they let themselves die a little inside. On the contrary, they seem to have softened. This book is devoted to understanding this miracle, the miracle of the joy of dogs – to understanding it and, if at all possible, to learning how it’s done. Weaving elegantly and eruditely between historical myth and pop-culture anecdote, between the peculiar views of philosophers and the even more bizarre findings of science, Alizart offers us a surprising new portrait of the dog as thinker—a thinker who may perhaps know the true secret of our humanity.Trade Review“Mark Alizart returns to the history of civilizations to restore to the dog its essential role. Far from being a mere companion of man, might the dog ultimately be his master?” France Culture “This plea to restore to the dog ‘its ancient rights’ echoes intelligently the present-day sensibility for the animal cause.” L’Express “A clever treatise of canine philosophy.” Le Monde"Delightful."The Spectator"Seminal . . . [Alizart] makes a compelling case on why dogs matter and articulates the important lessons they can impart to us." The Bark “charming . . . a book that should be read quickly and taken lightly as a dog takes life.”Arkansas Democrat Gazette Table of ContentsAcknowledgements The Joy of Dogs The Shame of the Animal Kingdom Canis Major Twixt Dog and Wolf Sola Fido The Dog Vinci Code Darwin’s Dogs Companion Species Manifesto Ecce Canis Dog Years Portrait of the philosopher as a dog Oedipus Rex Sons of a bitch We Are All Inuits A Tergo More Ferarum The Mark of Cain The Big Bark Gabriel Epilogue

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Book SynopsisA “brilliant” (Chicago Review of Books), “elegantly written, and compelling” (National Review) new theory and call to action on animal rights, ethics, and law from the renowned philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum.Animals are in trouble all over the world. Whether through the cruelties of the factory meat industry, poaching and game hunting, habitat destruction, or neglect of the companion animals that people purport to love, animals suffer injustice and horrors at our hands every day. The world needs an ethical awakening, a consciousness-raising movement of international proportions. In Justice for Animals, one of the world’s most renowned philosophers and humanists, Martha C. Nussbaum, provides “the most important book on animal ethics written to date” (Thomas I. White, author of In Defense of Dolphins). From dolphins to crows, elephants to octopuses, Nussbaum examines the entire animal kin

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Book SynopsisA truly vegan lifestyle is more than just the food you eat, it''s the shoes on your feet, the clothes in your wardrobe, the contents of your cupboards and your make-up bag. Whether vegan for moral, ethical or environmental reasons Lucy Watson demystifies how to live a holistic vegan life, whether it''s something you''ve been practising for years or is a way of life you''re just discovering.Simple, practical and full of beautiful images Awakenings is perfect for anyone looking to reduce their environmental impact and make ethical choices that don''t impact on animals.

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Book SynopsisA tiny puppy, neglected and abused, and the foster carer determined to heal her. When tiny puppy Princess is dumped at the doors of the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary by her owners, the brown and white boxer is suffering from horrendous injuries resulting from a car accident. Having been operated on by an incompetent vet, her front leg has been amputated in a botched surgery, leaving her weak and barely able to stand. With gentle love and care, Barby and her team at the Sanctuary work hard to give this brave little dog a second lease of life. Playful and loving, despite her difficult start in life, Princess is desperate for a forever family to call her own. But Barby is heartbroken as she watches Princess get rejected over and over again by potential owners who are put off by her terrible injury. Will Princess ever find someone to love her?

