Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

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

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Book SynopsisSummer is fireflies and sparklers. Fat red tomatoes sliced thin and salted. Lemonade and long dreamy days. The treasures of the season are gone much too soon — but they’re captured here, in loving sensuous prose that’s both personal and universal, for you to find any time of year.Experience the most evocative tribute to the meaning of the season, a season whose magical feeling stays with us even in winter. Where does that feeling come from? What is summer made of? The smell of cut grass behind the gasoline of a lawnmower. A crown you’ve made of flowers. Blackberry bush prickers. First hot dog off the grill. Stargazing and sleeping with the windows open. This essay brims with a searching honesty and insight about what this season has meant in our pasts and what it might mean in our lives ahead.Release yourself into the sky and feel, Nina MacLaughlin writes, for a moment: there's time.If summer is the season of your life, if the months between Memorial Day and Labor Day hold your favorite memories, you’ll love Summer Solstice.Trade ReviewPraise for Summer Solstice“For those who cannot safely venture from their homes this season, MacLaughlin’s book can be that breath of fresh air, the nostalgic call back to better days, and the hope for a future when we can safely gather again under open sky... [Summer Solstice is] a brief reverie, short and sweet like the fleeting days it describes.”—Green Mountain Review“One can easily read this sensuous little book in an evening, or dawdle, as I’ve done, over the last week....It offers a vivid contrast to this moment of masks: the immediacy of a season bursting out of itself, elemental and clean.”—Joan Silverman, Portland Press Herald Praise for Winter Solstice “Nina MacLaughlin returns to celebrate the winter solstice, and delivers a most sensual hymn and harbor for the human ability to feel our way through the darkness towards wise, unexpected connections. This ethereal collection offers us a candle at night—it’s an astonishing gift.” —Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments “Nina MacLaughlin stands shoulder to shoulder with such writers as José Emilio Pacheco and Fleur Jaeggy. In Winter Solstice we are invited into the impending dark, guided through our own, and in the end given just enough light to survive. MacLaughlin’s meditation is both universal and uncommonly distinct. An immense joy to read, Winter Solstice is not so much an essay as it is a vision.” —Matthew Dickman, author of Husbandry “Smart and lyrical—this book makes you feel alive.” —Nicholson Baker, author of The Anthologist

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Book SynopsisTo this day, women face barriers in entering scientific professions, and in earlier eras the challenges were greater still. But in this volume, Anna Sagal reveals how women's participation in scientific discourses of the eighteenth century was enabled by the manipulation of social conventions that have typically been understood as limiting factors.Trade ReviewSagal’s book sheds light on how domestic femininity, as a social construct, was nearly incompatible with learning science. Her argument is clever and controversial: the very constraints under which women engaged with the natural sciences were also the means by which they entered into this arena." - Beth Fowkes Tobin, University of Georgia, author of Colonizing Nature: The Tropics in British Arts and Letters, 1760–1820

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Book SynopsisTo this day, women face barriers in entering scientific professions, and in earlier eras the challenges were greater still. But in this volume, Anna Sagal reveals how women's participation in scientific discourses of the eighteenth century was enabled by the manipulation of social conventions that have typically been understood as limiting factors.Trade ReviewSagal’s book sheds light on how domestic femininity, as a social construct, was nearly incompatible with learning science. Her argument is clever and controversial: the very constraints under which women engaged with the natural sciences were also the means by which they entered into this arena." - Beth Fowkes Tobin, University of Georgia, author of Colonizing Nature: The Tropics in British Arts and Letters, 1760–1820

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Fast-paced, snappy and suspenseful."--Emmanuelle Smith"Financial Times" (12/18/2009) "A scrupulously researched and well-told narrative."--Miranda Weiss"American Scholar" (01/01/2010) "If you want a shot of environmental patriotism, this book is a good choice."--Sierra Club "A fascinating and very readable account of a controversial natural history issue in early nineteenth century America."--Choice (04/01/2010) "For those of us who think that science is international, Lee Alan Dukatin's Mr. Jefferson and the Giant Moose will come as a shock. In this case it was anything but. It was the French against the Americans, Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon versus Thomas Jefferson, in a dispute over the relative degree of degeneracy exhibited by the flora and fauna of the Old and New Worlds. According to Buffon, American plants and animals, including native Americans, are merely degenerate versions of European forms. Jefferson attempted to counter this Eurocentric chauvinism by displaying an American moose that was larger than any of the European ungulates--the giant moose in the title of this fascinating book."--David Hull --David Hull "This fascinating book combines a deep knowledge of biology with a love of American history to tell a story that grips like a thriller. Lee Alan Dugatkin introduces you to Thomas Jefferson and the giant moose, an animal so great and imposing that never again could the belittling naturalists of Europe assume that American natural life was inferior. Sparkling on the surface, profound beneath the waters, this is a book that will be happy reading for people of all interests and ages."--Michael Ruse, author of Darwinism and Its Discontents --Michael Ruse

