Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

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 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 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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Book SynopsisAs seen on PBS's American Spring Live, one of America's great nature-writers explores the magic and science of feathers Feathers are an evolutionary marvel: aerodynamic, insulating, beguiling. They date back more than 100 million years. Yet their story has never been fully told. In Feathers, biologist Thor Hanson details a sweeping natural history, as feathers have been used to fly, protect, attract, and adorn through time and place. Applying the research of paleontologists, ornithologists, biologists, engineers, and even art historians, Hanson asks: What are feathers? How did they evolve? What do they mean to us? Engineers call feathers the most efficient insulating material ever discovered, and they are at the root of biology's most enduring debate. They silence the flight of owls and keep penguins dry below the ice. They have decorated queens, jesters, and priests. And they have inked documents from the Constitution to the novels of Jane Austen.Feathers is a captivating and beautiful exploration of this most enchanting object.Trade ReviewFrank B. Gill, author of Ornithology "Thor Hanson has captured the wonders of feathers in gripping prose that will likely change forever how you look at birds and their colorful adornments. This is rich and engaging ornithology at its best." Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain "If you feel a sudden need to read about dinosaurs, flyfishing, muttonbirds, and showgirls, this is your book! Absolutely fascinating history, and a terrific read, Feathers is another Thor Hanson classic!" Peter Matthiessen, National Book Award winning author of The Snow Leopard and Shadow Country "A fascinating book about the most remarkable--and beautiful--of all avian evolutionary adaptations, with wonderful accounts of ornithological investigations and the solving of biological quandaries and questions, all of it unusually well-written. Highly recommended." Robert Michael Pyle, author of Wintergreen and Mariposa Road "Feathers is simply a splendid book! Even for one biased toward butterfly scales, their closest competitors in the animal raiment line, feathers in all their glory can only be seen as astonishing. With elegance and wit, Thor Hanson captures not only their awesome esthetics, but also the astonishing evolution, historical and cultural impact, and sheer wonder of avian plumage. Rendered in exquisite detail with delicate touch, like a feather-painting of old, this is the best kind of natural history--quilled by a real field biologist who is also a fine writer." Bernd Heinrich, Emeritus Professor of Biology, University of Vermont; author of Winter World and Mind of the Raven "Feathers are truly remarkable. In this book Hanson shows how they are the key to many of the most fascinating and diverse aspects of bird biology, how they have affected our understanding of evolution, and how they have and are enriching our everyday lives. This is science written in clear and entertaining prose; a great read." BioScience "From basic research about bird biology and the evolutionary origins of feather to falconry, couture, and bioinspiration in industrial design, the book treats us to a series of engaging essays about feathers, both on and off the bird... Hanson weaves his prior encounters with birds and his experiences as a scientist into the text, offering lively anecdotes about his student days and subsequent life as a professional grant-seeking field biologist. He is particularly adept at portraying how science really works... Hanson's prose is polished, lively, and evocative. The outcome is a book that is easy and entertaining to read, yet one that is able to satisfy our intellectual curiosity... In Feathers, Hanson is remarkably successful at offering something for everyone. Readers from young adults to professional ornithologists and from those interested in nature to those more interested in human culture will enjoy this book... Ultimately, Feathers is a book to read for pleasure, but along the way, we gain knowledge and insight into nature and our relationship with it." Bird Watcher's Digest "To read Feathers is to meet up with an enthusiastic old friend who simply cannot wait to tell you about something he just discovered. Deceptively conversational and fast moving, disguising the true depth of information it conveys with