Natural History Books

Book Synopsis'The most glorious cornucopia celebrating our enduring love affair with birds - an uplifting and eye opening tribute to the way they enrich our lives.' - Alan Titchmarsh MBE, British TV presenter, broadcaster, and gardener 'Wonderfully illustrated.' - Wall Street Journal Let your imagination take flight and celebrate the beauty and diversity of birds throughout art, science, history, and culture This visually stunning survey of birds, chronicling their scientific and popular appeal throughout the ages and around the world, showcases the remarkable diversity of species in the avian kingdom, from tiny hummingbirds to ostriches taller than humans, and icebound penguins to tropical macaws. With its content curated alongside an international panel of ornithologists, art historians, wildlife photographers, conservationists, and curators, this extraordinary book includes illustrations and artwork of all styles, with works by a diverse and often surprising range of creators from many different backgrounds, including: John James Audubon; Robert Clark; Mark Dion; Charley Harper; Barbara Kruger; Edward Lear; Ustad Mansur; John Ruskin; Joel Sartore; Sarah Stone; and Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe. Arranged in thoughtfully paired juxtapositions, it reveals how artists, illustrators, ornithologists, and photographers - from ancient Egypt to the present - have captured the spirit, likeness, character, and symbolism of birds. Including Tweety pie paired with the Twitter bird; birds as 300-foot desert carvings or 2-inch-tall ivory statuettes; bird bones, bird bank notes, sculptures and birds shaped as beds, the book's three hundred visually stunning entries span four thousand years of fine art, photography, ornithological drawings, popular culture, and scientific discovery from all corners of the globe to create the ultimate celebration of the winged world. Advisory panel: Dawn Balmer, Tim Birkhead FRS, Dr Alexander Bond, Gordon Campbell, Dr Sylke Frahnert, Joëlle Garcia, Elizabeth Hammer, David Lindo aka The Urban Birder, Jen Lobo, Fred G. Meijer, Sabine Meyer, Penny Olsen, Oliver Rampley, Katrina van Grouw and Dr Lisanne Wepler Additional texts: Giovanni Aloi, Sara Bader, Dr Alex Bond, Dr Michael Brooke, Tim Cooke, Clare Coulson, Nick Crumpton, Louisa Elderton, Diane Fortenberry, Carolyn Fry, Elizabeth Hammer, David Lindo, Fred G. Meijer, David B Miller, Rebecca Morrill, Penny Olsen, Michele Robecchi, Gill Saunders, James Smith, David Trigg, Katrina van Grouw, Martin Walters, Isabella Wing-Davey and Dr Lisanne WeplerTrade Review'A sumptuous collection of paintings, jewelry, photography, scientific texts, and other objects celebrating avian life that spans nearly 5,000 years of human history.' – Audubon 'Documents the importance of the avian world to all of human society.' – New York Times 'A contemplative study of some of the planet's most beautiful creatures, with packaging as vibrant and whimsical as the species themselves.' – Forbes 'An extensive celebration of feathered creatures across thousands of years.' – Colossal 'Extensive ... plays special emphasis on the symbolic nature of our winged friends.' – HYPEBEAST 'Stunning.' – Bird Watching 'A fantastically well-curated collection of bird imagery in art and culture.' – NPR 'An engaging and visually stunning visit to the avian kingdom.' – Robb Report 'Wonderfully illustrated ... takes us on an unpredictable journey throughout the world.' – Wall Street Journal 'This is the perfect coffee table book for when it's so cold and wet that you've decided to postpone your birdwatching session.' – BTO (British Trust for Ornithology)'The most glorious cornucopia celebrating our enduring love affair with birds - an uplifting and eye-opening tribute to the way they enrich our lives.' – Alan Titchmarsh MBE , English TV presenter, broadcaster and gardener'A lavish and fascinating collection of great artwork featuring birds, from the earliest times to today. Compelling and absolutely beautiful - a visual feast.' – Stephen Moss , naturalist, author and original producer of BAFTA award-winning series 'Springwatch'

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Book SynopsisKayaking the Sea Roads is a personal journey by sea kayak into the heart of the sea roads that make up our Scottish Highlands and islands. Blending the intensity of the journey with a careful observation of the natural world and first-hand knowledge of the challenges of living and working in this place, the author reminds us that mother nature, vast and resilient, is still out there beyond our mobile phones and urban lives. For those with the eyes to see, its natural rhythms can awaken a deep sense of wonder and give us cause to become part of the environmental recovery so sorely needed. With Ed, we travel low in the water with the restless sea ever present and we camp with him on remote rough shores. We share his feelings of wonder at the natural world, his fear at the exposure to rough seas and we encounter with him not just the myriad animals and birds that share his every day but also the people, their communities and the often gnarly rural issues impacting on human and animal alike. Alongside a deeply felt appreciation of the natural environment is a first-hand insight into the environmental and land-management issues pertinent to the Highland coast. By exploring, for instance, the impact of native versus non-native species, of community land ownership, of tourism, hunting and the varied other uses and indeed non-uses of coastal lands and seas, the readers' eyes are opened to a Scottish Highlands that is so much more than just a pretty view. At the surface, this is an adventure story, but at its heart, it is a tale about belonging and a deep sense of place; and it is a journey home, home in the end to where the author's Highland love affair began.

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Book SynopsisDay Walks in Fort William & Glen Coe features 20 routes between 4.4 and 14.4 miles (7km and 23.2km) in length, spread across the Scottish Highlands. Researched and written by experienced and knowledgeable authors Helen and Paul Webster, founders of the Walkhighlands website, the walks range from gentle rambles to more challenging day walks, all through grand and impressive landscapes.Split into four sections – Glen Coe & Glen Etive; Kinlochleven & the Mamores; Fort William & the Great Glen; and The Road to the Isles – this guidebook explores the best that the Highlands has to offer.Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and navigation information, and refreshment stops and local information.Table of ContentsIntroductionAbout the walksNavigationGPS & mobile phonesSafetyBothiesScottish outdoor accessEstate activitiesHow to use this bookMaps, descriptions, distancesKm/mile conversion chartScottish place namesFort William & Glen Coe Area MapSection 1 Glen Coe & Glen Etive1 The Two Lairigs2 The Pap of Glencoe3 Buachaille Etive Beag4 Buachaille Etive Mòr5 Ben StaravSection 2 Kinlochleven & the Mamores6 Blackwater Reservoir7 Mam na Gualainn8 Binnein Mòr & Na Gruagaichean9 Stob Bàn & Mullach nan Coirean10 An Steall & An GearanachSection 3 Fort William & the Great Glen11 Cow Hill12 Ben Nevis North Face13 Beinn Bhàn14 Sgùrr na h-Eanchainne & Druim na Sgrìodain15a Ben Nevis by the Mountain Track15b Ben Nevis by the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête16 The Grey CorriesSection 4 – The Road to the Isles17 Peanmeanach18 Gulvain19 Sgùrr Thuilm & Sgùrr nan Coireachan20 StreapAppendix

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Book SynopsisVictorian visitors had shooting lodges – Scots had trips doon the watter. Norwegian citizens had hytte – Scots had Butlins. Why have the inhabitants of one of Europe’s prime tourist destinations been elbowed off the land and exiled from nature for so long? Lesley Riddoch relives her own bothy experience, rediscovers lost hutting communities, travels through hytte-covered Norway and suggests that thousands of humble woodland huts would give Scots a vital post-covid connection with nature and affordable, low-impact holidays in their own beautiful land – at last.Trade Review'My favourite new concept from this book is friluftsliv, coined by Henrik Ibsen and describing a state in which recreation, rejuvenation and the restoration of balance are achieved through immersion in nature. For Norwegians, this means escaping to your hytte at weekends. In this brilliant book, well-known journalist, Lesley Riddoch, explores how the Nordic countries, each with about the same population as Scotland, have around 400,000 summer houses or huts, whilst we in Scotland have 630 at the last count. Probably fewer now but the Reforesting Scotland Thousand Huts campaign aims to change all that. This book is part travel documentary, part personal journal and part research for a PhD. It is immensely readable, containing within its covers the whole sad story of how Scots became disconnected from the land whilst Norwegians went the other way and now enjoy the pleasures of a friluftsliv. The connections with bothies, hostels, boats, caravans and allotments are discussed. In all cases the Nordic countries are ahead of us. Generations of a hierarchical feudal system (abolished only in 2004!) have eroded the expectations of Scots to the point that many do not even know what they are missing. Huts are really a metaphor for centuries of political injustices. Scotland has castles, Norway has hytte which are available to almost everybody. The story of Carbeth is documented here in great detail with a focus on the role of William Ferris, an unsung hero, early last century. At the same time, a very similar working class hutting site was developing on an island close to Oslo. From then on the stories of hutting in Scotland and Norway diverged. The Thousand Huts campaign is determined to make the friluftsliv available to all Scots and this book is a beacon.' - Donald McPhillimy, Reforesting Scotland Spring/Summer 2021

