Nature and the natural world: general interest Books
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Four Elements: Reflections on Nature
Book SynopsisIn The Four Elements, poet and philosopher John O'Donohue draws upon his Celtic heritage and the love of his native landscape, the west of Ireland, to weave together a tapestry of beautifully evoked images of nature. As John explores a range of themes relating to the way we live our lives today, he reveals how the energy and rhythm of the natural world - its innocence and creativity, its power and splendour - hold profound lessons for us all. With a foreword written by his beloved brother Pat, this illuminating treasury is a unique collection of reflections inspired by the ancient wisdom of this earth.Trade ReviewThere are certain threads that run through the work of John O'Donohue. They manifest themselves with different colours and textures. The form may change for different purposes of rhythm and resonance, but the intention remains constant. It is grounded in human vulnerability and the desire, the longing, for a connection to the wonder of the divine in nature, and human life within it. -- Michael D Higgins, politician and broadcaster
£9.49
Penguin Random House South Africa Medicinal Plants of East Africa
Book SynopsisMedicinal Plants of East Africa is the first photographically illustrated guide to showcase the most important healing plants of the region. The book describes 136 plant species in everyday use in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Brief descriptions of each species cover that plant’s appearance, ecology and specific medicinal uses. To aid identification, more than 600 colour photographs have been included. Also included are recipes for remedies to treat a wide range of ailments. An easy-to-understand summary of the science behind the treatments concludes each section. Supplementary features: Introduction to the medicinal virtues and active ingredients of plants; Common methods of preparing medicines from plant materials; Summary of ailments and the plants prescribed to treat them; Glossaries of medical and botanical terminology and extensive reference lists. Medicinal Plants of East Africa will appeal to ethnobotanists, health and wellness practitioners, travellers and all with an interest in the remarkable healing properties of plants. Sales Points: Easy ID with supporting colour photos; recipes for plant remedies; simplifies the science behind the natural medicines; accomplished author team.
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Mudlarking
Book Synopsis_______________WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONTHE TOP 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKAN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR_______________Mudlark (/mAdla;k/) noun A person who scavenges for usable debris in the mud of a river or harbourLara Maiklem has scoured the banks of the Thames for over fifteen years, in pursuit of the objects that the river unearths: from Neolithic flints to Roman hair pins, medieval buckles to Tudor buttons, Georgian clay pipes to Victorian toys. These objects tell her about London and its lost ways of life.Moving from the river's tidal origins in the west of the city to the point where it meets the sea in the east, Mudlarking is a search for urban solitude and history on the River Thames, which Lara calls the longest archaeological site in England.As she has discovered, it is often the tiniest objects that tell the greatest storTrade ReviewThis is a quirky and delightful read, wonderfully evocative of London’s gloopy, ghost-haunted river * Daily Mail *A treasure. One of the best books I’ve read in years -- Tracy BormanReveals to us the fascinating and poignant micro-world of London's history -- Hallie RubenholdEnchanting. It made even a capsized cynic like me feel more sentimental about the Thames. In fact, I am quite tempted to join Maiklem on the riverbed looking for treasure * Sunday Times *Mudlarks are river scavengers, but Lara Maiklem is more like a time traveller. Her prose has none of the self-conscious sensibility that defines contemporary nature writing; her thoughtful sentences read as though she were talking to herself. There is a great deal to learn from these pages, not least the insight that finding lost things is the best way of losing yourself. It is, above all, her wisdom that makes Lara Maiklem such restful company * Guardian *Maiklem persists, in this weirdly engaging book, in seeking out a curious beauty. Maiklem’s description of the fog is worthy of Dickens or Joseph Conrad. Maiklem pungently evokes the broken bridges, slippery river stairs, causeways, jetties and boatyards. No one has looked at these odd corners since Sherlock Holmes * Sunday Telegraph *Maiklem’s storytelling shines. Her imagined histories for her special finds read like waterborne fairy stories, a hard kernel of truth clothed in mythical finery. Reading it, I felt like I was down on the foreshore myself, sifting through the pages for titbits * Daily Telegraph *A lovely, lyrical, gently meandering book, filled with fascinating diversions and detail * Literary Review *Maiklem's enthusiasm is infectious, and her reimagining of the lives of those who parted with these items is an illuminated joy * i *Whoever buys it is blessed. I love the fact that [Maiklem] makes herself the centre of this huge, timeless, endless story that reaches from the distant past and flows past all our consciousnesses out to a place far beyond the reach of the estuary. Lara is such a natural writer; every page just tingles with her imagination. It is a love letter to life itself -- Ian MortimerMaiklem has an infectious love of linking the present with the past. It is historic detail like this that makes Mudlarking much more than just a lengthy list of discarded bric-a-brac. Lara is a romantic, motivated primarily by the human stories behind the objects. Curiosity may kill the cat, but it is the making of many an author. And Lara has it in spades * Daily Mail *Maiklem augments the Thamesian tally, summoning old Londoners out of silty suspension from a discarded Victoria Cross or a pot-lid. There are other mudlarking books, but this one offers engaging insight into an amphibian ambience of strongly marked characters, semi-secret exploits and outlandish theories. Maiklem is not alone in resorting to the river for salvation as much as salvage * Spectator *A beautifully written memoir of one woman’s relationship with the sacred Thames and the ghosts of its past. Lara Maiklem’s book on mudlarking is as deep and as rich as the Thames and its treasures. Fascinating -- Stanley TucciA hybrid of personal memoir, London history and literary cabinet of curiosities * Telegraph *Maiklem’s knowledge and skill are evident and unarguable. [She] leaves the door open for the rest of us: with a bit of luck and patience you too, she suggests, could spot something interesting on the foreshore, ask around, take it to a museum and end up owning a little bit of history. What a thrill -- Caught by the River[An] enthralling and evocative history of London and its people -- Book of the Month * Bookseller *
£10.44
Ave Maria Press When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature
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£14.75
HarperCollins Publishers iSPY Nature Spy it Score it Collins Michelin iSPY
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 buttercups to sycamore trees, ladybirds to pine martins, they'll learn all about their surrounding natural world. 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 Birds (ISBN 9780008386450).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch
£5.62
Canongate Books Island on the Edge of the World: The Story of St
Book SynopsisFor more than two thousand years the people of St Kilda remained remote from the world. Their society was viable, utopian even; but in the nineteenth century the islands were discovered by missionaries, do-gooders and tourists, who brought with them money, disease and despotism. In 1930, the few remaining islanders were evacuated, no longer able to support themselves.An exploration of the life and death of the remote Hebridean society, Island on the Edge of the World is a moving account of human endeavour.Trade ReviewA story like a marvellous pebble, wet from the sea, strange and comic like all things out of step with time, sad as the old songs the women sang, splendidly told * * Sunday Times * *Reawakened my awe at the strangeness of our world -- WILL SELFA profound moral for our time . . . A beautiful, well-written book * * Washington Post * *A fascinating book . . . Charles Maclean is an excellent writer . . . he describes the story of St Kilda with powerful compassion -- MAGNUS MAGNUSSONAn evocative study of the island * * Scotsman * *Excellent * * Esquire * *
£9.49
Crossbill Guides Foundation Madeira: Portugal
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£21.56
Cengage Learning, Inc Meteorology Today An Introduction to Weather
Book SynopsisWritten by meteorologists C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson and grounded in the scientific method, METEOROLOGY TODAY: AN INTRODUCTION TO WEATHER, CLIMATE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, 13th edition, shows you how to observe, calculate and synthesize weather information as a scientist. Packed with engaging visuals, it provides the latest information on climate change, ozone depletion, air quality, El Niño and other key topics as well as discussions of recent high-profile weather events, including droughts, heat waves, tornado outbreaks and hurricanes. "Focus On" boxes help you delve deeper into meteorological observation methods and environmental issues, while case studies provide direct access to academic and newsworthy papers on recent developments. The MindTap for Meteorology digital platform includes concept check activities, animations and videos, and a variety of hands-on activities.Table of Contents1. Earth and Its Atmosphere. 2. Energy: Warming and Cooling Earth and the Atmosphere. 3. Seasonal and Daily Temperatures. 4. Atmospheric Humidity. 5. Condensation: Dew, Fog and Clouds. 6. Stability and Cloud Development. 7. Precipitation. 8. Air Pressure and Winds. 9. Wind: Small-Scale and Local Systems. 10. Wind: Global Systems. 11. Air Masses and Fronts. 12. Middle-Latitude Cyclones. 13. Weather Forecasting. 14. Thunderstorms. 15. Tornadoes. 16. Hurricanes. 17. Earth's Changing Climate. 18. Global Climate. 19. Air Pollution. 20. Light, Color and Atmospheric Optics.