buoyant, good-humored prose, Feathers is a book not only intellectually accessible to anyone with an interest in the subject but also one that should be considered a must-read by bird watchers and naturalists of all levels of interest or experience." Audubon "[C]aptivating... Beginning with the evolution of birds, Hanson, a biologist, explains competing theories with ease, and unfolds the human fascination with feathers in terms of science, commerce, tools, folklore, art, and aerodynamics with panache. Anecdotes infuse the fascinating survey." Montana Outdoors "[A] delight. As the name makes clear, it's all about feathers--their evolution, use by birds, and extremely high value to humans, from quill pens and trout flies to women's hats and Aztec emperor headdresses." Seattle Times "[D]elightful... [A] fascinating inquiry into one of those common things that are easy to overlook until someone shows what a miracle it is... Birds, the only animals with feathers today, wear these magic coats of stunning variety whose forms so perfectly fit their functions. Hanson's book reveals much about that marvelous magic." Library Journal (starred review) "[E]njoyable, wide-ranging, and well-researched... Highly recommended for birders and science buffs." Maclean's "[E]ngaging... For all the intriguing science, what really livens up Hanson's passionate discussion of his 'natural miracle' are the stories he tells." Nature "Thor Hanson's storytelling is enhanced by his infectious excitement... Hanson's tale is comprehensive, accurate, timely and engaging... Feathers is a compelling introduction to one of nature's wonders." Science "Hanson writes in a colorful, conversational, and non-technical manner that conveys his enthusiasm for the subject... The book offers a readable introduction to feathers and what they mean for birds and mankind." Wall Street Journal "[Hanson] has produced a winning book about the extraordinary place of feathers in animal and human history... like all true birdwatchers, Mr. Hanson knows it isn't just the bird at the far end of the binoculars but the human being at the near end that matters, and he is writing as much about the human urge to understand, appreciate and appropriate the wild world as he is writing about feathers, which he calls, in his subtitle, a 'natural miracle.'... Feathers is an earthbound book, but this does not keep the author--or the reader--from looking up in wonder." New York Times "[A] fine book... Mr. Hanson's pleasure in feathers is infectious... [Feathers] is gracious, funny, persuasive and wide ranging. Feathers, Mr. Hanson reminds us, teach a remarkable amount about evolution, insulation, engineering, archaeology and fashion. Better still, as this book shows, they allow not only birds but the human imagination to take flight." New Scientist "[A] sparkling history... Well-written science adds gravity to the more featherweight content of witty anecdotes -- from interviews with feather-clad Las Vegas showgirls to plucking roadkill in the name of biology. The skilful way Hanson combines the two makes this book popular natural history at its best."

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Book SynopsisUnlike other barnyard animals, which pull plows, give eggs or milk, or grow wool, a pig produces only one thing: meat. Incredibly efficient at converting almost any organic matter into nourishing, delectable protein, swine are nothing short of a gastronomic godsend,yet their flesh is banned in many cultures, and the animals themselves are maligned as filthy, lazy brutes.As historian Mark Essig reveals in Lesser Beasts , swine have such a bad reputation for precisely the same reasons they are so valuable as a source of food: they are intelligent, self-sufficient, and omnivorous. What''s more, he argues, we ignore our historic partnership with these astonishing animals at our peril. Tracing the interplay of pig biology and human culture from Neolithic villages 10,000 years ago to modern industrial farms, Essig blends culinary and natural history to demonstrate the vast importance of the pig and the tragedy of its modern treatment at the hands of humans. Pork, Essig explains, has long beTrade ReviewPraise for Lesser Beasts: "Broad, well-researched... [An] entertaining study." --Economist "Although history sprawls across countless topics, Essig zeroes in on a long-neglected niche -- the pig. In sprightly prose, he tells why the intelligent animal has filled so many plates for so long in so many parts of the world; like good bacon, his book sizzles." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Best Books of 2015 "A witty history of civilization told through our four-legged pork producer." --The Guardian (UK) "Essig's account is fascinating, full of erudition and nuance. He traces societal changes from the pharaohs to Walmart, using the pig. Equally, he uses history to enlarge our understanding of the domestic pig." --New Scientist (UK) "Essig presents the pig in a rich cultural context, weaving natural and social history into an engaging narrative about the lowly beast that has loomed ever so large in our collective experience." --Asheville Citizen-Times "Lesser Beasts offers readers entertainment as well as information ... [some] pages sizzle like bacon, and it's tough to set aside a book about an animal that's so close to people, in locale and in physiology." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden and Gun "Mark Essig's savory history will provide you with hundreds of facts and anecdotes about the remarkable pig, so you'll impress your friends and relatives around the fire pit. Essig--who lives in Asheville--loves his pigs; he just loves them a little bit more with a nice vinegar." PopMatters "Essig offers a compelling look at one of history's most divisive animals... informative, suprising." "[A] solid introduction to swine culture... Highly recommended. All readers." --CHOICE "Essig examines the longstanding yet often overlooked connections between man and swine... You'll finish this read with a new appreciation for the phrase 'bringing home the bacon.'" --The Local Palate Portland Book Review "[Essig's] writing skill is excellent... a good read." "An enlightening culinary history... A lively, informative farm-to-table feast." --Kirkus Reviews "What Mark Kurlansky did for Cod, Essig might just do for swine." --Shelf Awareness "Essig presents an entertaining perspective on pigs, especially as they relate to humans. After you read this book, pigs will never seem quite the same." --Library Journal "A thoughtful book about the fascinating relationship between pigs and people, from Leviticus to Charlotte's Web. I learned something new on every page: Essig has a knack for delivering reams of information with lightness and wit, even as he makes an eloquent plea for a reformed pork industry, one where the bacon we eat comes from 'a pig that lived like a pig.' Whether you eat pork or not, Lesser Beasts is a gripping meditation on the plight of pigs." --Bee Wilson, author of Consider the Fork "Forget the egg. It's the pig that's incredible and edible. And Mark Essig tells the remarkable animal's checkered history with a style and verve that's as irresistible as bacon itself." --John Donohue, editor of Man with a Pan: Culinary Adventures of Fathers who Cook for their Families "Mark Essig tells a fine tale of the unsung exploits of the lowly pig, from the age of the pyramids and the wars of the conquistadors to the awful abattoirs and trendy restaurants of today. With clear prose and careful research, he redeems an animal that has played a seminal role in human history while enduring near universal disdain. This fascinating book provides a marvelous antidote to our unexamined views on the pig." --Andrew Lawler, author of Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? The Epic Saga of the Bird that Powers Civilization "Lesser Beasts is a delightful romp through porcine history from the Neolithic era to the present. Mark Essig offers surprising answers to the question of why humans have had such a love-hate affair with the humble pig, and unveils many other unexpected insights. Well written and well researched, Lesser Beasts is a must for historians, pork lovers, and anyone who just loves a good read." --Andrew F. Smith, editor-in-chief, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America "Pigs are omnivorous. And so is Mark Essig. From a Roman recipe for salt curing and cold smoking hams that Cato favored, to the ignoble efforts of American industrial farmers who have shown neither their pigs nor their customers respect, he has sifted the archival record to write a smart and thoroughly engaging social history of the curious entwinings of pig and man." --John T. Edge, series editor, Southern Foodways Alliance Studies in Culture, People, and PlaceTable of ContentsPrologue. The Magical Animal One. Keep it Simple Two. Out of the Wild Three. "The Pig is Impure" Four. "Of Their Flesh Shall Ye Not Eat" Five. "Monstrosities of Luxury" Six. The Forest Pig Seven. "Swine Eat Things Clean and Unclean" Eight. "The Husbandman's Best Scavenger" Nine. "All the Mountains Swarmed with Them" Ten. "A Great Unkindness for our Swine" Eleven. "The Benevolent Tyranny of the Pig" Twelve. "Twenty Bushels of Corn on Four Legs" Thirteen. "The Republic of Porkdom" Fourteen. "A Swinish Multitude" Fifteen. "A Growing Prejudice Against Pork" Sixteen. "The Other White Meat" Seventeen. Vices Eighteen. "Back to the Start" Epilogue. Virtuous Carnivores