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Book Synopsis'This is one of those special books . . . Even if it were only a book about eels, it would be wonderful.' - Sunday Times'I never thought I would see myself in an eel, until I read Svensson’s beautiful book, in which he anthropomorphizes eels and shows how mysterious they are, and how little we know about them. It’s a beautiful book that makes you realize that the eel is our cousin — we are the eel, and the eel is us.' - Michaela Coel’I can’t recall us ever talking about anything other than eels and how to best catch them, down there by the stream. Actually, I can’t remember us speaking at all. Maybe because we never did.’The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is one of the strangest creatures nature ever created. Remarkably little is known about the eel, even today. What we do know is that it’s born as a tiny willow-leaf shaped larva in the Sargasso Sea, travels on the ocean currents toward the coasts of Europe – a journey of about four thousand miles that takes at least two years. Upon arrival, it transforms itself into a glass eel and then into a yellow eel before it wanders up into fresh water. It lives a solitary life, hiding from both light and science, for ten, twenty, fifty years, before migrating back to the sea in the autumn, morphing into a silver eel and swimming all the way back to the Sargasso Sea, where it breeds and dies.And yet . . . There is still so much we don’t know about eels. No human has ever seen eels reproduce; no one can give a complete account of the eel’s metamorphoses or say why they are born and die in the Sargasso Sea; no human has even seen a mature eel in the Sargasso Sea. Ever. And now the eel is disappearing, and we don’t know exactly why.What we do know is that eels and their mysterious lives captivate us.This is the basis for The Gospel of the Eels, Patrik Svensson’s quite unique natural science memoir; his ongoing fascination with this secretive fish, but also the equally perplexing and often murky relationship he shared with his father, whose only passion in life was fishing for this obscure creature.Through the exploration of eels in literature (Günter Grass and Graham Swift feature, amongst others) and the history of science (we learn about Aristotle’s and Sigmund Freud’s complicated relationships with eels) as well as modern marine biology (Rachel Carson and others) we get to know this peculiar animal. In this exploration, we also learn about the human condition, life and death, through natural science and nature writing at its very best.As Patrik Svensson concludes: 'by writing about eels, I have in some ways found my way home again.'Trade ReviewThe best mysteries are those science hasn’t yet cracked, and top of the list comes the sex life of eels. -- Melanie Reid * The Times *Extraordinary . . . Such is his skill that the echoes and parallels he finds never seem stretched. It’s as if the eel’s mysteriousness is snaking out, beyond its extraordinary life cycle and uncanny ability to confound scientists, and into the writing. * Observer *This beguiling book . . . completely won me over to these astonishing, mysterious creatures . . . Beautifully written, The Gospel of the Eels left me in awe of the animal. * Sunday Times ‘Nature Books of the Year’ *A gorgeously evocative blend of science, nature writing and family memoir * Guardian *What a joy! Patrick Svensson’s sinuous weaving of natural history, philosophy, psychology and autobiography is as compelling and rewarding as a silver eel’s return to the Sargasso Sea. I loved every moment. * Isabella Tree, author of Wilding *I’m still not sure I like eels, but I loved this book. * Sunday Times *In this lovely, thoughtful blend of natural science and memoir, Patrik Svensson elevates the European eel . . . to an almost mythical status . . . We must hope this marvellous book is not the eel's eulogy. * Mail on Sunday *Just as the eel glides between freshwater and salt, Svensson’s book swims in the seas of both natural history and memoir. Svensson’s father took the young Patrik eel fishing often, and their beautifully rendered nocturnal outings have the feel of occult ritual. * New York Times *Svensson’s book, like its subject, is a strange beast: a creature of metamorphosis, a shape-shifter that moves among realms. It is a book of natural history, and a memoir about a son and his father. It is also an exploration of literature and religion and custom, and what it means to live in a world full of questions we can’t always answer. * New Yorker *There’s an underlying theme here that made me think science is about discovery, not always about perfect answers. * Forbes, ‘Best Summer Reads For Those Stuck Inside Working Remotely’ *Drawing from literature, science and his own studies, Svensson inspires readers to see eels in a whole new way. * Los Angeles Times, ‘21 new and classic books to keep you in touch with the natural world’ *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Nature Guidebook Award, National Outdoor Book Awards""I highly recommend this book. It may change your life in ways you never imagined possible."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds

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Book SynopsisNature is one of the best medicines for difficult times. An intimate awareness of the natural world, even within the city, can calm anxieties and help create healthy perspectives. This book will inspire and guide you as you deal with the current crisis, or any personal or worldly distress. Melanie Choukas-Bradley is a naturalist and certified forest therapy guide who leads nature and forest bathing walks for many organizations in Washington, D.C. and the American West. Learn from her the Japanese art of "forest bathing": how to tune in to the beauty and wonder around you with all your senses, even if your current sphere is a tree outside the window or a wild backyard. Discover how you can become a backyard naturalist, learning about the trees, wildflowers, birds and animals near your home. Nature immersion during stressful times can bring comfort and joy as well as opportunities for personal growth, expanded vision and transformation. The "Resilience Series" is the result of an intensive, collaborative effort of our authors in response to the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. Each volume offers expert advice for developing the practical, emotional and spiritual skills that you can master to become more resilient in a time of crisis.

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Book SynopsisA treasure trove of wintery nature tales from storytellers across the globe, bringing a little magic and wonder to every dark night.