£73.14
Sandstone Press Ltd The Easternmost Sky: Adapting to Change in the
Book SynopsisThe Easternmost Sky is part memoir, part elegy and part warning. It was written on the Suffolk coast, in a place known for its farmland, nature reserves and the fastest coastal erosion in Europe. By exploring how climate change and social change are already affecting this agriculturally important part of the world, it is possible to imagine a very different landscape, to glimpse the future and to understand how these changes will affect us all.Trade ReviewEngaging... Blaxland is an acute observer, steeped in the ways of the countryside, its communities, and its traditions. * Country & Town House *Thought provoking. * BBC Radio Suffolk *The author writes beautifully about her life in this small extremity. * Country Life *A joy to read.
£13.49
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Shells
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£9.99
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Bird
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£22.50
Kales Press Trees: An Anthology of Writings and Paintings
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£17.09
Inner Traditions Bear and Company Dreams of Dragons An Exploration and Celebration
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£13.29
Johns Hopkins University Press Elephant Trails
Book SynopsisWhy have elephantsand our preconceptions about thembeen central to so much of human thought?From prehistoric cave drawings in Europe and ancient rock art in Africa and India to burning pyres of confiscated tusks, our thoughts about elephants tell a story of human history. In Elephant Trails, Nigel Rothfels argues that, over millennia, we have made elephants into both monsters and miracles as ways to understand them but also as ways to understand ourselves.Drawing on a broad range of sources, including municipal documents, zoo records, museum collections, and encounters with people who have lived with elephants, Rothfels seeks out the origins of our contemporary ideas about an animal that has been central to so much of human thought. He explains how notions that have been associated with elephants for centuriesthat they are exceptionally wise, deeply emotional, and have a special understanding of death; that they never forget, are beloved of the gods, and Trade Review[Rothfels] captures the ache and cruelty of colonization and enslavement; it is, at times, a gruesome read but a sobering one. This book will appeal to those fascinated by the mythology and legacy of elephants, as well as animal lovers who fight for the liberation of all living creatures.—Jen Cox, Scientific AmericanTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction. Blind Men's ElephantsChapter 1. First among MonstersChapter 2. Afraid of Mice Chapter 3. A Serpent for a HandChapter 4: The Most Friendly CreatureChapter 5: A Descendant of MastodonsChapter 6: The Last of Its KindChapter 7: Trails of HistoryNotesFor Further ReadingIndex
£31.50
teNeues Publishing UK Ltd Amaze
Book SynopsisCristina Mittermeier knows a thing or two about water. Trained as a marine biologist and a photographer, the Mexico City-born Mittermeier combines her work behind the lens with her passion for environmentalism, taking pictures around the world to explore our relationship to the earth and ocean and to draw attention to the beauty and the plight of our planet. In Amaze, Mittermeier elicits our wonder and awe at the natural world and the labyrinth or “maze” of navigating a sustainable existence. The book combines two series: “Enoughness” and “The Water’s Edge.” The first draws out Mittermeier’s philosophy for a mindful and sustainable way of being in the world. Bringing together photographs from some of the most isolated corners of the earth, the book shows wild animals, remote landscapes, and indigenous peoples — challenging the cult of material wealth and proposing alternatives for a meaningful and sustainable connection to our environment, each other, and ourselves. In “The Water’s Edge,” Mittermeier presents photographs from around the globe that capture the frontier between land and ocean and the special meaning it has for human life. Whether it is fishermen bringing in their daily haul, women washing laundry in the shallows, or surfers frolicking in the spray, the water’s edge is revealed as an integral and universal space in which ephemeral moments reveal not only our common dependency on the planet, but also our common humanity. As much an inspiration for sustainable living as a staggering collection of nature photography, Amaze is a must-have book for all those who care about our planet and those we share it with. Text in English, German and French.Trade Review"From the highlands of her native Mexico to the shores of Madagascar, discover a selection of awe-inspiring shots from her debut book, Amaze." - Food & Travel
£48.75
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds Helm
Book SynopsisThis authoritative handbook, part of the Helm Identification Guide series, looks in detail at the remarkable and diverse birds of paradise perhaps the ultimate birders'' birds.Renowned for their elaborate and dazzling plumages, the birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae) and bowerbirds (Ptilonohynchidae) exhibit some of the most astonishing behaviours in the avian kingdom. The former is the most iconic group of birds found in New Guinea, while the bowerbirds extend into Australia, and are perhaps best known for the males' construction of avenue bowers, used to tempt females on the forest floor. This comprehensive monograph is dedicated to these two families, combining the product of more than two decades of research and scholarship with original observations by the author and many other knowledgeable contributors. Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds is the ultimate reference to these two groups. It provides a thorough guide to their identification, taxonomy and ecolTable of ContentsThe species and subspecies of birds of paradise Formerly classified as birds of paradise The species and subspecies of bowerbirds Introduction What is a bird of paradise? The family Paradisaeidae What is a bowerbird? The family Ptilinorhynchidae Layout and Scope of the Book Species accounts Glossary List of abbreviations Plates Species Accounts Bibliography Acknowledgements
£41.25
Elliott & Thompson Limited Under the Rock: The Poetry of a Place
Book Synopsis`A bone-tingling book' - Richard Benson; Carved from the land above Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire, Scout Rock is a steep crag overlooking wooded slopes and weed-tangled plateaus. To many it is unremarkable; to others it is a doomed place where 18th-century thieves hid out, where the town tip once sat, and where suicides leapt to their deaths. Its brooding form presided over the early years of Ted Hughes, who called Scout Rock `my spiritual midwife . . . both the curtain and backdrop to existence'.; Into this beautiful, dark and complex landscape steps Benjamin Myers, asking: are unremarkable places made remarkable by the minds that map them? Seeking a new life and finding solace in nature's power of renewal, Myers excavates stories both human and elemental. The result is a lyrical and unflinching investigation into nature, literature, history, memory and the meaning of place in modern Britain.; UNDER THE ROCK is about badgers, balsam, history, nettles, mythology, moorlands, mosses, poetry, bats, wild swimming, slugs, recession, floods, logging, peacocks, community, apples, asbestos, quarries, geology, industrial music, owls, stone walls, farming, anxiety, relocation, the North, woodpiles, folklore, landslides, ruins, terriers, woodlands, ravens, dales, valleys, walking, animal skulls, trespassing, crows, factories, maps, rain - lots of rain - and a great big rock.Trade Review'A bone-tingling book' -- Richard Benson, author of The Valley and The Farm; “Extraordinary, elemental … never less than compelling: this is a wild, dark grimoire of a book” – The Times Literary Supplement; 'The writing is perfectly poised and seductive, luminous, an earthy immersion into the granular dark of place. The prose has an intense, porous quality, inhabiting the reader right from the stunning start with the voices of