Natural History Books
HarperCollins Publishers Skogluft Forest Air The Norwegian Secret to
Book SynopsisWhy do we spend so much time indoors, which is not our natural habitat? Why have trends such as forest-bathing become so popular? The answer to the last question lies in the proven benefits we obtain from our connection with nature from increased productivity to feelings of happiness and an enhanced sense of wellbeing.For millions of years, humans developed in natural environments, in close contact with sunlight, vegetation and fresh air. But most of us spend 80-90% of our time indoors far from the environments for which we are naturally suited and in which we evolved. Skogluft's mission is to bring a natural living environment back into your home and workplace.Based on years of research data on the impact between nature and people, gathered together by a Norwegian mechanical engineer, Jorn Viumdal, Skogluft reveals how installing a wall of easily available plants in your home environment can dramatically improve health, strengthen the immune system and increase productivity. The planTrade Review‘After the plants were installed, people now walk in here and say ‘Wow’ – we now have an extremely low employee absentee rare of less than 1%.’ – CEO Google Norway
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers Saved from the Waves The perfect gift book for
Book Synopsis She has to be OK, I pleaded silently to myself. She has to be. ‘We’ve alerted the RNLI and they’re sending a lifeboat out.’ ‘The RNLI?’ I said, surprised. ‘They do that?’
£14.24
Briza Publications,South Africa A Site-by-Site Guide to Trees in the Kruger
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of
Book Synopsis*As featured on BBC Breakfast, Radio 5Live and Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2*From the Nasa astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station – what it’s like out there and what it’s like now, back here. Enter Scott Kelly's fascinating world and dare to think of your own a little differently.As soon as you realize you aren’t going to die, space is the most fun you’ll ever have...The veteran of four space flights and the American record holder for most consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few of us ever have and very few of us ever will. Kelly's humanity, compassion, humour, and passion shine as he describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight, both existential and banal. He touches on what’s happened to his body, the sadness of being isolated from everyone he loves; the pressures of constant close cohabitation; the catastrophic risks of colliding with space junk, and the still more haunting threat of being absent should tragedy strike at home. From a natural storyteller Endurance is one of the finest examples the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the boundless wonder of the galaxy.*What readers are saying...'Takes you up into space and lets you be a part of astronaut life''Tough to put down! Tells a side you don't often hear or read about for that matter''Mind blowing . . . up there with Ernest Shackleton for me''My husband said it is the next best thing to going into space yourself''Six stars!'Trade ReviewForget what you've read elsewhere * The Times *This isn’t your usual astronaut’s memoir. * Daily Mail *Everyone’s favourite space captain and all-round hero NASA astronaut * Huffington Post *Kelly brings life in space alive — the wonder and awe of it, and also the jagged edges, the rough parts of living in confined quarters in an alien element, far from everything familiar and beloved * Financial Times *Endurance has a winning modesty and a bone-dry wit * Daily Mail *
£999.99
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Cat Massage Therapy Vol. 2
Book SynopsisNOTHING BEATS A MASSAGE FROM A CAT!Having developed an addiction to the cats’ comforting and therapeutic massages, Nekoyama and his fellow office workers return to the parlor. The cats work whenever they want, but lucky for Nekoyama and company, the parlor is open today. There’s even a new cat working there!
£11.39
Duke University Press Decolonizing Extinction
Book SynopsisIn Decolonizing Extinction Juno Salazar Parreñas ethnographically traces the ways in which colonialism, decolonization, and indigeneity shape relations that form more-than-human worlds at orangutan rehabilitation centers on Borneo. Parreñas tells the interweaving stories of wildlife workers and the centers'' endangered animals while demonstrating the inseparability of risk and futurity from orangutan care. Drawing on anthropology, primatology, Southeast Asian history, gender studies, queer theory, and science and technology studies, Parreñas suggests that examining workers’ care for these semi-wild apes can serve as a basis for cultivating mutual but unequal vulnerability in an era of annihilation. Only by considering rehabilitation from perspectives thus far ignored, Parreñas contends, could conservation biology turn away from ultimately violent investments in population growth and embrace a feminist sense of welfare, even if it means expeTrade Review"This is seriously thought-provoking and challenging material, and it may be essential to understand it if we want to save orangutans from ourselves." -- John R. Platt * The Revelator *"Impactful. . . . Juno S. Parreñas details diverse assumptions and expectations participants bring to this complex network, thereby generating a unique and timely addition to the conservation literature. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty and professionals." -- L. K. Sheeran * Choice *"Decolonizing Extinction is essential reading for anyone with the ambition to do multispecies ethnography well. It’s also a beautiful and moving book that struggles with the ethical weight of ethnography as a mode of knowledge production." -- Gabriel N. Rosenberg * Radical History Review *"[This book] excels in these tricky in-between places: in meetings between species, between temporalities, between bodies, between genders, between sexes, and across divergent positions within colonial histories and presents. Parreñas tracks meetings across difference with the best kind of ethnographic sensitivity." -- Rosemary Collard * Society & Space *"Decolonizing Extinction offers a compelling example of why feminism is well suited and positioned to take on issues related to animals, as well as how gender relations of power are necessarily embedded in human-animal relations, and in turn broader process of colonization and arrested autonomy." -- Alice Hovorka * Society & Space *"The book brilliantly weaves discussions about broader socio-political transformations and norms alongside very careful and detailed accounts of the everyday practices and interactions between orangutans and people." -- Krithika Srinivasan * Society & Space *"A powerful, thought-provoking, and touching account of the quotidian nature of mass extinction." -- Becky Mansfield * Society & Space *"Parreñas’s Decolonizing Extinction is a beautifully written book, in which she uses a case study of orangutan rehabilitation on Borneo to weave together many complex analytic threads: gender, race, and labor; care, violence, and freedom; liberalism and neoliberalism; the geological past, the colonial present, and the prospect of a different future." -- Rebecca Lave * Society & Space *“With Decolonizing Extinction, Juno Salazar Parreñas gives us a groundbreaking and beautifully written multispecies ethnography that explores the entwined lives of human and nonhuman primates. Deftly combining primatology, political ecology, and postcolonial and feminist theory, her book will interest biological and cultural anthropologists alike and has the potential to foster deeper cross-disciplinary engagement.” -- Genese Marie Sodikoff * American Ethnologist *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction: Decolonizing Extinction 1 Part I. Relations 1. From Ape Motherhood to Tough Love 33 2. On the Surface of Skin and Earth 61 Part II. Enclosures 3. Forced Copulation for Conservation 83 4. Finding a Living 105 Part III. Futures 5. Arrested Autonomy 131 6. Hospice for a Dying Species 157 Conclusion: Living and Dying Together 177 Notes 189 References 223 Index 255
£19.79
Loom Press The Artist and the Orchard A Memoir
Book Synopsis
£18.89
Johns Hopkins University Press The Sting of the Wild
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSchmidt's tales will prove infectiously engaging even to entomophobes.—Publishers WeeklyOn Schmidt's pain scale, this book rates a zero—painless. On the pleasure scale, it rates a ten, a highly enjoyable read.—Natural HistoryReaders who share my fascination with the natural world, and particularly those who revel in unusual animal facts, will love The Sting of the Wild.—Between the CoversAn excellent book.—NewsweekA good read, with valuable evolutionary context for bees and their insect relatives interwoven with entertaining travel tales of an engaged entomologist.—American Bee JournalEven though the pain-laced topic might leave you wincing, Schmidt’s engaging and entertaining writing makes for a tale worth reading.—Scientific American[Schmidt's] low-down on sting biochemistry and physiology is relentlessly zestful, even as he recounts the swelling, burning consequences of his curiosity.—NatureThe Sting of the Wild is full of the stories of science of stings. Schmidt is an engaging writer, and his youthful enthusiasm for scary critters makes for a book that will sometimes scare you and sometimes make you double over with laughter . . . It’s a masterpiece of nature writing.—Nature's Cool Green ScienceIf you’re interested in bugs of any kind, and especially the notorious ones, this book will entertain, educate, and excite.—Discover MagazineNot only does he explain his Schmidt Sting Pain Index, wherein he rates the pain of numerous stings on a scale of one to four, but he also relates the fascinating natural histories of these animals.—National GeographicTotally fascinating.—FiveThirtyEightThe arms race that created the stinger hypodermic, and its biochemical warfare toxins, was a direct result of communal nesting, because the greater risk of predation demanded a formidable defensive strategy. This is the evolutionary theme through which the author lovingly interjects his own personal anecdotes.—BBC Wildlife MagazineIt's hard to imagine a nature book being more fascinating and fun.—Virgin Radio UKIn addition to providing colorful, connoisseur-grade descriptions of the pain caused by stings, The Sting of the Wild provides all sorts of information about stinging insects.—NewserBeautifully written . . . like nothing else you have ever read.—NPR's Science FridayFull of adventure, humor and Schmidt's impressive scholarship.—Redlands Daily FactsSchmidt, an entomologist at the Southwestern Biological Institute, is an excellent writer. He can write clear, engaging explanations of sting evolution and venom chemistry, as well as spin a good yarn about his adventures collecting stinging insects. I enjoyed his dry, judiciously applied, wit.—Pica HudsoniaThe Sting of the Wild weaves [Schmidt's] theories about stinging insects through a narrative of his personal experiences digging in the dirt. For many readers, the highlight of the book will be the appendix, his celebrated Pain Scale for Stinging Insects, which rates the pain level of dozens of insect stings, an index he created mostly by firsthand experience, either by suffering stings incidentally during field research or, in some cases, by inducing them. Because stings of the same magnitude don’t necessarily feel the same, Schmidt has written haiku-like descriptions for each of the 83 sting entries.