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Book SynopsisThis book is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated compendium of the characteristics and properties of the plants used in making beer around the world. The botanical expert Giuseppe Caruso presents scientifically rigorous descriptions, accompanied by his own hand-drawn ink images, of more than 500 species.Trade ReviewNamed one of the top beer and booze books of 2022. * Forbes.com *Brewers like to talk about how beer makes connections. These are never stronger than when the ingredients used to make a batch come from a world we know. Giuseppe Caruso has created a voluminous guide to making this happen. Open it to any page and you’ll think, "Yeah, I can make a beer with that. A connection, too." -- Stan Hieronymus, author of Brewing Local: American-Grown BeerCaruso's The Botany of Beer is masterfully researched, global in scope, and smartly organized. As a brewer passionate about making beer that's closely tied to nature, I found this book to be very practical, useful, and informative. It gets the creative juices flowing by opening my eyes to a world of possible flavor and aroma additions tied to nature. -- Jeffrey Stuffings, cofounder of Jester King BreweryDr. Caruso’s work is an essential collection that documents the vast life of plants in the creation of beer, beyond simply hops and grain. This isn’t a how-to, per se; rather it is a vital record that shows precisely which plant parts can be (and have been) used in beer, chemical compounds of each that convey flavor and aroma, and both historical and contemporary instances of use in beer manufacturing. -- from the foreword by Marika Josephson, co-owner and brewer, Scratch Brewing CompanyAn astoundingly useful book. * Non Stop Reader *An excellent reference for those with a serious interest in beer, botany, or both of the above. * The Introverted Yogi *It is a well organized, useful directory of familiar and unfamiliar plants from North America and the rest of the globe. It has already served me and my brewing team well in conceiving new beer recipes. * Botany BrewFarm Blog *If you enjoy brewing with foraged or natural ingredients, this book is essential. * Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine *An astounding amount of information for the advanced amateur or professional brewer who is interested in experimenting with ingredients beyond barley and hops. * American Brewer *Table of ContentsAn Infinite World, by Teo Musso, Le BaladinForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroductionIn Praise of G-locality, by Andrea Pieroni and Michele F. FontefrancescoAbout the Plants and Beer MakingA Botanical Beer-Making CompendiumThe Botanical Beer-Making ProfileBotanical Beer-Making ProfilesOther Beer-Making Plant SpeciesGlossaryBibliographyIndex of Common Names

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Longlisted for the Young Adult Science Book Award, AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books""One of NPR's best books of 2020""If you enjoy imagining a mission in which humans launch a rocket that contains a spacecraft that releases a lander that launches a space boat – or even a space submarine – Hand’s book will help you grasp the full picture."---Philip Ewing, NPR's best books of 2020"A NASA scientist looks to the water-rich moons of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Europa, Titan, and Enceladus, as promising sites for the search for life beyond the Earth." * Publishers Weekly *"[Alien Oceans] describes why studying Earth’s own ocean is a crucial chapter in the quest to explore the shores of extraterrestrial seas."---Nadia Drake, National Geographic"Alien Oceans offers a historical look—as well as a peek into the future—at one of the most exciting aspects of space exploration. With the technology at hand, we could determine whether there’s life beyond Earth."---Sid Perkins, Science News"A book that is likely to prove one of the year’s most enthralling first-person accounts of a life in science."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"Alien Oceans successfully straddles a fine line between accessibility and scientific thoroughness. Hand's book is as fascinating as it is optimistic."---Tobias Mutter, Shelf Awareness"A maritime tale like no other. . . . For those who dream of plying the South Seas with Cook, or descending in the Bathysphere with Beebe, Alien Oceans provides an appealing guide to seas undreamt of until now."---Andrew H. Knoll, Times Literary Supplement"What is so captivating about this book is that it isn't just a solid survey of what we've learned in recent decades about the icy moons, but that the narrative is told by an active researcher deeply embedded in these endeavours. Through Hand's eyes we meet many of the key personalities involved and feel the sting of disappointment at cancelled funding or a malfunctioning probe, as well as the soaring excitement of a new discovery."---Lewis Dartnell, BBC Sky at Night Magazine"The author discusses how we look for and study alien oceans and what the future holds for this increasingly popular field of research. This is a book well suited to the general public, with very accessible prose, and science interspersed with personal anecdotes and witty analogies." * Nature Astronomy *"It’s a tale full of scientific twists, and Hand proves an exemplary guide: never going quite where you expect him to go and confidently leading you to ideas that are, as you’d hope, not at all obvious."---Corey S. Powell, American Scientist"To paraphrase Hamlet, there are more things in heaven and Earth than are dreamt in our philosophy. Hand calls on us to probe the depths of alien oceans to discover them. I agree."---Robert Zubrin, National Review"This is a fun, pretty cool book to read. . . . Hand’s enthusiasm is clear to see, and he has written an accessible book that takes the general reader along with him to illustrate what we already know about Io, Callisto, Titan, Ganymede and Europa too."---Simon Cocking, Irish Tech News"This book would make anyone excited about space. The research presented is thorough and the pictures included are amazing. Hand dives into every aspect of life imaginable."---Rachel Dehning, Manhattan Book Review"A thoughtful and thought-provoking treatise on the many facets that are being pursued in our quest to discover new worlds and search for life beyond our atmosphere."---Milbry C. Polk, The Explorers Journal"Alien Oceans represents an excellent introduction to the search for life in a newly defined zone of possibility. It is a good rendering of how scientific research in extreme environments is carried out, including examples of things that can go badly wrong, and comes across to the reader as the work of someone with a real enthusiasm for his subject. I very much hope that Hand will be our guide on future journeys."---John Gilbey, Chemistry World"[Hand] has been to improbable places - at risk to his own life - and has managed to conduct science while not passing on the chance to drink in the awe and wonderment of being there. This book is laced with that unfiltered enthusiasm and awe for what we have learned, what we are learning, and what lies ahead."---Keith Cowing, Astrobiology Web"Terribly fascinating, Alien Oceans makes a convincing case for exploring the moons in our solar system in the search for extraterrestrial life."---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist"If you want to learn about how the intersection of numerous areas of science are helping inform our understanding of the oceans, space, and ourselves, Alien Oceans is by far one of the most clearly written books on the topic. . . . It is also a wonderful window into the way scientists and engineers think about solving real world problems and applying basic knowledge."---Jonathan Wai, Forbes"A brilliant, exciting book that puts forth the best possible case for seeking extraterrestrial life on the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune. I highly recommend it as one of the best books on astrobiology that I have seen so far."---Peter R. Bahn, Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres"Superb. . . . Alien Oceans is a delightful way to open the door to the discoveries that have already been made in this area of research as well as what questions are seeking to be answered now and what aspirations researchers have for the future."---Johannes E. Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Nature lovers and eco-travellers alike will be drawn in to descriptions of this spectacular environment.."---Lorraine Connolly and Hadiyah Ilyas, The Countryman"[Galápagos] builds on what was already out there and makes it better. . . . It is a thorough and timely treatise on the flora, fauna and ecosystems of this archipelago."---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature Newsletter

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"If ants are your interest, look no further than this title . . . . This beautifully illustrated 224-page book, which includes over 200 colour photographs and infographics, explores the extraordinary diversity of ants and offers insights into their elaborate social systems." * Pest Magazine *"I am an ant biologist, and I am often contacted by people with a newfound interest in ants, asking about a good introductory book. . . . I have never had a good answer until now. This is the volume I would recommend."---John T. Longino, The Quarterly Review of Biology"A very attractive and easy-to-read book that can be picked up and read in short bursts, revealing the astonishing diversity of Formicidae family."---Stephen Fleming, BeeCraft"This is a book that will satisfy you page after page and you will absorb a great storehouse of knowledge, almost effortlessly."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds""An excellent comprehensive introduction to the fascinating world of ants and beautifully illustrated.""---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association"This book offers access to the sometimes hidden world of the ubiquitous ant."---G.C. Stevens, Choice