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Notable Book of 2020 ‘Bracing and enlightening’ Science Culture is something exclusive to human beings, isn’t it? Not so, says intrepid researcher Carl Safina. Becoming Wild reveals the rich cultures that survive in some of Earth’s remaining wild places. By showing how sperm whales, scarlet macaws and chimpanzees teach and learn, Safina offers a fresh understanding of what is constantly going on beyond humanity, and how we’re all connected. ‘Becoming Wild demands that we wake up’ TelegraphTrade Review‘[A] bracing and enlightening book… Safina’s writing on the watery depths and its denizens is sublime… [challenging] us to be more acutely aware of species whose social lives have much to teach us.’ -- SCIENCE‘In this superbly articulate cri de coeur, Safina gives us a new way of looking at the natural world that is radically different.’ -- Washington Post‘Safina, the ecologist and author of many books about animal behavior, here delves into the world of chimpanzees, sperm whales and macaws to make a convincing argument that animals learn from one another and pass down culture in a way that will feel very familiar to us.’ * New York Times, 100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2020 *‘A smorgasbord of compelling details . . . Becoming Wild could easily become a television series.’ * Fortean Times *‘Fascinating… [Becoming Wild] gives the reader a sense of being near these creatures and experiencing some of the most seductive environments on Earth… Safina’s prose achieves the elusive goal of being both informative and luminously evocative.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘Carl Safina combines his passion for the natural world with absorbing, sometimes breathtaking prose, transporting us into the intimate, nuanced worlds of some of the planet’s most charismatic beings.’ -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows‘Eloquent… This revelatory work sheds as much light on what it means to be human as it does on the nature of other species.’ -- Publishers Weekly‘Few readers will doubt that these magnificent creatures need urgent attention. Enthralling.’ -- Kirkus, starred review‘[Safina] turns the human view of animal cultures on its head… Becoming Wild demands that we wake up and realise that we are intrinsically linked to our other-than-human neighbours.’ * Telegraph *‘Dr. Safina is a terrific writer, majestic and puckish in equal measure.’ * New York Times *‘[Safina] is a font of research, his wonder contagious.’ * Elle *‘Safina puts forward several eye-opening and previously-overlooked implications of animal culture… a pleasure to read… another jewel in the crown of Safina’s work that packs fascinating field studies, interesting theoretical ideas, soul-searching questions, and probing reflections on human and animal nature into a book that is as profound as it is moving.’ * Inquisitive Biologist *

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Book SynopsisAccording to the latest figures, the number of vegans in the UK has more than quadrupled since 2014, now representing over 1 per cent of the total population. With the rise in plant-based foods and cruelty-free products showing no sign of stopping, Think Like a Vegan explores how vegan ethics can be applied to every area of our daily lives.We all want to live more healthily and ethically, and this book is certainly not just for vegans. It’s for anyone interested in veganism, its ideals and what even non-vegans can learn from its practice. Through a personal and often irreverent lens, the authors explore a variety of contemporary topics related to animal use: from the basics of vegan logic to politics, economics, love and other aspects of being human, each chapter draws you into a thought-provoking conversation about your daily ethical decisions. Why should we adopt animals? What’s the problem with organic meat? What are the economics of plant-based foods? What about honey? What is the relationship between veganism and feminism? What is vegansexualism? Trade Review'A brilliant book, which both challenges and inspires thoughts on ethics and the environment, and offers fresh, new thinking on why veganism is not just a diet but a potent social act.' – Seth Tibbott, Chair and Founder of famously vegan brand Tofurky and author of In Search of the Wild Tofurky: How a Business Misfit Pioneered Plant-Based Foods Before They Were Cool

