Animals and society Books
HarperCollins Publishers The Life of Birds
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Animate
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.70
Bloomsbury USA Beauty of the Beasts
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.00
Hodder & Stoughton The Tiger
Book SynopsisThe gripping true story of the hunt for a man-eating tiger across the forbidding landscape of Russia's Far East....Trade ReviewAn adventure so heart-thumping, it can feel like a spy thriller.An unbelievable tale, expertly told, with a few paragraphs that I would give my eye teeth to have written.Like its majestic and terrifying subject, John Vaillant's book moves with subtlety and grace, commands a vast terrain - and has the power to shake the observer's soul . . . What unfolds, in a richly layered story that partners cunning with sublimity, is a tragedy in several acts and with multiple dimensions . . . The Tiger also counts as a supreme example of true-crime writing driven by wide-angle empathy and compassion. Some readers may choose to shelve it, not among cosy wildlife yarns, but with Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *A tale with memorable characters, a beautifully described setting and moments of startling drama . . . Vaillant's research is matched by the elegance of his writing . . . Vaillant is able to empathise so fully with both human and animal protagonists that it is hard to believe he wasn't there . . . This is a remarkable story, exceptionally well told -- Tim Souster * Financial Times *This masterful account of the terror, death and grief caused by a man-eating Amur tiger in Russia in 1997 is as mesmerising, rangy and relentless as the creature in question. * Sunday Telegraph *Extraordinary . . . a brilliantly told tale of man and nature -- Tim Flannery * New York Review of Books *Few writers have taken such pains to understand their monsters, and few depict them in such arresting prose. * New York Times Book Review *Compelling . . . a superb book - hyper-intelligent, wonderfully well-written, with a great cast, both human and animal, and at its heart, the amazing and truly chilling story of one tiger's winter campaign of murderous revenge -- Harry Ritchie * Daily Mail *The structure of Vaillant's nonfiction hunting tale echoes that of Moby Dick, alternating a gripping chase narrative -- the search, in the late 1990s, for a man-eating Amur tiger in the Primorye region, on Russia's far eastern border -- with dense explanations of the culture and ecology surrounding the chase. * New York Times *This is an altogether different kind of manhunt story . . . . The pursuit culminates in a breathtaking stand-off of man versus cat in a forest clearing - a denouement every bit as explosive and surprising as the raid in Abbottabad earlier this week. -- Hampton Sides * Wall Street Journal *Riveting * Washington Post *By all means read Vaillant's magnificent book about the animal: The Tiger offers readers a shiver-inducing portrait of a predator that has been revered - and feared - like no other animal. * San Francisco Chronicle *Brad Pitt has bought the movie rights to The Tiger, but with all due respect to Mr. Pitt, there's no way the movie will match Mr. Vaillant's book. * Washington Times *An affectionate account * TLS *The Tiger is the sort of book I very much like and rarely find. Humans are hard-wired to fear tigers, so this book will attract intense interest. -- Annie Proulx, Puliter Prize-winning author of THE SHIPPING NEWSThe Tiger takes us on a journey to the raw edge of civilization, to a world of vengeful cats and venal men, a world that, in Vaillant's brilliant telling, is simultaneously haunting and enchanting. -- Hampton Sides, author of GHOST SOLDIERSThis book must be read by everybody who is interested in the conservation of wildlife. It takes you to the Russian wilderness to meet face-to-face with the Siberian tiger. -- Temple Grandin, author of ANIMALS IN TRANSLATIONAn absolutely superb book. -- George Schaller, Wildlife Conservation Society & PantheraA masterpiece * Outside *Brilliant * US Library Journal *An instant classic * Calgary Herald *Astoundingly gripping * Toronto Star *Read this fine, true book in the warmth, beside the flicker of firelight. Read it and be afraid. Be very afraid. -- Simon Winchester * Globe and Mail *Breathtakingly exciting * Vancouver Sun *A hair-raising tale in which conservation, madness and even murder collide. * Montreal Gazette *Fascinating and compelling plot * Ottawa Citizen *Not so incidentally, if ever a nonfiction author has used the techniques of fiction any better to recount a real-life narrative, it is difficult to imagine who that author would be. * Seattle Times *Part natural history, part Russian history and part thriller; it tells a gripping and gory story of what it's like to stalk - and be stalked by - the largest species of cat still walking the Earth. * National Public Radio (USA) *John Vaillant is a literary shaman. * Quill & Quire *Enthralling * Christian Science Monitor *An extraordinary account of a tracker on the trail of a Siberian man-eating tiger in 1997. Along the way we get a load of tiger facts and a beautiful portrait of a forbidding region. It is a stunning, lovely, lovely book. * Bookseller *Writing in a vigorous, evocative style . . . Vaillant paints a haunting portrait of man's vexed relationship with nature. * Publishers Weekly *An adventure so heart-thumping, it can feel like a spy thriller.An unbelievable tale, expertly told, with a few paragraphs that I would give my eye teeth to have written.Enriched by sparkling sidetracks into nature and history, this enthralling true-crime narrative takes us on a snowbound search not only for a beast but for a motive. Like its superb quarry, Vaillant's book moves with grace and stealth, covers a vast terrain and shakes the observer's soul * Independent *The structure of Vaillant's nonfiction hunting tale echoes that of Moby Dick, alternating a gripping chase narrative -- the search, in the late 1990s, for a man-eating Amur tiger in the Primorye region, on Russia's far eastern border -- with dense explanations of the culture and ecology surrounding the chase. * New York Times *This masterful account of the terror, death and grief caused by a man-eating Amur tiger in Russia in 1997 is as mesmerising, rangy and relentless as the creature in question. * Sunday Telegraph *This is an altogether different kind of manhunt story . . . . The pursuit culminates in a breathtaking stand-off of man versus cat in a forest clearing - a denouement every bit as explosive and surprising as the raid in Abbottabad earlier this week. * Wall Street Journal *Extraordinary . . . a brilliantly told tale of man and nature * New York Review of Books *The Tiger also counts as a supreme example of true-crime writing driven by wide-angle empathy and compassion. Some readers may choose to shelve it, not among cosy wildlife yarns, but with Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. * Independent *A remarkable