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Book SynopsisTargeted to the millions of consumers treating common ailments with herbal remedies, this authoritative guide to 100 essential herbs is chock-full of crucial information for the health-minded consumer, wellness advocate, gardener, and naturalist.Written by the executive director of the American Herbalists Guild, National Geographic Herbal  features backyard weeds like dandelion and red clover, culinary herbs like rosemary and garlic, classics like blueberries and chamomile, as well as less familiar medicinals like ashwangandha, Japanese knotweed, and shatavari. You’ll discover the healing properties of herbs and spices like turmeric and ginger, and which learn which popular herbs deserve special conservation attention, such as rooibos and ginseng.Blending traditional lore and current science, the information found in these pages stretches from tips for the kitchen garden and home apothecary to news about activism in the global arena. IllustratedTrade Review"Beautifully designed and illustrated, thoroughly researched and presented with wisdom, passion, knowledge and love by the incomparable Mimi Hernandez, the National Geographic Herbal is a treasure that will delight and inspire plant lovers of all ages and in every nation." —Wade Davis, PhD, ethnobotanist, professor of anthropology, and author of One River and The Serpent and the Rainbow"What an astounding and unusual idea the publishers had for this book: to create an Herbal that will reach the general public, filled with detailed, accurate information based on both science and tradition, and written by an experienced clinical herbalist. The book is visually stunning, with step-by-step instructions for home remedies and recipes as well as the history and lore of these wondrous plants. This is one 'coffee table book' that deserves to be read cover to cover and referred to over and over." —David Winston, RH(AHG), author of Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief"Like sharing a cup of aromatic herbal tea with a friend, this beautifully written book by Mimi Prunella Hernandez weaves together the rich cultural traditions that inspired her path as an herbalist with sound scientific data to create an essential reference for herb enthusiasts and herbal practitioners." —Patricia Kyritsi Howell, RH(AHG), author of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians"Mimi Hernandez’s book is an extraordinary work of art, scholarship, humanity and wisdom of herbal traditions, past and present. Her stunning skill in writing allows the depth and dedication she has for plant medicines to infuse her keen sense and admiration for the sciences. Just when you think you can not come across another herbal of great value, Mimi’s book rises to the top of the list. Beautifully illustrated and written with practicality for the home herbalist and clinician alike, this book is truly destined to survive the tests of time." —Kat Maier, RH(AHG), author of Energetic Herbalism and founding director, Sacred Plant Traditions"Mimi Prunella Hernandez’s book, National Geographic Herbal, brings the reader into the sensual world of herbs with lovely herbal illustrations and story. This book captures a wealth of herbal knowledge arranged in a user-friendly fashion with hints of a traditional herbal. The magic of this book is felt throughout the pages, recipes, and Mimi’s personal journey on the herbal path." —Dr. Mary Bove, naturopath and medical herbalist"Weaving together folk and scientific insights into the healing powers of specific plants along with essays highlighting key issues and approaches to herbalism in the 21st century, the beautifully designed National Geographic Herbal offers something for new and experienced herbalists and plant lovers alive." —Ann Armbrecht, PhD, author of The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry"The National Geographic Herbal is a thorough collection of herbs drawn from Mimi's extensive expertise and diverse journey into herbalism consisting of both traditional practice and scientific uses and applications. This is an outstanding resource to include in your studies or practice, and it will become a favorite reference for many years to come!" —Mary Colvin, RH(AHG), clinical herbalist and host of “Herbology Talk” podcast“Oh, how I long to sit around a kitchen table with Mimi, chopping herbs, drinking peach leaf tea and listening to her stories of plant kin and community. Instead, an ocean away, I read Mimi's writing and am absorbed into a warm and welcoming space of wild plants, wisdom and wonder. Mimi guides us gently and surely along a journey of herbalism, from sensory and experiential to weedy and wonderful to community medicine and global ethics within herbalism. The way Mimi has written about each herb is engaging, articulate, accessible and informative, and this book is a welcome addition to the homes or libraries of anyone and everyone interested in plant medicine.” —Amaia Dadachanji, MNIMH, practicing herbalist and founder of Wild Apothecary“Mimi’s ‘insatiable quest to learn about the inner workings of the body and the outer workings of the natural world’ bears glorious fruit in this remarkable book. It so clearly comes from her heart, and her love for the plants shines through its pages. She animates profound insights with powerful stories that transcend her personal experiences to reach us all. These are grounded always with a rational scientific underpinning that means they make sense in our modern culture too. As Mimi asks, keep this book by your bed and take it with you as a guide on your outings!” —Simon Mills, FCPP FNIMH, herbal practitioner, co-author of Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy, and self care lead at the UK College of Medicine"Mimi Hernandez's book is like a stroll through a well-designed herb garden on a crisp summer morning. Using the world of herbal medicine as her palette, Mimi has woven a pleasant presentation of individual herbs on a backdrop of thoughtful introductions to many of the world's herbal traditions. There really is something in here for everyone." —Thomas Avery Garran, PhD, president, Herb Whisperer, Inc. and executive director, East West School of Planetary Herbology“If you want to get a feel for herbal medicine, this is your book. Brilliantly written in almost poetic script (yet peppered with science), these lyrical descriptions of medicinal plants and their effects will turn you on to the influence of herbs on your remarkable body. This Herbal will guide you to discover the subtle (and sometimes robust) power of botanical medicines. Add to this the practical tips for having fun in your kitchen while making remedies, and you have an exceptional self-study guide to assist you on your journey into the kingdom of botanical medicines.” —Kevin Spelman, PhD, MCPP, founder of Health, Education and Research Consulting and co-founder of the first Master of Science program in Clinical Herbal Medicine at the Maryland University of Integrative Health“The author skillfully explains the geographic distribution of 100 plant species and descriptions made by different cultures. Whoever wants to learn about different topics related to useful plant species can find them in this book. It includes luxurious illustrations from past centuries as well as current photographs. I invite people to read and enjoy the useful flora described in this beautiful book.” —Dr. Rocio Alarcon, PhD, ethnopharmacologist and founder of the Iamoe Center

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Book SynopsisThe go-to guide on mushroom farming and cultivation! This is a reference book for the next generation of DIY mycologists. Sandor Ellix Katz, author of The Art of Fermentation A clear, comprehensive guide that is a gift to amateur as well as professional mushroom growers. Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden In Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation, professional mushroom grower and biologist Tradd Cotter shares the results of his groundbreaking research gives, giving readers an A to Z guide for cultivating mushrooms – from sourcing laboratory equipment at low cost to starting cultures and spawn generation - without chemical or electrical input. Readers will learn: How to cultivate morels indoors and outdoors Indispensable descriptions of 25+ different genus of mushrooms Training mycelium to respond to specific contaminants Perpetuating spawn on cardboard without the use of electricity Preparing tinctures, powders and mushroom-infused honey Making an antibacterial mushroom cutting board How to grow mushrooms on your old denim jeans! Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is aimed towards readers wanting to grow mushrooms without the use of pesticides, and the author takes this “organic” drive one step further by introducing an entirely new way of thinking – looking at the potential to grow mushrooms on just about anything, anywhere and by anyone.Trade ReviewLibrary Journal- "Microbiologist Cotter came to mushroom farming in his 20s and quickly became hooked. He shares his enthusiasm for the practice in this wide-ranging book, which covers topics of interest for the beginning hobbyist to the market farmer. Starting with general information about the mushroom life cycle and growing techniques, it progresses into innovative applications for mushrooms and educational ideas using fungi, and then gets into advanced systems. The title concludes with a guide to specific mushrooms and methods for growing them indoors and outdoors. Highlights of innovative techniques include growing media and guerilla urban mushroom producing. More advanced and experimental projects are fascinating, such as the potential for mushroom farming on a space ship and advice on ways to cultivate morels. Emphasized throughout are low-cost and sustainable methods, with several features on how to grow mushrooms without electricity and in disaster areas. Cotter describes the “mushroom rescue modules” he imagines being shipped to disaster relief areas that can provide food, mosquito control, and water purification. ­VERDICT Because this title covers a lot of ground it will be extremely useful for mushroom farming enthusiasts at any level.”Booklist- "Mushrooms 'are part of Nature’s decomposers and constructors, the agent of habitat renewal,' Cotter tells us. And mycoremediation is the use of mushrooms to create an effective biomass that can break down environmental and industrial pollutants. A microbiologist, mycologist, and organic gardener, Cotter takes a holistic approach, mindful of the mushroom’s life cycle and ecological role, in this challenging guide to the indoor and outdoor cultivation of edible mushroom varieties. He also provides information on medicinal, industrial, and ecologically remedial applications. His in-depth exploration extends beyond cultivation to 'healing the people and the planet.' The book’s four sections cover the fundamentals of mushroom cultivation; innovative applications and projects, including alcoholic beverages; advanced techniques and research, including mycoremediation; and detailed descriptions of selected mushrooms. With plenty of photographs and other illustrations and comprehensive back matter, including glossary, bibliography, list of resources and suppliers, and index, Cotter’s advanced how-to is best for those seeking serious mycological knowledge.”Publishers Weekly- "This comprehensive introduction to growing and utilizing fungi has something for all mushroom-inclined readers, be they individuals curious about growing edible fungi in their backyards or basements, prospective mushroom farmers setting up large growing systems, educators from kindergarten to college levels, or innovators experimenting with eco-friendly materials. In addition to providing step-by-step directions for growing mushrooms, the book foodies, amateur scientists, and activists with esoteric and advanced applications for them, such as mushroom-infused beers; 'mushroom modules' that can be used for food, water filtration, or insect control in disaster relief; and mushrooms that can be “trained” to break down specific contaminants. Both practical and passionate, Cotter offers extensive and detailed information about mushroom biology, propagation, and remediation for novices. This refreshing take goes beyond typical how-tos, which only provide rote directions and absolute answers. He has equal interest in encouraging budding mycologists, mushroom growers, and mycoremediators to observe, experiment, and add to the knowledge of this mysterious burgeoning field.”“Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is a guide and inspiration for new and experienced mushroom cultivators alike. Tradd Cotter has done a great job of combining the complexity of mushroom cultivation with the intuitive simplicity of ‘small steps.’ Highly recommended for fungophiles as a great read and reference!” --Jim Gibson, past president, Colorado Mycological Society“Tradd Cotter has written a clear, comprehensive guide that is a gift to amateur as well as professional mushroom growers. The pages are enlivened by Cotter’s enthusiasm for the many possibilities that fungi offer, and his obvious familiarity with growing these marvelous creatures—not just theoretical knowledge—makes the book particularly valuable. This book opens the doors wide to a diverse and fascinating fungal world.”--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture“Mushroom cultivation should be playing a much bigger role in our gardens and farms. Tradd Cotter’s Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation provides low-cost, easily accessible techniques for growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors, from home to commercial scale.”--Eric Toensmeier, author of Paradise Lot and Perennial Vegetables“This is a reference book for the next generation of DIY mycologists. It is a great practical guide to mushroom cultivation, starting with basic concepts and building from there to mycoremediation and experimental strain development. Tradd Cotter is a man with a mission, who has done and thought about all this a lot; he has learned to explain it with great clarity and in a simple and well-organized manner.”--Sandor Ellix Katz, fermentation revivalist and author of The Art of Fermentation and Wild Fermentation“Finally, an accessible resource covering a wide variety of mushroom-cultivation approaches. Tradd Cotter’s book fills an enormous need—I’ve been wishing for a resource like this for a long time. This is the kind of book I’ll keep nearby and will turn to often over the years. Any farmer or gardener who wishes to garner food or medicine value from wood needs to understand and cultivate mushrooms. And this is the best all-around manual I’ve seen.”--Ben Falk, author of The Resilient Farm and Homestead“Tradd Cotter has done a wonderful job sharing his practical experience in a well-organized way with illustrations that clearly underline the topics. Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is an invaluable resource for teaching students about mushroom cultivation.”--Peter Oei, author of Mushroom Cultivation, director of horticulture innovation at InnovatieNetwerk, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, and founder of MeattheMushroom.nl and spore.nl.“Wow! Tradd Cotter is a genius of organic mushroom production. His step-by-step instructions and beautiful photography make this a must-have book.”--Robert Rogers, author of The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichens of North America