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Book SynopsisOne of the Financial Times' Best Summer Books of 2022'A compelling account of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of life as a vet - and a lesson to us all on how we should treat the animals with which we share our lives.' - Stephen Moss, naturalist and author of The Robin: A biography 'If you love animals, read this book' - Jay Griffiths, author of Wild: An elemental journeyOur lives are intrinsically linked to those of animals - whether that's the animals we farm for food, those living in the wild, those we use for sport or the ones we choose to keep as pets. We all have a responsibility to consider our impact, and even small changes in our own lives could significantly improve the quality of theirs.Dr Sean Wensley is an award-winning vet and lifelong naturalist, advocating animal wellbeing around the world. Fusing keen scientific insight with tender meditations on the natural world, Through a Vet's Eyes reveals the injustices which animals experience every day and raises an important question: how can we choose a better life for animals?Compelling and compassionate, Through a Vet's Eyes helps us to see things from the animals' perspectives, and illuminates the ways we can better care for our fellow creatures.Trade ReviewAn enlightening guide to how scientists get inside the minds of other animals -- Henry Mance * Financial Times *A compelling account of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of life as a vet - and a lesson to us all on how we should treat the animals with which we share our lives. -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and author of THE ROBIN: A BIOGRAPHYOver the years as a vet, I have experienced many of the same situations, challenges and feelings that Sean reflects on in this incredible book. He helps us see things from the animals' perspectives, which is one of the key skills that every vet has to learn. We must, as individuals and as societies, be responsible for the part we each play in the lives of animals, whether they be used for food, sport, as our pets or for our enjoyment in nature. I strongly encourage you to read this book - I believe it helps us to understand the interwoven challenges we face as we navigate an uncertain future and equips us with the tools necessary to make a difference. I'm already telling everyone I know to read it! -- Dr Justine Shotton, President, British Veterinary Association[Through a Vet's Eyes] is comprehensive yet concise, sensitive without being sentimental and idealistic without being overly ideological. I loved it. -- Josh Loeb * Vet Record *Fascinating, engaging, urgent and important. Wensley is the ideal guide to the mysteries of the animal mind. If this doesn't revolutionize your view of the food on your plate and the whine of your dog, nothing will. -- Charles Foster, author of BEING A BEAST and BEING A HUMANThrough a Vet's Eyes provides a fascinating insight into the lives of different animals: those that live in the wild, are farmed for human consumption and the ones we choose to live with in our homes as domestic pets. The welfare and experiences of the animals who share this planet with humans in their different ways is told humanely with genuine compassion that drives home the responsibility we all share to think about the impact that we have in the way we live our lives. -- Dr Elaine Mulcahy, Director, UK Health Alliance on Climate ChangeBeguiling and devastating, this book explores how to play with a fox and recognise kinship with animals, even as it calmly and kindly reveals the truth of how animals are treated before they are made into food. If you love animals, read this book. -- Jay Griffiths, author of WILD: AN ELEMENTAL JOURNEYThrough a Vet's Eyes is a sensitive and intimate chronicle charting one man's journey through the wonders of the animal and natural world. By blending keen observation and scientific enquiry with an enduring passion for nature, Dr Sean Wensley provides a hugely insightful commentary into our relationship with animals and the wider living environments we co-habit. An excellent read for anyone with an interest in the collective responsibility we all have to ensure the welfare of the animal world and the sustainability and wellbeing of our ecosystems. -- Dr Osman A. Dar, One Health Project Director, Royal Institute of International Affairs, and Working Group Co-chair, One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), and Consultant in Global Health, Global Operations, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)Framed around a compelling and very personal journey, this book is packed with decades of insight. Each chapter dances naturally between nature-writing and first-person tales of animals in our care. I loved the storytelling prose, the binocular-clad explorations of a fellow naturalist and the quirky pairings of animals wild and domesticated. All delivered in a tone that is measured yet passionate. And what I really liked is that it's told by a vet, offering the reader fresh perspectives through the eyes of animals. -- Philip Lymbery, CEO, Compassion in World Farming and author of FARMAGEDDON: THE TRUE COST OF CHEAP MEATIn this book, Sean Wensley explores some of the ways our human lives are intrinsically linked to those of animals and how a better understanding of these relationships can benefit both. I commend it to anyone who would like to know more about this fascinating subject. -- Dr David Danson, President, Comparative Medicine Section, The Royal Society of MedicineA landmark book -- Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado, author of THE ANIMALS' AGENDAA very good read...I learned a lot. This book should make all of us think more deeply about those animals that are kept for our benefit. -- Mark Avery, environmental campaigner and author of REMARKABLE BIRDSThis inspiring, compassionate memoir offers informed and practical insights into how to reduce our animal welfare footprint...A thoroughly enlightening read. * LoveReading *'This deeply thoughtful and insightful book speaks to the heart of our responsibility to animals. Sean Wensley takes off the blinkers, strips away anthropomorphism, and asks us to focus on the species-specific needs of a range of creatures that we may choose to eat, keep as pets, or use in sport or leisure. Utterly humane, evidence-based, and beautifully argued, this book should be read by everyone whose life intersects with those of animals.' -- Roly Owers MRCVS, CEO, World Horse WelfareA must-have for any animal lover who wants to understand the reality of how we treat animals...brings together keen scientific insight with beautiful reflections on the natural world. * Lancashire Wildlife Trust *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive case for radically rethinking humanity''s relationship with other animals - for the good of us all. ''The book that had the most impact on me'' JANE GOODALL''Probably the single most influential document in the history of ... animal welfare'' GUARDIANIn 1975, Animal Liberation started a global movement when it uncovered the abuse of animals in factory farms and laboratories and showed these horrific practices to be morally indefensible. In the decades since, science has vindicated Peter Singer's arguments about animal sentience, plant-based diets have become mainstream and his landmark book has changed millions of minds. And yet, for animals, the situation has grown worse.Fully rewritten for the twenty-first century, Animal Liberation Now reveals these new developments and refines its arguments to address the pressing problems of today, including the impact of meat consumption on the climate eme