story, exceptionally well told. * Financial Times *Few writers have taken such pains to understand their monsters, and few depict them in such arresting prose. * New York Times Book Review *A superb book -- hyper-intelligent, wonderfully well-written, with a great cast, both human and animal, and at its heart, the amazing and truly chilling story of one tiger's winter campaign of murderous revenge. * Daily Mail *Riveting * Washington Post *By all means read Vaillant's magnificent book about the animal: The Tiger offers readers a shiver-inducing portrait of a predator that has been revered - and feared - like no other animal. * San Francisco Chronicle *Brad Pitt has bought the movie rights to The Tiger, but with all due respect to Mr. Pitt, there's no way the movie will match Mr. Vaillant's book. * Washington Times *An affectionate account * TLS *The Tiger is the sort of book I very much like and rarely find. Humans are hard-wired to fear tigers, so this book will attract intense interest.The Tiger takes us on a journey to the raw edge of civilization, to a world of vengeful cats and venal men, a world that, in Vaillant's brilliant telling, is simultaneously haunting and enchanting.This book must be read by everybody who is interested in the conservation of wildlife. It takes you to the Russian wilderness to meet face-to-face with the Siberian tiger.An absolutely superb book.A masterpiece * Outside *Brilliant * US Library Journal *An instant classic * Calgary Herald *Astoundingly gripping * Toronto Star *Read this fine, true book in the warmth, beside the flicker of firelight. Read it and be afraid. Be very afraid. * Globe and Mail *Breathtakingly exciting * Vancouver Sun *A hair-raising tale in which conservation, madness and even murder collide. * Montreal Gazette *Fascinating and compelling plot * Ottawa Citizen *Not so incidentally, if ever a nonfiction author has used the techniques of fiction any better to recount a real-life narrative, it is difficult to imagine who that author would be. * Seattle Times *Part natural history, part Russian history and part thriller; it tells a gripping and gory story of what it's like to stalk - and be stalked by - the largest species of cat still walking the Earth. * National Public Radio (USA) *John Vaillant is a literary shaman. * Quill & Quire *Enthralling * Christian Science Monitor *An extraordinary account of a tracker on the trail of a Siberian man-eating tiger in 1997. Along the way we get a load of tiger facts and a beautiful portrait of a forbidding region. It is a stunning, lovely, lovely book. * Bookseller *Writing in a vigorous, evocative style . . . Vaillant paints a haunting portrait of man's vexed relationship with nature. * Publishers Weekly *
£10.44
Brown Dog Books Rural Wrongs
Book Synopsis
£15.31
Chelsea Green Publishing Co Hunt for the Shadow Wolf
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
£17.00
Brown Dog Books Max One in a Million
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
£8.99
Exisle Publishing Cats Work Like This
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.
£15.29
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Dogs: A Philosophical Guide to Our Best Friends
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
£9.49
Lantern Publishing & Media Vegan Made Easy
Book Synopsis
£26.10
Penguin Books Ltd Why Look at Animals John Berger Penguin Great
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.
£7.59
Cornerstone The Nightingale: ‘The nature book of the year’
Book Synopsis'Wondering and wonderful. The nature book of the year.' JOHN LEWIS-STEMPEL'This lovely book is almost as thrilling as the bird's immortal song - balm for a troubled soul and a glimpse of paradise.' JOANNA LUMLEY______________________________Come to the forest, sit by the fireside and listen to intoxicating song, as Sam Lee tells the story of the nightingale.Every year, as darkness falls upon woodlands, the nightingale heralds the arrival of Spring. Throughout history, its sweet song has inspired musicians, writers and artists around the world, from Germany, France and Italy to Greece, Ukraine and Korea. Here, passionate conservationist, renowned musician and folk expert Sam Lee tells the story of the nightingale. This book reveals in beautiful detail the bird's song, habitat, characteristics and migration patterns, as well as the environmental issues that threaten its livelihood.From Greek mythology to John Keats, to Persian poetry and 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square', Lee delves into the various ways we have celebrated the nightingale through traditions, folklore, music, literature, from ancient history to the present day. The Nightingale is a unique and lyrical portrait of a famed yet elusive songbird.______________________________'Sam Lee has brought the poetic magic that has long enchanted so many of his musical fans into the written word. Allow yourself to glimpse the world Sam sees, to be part of his love affair with the nightingale, and you will no doubt be delighted.' LILY COLE'A wonderful book.' STEPHEN MOSS'A magical marriage of the lyrical and practical: a book that makes us want to seek out the nightingale and then reveals how we can.' TRISTAN GOOLEYTrade ReviewThis lovely book is almost as thrilling as the bird's immortal song - balm for a troubled soul and a glimpse of paradise -- Joanna LumleyWondering and wonderful. The nature book of the year.A wonderful book. -- Stephen MossA magical marriage of the lyrical and practical: a book that makes us want to seek out the nightingale and then reveals how we can. -- Tristan GooleyA beautiful, lyrical, heartfelt book ... Certainly my appreciation of however many nightingalers are left to me will be for ever heightened by the time I've spent with this generous, sensitive book about our most glorious songbird -- Alex Preston * Observer *
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Bridleway
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ELWYN HARTLEY-EDWARDS AWARD FOR EQUINE WRITING, 2023. Tiffany Francis-Baker explores how the relationship between humans and horses has shaped the British landscape and how this connection has become part of our nation''s ecosystems. Many of us enjoy walking or riding on bridleways. These ancient networks crisscross the British countryside, but we rarely pause to ponder how they came to be. Tiffany Francis-Baker tells the intriguing history of Britain''s bridleways, revealing how our relationship with horses is deeply woven into the fabric of British culture, from street and pub names to trading routes and coaching inns. She meets the closest living descendants of wild horses and investigates our evolving relationship with horses, exploring equestrian sports, horse fairs, horseback travellers and adventurers, and how humans and horses have worked together for millennia. Part-domesticated and part-fiercely independent, hors
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co In the Shadow of Man
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.