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Book SynopsisA Dog A Day began life with a Facebook post in 2013: 'My name is Sally Muir and this is a new gallery where I will add a dog drawing/painting every day, adding up to a massive 365 day dogfest.' As the Facebook page grew in popularity, so did Sally's dog portraits, leading to commissions, exhibitions at prominent galleries, and dog sketching events at venues including Anthropologie – who went on to commission an incredibly successful collection of dog-a-day crockery and textile-based household accessories. Drawing on artworks from the site, A Dog A Day is a lovingly curated collection and celebration of dogs. Containing 365 beautiful artworks of dogs of all shapes and sizes (big, small, pedigree, cross breed), the book includes a range of exciting mediums from loosely worked sketches, lithographs and potato prints to finished oil paintings. Delightfully packaged, this is the perfect gift for all dog lovers.Trade Review'Muir’s dog portraiture ... demonstrates the artist’s technical range and her keen understanding of essential doggishness. ... Muir’s mastery of the expressive capacity of the canine eye in particular makes these paintings live and pant.' -- Claudia Massie * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe first-ever comprehensive book devoted to helping educators use nature journaling as an inspiring teaching tool to engage young people with wild places.In their workshops, John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren are often asked the how-tos of teaching nature journaling: how to manage student groups in the outdoors, teach drawing skills (especially from those who profess to have none), connect journaling to educational standards, and incorporate journaling into longer lessons. This book, expanding on the philosophy and methods of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling puts together curriculum plans, advice, and in-the-field experience so that educators of all stripes can leap into journaling with their students. The approaches are designed to work in a range of ecosystems and settings, and are suitable for classroom teachers, outdoor educators, camp counselors, and homeschooling parents.Full-color illustrations and sample journal pages from notable naturalists show how to put each lesson into practice. Field-tested by over a hundred educators, this book includes dozens of activities that easily support the Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards—and, just as important, it will show kids and mentors alike how to recognize the wonder and intrigue in their midst.Trade Review“From the beginning of time, we have been connected to nature, but for the first time in history, that connection threatens to be broken for most of an entire generation and perhaps generations to come. In this book and this work, I find hope. Laws and Lygren have created a powerful and practical resource for teachers to help children and adults discover, explore, love, and protect the natural world around them. Nature is magic, and everyone needs it.”—Robert Bateman, artist and naturalist“Engaging students in learning about nature is a compelling need in these turbulent times. Just as important is communicating clearly, precisely, and truthfully. Naturalists and educators John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren help teachers achieve these goals with How to Teach Nature Journaling. This is a wonderful response to educators' request for meaningful ways to implement contemporary standards. The book is useful, full of activities, and manageable for classroom teachers.”—Rodger W. Bybee, Executive Director, BSCS Science Learning (Retired)“Imagine if every teacher taught nature journaling, every student spent enough time outside to fill a journal each year, and our kids were becoming writers, artists, and scientists all at once. I’d send my kid to that school. Thanks to Emilie Lygren and Jack Laws, we now have the vision and the tools to make this our reality.”—Craig Strang, Associate Director of Lawrence Hall of Science“The writing, the illustrations, the demonstration of an intentional, informative, and wonderfully educational approach to nature journal writing—it's all here. From field activities with clear examples to an inquiry-based approach to learning, this book is a gem for educators, first-time journalers, and for the experienced naturalist as well. It's art, it's writing, it's education, it's science, naturally so.”—José González, Founder of Latino Outdoors“Here is a natural way for parents and teachers to integrate the beauty and mystery of nature into the lives of children. The book itself is a work of art.”—Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods“Nature journaling is the single most valuable tool and skill a teacher can possess and use to move the Next Generation Science Standards and environmental literacy forward in their school. You need to do this!”—Rob Wade, Science & Outdoor Education Coordinator, Plumas Unified School District/Plumas County of Education“This book beautifully demonstrates how nature journaling is a valuable, multidimensional approach to science. Through this work, students build neural pathways that enable different brain regions to communicate with each other, resulting in more flexible thinking and creative problem solving in all areas of life. This approach to nature journaling also offers students an excellent way to learn and practice a growth mindset through nature and science.”—Jo Boaler, Professor of Education and Equity, Stanford University; co-founder and faculty director of youcubed.org; and author of several books including Mathematical Mindsets and Limitless Mind“Charlotte Mason said that 'where science does not teach a child to wonder and admire it has perhaps no educative value.' John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren have filled their book with the tools of nature journaling that can help us all get outdoors to wonder at and admire the nature around us. What a gift their book is!”—J. Carroll Smith, EdD, Founder of the Charlotte Mason Institute, Professor of Education (Retired)“In How to Teach Nature Journaling, educators get best practices for facilitating intentional and inclusive strategies for nature journaling with students. This can spark a lifelong wonder of the natural world.”—Arvolyn Hill, Coordinator of Family Programs, Children's Adventure Garden at the New York Botanical Garden“How to Teach Nature Journaling offers step-by-step processes to reach all learners through shared experience. This can be a transformative way for students to learn to communicate and express how they view the natural world.”—Michelle Peres, Environmental Educator, NatureBridgeTable of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by Amy Tan INTRODUCTION Why We Teach Nature Journaling Why Nature Journaling? You Can Do This, and It Is Worth It MANAGING THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM Taking Students Outside How to Lead Journaling Activities Nature Journaling In Different Contexts THE NATURE JOURNAL QUICKSTART GUIDE NATURE JOURNALING ACTIVITIES GETTING STARTED: INTRODUCTORY JOURNALING TECHNIQUES AND ACTIVITIES Use Words, Pictures, and NumbersMix It Up I NOTICE, I WONDER, IT REMINDS ME OF MY SECRET PLANT TO EACH ITS OWN COMPARISON ZOOM IN, ZOOM OUT OBSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY Look Big, Look Small Make Comparisons and Study Categories Get Lost in Wonder COLLECTION OR FIELD GUIDE TIMELINE STRING SAFARI ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS SPECIES ACCOUNT FOREST KARAOKE: TRANSCRIBING BIRDSONG SOUNDSCAPE MAPS INQUIRY, INVESTIGATION, AND SCIENTIFIC THINKING Intentional Curiosity and Inquiry The Crosscutting Concepts Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why International Baccalaureate Key Concepts How Do You Answer Your Questions? Ask Questions and Think Like a Scientist Practiced Precision Nature Puzzles Follow Curiosity Chains MYSTERIES AND EXPLANATIONS QUESTIONING QUESTIONS MAPPING LANDSCAPE CROSS SECTION PHENOMENON MODEL TEAM OBSERVATION WORDS: ARTICULATED THOUGHT AND STORYTELLING Writing Find Poems within and around You Reflect, Connect, and Find Joy Practice Scientific Storytelling What Pictures Cannot Show WRITING TO OBSERVE, WRITING TO THINK EVENT COMIC EVENT MAP POETRY OF PLACE AND MOMENT SIT SPOT PICTURES: DRAWING AND VISUAL THINKING Drawing Observational Drawing, Step-by-Step Building New Skills: Basic Drawing Exercises Drawing Tricks and Tips: Instruction for Students Page Structure and Layout THINK WITH PICTURES BALANCING FLEXIBILTY AND STRUCTURE LOOK, AND LOOK AGAIN INSIDE OUT NATURE BLUEPRINTS INFOGRAPHIC PHOTO, PENCIL, AND FOUND-OBJECT COLLAGE NUMBERS: QUANTIFICATION AND MATHEMATICAL THINKING Numbers and Quantification Making Quantification Tool Kits SHOW WHERE THE NUMBERS COME FROM USE NUMBERS TO FIND THE PATTERN HIDDEN FIGURES BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY TIMED OBSERVATIONS CHANGE OVER TIME INCORPORATING JOURNALING INTO LESSONS, FRAMEWORKS, AND ASSESSMENTS Journaling Over Time Developing Skills: Ideas, Practice, and Feedback Grading and Evaluation Evaluation Rubric From Activities to Longer Lessons Journaling and Education Standards Teaching Science and Inquiry: A Deeper Dive FINAL THOUGHTS APPENDICES Tools and Materials Activity Summaries and Possible Phenomena NGSS Connections Evaluation Rubric Cut-and-Paste Nature Journal Essentials Cut-and-Paste Quantification Tool Kit Notes Acknowledgements About the Naturalist Journal Contributors About the Authors

