Natural History Books

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE 2017 PEN ACKERLEY PRIZEWINNER OF THE 2016 WAINWRIGHT PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 ONDAATJE PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 WELLCOME PRIZEAt the age of thirty, Amy Liptrot finds herself washed up back home on Orkney. Standing unstable on the island, she tries to come to terms with the addiction that has swallowed the last decade of her life. As she spends her mornings swimming in the bracingly cold sea, her days tracking Orkney's wildlife, and her nights searching the sky for the Merry Dancers, Amy discovers how the wild can restore life and renew hope.Trade ReviewA lyrical, brave memoir. It's Liptrot's aptitude for marrying her inner-space with wild outer-spaces that makes her such a compelling writer . . . I enjoyed this book enormously -- WILL SELF * * Guardian * *The sheer sensuality of Liptrot's prose and her steely resolve immediately put her right up there with the best of the best. Liptrot is an Orcadian warrior with the breeze in her blood and poetry in her fingers, and The Outrun may even be a future classic. Wherever she journeys next, you will want to go with her * * New Statesman * *An exhilarating memoir . . . Anyone who has ever been unhappy or unwise will find much that resonates in this powerful, beautiful writing -- CATHY RENTZENBRINK * * Stylist * *An uncompromising account of addiction and recovery played out against the blasted fields of Orkney. Liptrot's writing is strong and sure. The Outrun is a bright addition to the exploding genre of writing about place and our place in the natural world * * Observer * *Remarkable . . . a meditative interior journey which Liptrot elevates to an art * * Spectator * *An unflinching examination of trauma, addiction and the restorative power of the natural world . . . It is a wild, wind-lashed book, and you come away from reading with the taste of salt spray on your lips -- Evie Wyld * * New York Times * *Brilliant . . . one of the most scabrously honest, sassy and moving books about addiction and recovery that I have read * * Scotsman * *An astonishingly beautiful book. Amy makes most nature writing seem flat and pedestrian. Her account of her addiction and recovery is electric, sexy, immediate and raw, leaving the reader reeling in her wake . . . This is a luminous, life-affirming book, and I have no doubt that I'll be pressing it into people's hands for years to come -- OLIVIA LAINGThere is a great deal of frank, flinch-making writing in this book, but it is always balanced by a sublimity and graciousness that is rare. This is a bold-hearted and brave-minded book. It is both terribly sad and awfully affecting. I look forward to its presence on some prize lists * * Scotland on Sunday * *Clean, clear and impressive . . . a sensuous book, full of summer nights and winter water. Liptrot swims, walks, lives alone on uninhabited islands and observes. And from that comes a portrait of the natural world she is absorbed into * * Herald * *

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Book SynopsisSee through the eyes of the Brontës as you immerse yourself in their lives and landscapes, wandering the very same paths they each would have walked in search of the inspiration behind their novels and poetry.An imaginative and elegant trek through the landscape of the Brontës' GraziaIn his journey to get closer to the Brontës, award-winning author Michael Stewart began walking the historic paths they trod while writing their most famous works. From Liverpool to Scarborough, across wild, windy, and often unforgiving scenery, he discovered echoes of the siblings' novels. And with the help of an unlikely cast of Yorkshire's inhabitants, Michael found himself falling further into their lives and writings than he could ever have imagined.Vivid and evocative, and including a series of beautiful maps of walks Michael devised when creating the iconic Brontë Stones project, Walking the Invisible invites you to experience the lives and landscapes that inspired the Brontës as they've never been Trade ReviewAn ‘imaginative and elegant trek through the landscape of the Brontës’ Grazia ‘An essential companion’ Lancashire Post ‘Literary but unpretentious’ My Weekly ‘Stewart’s passion and enthusiasm for the Brontes’ lives and work and the landscape that shaped them is palpable and infectious. If you weren’t struck […] with “Bronte Fever” before, after reading this you may well be’ Yorkshire Post ‘A terrific tribute to the Brontës – and to the landscapes that shaped their literature’ Guardian ‘For those who wish to follow in the footsteps of the Brontës, however the surroundings might have shifted over 200 years, Michael Stewart is an engaging and knowledgeable guide to have leading the way.’Brontë Studies ‘An authoritative, inspirational and often humorous companion to a great Yorkshire family and the landscape that shaped them – and many others – throughout history’ Yorkshire Life

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Book SynopsisA 1000-PIECE JIGSAW FOR NATURE LOVERS. Piece together a living, breathing world of trees and fill the gaps in your knowledge as you go with a comprehensive poster guide.BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Text by tree expert Jonathan Drori CBE, the author of the bestselling book Around the World in 80 Trees, and upcoming Around the World in 80 Plants.HOURS OF COZY FUN. Learn about 50 trees from around the world – all from the comfort of home!THE PERFECT GIFT. Illustration-led, highly finished jigsaw and illustrated poster for maximum gift appeal.AMAZING ARTWORK. Lucille Clerc''s intricately drawn world is bursting with minute detail.Finished puzzle 48.5 x 68 cm (19 x 27 in.)DISCOVER THE WORLD IN 50 TREES From the beech forests of southern Sweden to the North African argan trees – goats aloft in their branches – passing by India''s sacred banyan, the Hawaiian koa, and right down to Australia''s jarrah.