—New York Times MagazineThe Sting of the Wild is a delicate and highly refreshing glimpse into the private mind of a professional scientist. —Times Literary SupplementSchmidt’s story is really new, refreshing, and thoroughly entertaining.—Journal of Natural HistoryThis is an informative and engaging story about the fascinating lives behind the insects that you may just think of as very annoying visitors at picnics.—The Biologist[A] surprisingly joyful book. . . Schmidt does a good job of passing on his boundless enthusiasm for insects. The sting of the wild is an easy read, packed with chemistry and anecdotes.—Chemistry WorldThe Sting of the Wild sheds light on the mysteries of stinging insects in a delightful and humorous narration. I recommend the book to every entomologist, ecologist, and naturalist interested in exploring the impressive world of Hymenoptera.—American EntomologistAnecdotes of field encounters with research subjects (and some incidentally encountered forest and desert coinhabitants) are woven throughout and bring readers close to what it feels like to be a field biologist. I will not spoil these dispatches fromthe front lines of venom, other than tomention that amongmy favorites were the author’s adventures with a large Bushmaster snake (a tropical viper) at night in the rain forest, a venomspraying species of wasp nesting above a tropical cliff, and the giant Asian honey bee (again at night) with a team of lucky (?) coworkers. If this cast of animal characters piques your curiosity, I am confident you will thoroughly enjoy The Sting of the Wild.This volume represents the best kind of natural history writing—a treasure trove of solid and fascinating biology cleverly disguised as a good read.—The Quarterly Review of BiologyThe Sting of the Wild is a great book for lay readers. Think of it as insect gossip, though verified gossip, of course. It has that convivial tone of sharing what's going on with the Jones, but the Jones are killer bees... You don't have to be a bug lover to enjoy The Sting of the Wild. I sure am not one, but nature is endlessly inventive and Schmidt knows how to make her inventions interesting and enjoyable.—Tonstant WeaderTable of ContentsPreface1. Stung2. The Stinger3. The First Stinging Insects4. The Pain Truth5. Sting Science6. Sweat Bees and Fire Ants7. Yellowjackets and Wasps8. Harvester Ants9. Tarantula Hawks and Solitary Wasps10. Bullet Ants11. Honey Bees and HumansAppendixReferencesIndex
£15.68
Bellwether Media Sea Otters
Book Synopsis
£12.34
Birds of Colombia
Book SynopsisColombia es el destino número uno para los observadores de aves. En ningún otro país se ha registrado un número tan alto de especies, tantas como una quinta parte de las aves existentes en todo el planeta en tan solo 1.000.000 km2. La geografía colombiana es extremadamente diversa: de este a oeste se extiende desde el río Orinoco hasta el Océano Pacífico y de norte a sur desde el Caribe hasta las cabeceras de la cuenca amazónica. Los Andes están conformados por tres cadenas montañosas principales separadas por los valles del Cauca y del Magdalena. En el norte se encuentran dos grandes sierras, la de Santa Marta y la del Perijá, siendo la primera uno de los principales puntos calientes (hotsposts) del mundo para la observación de aves endémicas. En los últimos años, las rutas habituales para la observación de aves del país han ido evolucionando, focalizándose en las zonas protegidas tanto de propiedad privada como pública, permitiendo así la observación de casi todas las aves endémicas
£52.15
Canongate Books Things That Are: Encounters with Plants, Stars
Book SynopsisThis is a book about the universe which begins with swimming salmon and ends with the starry sky. From the tiniest Earth dwellers to far-flung celestial bodies - considering everything from the similarity of gods to donkeys, to exploding stars and exploding sea cucumbers - Amy Leach rekindles our communion with the world. This stunning debut will leave you with a deeper understanding of the universe and a greater sense of the magic that surrounds us.Trade ReviewThis book is a thing of wonder. Amy Leach has found delight in the details of the world, and taken exuberant pleasure in putting that delight into the most unexpected words. Each paragraph carries phrases to underline and read aloud; each page offers another way of seeing the world anew. A sheer delight -- Jon McGregorNo amount of viewings of Planet Earth will prepare you for Leach's vision or her style, her tumultuous, incantatory rejoicing in the astonishing multiplicity of the Earth... Buy this book for everyone you know -- Olivia Laing * * Observer * *Like a descendant of Lewis Carroll and Emily Dickinson, Amy Leach brings new meaning to the world without us, and within. A reader entering this book to learn more about the universe will exit knowing much more about her own self. At once large and intimate, [Things That Are] introduces one of the most exciting and original writers in America -- Yiyun Li, author of Gold Boy, Emerald Girl and The VagrantsThings That Are is a joy. Every sentence is a surprise, bursting open like little pop-rocks -- Brian EnoThe 26 pieces here are short, pithy, and packed with information delivered in poetic but precise language. It is rich fare. Don't read too much in one sitting. These are the gold flakes you scatter on the rice dish of your everyday reading -- Julian Gough * * Guardian * *It's impossible not to be charmed by the way she finds the magical in the prosaic - but never loses sight of the science * * Metro * *Leach teases the written word like an elastic band, stretching time and belief and meaning... it's impossible to feel indifferent to her hymn-like prose that is reminiscent of a young Jeanette Winterson... you can't help but feel you've plunged down the rabbit hole with her in this unique book * * Stylist * *This slim book from the American essayist Amy Leach is a rarity * * Financial Times * *[Leach] conjur[es] onomatopoeia . . . in the contagious kind of way that should renew anyone's love of language . . . Leach manages to assert that desire is what makes all living things both alive and in peril -- JON McGREGOR * * Guardian * *Leach's prose tumbles and cascades, sweeping the reader along * * We Love This Book * *
£10.44
Behavetech Publishing Dog Training
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Temple University Press,U.S. Filling the Ark: Animal Welfare in Disasters
Book SynopsisWith a new Preface by the authorWhen disasters strike, people are not the only victims. Hurricane Katrina raised public attention about how disasters affect dogs, cats, and other animals considered members of the human family. In this short but powerful book, now available in paperback, noted sociologist Leslie Irvine goes beyond Katrina to examine how oil spills, fires, and other calamities affect various animal populations—on factory farms, in research facilities, and in the wild.In a new preface, Irvine surveys the state of animal welfare in disasters since the first edition. Filling the Ark argues that humans cause most of the risks faced by animals and urges for better decisions about the treatment of animals in disasters. Furthermore, it makes a broad appeal for the ethical necessity of better planning to keep animals out of jeopardy. Irvine not only offers policy recommendations and practical advice for evacuating animals, she also makes a strong case for rethinking our use of animals, suggesting ways to create more secure conditions. Trade Review“Filling the Ark is a fascinating combination of scholarship, public policy, and animal advocacy. Leslie Irvine examines the plight of animals in the face of man-made and natural disasters in light of larger issues associated with our society's ambivalence about the moral status of other species The writing is excellent and the author's first hand experiences rescuing companion animals during Hurricane Katrina are compelling."—Harold Herzog, Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University“As Irvine argues, we have a responsibility to minimize the vulnerability of animals within our care and those that can be affected by our actions....Aimed at general readers and those interested in animal-human interaction, this book serves as a reminder that disasters put more than human life at stake.”—Contemporary Sociology“Rather than merely planning for the future of what to do when a nightmare unfolds, [Irvine] encourages us to make animals less vulnerable here and now.... This is a book that should be read by many throughout fields as diverse as veterinary medicine, social science and public policy.”—AnthrozoosTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Companion Animals 2. Animals on Factory Farms 3. Birds and Marine Wildlife 4. Animals in Research Facilities Conclusion: Noah’s Task Notes Bibliography Index
£12.34
Atlantic Books The Rose
Book SynopsisThis vividly written and lavishly illustrated book challenges many cherished beliefs about the rose. It looks set to establish itself as the definitive history of the Queen of Flowers.Ever since Sappho planted roses at the shrine of Aphrodite, no flower has captured the imagination in quite the same way. Wherever it has grown, human beings have projected on to it their dreams and aspirations. Celebrated as a sacred symbol and as a token of womanhood, the rose unites Venus with the Virgin Mary, the blood of Christ with the sweat of Muhammad, the sacred and the profane, life and death, the white rose of chastity and the red rose of consummation.In The Rose, the acclaimed horticultural historian Jennifer Potter shows what, exactly, gives this most fragrant flower its potency in societies around the world. Beginning her story in the Greek and Roman empires, she travels across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas to unravel its evolution from a simple briar of the northern hemisphere to the height of cultivated perfection found in rose gardens today. Whether laying bare the flower's long association with sexuality and secret societies, questioning the Crusaders' role in bringing roses back from the Holy Land, or hunting for its elusive blooms in the gardens of the Empress Josephine at Malmaison, Jennifer Potter reveals why this flower, above all others, has provoked such fascination.Trade ReviewLavish, lushly illustrated... This ambitious book is richly kaleidoscopic without being bewildering, and Potter has succeeded in uncovering just why the rose has insinuated itself so tenaciously into the consciousness of every age and corner of the world. -- Kate Colquhoun, Sunday Times
£24.75
Medina Publishing Ltd Spirit of the Wind: A Photographic Celebration of
Book SynopsisThe Namib Desert is vast, arid expanse of constantly moving gravel plains and dunes. It covers more than 31,000 square miles stretching the whole of the western coast of Namibia, into Angola and South Africa. The winds blow relentlessly and thick fog frequently blankets the towering dunes along the coast. Although it supports a wide diversity of flora and fauna, it is a harsh environment for man and mammal. In the midst of this seemingly inhospitable region, near Garub, live the elusive wild horses that have fascinated people for almost a century. And into this wilderness a young slip of a girl ventured, alone and armed with little more than a camera, a tent and a burning desire to follow the call of the wild. As the weeks turned into months, Miona Janeke followed the herd from before sunrise until after dark: learning, understanding, photographing and becoming one with the free-spirited horses. This book is the result of an intrepid pilgrimage to discover the essence of the mysterious herds of feral horses. The exquisite photographs of the horses and their surroundings show a deep, almost spiritual, connection between subject and photographer.They are testament to a rare talent and an indomitable personality.