rock, earth, wood and water. This is a truly elemental read from which I emerged subtly changed. The writing has a shamanic quality; Benjamin Myers is a writer of exceptional talent and originality ... it has all the makings of a classic' -- Miriam Darlington, author of Otter Country and Owl Sense; “Compelling … admirable and engrossing. Myers writes of the rain with a poet’s eye worthy of Hughes” – Erica Wagner, New Statesman; 'One of the many joys of Under the Rock - this absorbing, compelling, moving book - is its language; it trickles like a rivulet, thunders like a cataract, and sticks to you like mud. It is full of crannies and dips and peaks wherein wonders hide; explore it for a lifetime and you will not exhaust its mysteries. Unafraid of blood-drenched history and the darkest of despair, this is nonetheless a defiantly life-praising book; it accompanied me to bed and bar, train and plane, and each situation was enriched and brightened by its presence... . It is utterly vital' -- Niall Griffiths, author of Grits, Sheepshagger and Stump; 'Richly layered, densely and elegantly structured, discursive, elegiac and beautiful. Under the Rock is a stunning exploration of place, mind and myth' -- Jenn Ashworth, author of Fell and The Friday Gospels; “Prodigious, awe-incurring … few are as impressive as the formidable Benjamin Myers, who has developed a voice as pure and authentic as it is stark, honest and resolutely northern … creates an overall sense of dreamy, quiet beauty, born of love for the lie of the land.” – The Big Issue; “Compelling … an atmospheric exploration of the landscape and its history” – Irish Times; “A visionary work of immense power and subtlety which establishes Myers as one of Britain’s most consistently interesting and gifted writers” – Morning Star; 'Place-writing at its most supple: both deeply considered, and deeply felt' -- Melissa Harrison, author of Rain: Four Walks in English Weather; “Best known for his bleak and brilliant crime fiction Myers turns his focus to nature writing with absorbing results in this lyrical exploration of Scout Rock in Yorkshire’s Calder Valley” – i-news, Best Books to Take on Holiday 2018; “Exceptionally engaging … beguiling … this is a startling, unclassifiable book” – Stuart Kelly, The Scotsman; “Thoughtful, engaging and beautifully crafted … the writing is lyrical yet muscular and elemental, transporting the reader to this plaece of rugged beauty and dark secrets” – The Yorkshire Post; “[A] beautifully poetic, passionate and elegiac book … Myers’ writing left me with a heart-wrenching desire to be there” – Harry Gallon, Minor Literatures; 'What distinguishes Under the Rock is Myers' unshakeable commitment. He writes at all times with rock-solid conviction, fashioning a book which is less a work of simple description than a new contribution to the mythology of Elmet' -- Will Ashon, author of Strange Labyrinth, Clear Water and The Heritage; 'I have become a Benjamin Myers junkie in the last 12 months . . . Myers' place-writing is as good as anything being scrawled in Britain today' - Horatio Clare, author of Down to the Sea in Ships and Orison for a Curlew; “Terrific… It’s a book which doesn’t just discuss or describe landscape, but immerses you within it… if this doesn’t put Ben Myers on everyone’s radar then I don’t know what will” – Daniel Carpenter, Bookmunch; “An author to adopt as your own, a book to turn others on to ... boy does it rock” – Cally Callomon, Caught by the River; “A daring new work … make[s] the unremarkable truly remarkable. It’s a work that is focused on landscape and place and is another step on this special writer cementing himself as more than just a cult favourite” – Narc Magazine; “An extraordinary blend of power, poetry and grit … Benjamin Myers has made his rock sing” – Richard Littledale, The Preacher’s Blog; “Myers’ prose is outstanding” – Marcel Krueger, Hong Kong Review of Books; “Under the Rock is the most beautifully written non-fiction book… There is an extremely powerful sense of place. I was fully immersed in the landscape, the water, the woods, the rock. Lyrical, powerful, engaging, moving and fascinating. Highly recommended” – The Book Corner, Halifax; “My non-fiction book of 2018” – Bookish Beck; “A journey elemental, luscious, dark, seductive, misty, haunting, captivating like the moors in the twilight, like the Northern nature after the rain. I travelled to a place of unique beauty, to a land that narrates a thousand stories within these marvellous pages” – The Opinionated Reader Blog; “A book of such incredible prose … for someone like me who loves the writing by Helen Mcdonald, Amy Liptrot and Robert Mcfarlane … This is an exceptional book, both compelling and elegant and one of my highlights of the year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” – The Last Word Book Review; “A captivating read … Under the Rock gets right under your skin as the author shows his love for this wild and untamed area in words which have a lyricism that so often matches the stark beauty of the landscape” -- JaffaReadsToo; “This is an interesting, beautifully written book with an otherworldly feel to it” -- Ten Penny Dreams; “Poetic, mesmerising and compelling … I also have to give a special mention to the amazing cover which looks like a piece of art and it's so eye-catching that it constantly invited me to pick up the book for just one more chapter, thereby smashing my non-fiction reading time record. With the inimitable Yorkshire spirit woven throughout, coupled with a dash of humour, Under the Rock is as mesmerising as it is informative. It is a book that is beautiful both inside and out” -- The Book Magnet; “It’s hard to put into words that do this book justice but it remains one of my favourite books” -- Tonto Williams Electronic Scrapbook; “A book not to be rushed” -- Never Imitate; “Under the Rock is about immersing oneself in a landscape, in a community. It’s about woodland and millstone grit. Trespassing and wild swimming. Dump-scavenging and guerrilla wood-piling. It’s about the winter blues. Poetry and prose. Weather and walking. Floods and landslides. Moss and mud. History and counter-culture. It’s about Northernness. It’s about reservoirs and dams. Native and offcumden species. It’s about asbestosis and mass-murder. It’s about Jimmy Savile. Throbbing Gristle. Heathcliff the dog. Ted and Sylvia. (Hughes and Plath.) … It’s about bloody time you read it” – RichardCarter.comTable of ContentsContents; Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii; PART I: Wood.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1; Field Notes I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93; PART II: Earth.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103; Field Notes II.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171; PART III: Water.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179; Field Notes III.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249; PART IV: Rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257; Field Notes IV.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330; CODA: Beyond.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337; Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355; Acknowledgements.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361; Index.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
£13.49
Merlin Unwin Books Man-eaters of Kumaon
Book SynopsisA man-eating tiger has stalked and killed 460 villagers across northern India, spreading fear and heartbreak when Jim Corbett is asked to track and shoot it. Ten classic thrilling and moving true stalking accounts by Corbett show his love of India, its poor people and its wildlife. 4 million copies sold worldwide when previously published.
£18.00
Ecopress Reconnecting With Nature: Finding wellness
Book SynopsisMost of us have been conditioned to ignore more than fifty natural sensitivities that connect us with nature''s beauty, health, and regenerative ways. This omission underlies our unhealthy stress and disorders. The Organic Psychology chapters and activities in Reconnecting With Nature help our fifty-three senses embrace natural systems. The systems, in turn, compost and transform industrial society''s pollution of our mind and body into personal, environmental, and spiritual well-being.