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Book SynopsisThe Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is one of the 18th century’s greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665–1736) was unrivaled in his passion. His amazing collection of animals, plants, and insects from all around the world earned him international fame. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba commissioned careful and often scenic illustrations of every specimen. With these meticulous drawings, he arranged for the publication of a four-volume catalog, covering the entire collection from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, birds, and butterflies, as well as creatures that are now extinct. Taken from a rare hand-colored original, the best-selling collection features an introduction that contextualizes the fascinating tradition of natural collections to which Seba’s curiosities belonged.Trade Review“A powerful testament to nature’s beauty and diversity.” * Chicago Tribune *“The eye-popping displays leave us in awe of the diversity of the natural world, as well as the engravers’ skill in producing these beautifully detailed plates.” * The Huffington Post *"Snakes alive! What a cabinet of creepy-crawly curiosities." * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an introduction into the diversity of the environmental movement through great characters in the green sector. The book describes inspiring personal achievements, and at the same time it provides readers with information regarding the history, the main directions and the ethical principles of the environmental movement. Some of the most important characters of the movement from all around the world, are included in the book. As well as the title characters, Buddha and Leonardo DiCaprio, other famous environmentalists like Albert Schweitzer, David Attenborough and Jane Goodall are discussed. Some of the less well-known but equally important environmentalists such as Chico Mendes, Bruno Manser, Henry Spira, Tom Regan or Rossano Ercolini are highlighted in the various chapters. The selection of characters represents all major branches within the green sector, ranging from medieval saints to Hollywood celebrities, from university professors to field activists, from politicians to philosophers, from ecofeminists to radicals.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Charles Darwin and the implications of evolution St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.- Environmentalism gaining momentum: Rachel Carson and ’Silent sping’ Denis Hayes and Earth Day.- Planting trees with Wangari Maathai.- In defense of rain forests: Chico Mendes and Bruno Manser Al Gore’s fight for the environment.- The strong men of environmentalism: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steven Seagal Movie stars and activism.- Arne Naess and ’Deep ecology’.- Vandana Shiva and traditional agriculture.- Ian Kiernan, Rossano Ercolini, and Bea Johnson Pioneers of ecological economics.- The Greenpeace story Forerunners of animal advocacy Spokesmen for animals: Peter Singer, Richard Ryder, and Tom Regan.- Henry Spira, the hero of animal advocacy.- Animal advocates from Central Europe.- Albert Schweitzer: The man who loved all living beings Talking animals: The capacity of animal minds.- Primatologists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas Ingrid.- Newkirk, Alex Pacheco, and PETA.- John Muir and Yosemite.- Aldo Leopold, the founding father of nature conservation.- James Lovelock and the Gaia-hypothesis.- Their symbol: The giant panda.- Scientists involved in conservation and environmentalism.- Gerald Durrell: How an amateur naturalist developed into a great conservationist Farley Mowat never cried wolf.- David Attenborough, the grand old man of natural history films Jacques-Yves Cousteau: Under the spell of the sea.- Paul Watson, the daredevil of conservation.- Epilogue.- Acknowledgements List of illustrations.

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Book SynopsisEast Africa is a premier wildlife destination, well known for its mass migrations of herds and fearsome predators. But as iconic are the trees that grow there: among them mangroves, cycads, palms, marulas, acacias, sausage trees, fever trees, toothbrush trees and giant bamboos. This book showcases 100 of the region’s most visible and significant trees, arranged by the habitats in which they occur. It features: Concise descriptions of each tree and its parts, plus notes about the various uses of the tree parts; multiple images showing the full tree and key ID features, including flowers, leaves, fruit and bark; where to see the trees, including the national parks and nature reserves; a brief introduction to the trees of the region and their vegetation zones; colourful, interesting and geared for quick tree identification, this handy guide will enhance any safari experience in East Africa. Sales points: Features 100 of the most commonly seen trees in East Africa. Almost 500 photographs, depicting the full tree and its diagnostic parts; written by two of the region’s most accomplished botanists; will appeal to all tree enthusiasts, as well as visitors to the region’s parks and reserves.

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Book SynopsisWriter, editor, artist, and identification expert, Rob Hume is highly adept at penning detailed identification notes for rarity watchers yet is also skilled at providing interesting descriptions for armchair birdwatchers. He is a lifelong birdwatcher who worked for the RSPB for over 30 years and edited the RSPB's award-winning Birds magazine.