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Book SynopsisA quarter of U.S. households own a dog, but many of these pooches have problems, ranging from obsessive barking to aggression. This easy-to-understand guide helps owners understand what makes Fido tick--and how to fix problem behaviors using practical, positive methods.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: The Fascinating World of Dogs 7 Chapter 1: A Dog for Life: Dog Psychology 101 9 Chapter 2: Understanding Your Dog 15 Chapter 3: Communicating with Your Dog 29 Chapter 4: Seeing Life from Your Dog’s Perspective 47 Part II: Embracing Your Dog’s Identity 61 Chapter 5: Identifying Your Dog’s Individuality 63 Chapter 6: Interpreting Your Dog’s Breed-Specific Traits 83 Chapter 7: Sensory Perceptions 95 Chapter 8: Meeting the Needs of Your Growing Puppy 107 Chapter 9: Reading and Communicating as Your Dog Ages 123 Part III: Doggie Delinquency 137 Chapter 10: Inspiring Behavior with Motivational Techniques 139 Chapter 11: Helping Your Dog Learn from Everyday Living 159 Chapter 12: Happy Training, Happy Tails 171 Part IV: Dogs Don’t Misbehave: Misperceptions and Solutions 185 Chapter 13: Addressing and Solving Problem Behavior 187 Chapter 14: Countering Anxiety-Based Behavior 205 Chapter 15: Understanding and Resolving Aggressive Behavior 221 Part V: The Part of Tens 241 Chapter 16: Ten Forms of Silent Communication 243 Chapter 17: Ten Common Misunderstandings 249 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Become Your Dog’s Leader 255 Index 261

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Book SynopsisThe great advocate for wilderness preservation wrote many letters extolling the wonders of Yosemite. His lyric, vividly written accounts describe sheep-herding, guiding visitors, and studying the region's diverse splendors.

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Book SynopsisExplores the lifestyles of families and individuals around the world who have escaped the daily grind to create a new life in harmony with nature. The impact of climate change and the pressures of city life â not to mention the life-changing events of the last few years â have left many of us dreaming of a simpler existence that benefits the environment and resets the mind. The lifting of restrictions, including travel, has meant that more of us than ever are re-evaluating how and where we live, eschewing disposable culture in favour of a more meaningful and sustainable way of life. From a family who relocated to the remote Australian bush to a young couple who live and work on a narrowboat on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal in the UK, Living Wild tells the stories of people around the world who have made the leap into the unknown, exploring what inspired them and how the move has impacted upon their families and livelihoods. From tackling the daily challenges of living off-grTable of ContentsIntroduction: Following a Wilder Path An Olive Farm in Provence, France A Mountaintop Cabin, Switzerland A Regenerative Farm in Mecklenburg, Germany A Wooded Retreat, Norway An Old Railway Carriage, Australia In Harmony with the Seasons, France Creativity & Craft Autumnal Gardens in Bulgaria At Home in the Australian Bush A Ranch on the Great Plains, USA The Olive Trees and the Moon, Portugal Farm to Table Little Floating Home, UK A Cabin Van in the Cairngorms, UK An Artist’s Shack, Australia Into the Wilderness, Finland Wanderlust & Technology Communal Living in Normandy, France A Florist’s Haven, UK A Yurt at the Foot of the Tetons, USA Tiny House in a Forest, UK Directory Acknowledgments

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Book Synopsis* An exploration of one of the thorniest, and most important, questions of contemporary social and political thought* Written in lively and accessbile style, this will appeal to a wide scholarly and educated audience. .Trade Review"This is an excellent book. It addresses what, in both conceptual and political terms, is arguably the most important source of tension and confusion in current arguments about the environment, namely the concept of nature; and it does so in a way that is both sensitive to, and critical of, the two antithetical ways of understanding this that dominate existing discussions." Russell Keat, University of Edinburgh "Pondering the related issues of environmental crisis and sustainability, readers will benefit greatly from close study of Kate Soper's extended essay on the discourse of nature and 'nature'." W. Lukin, University of LondonTable of ContentsAcknowledgements viii Introduction 1 1 The Discourses of Nature 15 2 Nature, Human, and Inhuman 37 3 Nature, Friend and Foe 71 4 Nature and Sexual Politics 119 5 Nature and ‘Nature’ 149 6 The Space and Time of Nature 180 7 Loving Nature 213 8 Ecology, Nature and Responsibility 249 Index 283