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Book Synopsis'Wonderful' Yorkshire Times 'Not just a celebration of these enigmatic creatures, but also a timely alarm bell about their shrinking numbers' The Lady 'Just about every hedgehog fact you could wish to know' Northern Echo Hedgehogs, with their quiet determination and bristling, bumbling ways, are one of the most enduring symbols of the countryside and town gardens. The Hedgehog Handbook explores different facets of this enigmatic and much-admired mammal – from its eating and sleeping habits to its literary heritage and how we can help preserve this icon of rural life. Packed with inspirational quotes, entertaining facts, folklore and literary references, it's the perfect gift for anyone with a penchant for prickles.Trade ReviewWonderful... A responsible perspective on animal conservation is underwritten by presentation of the shocking facts' * Yorkshire Times *Just about every hedgehog fact you could wish to know * Northern Echo *Not just a celebration of these enigmatic creatures, but also a timely alarm bell about their shrinking numbers * The Lady *One of our favourite books of the year * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisHeritage is a social construction rooted in modern and contemporary societies. It is commonly a positive assessment of many elements of the physical and human environment (e.g. ecosystems and landscapes, monuments, customs, gender norms, religious practices, gastronomy, and livelihoods). Heritage and tourism are strongly related to each other in that heritage gives rise to tourist attractions and activities, and tourism enhances the designation of heritage sites. Non-human animals (hereafter 'animals') are present as implicit or explicit heritage elements through multiple tourist environments: animals may be themselves the heritage focus of tourist interest (visual arts, gastronomy, as charismatic and distinguished beings, as part of festivities or rituals), or it may be that animals are agents involved in heritage tourist environments such as working animals or in recreational activities. A post-humanist perspective the moral valuation of equality between humans and other animals demands that both are sentient beings and self-aware of their pain and pleasure. Thus, the involvement of animals as heritage elements by themselves or as an element of tourist consumption in heritage sites implies their commodification and lack of agency. As such, these practices are usually unethical, since they threaten the animals' primary interests: not to suffer, not to feel pain and to be able to live their freedom. This book contains chapters that reveal both the unethical interactions between humans and animals within heritage tourism, and those that show experiences in which efforts are made to minimize damage within the commercialization of animals involved as heritage themselves. It will be of interest to postgraduate students, academics, NGOs and tourism planners.Table of ContentsSection 1: Humanist benefits and animal exploitation exploitation Chapter 1: Introduction. Muted torment: Speciesism, tourism, and animal commodification by David A. López Varela Chapter 2: Heritage and commodification of non-human animals in tourism: a posthumanist reflection by Álvaro López López, Gino Jafet Quintero Venegas and Carol Kline Chapter 3: The legacy of zoos? Moral reasons against considering zoos as heritage by Gustavo Ortiz-Millán Chapter 4: Fill Your Cup: a multi-species exploration of Balinese kopi luwak agrotourism by Jes Hooper Chapter 5: Animal trade and dark tourism in the Sonora market by Jean Azcatl Pineda and Alicia Mariana Penélope Castro Pérez. Chapter 6: Jallikattu: Walking the tightrope between culture and animal welfare by Javed Salim and Nusrat Yasmeen Chapter 7: Bullfights, tourism and intangible cultural heritage in Mexico: A dissonant heritage by Georgina Flores Mercado Chapter 8: Bullfighting at the San Marcos National Fair: animal cruelty behind tourism and heritage by Alejandro Morales Pérez and Brenda Martínez Velasco Section 2: Navigating animal-human relationships: tension in minmizing damage Chapter 9: Restoring relationships of respect with eagle relatives: Tribal-led Eagle Aviary Tours in Oklahoma Indian Country by Bobbie Chew Bigby Chapter 10: A posthumanist view on theming the axolotl for a Pueblo Mágico by Gino Jafet Quintero Venegas, Álvaro López López and Carol Kline Chapter 11: Feline saviours: Nekonomics, stray agency, and the kawaiification of heritage tourism in Japan by Émilie Crossley and Johan R. Edelheim Chapter 12: The heritage of the cute: Commodifying pandas in urban and rural China by Yulei Guo Chapter 13: Contested boundaries: Towards a posthumanist political ecology approach to recognize human-deer relationship as an intangible cultural heritage by Rie Usui and Carolin Funck Chapter 14: Conclusion. Shifting animal abuse in heritage tourism to the paradigm of building multispecies communities by Leonardo Garavito-González, Jorge Iván Ruiz Barrera, Estephania Sepúlveda Perdomo, Tomás Arias Roncancio and Mateo Nicolás Rico Medina

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Book SynopsisA tongue-in-cheek field guide to the deadliest animals on Earth from TikTok star @mndiaye_97 Let''s be clear: Mamadou Ndiaye knows a whole lot of animals that can and will end you, but he has no plans to let these strange and horrifying creatures cash in his life insurance policy. Now the TikTok star is turning his engaging, entertaining, and informative takes on animal biology and behaviour into this hilarious guide to the world''s most deadly creatures. These include: sperm whales with a call so strong it can vibrate you to death meerkats or the most homicidal mammals on Earth hyenas, which eat their prey while it is still alive hippos, which have no soul and answer to no god and a golf-ball-sized octopus that can erase twenty-six people with one biteYou''ll learn not only which animals to avoid, but which ones can beat you in a footrace, which ones create surprisingly high body counts, and whi