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Book Synopsis**AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4**''A master nature writer'' (New York Times) provides the ultimate natural, social and cultural history of the Arctic landscape.The author of Horizon''s classic work explores the Arctic landscape and the hold it continues to exert on our imagination.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT MACFARLANELopez''s journey across our frozen planet is a celebration of the Arctic in all its guises. A hostile landscape of ice, freezing oceans and dazzling skyscapes. Home to millions of diverse animals and people. The stage to massive migrations by land, sea and air. The setting of epic exploratory voyages. In crystalline prose, Lopez captures the magic of the Arctic: the essential mystery and beauty of a continent that has enchanted man''s imagination and ambition for centuries.''The Arctic dreamland seen and described by a writer of rare perception and poetic descriptive power... The pages sparkle with Arctic light'' ScotsmanTrade ReviewThe Arctic dreamland seen and described by a writer of rare perception and poetic descriptive power... The pages sparkle with Arctic light -- David Stephen * Scotsman *A marvellous evocation of the Arctic by a naturalist, who is part poet... A magical book to read slowly and savour -- Gillian Somerville-Large * Irish Times *Barry Lopez by some rare magic manages to combine a poetic vision with accuracy of observation; and although he writes mainly about Eskimos, polar bears, and other denizens of the frozen north, many of his perceptive insights apply the world over -- Paula Johnson * Mail on Sunday *Dazzling... Treats the distant, snowy world of the Arctic as a place that exists not only in the mathematics of geography but also in the terra incognita of our imaginations -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *By what comes close to sheer magic, the magic of a highly literate and perceptive naturalist, Barry Lopez has transformed the austerity and Sibelius-like gloom of the tundra and great ice walls into a living pageant of high latitudes. This book will become a classic within its genre * John Hillaby *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An unexpectedly delightful and rewarding jaunt into once-cherished, now-decaying living history. Each chapter gives a quick sketch of a species or genus that was formally described from a museum specimen, often decades after it was collected. Most of the creatures--which include lightning cockroaches, squeaker frogs, pygmy bandicoots from New Guinea, ruby seadragons, and 'atomic' tarantulas caught at a nuclear test site in Nevada--have been identified in the past fifteen years or so."--Ira Flatow "Wall Street Journal" "As part of the rising concern for global biodiversity, Christopher Kemp makes clear the value of preserved specimens in basic research. He successfully presents their study as part science, part history, and part adventure."--Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, emeritus, Harvard University "Forbes, Best Biology Books of 2017" "The natural history museums of the world are full of surprises--undescribed species, from flying foxes to king crabs--sitting on their shelves waiting for someone to notice. Kemp vividly brings to life the stories of these specimens, and the people who collect and describe them. The Lost Species will delight any reader who cares about discovery, adventure, and the little-known planet that sustains us."--Richard Conniff, author of The Species Seekers: Heroes, Fools, and the Mad Pursuit of Life on Earth "Forbes, Best Biology Books of 2017" "Natural history museums and their collections come alive with Kemp's inside stories of new species formerly hidden away in museum drawers and jars. Anyone who appreciates discovery and has an interest in museums, history, and biodiversity will find plenty to enjoy in The Lost Species, an intriguing, engaging, and conversational read."--Marty Crump, author of Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg: The Lore and Mythology of Amphibians and Reptiles "Forbes, Best Biology Books of 2017" "Natural history collections are vast, backlogged, error-riddled, or incompletely described. Think of all those expeditions in the 1800s and 1900s. Imagine drawers with thousands of beetles and flies, countless jars of marine invertebrates. What other treasures could those collections still be holding? Well, biologist Kemp wondered about that, too. And he went on a quest to uncover the forgotten collections and chronicled his findings in a book, The Last Species--new species that were only found with the help of natural history museums. . . . Amazing story."--Ira Flatow "Science Friday" "At a time when funding for natural history collections is under siege, Kemp's The Lost Species, which champions the irreplaceable value of these collections in the identification of new species, is a refreshing endorsement of both biodiversity and curatorial taxonomic expertise. . . . Kemp ably demonstrates the vital role that natural history collections and curators with taxonomic expertise play in the documentation of new species and ultimately in the preservation of biodiversity. These collections require maintenance to ensure the preservation of specimens and documentation for the next generation of taxonomists, who will discover more new species. It is my hope that The Lost Species will engender broader public interest and support for these efforts."--Bonnie Styles "Science" "As Kemp showcases these inspiring discoveries, you'll find yourself wondering what undiscovered treasures can be found in your local natural history museum. Clearly there is plenty of unknown biodiversity: currently, only 2 million species have been named out of the estimated 10 million that are thought to be out there (some credible estimates go as high as 30 million unnamed species), but I was amazed to learn that as many as half of all museum specimens are misidentified. Yeow! Clearly, there's a lot of taxonomic and systematic work to be done. This engaging book is a compelling argument for the overall value of natural history museums, and for the importance of studying these collections."--GrrlScientist "Forbes, Best Biology Books of 2017" "Major natural history museums of the world today collectively hold an enormous, irreplaceable collection of scientific objects numbering in the billions. Among this library of life and culture that has been assembled over several centuries, each piece has its own tale to tell. Christopher Kemp vividly brings several of these stories to life in The Lost Species. He chooses pieces ranging from a lowly nematode worm to the mighty dinosaur Apatosaurus (formerly known as Brontosaurus) to engage us. He presents these specimens to us not only as voucher specimens of Earth's biodiversity, but also as examples of human endeavor surrounding their discovery and eventual study. A great read for anyone interested in natural history museum collections, how they came to be, and what we can learn from them." --Lance Grande, author of Curators "Forbes, Best Biology Books of 2017"Table of ContentsIntroduction The Vertebrates 1. Pushed up a Mountain and into the Clouds: The Olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina) 2. Beneath a Color 83 Sky: The Ucucha Mouse (Thomasomys ucucha) 3. Going on a Tapir Hunt: The Little Black Tapir (Tapirus kabomani) 4. A Taxonomic Confusion: The Saki Monkeys (Pithecia genus) 5. Scattered to the Corners of the World: The Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot (Microperoryctes aplini) 6. The One That Got Away for 160 Years: Wallace’s Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla monicae) 7. Here Be Dragons: The Ruby Seadragon (Phyllopteryx dewysea) 8. A Century in a Jar: The Thorius Salamanders 9. From a Green Bowl: The Overlooked Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis kutogundua) 10. A Body and a Disembodied Tail: Smith’s Hidden Gecko (Cyrtodactylus celatus) The Invertebrates 11. Treasure in the By-Catch: The Gall Wasps (Cynipoidea species) 12. The Biomimic: The Lightning Cockroach (Lucihormetica luckae) 13. Sunk beneath the Surface in a Sea of Beetles: Darwin’s Rove Beetle (Darwinilus sedarisi) 14. The Spoils of a Distant War: The Congo Duskhawker Dragonfly (Gynacantha congolica) 15. A Specimen in Two Halves: Muir’s Wedge-Shaped Beetle (Rhipidocyrtus muiri) 16. Mary Kingsley’s Longhorn Beetle (Pseudictator kingsleyae) 17. The Giant Flies (Gauromydas papavero and Gauromydas mateus) 18. It Came from Area 51: The Atomic Tarantula Spider (Aphonopelma atomicum) 19. The Host with the Most: The Nematode Worm (Ohbayashinema aspeira) 20. From a Time Machine on Cromwell Road: Ablett’s Land Snail (Pseudopomatias abletti) 21. In Sight of Land: Payden’s Isopod (Exosphaeroma paydenae) 22. A Ball of Spines: Makarov’s King Crab (Paralomis makarovi) Botanical 23. In an Ikea Bag: The Custard Apple Family (Monanthotaxis Genus) The Others 24. Waiting with Their Jackets On: The Fossils (Paleontology Specimens Collected by Elmer Riggs) 25. The First Art: The Earliest Hominin Engraving (a 500,000-Year-Old Shell) Epilogue Illustration Captions and Credits Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe Peak District, Britain's first national park, is a land of great natural beauty, visited by millions of people every year.This New Naturalist volume on the region highlights the wonder and magic of its windswept vistas, rock formations, storied history and fantastic wildlife, revealing its ecological foundations, showing how it has fared over the centuries and projecting what the future might hold.As a botanist and ecologist who has spent her working life in the Peak District, Penny Anderson brings an ecological perspective, viewing the habitats and their species as an interconnected whole linked to the development of the landscape through its geology and geomorphological processes, while simultaneously weaving in human history and local myths and legends to bring to life the evolution of the area. The Peak District is a special place at an ecological crossroads where many northern and southern species meet. It has splendidly rich wildlife, varied ecosystems and a long history of hTrade ReviewPraise for Penny Anderson ‘This timely book provides an excellent treatment … It is useful to have such a fine body of work drawn together in one place for reference. This is a sound scientific work and will be of immense use’ Biologist ‘These contributions will be welcome to practitioners and promoters of habitat creation and conservation’ The Quarterly Review of Biology ‘Thorough … An invaluable guide to professionals and aspiring professionals’ Northeastern Naturalist Praise for the New Naturalist series ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisThe Peak District, Britain's first national park, is a land of great natural beauty, visited by millions of people every year.This New Naturalist volume on the region highlights the wonder and magic of its windswept vistas, rock formations, storied history and fantastic wildlife, revealing its ecological foundations, showing how it has fared over the centuries and projecting what the future might hold.As a botanist and ecologist who has spent her working life in the Peak District, Penny Anderson brings an ecological perspective, viewing the habitats and their species as an interconnected whole linked to the development of the landscape through its geology and geomorphological processes, while simultaneously weaving in human history and local myths and legends to bring to life the evolution of the area. The Peak District is a special place at an ecological crossroads where many northern and southern species meet. It has splendidly rich wildlife, varied ecosystems and a long history of hTrade ReviewPraise for Penny Anderson ‘This timely book provides an excellent treatment … It is useful to have such a fine body of work drawn together in one place for reference. This is a sound scientific work and will be of immense use’ Biologist ‘These contributions will be welcome to practitioners and promoters of habitat creation and conservation’ The Quarterly Review of Biology ‘Thorough … An invaluable guide to professionals and aspiring professionals’ Northeastern Naturalist Praise for the New Naturalist series ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisThere is not just one story of silk.In silk is science, history and mythology.In silk is the future.Aarathi Prasad's Silk is a gorgeous new history weaving together the story of a unique material that has fascinated the world for millennia.Through the scientists who have studied silk, and the biology of the animals from which it has been drawn, Prasad explores the global history, natural history, and future of a unique material that has fascinated the world for millennia.For silk, prized for its lightness, luminosity, and beauty is also one of the strongest biological materials ever known. More than a century ago, it was used to make the first bulletproof vest, and yet science has barely even begun to tap its potential. As the technologies it has inspired from sutures to pharmaceuticals, replacement body parts to holograms continue to be developed in laboratories around the world, they are now also beginning to offer a desperately needed, sustainable alternative to the plastics chokiTrade Review‘A tour of the anecdotal, the industrial and the gruesome . . . Readers coming to this globetrotting and species-leaping volume expecting vignette after genteel vignette of 5,000-odd years of Chinese silk manufacture are in for a nasty shock. Here be spiders, and not just spiders, but metre-long Mediterranean clams, and countless moth species spinning their silks everywhere from Singapore to Suriname’ Financial Times ‘The global scope of Prasad’s book draws out its most compelling material links’ Daily Telegraph, four-star review ‘Prasad is such an infectious and knowledgeable enthusiast that it is hard not to be swept away by her enticing facts’ Literary Review 'Both scientific and poetic, this remarkable book shows how the great tides of history are shaped through human encounters with the intricate variety of the non-human world'David Wengrow, co-author of the international bestseller The Dawn of Everything ‘Fascinating . . . Prasad cross-crosses centuries and cultures to tell of the intrepid explorers, botanists, scientists and entrepreneurs who were determined to unravel the secrets of silk production. Her book captures their persistence and her own in the search for the little-told but revelatory stories of human curiosity and ingenuity’ Clare Hunter, author of Threads of Life 'A wonder of a narrative. Like the transformation of caterpillar to moth that she explores so beautifully, this is a network of threads that spin around the world and tell a story of science, of history, of humanity itself' Kate Strasdin author of The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes ‘An incredible read. Deeply researched, dazzling’ Seirian Sumner, author of Endless Forms ‘Prasad weaves her strands of science, history and culture to create a rich narrative tapestry that's as sumptuous as the material itself. Full of fascinating detail’Gaia Vince, author of Nomad Century