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd How Animals Heal Us
Book Synopsis
£17.00
Lantern Books,US Muzzling a Movement
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Hedgehog Handbook
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 *
£9.49
Fitzcarraldo Editions The Second Body
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
£10.44
Triglyph Books Top Dogs: A British Love Affair
Book SynopsisThis book celebrates the special relationship between beloved British dogs and their devoted owners. Architects, fashion designers, florists, entrepreneurs - these and the other famous, creative and hyper-successful people have one thing in common when it comes to their canines: the strength of the bond between human and four-legged friend. This makes for tales of companionship that will be sure to uplift your spirits and make the heart sing. Exuberantly photographed by Dylan Thomas, with interviews by Poodle-mad Georgina Montagu, Top Dogs is a joyous read and lustrous eye-candy for dog lovers. From Jacobean manor to Cumbrian hill farm, and circus wagon to royal residence, the lucky hounds who are showcased in this sumptuous volume occupy some of the loveliest homes in the country.Table of ContentsForeword; Introduction; The Love Affair; Gnipper; Shadow; Mojito; Moon + Buzz; Bellini + Sugar + Spice + Margarita + Tequila; Fire; Romeo; The Barony Bassets; Ruby + Leto + Winston; Saffron; Rollo; Jiminy Cricket + Gyda; Lionel McGruff; Turlough Mor; Sami + Larry; Logan; Minnow; Vinnie; Lochie; Cookie; Storm; Lenny + Ronnie + Rita + Ruby; Coco + Trump; Cedric; Summer; Peggy + Jaguar + Banana + Ghost + Duppy; Bean; Pugsy Malone; Luna + Willow; Pizza Hairy Chainsaw; Behind the Lens; The Publisher; Acknowledgements
£54.00
Faber & Faber The Wisdom of Sheep Other Animals
Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SECRET LIFE OF COWS''Elegiac, funny, warm and wise, The Wisdom of Sheep will delight country folk and city dwellers alike.'' KATHERINE MAYWe talk about people behaving like sheep, which assumes that sheep all behave in the same way. That has not been my experience.Some are affectionate, others prone to head-butting. Some are determinedly self-sufficient, others seek our help when they need it. And some can be trusted to lead the flock home. They are as individual as we are.Farm animals are familiar to us from childhood stories, but little did we know that their inner lives are full of complexity, deep bonds and family dramas. Rosamund Young has been an organic farmer for over forty years and this is her record of a life at the beck and call of the animals while observing and preserving the abundant wildlife at Kite's Nest Farm. It is a story of joy, discovery, cooperation and
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Interpretation of Cats
Book SynopsisA guide to being the best humans we can be for our cats' Focus'Fascinating. A must for every cat owner' Philippa Perry A trail-blazing guide to feline mental health from a leading veterinary psychiatristIs your cat happy? What can you do to help? And what can cats teach us? The relationship between humans and cats has never been simple. Cats are mysterious and contradictory, independent and affectionate, predator and prey. Their true nature continues to elude us, and their subtle and complex behavioural problems can often seem unsolvable or incomprehensible. In this ground-breaking book a huge bestseller in its native France veterinary doctor and psychiatrist Claude Béata draws on cutting-edge research and decades of experience with cats, to revolutionize our understanding of pets and transform our appreciation of feline mental wellbeing. Here, we meet Nougatine, a Siamese suffering from bipolar dysthymic disorder, Tabatha, an anxious Ragdoll with attachment issues, and Melly, an Abyssinian struggling with a feline form of schizophrenia as well as their owners who seek advice and support. Charming, surprising, and offering illuminating insight into a range of disorders, Béata's book calls for greater compassion and provides a new way of understanding cat psychiatry so we can care for the mental, and physical wellness of our beloved pets.
£10.44
Random House Animal Liberation Now
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
£11.69
Birlinn General Native: Life in a Vanishing Landscape
Book SynopsisA Times Bestseller Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing 2020 'Remarkable, and so profoundly enjoyable to read ... Its importance is huge, setting down a vital marker in the 21st century debate about how we use and abuse the land' - Joyce McMillan, Scotsman Desperate to connect with his native Galloway, Patrick Laurie plunges into work on his family farm in the hills of southwest Scotland. Investing in the oldest and most traditional breeds of Galloway cattle, the Riggit Galloway, he begins to discover how cows once shaped people, places and nature in this remote and half-hidden place. This traditional breed requires different methods of care from modern farming on an industrial, totally unnatural scale. As the cattle begin to dictate the pattern of his life, Patrick stumbles upon the passing of an ancient rural heritage. Always one of the most isolated and insular parts of the country, as the twentieth century progressed, the people of Galloway deserted the land and the moors have been transformed into commercial forest in the last thirty years. The people and the cattle have gone, and this withdrawal has shattered many centuries of tradition and custom. Much has been lost, and the new forests have driven the catastrophic decline of the much-loved curlew, a bird which features strongly in Galloway's consciousness. The links between people, cattle and wild birds become a central theme as Patrick begins to face the reality of life in a vanishing landscape.Trade Review'For as long as anyone can remember there have been Lauries farming in Galloway. Native is Patrick Laurie's account of returning home and trying to establish a farm on a 30 acre plot. This is a memoir born out of moments of wonder and pain ... It is not so much a lament for a lost way of being, but the loving story of trying to find it again' * The Times, Nature Books of the Year *'He’s a keen observer, of nature and of the general ebb and flow of the world, and he