£10.79
Penguin Books Ltd The Old Ways
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZEThe original bestseller from the beloved author of UNDERLAND, LANDMARKS and THE LOST WORDS - Robert Macfarlane travels Britain''s ancient paths and discovers the secrets of our beautiful, underappreciated landscape''The Old Ways confirms Macfarlane''s reputation as one of the most eloquent and observant of contemporary writers about nature'' Scotland on SundayFollowing the tracks, holloways, drove-roads and sea paths that form part of a vast ancient network of routes criss-crossing the British Isles and beyond, Robert Macfarlane discovers a lost world - a landscape of the feet and the mind, of pilgrimage and ritual, of stories and ghosts; above all of the places and journeys which inspire and inhabit our imaginations.''Sublime... It sets the imagination tingling, laying an irresistible trail for readers to follow'' Sunday Times''Read this and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again'' Metro''He has a rare physical intelligence and affords total immersion in place, elements and the passage of time: wonderful'' Antony Gormley
£11.69
Icon Books The Presence of the Past: Morphic Resonance and
Book SynopsisRupert Sheldrake's theory of morphic resonance challenges the fundamental assumptions of modern science. A world-famous biologist, Sheldrake proposes that all self-organizing systems, from crystals to human societies, inherit a collective memory that influences their form and behaviour. Rather than being ruled by fixed laws, nature is essentially habitual. All human beings draw upon a collective human memory, and in turn contribute to it. Even individual memory depends on morphic resonance rather than on physical memory traces stored within the brain. Morphic resonance works through morphic fields, which organize the bodies of plants and animals, coordinate the activities of brains, and underlie mental activity. Minds are extended beyond brains both in space and time. This fully-revised and updated edition of The Presence of the Past summarizes the evidence for Dr Sheldrake's controversial theory, reviews new research, and explores its implications for biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology. In place of the mechanistic worldview that has dominated biology since the nineteenth century, this book offers a revolutionary alternative, and opens up a new understanding of life, minds and evolution.Trade ReviewEngaging, provocative ... a tour de force' * New Scientist *
£11.69
Progressive Press Adventures in Kinship with All Life
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£11.39
Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale Crap Taxidermy
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£13.29
Unbound Women on Nature: 100+ Voices on Place, Landscape
Book SynopsisThere has, in recent years, been an explosion of writing about place, landscape and the natural world. But within this, women’s voices have remained in the minority. This anthology gathers the voices of women from the fourteenth to the twenty-first centuries whose subject is the natural world in Britain, Ireland and the outlying islands of our archipelago. Alongside the traditional forms of the travelogue, the walking guide, books on birds, plants and wildlife, Women on Nature embraces alternative modes of seeing and recording that turn the genre on its head. Katharine Norbury has sifted though the pages of women’s fiction, poetry, biography, gardening diaries and recipe books and garnered accounts from artists, farmers, theologians and natural scientists to demonstrate the multitudinous ways in which women have observed the world about them. From the fourteenth-century spiritual revelations of Julian of Norwich to the seventeenth-century travel journals of Celia Fiennes, and including a host of twenty-first-century voices such Sarah Evans, Sinéad Gleeson, Kathleen Jamie, Jackie Kay, Rachel Lichtenstein, Amy Liptrot, Helen Mort, Anita Sethi and more, Women on Nature presents a fresh vision of the natural world and is of unique importance in terms of women’s history and the history of writing about nature.Trade Review 'A fine, rare and landmark collection of nature writing, both prose and poetry, all by female writers' Deborah Warner, The Times 'This collection not only helps to illuminate historical and contemporary voices, but also makes you reconsider the meaning of the nature writing genre' Jane Adams, BBC Wildlife 'The writing is sure and precise. It is definite, luminous and strong' Julie Brominicks, BBC Countryfile 'This gorgeous doorstop of a book ... Its sheer scope is dazzling ... Katharine Norbury has done an impeccable job and a huge service to anyone wanting to stroll off the beaten track' Caught by the River 'I’ve been waiting eagerly for this. And now it’s here! A veritable tumble through brilliance spanning centuries and uniting great writers' Rob Cowen 'Women on Nature is a boundary breaker. It seeks to bring down barriers on gender, geopolitics, genre, or those between humans and nature and within nature itself – the wild versus the cultivated and domesticated' Daily Post 'An expansive and brilliant anthology of writing by women about place, landscape and the natural world in the east Atlantic archipelago. Featuring Nan Shepherd and so many of our favourite nature writers – a must read!' Nan Shepherd Prize Book of the Week 'Refreshing and evocative, Women on Nature reveals the need to mend the frayed places between nature and humankind, and rather than record the natural world’s dying, act together on behalf of its thriving' Kristine Morris, Foreword 'An entertaining and eclectic anthology ... For readers in search of a new take on the genre, this is a great place to start' Publishers Weekly
£12.99
Chronicle Books I Could Chew on This
Book SynopsisA New York Times bestseller? Oh, you know the dogs weren''t going to let the cats get away with that! This canine companion to I Could Pee on This, the beloved volume of poems by cats, I Could Chew on This will have dog lovers laughing out loud. Doggie laureates not only chew on quite a lot of things, they also reveal their creativity, their hidden motives, and their eternal (and sometimes misguided) effervescence through such musings as I Dropped a Ball, I Lose My Mind When You Leave the House, and Can You Smell That? Accompanied throughout by portraits of the canine poets in all their magnificence, I Could Chew on This is a work of unbridled enthusiasm, insatiable appetite, and, yes, creative genius.
£10.44
Johns Hopkins University Press Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City
Book SynopsisYour evening walk will never be the same once you come to know the quiet giants that line the city's streets.Trade Review"Dr. Day... A sort of Julia Child of nature." (New York Times) "This little gem fills you in on everything finned, furred, feathered, or leafed, and how to find it, in all five boroughs." (House and Garden) "Leslie Day ('a child of Manhattan') reveals hidden depths of this urban behemoth... A wonderful guide to the green side of the Big Apple." (Guardian)"Table of ContentsForeword, by Amy FreitagAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Leafy Neighborhoods of the Five Boroughs2. Tree Terminology3. Illustrated Glossary4. TreesDeciduous ConifersBald CypressDawn RedwoodDeciduous Broadleaf TreesSimple, UnlobedCallery PearNorthern CatalpaSchubert ChokecherryKwanzan CherryCrabappleDowny ServiceberryEastern RedbudAmerican ElmChinese ElmJapanese ZelkovaFlowering DogwoodGinkgo BilobaHawthornEuropean HornbeamJapanese Tree LilacKatsuraAmerican LindenLittlelead LindenSilver LindenSaucer MagnoliaPurple Leaf PlumSimple, LobedLondon PlaneHedge MapleJapanese MapleNorway MapleRed MapleRilver MapleSugar MapleSycamore MapleWhite MulberryEastern White OakEnglish OakNorthern Red OakPin OakSawtooth OakSwamp White OakWillow OakSweetgumTuliptreeCompound, PinnateTree of HeavenGreen AshWhite AshBlack LocustHoney LocustGoldenrain TreeJapanese PagodatreeKentucky PagodatreeCompound, Chestnut5. Tree PeopleTree Care TipsBibliographyIndex
£38.70
Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Mushrooms Demystified
Book SynopsisSimply the best and most complete mushroom field guide and reference book, MUSHROOMS DEMYSTIFIED includes descriptions and keys to more than 2,000 species of mushrooms, with more than 950 photographs. Mushroom authority David Arora provides a beginner's checklist of the 70 most distinctive and common mushrooms, plus detailed chapters on terminology, classification, habitats, mushroom cookery, mushroom toxins, and the meanings of scientific mushroom names. Beginning and experienced mushroom hunters everywhere will find MUSHROOMS DEMYSTIFIED a delightful, informative, and indispensible companion.