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Book SynopsisThe international bestseller that reveals the amazing mind of your favourite friend Is your dog purposefully disobeying you? Probably, and usually behind your back. Should you act like ‘top dog’ to maintain control? No, you’re better off displaying your friendliness – and not just to your dog. Which breed is the cleverest? That’s the wrong question to ask. These are just some of the extraordinary insights to be found in The Genius of Dogs – the seminal book on how dogs evolved their unique intelligence by award-winning scientist Dr Brian Hare. He shares more than two decades of startling discoveries about the mysteries of the dog mind and how you can use his groundbreaking work to build a better relationship with your own dog.Trade Review‘The definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution.’ -- Daniel Levitin - James McGill Professor of Psychology, McGill University'Anyone who has ever owned a dog will testify to the intelligence that shines from them and this book provides all the proof needed that owners are right and sceptical scoffers are wrong… You'll love your pet even more, if that’s possible, once you've read this.' * Daily Mail *‘Thoroughly researched and written in the likeable voice of a brainy scientist sitting at your kitchen table, The Genius of Dogs is a fascinating look at what goes on between the ears of the animals we share our lives with. I found it entertaining, fast-moving, and filled with insights that gave me a new appreciation for the complex social intelligence of man’s best friend.’ * John Grogan - author of Marley & Me *‘A masterful account of the way science is revealing just how smart dogs can be. Fascinating and highly readable.’ * John Bradshaw - Foundation Director of the Anthrozoology Institute, University of Bristol, and autho *‘Deliciously enlightening.’ * BBC Wildlife Magazine *‘With the help of some wolves, Russian foxes, New Guinea singing dogs and a Labrador retriever named Oreo, Brian Hare tells us about his fascinating search for an understanding of how dogs think and communicate. This is a book that is well worth reading.’ * Stanley Coren - Professor of Psychology, University of British Columbia, and author of How to Speak *'Excellent.' * BBC Focus *‘Based on Brian Hare’s game-changing research, The Genius of Dogs brilliantly explains the canine mind and in doing so illuminates the natural history of all intelligence. This book will captivate anyone interested in dog, ape or human mentality.’ * Richard Wrangham - Professor of Biological Anthropology, Harvard University, and author of Catching *‘You would be hard-pressed to find a more cheerful, optimistic and warm-hearted read. Difficult, too, to find another book about dogs touching not only on Darwin and Skinner, but also on Stalin. Even Justin Bieber gets a mention…’ * Spectator *‘This is the best book in existence, by far, for learning about the recent revolution in our understanding of the minds of dogs. And it’s fun, too.’ * Mike Tomasello - Co-Director, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology *‘Every dog-lover will enjoy this book; and those who, strangely, do not love dogs might come to see them in a new and more favourable light.’ * Mail on Sunday *‘The Genius of Dogs is fantastic. It makes it very clear that there are different kinds of intelligence. All dog lovers should read this book.’ * Temple Grandin - author of Animals in Translation *

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Book SynopsisThe essential mammal guide to take on safari, covering every African land mammal.Originally published in 2004, the Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals quickly became the field guide of choice to take on African safaris. Its compact format makes it ideal for use in the field, while its coverage is the most comprehensive currently possible in this format.Adapted from the Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals, the greatly condensed text focuses on essential information such as identification and distribution, while the author''s superb illustrations have been rearranged into an easy-to-use plate format and placed opposite the text. Complex and more obscure groups like the bats and certain rodent families are summarised by genera. Over 500 maps plot the distribution of all larger species, and for smaller mammals the maps show distribution by genus.This is a completely revised second edition of this popular guide. The information and taxonomy have been updated to fTrade ReviewExcellent, comprehensive field guide so you can tell your puku from your lechwe. * BBC Wildlife *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction How to Use this Guide The African Environment Evolution in Africa Mammals Afrotheria Primates Rodents Hares, Rock-Hares and Rabbits Hedgehogs Shrews Bats Carnivores Pangolins Odd-toed Ungulates Even-toed Ungulates Further Reading Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisOffers a startling new vision of motherhood: wild, intimate, diverse; as contested and extraordinary as the world in which we live and the animals with which we share it.

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Book SynopsisJoel Sartore's quest to photograph all the animal species under human care celebrates its 15th year in this glorious and heartwrenching collection of photographs. The animals featured in these pages are either destined for extinction or already extinct in the wild but still alive today, thanks to dedication of a heroic group committed to their continued survival. From the majestic Sumatran rhinoceros to the tiny Salt Creek tiger beetle, Sartore's photographs bring us eye to eye with the kaleidoscopic diversity of shapes, colors, personalities, and attitudes of the animal world. In these vivid pages, Sartore singles out the species most likely to disappear in the next decades, as well as some that have already been lost. Alongside these indelible images are the words of scientists and conservationists who are working to protect and restore populations of endangered species. With Sartore's distinctive portrait photography, he invites us to look Trade Review“I can never unsee these faces, and I believe I am a better person because of it. Thank you, Joel Sartore, for using your passion and talent to give these animals a voice.” –Amy’s Booket List “There are nearly 300 portraits in this book. They are gorgeous. They will break your heart. But this book is SO IMPORTANT.” –Bookapotamus “Any lover of nature or ardent conservationist would adore this book, its photos, and its message.” –JulzReads “This book is both beautiful and heart rending. All of the animals in it are either already extinct in the wild or heading towards extinction. Just think about that. The man taking all of these magnificent pictures wants to at least make a record of each one’s existence before it falls from the earth.” –Broken Teepee “It’s a very sad thing, to read through this book, and see all the critters on the Endangered list, and on the Extinction lists.” –The Pages In-Between “I'm going to tell you that the photos in this book are absolutely stunning and you will find yourself compulsively turning the pages.” –Stranded in Chaos “Joel Sartore has captured the soul of each animal on a simple black or white background, forcing the reader to look into the eyes of many of the animals that our actions are helping to decimate.” –Stephanie’s Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe first guidebook of its kind for the Caucasus, not only giving information on where to go birding, but also covering mammals, dragonflies, flora and much more.

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Book SynopsisWhales are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. We have hunted them for thousands of years and scratched their icons into our mythologies. They simultaneously fill us with waves of terror, awe and affection yet we know hardly anything about them.Whales tend to only enter our awareness when they die, struck by a ship or stranded in the surf. They evolved from land-roaming, dog-like creatures into animals that move like fish, breathe like us, can grow to 300,000 pounds, live 200 years and roam entire ocean basins. Yet despite centuries of observing whales, we know little about their evolutionary past.Palaeontologist Nick Pyenson takes us to the ends of the earth and to the cutting edge of whale research as he searches for the answers to some of our biggest questions about these graceful giants. His rich storytelling takes us deep inside the Smithsonian's unparalleled fossil collection, to frigid Antarctic waters, and to the arid dTrade Review‘If you don’t care about whales you should still read Spying on Whales. I didn’t give two hoots about them last week but after reading Pyenson’s book, I’m obsessed. Pyenson writes engagingly … this is a lively survey of the past, present and future of these magnificent animals … great stuff.’ The Times ‘Spying on Whales represents the best of science writing. The subject is inherently fascinating, the author is an authentic scientist by virtue of his personal research on the subject, and the text reads like the epic it truly is.’ Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times bestselling author of The Origin of Creativity and The Meaning of Human Existence ‘Reading Spying on Whales leaves a strong impression, based on the principles of ecology, evolution and physiology, that a world including whales seems awesomely improbable. And, of course, wonderful. Nick Pyenson guides us through this world, and in the process achieves that rare state of grace for a writer of science – producing prose that is both scientific and beautiful. This is a moving, informative, evocative book.’ Robert Sapolsky, author of Behave

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Book SynopsisSkinny's Book of the Year, 2018In 1990, Myles chose Rosie from a litter on the street, and their connection instantly made an indelible impact on the writer's way of being. Over the course of sixteen years together, Myles was devoted to the pit bull and their linked quality of life. And starting from the emptiness following Rosie's death, Afterglow launches a playful and incisive investigation into the mostly mutually beneficial, sometimes reprehensible power dynamics between pet and pet-owner. At the same time, it reimagines Myles's experiences with alcoholism and recovery, intimacy and mourning, celebrity and politics, spirituality and family history, while joyously transcending the parameters of memoir.Moving from an imaginary talk show where Rosie is interviewed by Myles's childhood puppet, to a critical reenactment of the night Rosie mated with another pit bull; from shimmering poetic transcriptions of video footage taken during their walks, to Rosie's final enlightened narration from the afterlife, this totally singular text combines elements of science fiction, screenplay, monologue, and lucid memory to get to the heart of how and why we dedicate our existence to our dogs.Trade ReviewA ravishingly strange and gorgeous book about a dog that's really about life and everything there is, Eileen Myles's Afterglow is a truly astonishing creation. -- Helen Macdonald, author of H IS FOR HAWKReading Afterglow is like entering the company of a sensibility that is rich, original, witty, and tonally brilliant. It is the darting asides, the phrasing and the subplots that matter most in this book, that give pure, sheer constant pleasure. -- Colm TóibínOnly Eileen Myles could reinvent the memoir again so stunningly; Afterglow is the sort of multidimensional love story you could only expect from one of our greatest experimental writers living today! -- Porochista Khakpour, author of THE LAST ILLUSIONMyles is often referred to as an 'institution' - the way one speaks of a terrific restaurant that's endured the waves of gentrification as a 'New York institution.' But the word bounces off her: there is nothing official about her, nothing staid or still. -- Ben Lerner * Paris Review *Eileen Myles is a New York poet, maybe the New York poet, a swaggering troubadour of casually roving brilliance...a work of surpassing strangeness that takes the form of an elegy for a lost pet and converts it into a weird and agitated philosophical inquiry. -- Olivia Laing * Guardian *Part of Myles's enduring appeal is that she's experimental in the true sense of the word; every time you turn around, she's up to something different . . . People have started using the word legend when talking about her life and work. * New York Magazine *What is a dog if not god? In Afterglow, Eileen Myles steps up to the challenge for writers to function as prophets. Ghostwritten in part by deceased pit bull Rosie, this 'dog memoir' explores - among other things - geometry, gender, mortality, evil, ageing, and plaids. Myles makes new rules for what prose writing can be. Afterglow is Myles's funniest, profoundest work yet. -- Chris Kraus, author of I LOVE DICKMyles forces a cultural and a literary reckoning with her life on her own terms, demanding understanding, the text held to the reader's throat. * Los Angeles Review of Books *Wildly inventive and just plain wild, feral, even, Eileen Myles's dazzling Afterglow is about a dog, and her owner, and everything else in life, and also death, too. -- Jami Attenberg, author of ALL GROWN UPChelsea Girls offers poetry, sex, Catholicism, drugs, class and sexuality. This new reprint... is the missing data for anyone who has read only the male American beat writers. -- Deborah Levy * New Statesman *Everything Eileen Myles touches turns to poetry. Whether called a dog or a cat, it's always poetry. Emily Dickinson famously decided that poetry was anything that made her 'feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off.' I can imagine Emily Dickinson writing an ecstatic blurb for Myles's tender, trippy, deep, yet humanely silly new gift to the world: Afterglow. In this age of fake news and even fake poetry, trust this voice! -- Brad Gooch, author of SMASH CUT...offers a wide and empathetic embrace. [...] It is, unexpectedly, a book for the times. * Frieze *

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Book SynopsisTimes are changing in Pickax: a new senior centre is in the works and a production of CATS is set to delight Moose County residents; Polly Duncan is off to Paris, leaving Qwill without a companion for his apple barn concerts; and The Librarians Who Lunch are showing their Art Hats to help unite Pickax with their Lockmaster County neighbours.Not to mention the conversion of the late Nathan Ledfield''s mansion into a charitable museum! With Mr Ledfield''s treasures being sold off to benefit needy children, the town is abuzz with excitement - until a mysterious death from a bee sting leaves everyone but Cool Koko in a state of confusion ...