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Book SynopsisIncreasing numbers of urban dwellers has led to many of us feeling alienated from the natural world. This is not how we are meant to live, and we don’t have to. Even in the most built-up environment, nature makes its presence felt. All we have to do is let it in. This book offers 50 invigorating activities and step-by-step projects to do exactly that, for anyone craving a connection with the natural world, but especially those living in cities and towns with limited daily access to it. Green refuges and outdoor spaces are more important now than ever – a break from our stressful, tech-consumed lives. It is well researched that being in nature radically improves our mental health, just minutes from your doorstep. Nature is waiting for us to discover it, even in the most urban environment. Go on a night safari, make a worm farm or create a one-pot allotment. With 200 smart illustrations, this practical and accessible guide will expand your horizons and increase your appreciation of wild spaces, whether on the street, in the park, or in nearby nature reserves. Chapters include: Be an Urban Naturalist: Go on a night safari, appreciate winter trees, spot moths or build a weathervaneEngage with the Elements: Wild swimming, mudlarking, barefoot walking and creating art with found natural objectsLook to the Skies: Cloudspotting, the dawn chorus and looking for murmurationsMake Space for Nature: Building for biodiversity, make a worm farm, green up all your spaceDig for Victory: Grow microgreens or create a one-pot allotmentFind Your Wild Tribe: Join a community garden, adopt a street tree or take a city hike

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Book SynopsisThe ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the most commonly seen species in Britain and Europe.Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including notes on appearance, colour and distinctive features, and information on juveniles, range and habitat, nests, call and breeding sites.In addition, an extensive introduction covers general information on plumage, habitats and migration, and gives first-time birdwatchers advice on what equipment to buy and where to go to spot the most desirable species.This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering over 200 species of bird found in Britain and Europe.

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Book SynopsisSeventy-five feline crime purr-zzles to solve using logic, skill and the power of catnip.

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Book SynopsisYou don't need to travel to experience the joy of bird-watching: just take a look at the pigeons in your nearby park! With this fun, quirky, and scientifically correct field guide to the most common bird in most cities, you'll learn to see pigeons and doves (they're the same thing) with a bird-watcher's expertise, understanding their fascinating behaviour and appreciating nature right outside your window.Part field guide, part history, part ornithology primer, and altogether fun. Fact: Pigeons are amazing, and until recently, humans adored them. We've kept them as pets, held pigeon beauty contests, raced them, used them to carry messages over battlefields, harvested their poop to fertilize our crops-and cooked them in gourmet dishes. Now, with The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, readers can rediscover the wonder. Equal parts illustrated field guide and quirky history, it covers behaviour: Why they coo; how they flock; how they preen, kiss, and mate (monogamously); and how they raise their young (on chunky pigeon milk). Anatomy and identification, from Birmingham Roller to the American Giant Runt to the Scandaroon. Birder issues, like what to do if you find a baby pigeon stranded in the park. And our lively shared story together, including all the things we've taught them-Ping-Pong, for example. "Rats with wings?" Think again. Pigeons coo, peck and nest all over the world, yet most of us treat them with indifference or disdain. So Rosemary Mosco, a bird-lover, science communicator, writer, and cartoonist (and co-author of The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid) is here to give the pigeon's image a makeover, and to help every town- and city-dweller get closer to nature by discovering the joys of birding through pigeon-watching.Trade Review"This book will change what you think about pigeons! With loads of eye-opening pigeon science, delivered in playful and engaging style by Rosemary Mosco's text and illustrations, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching you will help you gain a whole new appreciation of these smart, savvy, and adaptable birds whose lives are so intertwined with ours." --David Allen Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds "We scorn pigeons for their commonness, but their ubiquity speaks to their talents. Past civilizations domesticated them and brought them wherever they went, for pigeons were loved and prized--as messengers, as producers of fertilizer, as meat on the plate. With her trademark wit and artistic charms, Mosco gives us a hundred reasons to rekindle the love affair. A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is part field guide, part history, part ornithology primer, and altogether fun!" --Mary Roach, New York Times bestselling author of Stiff and Grunt "So joyful that it's almost effervescent, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching will convert even the grumpiest pigeon skeptics into being, at the very least, pigeon-curious. Readers will never hear the cooing in a city park or watch a preening flock of pigeons the same way again." --Foreward Reviews "A gifted communicator, Rosemary Mosco makes every science subject both fascinating and fun--as they should be. This delightful look at the world of pigeons is a treasure." --Kenn Kaufman, editor of Kaufman Field Guides "A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is my favorite kind of book: one that teaches you everything you could want to know about a single fascinating topic in a way that is accessible, charming, and hilarious." --Ryan North, New York Times bestselling author of How to Invent Everything "Sparkling, witty prose, loaded with relatable pop-culture references and enhanced with charming cartoons, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is a seductive draw into the multilayered world of pigeons. This little book will sneak up and drop a load of solid ornithology on the unsuspecting reader." --Julie Zickefoose, author of Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay