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Book SynopsisExplore Ireland with i-SPY facts, photos and fantastic spots!Beat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun! It's ideal for holidays, family road trips or simply exploring your local area.Kids will have fun collecting points with more than 140 things to find in Ireland. From mountains and beaches to landmarks and attractions, they'll learn all about the country and its history along the way. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more spotting fun check out:i-SPY On a Car Journey (ISBN 9780008386443)i-SPY On a Train Journey (ISBN 9780008431730)i-SPY At the Seaside (ISBN 9780008386528)i-SPY Nature (ISBN 9780008386467)Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisTake on the i-SPY challenge with 50 things to do to get closer to nature!Kids will have fun collecting points with activities to enjoy nature and help look after wildlife.From listening to birds to rolling down a hill, making a hedgehog house to planting a tree, they'll learn all about the natural world along the way.As well as activities, it is packed with facts, photos and things to spot that i-SPY fans will love. Once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge. Plus there are extra eco points to be scored for doing something to help the planet.For even more fun outdoors check out i-SPY Seaside Challenge (ISBN 9780008529789).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisLearn about horses and ponies with i-SPY facts, photos and fantastic spots!Beat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points with more than 120 things to find. From Shetland ponies to Shires, tack and equipment to grooming, they'll learn all about the different breeds along the way. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun check out i-SPY Dogs (ISBN 9780008431778).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisExplore the woods with i-SPY facts, photos and fantastic spots!Beat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points outdoors with more than 140 things to find. From fungi to flowers, birds to badgers, they'll learn all about nature along the way. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun outdoors check out i-SPY At the Park (ISBN 9780008529833).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisEscape reality and reconnect with natureJourney to 40 unforgettable getaways in Britain's wild corners, from floating cabins to miniature castles, tree pods to moored boats. Lose yourself in cosy reading nooks after a day hillwalking in the Peak District, go foraging in Yorkshire's woodlands, or warm up by the campfire after taking a dip in coastal Cornish waters. Stay in the heart of Wales' myths and legends, or pitch up at the birthplace of scouting.These rural retreats are ideal for slowing down and switching off, with tips on local walks and watering holes on the doorstep. With spectacular photography on every page, just reading Wild Escapes is an escape in itself.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect stocking filler gift for children!Entertain kids and the whole family this Christmas with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of festive fun!Kids will have fun collecting points with more than 140 things to find. From decorations to food, Santa's helpers to winter wildlife, they'll learn all about the traditions and celebrations of Christmas. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 50 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun this season check out i-SPY Winter (ISBN 9780008468248).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisThe amazing new i-SPY sticker book for kids age 3+Get little ones started on their very own spotting adventure with My First i-SPY sticker books! With more than 100 things to spot from swifts to sparrows, ducks to gulls, children will love learning about the brilliant birds found in the UK.Each colourful, interactive page there are points to collect, fun facts to keep young children entertained, plus stickers to add to each spot. At the end of the book, send off for your super-spotter progress poster!For even more fun check out:i-SPY My First Wildlife (ISBN 9780008529802)i-SPY My First Farm (ISBN 9780008529796)i-SPY My First Things that go (ISBN 9780008529819)i-SPY My First Seaside (ISBN 9780008562670)i-SPY My First Journey (ISBN 9780008562663)i-SPY My First Park (ISBN 9780008562649)Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisBeat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points outdoors with more than 140 things to find. From basalt to sandstone, ammonites to shark teeth, they'll learn all about their appearance, texture, uses and where to find them. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun outdoors check out i-SPY Nature (ISBN 9780008386467).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisBeat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points when visiting churches and cathedrals with more than 140 things to find. From altars to spires, choirs to bell ringers, they'll learn all about these places of worship along the way. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more spotting fun check out i-SPY London (ISBN 9780008386450).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisBeat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points outdoors with more than 140 things to find. From plants and animals to buildings and transport, they'll learn all about their surroundings, whether they're on a walk in the town, countryside, in the mountains or by the sea. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun outdoors check out i-SPY Rivers and Canals (ISBN 9780008562694).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WESTMINSTER BOOK AWARDS AND THE UNWIN AWARD**LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE**A WATERSTONES AND GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2024*''Both dynamite and medicine'' AMY-JANE BEER''Timely and rousing'' THE TIMES________________________________The lie of the land: that Britain's landowners care for the countryside.Our landowning elite are paid billions of taxpayer pounds to be good stewards. But these same landowners have carelessly trampled over our best-loved landscapes, leaving the rivers polluted, fenlands drained, and moorlands burned.Guy Shrubsole has travelled across Britain to expose the lie and meet the communities fighting back to restore our lost landscapes. This is a bold, shared vision for our nation's wild places, and how we can treat them with the awe and care they deserve.*Guy Shrubsole''s The Lost Rainforests of Britain was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-04-30*