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of Alex James's transition from a leading light of the Britpop movement in the 1990s, to gentleman farmer, artisan cheese-maker and father of five.I was hanging around the pigsty in the way I'd previously hung around at The Groucho Club. I felt wonderfully connected, grounded in the real world, standing in pig muck'Following fifteen years in Blur, Alex James did two wild, unexpected things. He fell in love and he bought a farm.Moving into a rambling, chaotic farmstead in the beautiful Cotswold countryside, he decides the best way to learn about farming is the same way he learned most about music: by jumping in and doing it. As his family settles in, he discovers the unexpected joys that country life abounds in: finding the first egg from your very own chicken, coming across a bramble bush laden with blackberries, roasting home-grown pears on an open fire, before stumbling on a new venture making cheese.Wonderfully warm, witty and perfectly observed, this is the storyTrade Review‘James’s prose is clean and poetic. His childlike wonder at the simple things – from herons to heaps of rubble – can be infectious’ DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A joy to read. Prose flows and weaves and curls itself into pleasing rhythms…(Alex James) can write like a god’ SPECTATOR ‘The upbeat tone matches that of his Blur-era autobiography A BIT OF A BLUR, treating his downsize from rock heart-throb to cockerel-throttling country gent as if cheese contests were Britpop orgies. Riding bikes, the smell of berry bushes, piles of cow dung: all brilliant’ NME

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Book SynopsisAn indispensible guide to raising your new puppy from the author of The Dog Listener. From teething to training, this book follows the development of your puppy from new pet to best friend.In The Puppy Listener Jan Fennell presents a simple-to-follow yet detailed handbook for puppy owners. Whether this is your first pup or you are a seasoned dog-owner, the hints and tips in this concise guide are valuable and well informed.This handy guide follows the life of your puppy from weaning to walking. Jan Fennell covers every aspect of caring for your new best friend from introducing a puppy into its new home and handling it in public, to dealing with behavioural problems. With detailed sections on everything from exercise to diet, there are problem-solving guides dealing with worries such as biting or anxiety.Once again Jan illustrates her points with entertaining and inspiring real-life cases from her own work with damaged and delinquent dogs. Her love of animals is contagious and she inspires owners to persevere with their pups and show them who is boss.The book contains photographs and plate sections which accompany the text.Trade Review'British dog owner Jan Fennell has devised a revolutionary method of training. It's gentle, simple and remarkably effective.'Mail on Sunday 'Jan Fennell may not have danced with wolves, but she's stood nose to nose with them – and if she was given half a chance, I'm sure she could make lions lie down with lambs.'Daily Record

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Book SynopsisA full-color guide to psilocybin mushrooms?how to forage, identify, grow, and use them?with detailed descriptions, 300 stunning photographs, tips for dosing safely, and more, from a world-renowned mycologist.The past decade has seen an explosion of interest in using psilocybin (aka psychoactive or ?magic?) mushrooms for recreational and medicinal purposes.In this comprehensive, full-color reference, Paul Stamets offers descriptions and 300 photographs of more than 60 psilocybin varieties and their lookalikes common to North America, Europe, and Australasia. He outlines the history and cultural use of magic mushrooms in traditional rituals and ceremonies, their natural geographic distribution and habitats, and keys to growing your own mushroom patch. But perhaps most important, Stamets explains how to reliably distinguish between a non-poisonous, psychoactive mushroom and one of its highly toxic, even deadly, lookalikes.Packed with a lifetime of scientific and real-world research, Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats brings depth and understanding to an often-misunderstood topic. Revealing the potential of these powerful, mind-awakening fungi to help us live better, happier lives through micro- and macro-dosing, this handbook is an indispensable?and potentially lifesaving?addition to mushroom field guides from the biggest name in mycology.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive, fully-illustrated guide to the trees of Britain and non-Mediterranean Europe.This brand-new field guide to the trees of northern Europe contains some of the finest original tree illustrations ever produced. The introduction contains illustrations of the main leaves, buds, and firs you are likely to find, and these provide the starting point for identification by leading you to a ''key'' species.Within each tree family there is a list of key species and a guide to the most important features to look for when identifying a particular tree from that family. Then individual species are clearly described and a detailed illustration is given on the same page.Covering all the tree species found outside the major arboretums, from the olive tree to the eucalyptus, this is one of the most important tree guides to have appeared in the last 20 years. The illustrations are annotated with essential identification features, and the text highlights the most important things to look for

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Book SynopsisHorses in Company is a radically new analysis of horse social behaviour that opens the way towards a better understanding of horses on both ethological and practical levels. Based on first-hand observations of wild horses and their evolutionary need for collective defence against predators, it shows how domestic life distorts horses' natural social relations, encouraging misinterpretation, mistreatment and human-horse problems.

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Book SynopsisEarth and Space 100 Postcards is a stunning collection of photographs that lets fans of NASA, science, and space exploration share the wonders of the cosmos with friends and family. Each NASA postcard features an astonishing image of Earth from above, the phenomena of our solar system, and the celestial bodies of deep space to create a truly incredible collection that any space fan will cherish. This collection of 100 different NASA postcards will elevate your correspondence with interstellar splendor. This set of NASA postcard makes an out of this world gift for anyone who is interested in space or science and who can appreciate the wonder of the galaxies. The stunning details the photographs capture from the archives of NASA include shots of incredible sightings such as Polar Mesospheric Clouds, The Blue Marble, Clouds and Sunlight over the Indian Ocean and so many more. Plus, each one has an informative caption to pair with the visual majesty of space.

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Book SynopsisOscar the cat lives on the third floor of a nursing home in Rhode Island, USA. At first glance Oscar doesn''t seem special. He''s plain to look at. He''s aloof. Like most cats, he''s partial to treats and catnip. But in the summer of 2007 Oscar made headlines around the world. So what''s so unusual about Oscar? He knows when the hospice patients are going to die. Dr Dosa''s job is to respond to people''s medical needs, treat them for their ailments and communicate with their families. Oscar takes care of the rest. He is a steady companion as patients descend into death. He is with them when they die. And, because of him, they don''t die alone. Can a cat really predict death? Is he smelling something or responding to behavioural clues? Is he helping guide souls to heaven? Oscar''s warm and profound story - of his uncanny ability to see death coming, of his steadfast and non-judgmental commitment to sit with patients as they die, of his quiet compassion - is a metaphor for what is imp

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Book SynopsisThere are five races of tiger on our planet and all but one live in tropical regions: the Siberian Tiger Panthera tigris altaica is the exception. Mysterious and elusive, and with only 350 remaining in the wild, the Siberian tiger remains a complete enigma. One man has set out to change this.Sooyong Park has spent twenty years tracking and observing these elusive tigers. Each year he spends six months braving sub-zero temperatures, buried in grave-like underground bunkers, fearlessly immersing himself in the lives of Siberian tigers. As he watches the brutal, day-to-day struggle to survive the harsh landscape, threatened by poachers and the disappearance of the pristine habitat, Park becomes emotionally and spiritually attached to these beautiful and deadly predators. No one has ever been this close: as he comes face-to-face with one tiger, Bloody Mary, her fierce determination to protect her cubs nearly results in his own bloody demise.Poignant, poetic and fiercely compassionate, The Trade ReviewPraise for The Great Soul of Siberia: ‘If you read one nature book this year, make it this one.’ Mark Cocker, Spectator ‘Wonderful … deserves to become a classic of wildlife literature.’ The Times ‘A wonderful evocation of the land and the habits of the desperately endangered Siberian tiger.’ Independent ‘The year's best wildlife book could already have arrived’ Wanderlust ‘Subtly intense … Park has a deep sense of oneness with the world around him. His close engagement with the forest ecology is the most extraordinary element of this remarkable book.’ New Statesman ‘It’s a masterpiece. One of the most moving outdoor texts I’ve read in years. This is a book about love – one exceptional human being’s love for the wild, beautiful and persecuted creatures to which his life is dedicated. It also comprehends a fortitude and hardihood so far beyond the everyday I was left shaking my head in astonished admiration.’ The Great Outdoors ‘Sooyong’s magical prose led me into little-known and breathtakingly beautiful forests, exposed me to the bitter cold of long winter months, and revealed the secret life of that most mysterious of cats, the Siberian tiger.’ Jane Goodall ‘A triumph of nature writing; an original and authentic voice from the wilderness.’ Jonathan and Angela Scott ‘The book is a love letter … To read it is to hear the voice of a remarkable man.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Spellbinding … Park’s book burns an indelible memory.’ Country Life

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth guide for aspiring astronomers and Moon observers from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Includes detailed Moon maps and covers the history of lunar observation and exploration, the properties of the Moon, its origin and orbit. This is the ideal book for Moon observers covering essential equipment, and the key events to look out for.Detailed advice is given on how to choose a telescope and how to capture the Moon in sketches.Discover all you need to know about eclipses, blue moons, supermoons, conjunctions and occultations.A comprehensive section covers astrophotography using lenses, telescopes, Smartphones, including video and how to process your images.Comes with a photographic atlas of lunar features with plates and annotated maps.A glossary of key terms, index of lunar features and software references are also provided.