writes with a seemingly effortless lyricism about what he sees… A charming evocation of the harsh realities of farming in the modern world, and the difficulties of marrying food production and conservation' * Geographical Magazine *'Laurie has an authentic ability to balance the pains and joys of small farming. … [Native] works a remarkable balancing act/ the blackened fingernail, bruised by bustling cattle, presses down on a key as richly ambiguous as the curlew’s cry' -- Brian Morton * Times Literary Supplement *'[Laurie's] chapters apply a delightful honesty to the poignant struggle of everyday agriculture, but then occasionally take my breath with a lyrical passage... rapturous writing' -- Nick Offerman'Usually only the Highlands gets a look-in so the relative obscurity of the country that Laurie farms makes the book special... It is a painful book about presence and absence, and it’s worth reading for the quality of prose alone' -- Patrick Galbraith * The Times *'Laurie writes in beautiful detail about the landscape and animals surrounding him. The book represents an ongoing battle between progress and conservation in which the farming industry is integral. A thoughtful read about a man’s love of his homeland' * Scottish Field *'Remarkable, and so profoundly enjoyable to read ... Its importance is huge, setting down a vital marker in the 21st century debate about how we use and abuse the land' -- Joyce McMillan * Scotsman *'Brilliant and Beautiful... This is a book about a place you will probably have never visited: but you should read it nonetheless because what it says has a wider importance, about some of what we have got wrong in the way we respect nature and farming and what we might get right if we change our ways. it is also that most valuable of things, an escape to an open land where curlew still cry and the wind and rain cut in from the sea and city life feels a million miles away' -- Julian Glover * London Evening Standard *‘[A] beautifully written memoir, a mesmerising account of a year of back-breaking labour, personal despair and piercing moments of joy… unforced and utterly authentic.’ FIVE STAR REVIEW * Mail on Sunday *'A farmer with a poet’s eye is a rare thing indeed, and this is a rare breed of a book: an elegy to a vanishing landscape but one not without hope, and to be greatly treasured' * Daily Mail *'Galloway, past and present, is the bedrock of this book, a granite foundation on which Laurie is to build his future… an unflinching account of what it takes to turn into a farmer, bearing callouses, bruises and scars…. moving as well as inspirational. This Galloway farm might be just one stamp in an album, but if a butterfly wing can cause a hurricane, what about a rampaging bull?' -- Rosemary Goring * Herald *'Native is described as ‘a hymn of love to his native land’. It’s an apt description for a wonderful book... a poignant and thought-provoking read, I loved it' -- Matt Johnson * LoveReading *'I work at Forum Books in Corbridge and got a proof of this - it's the most incredible book I can recall reading - prose to compare with Macfarlane. Staggering, should win prizes' -- Bookseller * Forum Books *'I simply adore this book!' -- Polly Pullar'Patrick Laurie's neighbours looked on in amusement when he turned the clock back to follow his grandfather’s way of rearing cattle. But the old ways are paying off and he is now the proud owner of a thriving rare breed herd – and seen the return of threatened wildlife to his land' * Sunday Post *'Patrick Laurie is a wonderful writer. He has written a hymn of love to his native land' -- James Rebanks'In this tender, lyrical book, Patrick Laurie considers what it means to really belong to a place. Throughout, the mud, blood and sweat of the farm are brought vividly to life, and each sentence is charged with passion for its subject' -- Malachy Tallack'A young man sets out to work the land like his forefathers and brings Riggit Galloway cattle in to help him. Nature flourishes ... A good read, although Patrick Laurie may also be the type of farmer on the verge of extinction, along with the curlew' * Birdwatching Magazine *'Patrick Laurie returns to his native Galloway in southwest Scotland, with the sole ambition of farming and raising livestock like his family had before him. Haunted by nature’s declining fortunes, he hopes that by bringing back ‘the old ways’ – mixed farming instead of monocultures, slow-growing rare-breed cattle instead of modern European beef breeds, a sickle and a scythe instead of a combine harvester – he can also bring back the wildlife that once thrived on Galloway’s farmland' -- Geordie Torr * Geographical magazine, Best Books of 2020 Nature, Climate and Environment *'A love song to a way of life, the animals, the birds (particularly the birds) and the landscape' * Sorted Magazine *'With enchanting lyricism throughout, this book will hook you like the long beaks of the little waders themselves as they snaffle up their worms' -- Loretta Mulholland * Dundee Courier, Scottish Book of the Week *'A bittersweet portrait of a difficult and disappearing way of life…Rich with the sense of place and balanced between solastalgia and practicality' * ShinyNewBooks.co.uk *
£9.49
Quercus Publishing How to Hold Animals
Book SynopsisA delightful treasure trove of tips on how to hold animals without hurting them.Should you hold a mouse by its tail? A grasshopper by its leg? A butterfly by its wing?How do you pick up a prickly hedgehog? A slithering snake? A hissing cat?Most of us don't have nearly enough experience of being around animals. We feel a bit apprehensive when it comes to touching them. Maybe we're scared we'll hurt them, or that they'll hurt us. That is a huge shame, because connecting with animals is a magical life skill that can make you feel at peace and aligned with nature.Luckily, animal photographer and former zookeeper Toshimitsu Matsuhashi is here to give you advice and show you the very best way to care for the animals in our lives, from beetles to hamsters and from chickens to dogs. Fully illustrated with fascinating information (did you know that you should go for the smaller rather than the bigger horn when you pick up a stag beetle?), How To Hold Animals leaves no stone unturned and teaches us all how to be kind to the animals around us.