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Book SynopsisThe smash-hit Sunday Times bestseller now illustrated with over 100 spectacular full-colour images, showcasing this wondrous and wildly various lifeform as never before'Astonishing ... it seems somehow to tip the natural world upside down' Observer'Completely mind-blowing ... reads like an adventure story' Sunday Times*WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY BOOK PRIZE 2021**WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION WRITING 2021*The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them. They can change our minds, heal our bodies and even help us avoid environmental disaster; they are metabolic masters, earth-makers and key players in most of nature's processes. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake takes us on a mind-altering journey into their spectacular world, and reveals how these extraordinary organisms transform our understanding of our planet and life itself.'Dazzling, vibrant, vision-changing' Robert Macfarlane'Urgent, astounding and necessary' Helen Macdonald'Gorgeous!' Margaret Atwood (on Twitter)'Wonderful' Nigella Lawson'This book is like one surprise after another' David Byrne'Uplifting' Jeanette Winterson*SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2021**SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021** A Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman, The Times, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, BBC Science Focus and Time Book of the Year *Trade ReviewAfter this book, nothing will seem the same again ... beautifully written and illustrated ... dazzling ... reveals a world that's both more extraordinary and more delicate than could be imagined * Mail on Sunday *Riveting and surprising at every turn ... A sensory as well as an intellectual pleasure * New Statesman *Wondrous ... Humans should consider fungi among the greatest of earth's marvels * Time, Books of the Year *Mind-boggling ... It's tempting ... to see fungi as the biological model for a better world * Telegraph *Truly astounding ... An engrossing, captivating journey * Spectator *Gorgeous, intelligent, utterly absorbing ... it expands our world, and makes us look up from the page with renewed wonder * Irish Times *One of those rare books that can truly change the way you see the world around you ... revelatory ... astounding ... and brimming with infectious joy * HELEN MACDONALD, author of H is for Hawk *A true masterpiece, a thrilling and fascinating insight into the living world ... I hope and trust that it will become an instant classic * GEORGE MONBIOT *Blew my mind ... Essential reading. Go and get swept up in a new world * ANDREA WULF, author of The Invention of Nature *Astonishing ... it's impossible to finish this book without feeling awestruck * ANDREW MOTION, TLS Books of the Year *Delightful to read but also grand and dizzying in how thoroughly it recalibrates our understanding of the natural world * ED YONG, author of An Immense World *Sentence after sentence stopped me short. I ended it wonderstruck at the fungal world - the secrets of which modern science is only now beginning to fathom - and the earth-shaking, hierarchy-breaking implications of Sheldrake's argument. A remarkable work by a remarkable writer * ROBERT MACFARLANE, author of Underland *A revelation ... Changes the way we need to look at life, the planet and ourselves * ISABELLA TREE, author of Wilding *Wonderfully written ... surprising ... The best science writing invites people to view the world around them in a new way, and Entangled Life is a perfect example * BRIAN COX *This is a book that, by virtue of the power of its writing, shifts your sense of the human ... It will inspire a generation * Michael Pollan (Bay Area Book Festival, 2020) *I have been working on and reading and writing about fungi for a decade. And yet, nearly every page of this book contained either an observation so interesting or a turn of phrase so lovely that I was moved to slow down, stop, and reread ... This book rocked me into remembering that nature, especially fungal nature, is big and encompassing and creative and destructive. It reminded me that fungi are, like the universe, sublime * Rob Dunne, Science *A magical journey deep into the root of nature by an expert storyteller ... a must-read for citizen scientists hoping to make a positive difference on this sacred planet we share * PAUL STAMETS, author of Mycelium Running *Reading this book, I felt surrounded by a web of wonder. The natural world is more fantastic than any fantasy, so long as you have the means to perceive it. This book provides the means * JARON LANIER, author of Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now *You may never look at fungi in the same way ... an eye-opening exploration of this mysterious taxonomic kingdom ... a journey into an untapped world. It is both a wonderful collection of fungal feats ... and a personal account of Sheldrake's experiences with these miraculous organisms * New Scientist *Brilliant ... entrancing ... when we look closely [at fungi], we meet large, unsettling questions ... Merlin Sheldrake ... carries us easily into these questions with ebullience and precision ... challenging some of our deepest assumptions * Guardian *A joy ... a captivating trip into the weird and wonderful mycorrhizal world around us - and inside us ... full of startling revelations * Daily Mail *The oddest and most uplifting book ... It is, to say the least, rare to find such a vast area of life on earth - fungi - about which one knows almost nothing, and which gives promise of being so important to human life during our next century * ANDREW MARR, New Statesman Books of the Year *If you had told me a book about fungi would be both enthralling and completely mind-blowing, I wouldn't have believed you. And yet. Dazzlingly good * INDIA KNIGHT, Sunday Times *A triumph and a thing of vast beauty * TOM HODGKINSON, The Idler *Fungi are everywhere, and Merlin Sheldrake is an ideal guide to their mysteries. He's passionate, deeply knowledgeable and a wonderful writer * ELIZABETH KOLBERT, author of Under a White Sky *Deeply engaging and constantly surprising ... the magic of mushrooms is not merely mind-expanding ... it might expand the very concept of the mind * PHILIP BALL, Prospect *As hard to put down as a thrilling detective novel, and one of the best works of popular science writing that I have enjoyed in years * DENNIS MCKENNA, author (with Terence McKenna) of Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide *It is impossible to put this book down. Entangled Life provides a window into the mind-boggling biology and fascinating cultures surrounding fungal life, as well as fungi's innumerable uses in materials, medicine and ecology. Sheldrake asks us to consider a life-form that is radically alien to ours, yet vibrant and lively underfoot * HANS ULRICH OBRIST *This is not just for mushroom-heads - it is science at its most uplifting * JEANETTE WINTERSON, The Times *Playful, strange, intensely philosophical ... Until very recently, human knowledge of this most mysterious life-form, neither plant nor animal, has been extremely limited. This is astounding, given ... their seismic impact on life on earth ... [Sheldrake's] central vision of the interconnectedness of all life-forms feels shiveringly prescient * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe Witch's Garden describes over 50 of the world's most powerful, harmful, legendary and storied plants - from the screaming mandrake to calming St John's Wort, to predicting the weather with seaweed, the creation of salves for broken hearts, sore heads, protection from evil spirits and to even induce immortality. Wise women, apothecaries, witches, herbalists: whatever you like to call them, those who cultivate plants for their apparent mystical properties have existed for thousands of years. The Witch's Garden tells the story of our folkloric fascination with these magical specimens, documenting the beliefs and rituals surrounding the natural world. Illustrated with pages from herbals held within the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, along with botanical illustrations and archival images depicting magic and mayhem, The Witch's Garden beautifully evokes the bewitching nature of mysterious plants.Table of ContentsIntroduction * Healing plants of the ancient world * Great minds * From superstition to respectability - and back * The seasons * The stations of life * Cures for the body * Plants and the heavens * The cunning woman's stillroom * The dark mirror - plants of the shadows * Plants of hope.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA scientific memoir as gripping as any HBO drama series... Just as she disinters earthy mushrooms and the finest of filaments, so she lays bare the human heart with moving simplicity... It is her gallant mission in the book and in her life - and one essential to combating the climate crisis - to make science more humanly engaged -- Kate Kellaway * Observer *Finding the Mother Tree is the kind of story we need to be telling, a new way of communicating that the world desperately needs to hear... A reminder to listen to our wilder selves, and to remember, with humility, how little we know of the complexities of the natural world -- Tiffany Francis-Baker * Guardian *This book is a testament to Simard's skill as a science communicator. Her research is clearly defined, the steps of her experiments articulated, her astonishing results explained and the implications laid bare: We ignore the complexity of forests at our peril -- Jonathan C. Slaght * The New York Times *A masterwork of planetary significance * Booklist (starred review) *[Simard] is an intellectual force... Simard's results are so revolutionary and controversial that they have quickly worked their way into social theory, urban planning, culture and art... We have a lot of rethinking to do about the economic and political models that, since Darwin, have been taken to be natural -- Kate Brown * Independent *Finding the Mother Tree has come at a crucial moment... With biodiversity on a knife edge, the need to appreciate and understand the complexity and brilliance of the natural world could not be more important -- Rosie Boycott * Financial Times *Vivid and inspiring... a radical new understanding of plants -- Eugenia Bone * Wall Street Journal *Speaking with Simard felt like coming to the headwaters of a vast system of ideas, both innovative and ancient... To read Finding the Mother Tree is to imagine the view from a 250-foot redwood. The recognition that we're all connected is one of the great gifts of the memoir * Los Angeles Times *[Suzanne Simard] forever transformed our views of the world and the interconnectivity of our environment. Finding the Mother Tree is not only a deeply beautiful memoir about one woman's impactful life, it's also a call to action to protect, understand and connect with the natural world -- Amy AdamsA vivid and compelling memoir of [Simard's] lifelong quest to prove that the forest is more than just a collection of trees * The New York Times *Extraordinary * BBC Wildlife Magazine *The moving and remarkable story of one of the greatest ecological discoveries of our time. Writing with humility and passion, Suzanne Simard's unravelling of the secret life of trees is changing the scientific mindset. Finding the Mother Tree is a crucial step towards healing our planet -- Isabella Tree, author of Wilding and The Living GoddessFew scientists make much impact with their PhD thesis, but, in 1997, Suzanne Simard did just that ... What was then a challenge to orthodox ideas is today widely accepted * New Scientist *Finding the Mother Tree is a rare and moving book - part charming memoir, part crash course in forest ecology. And yet, it manages to be about the things that matter most: the ways we care for each other, fail each other and listen to each other. After the last year and a half, its lessons about motherhood, connection and the natural world are more timely than ever -- Jake GyllenhaalFew researchers have had the pop culture impact of Suzanne Simard * Scientific American *The interplay of personal narrative, scientific insights and the amazing revelations about the life of the forest make a compelling story... These are stories that the world needs to hear -- Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding SweetgrassSuzanne Simard has a completely beguiling way of writing. I love how she combines brilliant scientific explanation with emotion and feeling -- Patrick Barkham, author of Wild Child and The Butterfly IslesSuzanne Simard is a total legend - someone who transformed the world in the way of James Lovelock, or Lynn Margulis -- Rowan HooperRevolutionary on both the scientific and the spiritual level. It is so extraordinary that it is, frankly, hard to believe - until you see the data, the science, the rigour, and the many independent affirmations of her findings... Simard is one of [Nature's] most insightful and eloquent translators -- John Vaillant, author of The Tiger