£29.60
Penguin Books Ltd Deep Country
Book SynopsisDeep Country is Neil Ansell''s account of five years spent alone in a hillside cottage in Wales.''I lived alone in this cottage for five years, summer and winter, with no transport, no phone. This is the story of those five years, where I lived and how I lived. It is the story of what it means to live in a place so remote that you may not see another soul for weeks on end. And it is the story of the hidden places that I came to call my own, and the wild creatures that became my society.''Neil Ansell immerses himself in the rugged British landscape, exploring nature''s unspoilt wilderness and man''s relationship with it. Deep Country is a celebration of rural life and the perfect read for fans of Robert Macfarlane''s Landmarks, Helen Macdonald''s H is for Hawk orJames Rebanks'' A Shepherd''s Life.''A beautiful, translucent portrayal of mid-Wales'' Jay Griffiths''Touching. Through Ansell''s charming and thoroughly
£10.44
Oxford University Press The Earth
Book SynopsisFor generations, the ground beneath the feet of our ancestors seemed solid and unchanging. Around 30 years ago, two things happened that were to revolutionize the understanding of our home planet. First, geologists realized that the continents themselves were drifting across the surface of the globe and that oceans were being created and destroyed. Secondly, pictures of the entire planet were returned from space. As the astronomer Fred Hoyle had predicted, this ''let loose an idea as powerful as any in history''. Suddenly, the Earth began to be viewed as a single entity; a dynamic, interacting whole, controlled by complex processes we scarcely understood. It began to seem less solid. As one astronaut put it, ''a blue jewel on black velvet; small, fragile and touchingly alone''. Geologists at last were able to see the whole as well as the detail; the wood as well as the trees. This book brings their account up to date with the latest understanding of the processes that govern our planet. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Dynamic Planet ; 2. Deep Time ; 3. Deep Earth ; 4. Under the Sea ; 5. Drifting Continents ; 6. Volcanoes ; 7. When the Ground Shakes ; Epilogue
£9.49
Globe Pequot The Nature of the Place
Book Synopsis
£23.75
Knickerbocker Press,U.S. National Parks 2026 Weekly Planner
Book Synopsis
£17.33
Little, Brown & Company Beautiful Swimmers
Book Synopsis
£14.99
Basic Books The Triumph of Seeds
Book Synopsis"[T]he genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds it is about the seeds themselves."-Mark Kurlansky, New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review"For the past fifty seven years I have relied on seeds for food and, throughout much of my horticultural career for earning a living. This new book has re excited my fascination for these wonderful living structures... [I]nformative, yet readable... [A] fascinating book." --Chris Allen, The Gardening Times (UK) "In The Triumph of Seeds, Thor Hanson offers the reader a smorgasbord of the science and lore of seeds... Hanson, following the recipe developed in his acclaimed book Feathers, breathes life into the sometimes dry topic of seed biology by weaving a colorful tapestry of stories that entertain as well as inform... The Triumph of Seeds is eminently readable. Hanson is a great story teller and writes in a conversational style, so reading the book is like having an extended conversation with an entertaining friend... The Triumph of Seeds is a thoroughly fun read, perfect for anyone wanting an introduction to seeds or for those who enjoy lively natural history." --Douglasia (Washington Native Plants Society journal) "Hanson's highly readable The Triumph of Seeds is replete with fascinating facts, including the development of caffeine in coffee beans." --Texas Gardener's Seeds "Thor Hanson has taken the history and science of these little marvels and drawn out a fascinating account of seed culture. We should not forget the importance of seeds in the liquor cabinet, as well. From rye whiskey, to wheat vodka, to barley beer, it would be a lot harder to get drunk without our friends in the grain world." --Home Wet Bar blog "[Hanson's] luck for finding then writing about the magic in something common continues with The Triumph of Seeds." --Seattle Times "Lest you get the impression that Hanson's book is all academic grit and gruel, be advised that he has thoroughly leavened his narrative with odd facts and fascinating digressions." --Natural History "This is a charming book, inspired by Hanson's forays into seed identification and dispersal with his young, seed-obsessed son... Hanson's twist of looking at human interactions with plants in their embryonic stage is new... The Triumph of Seeds will engender thoughtful consideration of our joint future." --Nature "Hanson's writing is lively, inquisitive, and knowledgeable. He draws on his own knowledge and that of a wide field of experts, writing a clear, comprehensible book that covers a wide range of topics." --Fangirl Nation "[Hanson is] jocular and entertaining in his dispensing of remarkable facts about these little vessels of life-to-be... From high-tech, high-security seed banks bracing for climate change to the story of the gum extracted from guar seeds that is used in everything from ice cream to fracking, this upbeat and mind-expanding celebration of the might of seeds is popular science writing at its finest." --Booklist, starred review "[A] delightful account of the origins, physiologies and human uses of a vast variety of objects that plants employ to make more plants... A fine addition to the single-issue science genre." --Kirkus Reviews "Hanson writes in that breezy, enthused, confident way of good American science writers, scattering stories and analogies like dandelion seed-puffs... [The Triumph of Seeds] is a good example of extrovert nature writing, weaving together biology, human history and 'juicy seed lore'." --British Wildlife (UK) "Who knew that seeds could be so thrilling and dangerous? Thor Hanson is a lively storyteller, a lyrical writer, and a quick wit. The Triumph of Seeds is more than an engrossing work of natural history. It's a compelling and highly entertaining journey, populated by scientists and historians, criminals and explorers, aviators and futurists. Following Hanson's global voyage is the best sort of armchair travel, because it is filled with wonder, poetry, and discovery." --Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks, a New York Times Bestseller "This beautifully written book is a magnificent read. Every page is full of surprises and illuminating insights, illustrating the fascinating evolution of seeds, and their extraordinary impact on humans, past and present. A master storyteller, Hanson has created a first-rate natural history. When you reach the end of this page-turner, you will wish there were more ... and you will never look at seeds in the same way." --Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America and When America Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail "Written in an engaging style, the book flows nicely; each chapter leads into the next, so the book is hard to put down." --Choice "Hanson's cinematic accounts of his own research and his interactions with the experts behind his stories set this apart from other era-hopping historical narratives." --The American Gardener "Hanson does his job well. And in the end becomes one of my favorite kind of writers -- the kind who can take something so seemingly (and perhaps deceptively) simple and so oven overlooked and make it not only relevant, but fun... People who want to get students more interested in science would do well to read The Triumph of Seeds and take note: tell stories, combine science and technology with pop culture, art, and literature, have a sense of humor, be enthusiastic." --Catherine Ramsdell, Pop Matters "A beautifully written story of seeds. The author has a gift for explaining science in an engaging manner. Despite this lightness of touch, the book is deeply researched and explores a breadth of horticulture, history and ecology."--Garden News "[The Triumph of Seeds] successfully blends natural history, personal anecdotes, and 'proper' science and ties them all together seamlessly with lovely writing. Although often over-used, I think Seeds can be summed up appropriately in one word: Charming."