£19.00
University of South Carolina Press Sharks in the Shallows: Attacks on the Carolina
Book SynopsisPowerful and mysterious, sharks inspire both fascination and fear. Worldwide, oceans are home to some five-hundred species, and of those, fifty-six are known to reside in or pass through the waters off the coast of both North and South Carolina. At any given time, waders, swimmers, and surfers enjoying these waters are frequently within just one-hundred feet of a shark. While it's unnerving to know that sharks often swim just below the surface in the shallows, Clay Creswell, a shark-bite investigator for the Shark Research Institute's Global Shark Attack File, explains that attacks on humans are extremely rare. In 2019 the International Shark Attack File confirmed sixty-four unprovoked attacks on humans, including three in North Carolina and one in South Carolina. While acknowledging that they pose real dangers to humans, Creswell believes the fear of sharks is greatly exaggerated. During his sixteen-year association with the Shark Research Institute, he has investigated more than one hundred shark-related incidents and has maintained a database of all shark–human encounters along the Carolina coastlines back to 1817. Creswell uses this data to expose the truth and history of this often-sensationalized topic. Beyond the statistics related to attacks in the Carolina waters, Sharks in the Shallows offers a history of shark–human interactions and an introduction to the world of shark attacks. Creswell details the conditions that increase a person's chances of an encounter, profiles the three species most often involved in attacks, and reveals the months and time of day with the highest probability of an encounter. With a better understanding of sharks' responses to their environment, and what motivates them to attack humans, he hopes people will develop a greater appreciation of the invaluable role sharks play in our marine environment.
£16.16
Cambridge University Press Extinctions
Book SynopsisAre we now entering a mass extinction event? What can mass extinctions in Earth''s history tell us about the Anthropocene? What do mass extinction events look like and how does life on Earth recover from them? The fossil record reveals periods when biodiversity exploded, and short intervals when much of life was wiped out in mass extinction events. In comparison with these ancient events, today''s biotic crisis hasn''t (yet) reached the level of extinction to be called a mass extinction. But we are certainly in crisis, and current parallels with ancient mass extinction events are profound and deeply worrying. Humanity''s actions are applying the same sorts of pressures - on similar scales - that in the past pushed the Earth system out of equilibrium and triggered mass extinction events. Analysis of the fossil record suggests that we still have some time to avert this disaster: but we must act now.Trade Review'… a useful and succinct summary of the research into the reality and timing of mass extinctions from the early concepts to recent research - it brought me up-to-date with current thinking on mass extinctions. I admire his 'sceptical' stance: attempting to discriminate what a mass extinction actually is - outside the biggest three - is not as easy as has been assumed. The mass extinctions of the past clearly have relevance to the current approaching catastrophe in the Anthropocene, and the careful appraisal of exactly where we are in comparison with previous extinctions will be of great concern to those interested in the 'long view'. I particularly appreciated the focus on the notion of the interconnectedness of Earth systems.' Richard Fortey, author of Life: An Unauthorised Biography History and Trilobite: Eyewitness to Evolution'Despite its somber title and topic, Extinctions is an exuberant road trip through the history of life on Earth, led by a friendly and knowledgeable guide who knows all the locals along the way. Visiting so many ancestral Earthlings and vanished ecosystems is heady - and deeply humbling.' Marcia Bjornerud, Lawrence University, author of Timefulness and Reading the Rocks'Most of life may well be extinct, because of the huge age of the Earth, but Michael Hannah shows vividly in this book that the 8.7 million species on Earth today are profoundly at risk; the lessons of the fossil record tell us what will surely happen if we continue pushing species after species to the brink.' Michael Benton, University of Bristol, author of Dinosaurs Rediscovered'Without death, there can be no change. And, as Michael Hannah makes clear in his engaging new book, mass extinctions on various scales have been key shapers of the world as we know it. Had the dinosaurs not abruptly disappeared, we humans would not be here today. But as Hannah also shows, there is something dreadfully menacing about the massive species loss and climate change the world is currently experiencing, making his book a balanced yet deeply unsettling account of what humans are unwittingly doing to the world.' Ian Tattersall, American Museum of Natural History, co-author of The Accidental Homo sapiens'An accessible and authoritative guide to the past, present, and future of extinctions. Michael Hannah dives into the fossil record and surveys the great mass extinctions of Earth history, from the death of the dinosaurs to the demise of the woolly mammoth, and explains how they are relevant to understanding the predicament we are in today, and to plotting a better future.' Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh and New York Times/Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs'Michael Hannah's book expertly examines the geological record of mass extinction events. It asks us to consider whether we wish to join asteroid strikes and massive volcanic eruptions as causes of mass extinction. Or whether we can change our relationships with the wonderful diversity of life around us to avoid such an ignominious outcome.' Mark Williams, University of Leicester'… measured, thought-provoking analysis.' Andrew Robinson, NatureTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; Further reading; Introduction; 1. The Anthropocene and the Earth system; 2. A short detour: the fossil record and the geological time scale; 3. The origin of animals and the emergence of the Earth system; 4. Documenting ancient biodiversity; 5. Mass extinctions – the basics; 6. Causes of the End-Permian and End-Cretaceous extinction events; 7. Time heals all – recovering from a mass extinction; 8. The late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions; 9. Surviving the Anthropocene; Further reading; Index.
£14.99
Running Press,U.S. Treat Too
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Treat! comes the second ulti-mutt collection of lovable and hilarious photographs of dogs vying for treats -- now with double the pups for even more paw-some fun! Photographer Christian Vieler is an online sensation for pup-arazzi worthy photos of dogs. In Treat! he captured 60 dogs anticipating, catching -- some more successfully than others -- and enjoying a scrumptious snack.In Treat Too, Vieler brings twice the pups, and twice the fun. From a pair of tenacious terriers to a duo of goofy golden retrievers, these hilarious and paws-itively beautiful photographs capture each dog''s unique personality in a way any dog owner will recognize and enjoy! Purrfect for the animal lover in your life, these adorable photos will have you rolling over and howling with laughter and love.