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Book SynopsisNature’s most successful insects captured in remarkable macrophotography In Ants, photographer Eduard Florin Niga brings us incredibly close to the most numerous animals on Earth, whose ability to organize colonies, communicate among themselves, and solve complex problems has made them an object of endless fascination. Among the more than 30 species photographed by Niga are leafcutters that grow fungus for food, trap-jaw ants with fearsome mandibles, bullet ants with potent stingers, warriors, drivers, gliders, harvesters, and the pavement ants that are always underfoot. Among his most memorable images are portraits—including queens, workers, soldiers, and rarely seen males—that bring the reader face-to-face with these creatures whose societies are eerily like our own. Science writer Eleanor Spicer Rice frames the book with a lively text that describes the life cycle of ants and explains how each species is adapted to its way of life. Ants

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Book SynopsisRevealing the incredible diversity of fossilised plants and animals preserved for millions of years, this book profiles 300 examples of the most common and fascinating fossils, using an entry by entry approach. By including examples from all of the major variety of fossilised life, from preserved trees and grasses to molluscs, trilobites, fish and dinosaurs, Fossils offers a truly comprehensive overview of fossils from every continent and gives a sense of the huge amount of natural history available to us in the fossil record. Each fossil is illustrated with a clear and informative colour photograph, accompanied by informed and accessible text. The fossilised plants and animals are grouped by order, then within each order by family (and, where necessary, within each family by subfamilies). For easy reference, each entry includes a table of information on scientific name, order and family, habitat, distribution, geological period and dimensions.Table of ContentsIntroduction Plants Invertebrates Vertebrates Glossary Timeline Index

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Book SynopsisRevision of: Decoys and aggression: a police K9 training manual / Stephen A. Mackenzie. -- Calgary: Detselig Enterprises, A1996.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive reflection of what it is to be a dog owner/parent, from dog park politics to inevitable messes and all the fun and love in between. Written and illustrated by two of The New Yorker magazine's best-loved cartoonists, You're Not a Real Dog Owner Until... is a must for any dog lover.This book presents a delightful collection of observations about having a dog from award-winning comedian/cartoonist duo Scott Dooley and Jason Chatfield. These hilarious cartoons pair New Yorker-style illustrations with relatable details about having a dog. For example, you're not a dog owner until... You have to nix the word 'walk' from your vocabulary as if it holds dark magical powers. There are dog park friends who you only know by their dog’s name. You've had to mediate a cease-fire between your dog and the Roomba. Your dog has 'protected you loudly' from thousands of 'potential intruders' who've dared to walk past your front door (Most often during Zoom calls). Your dog eats a healthier, more balanced and nutrient-rich diet than you have ever eaten in your life. You have a voice you only use with your dog You also have a voice for your dog. A cross between The Far Side and For Dummies, this series offers insights into worlds we live in, whether it's where you live, what you love or even who you are, the 'You're Not a Real...' series let's you know you're not alone in doing things some may think are crazy that are totally normal to you and your tribe!

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Book SynopsisRecent studies into the minds of canines show that they have a rich social intelligence and a physical and vocal language as complex and subtle as our own. The Secret Language of Dogs is a guide to understanding your dog, communicating effectively, strengthening your bond, and helping them to learn in the most effective way possible so they feel confident navigating the human world with success. Along the way, you''ll learn the answers to questions such as:-What do different tail wags mean?-What does being right-pawed say about my dog''s personality?-How can I tell the difference between boredom barking and warning barking?-What does it mean when my dog spins around, arches his back, or gives me the whale eye?-Do dogs feel guilt?-How do dogs perceive human faces?-Why do some scientists think dogs'' emotional experience is even greater than ours?Filled with adorable full-colour photographs and instructive illustrations, this insightf

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Book SynopsisAs a little boy, climbing through the lochs and mountains of Argyll with his Irish Setter Don, all James Herriot wanted to be was a ‘dog doctor’ so he could care for man’s best friend. In this classic collection of stories, we are introduced to some of the dogs who won a special place in the country vet’s heart – from Tricki Woo, the little Pekinese suffering from ‘flop-butt’ to Clancy the dog who nobody would go near and Gyp, the sheepdog who only ever barked once in his life. They’re joined by lovable dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes, celebrating the limitless affection and loyalty of our closest companions. Filled with magical storytelling and from the treasured author of All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot’s Dog Stories is told with his usual wit and human compassion – the perfect gift for dog-lovers everywhere.Trade ReviewThe tales can be read and re-read . . . what shines through all the stories is that dogs give us enormous pleasure. * Sunday Times *James Herriot provokes a chuckle, or a lump in your throat, in every chapter. * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisJeoffry was a real cat who lived 250 years ago, confined to an asylum with Christopher Smart, one of the most visionary poets of the age. In exchange for love and companionship, Smart rewarded Jeoffry with the greatest tribute to a feline ever written. Prize-winning biographer Oliver Soden combines meticulous research with passages of dazzling invention to recount the life of the cat praised as a mixture of gravity and waggery'. The narrative roams from the theatres and bordellos of Covent Garden to the cell where Smart was imprisoned for mania. At once whimsical and profound, witty and deeply moving, Soden's biography plays with the genre like a cat with a toy. It tells the story of a poet and a poem, while setting Jeoffry's life and adventures against the roaring backdrop of eighteenth-century London.Trade Review‘Jeoffry is the greatest cat in the English language, and here are his life and times, wittily and deftly imagined, entwined with a memoir of Kit Smart, lunatic and poet, and the London he shared with Samuel Johnson and his cat Hodge. An inspired and original tale’ – Hilary Mantel, author of The Mirror and the Light ‘Simply unforgettable ... Oliver Soden has written a little masterpiece ... The life and times of Jeoffry, the cat described in Smart’s famous poem, are imagined here by Soden in one of the most beautiful and haunting books of recent times. This is a book to savour, reflect upon, and give to friends ... It is beautifully written. It is gentle. It is full of historical detail and whimsy, in more or less equal measure. It is a complete treat ... a lovely, enchanting piece of work’ – Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency ‘A heart-lifting delight; I absolutely loved it. A triumph’ – Alexander Harris, author of Weatherland ‘An absolute classic … Oliver Soden combines the originality of wit and concept found in Virginia Woolf’s Flush with an intimate portrayal of the humanity of a cat that T.S. Eliot understood so well. I found myself so gloriously moved and entertained by Jeoffry who has leapt purring and stretching, hunting and curling his way into my heart’ – Juliet Nicolson, author of A House Full of Daughters ‘Mr Soden’s delightful, insinuating book curls around your thoughts and tickles you with its whiskers ... Soden jokes that if Jubilate Agno is a magnificat (a song of praise to God), the Jeoffry verses are a magnifi-cat. His own magnifi-cat recreation, bound in cloth-covers and sporting a Gainsborough kitty, would make a fine stocking filler – silk, buckled or gartered' – Economist ‘Oliver Soden has done for Christopher Smart’s cat Jeoffry what Virginia Woolf did for the Brownings’ dog, Flush. Except he’s made a much better job of it. This is a beautifully written, wise and wonderfully entertaining account of loyalty and the meaning of biography. Smart’s cat was indeed a magical being, and Oliver Soden has plucked a wealth of literary art from the cat’s life and from Smart’s unforgettable vision. I intend to give a copy to everybody I like’ – Andrew O’Hagan, author of Mayflies ‘In Jeoffry: The Poet's Cat, Oliver Soden has pulled off a difficult feat. His book about the life and adventures of Christopher Smart's considerable cat is charming without being twee, light but not lightweight, inventive within the bounds of respect for history ... Beautifully conceived and done with wit and tenderness. A book to cherish in times when Smart's madhouse seems close to home’ – Daniel Karlin, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year ‘Protagonist of the most anthologised section of the mad poet Christopher Smart’s Jubilate Agno, the eccentrically spelled ginger tom now takes a fresh lease of fictionalised life in this jeu d’esprit … It’s at once a sly introduction to Christopher Smart and the literary milieu of 18th-century London … and a cat’s-eye view of 18th-century social history – from the brothels and theatres of central London to the treatment of mental illness … It has a good deal, too, to tell the reader about cats … But it also poses the implicit question of how fictional biographies are in any case … All biographies adopt points of view, make suppositions, put fictional flesh on the bones of the facts the record gives us; and their test is how persuasively they do so. This one does so with great panache and not a little of the writerly flourish’ – Sam Leith, Spectator ‘An intensely poignant portrait of a celebrated cat … told with vibrant pace and energy … As we follow the irresistible subject towards and through his interaction with the poet who would give him his immortality, we smell the streets and the confined spaces, we suffer the blows, we weep the tears. This beautifully written and highly affecting book is a must-read for lovers of poetry, of the eighteenth century, and of cats’ – Jane Glover, author of Handel in London ‘Although Jeoffry has become famous through Smart’s much-anthologised poem "My Cat Jeoffry", he has left no other pawprint on the historical record ... It is this gap that Oliver Soden proceeds to plug in his delightful "biography" of Jeoffry ... In a particularly fine evocation of a cat’s-eye view, Soden has Jeoffry distinguish Smart’s asylum visitors from each other by the shape of their lower legs: he is able to tell apart the bulging calves and hobbled feet of Dr Johnson and the more springy limbs of Charles Burney. When David Garrick arrives, Jeoffry recognises him from the way the actor’s theatrical vibrato moves the air in the little cell. It is, after all, what whiskers are for’ – Kathryn Hughes, Literary Review ‘A bracing and heartfelt scamper through Georgian London, and the life of a much-loved cat – like Jeoffry himself, this delightful book is an irresistible mixture of 'gravity and waggery'. With its supporting cast of eighteenth-century luminaries such as Handel, Dr Johnson and the bloated brothel-keeper Mother Douglas, this is a carefully researched and beautifully imagined feline biography’ – Emily Brand, author of The Fall of the House of Byron ‘Inspired by Flush, Virginia Woolf’s “biography” of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s dog, Soden’s book is a witty, charming, semi-fictional biography of the cat that kept Smart company in the madhouse’ – Tristram Fane Saunders, Daily Telegraph ‘Jeoffry: The Poet’s Cat is an engrossing recreation of eighteenth-century London at its grittiest, from brothels to insane asylums, as seen through the eyes of a famous cat. The blend of scrupulous scholarship with imaginative invention is wonderfully effective’ – Leo Damrosch, author of The Club ‘I greatly enjoyed this book ... Oliver Soden has found a really vivid "ground-level" way to capture Georgian London, and as soon as Smart comes on the scene a most moving chemistry develops between the cat who has no words and the poet who is adrift in them’ – Ann Wroe, author of Francis 'Ravishing ... Jeoffry’s life is envisioned here with ingenuity and tact … Soden can write, and knows feline liquidity and transformation: Jeoffry “tipping himself off the wall” is matched when he is a “thrumming loaf of warmth” at the bed’s foot … Soden doesn’t duck cruelty and pain, and Jeoffry ends movingly, back with Smart’s poem, “for nothing is sweeter than his peace when at rest” … A lovely little book' – Min Wild, TLS