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Book SynopsisOver sixty years after Virginia Woolf drowned in the River Ouse, Olivia Laing set out one midsummer morning to walk its banks, from source to sea. Along the way, she explores the roles that rivers play in human lives, tracing their intricate flow through literature, mythology and folklore.Lyrical and stirring, To the River is a passionate investigation into how history resides in a landscape - and how ghosts never quite leave the places they love.Trade ReviewA beautifully written, elegant and subtle debut * * Financial Times * *A gentle, wise and riddling book -- ROBERT MACFARLANEMagical . . . By turns lyrical, melancholic and exultant, To the River just makes you want to follow Olivia Laing all the way to the sea -- PHILIP HOARE * * Daily Telegraph * *A beautifully written meditation on landscape * * The Sunday Times * *Wonderfully allusive . . . The book's subject and structure fuse pleasingly, weaving and meandering, pooling into biographical, mythical or historical backwaters * * Observer * *Without wanting to sound gushing, her writing at its sublime best reminds me of Richard Mabey's nature prose and the poetry of Alice Oswald . . . Laing seems to lack a layer of skin, rendering her susceptible to the smallest vibrations of the natural world as well as to the frailties of the human psyche * * The Times * *Has a Sebaldian edge to it that lifts it out of memoir and biography and into something far more tantalizing and suggestive * * Guardian * *This hugely accomplished first book draws on local lore and history, a vast range of research and some soaring lyrical writing * * Sunday Times * *Olivia Laing joins the best nature writers . . . Laing is a brilliant wordsmith and this is a beautifully accomplished book * * Independent * *Brave, distinctive, and deeply intelligent . . . The book has an intense, humming, cumulative effect * * Literary Review * *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZEThe original bestseller from the beloved author of UNDERLAND, LANDMARKS and THE LOST WORDS - Robert Macfarlane travels Britain''s ancient paths and discovers the secrets of our beautiful, underappreciated landscape''The Old Ways confirms Macfarlane''s reputation as one of the most eloquent and observant of contemporary writers about nature'' Scotland on SundayFollowing the tracks, holloways, drove-roads and sea paths that form part of a vast ancient network of routes criss-crossing the British Isles and beyond, Robert Macfarlane discovers a lost world - a landscape of the feet and the mind, of pilgrimage and ritual, of stories and ghosts; above all of the places and journeys which inspire and inhabit our imaginations.''Sublime... It sets the imagination tingling, laying an irresistible trail for readers to follow'' Sunday Times''Read this and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again'' Metro''He has a rare physical intelligence and affords total immersion in place, elements and the passage of time: wonderful'' Antony Gormley