£17.00
Orion Publishing Co How Animals Saved My Life Being the Supervet
Book SynopsisTHE MASSIVE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERIt has been 30 years since Noel Fitzpatrick graduated as a veterinary surgeon, and that 22-year-old from Ballyfin, Ireland, is now one of the leading veterinary surgeons in the world. The journey to that point has seen Noel treat thousands of animals - many of whom were thought to be beyond help - animals that have changed his life, and the lives of those around them, for the better.If the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Listening to the Animals was about Noel''s path to becoming The Supervet, then How Animals Saved My Life is about what it''s like to actually be The Supervet. Noel shares the moving and often funny stories of the animals he''s treated and the unique ''animal people'' he has met along the way. He reflects on the valuable lessons of Integrity, Care, Love and Hope that they have taught him - lessons that have sustained him through the unbelievable highs and crushing lows
£10.44
Granta Books Between Light and Storm: How We Live With Other
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.
£17.00
Vintage Publishing The Owl: A Biography
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 *
£13.49
Vintage Publishing The Inner Life of Animals: Surprising
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
£9.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Sheep’s Tale: The story of our most
Book Synopsis'An important book on several levels... Read a few sentences out loud, wherever you are.' Rosamund YoungEverybody thinks they know what sheep are like: they're stupid, noisy, cowardly ('lambs to the slaughter'), and they're 'sheepwrecking' the environment.Or maybe not. Contrary to popular prejudice, sheep are among the smartest animals in the farmyard, fiercely loyal, forming long and lasting friendships. Sheep, farmed properly, are boons to biodiversity. They also happen to taste good and their fleeces warm us through the winter - indeed, John Lewis-Stempel's family supplied the wool for Queen Elizabeth's 'hose'.Observing the traditional shepherd's calendar, The Sheep's Tale is a loving biography of ewes, lambs, and rams through the seasons. Lewis-Stempel tends to his flock with deep-rooted wisdom, ethical consideration, affection, and humour. This book is a tribute to all the sheep he has reared and sheared - from gregarious Action Ram to sweet Maid Marion. In his inimitable style, he shares the tales that only a shepherd can tell.Trade ReviewI found this book not only pleasingly escapist but also nostalgic... the writing is vivid, lyrical and seductive... There's a romance to shepherding that is entirely absent from pig and poultry farming. * The Times *The Sheep's Tale is an important book on several levels... Read a few sentences out loud, wherever you are; everyone should know more about sheep. -- Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of CowsA book of brilliant authenticity. Lewis-Stempel's affection for, and empathy with, sheep springs off every page. -- Sally Coulthard, author of A Short History of the World According to SheepJohn Lewis Stempel's paean of praise for our wonderful and unique breeds of British sheep ought to be widely read. Sheep and pastoral farming are coming under increasingly strident onslaught and they will need every ounce of support they can get if they are to survive into the future. -- Philip Walling, author of Counting SheepThis little book is both delightful and useful. * Country Life *
£9.49
Greystone Books,Canada Eavesdropping on Animals
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!
£12.34
Transworld Publishers Ltd A Lion Called Christian. Anthony Bourke John
Book SynopsisIn 2008, a YouTube clip became an internet phenomenon. It showed the emotional reunion of two young men and their pet lion, Christian, after they had left him in Africa to be introduced into his rightful home in the wild. Anthony ''Ace'' Bourke and John Rendall visited London from Australia in 1969 and bought a boisterous lion cub in Harrods. But Christian soon grew from cuddly cub to King of the Kings Road in London, and the only way to avoid him being incarcerated in a zoo was to place him under the expert care of George Adamson in Kenya. Ace and John did not return to see their lion for a year.A Lion Called Christian tells their touching story, accompanied by stunning photographs. It''s a unique and extraordinary tale of its time that resonates again today with a worldwide audience, thanks to the internet age, and is destined to become one of the great classics of animal literature.Trade ReviewThis fascinating story has a wonderful ending * Daily Mail *An unabashedly stirring tale of a rare bond formed between humans and an animal ... To read this book is to feel ... that Christian never left * Time *Both immensely charming and intensely moving * Good Book Guide *
£10.44
Octopus Publishing Group My Rescue Pet Rescued Me: Amazing True Stories of
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.
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Justice for Animals
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
£11.69
Elliott & Thompson Limited Foxes Unearthed: A Story of Love and Loathing in
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
£9.89
Running Press,U.S. I Dont Really Love You
Book SynopsisBringing readers from aww to awful! in a matter of seconds, I Don''t Really Love You seamlessly blends images of charming pets with hilarious, soul-crushing captions about the existential dread that seems to permeate daily life. Darkly humorous one-liners, from Birthdays don''t matter to Inadequacy haunts me endlessly, will peek out from behind the forms of calm cats and happy-go-lucky puppies, creating an unexpected contrast that takes readers on a journey from delightful to depressing (and back again!) Pet lovers and humor lovers will be captivated in equal measure, with more than 75 full-color photographs of cats and dogs in a range of breeds, alongside an off-beat, subversive voice. With the perfect attitude for our rapidly changing world, this quirky book will make readers laugh out loud (after sending them crawling under the covers to contemplate their existence).