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Book SynopsisThe definitive field guide to the floristic wonder of the Alps.Walking through an Alpine meadow in late spring is one of Europe's great wildlife experiences the variety of flowers can be both dizzying and magical, while the prospect of identifying them can appear intimidating. This brilliant guide book provides the answer.Alpine Flowers covers every species that occurs in the alpine and subalpine zones more than 1,000 are covered with detailed descriptions and photographic coverage, with images of a further 700 rarer or accidental species included. Photographs have been carefully selected to allow key identification criteria to be pinpointed. Range maps are also included to show at a glance where the plants can regularly be found.Comprehensive yet portable, this book belongs in every Alpine naturalist's backpack.

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Book SynopsisDay Walks on the Isle of Skye features 20 routes between 3.4 and 14.5 miles (5.5km and 23.3km) in length, spread across the Isle of Skye with one walk on the neighbouring Isle of Raasay. Researched and written by experienced and knowledgeable authors Helen and Paul Webster, founders of the Walkhighlands website, the walks explore the rugged mountains and wildlife-rich coastline of the islands.The routes are split into four sections – Trotternish and the Braes; North-West Skye; Glen Brittle and Sligachan; and South Skye and the Isle of Raasay.Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and navigation information, and refreshment stops and local information.Table of ContentsIsle of Skye Area Map & Route FinderIntroductionAbout the walksNavigationGPS & mobile phonesSafetyBothiesRoads & parkingScottish Outdoor Access CodeHow to use this bookMaps, descriptions, distancesKm/mile conversion chartScottish place namesSection 1 – Trotternish & the Braes1 Ben Tianavaig2 Rubha Hunish3 Quiraing4 The Storr & its Old ManSection 2 – North-West Skye5 The Hoe & Waterstein Head6 Ramasaig to Orbost via MacLeod’s MaidensSection 3 – Glen Brittle & Sligachan7 Rubha an Dùnain8 Bealach Brittle Loop9 Marsco10 Sgùrr na Strì 11 Glamaig & the Red Cuillin12 Bruach na Frìthe13 Sgùrr na Banachdaich14 Sgùrr Dearg & the Inaccessible PinnacleSection 4 – South Skye & the Isle of Raasay15 Point of Sleat 16 Boreraig & Suisnish17 Dùn Caan, Isle of Raasay18 Elgol & Camasunary Circuit19 Broadford Red Hills 20 BlàbheinnAppendix

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Book Synopsis ‘A sea breeze wafts up from every page. This book is a delight.’ – Nigel Slater Both grounding and uplifting, From Coast & Cove, the new book from author and acclaimed illustrator Anna Koska, walks us through the four seasons on the English coast. Beautifully observed, contemplative and deeply personal, Anna combines emotive and evocative tales of life beside the sea with her exquisitely detailed and intricate illustrations of the plants and wildlife found in the water and along the coastline. Anna and her family moved from East Sussex to Devon in 2020 and she now finds inspiration for her artworks in the ebb and flow of the tide throughout the year, the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shore and the creatures spotted in the air, on land and tucked away in rockpools – whether it’s the haunting cry of the curlew heard while kayaking along the River Dart, the iridescent scales and pointed teeth of a hake, the mussel shells discarded by an oystercatcher, or the kelp, wrack and eelgrass strewn along the beach and pressed for posterity. A love letter to the natural world captured in materials ranging from pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and egg tempera, From Coast & Cove details an artist’s year spent beside the sea. A book to savour, and a wonderful celebration of nature’s cycles and minutiae.

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Book SynopsisHow did we get here? All cultures have a creation story, but a little over 150 years ago Charles Darwin introduced a revolutionary new one. We, and all living things, exist because of the action of evolution on the first simple life form and its descendants.We now know that it has taken 3.8 billions of years of work by the forces of evolution to turn what was once a lump of barren rock into the rich diversity of into plants, animals and microbes that surround us. In the process, evolution has created all manner of useful adaptions, from biological computers (brains) to a system to capture energy from the sun (photosynthesis). But how does evolution actually work? In Evolution, leading biologists and New Scientist take you on a journey of a lifetime, exploring the question of whether life is inevitable or a one-off fluke, and how it got kick-started. Does evolution have a purpose or direction? Are selfish genes really the driving force of evolution? And is evolution itself evolving?ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

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Book SynopsisMy name is Steve Mann and I'm an expert dog trainer with over 30 years of experience. In this book, I will teach you how to raise your Labradoodle to be healthy and happy. All breeds are different, and it is vital that you grow to learn your Labradoodle's specific needs and characteristics. Whether you are the proud owner of a brand-new puppy, a 10-year-old adult dog or a rescue Labradoodle of any age, my easy peasy principles will help you nurture your bond with your Labradoodle and teach them a range of activities in no time.You will learn about: · Your breed history· The key principles of dog training: Recall, Loose Lead Walking, Sit· Why your Labradoodle... chases, digs, jumps up, chews· How to keep your Labradoodle happy home alone· Grooming: teeth, nails, bathing· Nutrition and so much more!Armed with this knowledge about Labradoodles, plus my simple and highly effective lessons and training techniques, you and your dog will have the most cheerful, exciting and fulfilling relationship. So, let's get started!

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Book SynopsisThe social calls of bats are an area about which relatively little is known, with more research still required to expand our understanding. However, these calls are increasingly recognised as a useful aid to identification: they appear to be species specific and are indicative of behaviour – as in territorial activity of males during the mating season. Because the gathering and interpretation of bat echolocation data are a matter of course during research, conservation and consultancy, it is a logical progression to build momentum behind the consideration of social calls in mainstream bat-related work. A better understanding of this subject could mean that non-intrusive survey methods are developed, ensuring that what is being observed is, as far as possible, purely natural behaviour. In turn this will contribute to better interpretation and more suitable mitigation, compensation and/or enhancement solutions. The book summarises what is understood so far about social calls of the bat species occurring in Britain and Ireland, and north-west Europe. This new edition has been updated and expanded throughout, now containing: foreword by the bat authority Michel Barataud, author of Acoustic Ecology of European Bats almost double the number of figures and tables as appeared in the first edition completely overhauled call library, all in full spectrum format, with new additional examples three entirely new chapters, covering bat-related acoustics, settings for social interaction, and survey guidelines The material will be useful to people carrying out bat studies, at whatever level and for whatever purpose, and will also encourage others to undertake further research. What's more, social calls are fascinating to listen to: they are, after all, produced with listeners in mind (other bats). In light of this, the book is accompanied by an extensive downloadable library of sound files which offer a unique gateway into the private life of bats. Trade ReviewThis much expanded 2nd edition provides a thorough overview of bat social calls and the current state of knowledge...I hope for continued expansions of this book in future, but in the meantime, there is plenty within this second edition to further illuminate some of the most fascinating yet often mysterious aspects of bat vocalisations. -- Philip Briggs, Bat Conservation TrustThe authors can be congratulated for their work and for opening up new insights and offering a better understanding of this complex area of research. -- Wiesław Bogdanowicz * Acta Chiropterologica *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgements About the Authors Important Notices 1 An Overview of Bats in Britain and Ireland 2 Bat-related Acoustics: An Introduction 3 Settings for Social Interaction 4 Classification of Social Calls 5 Analysis of Social Calls 6 Considerations in Survey Design 7 Survey Guidelines (Bat Social Calls) 8 Species Groups Appendix Bibliography References Index

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