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Book SynopsisIn our quest to find a place for quiet reflection these simple but beautifully curated books on the wonders of the natural world provides a place for rest, contemplation and reflection. This book features a selection of quotes, extracts and poetry on the folklore, wisdom and customs of walking.

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Book SynopsisNow a Sunday Times bestsellerHave you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking?Our dogs mean the world to us and as owners we do our best to make sure they feel happy and loved, whilst also keeping them in line when needed. But wouldn't it be so much easier if we spoke the same language and could ask what they were thinking or feeling?In his latest book, top dog trainer, Graeme Hall, reveals the secrets to understanding what your furry companion is trying to say and how they see the world. Drawing on 15 years of experience training over 5,000 dogs, and backed up with scientific evidence, he tackles all the tricky questions you've ever wanted to ask, such as how do I tell my dog he's been naughty?' and how long does a dog remember?'. Sharing his own personal stories and practical tips, Graeme demonstrates how to interpret your dog's body language and use that knowledge to build a stronger, more rewarding relationship, as well as how to avoid common mistakes. Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or a new pup parent, this book will change the way you think about your four-legged best friend.

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Book SynopsisYOUR SIMPLE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RAISING AND TRAINING A HAPPY PUPPY OR DOG!My name's Steve Mann and I've been a professional dog trainer and behaviourist for over 30 years. As founder of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, I've helped transform the lives of over 100,000 dogs and their families - and now I want to help you, too!Whether you're living with a brand-new puppy, an adult dog or rescue dog, my methods will give you everything you need to know. Using simple, proven, science-based and ethical techniques, I'll show you how to have the best relationship with your pup, as well as teaching you how to get: super-fast recalls, great loose lead walking, perfect manners and much, MUCH more... I promise, it really is easy peasy and every tip, trick and lesson will bring you and your puppy closer together. I'll see you on the other side, Enjoy! Steve MannTrade Review'Steve is brilliant ... my puppy-training prophet and spiritual guide. His approach makes perfect sense.' * Adrian Chiles, The Guardian *So easy to follow and it really works! * Lorraine Kelly *Dog Training Genius! * Emilia Clarke *Owning a dog is not easy, but training doesn't have to be hard. Steve offers lots of useful solutions that keeps training fun. * Dogs Today *Steve's training methods focus on positive reinforcement... it includes lots of information to help you understand training from the puppy's perspective. * Dogs Monthly *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Birdwatcher's Yearbook Best Bird Book of the Year""An excellent photographic guide."---Kevin Rushby, The Guardian"This book series creates the ‘wow' factor time and time again, and this volume is no different. lt covers all the birds ever seen in Britain, along with a few that may be escapees, with 3,600 photos of the highest quality – giving you no reason to misidentify any species!"---John Miles, Birdwatching"An indispensable aid to help solve the riddles and complexities that makes birding so compulsive’. This summer sees the advent of its superlative second edition, which not only records the changes in the birding landscape in the intervening years but has 400 new photographs plus a comprehensive revision and update of all the species described."---Stuart Winter, Sunday Express"[A] superlative second edition. . . . All those who were delighted when Britain’s Birds was first rolled out would be well advised in investing in this encyclopaedic but easy to use and handle work. With 3,500 photographs spread across 576 pages, some may find the new edition is a little heavy to take in the field. Don’t despair, there is the lighter Pocket Guide to take out as a companion. Invest in both."---Stuart Winter, Sunday Express"An excellent book."---Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Wall Street International"This is still by far the best photographic guide to Britain’s birds."---Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert"All in all, this is an absolutely superb guide that deserves to furnish every British birder's bookshelf . . . . It comfortably sits as the ultimate photo field guide on the market for British birds and comes thoroughly recommended."---Josh Jones, Birdguides.com"The majority of species have four to six photographs of each species, more images than most illustrated guides and the photographs have been very well chosen indeed. Not only have the authors amassed a vast reference collection here but have managed to source pictures that actually show the key identification points, an amazing feat!" * Biggest Twitch Birdwatching Trips *"A brilliant book collection . . . each volume is a colourful, fact-filled introduction to the animals, insects, plants and habitats that makes watching wildlife so fascinating."---Stuart Winter, Sunday Express"[This book is] not your average encyclopaedia; it’s the only one to cover every bird in every plumage ever recorded in the UK and Ireland."---Margaret Bartlett, Countryfile"I can’t recommend this book highly enough, the first edition was excellent, but it’s just got bigger and better and is a credit to both the authors and photographers. Whether you are an advanced birder or a beginner this book should be on your bookshelf as an essential reference."---Mike King, Gloster Birder"The photographs are exceptional and are extremely detailed and the layout of the book with flight patterns and distinguishing features is perfect. . . . Outstanding."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalist’s Association"Many books which promise to be ‘fully revised and updated’ simply don’t deliver (particularly after only a few years) but this one does and does it more thoroughly and comprehensively than any other book I can bring to mind. . . . By striking a good balance between the competing demands of a full treatment of Britain's birds, cost and portability . . . it stands head-and-shoulders above its rivals (a position unlikely to change any time soon). In the tidal wave of bird guides in recent decades it is one of the few actually breaks new ground and is likely to be a useful reference for years to come."---John Cantelo, Birding Cadiz Province"This is yet another ground-breaking field guide from the WILDGuides imprint, and an outstanding guide to Britain's birds for observers of all levels. . . . The authors and all contributors are to be heartily congratulated."---Chris Sharpe, Curious Naturalist"No guide I’ve seen contains better bird photographs than WildGuides’ Britain’s Birds and a revised second edition of this formidable 576-page tome has just been published. The photograph quality provides art gallery experience as you flick through colour-splashed pages seeking birds arriving during lockdown. . . . A real tonic in troubled times."---Eric Brown, News Shopper"This book . . . has been revised and updated for the second edition to make identification even easier. There are 12 new species recorded plus hundreds of new photos and fully revised species accounts to include the latest information in identification features, status, numbers, range and plumages seen during only part of the year. It's a must have for beginners, experienced and professional birders alike."---British Trust for Ornithology News, Gillian Birtles"Superb."---Gordon Hamlett, Birdwatcher's Yearbook

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Book SynopsisWill Millard is a writer, BBC presenter, and expedition leader. Born and brought up in the Fens, he is the BAFTA Cymru winning presenter of the BBC Two series 'Hunters of the South Seas' and 'My Year With The Tribe'. His first book, the critically acclaimed The Old Man and the Sand Eel, was published in 2018 and follows his wild journey across Britain in pursuit of a fishing record.