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Book SynopsisPrevious edition by Bruce M. Beehler, Thane K. Pratt, and Dale A. Zimmerman.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 One of the Birdbooker Report's Best Bird Books of 2014 "A must have for birders with an interest in the region!"--Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "This is an excellent book and will serve travelling birders very well indeed and I am sure will be just as welcomes by local wildlife lovers in New Guinea... This is also a thing of beauty in itself and a pleasure to drool over."--Bo Beolens, Fatbirder "Amazing! Please buy it, whether or not you're planning a trip to West Papua or PNG. It's a must-have book... [A] high quality field guide, with maps on the same page as the plates, excellent, informative text, good artwork--and everything one hopes for in a field guide."--Birding Ecotours "Birds of New Guinea will be the major reference to birds of the island for many years to come and the authors are to be congratulated on a scholarly yet accessible book."--Phil Gregory, Australian Bird Life "I can not recommend this guide highly enough whether you are planning a trip to New Guinea or you are just an armchair birder widening your horizons about the world's birds. An excellent present for yourself or the birder in your family."--Gloster Birder "Pratt and Beehler here cover all 780 bird species in this region, drawing in even more biological data--including some on behavior, diet, and nesting--than typically found in field guides. Detailed species accounts are now separate from the 111 color illustrations--most new and twice as many as the first edition--with additional abridged species accounts and habitat maps facing these plates. A long-awaited, greatly expanded update to an authoritative regional reference."--Judy Quinn, Library Journal "A wonderful updated and expanded second edition to the original Birds of New Guinea published 28 years ago... In Birds of New Guinea: Second Edition, the authors have greatly expanded the description of each species beyond the typical birding guide... An absolute must-have for both birders and individuals who work in the public or private sector focused on conservation of New Guinea's ecosystems."--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "A must-have for everyone from ecotourists to field researchers, Birds of New Guinea remains an indispensable guide to the diverse birds of this remarkable region."--Ornithological Newsletter "If you're lucky enough to go birding in New Guinea, you'll want this field guide."--Grant McCreary, Birder's Library "There is no doubt that this book will be a very popular addition to many birders libraries over the next few months and those visiting PNG next year will armed with a great deal more knowledge than before--the real test of a new book comes in the field and I like many more am looking forward to giving it that test."--Ashley Banwell, Rare Bird Alert "From cassowaries to parrots and birds-of-paradise to fairy-wrens, with sicklebills, mannikins and fantails in between, birders visiting New Guinea need to be prepared for a deluge of delightful birds, and Birds of New Guinea: Second Edition is the book to help them do it. From an extensive orientation to beautifully illustrated plates and expanded species accounts, this guide is the go-to resource all things birding in New Guinea."--Melissa Mayntz, About.com Birding "An incredibly good field guide."--Grant McCreary, Birder's Library "Birding in New Guinea for the first time would make the most experienced birder feel like a beginner searching through the vast number of endemics. This is the guide to take along on such an adventure."--REH, Wildlife Activist "It's hard to find fault in this excellent publication, so I won't. I would however, encourage all birders to purchase it and start saving for the ultimate birding trip--believe me, watching your first displaying bird-of-paradise will certainly bring this field guide alive!"