£14.24
Johns Hopkins University Press Turtles of the United States and Canada 2e
Book SynopsisLogically organized and richly illustrated-with more than two hundred color photographs and fifty-two maps-Turtles of the United States and Canada remains the standard for libraries, museums, nature centers, field biologists, and professional and amateur herpetologists alike.Trade ReviewAnyone interested in turtles will want this book! Birdbooker Report 2009 Any college-level natural sciences library serious about turtles must have this substantially revised, updated second edition of the classic reference: Turtles of the United States and Canada. New species names supplements color photos charts, maps, and more in an extensive, detailed reference that is a 'must' for any definitive library. Midwest Book Review 2009 The 645 pages of text, plus over 150 pages of references make it an almost limitless source of information on the chelonia of this part of the world. For such a well-presented and beautifully illustrated book, it represents excellent value for money for professional and amateur herpetologists alike. -- Christine Tilley British Chelonia Group Newsletter 2009 If I did for some reason need to limit my turtle library to a single volume this book would be the one. -- David S. Lee Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 2009 Ernst and Lovich have outdone themselves this time. The terms 'monumental' and of 'epic proportions' certainly come to mind... Truly amazing... This book is a real gem. -- Chuck Schaffer Turtle and Tortoise Newsletter 2009 This work will be a standard reference on the shelves of libraries and other institutions with an interest in turtles. -- Helen Ashton Reference Reviews 2010 This second edition is an impressive accomplishment. Summarizing so much provides information is a daunting task and this book provides an amazing gateway into the vast body of scientific literature on North American turtles. -- David Seburn Canadian Field-Naturalist Turtles of the United States and Canada continues to be among the best taxa-specific ecological references ever compiled. It should be on the shelf of every library, serious turtle expert, herpetologist, vertebrate ecologist, or natural history buff. -- Joshua M. Kapfer Natural Areas Journal 2010Table of ContentsPrefaceAbbreviationsConservation of the Turtles of the United States and CanadaIdentification of the Turtles of the United States and CanadaCheloniidae: Marine TurtlesCaretta caretta, Loggerhead SeaturtleChelonia mydas, Green SeaturtleEretmochelys imbricata, Hawksbill SeaturtleLepidochelys kempii, Kemp's Ridley SeaturtleLepidochelys olivacea, Olive Ridley SeaturtleChelydridae: Snapping TurtlesChelydra serpentina, Snapping TurtleMacrochelys temminckii, Alligator Snapping TurtleDermochelyidae: Leatherback SeaturtlesDermochelys coriacea, Leatherback SeaturtleEmydidae: Semiaquatic Pond and Marsh TurtlesActinemys marmorata, Pacific Pond TurtleChrysemys picta, Painted TurtleClemmys guttata, Spotted TurtleDeirochelys reticularia, Chicken TurtleEmydoidea blandingii, Blanding's TurtleGlyptemys insculpta, Wood TurtleGlyptemys muhlenbergii, Bog TurtleGraptemys barbouri, Barbour's Map TurtleGraptemys caglei, Cagle's Map TurtleGraptemys ernsti, Escambia Map TurtleGraptemys flavimaculata, Yellow-blotched Map TurtleGraptemys geographica, Northern Map TurtleGraptemys gibbonsi, Pascagoula Map TurtleGraptemys nigrinoda, Black-knobbed Map TurtleGraptemys oculifera, Ringed Map TurtleGraptemys ouachitensis, Ouachita Map TurtleGraptemys pseudogeographica, False Map TurtleGraptemys pulchra, Alabama Map TurtleGraptemys versa, Texas Map TurtleMalaclemys terrapin, Diamond-backed TerrapinPseudemys alabamensis, Alabama Red-bellied CooterPseudemys concinna, River CooterPseudemys gorzugi, Rio Grande CooterPseudemys nelsoni, Florida Red-bellied CooterPseudemys peninsularis, Peninsula CooterPseudemys rubriventris, Northern Red-bellied CooterPseudemys suwanniensis, Suwannee CooterPseudemys texana, Texas River CooterTerrapene carolina, Eastern Box TurtleTerrapene ornata, Ornate Box TurtleTrachemys gaigeae, Big Bend SliderTrachemys scripta, Pond SliderKinosternidae: Mud and Musk TurtlesKinosternon arizonense, Arizona Mud TurtleKinosternon baurii, Striped Mud TurtleKinosternon flavescens, Yellow Mud TurtleKinosternon hirtipes, Rough-footed Mud TurtleKinosternon sonoriense, Sonora Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum, Eastern Mud TurtleSternotherus carinatus, Razor-backed Musk TurtleSternotherus depressus, Flattened Musk TurtleSternotherus minor, Loggerhead Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus, Common Musk Turtle or StinkpotTestudinidae: TortoisesGopherus agassizii, Desert TortoiseGopherus berlandieri, Berlandier's TortoiseGopherus polyphemus, Gopher TortoiseTrionychidae: Softshell TurtlesApalone ferox, Florida SoftshellApalone mutica, Smooth SoftshellApalone spinifera, Spiny SoftshellPalea steindachneri,Wattle-necked SoftshellPelodiscus sinensis, Chinese SoftshellGlossary of Scientific NamesBibliographyIndex to Scientific and Common Names
£74.80
New Society Publishers Pawpaws
Book SynopsisPawpaws is an in-depth guide to growing and marketing North America's forgotten native fruit at small commercial orchard scale. Coverage includes selecting cultivars, orchard planning, propagating, organic growing, pest management, harvesting, marketing, and value-added products. Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1: Foraging for Wild Pawpaws Chapter 2: Description of North American Pawpaw Fruit Chapter 3: Flowering and Pollination Chapter 4: Site Design and Planting Chapter 5: Choosing Your Trees Chapter 6: Maintaining the Orchard Chapter 7: Harvesting Pawpaw Fruit Chapter 8: Tree Propagation Chapter 9: Pests, Diseases, Disorders and Their Management Chapter 10: Pawpaw Fruit Marketing Strategies Chapter 11: Pawpaw CultivarsChapter 12: Troubleshooting, Cost Analysis, and CalendarChapter 13: ConclusionResources NotesIndex About the AuthorAbout New Society Publishers
£19.79
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Reconstructing Earths Climate History
Book SynopsisReconstructing Earth's Climate History There has never been a more critical time for students to understand the record of Earth's climate history, as well as the relevance of that history to understanding Earth's present and likely future climate. There also has never been a more critical time for students, as well as the public-at-large, to understand how we know, as much as what we know, in science. This book addresses these needs by placing you, the student, at the center of learning. In this book, you will actively use inquiry-based explorations of authentic scientific data to develop skills that are essential in all disciplines: making observations, developing and testing hypotheses, reaching conclusions based on the available data, recognizing and acknowledging uncertainty in scientific data and scientific conclusions, and communicating your results to others.The context for understanding global climate change today lies in the records of Earth's past, Table of ContentsThe Authors viii Foreword from First Edition x Acknowledgments xi Book Introduction to the Second Edition for Students and Instructors xii About the Companion Website xvii 1 Chapter 1. Introduction to Paleoclimate Records 3 Part 1.1. Archives and Proxies 13 Part 1.2. Obtaining Cores from Terrestrial and Marine Paleoclimate Archives 27 Part 1.3. Owens Lake – An Introductory Case Study of Paleoclimate Reconstruction 31 Chapter 2. Seafloor Sediments 33 Part 2.1. Sediment Predictions 34 Part 2.2. Core Observation and Description 41 Part 2.3. Sediment Composition 52 Part 2.4. Seafloor Sediment Synthesis 57 Chapter 3. Geologic Time and Geochronology 59 Part 3.1. The Geologic Timescale 62 Part 3.2. Principles of Stratigraphy and Determining Relative Ages 64 Part 3.3. Radiometric Age Dating Fundamentals 69 Part 3.4. Using 40K – 40Ar Dating to Determine the Numerical Ages of Layered Volcanic Rocks 76 Part 3.5. Using Uranium Series Dating to Determine Changes in Growth Rate of Speleothems 89 Chapter 4. Paleomagnetism and Magnetostratigraphy 91 Part 4.1. Earth’s Magnetic Field Today and the Paleomagnetic Record of Deep‐Sea Sediments 100 Part 4.2. History of Discovery: Paleomagnetism in Ocean Crust and Marine Sediments 108 Part 4.3. Using Paleomagnetism to Test the Seafloor Spreading Hypothesis 114 Part 4.4. The Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale 119 Chapter 5. Microfossils and Biostratigraphy 121 Part 5.1. What Are Microfossils? Why Are They Important in Climate Change Science? 130 Part 5.2. Microfossils in Deep‐Sea Sediments 137 Part 5.3. Application of Microfossil First and Last Occurrences 144 Part 5.4. Using Microfossil Datums to Calculate Sedimentation Rates 149 Part 5.5. How Reliable Are Microfossil Datums? 156 Part 5.6. Organic‐Walled Microfossils: Marine Dinoflagellates and Terrestrial Pollen and Spores 165 Chapter 6. CO2 as a Climate Regulator During the Phanerozoic and Today 167 Part 6.1. The Short‐Term Global Carbon Cycle 169 Part 6.2. CO2 and Temperature 179 Part 6.3. Recent Changes in CO2 183 Part 6.4. The Long‐Term Global Carbon Cycle, CO2, and Phanerozoic Climate History 191 Part 6.5. Carbon Isotopes as a Tool for Tracking Changes in the Carbon Cycle 200 Chapter 7. Oxygen Isotopes as Proxies of Climate Change 202 Part 7.1. Introduction to Oxygen Isotope Records from Ice and Ocean Sediments 205 Part 7.2. The Hydrologic Cycle and Isotopic Fractionation 209 Part 7.3. δ18O in Meteoric Water and Glacial Ice 218 Part 7.4. δ18O in Marine Sediments 226 Chapter 8. Climate Cycles 228 Part 8.1. Patterns and Periodicities 245 Part 8.2. Orbital Metronome 250 Part 8.3. Glacial–Interglacial Periods and Modern Climate Change 255 Chapter 9. The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) Event 257 Part 9.1. An Important Discovery 260 Part 9.2. Global Consequences of the PETM 296 Part 9.3. Two Hypotheses for the Cause of the PETM 299 Part 9.4. Rates of Onset and Duration of Event 306 Part 9.5. Global Warming Today and Lessons from the PETM 314 Chapter 10. Glaciation of Antarctica: The Oi1 Event 316 Part 10.1. Initial Evidence 321 Part 10.2. Evidence for Global Change 342 Part 10.3. Mountain Building, Weathering, CO2 and Climate 349 Part 10.4. Legacy of the Oi1 Event: The Development of the Psychrosphere 355 Chapter 11. Antarctic Climate Variability in the Neogene 358 Part 11.1. What Do We Think We Know About the History of Antarctic Climate? 