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Book SynopsisFor more than 100 years, scientists have denied that animals experience emotions, yet this remarkable and groundbreaking book proves what animal-lovers have known to be true: wolves, tigers, giraffes, elephants and many other creatures exhibit all kinds of feelings - hope, fear, shame, love, compassion. From Ola, the irritable whale, to Toto, the chimpanzee who nursed his owner back to health, this book collects together for the first time a vast range of case histories which show the extraordinary complexity of the animal world, and the tumult of emotions that govern it.Trade ReviewPowerful stuff... Accessible and entertaining * Guardian *A masterpiece... The most comprehensive and compelling argument for animal sensibility that I've yet seen -- Elizabeth Marshall ThomasA powerful case for re-examining our entire relationship with the animal world -- Brian Jackman * The Times *Among animal experts, When Elephants Weep is being hailed as a milestone in the battle to make man understand he is only one member of an enormous family -- George Gordon * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisElla Law is a prolific children's author with a strong international presence. She is happiest writing stories for a pre-school audience and loves the challenge of creating a world of irresistible characters with lots of opportunities for adventure... a world just like Rainbow Island where the Kindness Club can be found.Ella has created award-winning children's animation and brings a very visual approach to all her writing. The hallmark of her work is her child-centred focus and she always knows just how to engage with her audience. Ella gets most of her ideas on her daily walks in the countryside.

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Book SynopsisIn Never Home Alone, biologist Rob Dunn takes us to the edge of biology's latest frontier: our own homes. Every house is a wilderness -- from the Egyptian meal moths in our kitchen cupboards and the yeast in a sourdough starter, to the camel crickets living in the basement, to the thousands of species of insects, bacteria, fungi, and plants live literally under our noses. Our reaction, too often, is to sterilise. As we do, we unwittingly cultivate an entirely new playground for evolution. Unfortunately, this means that we have created a range of new parasites, from antibiotic-resistant microbes to nearly impossible to kill cockroaches, to threaten ourselves with and destroyed helpful housemates. If we're not careful, the "healthier" we try to make our homes, the more likely we'll be putting our own health at risk.A rich natural history and a thrilling scientific investigation, Never Home Alone shows us that if are to truly thrive in our homes, we must learn to welcome the unknown guests that have been there the whole time.

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Book SynopsisIn this lively and fascinating book, a guilt-ridden, bacon-loving journalist finds work at an industrial pig farm as he researches the long and torrid history of humans and swine.After convincing a skeptical pig farmer to take him on as a hired hand for six months, journalist Kristoffer Endresen follows a litter of piglets from birth to slaughter, all in the hopes of understanding what goes on inside an industrial pig farm and whether humans can ethically justify eating pork… which just so happens to be the most consumed animal protein in the world.During his days as a beginner pig wrangler, he mucks out pig pens and cuddles a cute piglet. He inseminates a female pig and narrowly escapes being trampled. Endresen interweaves his fast times at a piggery with surprising insights into the long and star-crossed bond between pigs and humans—drawing on history, literature, archeology, and myth—and shares new science into video-game-playing swine and pig heart transplants, and asks if pigs really are as smart as we think.Both an engaging saga of an overlooked animal and a provocative exploration of the ethics of industrial meat, The Pig and I asks us to consider not only where our food comes from, but also the tangled history that first brought it to our plates.Trade Review"[E]mpathetic and entertaining... [A]n enlightening meditation on a troubling moral issue."—Publishers Weekly"By turns thought-provoking, shudder-inducing, and funny as hell, Endresen’s heartfelt The Pig and I gave this guilt-ridden Spanish ham-lover a thorough schooling in the often astonishing ways of swine."—Taras Grescoe, author of Bottomfeeder and The Lost Supper"From the evolution of pigs and the dismal consequences of industrial pork production to the surprising mental capacities of swine, The Pig and I takes a beautifully written deep-dive into our morally complicated relationships with the most widely consumed mammal on earth. Endressen is a compelling storyteller, and his book is both entertaining and, ultimately, haunting."—Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals"A lovely book about a much misunderstood animal. It manages to be simultaneously an entertaining trot through the history of the pig and a searing indictment of factory farming."—Roger Morgan-Grenville, author of Across a Waking Land"In this worthy addition to the porcine canon, Endresen describes the grueling conditions of a hog confinement farm while also detailing the history, science, and lore of this fascinating animal and its relationship to humans—truly the whole hog."—Barry Estabrook, author of Pig Tales