--Tim Appleton, Birdwatch "If there ever was a time to visit New Guinea it is now. Pratt and Beehler's impressive book will surely help you to make the most of your visit."--Vincent Nijman, IBIS "This field guide is a must for anyone contemplating serious birding or research on birds in New Guinea. It is as aesthetically pleasing as it is informative and authoritative."--H. Carl Gerhardt, Wilson Journal of Ornithology Praise for the first edition:"This book is not only indispensable to any bird-watcher visiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands, but, owing to the wealth of its information, it will be of great interest to anyone who is seriously interested in birds."--American ScientistTable of ContentsPreface 9 Acknowledgments 11 Abbreviations 13 1. Introduction 14 2. How to Use This Book 17 3. New Guinea Natural History 20 4. In the Field in Search of Birds 33 Selected References 36 Web Sources 39 Plates 40 Species Accounts 262 Index 517

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"I often wonder why there hasn't been any really good books dealing with the antelopes, wild cattle, sheep, gazelles and goats of the world. Well I guess I need wonder no more. With the publication of Castello's new book, I have found a resource that will be invaluable as I travel in search of wildlife... As with other Princeton guides, the layout is eye-pleasing and the text factual, informative and inclusive. Ranges, habitats, descriptions, subspecies and behaviour are covered for every species."--North Durham Nature Newsletter "This volume provides excellent introductory information about hundreds of animals; it will serve a wide range of readers seeking a basic understanding of this subject; high school students, college students, and interested adults will benefit from its content. Libraries working with these populations should consider adding this reasonably priced volume."--Mark Schumacher, American Reference Books Annual "With this title, new ground has been broken in several ways. Visually, Castello, a medical doctor, has replaced traditional artists' renderings with photos from global photographers. This is also the first field guide to reflect the revised species list, which recently doubled the number of bovid species from 143 to 279... Castello fills a void, and this book should generate wide interest in scientists, students, and general reader... This volume may inspire a new generation of conservationists and raise awareness of beautiful, endangered bovids and their perilous situations."--Choice "Bovids of the World offers a compelling and beautiful introduction to one of the world's most diverse and important families of creatures with hair... Few books have done more to remind me than Bovids of the World that I've only just scratched the surface of what the planet has to show me."--Ed Kanze, Bedford (NY) Record-Review "This is a handy reference to what I consider the coolest taxonomic family on earth: the bovids... Sit down with it and enjoy these fascinating creatures."--Matt Miller, Cool Green Science blog "I am confident that Bovids of the World is a valuable addition to any wildlife biologist's library. Those with and without close familiarity to the family Bovidae will have a handy reference for office and field use. Hats off to Jose R. Castello, an M.D. from Spain, for his knowledge and passion to highlight the bovids in such a detailed and taxonomically relevant field guide."--David M. Leslie, Jr., Journal of Wildlife ManagementTable of ContentsFOREWORD by Brent Huffman and Colin Groves 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7 INTRODUCTION 8 TRIBE AEPYCEROTINI Impalas 24 TRIBE NEOTRAGINI Sunis, Royal Antelope, Pygmy Antelope 28 TRIBE REDUNCINI Reedbucks, Waterbucks, Rhebok 38 TRIBE ANTILOPINI Gazelles, Oribis, Steenbok, Grysbok, Dik-diks 82 TRIBE OREOTRAGINI Klipspringers 224 TRIBE CEPHALOPHINI Duikers 244 TRIBE CAPRINI Sheep, Goats, and relatives 302 TRIBE HIPPOTRAGINI Horse Antelopes 466 TRIBE ALCELAPHINI Tsessebes, Topis, Hartebeests, Wildebeests 496 TRIBE BOSELAPHINI Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope 542 TRIBE TRAGELAPHINI Spiral-horned Antelopes 546 TRIBE BOVINI Bison, Buffaloes, Cattle, Saola 596 SKULLS 650 REFERENCES 659 INDEX 660

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Book SynopsisA unique look at animals in ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Mary Beard and Peter JonesTrade ReviewOne can almost see [the author’s] tears on the page when she describes the Romans’ cruelty to dolphins, lions and horses. - The Spectator