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant book [that] shows a way out of the destructive trap of Anthropocentric arrogance.' Vandana Shiva, from the Foreword 'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems.' Dr Denis Noble, University of Oxford ‘A welcoming yet fiercely challenging and provocative read shining a light on the way we look at the science of life.’ LoveReading What is life? This is arguably the fundamental question in all of science, and yet many scientists believe that life can be reduced to mechanistic factors, such as genes and information codes. But in a world as rich and complex as this one, can such an assertion really be true? Biocivilisations is a thrillingly original look at the mystery of life and a recognition of the complex civilisations of bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants and animals that have preceded the human world by billions of years. Dr Predrag Slijepčević, senior lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Brunel University, reconsiders the limited scope and timeframe of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and shares how – from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammals – the living world has long fostered ancient biocivilisations: how ants practice agriculture, how insects perform surgery, how trees conduct research, how slime moulds build networks as complex as our modern transportations systems and more. More than 99.99 percent of life on Earth has existed without humanity and life will continue without humans long into the future. Biocivilisations challenges us to reconsider the limited scope and time-window of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and to fundamentally reimagine what we call ‘life on Earth’ by posing a powerful question: Are we really the intelligent masters over nature we think we are? Trade Review'A prodigious synthesis and a great, ambitious and informative book dovetailing multiple fields in its effort – largely successful I think – to light a match – and then blow on the fires of the coming "Copernican biological revolution."' Dorion Sagan'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems. Civilisation did not just start with Homo sapiens. Life cannot be reduced to pure mechanism.' Dr Denis Noble, Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Oxford; Fellow of the Royal Society; 2022 Lomonosov Grand Gold Medal laureate'In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević tells stories about animals that create art, insects that do battlefield surgery, trees that perform scientific research, bacteria that create intelligent networks, and whole ecosystems that are organized with an efficiency that surpasses any human supply chain. Maybe you thought humans were the crown of creation. Maybe we humans have to learn humility and respect for the biosphere that birthed us. Maybe our future depends on it.' Josh Mitteldorf, PhD, coauthor of Cracking the Aging Code'Predrag Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life offers a powerful and welcome synthesis of what we ought by now to be happy to call Gaian science. It brings together crucial developments in biological systems thinking – such as symbiogenesis, epigenetics, biosemiotics, Gaia theory and autopoiesis – under a comprehensive vision founded on the cosmological longevity and cognitive acumen of the bacterial microcosm and its planetary offspring: multicellular life in all of its forms and alliances. Biocivilisations vigorously dismantles modern strains of scientific and cultural anthropocentrism and their current avatars peddling the futurist delusions of Singularity buffs and AI transhumanists. Slijepčević’s presentation of these crucial and heady matters is properly technical but consistently readable and deeply documented. His approach to science participates in a poetic spirit he perceives everywhere in a terrestrial biosphere that has risen for over four billion years to collective, eventually cross-kingdom consortia such as the ‘Wood Wide Web’ revealed by the new forest ecology. The environmental constructions of such biocivilisations long precede the human elaboration of its own technosphere. I highly recommend Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations for those who would like to get effectively up to speed on the most cogent contemporary challenges to the physicalist-mechanistic technoscientific mainstream.' Bruce Clarke, Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor of Literature and Science, Texas Tech University, Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology‘Biocivilizations is an unusually thought-provoking and ambitious book. It challenges the reader to abandon several centuries of assumptions about how to describe the living world in purely physical and mechanistic terms, a world governed by an evolutionary process that places human beings at the apex.’ Dr. James A. Shapiro, author of Evolution: A View from the 21st Century'Sentience, cognition and intelligence are emerging as inherent faculties of all life which has evolved on the Earth. Most of these living systems are much older than humanity and obviously are well integrated to support life. In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević makes clear that the sentient life is essential for the habitability of our planet and that humans should step down from the so-called crown of evolution model in order to appreciate our true position within the complex network of life. Only then will our civilization improve its rather doomed prospects for survival.' Dr František Baluška, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Bonn"Constructed with care, [Slijepčević's] arguments integrate hundreds of examples from the natural world . . . The prose is solid, impassioned, and informed. . . . [and] by defying entrenched and arrogant assumptions about human superiority, the book shows that people have much to learn from creatures like ants and bacteria." Foreword Reviews"Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, and as fascinating as it is informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life" will have a very special appeal and relevance to readers with an interest in bacteriology, microbiology, evolution, nature and ecology." Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisDog parenting is a form of training that's rooted in understanding how your dog sees the world. With step-by-step instructions and simple training techniques, this infographic guide written by dog behaviour experts will help you to achieve the behaviours you want to see, whilst deepening the bond between you and your four-legged best friend.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION 2021 SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTION 2022 ‘Brilliant, passionate and political . . . The Book of Trespass will make you see landscapes differently' Robert Macfarlane 'A remarkable and truly radical work, loaded with resonant truths' George Monbiot The vast majority of our country is entirely unknown to us because we are banned from setting foot on it. By law of trespass, we are excluded from 92 per cent of the land and 97 per cent of its waterways, blocked by walls whose legitimacy is rarely questioned. But behind them lies a story of enclosure, exploitation and dispossession of public rights whose effects last to this day. The Book of Trespass takes us on a journey over the walls of England, into the thousands of square miles of rivers, woodland, lakes and meadows that are blocked from public access. By trespassing the land of the media magnates, Lords, politicians and private corporations that own England, Nick Hayes argues that the root of social inequality is the uneven distribution of land. Weaving together the stories of poachers, vagabonds, gypsies, witches, hippies, ravers, ramblers, migrants and protestors, and charting acts of civil disobedience that challenge orthodox power at its heart, The Book of Trespass will transform the way you see the land. --------------- A GUARDIAN, i AND SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEARTrade ReviewWhat a brilliant, passionate and political book this is, by a young writer-walker-activist who is also a dazzlingly gifted artist. It tells - through story, exploration, evocation - the history of trespass (and therefore of freedom) in Britain and beyond, while also making a powerful case for future change. It is bold and brave, as well as beautiful; Hayes's voice is warm, funny, smart and inspiring. The Book of Trespass will make you see landscapes differently -- Robert MacfarlaneSeeks to challenge and expose the mesmerising power that landownership exerts on this country, and to show how we can challenge its presumptions . . . The Book of Trespass is massively researched but lightly delivered, a remarkable and truly radical work, loaded with resonant truths and stunningly illustrated by the author -- George Monbiot * Guardian *A powerful new narrative about the vexed issue of land rights . . . Hayes [is] practically a professional trespasser these days, no sign too forbidding to be ignored, no fence too high to be climed . . . The Book of Trespass is [Hayes’s] first non-graphic book – though the text is punctuated by his marvellous illustations, linocuts that bring to mind the Erics, Gill and Ravilious – and in it, he weaves several centuries of English history together with the stories of gypsies, witches, ramblers, migrants and campaigners, as well as his own adventures. Its sweep is vast * Observer *Brilliantly argued, The Book of Trespass explores with clarity and courage an ancient problem in radically new ways . . . Hayes unearths the psychological preconditions that empower and legitimise these monumental inequalities -- Mark Cocker * New Statesman *Exhilarating . . . A gorgeously written, deeply researched and merrily provocative tour of English landscape, history and culture -- Boyd Tonkin * Arts Desk *Hayes is an alert, inquisitive observer . . . He works also in the tradition of nature writers like Robert Macfarlane … This sensibility gives him a poetic sense of the different ways that we might use and share the land to the benefit of all . . . Beyond its demand for specific, concrete changes to the law on what land we may step onto and for what purposes, this book is a call for a re-enchantment of the culture of nature * Tribune Magazine *Hayes is practised at pushing through overgrown thickets of law to uncover hidden structures of power and privilege. His book’s historical range stretches across centuries . . . The Book of Trespass is incisive, impassioned and beautifully written * Times Literary Supplement *A trespasser’s radical manifesto . . . A book dedicated to demolishing boundaries of all kinds . . . Each chapter includes a double-page black-and-white landscape, rendered with a thrilling air of motion and immediacy . . . Hayes has picked apart the meaning of “trespass” and brilliantly redefined it as an act of solidarity * Guardian *A stirring appeal for us to freely access the land closed off to the public . . . By trespassing on the land, Hayes takes us on a roller-coaster ride through history . . . His book is an example of nature writing at its best but it has real political bite … [A book] to relish and learn from * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud picture book about one family's surprise visit froman excitable BUNNY!When a cheerful bunny comes to visit on a delightful sunny day, alittle child and their grandad cannot believe their eyes.