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Book SynopsisAlthough Gerd Heinrich, a devoted naturalist, specialized in wasps, Bernd Heinrich tried to distance himself from his old-fashioned father, becoming a hybrid: a modern, experimental biologist with a naturalist''s sensibilities. In this extraordinary memoir, the award-winning author shares the ways in which his relationship with his father, combined with his unique childhood, molded him into the scientist, and man, he is today. From Gerd''s days as a soldier in Europe and the family''s daring escape from the Red Army in 1945 to the rustic Maine farm they came to call home, Heinrich relates it all in his trademark style, making science accessible and awe-inspiring.

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Book SynopsisBy spending a year alongside rising star Jack, a champion Australian Shepherd, and his friends, this book explores the history of breeding and of dog shows, and all the many related peculiarities: judging, training, naming, promoting, hair styling, kennel owning, RV driving, hotel finding, treat selecting, and more.Trade Review"A wonderful, charming look at the sport of dogs and dog shows and an absolute must read for anyone looking to get involved." -- Pat Hastings, AKC Judge and author of Tricks of the Trade "A hilarious chronicle of blow-dried poodles, diva trainers and egregious canine puns. Above all, though, this is an irresistible story about the wondrous bond between humans and animals." -- Mark Adams, author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu "Filled with heart and humor, bringing to life extravagant characters, pampered pooches, and over-the-top humans without falling prey to tired stereotypes. That's because it's not really about animal beauty pageants; it's about the unyielding bond between people and dogs and what they'll do to make each other happy." -- Jim Gorant, author of The Lost Dogs "As I was sucked into the story of Jack the show dog, I began to understand the subtleties of the sport, the amazing talents of these animals, and the affecting human-and canine- drama behind the show." -- John Hodgman, author of That is All "Fascinating and funny...as I was sucked into the story of Jack the show dog, I began to understand the subtleties of the sport, the amazing talents of these animals, and the affecting human-and canine-drama behind the show." -- John Hodgman, author of That is All "A well-written, entertaining and accurate look at our great sport of dog shows ... Dean makes you feel like you are right there with a brush or a show lead in your handa ... a great accessory for anyone who wants to know more." -- David Frei, Voice of The Westminster Kennel Club and The National Dog Show and author of Angel On A Leash "Terrific" -- Colin McEnroe, WNPR "Superb" -- Michael Solomon, The Guardian "Excellent" -- Benoit Denizet-Lewis, Cesar Milan blog "If you don't know your toy group from your terriers, pick up this beguiling nonfiction account that follows Jack, a lovable, handsome Australian shepherd and an aspiring Best in Show." -- Entertainment Weekly "Show Dog is the real thing with focus, frustration, commitment, passion, ambition and a bit of celebration at times. In the process, it is remarkably informative while delivering vivid, priceless, behind-the-scenes snapshots and a few bizarre characters from small-town America to Manhattan." -- Ranny Green, Seattle Kennel Club "Fascinating and often very funny." -- Star magazine "Eccentric and really fascinating, sometimes treacherous, behind-the-grooming-stand look at the show circuit." -- Virginia Prescott, New Hampshire Public Radio "The literary answer to that laugh-out-loud movie Best in Show." -- Craig Wilson, USA Today "A spellbinding diary written by an outsider looking in, and it's filled with intriguing observations and lessons learned. It's also quite poignant at times. Think of the movie Best in Show and then dial it back just a hair." -- David Baker, Pet Adviser "Amazing, absolutely amazing. No matter how much you think you know about dog shows, this is the real deal. It's not just the whole history, so beautifully interwoven - [Dean has] really delved in and shown this world from every possible angle, and remarkably uncritically." -- Tracie Hotchner, DogTalk Radio "Show Dog added greatly to my already over-the-top love for the subject. Josh has written an absorbing, intimate and good-natured journey into the making of a champion. If you're like me, you'll come for the dogs, but you'll stay for the people." -- Mary Carillo, sportscaster, co-host 2012 Westminster Show "With Dean, curiosity reigns, making it possible to enter this subculture without the fanaticism of a disciple or the condescension of a cynic. He delivers an earnest, wry, and humorous look into what possesses people to spend nearly all their free time and money [showing dogs]." -- Wendy Toth, Petside.com "A tale that represents the world of show dogs fairly and factually in a fashion that people outside our cloistered community will understand and appreciate. It may even persuade a few to join us." -- Billy Wheeler, Best in Show Daily