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Book SynopsisTells the story of John Lane’s journey through the Southeast US, as he visits coyote territories: swamps, nature preserves, farm fields, suburbs, a tannery, and even city streets. On his travels he meets, interrogates, and observes those who interact with the animals - trappers, researchers, hunters, pet owners, and even a devoted coyote hugger.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Deciding Whether a Turtle or Tortoise Is Right for You 7 Chapter 1: Understanding Chelonians 9 Chapter 2: Understanding What Turtle and Tortoise Ownership Requires of You 19 Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Turtle or Tortoise for You 35 Chapter 4: Finding Your Turtle or Tortoise 49 Part 2: The Who’s Who of Turtles and Tortoises 57 Chapter 5: Aquatic Turtles 59 Chapter 6: Semi-Aquatic Turtles 73 Chapter 7: Semi-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Turtles 87 Chapter 8: North American Box Turtles 101 Chapter 9: Small Tortoises 115 Chapter 10: Medium-Sized to Large Tortoises 127 Chapter 11: Really Big Tortoises 137 Chapter 12: Special Tortoises 145 Part 3: Welcome Home! Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment 153 Chapter 13: Making a Home for an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle 155 Chapter 14: Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise 165 Chapter 15: Keeping a Turtle or Tortoise Outdoors 173 Chapter 16: Lighting Up Your Chelonian’s World 181 Chapter 17: Keeping Your Turtle or Tortoise Warm and Toasty 187 Chapter 18: Water: The Magic Liquid 195 Part 4: Open Wide! Turtle and Tortoise Health 201 Chapter 19: Making Sure Your Pet Eats the Right Things 203 Chapter 20: Monitoring Your Turtle’s or Tortoise’s Health 225 Chapter 21: Breeding Your Chelonians 243 Chapter 22: Sleeping the Winter Away 263 Part 5: The Part of Tens 269 Chapter 23: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That Make Great Pets 271 Chapter 24: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That May Be Difficult to Care For 275 Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy 281 Chapter 26: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 287 Appendix A: Chelonian Terms and Scientific Names 293 Appendix B: Sources of Things Chelonian 303 Index 307

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Book SynopsisTweet, tweet, parakeet! Your one-stop resource when you''re ready to bring home a budgie There are lots of perks to owning a parakeet (also known as a budgie). This book introduces you to your beautiful budgie buddy and prepares you to give that bird a home that other avian companions will envy. Perfect for first-time bird owners and seasoned bird parents, Parakeets For Dummies offers expert advice on adopting a parakeet and introducing it to other fur or feathered babies you might have. You''ll also discover the best way to groom and train your parakeet and learn how to teach it to talk. And when your feathered friend appears to be under the weather, you can turn to this book to identify the symptoms of illness and know what to look for when choosing a vet for your pet. Discover whether a parakeet is a good fit for your family, including any existing birds and other pets Construct a comfortable enclosure and prep your home so your bird canTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Introducing the Parakeet 5 Chapter 1: Parakeets: More Than Just Pretty, Whistling Birds 7 Chapter 2: Is a Parakeet Your Perfect Companion? 13 Chapter 3: Finding and Selecting a Parakeet 27 Chapter 4: Home Tweet Home: Preparing for Your Parakeet 37 Part 2: Caring for Your Parakeet 59 Chapter 5: Polly Want a Cracker? Feeding Your Parakeet Properly 61 Chapter 6: Pretty Bird! Grooming Your Parakeet 75 Chapter 7: Come Here Often? Getting to Know Your Parakeet 85 Part 3: Training and Breeding Your Parakeet 97 Chapter 8: Good Bird! Taming and Training Your Parakeet 99 Chapter 9: Keeping Your Parakeet Healthy and Handling Emergencies 115 Chapter 10: Bouncing Baby Budgies: Breeding Your Parakeets 131 Part 4: The Part of Tens 145 Chapter 11: Ten Facts about Parakeets 147 Chapter 12: Ten Fun and Informative Parakeet and Budgie Websites 149 Index 151

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Book SynopsisCovering the Carolinas from up-country to the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain, this book is an in-depth yet accessible primer on the many ways that Carolinians can attract birds - from large wildlife refuges to private sanctuaries, and from farms to suburban homes and even apartments.