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2022A remarkable and powerful book, the rarest of things Nicolson is unique as a writer I loved it' EDMUND DE WAALFew places are as familiar as the shore and few as full of mystery and surprise.How do sandhoppers inherit an inbuilt compass from their parents? How do crabs understand the tides? How can the death of one winkle guarantee the lives of its companions? What does a prawn know?In Life Between the Tides, Adam Nicolson explores the natural wonders of the shoreline, from the extraordinary biology of its curious animals to the flow of our human history. This is an invitation to the water, where marvellous things wait an inch below the surface.Previously published as The Sea is Not Made of WaterTrade Review‘Miraculous … Effortlessly, in deft, sure and delightful prose, he segues through species, science and art to present tidal nature as a microcosm. The result is an utterly fascinating glimpse of a watery world we only thought we knew’Philip Hoare ‘A beautiful, powerful story of how we understand the unfolding change of the shore.This is a remarkable and powerful book, the rarest of things, both a call-to-arms and a call-to-pause and truly look. Nicolson is unique as a writer, happy soaked to the skin on the shoreline and happy unweaving skeins of philosophy. I loved it’Edmund de Waal ‘Pure joy. From the ecology of a sandhopper to the cosmic pull of the tides Adam Nicolson takes us paddling into the pools of our own nature, to places where boundaries are restlessly shifting and balance exists between tension and flow – a dazzling, kaleidoscopic exploration into the meaning of life itself’Isabella Tree ‘A fascinating guide to all things littoral: a natural history of the rockpool that teems with life … Endlessly interesting, its wonders unfurl, fractal-like, the more closely you examine it’Cal Flyn ‘The man who finds wonder in a winkle … Remarkable … In Nicolson’s hands the intertidal zone is shown to be rich and revelatory … It is as lyrical, learned and rambunctiously eccentric as his previous work … For a book so focused on non-human life, it is luminously humane’The Times ‘Exquisite … A bravura act of writing … This uniquely and terribly moving book is great literature indeed – reaches beyond itself to speak to us of the most profound and essential things’Alex Preston, Observer ‘One of our finest writers of non-fiction … Nicolson’s overarching theme in this book … goes to the very heart of what ecology is … the great pleasure of this book is that he does not allow the specifics of his enquiries to keep him from probing the big questions’Philip Marsden, Spectator

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Book SynopsisFelicity Brooks (Author) Felicity has worked for Usborne for over 30 years and has written and edited hundreds of titles, from books on tractors to genetics, from Shakespeare to mental health, and plenty of sparkly unicorns. Felicity is an expert in making tricky topics friendly and accessible to young children and recently has been writing books that celebrate feelings, friendship, empathy, families, and diversity. When she's not writing or researching very specific details on dinosaurs, Felicity can be found tramping through fields and forests foraging for food or just curled up with a bag of Twiglets, a couple of cats and a crossword.

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