£7.49
Pan Macmillan The Gospel of the Eels: A Father, a Son and the
Book Synopsis'This is one of those special books . . . Even if it were only a book about eels, it would be wonderful.' - Sunday Times'I never thought I would see myself in an eel, until I read Svensson’s beautiful book, in which he anthropomorphizes eels and shows how mysterious they are, and how little we know about them. It’s a beautiful book that makes you realize that the eel is our cousin — we are the eel, and the eel is us.' - Michaela Coel’I can’t recall us ever talking about anything other than eels and how to best catch them, down there by the stream. Actually, I can’t remember us speaking at all. Maybe because we never did.’The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is one of the strangest creatures nature ever created. Remarkably little is known about the eel, even today. What we do know is that it’s born as a tiny willow-leaf shaped larva in the Sargasso Sea, travels on the ocean currents toward the coasts of Europe – a journey of about four thousand miles that takes at least two years. Upon arrival, it transforms itself into a glass eel and then into a yellow eel before it wanders up into fresh water. It lives a solitary life, hiding from both light and science, for ten, twenty, fifty years, before migrating back to the sea in the autumn, morphing into a silver eel and swimming all the way back to the Sargasso Sea, where it breeds and dies.And yet . . . There is still so much we don’t know about eels. No human has ever seen eels reproduce; no one can give a complete account of the eel’s metamorphoses or say why they are born and die in the Sargasso Sea; no human has even seen a mature eel in the Sargasso Sea. Ever. And now the eel is disappearing, and we don’t know exactly why.What we do know is that eels and their mysterious lives captivate us.This is the basis for The Gospel of the Eels, Patrik Svensson’s quite unique natural science memoir; his ongoing fascination with this secretive fish, but also the equally perplexing and often murky relationship he shared with his father, whose only passion in life was fishing for this obscure creature.Through the exploration of eels in literature (Günter Grass and Graham Swift feature, amongst others) and the history of science (we learn about Aristotle’s and Sigmund Freud’s complicated relationships with eels) as well as modern marine biology (Rachel Carson and others) we get to know this peculiar animal. In this exploration, we also learn about the human condition, life and death, through natural science and nature writing at its very best.As Patrik Svensson concludes: 'by writing about eels, I have in some ways found my way home again.'Trade ReviewThe best mysteries are those science hasn’t yet cracked, and top of the list comes the sex life of eels. -- Melanie Reid * The Times *Extraordinary . . . Such is his skill that the echoes and parallels he finds never seem stretched. It’s as if the eel’s mysteriousness is snaking out, beyond its extraordinary life cycle and uncanny ability to confound scientists, and into the writing. * Observer *This beguiling book . . . completely won me over to these astonishing, mysterious creatures . . . Beautifully written, The Gospel of the Eels left me in awe of the animal. * Sunday Times ‘Nature Books of the Year’ *A gorgeously evocative blend of science, nature writing and family memoir * Guardian *What a joy! Patrick Svensson’s sinuous weaving of natural history, philosophy, psychology and autobiography is as compelling and rewarding as a silver eel’s return to the Sargasso Sea. I loved every moment. * Isabella Tree, author of Wilding *I’m still not sure I like eels, but I loved this book. * Sunday Times *In this lovely, thoughtful blend of natural science and memoir, Patrik Svensson elevates the European eel . . . to an almost mythical status . . . We must hope this marvellous book is not the eel's eulogy. * Mail on Sunday *Just as the eel glides between freshwater and salt, Svensson’s book swims in the seas of both natural history and memoir. Svensson’s father took the young Patrik eel fishing often, and their beautifully rendered nocturnal outings have the feel of occult ritual. * New York Times *Svensson’s book, like its subject, is a strange beast: a creature of metamorphosis, a shape-shifter that moves among realms. It is a book of natural history, and a memoir about a son and his father. It is also an exploration of literature and religion and custom, and what it means to live in a world full of questions we can’t always answer. * New Yorker *There’s an underlying theme here that made me think science is about discovery, not always about perfect answers. * Forbes, ‘Best Summer Reads For Those Stuck Inside Working Remotely’ *Drawing from literature, science and his own studies, Svensson inspires readers to see eels in a whole new way. * Los Angeles Times, ‘21 new and classic books to keep you in touch with the natural world’ *
£9.49
Profile Books Ltd Irresistible: How Cuteness Wired our Brains and
Book SynopsisA BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' 'Fascinating ... you'll never look at a Hello Kitty or a Pokémon the same way again' Mail on Sunday Why are some things cute, and others not? What happens to our brains when we see something cute? And how did cuteness go global, from Hello Kitty to Disney characters? Cuteness is an area where culture and biology get tangled up. Seeing a cute animal triggers some of the most powerful psychological instincts we have - the ones that elicit our care and protection - but there is a deeper story behind the broad appeal of Japanese cats and saccharine greetings cards. Joshua Paul Dale, a pioneer in the burgeoning field of cuteness studies, explains how the cute aesthetic spread around the globe, from pop brands to Lolita fashion, kids' cartoons and the unstoppable rise of Hello Kitty. Irresistible delves into the surprisingly ancient origins of Japan's kawaii culture, and uncovers the cross-cultural pollination of the globalised world. Understanding the psychology of cuteness can help answer some of the biggest questions in evolutionary history and the mysterious origins of animal domestication. This is the fascinating cultural history of cuteness, and a revealing look at how our most powerful psychological impulses have remade global style and culture.Trade ReviewA layer cake of cultural history and developmental biology ... peculiarly charming ... with such a wealth of examples to consider, cute studies has only just begun. There's plenty more to see, and plenty to wave a glow stick at * Daily Telegraph *The global 'cute quake' [is] a seismic fusion of consumerism and sentimentality ... as Dale shows in Irresistible, the trend has been building inexorably for centuries -- Miranda France * Times Literary Supplement *Fascinating ... you'll never look at a Hello Kitty or a Pokémon the same way again * Mail on Sunday *[A] fascinating exploration of what it means to be cute, and why we love cute things -- Charlotte Runcie * Sunday Telegraph *Dale makes a strong case for his subject to be taken seriously ... one can only admire the breadth and range of his cute examples -- Ian Sansom * Spectator *Dale, a cheerful and able raconteur, has written a cracking story, straddling history, art and complex developmental science * New Scientist *Our fascination with cuteness is more than just a quirk of human psychology; it's fundamental to explaining what made us human in the first place .... an absolute treasure trove of unconventional and unexpected insight -- Justin Gregg, author * If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal *Compelling ... the scope of Dale's research is impressive as the reader is provided with a full-fledged cultural analysis of what it means to be kawaii ... [Dale] takes us on a number of such global detours, but always circles back to analyse the spread and meaning of kawaii in Japan * All About Japan *An unprecedented and occasionally startling roadmap of social, psychological, and even biological reasons why humans find things cute, from babies and kittens to Hello Kitty, from anime to Disney. Deeply researched and engagingly written, Irresistible is more than its title implies - it's essential -- Matt AltIn this landmark work of cute studies, Joshua Paul Dale deftly combines comprehensive overview and eye-opening analysis to pinpoint the developments of cuteness across Japanese and Western cultures ... Irresistible is a significant and entertaining exploration of a ubiquitous but often-overlooked aesthetic -- Isabel GalleymoreRecognising cuteness is a spontaneous, natural act - a knee-jerk omg moment - but within that reaction is a universe of feels: what we want from others, what we find worth protecting, and how we reach out for connection. Irresistible is scholarship that does not feel at all like homework, and Dale deftly unpacks the long and broad history of the feeling of kawaii with deep respect, rigour, and a sense of fun. It's a book you'll absolutely want to squeeze -- Connie WangIn this accessible, enjoyable book, Joshua Dale takes readers on a tour of the aesthetics and cultural uses of Japanese kawaii and related forms of cuteness, traversing historical times and national boundaries. Dale shows what we can learn about our societies and ourselves when take cuteness seriously -- Alisa Freedman, author * Tokyo in Transit *An irresistible read for a wide audience ... with a gift of story-telling and a firm grasp of scientific as well as historical and contemporary artistic sources, both in the West and Japan, Joshua Dale offers us (with good humour) reason to take seriously the cute to understand our contemporary world and its meaning for our humanity -- Prof. Gary Cross, Pennsylvania State University
£17.09
Vintage Publishing Animal Liberation
Book SynopsisHow should we treat non-human animals? In this immensely powerful and influential book (now with a new introduction by Sapiens author Yuval Noah Harari), the renowned moral philosopher Peter Singer addresses this simple question with trenchant, dispassionate reasoning. Accompanied by the disturbing evidence of factory farms and laboratories, his answers triggered the birth of the animal rights movement.'An extraordinary book which has had extraordinary effects... Widely known as the bible of the animal liberation movement' Independent on SundayIn the decades since this landmark classic first appeared, some public attitudes to animals may have changed but our continued abuse of animals in factory farms and as tools for research shows that the underlying ideas Singer exposes as ethically indefensible are still dominating the way we treat animals. As Yuval Harari’s brilliantly argued introduction makes clear, this book is as relevant now as the day it was written.Trade ReviewIn my mind, it is one the most important books of the last 100 years. It expands our moral horizons beyond our own species and is thereby a major evolution in ethics -- Peter Tatchell * Ecologist *
£16.19
Ebury Publishing Springwatch Birdtopia
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
£15.29
Scribe Publications The Animals in That Country: winner of the Arthur
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
£8.54
John Murray Press Heroic Animals: Amazing Creatures that Changed
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 *
£8.54
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Dead Zone
Book Synopsis''An honest, compelling and important account, and a critical plea for a fusion of farming, food and nature to provide global ecological security'' CHRIS PACKHAMWhy are so many animals facing extinction?Climate change and poaching are not the only culprits. The impact of consumer demand for cheap meat is equally devastating, and it is vital that we confront this problem if we are to stand a chance of reducing its effect on the world around us. We are falsely led to believe that squeezing animals into factory farms and cultivating crops in vast, chemical-soaked prairies is a necessary evil, an efficient means of providing for an ever-expanding global population while leaving land free for wildlife Our planet's resources are reaching breaking point: awareness is slowly building that the wellbeing of society depends on a thriving natural world From the author of the internationally acclaimed Farmageddon, Dead Zone takes us on an eye-openingTrade ReviewHighly informed, utterly compelling… Lymbery’s narrative threads are subtle and replete with powerful evidence… He does a superb job of equipping us with the hard facts. No author can do more -- Mark Cocker * New Statesman *A slam dunk of factory farming * Irish Times *An honest, compelling and important account and a critical plea for a fusion of farming, food and nature to provide global ecological security -- Chris PackhamA must-read for everyone who loves the wondrous wild creatures with whom we share our precious planet -- Joanna Lumley OBECheap, factory-farmed meat is killing us and killing the planet – in terms of its impact on our water, forest, soils and biodiversity. Dead Zone lays bare those ecocidal connections -- Jonathan Porritt, Founder and Director of Forum for the FutureDead Zone is a very important book … Conservationists, corporations and governments must find a way to end this devastation before it is too late -- Jane Goodall, PhD, DBEA timely and important book -- Tony Juniper, environmentalist, author and Special Adviser to the Prince of Wales's International Sustainability Unit
£11.69
Ebury Publishing Lost Dog: A Love Story
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 *
£9.49
Hay House UK Ltd Gods in Shackles: What Elephants Can Teach Us
Book SynopsisThis moving memoir follows a journalist and filmmaker as she finds her purpose in advocacy for the Asian elephants in her hometown of Kerala, India. Foreword by Jane Goodall.'I was shocked, saddened and angered by the cruelty towards the elephants who are forced to take part in religious ceremonies - cruelty that is described in this extraordinary book. I was amazed and moved by the courage shown by its author, Sangita Iyer.' Dr Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of PeaceElephants are self-aware, conscious beings. They can forge strong bonds and grieve the loss of elephants and humans alike. But despite all the empathy that elephants shower on humans, we continue to inflict pain and suffering on these caring, sentient beings.In 2013 Sangita Iyer visited her childhood home of Kerala, India, where over 700 Asian elephants, owned by individuals and temples, were forced to perform in crowded, noisy festivals. These gentle creatures who people claimed to revere were chained, abused and exploited for the entertainment of tourists and for profit.When she found herself in the presence of these divine creatures and witnessed their suffering first hand, Sangita felt a deep connection to their pain. She too had been shackled and silenced by her patriarchal upbringing and by the many 'me too' moments in her work life that were swept under the rug. Now she speaks up for elephants, herself and anyone who has been suppressed, inspiring with her story of healing, perseverance and hope. Her work to save elephants has saved her.