--Nigel Chaffey, Annals of Biology blog "[A]n intriguing look at the acorns that grow into oaks, the orchid beans that flavor vanilla extract, and other ordinary seeds that affect the world, often in extraordinary ways... [The Triumph of Seeds] is a mix of lively stories, adventure, natural history, botany and ecology... Hanson's book isn't a 'how-to,' but it is a 'don't miss' for naturalists, from amateurs to experts, or for anyone who enjoys growing plants from seeds." --HGTVGardens.com "How do you summarize a book that traverses every continent, plumbs the depths of human and paleontological history and skims both the ocean waves and the dead silence of outer space? The Triumph of Seeds does just that, tracing the journey of seeds and making a case that he world as we know it is saturated with, and impossible without, seeds." --Deseret News "[A] delight. Composed in charming and lively prose, the book introduces readers to a variety of quirky figures -- biologists, farmers, archaeologists and everyday gardeners -- who have something profound to say about a seemingly mundane topic: those little kernels that, against tremendous odds, have managed to take root all around us... The Triumph of Seeds is a remarkable, gentle and refreshing piece of work that draws readers further into the wide arms of the world and makes them grateful for it." --BookPage "Conservation biologist Hanson's new book showcases an even more approachable style than his 2011 Feathers. Using a personalized viewpoint derived from his backyard lab and dissertation research in Costa Rica with the almendro tree, as well as visits with specialists worldwide, he describes how seeds nourish, unite, endure, defend, and travel." --Library Journal "[F]ast and fascinating prose... Hanson, who has also chronicled feathers and gorillas, is a conservation biologist and Guggenheim fellow, and an ace dot-connector: He can draw a line between all the grain panics and crises and the tiny, miraculous structure of the seeds themselves, because he dives deeply into botany, economy and history. Also, he's just plain fun." --Denver Post "[A] rip-roaring read." --Robert Krulwich, National Geographic's Curiously Krulwich blog "With light, engaging prose Hanson shows how the little spheroids we tip out of a packet are in fact supremely elegant genetic time capsules. The Triumph of Seeds takes you past the casing into the extraordinary inner workings of objects without which our landscapes, dinner plates, and gardens would be unrecognisable. You will never be able to look at an orange pip or a sunflower seed in the same way again." --New Scientist "[An] engaging book... What makes The Triumph of Seeds more than a routine pop botany book is the way Mr. Hanson teases out the resonances between the ways that plants and humans use seeds... [A] lively and intelligent book." --Richard Mabey, Wall Street Journal "[T]he genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds; it is about the seeds themselves. Hanson...takes one of the least-impressive-looking natural objects and reveals a life of elegance and wonder... Although he is a storyteller by nature, he also charms us with an infectious enthusiasm. The reader feels that Hanson cannot wait to tell us what comes next... Like all good writers, he understands narrative -- that a book, at its best, is a story, and that this one is built by spinning stories within stories. They are fun, sometimes they are funny, and they are always fascinating and readable... [An] engaging book." --Mark Kurlansky, New York Times Book Review "Hanson delivers botanical information with wit and imagination. How seeds nurture themselves with starch, proteins, and oils may be a prosaic affair, but Hanson enlivens the explanation of their diverse nourishment strategies by examining the components of an Almond Joy candy bar: coconut palm, cacao beans, almond, corn." --Orion "Hanson, a wide-ranging naturalist and writer, explores, chapter by chapter, the many faceted aspects of seeds... And throughout, he weaves his own tales from his gardening. I loved this book and learned a lot." --Carol Savonen, Statesman Journal PRAISE FOR THE HARDCOVER EDITION Winner of the 2016 PNBA Book Award A finalist for the 2016 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, Young Adult Science Book category "This is the kind of accessible science writing that keeps readers engrossed, never realizing how much knowledge they're picking up along the way. Who knew that seeds could be so fascinating? Hanson's narrative voice and personal anecdotes make for easy and enjoyable reading--and learning." --Judges' citation, 2016 PNBA Book Award "San Juan Island conservation biologist Hanson explores the easily-overlooked but fascinating key to much of life on Earth, from coffee beans and the nut in Almond Joys to ancient grasses and sticky burdock seeds, which inspired Velcro" --Seattle Times, Best Books of 2015 "Combining personal anecdotes with rich historical examples, conservation biologist Thor Hanson delves into the origins and evolution of seeds, explains their unique ability to equip new plants with the nutrients they need to gain purchase in their respective ecosystems, and describes their host of formidable defenses. Drawing connections between, for example, coffee beans and the Enlightenment and wheat shortages and the Arab Spring, Hanson deftly shows how seeds have also played an important role in human history." --Science PRAISE FOR THE PAPERBACK EDITION "[Seeds'] ubiquity has often meant that their evolutionary solutions are overlooked, but the author appraises them with a keen and appreciative eye." --New York Times Book Review, Paperback Row "Biologist Thor Hanson sows the ultimate celebration of seeds and how they conquered the earth." --Nature "[The Triumph of Seeds] explores the importance of seeds, with scientific explanations, humorous first-person accounts and historical anecdotes." --Alaska Beyond "Hanson's style is that of a well-honed raconteur... For every point he makes, there's a tale (or two) that illustrates, and connects, and invites us explore the idea further. We begin to realize the amazing impact seeds have had on development of civilizations." --Connie Bennett, KLCC-FM (Eugene, OR) "A delightful work of natural history by San Juan Islands writer Hanson, about seeds, their role in nature's life cycle and in our lives." --Seattle Times "Imbued with open-eyed, childlike passion for his subject, conservation biologist Thor Hanson celebrates the triumph of seeds... Hanson is a genial and poetic guide, cleverly weaving together biology and culture." --Galapagos Matters (UK)Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Fierce Energy Seeds Nourish 1. Seed for a Day 2. The Staff of Life 3. Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut Seeds Unite 4. What the Spike Moss Knows 5. Mendel's Spores Seeds Endure 6. Methuselah 7. Take It to the Bank Seeds Defend 8. By Tooth, Beak, and Gnaw 9. The Riches of Taste 10 The Cheeriest Beans 11. Death by Umbrella Seeds Travel 12. Irresistible Flesh 13. By Wind and Wave Conclusion: The Future of Seeds
£12.59
North Atlantic Books,U.S. Kinship Medicine
Book Synopsis
£15.19
Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken Soup for the Soul What I Learned from My
Book SynopsisWe learn so much from our cats, and along the way they keep us company, provide unconditional love, and share in the ups and downs of our lives.What do we learn from our cats? Everything. They make us better versions of ourselves and show us the power of gratitude, forgiveness, resilience, living in the moment, and so much more. If we rescued them, they rescue us back. If we’re sad, they comfort us. If we’ve forgotten how to have fun, they show us how. They are our therapists, our role models, and our best friends. You’ll laugh a lot, tear up a bit, and nod your head in recognition as you read these tales about sharing life with a cat. The lessons we learn from them come in many forms, from the hilarious to the heroic. Prepare to be entertained and inspired as you read these 101 stories organized into 10 fun chapters: • My Very Good, Very Bad Cat • Learning to Love the Cat • Changed by the Cat • What a Character • Cats and Comedy • Opening Hearts • Saving Kitty • Meant to Be • Clever Cats • Quirky Cat Chicken Soup for the Soul books are 100% made in the USA and each book includes stories from as diverse a group of writers as possible.
£11.69
The University of Chicago Press Victorian Sensation
Book SynopsisWhen Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation was published anonymously in 1844, it sparked one of the greatest sensations of the Victorian era. The author uses the story of Vestiges to create a panoramic portrait of life in the early industrial era from the view of its readers.
£28.00
Little Toller Books Going to Ground
Book SynopsisGoing to Ground is an anthology from Little Toller's online journal, The Clearing. Gathered here is some of the best and most distinctive writing about nature and place, from more than thirty writers celebrating and questioning our landscapes. Contributors include Nancy Campbell, Kathleen Jamie, Tim Dee, Tim Hannigan, Louisa Adjoa Parker.
£14.40
Penguin Books Ltd The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
Book SynopsisIf Darwin had one goal with Expression, it was to demonstrate the power of his theories for explaining the origin of our most cherished human qualities: morality and intellect. This book engages some of the hardest questions in the evolution debate, and shows the ever-cautious Darwin at his boldest.Trade Review" He who admits, on general grounds, that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light." -Charles DarwinTable of ContentsThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsAcknowledgementsChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingNote on the TextThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsAppendix 1: Translation of French quotationsAppendix 2: Darwin's 'Queries About Expression'Appendix 3: List of supplementary imagesIndex
£13.49
Area Books Algues Maudites a Sea of Tears
Book Synopsis
£34.85
Cornell University Press Bird Trapping and Bird Banding
Book Synopsis
£38.40
Cornell University Press Neotropical Birds of Prey