362 Part 11.2. What is Antarctica’s Geographic and Geologic Context? 375 Part 11.3. Selecting Drillsites to Best Answer our Questions 379 Part 11.4. What Sediment Facies are Common on the Antarctic Margin? 390 Part 11.5. The BIG Picture of ANDRILL 1‐B 398 Chapter 12. Pliocene Warmth as an Analog for Our Future 400 Part 12.1. The Last 5 Million Years 407 Part 12.2. Pliocene Latitudinal Temperature Gradient 414 Part 12.3. Estimates of Pliocene CO2 416 Part 12.4. Sea Level Past, Present, and Future 430 Chapter 13. Climate, Climate Change, and Life 432 Part 13.1. Initial Ideas 433 Part 13.2. The Long View: “Precambrian” and Phanerozoic Life and Climate 441 Part 13.3. Examples of Cenozoic Terrestrial Evolution and Climate Connections 458 Part 13.4. Examples of Cenozoic Marine Biotic Evolution and Climate Connections 469 Part 13.5. Humanity, Climate, and Life 481 Part 13.6. Humanity and Future Climate: At a Tipping Point 487 Chapter 14. Climate Change and Civilization 489 Part 14.1. Climate Change Here and Now 497 Part 14.2. Evidence of Climatic Stress on Ancient Maya Civilization 513 Part 14.3. The Precipitation Record of the North American Southwest: The Physical Record and Human Response 536 Index
£80.70
HarperCollins Publishers Peak District Park Rangers Favourite Walks 20 of
Book SynopsisThe perfect companions for exploring the National Parks.Walking guide to the Peak District National Park, with 20 best routes chosen by the park rangers. Each walk varies in length from 2 to 10 km and can be completed in less than 4 hours.20 best routes chosen and written by National Park rangersWalks from 2 to 10kmDetailed description for each walk with highlights clearly marked on the map along with an accompanying map and photographsGeneral information about the National Park plus basic advice on walkingThis and the Peak District National Park Pocket Map (ISBN: 9780008439217) are the perfect companions for exploring this superb walking area of England.Trade Review“Walking guides from Collins will have you expertly traversing the landscape like a park ranger.” – Great British Life
£6.99
Lone Pine Publishing International Inc. Compact Guide to Colorado Birds
Book Synopsis
£13.29
Simon & Schuster Ltd On the Marsh
Book Synopsis'He does write beautifully, especially of his greatest love - our wild birds ... On The Marsh is a delightful read.' Christopher Hart, Daily MailHow the rewilding of eight acres of Norfolk marshland inspired a family and brought nature even closer to home. When writer Simon Barnes heard a Cetti's warbler sing out as he turned up to look at a house for sale, he knew immediately that he had found his new home. The fact that his garden backed onto an area of marshy land only increased the possibilities, but there was always the fear that it might end up in the wrong hands and be lost to development or intensive farming. His wife saw through the delicate negotiations for the purchase. Once they'd bought it, they began to manage it as a conservation area, working with the Wildlife Trust to ensure it became as appealing as possible to all species. For their son ETrade Review'He does write beautifully, especially of his greatest love — our wild birds ... On The Marsh is a delightful read.' -- Christopher Hart * Daily Mail *
£999.99
Vintage Publishing A Primate's Memoir: Love, Death and Baboons
Book SynopsisDiscover this remarkable account of twenty-one years in remote Kenya with a troop of Savannah baboons from the New York Times bestselling author of Behave.'One of the best scientist-writers of our time' Oliver SacksBrooklyn-born Robert Sapolsky grew up wishing he could live in the primate diorama in the Museum of Natural History. At school he wrote fan letters to primatologists and even taught himself Swahili, all with the hope of one day joining his primate brethren in Africa. But when, at the age of twenty-one, Sapolky's dream finally comes true he discovers that the African bush bears little resemblance to the tranquillity of a museum. This is the story of the next twenty-one years as Sapolsky slowly infiltrates and befriends a troop of Savannah baboons. Alone in the middle of the Serengeti with no electricity, running water or telephone, and surviving countless scams, culinary atrocities and a surreal kidnapping, Sapolsky becomes ever more enamoured with his adopted baboon troop - unique and compelling characters in their own right - and he returns to them summer after summer, until tragedy finally prevails. 'A Primate's Memoir is the closest the baboon is likely to come - and it's plenty close enough - to having its own Iliad' New York Times Review of BooksExhilarating, hilarious and poignant, A Primate's Memoir is a uniquely honest window into the coming-of-age of one of our greatest scientific minds.Trade ReviewOne of the most engrossing, exhilarating and irreverent books on Africa and its wildlife ever published * Financial Times *Smart, stylish, distinctive... A magnificent tale of morality among the hamfisted machiavellians * Independent *Splendidly written and entertaining... ACE. Buy this book now * Scotsman *Flies along like a well-paced and finely crafted novel...[giving] us a cast of characters as memorably colorful as any that Dickens ever created * Newsweek *One of the best scientist-writers of our time -- Oliver Sacks
£10.44
WW Norton & Co Dogs in Cars
Book SynopsisFirst we had dogs underwater, then dogs shaking off water... and now dogs soaking up the exhilarating no-holds-barred pleasure of a ride in a car. Photographer Lara Jo Regan began her pet project as a calendar but the response was overwhelming and absolute: her photographs of the cruising canines, taken from incredible perspectives, with tongues hanging and ears flapping, became a global Internet sensation. The energy of the photographs is impressive and visceral. In order to get these shots, Regan built a special light, which jutted out over the roof of the car, a harness that allowed her to lean out of the window and various other contraptions to make the images come to life. Dogs In Cars will have the reader laughing out loud.Trade Review"The energy of the photographs is impressive and visceral...Dogs In Cars will have the reader laughing out loud." -- K9 Magazine"Beautifully illustrated book that will be enjoyed by adults and children alike." -- The People
£15.19
Sasquatch Books The Art of Flora Forager
Book SynopsisFlower fans and nature enthusiasts will fall in love with this charming art book from Instagram sensation Flora Forager featuring the best of her unique floral compositions created with botanical materials. Flora Forager creates images out of flower petals, leaves, stones, twigs, and other natural materials that she finds in her garden and in urban wild areas in her neighbourhood. This intimate, lovely book collects her best pieces, including 20% new, exclusive art, along with a peek into her unique creative process. Featured pieces include scenes, mandalas, animals, birds, fish, insects, mythical creatures, iconic women, old masters, and more. Each artwork is accompanied by explanatory text on a facing page including piece name, materials used, and a short, evocative description of the artist's process and inspiration.Trade Review“It’s always a treat to see how her imagination and artist’s eye will render bits of floral material that most of us wouldn’t give a second glance into true works of art.”—Flower Magazine “Collins' book is open ended but decorated with whimsical images of flora and fauna.”—Seattle's Child “Bridget Beth Collins uses flower petals that she finds in her neighborhood, her garden, and the forest to make art.”—The Stranger "Flower fans and nature enthusiasts will fall in love with this charming art book from Instagram sensation Flora Forager.”—Seattle Refined"The Art of Flora Forager is endlessly cool and filled with everything from peacocks to foraged versions of art masters like Van Gogh’s Starry Night."—Zavvi Rodaine"This interest in softly modeled three-dimensional collages is really revealing to me, because I think it helps to explain why Flora Forager’s representational collages are so delightful and impactful: the three-dimensional forms and fresh flowers create a sense of plausibility and give a lively presence to something that might not actually exist in reality."—Alberti's Window"Flower fans and nature enthusiasts will fall in love with this charming art book from Instagram sensation Flora Forager, featuring the best of her unique botanical composition."—Shelf Awareness"Seattle artist Bridget Beth Collins’ petite book features her fantastical flower arrangements practically jumping off the page."—Seattle Times
£16.19
Basic Books The Trainable Cat
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Workman Publishing Easy-Gaited Horses: Gentle, humane methods for
Book SynopsisEnjoy a comfortable long-distance ride on a well-trained gaited horse and you’ll be surprised at how easygoing these handsome animals can be. But unique challenges can arise when horse owners more familiar with the standard walk, trot, and canter try to train these complex and multigeared horses to gait correctly. Author Lee Ziegler guides riders through the finer points of developing and maintaining these extra gaits, using humane training methods that stress patience and good horsemanship.