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Book SynopsisHumans have long believed themselves to be the superior species: we consume other animals for food, experiment on them and slaughter them for sport. But as well as the ethical issues surrounding our treatment of other animals, our attitudes are responsible for massive species loss and extinctions, the extensive destruction of habitats and a growing threat of zoonotic pandemics. Drawing on philosophy and theology, art and history, Between Light and Storm is a penetrating account of our fraught relationship with animals. It is also a timely and necessary plea for a more humane approach to those with whom we share a planet.Trade Review'Elegiac, haunting and piercingly intelligent, Esther Woolfson's exploration ofour relationship with other species is sometimes painful to read but her articulacyand lightness of touch, and her own beautifully observed experiences, are a joy. Aprofoundly moving and important book' - Isabella Tree'A powerful, poignant, and urgently important reflection on our relations withthe non-human world. Immaculately researched and compulsively readable' -Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast'We live in a time in which our disrespect for nature is coming back to bite us.Timely and wide-ranging, Esther Woolfson's book offers sensitive reflections onhow we relate to the animals around us as well as the animal within' - Frans deWaal

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times top ten bestseller'Lost Dog is already one of my books of the year. Spicer writes like a dream...You will love it.' India Knight, Sunday Times 'Sharply observed and deeply funny, it's one of the best, most enjoyable books of 2019 so far' British VogueWhat did Fleabag do next?One morning, you wake up and wonder what has happened to your life. Then you realise: you happened to yourself.Kate is a middle aged woman trying to steer some order into a life that is going off the rails. When she adopts a lurcher called Wolfy, the shabby rescue dog saves her from herself. But when the dog disappears, it is up to Kate to hit the streets of London and find him. Will she save him, as he has saved her - or will she lose everything?As she trudges endlessly calling his name in the hopeless hope she may find him, she runs into other people’s landscapes and lives, finding allies amongst psychics, bloggers and mysterious midnight joggers. Trying to find her dog tests her relationship, and her sanity, to its limits – and gets her thinking about her life, and why things have turned out as they have for her. A brilliant, life-affirming memoir, Lost Dog is a book like no other about the myth of modern womanhood.Trade ReviewLost Dog is already one of my books of the year. Spicer writes like a dream, and her unblinking appraisal of her world and of her place in it feels like an act of generosity towards the reader. You will love it. -- India Knight * Sunday Times *Kate Spicer made me care about a f***ing dog. I don't know who I am anymore. * John Niven *Part love letter, part tribute to the power of never giving up hope, Lost Dog is not simply for those who like dogs. It’s a mature piece of writing that never falters... It hits you right in the heart. * Literary Review *Sharply observed and deeply funny, it's one of the best, most enjoyable books of 2019 so far * British Vogue *Amazing... so much more than a lost dog. * Grazia *

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Book SynopsisDid you know that the word ''swansong'' comes from an ancient belief that while swans were silent throughout their lives, they sang a beautiful song on their deathbed? Or that a group of skylarks is called an exultation?Over the years, Springwatch has brought us unforgettable moments featuring our feathered friends, from nest cams capturing hatchlings as they emerge from their eggs to red kites soaring majestically in search of prey. Now, delve into the ultimate bird lover''s companion, with expert tips on where to find British bird species and how to identify them, alongside avian folklore and favourite stories from the series.Arranged by bird family, Birdtopia includes explanations behind unusual collective nouns for birds - an unkindness of ravens may stem from the nineteenth-century belief that these birds turned their young out of the nest to fend for themselves - descriptions of bird calls, the reasons why birds create beautiful murmuration dis

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Book SynopsisSex with animals is one of the last taboos but, for a practice that is generally regarded as abhorrent, it is remarkable how many books, films, plays, paintings, and photographs depict the subject. So, what does loving animals mean? In this book the renowned historian Joanna Bourke explores the modern history of sex between humans and animals. Bourke looks at the changing meanings of “bestiality” and “zoophilia,” assesses the psychiatric and sexual aspects, and she concludes by delineating an ethics of animal loving.Trade Review"Bourke believes society should take a more nuanced approach to the matter. In her new book, Loving Animals, she points out that studies suggesting a link between bestiality and psychosis should be treated with caution due to sampling bias, because they were conducted on people already within the penal system, rather than a cross-section of the population. The sexually frustrated young farm-hand who interferes with one of his mares shouldn’t necessarily occupy the same taxonomic box as the bona fide sex pest; his indiscretion is, in the words of the psychiatrist Philip Q. Roche, an 'adaptive expedient of bucolic loneliness'—a matter of circumstance rather than proclivity; contingent rather than pathological." -- Houman Barekat * Times Literary Supplement *"In this courageous book, Bourke combines scholarship and clear prose to tackle head-on one of our most stigmatized taboos—sexual relations between humans and nonhumans. In doing so, she provides an illuminating perspective on a subject too often swept under the rug. Even if so-called zoophilia were a rare aberration, it ought to be addressed. That it is far more widespread than commonly believed justifies the need for thorough, contemporary examination." -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of "What a Fish Knows" and "Super Fly"“This bold and imaginative book is thoughtful and—inevitably—provocative. With characteristic compassion and insight, Bourke undertakes a tour de force of historical and cultural attitudes towards human-animal relations to guide us through serious ethical and political questions concerning sexuality, power, and consent.” -- Julie-Marie Strange, Durham University"Bourke’s post-anthropocentric approach to human–animal love and lust is a remarkable and much-needed contribution to both queer studies and animal studies. She offers a critical and thorough analysis of the joys, hopes, and dangers of intimacy with the most vulnerable of all lovers—animals." -- Monika Bakke, Philosophy Department, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan (Poland)