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Book SynopsisIn recognition of her long and lauded career as a master essayist, a landmark collection including her most beloved pieces and some rarely seen work, rigorously curated by the Pulitzer-Prize winning author herself“A writer who never seems tired, who has never plodded her way through a page or sentence, Dillard can only be enjoyed by a wide-awake reader,” warns Geoff Dyer in his introduction to this stellar collection. Carefully culled from her past work, The Abundance is quintessential Annie Dillard, delivered in her fierce and undeniably singular voice, filled with fascinating detail and metaphysical fact. The pieces within will exhilarate both admiring fans and a new generation of readers, having been “re-framed and re-hung,” with fresh editing and reordering by the author, to situate these now seminal works within her larger canon.The Abundance reminds us that Dillard’s brand of “novelized nonfic

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Book SynopsisA delightfully illustrated guide to harnessing the rhythms of nature for self-care.We could all learn a thing or two about living in balance from our friends in the plant and animal kingdom. Take, for example, the jellyfish, one of the most energy-efficient animals in the world, moving through the ocean by contracting and relaxing, with frequent breaks in between. Or the avocado tree, which can credit its existence to a mutually beneficial relationship with the pre-historic sloth, followed by some hungry, hungry humans and the advent of agriculture. And then there is the oyster, producing a pearl as the result of an immune response when a grain of sand invades her system. What better example exists of how adversity can produce something beautiful?We need look no farther than nature—from the habits of the porcupine to the sunflower to the wombat to the dragonfly—for small and simple things we can do to slow down, rechTrade Review"Shah's humor is infectious, and her breezy approach makes learning from shrimp, sloths, spiders, and wombats, among many others, unexpectedly rewardigng." — Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis“[Momaday] must be ranked among the greatest of our contemporary writers.”—American ScholarMomaday’s poems are rich with description, lush with dreaming, and filled with magic. — Library Journal (starred review)From Pulitzer Prize winner and revered literary master N. Scott Momaday, a beautiful and enchanting new poetry collection, at once a celebration of language, imagination, and the human spirit.“Language and the imagination work hand in hand, and together they enable us to reveal us to ourselves in story. That is indeed a magical process. . . . We imagine and we dream, and we translate our dreams into language.” —from the PrefaceA singular voice in American letters, Momaday’s love of language and storytelling are on full display in this brilliant new collection comprising one hundred sketcTrade Review"The 100 poems and short sketches . . . are as simple and complex as our collective existence. . . . Each is a small gem, a glass seed that is part of the pattern on a piece of Native beadwork: By itself it has its own character and texture, its own beauty and completeness. Woven or sewn into the pattern created by the artist, the individual beads together anchor the art and become the design that tells the larger story." — Minneapolis Star Tribune “The iconic Kiowa writer. . . [draws] deeply from dreams, fantasies, personal remembrance, and the wellspring of Native American spirituality to dissolve distinctions between the real and the surreal. . . . Bite-size snacks for the metaphysical appetite.” — Kirkus "Add another entry of mystical lyrics to the still-expanding oeuvre of prolific Kiowa folklorist, novelist, and illustrator Momaday. . . . The book's long view and even pace bring out the best insights of this octogenarian's flourishing career." — Booklist "Momaday’s poems are rich with description, lush with dreaming, and filled with magic. Essential for Indigenous collections and highly recommended for poetry lovers generally." — Library Journal (starred review) "A collection that celebrates language, invention, humanity, and the natural world." — Publishers Weekly "We couldn’t imagine a better soundtrack for a thoughtful weekend walk down whatever dream-like springtime trails you might have at hand." — Paste Magazine (on the audiobook of Dream Drawings) "In many ways, to read Momaday is to read the land. It is to encounter the earth alive with wind and sunlight, with plants and animals, and to know all of it—each aspect of the world—by name. It is also to renew a reverence for beauty and a feeling of hope." — Stanford Magazine

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Book SynopsisAward-winning writer, columnist, and journalists Carl Zimmer selects twenty science and nature essays that represent the best examples of the form published in 2022.A collection of the best science and nature articles written in 2022, selected by guest editor Carl Zimmer and series editor Jaime Green. Trade Review“Captivating. . . . The contributors showcase science journalism’s capacity to educate while entertaining, and the timely bent of the selections gives the collection a sense of urgency. . . . Readers will be enthralled.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Book Synopsis***AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4***Travel the night sky and discover the stories in the stars. What a beautiful book it is! A treasured possession.' Mary Beard ''No astronomy book can claim to be as beautiful as the night sky, but Stories in the Stars comes closest!'' Tristan GooleyLook up: above us is a jet-black canvas pricked with white dots, and a carnival of animals, mythical creatures, gods and goddesses in its shining constellations. Here, Susanna Hislop writer and stargazer and Hannah Waldron international artist leap between centuries, cultures and traditions to present a whole universe of stories in all their blazing glory. Stories in the Stars is an imaginative and whimsical exploration of each of the night sky's 88 constellations: a playful and stunningly illustrated compendium.Trade ReviewWhat a beautiful book it is! A treasured possession. -- Mary BeardNo astronomy book can claim to be as beautiful as the night sky, but Stories in the Stars comes closest! I'm learning something new every day and having a lot of fun in the process. -- Tristan Gooley, The Natural Navigator