£12.99
Canongate Books Wolfish: The stories we tell about fear, ferocity
Book SynopsisA MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2023 FOR FINANCIAL TIMES, TIME, VULTURE, LIT HUB, GOODREADS, RUMPUS, BUSTLE, READER'S DIGEST and moreBoth vilified and venerated, wolves abound through cultural folklore and literature. In this hauntingly lyrical and unflinching inquiry, Erica Berry untangles these depictions - alongside her own research of the wolf and experience as a woman - to try to understand how we navigate terror, vulnerability and violence in our fragile, often dangerous world.Luminously wise and unusually brave, Wolfish will stay with you long into the night.Trade ReviewBerry draws on a huge, rich depository of lupine literature. Wolfish is more than just an interesting exercise in cultural anthropology, though. The book's most obvious ancestor is Helen Macdonald's megahit of 2014, H Is for Hawk; it has that same intellectual range and a prose style that pushes [. . .] towards the poetic * * Sunday Times * *A singular book. Reading this will invite you to examine your own walk through the world - hungry, afraid, brave -- KATHERINE MAYStartling in its scope, covering everything from fairy tales to domestic violence. This book should be required reading * * LA Times * *Ranging far and wide culturally in the company of wolves . . . Berry segues effortlessly from the reintroduction of wolves at Yellowstone national park to Pliny the Elder's belief that wolves held pharmacological benefits for women's bodies * * Guardian * *Singular . . . a book entirely its own * * TIME * *Explores the contours of human relationships - and what it means to be a woman - through this most familiar yet mysterious of creatures * * Financial Times * *Terror propels Erica Berry's exhilarating book . . . No matter where Berry weaves, she sniffs out fascinating insights. And she writes about it in clear, beautiful language * * Washington Post * *I devoured every startling, lyrical, haunting, yet all-too-familiar page of Wolfish. Such a stunning achievement, it left me feeling like one of the pack -- ELIZABETH RUSH, author of RISING, a finalist for the Pulitzer PrizeAn exhilarating book - intricate, thoughtful, and thick with connections -- MEGHA MAJUMDAR, New York Times bestselling author of A BURNINGBerry's braided approach renders Wolfish both a vulnerable self-investigation and a wide-ranging exploration of fear - and, ultimately, an antidote to it. She makes a stirring case for walking alongside the symbolic wolf * * Atlantic * *
£10.44
The Emma Press Some Cannot Be Caught: The Emma Press Book of
Book SynopsisThe Emma Press Book of Beasts rustles and roars with the voices of animals and humans, co-existing on Earth with varying degrees of harmony. A scorpion appears in a shower; a deer jumps in front of a car. A swarm of snowfleas seethes through leaf litter; children bait a gorilla at the zoo. The poems in this anthology examine hierarchy, herds, power, and the price we pay for belonging.
£9.00
Oneworld Publications Becoming Wild: How Animals Learn to be Animals
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 *
£10.44
And Other Stories The Gamekeeper
Book SynopsisGeorge Purse is an ex-steelworker employed as a gamekeeper on a ducal country estate. He gathers, hand-rears and treasures the birds to be shot at by his wealthy employers. He must ensure that the Duke and his guests have good hunts when the shooting season comes round on the Glorious Twelfth; he must ensure that the poachers who sneak onto the land in search of food do not. Season by season, over the course of a year, George makes his rounds. He is not a romantic hero. He is a laborer, who knows the natural world well and sees it without sentimentality. Rightly acclaimed as a masterpiece of nature writing as well as a radical statement on work and class, The Gamekeeper was also, like Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave (Kes), adapted by Hines and filmed by Ken Loach, and it too stands as a haunting classic of twentieth-century fiction.Trade Review‘The purpose of [the gamekeeper’s] life is absurd . . . Marginally, in the vitality of some of the wild birds or animals around him the gamekeeper deposits his minimal belief that life has another dimension . . . An outstanding book, which I read with admiration.’ John Berger ---- ‘His ear for the dialect and its comedy was pitch perfect . . . Barry understood class politics, the irreconcilable conflict between workers and employers. His book The Gamekeeper, which we filmed, captured this exactly. The title character is an ex-steel worker who now protects the land of the aristocracy and chases off his former workmates. A life in the open air for him means social exclusion for his wife and family. Is he changing sides or swapping one form of exploitation for another? Barry loved such contradictions.’ Ken Loach, The Guardian ---- ‘The feel and texture of country working-class life can seldom have been more faithfully recorded than they are here . . . I think this book has a quiet kind of value, easily missed, worthy of any reader's patience.’ Robert Nye, The Guardian ---- ‘He has a very rare quality of loaded simplicity, a kind of eloquent stillness . . . it is the marvellously detailed observation of real unsentimental country life which compels attention as grippingly as any thriller. When bolder, gaudier stuff is long forgotten, Mr Hines’s writing stays in the mind and nourishes it.’ Sunday Telegraph ---- ‘The eye and the ear for country matters are as lethal as a crack shot on the Glorious Twelfth.’ The Times ---- ‘A powerfully political novel that sidesteps overt polemic, The Gamekeeper observes, with studied neutrality, the beauty and brutality of the natural world and contrasts it with the wilful brutality of the sporting estate. Our hero is, of necessity, a cog in a system that warps the land and those who work it into status symbols. It is a dynamic from which, nearly fifty years on, we still have not escaped. The Gamekeeper is a compelling novel-as-documentary that deserves a new generation of readers.’ Gregory Norminton ---- ‘[The Gamekeeper] slyly evolves into implied criticism of the power imbalance between working-class George and the aristocratic Duke. Hines (1939–2016) skillfully writes in the tradition of such North England writers as Alan Sillitoe and Keith Waterhouse. This offers a convincing take on the strictures of class.’ Publisher’s Weekly ---- ‘Hines has a keen eye for nature, and his prose is at its finest when describing Purse’s adventures on the lush landscapes, especially his interactions with animals.’ Kirkus Reviews
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