£16.14
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Star Maps: History, Artistry, and Cartography
Book SynopsisExplore the beauty and awe of the heavens through the rich celestial prints and star atlases offered in this third edition book. The author traces the development of celestial cartography from ancient to modern times, describes the relationships between different star maps and atlases, and relates these notions to our changing ideas about humanity’s place in the universe. Also covered in this book are more contemporary cosmological ideas, constellation representations, and cartographic advances.The text is enriched with 226 images (141 in color) from actual, antiquarian celestial books and atlases, each one with an explanation of unique astronomical and cartographic features. This never-before-available hardcover edition includes two new chapters on pictorial style maps and celestial images in art, as well over 50 new images. Additionally, the color plates are now incorporated directly into the text, providing readers with a vibrant, immersive look into the history of star maps.Trade Review“I found this to be a very fascinating aspect of this comprehensive work. I have read a number of books on the history of celestial cartography, but none with the depth and wealth of information on this important part of the history of astronomy. … I highly recommend this book to students of the history of astronomy or anyone interested in observing the night sky.” (Robert Garfinkle, Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 63 (4), 2021)“This third edition has certainly profited from the changes and additions, all of which ensure that Kanas’s work remains the primary reference compendium for celestial cartography, just as it continues to offer an enjoyable initiation into the history of astronomy.” (Thomas Horst and Luís Tirapicos, Imago Mundi, Vol. 73 (1), 2021)“As an often-awe-struck observer of the heavens and a map enthusiast who has always admired the beauty of celestial maps, I think Nick Kanas’s book is a useful resource for any collector of celestial maps, anyone with more than a passing or casual interest in astronomy, anyone with a keen interest in the history of astronomy and astronomical instruments, or any combination thereof.” (Gretchen Hause, The Portolan, Issue 110, Spring, 2021)“This is a work that contains many items of relevance to astronomers, who will find the illustrations of atlases and charts of particular interest, albeit with many failings in the text and descriptions. It is probably of more interest to collectors of antiquarian maps (and even they will have some problems using it).” (Storm Dunlop, The Observatory, Vol. 140 (1278), October, 2020)“You get a real bang for your buck with Kanas’s tome. Now in its third edition, the book is well written, thoroughly researched, and beautifully illustrated with 226 images (141 in color) from actual antiquarian books and atlases. … Star Maps should greatly appeal to amateur astronomers, map collectors, and historians of astronomy and art.” (Peter Tyson, Sky & Telescope, August, 2020)“Star Maps’s comprehensiveness, for all its jackdaw tendencies, is on balance a virtue. Like a curiosity shop packed to the rafters, it almost certainly has what you’re looking for tucked away somewhere.” (Jonathan Crowe, Calafia Journal, Issue 01, 2020)“Star Maps excels in the clarity of its writing, is highly accurate throughout, and will serve as the authoritative work on its subject for a very long time to come. This reviewer has a growing collection of astronomy books of well over a thousand in number now, and would include Star Maps as one among a small selection of books from his library he would say deserves to be read by every person interested in the history of astronomy.” (Alan Agrawal, Diablo Moonwatch, January, 2020)Table of ContentsPreface to Third Edition.- Foreword to First Edition.- Preface to First Edition.- Acknowledgments.- List of Figures.- List of Tables.- List of abbreviations and acronyms.- Chapter 1: What is a star map?.- Chapter 2: Non-European cosmology and constellation development.- Chapter 3: European cosmology.- Chapter 4: European constellation development.- Chapter 5: Early European star maps.- Chapter 6: The "Big Four" of the Golden Age of imaged star maps.- Chapter 7: Other important star maps of the Golden Age.- Chapter 8: Special topics.- Chapter 9: Mapping the stars in early America.- Chapter 10: The transition to non-imaged star maps.- Chapter 11: Terrestrial and celestial pictorial maps.- Chapter 12: Celestial images in artistic paintings.- Appendices.- Appendix A: Collecting celestial maps and prints.- Appendix B: Supplementary reference catalog.- Appendix C: Indices of major constellation atlases.- Appendix D: The British Library "Kings's" edition.- Appendix E: Glossary.- Index.
£42.74
Waterford Press Ltd Improvised Trapping: A Waterproof Pocket Guide to
Book SynopsisThe ability to trap food could be a critical factor in keeping you alive in a survival situation. Knowing the types of species that can be found in the area, having a good understanding of their behaviors, knowing which traps will work on which animals and knowing how to build them are the keys to success. This waterproof guide covers trapping basics including targeting prey areas, setting sign posts, proper baiting, and how to create effective traps using basic knots and simple triggers. Developed in collaboration with noted survival expert and master woodsman Dave Canterbury, this is one of a 10-part series on survival skills. Made in the USA.
£8.21
The New York Review of Books, Inc The Peregrine
Book SynopsisThis extraordinary, poetic portrait of two peregrine falcons is one of the most beloved works of nature writing ever published.From fall to spring, J.A. Baker set out to track the daily comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons across the flat fen lands of eastern England. He followed the birds obsessively, observing them in the air and on the ground, in pursuit of their prey, making a kill, eating, and at rest, activities he describes with an extraordinary fusion of precision and poetry. And as he continued his mysterious private quest, his sense of human self slowly dissolved, to be replaced with the alien and implacable consciousness of a hawk. It is this extraordinary metamorphosis, magical and terrifying, that these beautifully written pages record.
£13.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Concise Seashore Wildlife Guide
Book SynopsisThis practical pocket guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, includes nearly 180 species that live in the area between land and sea called the intertidal, or littoral, zone. The seashore is home to plants and animals that are usually very different in form from their land-based relatives. This guide includes all the most common shells, molluscs, crustaceans, seaweeds, fishes, spiny creatures such as starfishes and sea urchins, mammals and many other species found on the seashore. Each species account includes accurate artworks and a concise written account that covers essential details such as size, general description, habitat, ecology, and distribution in Britain and the near Continent. The easy-to-follow layouts and illustrations aid quick and precise identification, making this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information for nature enthusiasts.Table of ContentsIntroduction Characteristics of Seashore Wildlife Zonation of Seashore Life Splash Zone Upper Shore Middle Shore Lower Shore Seashore Habitats Rocky Shores Rock Pools Shingle Beaches Sandy Shores Muddy Shores & Salt Marshes Seashore Wildlife Seaweeds Flowering Plants Lichens Sponges Jellyfishes Sea-anemones Bristle Worms Molluscs Crustaceans Insects Sea-spiders Echinoderms Birds Mammals
£8.79
The New York Review of Books, Inc My Dog Tulip
Book SynopsisHeartwarming and profound, this account of one writer’s relationship with his beloved German Shepherd is “one of the bonafide dog-lit classics” (New Yorker)The distinguished British man of letters J. R. Ackerley hardly thought of himself as a dog lover when, well into middle age, he came into possession of a German Shepherd. To his surprise, she turned out to be the love of his life, the “ideal friend” he had been searching for in vain for years. My Dog Tulip is a bittersweet retrospective account of their sixteen-year companionship, as well as a profound and subtle meditation on the strangeness that lies at the heart of all relationships.In vivid and sometimes startling detail, Ackerley tells of Tulip’s often erratic behavior and very canine tastes, and of his own fumbling but determined efforts to ensure for her an existence of perfect happiness.My Dog Tulip was adapted for the screen as a major animated feature film with a cast that includes the voices of Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, and Isabella Rossellini. Heralded as “a stroke of genius" by New York Magazine and “the love story of the year” by Vanity Fair, it is a masterpiece of animal literature that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who has found companionship with their own four-legged friend.