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Book SynopsisHigh in the Canadian Rockies is a small limestone quarry formed 530 million years ago. Called the Burgess Shale, it holds the remains of an ancient sea where dozens of strange creatures lived - a forgotten corner of evolution preserved in incredible detail. In this book Stephen Jay Gould explores what the Burgess Shale might tell us about evolution and the nature of history.The Darwinian theory of evolution is a well-known, well-explored area. But there is one aspect of human life which this theory of evolution fails to account for: chance. Using the brilliantly preserved fossil fauna of the Burgess Shale as his case study, Gould argues that chance was in fact one of the decisive factors in the evolution of life on this planet, and that, with a flip of coin, everything could have been very different indeed.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of analysis and imagination...It centres on a sensational discovery in the field of palaeontology - the existence, in the Burgess Shale... of 530-million-year-old fossils unique in age, preservation and diversity...With skill and passion, Gould takes this mute collection of fossils and makes them speak to us. The result challenges some of our most cherished self-perceptions and urges a fundamental re-assessment of our place in the history of life on earth * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisJohn Stewart Collis was born in 1900. His father was a Dublin solicitor and Collis was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford. In 1925 he published a biography of George Bernard Shaw and he later went on to write other biographical works and also became a pioneer of the ecological movement in Britain. During the Second World War his wife and daughters were evacuated to the United States and he worked for the Land Army as an agricultural labourer - accompanied by his beloved dog, Bindo. His memoirs and meditations on rural life, While Following the Plough (1946) and Down to Earth (1947) were first published together as The Worm Forgives the Plough in 1973, which has become a classic of nature writing.Trade ReviewHe is the poet among modern ecologists, a natural philosopher who , whether he is writing about trees or rainbows, an iceberg or a piece of chalk, never takes a fact without linking it to an idea, or an idea without connecting it to a fact. His book dispenses information in the language of the imagination, and by peeling back the film by which everything appears dully familiar, reveals a vision of the world miraculously transfigured -- Michael Holroyd * The Times *Collis' divine gift is to explain the extraordinary nature of the ordinary * Sunday Times *A philosopher who had a shining view of the natural world, and was able to divine the magic inherent in phenomena so commonplace that we take them for granted * Guardian *These jottings establish the man as one of the greatest recorders of English agricultural life -- Val Hennessey * Daily Mail *A little classic * The Oldie *

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Book SynopsisMichael Symmons Roberts (Author) Michael Symmons Roberts was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1963. He has published eight collections of poetry and received a number of accolades including the Forward Prize, the Costa Poetry Award and the Whitbread Poetry Prize. His Selected Poems was published in 2016. As a librettist, his work has been performed in concert halls and opera houses around the world, and he is an award-winning broadcaster and dramatist. He is Professor of Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, his Quartet for the End of Time: On Music, Grief and Birdsong was published in 2025.Paul Farley (Author) Paul Farley is the author of four collections of poetry and has won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, the Whitbread Poetry Award and the E.M. Forster Award. He broadcasts regularly on radio and presents The Echo Chamber on Radio 4. Edgelands, co-written with Michael Symmons Roberts, received the Royal Society of Literature's Jerwood Award and the 2011 Foyles Best Book of Ideas Award and was serialised as Radio 4 Book of the Week.Trade ReviewThis book is a delight: witty and wryly contrarian -- Robert MacFarlane * Guardian *A masterpiece of its kind... Even more uplifting is the chapter on weather - truly one of the most extraordinary passages of prose I have read in some time... This is, quite simply, beautiful, but it is also typical of a beautifully conceived work of exploration, by two emissaries to the wilderness who do the wasteland proud -- John Burnside * The Times *Marvellously quirky, fascinatingly detailed and beautifully written * Daily Telegraph *The edgelands, where the veneer of civilisation peels away, are the most despised and ignored of landscapes. Ambition turns to dust in the sewage farm and landfill site. But Farley and Roberts's mischievous and elegant forays into these marginal wastes, show that dust turns back to life in them - into riotous ecologies, agitprop architecture and the wonderful business of playing. A provocative, left-field read -- Richard MabeyHaunting, often inspiring book...Edgelands covers an impressive range of politics, reminiscence, investigation and rumination * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**One man''s quest to save the bumblebee...Dave Goulson has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees.Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the short-haired bumblebee is now extinct in the UK, but still exists in the wilds of New Zealand, descended from a few queen bees shipped over in the nineteenth century.A Sting in the Tale tells the story of Goulson''s passionate drive to reintroduce it to its native land and contains groundbreaking research into these curious creatures, history''s relationship with the bumblebee, the disastrous effects intensive farming has had on our bee populations and the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.Trade Review[Goulson’s] book is not only enormously informative, but also hugely entertaining: its light touch and constant humour make cutting-edge research a pleasure to read about… For anyone interested in the natural world, this is essential reading. -- Michael McCarthy * Independent *Goulson reminds himself that he ‘began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable.’ It’s worth reading A Sting in the Tale for the same reasons. -- Hannah Rosefield * Literary Review *A worthy book of the year. -- Mary Beard * Observer *Goulson has plenty of wondrous biological stories to tell, as well as the tale of his own struggle to return the short-haired bumblebee to Britain. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *This isn’t one of those natural science books that simply tells you things – it admits how much we don’t know. -- Mark Mason * Spectator *

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