Book SynopsisUntil recently, surprisingly little has been known about the biology and behavior of tropical forest raptors, including such basic aspects as diets, breeding biology, habitat requirements, and population ecology, information critical to the development of conservation efforts. The Peregrine Fund conducted a significant eight-year-long research program on the raptor species, including owls, in Tikal National Park in Guatemala to learn more about Neotropical birds of prey. Impressive and unprecedented in scale, this pioneering research also involved the development of new methods for detecting, enumerating, and studying these magnificent but often elusive birds in their forest home. Beautifully illustrated with photographs of previously little-known species, the resulting book is the most important single source for information on the lowland tropical forest raptor species found in Central America. Neotropical Birds of Prey covers twenty specific species in depth, including theTrade Review"... a remarkableindeed exceptionalpublication; well produced certainlybut valuable above all because of the enormous contribution to our knowledge of Neotropical raptors that it represents.... To sum upthis is a most impressive volume that documents the efforts of the many people who studied this raptor community and who have greatly advanced our knowledge of Neotropical raptors. It is a fitting tribute to these magni?cent birds and the dedicated researchers involved in the Maya Project." —José Hernán Sarasola * IBIS *Neotropical Birds of Prey is a handsome tribute to an ambitious project. Not least, the book captures the dedication required to squeeze a decent set of data out of any suite of raptors—a notoriously difficult group to study—much less those of the remote, dense, and humid Tikal forest, with its heavily armed plants, aggressive insects, and venomous snakes. -- Penny Olson * BioScience *"I was not sure what to expect when I first saw the title of this bookbut it quickly became clear that it is a remarkableindeed exceptionalpublication; well produced certainlybut valuable above all because of the enormous contribution to our knowledge of Neotropical raptors that it represents.... To sum upthis is a most impressive volume that documents the efforts of the many people who studied this raptor community and who have greatly advanced our knowledge of Neotropical raptors. It is a fitting tribute to these magnificent birds and the dedicated researchers involved in the Maya Project." — Jose Hernan Sarasola * IBIS *The in-depth accounts compare favorably to those in the knowledge of tropical raptors.... The book is well referenced, and each chapter is illustrated with tables/figures. An important resource for ornithologists and tropical raptor researchers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. * Choice *The subtitle of the work may suggest that this is a book for the specialist—and no doubt this is a volume that no raptor expert will want to be without. However, as a simple admirer of birds of prey I found this book hard to put down. So much fascinating information is to be found within its pages, yet it reads like one of the classic Collins New Naturalist or Poyser editions that are familiar to British readers: Leslie Brown'sBritishBirds of Preyor Ian Newton'sThe Sparrowhawk. * Neotropical Birding *Table of ContentsForeword by J. Peter JennyAcknowledgments About the Authors1. The Maya Project David F. Whitacre and William A. Burnham2. The Maya Forest David F. Whitacre and Mark D. Schulze3. Gray-headed Kite Russell K. Thorstrom, David F. Whitacre, Juventino López, and Gregorio López4. Hook-billed Kite David F. Whitacre and Miguel A. Vásquez5. Swallow-tailed Kite Richard P. Gerhardt, Dawn M. Gerhardt, and Miguel A. Vásquez6. Double-toothed Kite Mark D. Schulze, José L. Córdova, Nathaniel E. Seavy, and David F. Whitacre7. Plumbeous Kite Nathaniel E. Seavy, Mark D. Schulze, David F. Whitacre, and Miguel A. Vásquez8. Bicolored Hawk Russell K. Thorstrom9. Crane Hawk Jason Sutter10. White Hawk Gregory S. Draheim, David F. Whitacre, Angel M. Enamorado, Oscar A. Aguirre, and Aquiles E. Hernández11. Great Black Hawk Richard P. Gerhardt, Nathaniel E. Seavy, and Ricardo A. Madrid12. Roadside Hawk Theresa Panasci13. Crested Eagle David F. Whitacre, Juventino López, and Gregorio López14. Black Hawk-eagle David F. Whitacre, Juventino López, Gregorio López, Sixto H. Funes, Craig J. Flatten, and Julio A. Madrid15. Ornate Hawk-eagle David F. Whitacre, Julio A. Madrid, Héctor D. Madrid, Rodolfo Cruz, Craig J. Flatten, and Sixto H. Funes16. Barred Forest Falcon Russell K. Thorstrom17. Collared Forest Falcon Russell K. Thorstrom18. Laughing Falcon Margaret N. Parker, Angel M. Enamorado, and Mario Lima19. Bat Falcon Margaret N. Parker and David F. Whitacre20. Orange-breasted Falcon Aaron J. Baker, David F. Whitacre, and Oscar A. Aguirre21. Mexican Wood Owl Richard P. Gerhardt and Dawn M. Gerhardt22. Black-and-white Owl Richard P. Gerhardt, Dawn M. Gerhardt, Normandy Bonilla, and Craig J. Flatten23. Ecology and Conservation of Tikal's Raptor Fauna David F. Whitacre and William A. BurnhamAppendix 1: Body Mass and Sexual Size Dimorphism Data for Maya Forest Raptor SpeciesAppendix 2: Linear Measurements and Sexual Size Dimorphism for Maya Forest Raptor SpeciesLiterature CitedIndex
£73.80
Chelsea Green Publishing Co A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity
Book SynopsisWilliam Coperthwaite is a teacher, builder, designer, and writer who for many years hasexplored the possibilities of true simplicity on a homestead on the north coast of Maine. In the spirit of Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Helen and Scott Nearing, Coperthwaite has fashioned a livelihood of integrity and completeness-buying almost nothing, providing for his own needs, and serving as a guide and companion to hundreds of apprentices drawn to his unique way of being. A Handmade Life carries Coperthwaite's ongoing experiments with hand tools, hand-grown and gathered food, and handmade shelter, clothing, and furnishings out into the world to challenge and inspire. His writing is both philosophical and practical, exploring themes of beauty, work, education, and design while giving instruction on the hand-crafting of the necessities of life. Richly illustrated with luminous color photographs by Peter Forbes, the book is a moving and inspirational testament to a new practice of old ways of life.Trade ReviewPublishers Weekly- Serene and thoughtful, this rambling scrapbook by Maine native and yurt-house builder Coperthwaite provides a vision of a life lived simply and self-sufficiently. From violence to education to how to build a "democratic chair" or make an axe, Coperthwaite covers an abundance of topics as he describes his version of a "handmade life" and explains why such a life is desirable. Never quite didactic, Coperthwaite meditates on topics-such as the idea of employment as exploitation-more than he preaches about them, moving glibly from idea to disconnected idea. A recipe for "a bread so good to both the palate and to health that a diet of bread and water would be a delight" is placed next to an anecdote about a young Eskimo girl named Maggie, for example. And the author's own poems, along with poems by D.H. Lawrence and Emily Dickinson, intersperse the narrative. Peter Forbes' engaging color photographs illustrate Coperthwaite's concepts-no easy feat given their breadth and diversity. 67 color photos, 10 b&w illustrations. (review refers to an earlier edition of the book)"This book, a richly textured exploration of Bill Coperthwaite's work and thought, encourages us to take the lessons of his life to heart. Each of us has the potential to craft our own lives with our own hands--actively, joyfully, and nonviolently, drawing upon the wisdom of our ancestors, striving for justice in the present, and fulfilling our obligations to those who will inherit our legacy."--John Saltmarsh (review refers to an earlier edition)
£20.00
Oneworld Publications The Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession
Book SynopsisA New Statesman Book of the Year The wolf stands at the forefront of the debate about our impact on the natural world. In one of the most celebrated successes of modern conservation, it has been reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. What unfolds is a riveting multi-generational saga, at the centre of which is O-Six, a charismatic alpha female beloved by park rangers and amateur spotters alike. As elk numbers decline and the wolf population rises, those committed to restoring an iconic landscape clash with those fighting for a vanishing way of life; hunters stalk the park fringes and O-Six’s rivals seek to bring an end to her dominance of the stunningly beautiful Lamar Valley.Trade Review‘Deeply informed yet fast-paced and deftly structured…What ultimately makes this book so satisfying is that it is as much an account of the deep divisions within contemporary America as it is a tale about the world’s most enduring carnivore.' * New Statesman *‘Weaves together three narratives in one superb book…Blakeslee’s triumph is to tell all three stories with deep sympathy and insight.’ * New Statesman, Books of the Year *‘Blakeslee draws O-Six in novelistic…detail, using the conflicting insight and perspective of biologists, politicians, ranchers, environmentalists, lawyers, other animals, and hunters… Seeing a wolf is exceptionally rare, and this book is as close as most readers will come.’ * The New Yorker *‘Inspired by the most charismatic of animals, this is a story of dedication and determination, of conflict and passion and like all good stories it challenges your thoughts and fires up your emotions.’ -- Kate Humble‘Extraordinary…Blakeslee is a fine writer…Chilling and gripping by turns. The Wolf is a book that should be read, with care.’ * The National *‘The story of one wolf’s struggle to survive in the majestic Yellowstone National Park offers an ambitious look through the eyes of an endangered animal.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘The lives of the wolves in Yellowstone are often dramatic, but are full of touching, tender moments too, as Nate Blakeslee vividly writes in The Wolf.’ * Los Angeles Times *‘Gripping and fascinating! Wolf vs wolf, wolf vs man, man vs man.’ -- Margaret Atwood (via Twitter)‘Heartbreaking front-line coverage of our war on the wild… Blakeslee, hauntingly, gives the victims faces, families and stories. A quietly angry, aching, important book.’ -- Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast‘A compelling environmental drama of the reintroduction of wolves to the Rockies, as clear-sighted on human politics as it is on wolf politics. As wolf packs battle one another for control of precious territory, unknown to them another battle is taking place, between the wolves’ supporters and those who would eradicate them.’ -- Neil Ansell, author of Deep Country: Five Years in the Welsh Hills‘Wolves are neither gods nor demons. Real wolves are complex beings with personalities, ambitions, careers, and – thanks to us – more than their fair share of tragedy. The Wolf gives us true profiles of wolf lives lived in their actual families. And when humans get involved, the trajectory of their lives forever changes.’ -- Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel‘Blakeslee…brings the feeling of a celebrity biography to the story of the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park and its aftermath… [He] escorts readers up close to interpack conflict as well as human enemies of wolf preservation.’ * Kirkus, starred review *‘Blakeslee gives us a very different sort of biography – the saga of a single female wolf, “the most famous wolf in the world,” and her exploits in Yellowstone National Park. It’s a startlingly intimate portrait of the intricate, loving, human-like interrelationships that govern wolves in the wild, as observed in real time by a cadre of dedicated wolf-watchers – in the end, a drama of lupine love, care, and grief.’ -- Erik Larson, author of The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake‘Wild, poignant, and compelling, The Wolf is an important, beautifully wrought book about animals, about values, and about living on this earth.’ -- Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin‘The Wolf is a transcendent tale of the American West. I loved the doggedness and depth of the reporting, the texture of the writing. There are echoes of Jack London everywhere. But above all I loved the wolf herself, a character like no other I have ever encountered.’ -- S. C. Gwynne, author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell‘An intimate and riveting book about America’s most iconic and embattled predator. Blakeslee moves effortlessly between the ancient drama of the wolf pack, and its modern human counterpart, the sometimes vicious, red state-blue state partisans whose battleground is the fate of the American wolf. A wonderful and welcome addition to the pantheon of nature literature.’ -- John Vaillant, author of The Tiger and The Golden Spruce
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC RSPB Spotlight Ladybirds
Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Ladybirds is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.Brightly coloured and pleasingly pattered, ladybirds are among some of our most beloved and familiar invertebrates. Their role in helping to protect our crops by devouring huge numbers of pests has firmly established these tiny, flying beetles as the gardeners'' friend.Spotlight Ladybird focuses on the 26 species that are resident in the UK, from the widespread but unusual Orange Ladybird to the rare - and aptly named - Scarce 7-spot Ladybird. Ladybird expert, Richard Comont considers the conservation challenges facing these iconic species, whose populations are now at risk thanks to the threat posed by one of their own, the invasive alien Harlequin Ladybird. And he covers all aspects of ladybirds'' biology, from tiny larvae emerging from their oval eggs to large aggregations that converge at specific sites around theTable of ContentsMeet the Ladybirds Ladybirds Across Time and Space The Ladybird Year Feeding and Foraging Ladybirds in the Landscape Natural Ladybird Enemies Cultural Connections Watching Ladybirds Looking After Ladybirds Glossary Further Reading and Resources Ladybird Species in Britain Acknowledgements Image Credits Index
£11.69
Princeton University Press Britains Hoverflies
Book SynopsisBritain's Hoverflies is a beautifully illustrated photographic field guide to the hoverflies of Britain, focusing on the species that can be most readily identified. It is the perfect companion for wildlife enthusiasts, professional ecologists and anyone else with an interest in this fascinating group of insects, and is designed to appeal to beginnTrade Review"The WILDGuides are rapidly becoming the definitive format for UK Reid guides dealing with relatively small and focused groups of our fauna and flora. Their clear, concise and comprehensive format has set a new bar in the field guide arena. The second edition of Britain's Hoverflies is no exception, demonstrating the continuing evolution of this format... The authors are to be congratulated on the production of an informative, attractive and extremely useful introductory glide to this popular group of insects. This is a must-have volume for any field biologist."--Peter Smithers, Antenna Praise for the previous edition: "Covering those species most likely to be seen means as an introduction this book will be a great starting point, the photographs are great at helping you achieve your identification goals and the short descriptive accompanying text will help even more if you need to compare other species."--Ashley Boelens, Fat photographer Praise for the previous edition: "[W]onderfully informative... [T]he book is billed on the front cover as An introduction to the Hoverflies of Britain. But it's rather better than a simple introduction--in fact it is quite complete, covering each of the 70 genera to occur in Britain and 165 of the commoner species that one is likely to find within our shores, giving the prospective reader more than enough material to go at and thus proving quite brilliant for the mere mortals of hoverfly identification such as me... This particular group of insects has been crying out for a modern and comprehensive field guide of high quality for years, and finally it is here. Go and buy it--it's essential!"--Josh Jones, BirdGuides Praise for the previous edition: "The latest field guild from the excellent Wildguides... Beautifully and clearly laid out."--Charlie Moores, Talking Naturally Praise for the previous edition: "This is an excellent introduction to this attractive group of insects and should inspire many of its readers to investigate them further."--N.P. Wyatt, Entomologist's Monthly Magazine Praise for the previous edition: "I have found these Wild Guides invaluable for ID-ing my insects... This is an ideal gift for anyone who loves their wildlife, they will appreciate the stunning photos in this super detailed field guide."--Gadget Girl ReviewsTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. 1*Contents, pg. 3*Foreword, pg. 7*Preface, pg. 9*Introduction, pg. 10*Is it a Hoverfly?, pg. 12*Hoverfly biology, pg. 15*Finding hoverflies, pg. 34*Glossary, pg. 46*Identifying hoverflies, pg. 49*Bacchini, pg. 71*Paragini, pg. 92*Syrphini, pg. 94*Callicerini, pg. 154*Cheilosiini, pg. 158*Chrysogastrini, pg. 180*Eristalini, pg. 198*Merodontini, pg. 220*Pelecocerini, pg. 226*Pipizini, pg. 228*Sericomyiini, pg. 240*Volucellini, pg. 244*Xylotini, pg. 250*Microdon, pg. 272*List of British and Irish hoverflies, pg. 276*Photographing hoverflies, pg. 285*Collecting hoverflies, pg. 291*Legislation and conservation, pg. 296*Recording hoverflies, pg. 297*Gardening for hoverflies, pg. 299*Further reading and useful addresses, pg. 302*Acknowledgements, pg. 304*Photographic credits, pg. 305*Index of scientific names, pg. 309
£21.25
Princeton University Press The Arctic Guide
Book SynopsisThe Arctic Guide presents the traveler and naturalist with a portable, authoritative guide to the flora and fauna of earth's northernmost region. Featuring superb color illustrations, this one-of-a-kind book covers the complete spectrum of wildlife--more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals--that inhabit the Arctic'sTrade Review"This book takes my breath away and it may leave you gasping with glee, too. Ms. Chester begins with a lively crash course in boreal geography and ecology, then begins her heroic march through nearly all of taxonomy... The Arctic Guide takes the reader on a tour de force of nearly everything that's interesting in the circumboreal world."--Ed Kanze, Bedford (NY) Record-Review "Do you plan a visit to Alaska? If you do, you could do no better preparing for your natural history observations than by reading Sharon Chester's The Arctic Guide: Wildlife of the Far North."--Gerry Rising, Buffalo Spree "This is a phenomenal book. It covers the species you'd expect--birds and marine mammals--in depth. But it also includes fish, flies, even flora. It's the only book a naturalist requires for a field trip to the Arctic."--Matt Miller, Cool Green Science blog "This handy tome not only covers this vast region's fauna, but also touches upon climate, flora, atmospheric phenomena, landforms and oceanography... The illustrations are simply sublime... As a longtime Arctic guide, I recommend Chester's wholeheartedly... Browse it and daydream or stuff it into your river drybag or backpack if you head north this summer."--Michael Engelhard, Alaska Dispatch NewsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 2 About This Book 3 Geographic Coordinates 4 Glossary 5 Arktos 10 Defining the Arctic 11 Map of the Arctic 12 Mammals 25 Birds 127 Fishes 373 Lizards and Frogs 399 Flies, Bees, and Butterflies 401 Flora 425 Bibliography 535 Indexes 537
£25.20
Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World
Book SynopsisFrom the author of GROWING GOURMET AND MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS comes the only identification guide exclusively devoted to the world''s psilocybin-containing mushrooms. Detailed descriptions and color photographs for over 100 species are provided, as well as an exploration of their long-standing (and often religious) use by ancient peoples and their continued significance to modern-day culture. Some of the species included have just been discovered in the past year or two, and still others have never before been photographed in their natural habitats.
£21.60
Hancock House Publishers Ltd ,Canada Mount Rainier
Book Synopsis
£10.44