£10.79
Island Press Naturalist 25th Anniversary Edition
Book SynopsisEdward O. Wilson--winner of two Pulitzer prizes, champion of biodiversity, and Faculty Emeritus at Harvard University--is arguably one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. Yet his celebrated career began not with an elite education but from an insatiable curiosity about the natural world and drive to explore its mysteries. Called "one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written" by the Los Angeles Times, Naturalist is a wise and personal account of Wilson's growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define. This 25th Anniversary Edition celebrates Naturalist as a modern classic. Wilson traces the trajectory of his life--from a childhood spent exploring the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida to life as a tenured professor at Harvard--detailing how his youthful fascination with nature blossomed into a lifelong calling. With humor and insight, Wilson recounts his days as a student at the University of Alabama and decades at Harvard University, where he has achieved renown as both teacher and researcher. As the narrative of Wilson's life unfolds, the reader is treated to an inside look at the origin and development of ideas that guide today's biological research. Theories that are now widely accepted in the scientific world were once untested hypotheses emerging from one man's wide-ranging studies. At once practical and lyric, Naturalist provides fascinating insights into the making of a scientist, and a valuable look at some of the most thought-provoking ideas of our time. As relevant today as when it was first published, Naturalist is a poignant reminder of the deeply human side of science and an inspiring call to celebrate the little things of the worldTable of ContentsTable of Contents Prelude PART I. Daybreak in Alabama Chapter 1. Paradise Beach Chapter 2. Send Us the Boy Chapter 3. A Light in the Corner Chapter 4. A Magic Kingdom Chapter 5. To Do My Duty Chapter 6. Alabama Dreaming Chapter 7. The Hunters Chapter 8. Good-Bye to the South Chapter 9. Orizaba PART II. Storyteller Chapter 10. The South Pacific Chapter 11. The Forms of Things Unknown Chapter 12. The Molecular Wars Chapter 13. Islands Are the Key Chapter 14. The Florida Keys Experiment Chapter 15. Ants Chapter 16. Attaining Sociobiology Chapter 17. The Sociobiology Controversy Chapter 18. Biodiversity, Biophilia Afterword Acknowledgments Index
£28.63
Coachwhip Publications Pillbugs and Other Isopods: Cultivating Vivarium Clean-Up Crews and Feeders for Dart Frogs, Arachnids, and Insects
£44.28
Cambridge University Press Introduction to Plant Fossils
Book SynopsisPlant remains can preserve a critical part of history of life on Earth. While telling the fascinating evolutionary story of plants and vegetation across the last 500 million years, this book also crucially offers non-specialists a practical guide to studying, dealing with and interpreting plant fossils. It shows how various techniques can be used to reveal the secrets of plant fossils and how to identify common types, such as compressions and impressions. Incorporating the concepts of evolutionary floras, this second edition includes revised data on all main plant groups, the latest approaches to naming plant fossils using fossil-taxa and techniques such as tomography. With extensive illustrations of plant fossils and living plants, the book encourages readers to think of fossils as once-living organisms. It is written for students on introductory or intermediate courses in palaeobotany, palaeontology, plant evolutionary biology and plant science, and for amateurs interested in studyinTrade Review'… affording quick access to the world of fossil plants to any interested reader. Their direct approach is refreshing, making the book eminently useful for the basic identification of fossil plants, in some cases down to species-level determinations … Undergraduate students willing to read this book will quickly gain a core understanding of an important subject that is rarely included in today's college curriculum.' P. K. Strother, Choice'This edition is great for everyone interested in fossils, plants, and (specially) fossil plants, being especially useful for those starting to study plant evolution and paleobotany. It may also be of interest for everyone who ever found a piece of petrified wood and wanted to learn more about it, and about all of the wonderful and strange plants that inhabited the earth a long time ago.' Andrés Elgorriaga, Plant Science BulletinTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Highlights of palaeobotanical study; 3. Studying plant fossils; 4. Early land plants; 5. Lycophytes; 6. Sphenophytes; 7. Ferns; 8. Early gymnosperms; 9. Modern gymnosperms; 10. Angiosperms; 11. The history of land vegetation.
£41.79
University of Toronto Press Horses in Society
Book SynopsisBefore crude oil and the combustion engine, the industrialized world relied on a different kind of power - the power of the horse. Horses in Society is the story of horse production in the United States, Britain, and Canada at the height of the species' usefulness, the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century. Margaret E. Derry shows how horse breeding practices used during this period to heighten the value of the animals in the marketplace incorporated a intriguing cross section of influences, including Mendelism, eugenics, and Darwinism.Derry elucidates the increasingly complex horse world by looking at the international trade in army horses, the regulations put in place by different countries to enforce better horse breeding, and general aspects of the dynamics of the horse market. Because it is a story of how certain groups attempted to control the market for horses, by protecting their breeding activities or 'patenting' their work, Horses in Society providTrade Review"This handsome book offers a telling glimpse into the often-charged world of horse breeding and horse trading in North America and Britain between 1800 and 1920." -- Lawrence Scanlan The Globe and Mail "A full and complex picture of horse culture." -- Karen Raber American Historical Review "Although draft animals have often been treated as footnotes to the rise of the machine, Margaret Derry demonstrates how a detailed treatment of horses can deepen the historical understanding of American and European societies." -- George B. Ellenberg "Horses in Society is a lucid and thoughtful journey into the world of the horse at its short-lived zenith, and of the society that honoured and sustained it." -- Max Foran University of Toronto Quarterly "Margaret E. Derry's Horses in Society is a remarkably interesting read ... This is a ground-breaking work that will resonate with social, business, and military historians alike." -- Warren M. Elofson Business History Review "An extremely valuable book that brings the history of science to bear on horse-breeding literature and sets both within the context of modern political economy." -- Ann N. Greene Canadian Historical Review "Horses in Society is a valuable contribution that will interest historians of science and technology, military historians, and anyone interested in the history of animals, economics or the nineteenth century in general." -- Darcy Ingram Scientia CanadensisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction * Modern Purebred Breeding: A Scientific or Cultural Method? Part One. The Breeding of Horses * The Light Horse * The Heavy Horse * The Farmer's Horse Part Two. An International Horse Market: The Remount Story * Finding Horses for the British Army * American Horses and War: A National and International Issue * Canada's Equine War Effort: A Story of Conflicting Interests Part Three. Governments and Horse Improvement * Understanding Heredity: The 1890 Report of the British Royal Commission on Horse Breeding * Producing Better Horses in the United States: Attempts to Control Fraudulent Activity and Market Share * The Canadian Experience in Horse Regulation: Continental and National Concerns Part Four. Society and Horses * Aspects of a Pervasive Horse Culture in Society Conclusion Notes Note on Sources Index
£28.80
Springer International Publishing AG Inside PixInsight
Book SynopsisPixInsight has taken the astro-imaging world by storm. As the first comprehensive postprocessing platform to be created by astro-imagers for astro-imagers, it has for many replaced other generic graphics editors as the software of choice. PixInsight has been embraced by professionals such as the James Webb (and Hubble) Space Telescope's science imager Joseph DePasquale and Calar Alto's Vicent Peris, as well as thousands of amateurs around the world. While PixInsight is extremely powerful, very little has been printed on the subject. The first edition of this book broke that mold, offering a comprehensive look into the software’s capabilities. This second edition expands on the several new processes added to the PixInsight platform since that time, detailing and demonstrating each one with a now-expanded workflow. Addressing topics such as PhotometricColorCalibration, Large-Scale Pixel Rejection, LocalNormalization and a host of other functions, this text remains the authoritative guide to PixInsight.Table of ContentsPreface.- Acknowledgements.- About the Author.- Part 1: Preprocessing.- Chapter 1: Image Evaluation.- Chapter 2: Calibration and Integration.- Chapter 3: Cosmetic Correction.- Chapter 4: One-Shot Color.- Chapter 5: Star Alignment.- Chapter 6: Image Integration.- Chapter 7: Batch Preprocessing.- Part 2: Linear Post-Processing.- Chapter 8: File Preparation.- Chapter 9: Background Modelization.- Chapter 10: Introduction to Masks.- Chapter 11: Deconvolution.- Chapter 12: Linear Color Processing and Noise Reduction.- Part 3: Nonlinear Post-Processing.- Chapter 13: Delinearization and LRGB Combination.- Chapter 14: A Look Back.- Chapter 15: Nonlinear Noise Reduction.- Chapter 16: High Dynamic Range Compression.- Chapter 17: Contrast and Sharpness.- Chapter 18: Color Saturation.- Chapter 19: Fine Finishers.- Chapter 20: Archiving and Exporting.- Chapter 21: Learning by Example: One-Shot Color and Monochromatic Workflow.- Part 4: Special Processing.- Chapter 22: Multiscale, Drizzle, High Dynamic Range, and Comet Techniques.- Chapter 23: Narrowband Processing.- Chapter 24: Mosaic Processing.- Chapter 25: More Insight.- Afterword.- Index.
£29.34
Rocky Mountain Books Out Here: Wisdom from the Wilderness
Book SynopsisCarolyn Highland's outdoor writing will drive readers and outdoor enthusiasts to get outside and experience all that the natural world has to offer.Out Here is a collection of essays that explores what the wilderness has to teach us about the human experience, using outdoor endeavours as extended metaphors for greater truths. Each carefully chosen piece embarks on a different physical and metaphorical journey: managing expectations and reality during a medical emergency in a 40-mile ski mountaineering race; staring down fear and consequences on exposed ski lines in Alaska; re-examining self-reliance and decision-making through heartbreak and snow science; and leaving room for unexpected magic as a female travelling through Patagonia.Highland's first book inspires a deeper connection to the wilderness, a deeper connection to ourselves, and will leave readers wanting more from this fresh new voice in mountain writing.