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Book SynopsisWith devastating logic and clarity, Dr Pandora Pound, Research Director at Safer Medicines Trust, comprehensively dismantles the case for animal research, bringing to an end the 150-year-old debate about its value once and for all. Focusing on the science rather than animal suffering – and including no distressing details – she provides a riveting account of how the practice became so well established, before proceeding to painstakingly reveal the futility and shockingly poor quality of most animal studies. Medical progress is being thwarted by an obsolete and harmful practice, but Pound showcases the awe-inspiring technologies, both old and new, that would revolutionise medicine if only it could escape the stranglehold of animal research. Rat Trap slays the many myths about animal research and shows that, far from being a necessary evil, it is one of the most important and urgent scientific issues of our time. ‘What a corker of a book! A superb analysis of the promises and pitfalls limiting the use of animals in medical research. Lucid and elegantly written. Highly recommended.’ -- Dr James Le Fanu, doctor, columnist for the Daily Telegraph and author of Too Many Pills and The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine. ‘Beautifully written, her arguments hum with clarity. Destined to be a classic and to make a difference in the world.’ -- Dr Ricardo Blaug, political scientist and author of How Power Corrupts. ‘Dr Pandora Pound transformed the debate on animal experiments in 2004 as lead author of the landmark study ‘Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?’. Published in the prestigious British Medical Journal, it provoked a storm of controversy – and a series of scientific studies revealing the startling unreliability of animals as surrogates for humans in medical research. As a result, reports of ‘breakthroughs’ based on animal studies now routinely carry disclaimers about the implications for patients. In Rat Trap, Dr Pound brings us up to date with this deeply controversial issue. She sets out the evidence for animal models being abandoned as a matter of urgency, and shows how resistance from some elements of the scientific community poses a grave threat to medical progress.’ -- Robert Matthews, visiting professor in statistical science, Aston University, Birmingham, UK, and author of Chancing It and 25 Big Ideas

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Book Synopsis A light-hearted look at art through canine eyes. Join dachshunds Ned and Henry for an energetic romp through the world of art, encountering famous paintings and sculptures from a four-legged perspective. Watch them lead their gang of hounds – including schnauzers, jack russells, greyhounds, border terriers and labradors – on an eventful trip through the gallery, taking in modernist masterpieces and much-loved Old Masters. On their way they encounter Whistler’s Mother, Picasso’s The Dream, Matisse’s The Fall of Icarus, Magritte’s Lab and a Dachshund Pollock – all culminating in a doggy version of Campbell’s Soup, Warhol’s Squirrel Soup for dogs! Illustrator Joy FitzSimmons shows us beloved works of art playfully re-imagined by man’s best friend. From Rousseau to Riley, Hokusai to Hockney, this canine homage takes us across the globe from Tate to the Prado to MoMA, to the British Museum and beyond.Trade Review'Delightful' -- Leisure Painter