£18.89
Rocky Mountain Books Takaya: Lone Wolf
Book SynopsisA lone wild wolf lives on a small group of uninhabited islands in British Columbias Salish Sea, surrounded by freighter, oil tanker and other boat traffic and in close proximity to a large urban area. His name is Takaya, which is the Coast Salish First Nations peoples word for wolf. Cheryl Alexander studied and documented this unique wolf for years, unravelling the many mysteries surrounding his life. Her documentation of Takayas journey, his life on the islands and the development of their deep connection is presented alongside a stunning collection of her photography. Through journal entries, interviews, and photographs, Takaya: Lone Wolf tells a story that is certain to inspire, enlighten, and touch the heart. It is the story of a wild animal, alone yet at peace.
£26.34
Little, Brown Book Group Saving the Last Rhinos
Book Synopsis''Endangered means we still have time, but extinction is forever''Grant Fowlds What would drive a man to ''smuggle'' rhino horn back into Africa at great risk to himself? This is just one of the situations Grant Fowlds has put himself in as part of his ongoing fight against poaching, in order to prove a link between southern Africa and the illicit, lucrative trade in rhino horn in Vietnam.Shavings of rhino horn are sold as a snake-oil ''cure'' for colds or impotence, but a rhino''s horn has no magical, medicinal properties. It is for this that rhinoceroses are being killed at an escalating rate that puts the survival of the species in jeopardy. This corrupt, illegal war on wildlife has brought an iconic animal to the brink of extinction.Growing up on a farm in the eastern Cape of South Africa, Grant developed a deep love of nature, turning his back on hunting to focus on saving wildlife of all kinds and the environment that sustains both them and us. Trade ReviewGrant Fowlds' tireless effort to educate the children of the world, conserve vast expanses of land and save the last rhinos, is truly awe inspiring. As he travels through Africa, gaining the trust of local governments and councils, we start to understand the scope of his undertakings. He reaches out to organizations around the world to aid him in his progress to expand anti-poaching projects, elephant-relocation programmes and even to assist with bringing the lesser-known, glorious gorillas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the attention of the world. But at the forefront of it all, he is doing all he can to Save the Last Rhinos. We, as a race, need to wake up and get on this train. The more we, as individuals, can do to rally support and spread the word, the better chance we have of not seeing the demise and eventual extinction, not only of rhinos, but of all endangered animals. The rehabilitation and conservation of land in Africa is a vital part of this progress, and Grant Fowlds and his team are at the forefront of this war. Read this book. You will get a sense of Africa like never before, from a true African soul. -- David S. Lee, Limbani in the blockbuster movie Black PantherGrant Fowlds' book is an excellent read. It's both sobering, and uplifting at the same time. Sobering because the sheer extent of the rhino-poaching crisis is revealed. Uplifting because Grant, and individuals like him are passionately committed to making a difference. The innovative ways in which they reach the hearts and minds of children, on both sides of the conflict, is impressive. As, too, is his work with communities and other stakeholders. -- Moira Smith, General Manager Africa & Middle East, Goway TravelExceptionally readable - a fluid and captivating story . . . a swashbuckling tale. -- Dr Dave Cooper, Rhinos Without Borders veterinarian, and Debbie Cooper of iSimangaliso Wetland ParkA rollicking true-life adventure that celebrates rhinos and people. -- Guy Rogers * Daily Herald *A terrific read . . . an outstanding book! -- Gary Player and Vivienne PlayerA truly heart-wrenching story, but a must-read for all who value our wild animals and their right to roam free. Grant Fowlds is a Zulu in a white skin and loves the people who hold the key to animal conservation. This is an intriguing story that sends a clear message to the rest of the world. -- Phil Liggett
£11.24
Chronicle Books I Could Pee on This And Other Poems by Cats
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Greystone Books,Canada Angry Weather: Heat Waves, Floods, Storms, and
Book SynopsisFrom leading climate scientist Dr. Friederike Otto, this gripping book reveals the revolutionary science that definitively links extreme weather events—including deadly heat waves, forest fires, floods, and hurricanes—to climate change.“Meet the forensic scientists of climate change; if you like CSI, you’ll be equally enthralled with the skill and speed these folks exhibit. But the stakes are infinitely higher!” —Bill McKibben, author of Falter and The End of NatureTied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest cyclone on record, Hurricane Harvey caused catastrophic flooding and over a hundred deaths in 2017. Angry Weather tells the compelling, day-by-day story of the World Weather Attribution unit—a team of scientists that studies extreme weather events while they’re happening—and their race to track the connection between the hurricane and climate change. As the hurricane unfolds, Otto reveals how attribution science works in real time, and determines that Harvey’s terrifying floods were three times more likely to occur due to human-induced climate change.At the forefront of cutting-edge climate science, Friederike Otto uncovers how the new ability to determine climate change’s role in extreme weather events can dramatically transform how we view the climate crisis: from how it will affect those of us who are most vulnerable, to the corporations and governments that may find themselves held accountable in the courts. The research laid out in Angry Weather will have profound impacts, both today and for the future of humankind.Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.Trade Review"A good overview of the climate-change issue, the evolution of climate change in the industrial era, the politics over the issue, and the responsibilities of the industrialized world—in particular, corporations and governments—to help repair the damage. The result is a most timely book."—Booklist"For the fact-minded, Otto's arguments are incontrovertible."—Kirkus Reviews"This elegant new branch of climate science [will] have profound implications for public policy and planning, and will lead to even more useful research in the future."—Vancouver Sun"Angry Weather is all about science, but it is not all technical. It is a readable book for those who have limited knowledge of weather and climate systems. Otto provides succinct scientific explanations throughout the book to ensure her main points are supported by science but still understandable and relevant to the main message."—Alternatives Journal"Attribution science—climate forensics, or reverse engineering—is a new discipline explained in this book with passion and verve by one of its creators. Fredi Otto is destined to be one of those rare scientists whose name becomes well known in the wider world."—Mark Denny, author of Making Sense of Weather and Climate: The Science Behind the Forecasts"Angry Weather introduces us to the forensic scientists of climate change; if you like to watch CSI, you'll be equally enthralled with the skill and speed these folks exhibit. But the stakes are infinitely higher!"—Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?"[A] thrilling work of nonfiction... If readers were holding any doubt about climate's effects on weather before picking up this book, that doubt will be eviscerated before the last gripping page."—Literary Hub"This fascinating book takes us on a voyage across the cutting edge of climate science that irrevocably alters our perspective of the world in which we live and the future it holds. I wish I could make this book required reading for the world."—Katharine Hayhoe, UN Champion of the Earth
£18.04
University of Texas Press One More Warbler
Book SynopsisWith stories of sighting rare birds ranging from an Eskimo Curlew to the cranes of Asia, one of America's foremost birders recalls a lifetime of birding adventures, including friendships with luminaries Roger Tory Peterson, Peter Matthiessen, and George Plimpton.Trade ReviewGeopolitically sensitive and savvy, and already looking ahead to habitat preservation, Mr. Emanuel was holistic from the very beginning…Mr. Emanuel's passion for birds was always placed within a larger philosophical framework. Yet even as he quotes one of the maxims at Delphi—'nothing in excess'—he can't help pushing to see, on a spring evening before a dinner party, 'just one more warbler.' Such love of discovery is the hum under the magical stories Mr. Emanuel tells. * Wall Street Journal *Table of Contents Prologue 1. Early Days 2. The Tropics 3. Freeport Christmas Count 4. The Bird of My Life 5. Beginnings 6. Meeting Curlew 7. The Triumph 8. Search for the Imperial Woodpecker 9. My Travels with King Penguin 10. The Mozart of Birding 11. New Territories 12. The Big Day 13. The Next Generation of Birders 14. End of the Earth 15. The Birds Of Heaven: Cranes, Asia, and Peter 16. Birding with the Bushes 17. Palace on Wheels 18. Birding on the Edge 19. Voyage on the Sea Cloud 20. My True Obsession 21. My World Epilogue Acknowledgments Suggested Readings Index
£22.79
Doublebit Press Scouting For Boys 1908 Version (Legacy Edition): The Original First Handbook That Started The Global Boy Scout Movement
£20.54
Amber Books Ltd Animals Visual Encyclopedia: More than 750 colour
Book SynopsisFrom domestic cats to shire horses to dromedaries, from farmyard Jersey cattle to pandas to stick insects, Animals Visual Encyclopedia is an exploration of the wonders of nature, featuring more than 750 of the world’s mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. Each featured animal is illustrated with an excellent full-colour artwork, showing in great detail its characteristics and colouring, and completed with an informative caption and a box of key facts including height, weight, diet and lifespan. With more than 750 outstanding colour artworks, Animals Visual Encyclopedia is an authoritatively researched book that celebrates the natural world and all its inhabitants.Table of ContentsIntroduction MAMMALS BIRDS REPTILES AMPHIBIANS FISH INVERTEBRATES Glossary Index
£22.49
Penguin Putnam Inc Doctor Dogs
Book SynopsisA delightful, warm, globetrotting exploration of the ways dogs are helping modern medicine.
£12.34