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Book SynopsisA unique and compelling exploration of why humans need animal companions - from dogs and cats to horses, birds and reptiles - as seen through the eyes of bestselling author Jacky Colliss Harvey. In The Animal's Companion, the acclaimed author of Red: A Natural History of the Redhead explores the human desire to share our everyday life with pets, a history that can be traced back to a cave in France where evidence has been unearthed of a boy and his dog taking a walk together, some 26,000 years ago. From those preserved foot and paw prints, Colliss Harvey draws on literary, artistic and archaeological artefacts to sweep readers through centuries and across continents to examine how our relationships with our pets have developed, but also stayed very much the same. Through delightful stories of the most famous, endearing and sometimes eccentric pet owners throughout history, she suggests fascinating new insights into one of the most long-standing of all human love affairs.Trade Review[A] lively exploration...Colliss Harvey has an eye for surprising details and a lovely way with a description. * Sunday Times *An engaging, insightful consideration of how anthropomorphism, cruelty, egocentrism, empathy, realism and sentimentality have blended and blurred across centuries - teaching us a vast amount about animals, andeven more about ourselves. * Irish Times *both erudite and entertaining...Anyone who has ever loved an animal, which is surely most of us, will find it to be a profound, witty and moving account of that bond. * Glasgow Herald *tremendously erudite...beautifully illustrated...for all its research into deeper matters, the real pleasure of The Animal's Companion lies in its stories. And they come thick and fast. * The Spectator *Informative, irresistible, quirky and deeply perceptive. Anyone who has ever loved a creature should read this book. -- Sir Roy StrongColliss Harvey is an engaging narrator. She sets scenes and creates immediacy. She writes eloquently, sometimes humorously, often rousingly. * Independent on RED *Engagingly informative. * Daily Mail on RED *A bright and breezy cultural history. * Daily Telegraph on RED *An entertaining romp through the meaning and mythology of red hair. * Sunday Times on RED *A fascinating new book. * Guardian on RED *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Regarding 1: Finding 2: Choosing 3: Fashioning 4: Naming 5: Communicating 6: Connecting 7: Caring 8: Losing 9: Imagining

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Book SynopsisEvery living thing has two bodies. To be an animal is to be in possession of a physical body, a body which can eat, drink and sleep; it is also to be embedded in a worldwide network of ecosystems. When every human body has an uncanny global presence, how do we live with ourselves? In this timely and elegant essay, Daisy Hildyard captures the second body by exploring how the human is a part of animal life. She meets Richard, a butcher in Yorkshire, and sees pigs turned into boiled ham; and Gina, an environmental criminologist, who tells her about leopards and silver foxes kept as pets in luxury apartments. She speaks to Luis, a biologist, about the origins of life; and talks to Nadezhda about fungi in an effort to understand how we define animal life. Eventually, her second body comes to visit her first body when the river flooded her home last year. The Second Body is a brilliantly lucid account of the dissolving boundaries between all life on earth.Trade Review‘With a voice that is both intimate and richly imaginative, [Hildyard] draws on sources spanning biology, ecology, literature, and sociology to illustrate the seeming paradox of human existence: that humans act individually and globally at once – that we act both in and on the world around us. ... Hildyard’s book is a powerful exploration of how every human is both a singular being as well as one of many in the world.’ — Publishers' Weekly‘“Another creature’s experience is different, and we do not know how it is different”, writes Daisy Hildyard in The Second Body. This playful and original essay touches on the limits of our ability to imagine that experience. Hildyard, a novelist who was trained as a historian of science, tries to find the ways we intuit boundaries between our bodies and our ecosystems, between ourselves and other animals.’ — Jennie Erin Smith, Times Literary Supplement‘These are fretful, questioning essays with occasional flashes of beauty, demanding of readers that they think about anthropogenic disruption of climate and ecology.’ — Gavin Francis, Guardian‘Part amateur detective, part visionary, Hildyard’s voice is so intelligent, beguiling and important. Like Sir Thomas Browne or even Annie Dillard, her sly variety of scientific inquiry is incandescent.’ — Rivka Galchen, author of Little Labors

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Book SynopsisTHERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ORDINARY ANIMAL. EVERY ONE HAS A HEROIC STORY TO TELL. Discover how . . . Able Seacat Simon rescued the crew of HMS Amethyst Bobby the Wonder Dog crossed a continent to find his family Galipolli Murphy carried 250 wounded soldiers to safety Pickles tracked down the stolen World Cup And the Tamworth Two managed to save their baconClare Balding's stories of daring, courageous, remarkable creatures who changed our world for the better: from the dog that inspired Lassie to the bear that fought the Nazis.Trade ReviewAnimal magic * Sunday Telegraph *Extraordinary * Daily Mail *Riveting * Daily Telegraph *Wonderful * Women's Weekly *An inspiring fireside read * Horse & Hound *Perfect for animal lovers everywhere! * People's Friend *Heart warming and at times very funny . . . her love of animals shines through in these accounts, which bring to life the amazing moments and special bonds between humans and animals * Radio Times *Inspiring * Daily Mirror *Heartwarming * Yours *Incredible stories * Woman & Home *Some stories are awe-inspiring, some are moving, while others are simply laugh-out-loud funny * BBC *Heartwarming * Woman *Moving * Sunday Express *The perfect book to read on a cold winter's day with your dog snuggled up beside you * Your Dog *

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