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Book SynopsisIn pursuit of a connection to Britain''s captivating natural world, Jini Reddy searches for the magic in our landscape.A London journalist with multicultural roots and a perennial outsider, she determinedly sets off on an unorthodox path through the wanderlands of Britain. Serendipity and her inner compass guide her around the country: Where might this lead? And if you know what it is to be Othered yourself, how might this color your experiences? And what if, in invoking the spirit of the land, it decides to make its presence felt?Whether following a cult map to a hidden well that refuses to reveal itself, attempting to persuade a labyrinth to spill its secrets, embarking on a coast-to-coast pilgrimage or searching for a mystical land temple, Jini depicts a whimsical, natural Britain. Along the way, she tracks down ephemeral wild art, encounters women who worship The Goddess, and falls deeper in love with her birth land. Throughout, she rejoices in the wildneTrade ReviewWhat a wonderful book Wanderland is! A witty, gentle, original and very modern quest for the magical (not the mythical) in Britain's landscape, which both made me laugh and moved me. I wish Roger Deakin could have read this book, for he would surely have recognised a kindred spirit in Jini Reddy. -- Robert MacfarlaneA breath of fresh air. * Observer *[An] effervescent exploration… Reddy’s engaging narrative has an assurance and humour which both charm and convince. -- Elizabeth Dearnley * The Times Literary Supplement *Witty and engaging. -- Tom Robbins * Financial Times, Best mid-year reads of 2020 *An honest, contradictory and refreshing take on nature writing. * Conde Nast Traveller *Funny and touching. * The Mail on Sunday *Candid, soulful and uplifting search for natural magic. * The Lady *Warm, open-minded and endlessly curious, Jini is an ideal guide to Britain’s more unusual places and people. Wanderland is a truly engaging exploration, full of heart and soul. -- Melissa HarrisonA page turner. * Sunday Express ‘S’ Magazine *Wanderland is extraordinary, unique even, standing apart from recent books about the British countryside….. She is, she declares, lovesick: at times her prose has a dreamy, almost erotic charge. -- Ben Hoare * Countryfile *She rejects the stereotypes placed on people of colour, and crafts a beautiful story of self-discovery and exploration of the natural world. * Brown Girl magazine *Curious and tenacious, Jini learns to accommodate both solitude and the gifts of chance, discovering at last a new way of being, a new way of seeing, a new way of listening to the complex voices of this archipelago – animal, aerial, human and other-than-human. -- Katharine NorburyWith an unusual but timely eco-spiritual edge, and an alluring blend of memoir and nature-writing this touches on themes of identity and belonging as it charts how a restless spirit fell in love with her native land. -- Caroline Sanderson, Editor at The Bookseller (Editor’s choice in the Bookseller)Wanderland is a skilfully crafted and touching memoir of self-discovery inspired by Britain's wild places. -- Mark Whitley * The Countryman *A joyous celebration of the beauty we can see and the magic we can't. -- Tay Aziz * BBC Wildlife *…doesn’t just open your eyes to the Isles’ mystical history, but also your mind to the possibilities of what spirits may be lurking there. * Wanderlust magazine *In this funny, touching book…we are left with a sense that Reddy really has made contact with something deep within herself that feels entirely new and special. -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *Her easy style, genuinely questioning approach and willingness to take a wry look at her own self all carry the reader along in an engaging and often delightful tale. -- Stephen Moss * Resurgence & Ecologist *Table of ContentsWhat Happens Up the Mountain Doesn’t Always Stay Up the Mountain Beginnings To the Oracle on the Sea The Lost Spring Walking through Woods and Pain A Woman of the Old Ways The Secret Place of the Wild Strawberries – Part I The Tree Whisperer A Pilgrimage Walk in a Land of Giants Lost in Glastonbury A Temple in the Land When You Can See Neither Wood Nor Trees In Search of Ash Dome and Maidens of Mud and Oak The Secret Place of the Wild Strawberries – Part II Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Ospreys is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.A hunting Osprey is one of the great sights of the natural world, and its fishing prowess is admired and revered around the globe. However, its penchant for taking fish from trout ponds resulted in a drastic decline in the UK with the species wiped out by human persecution and habitat loss.Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, it has made an encouraging comeback in recent decades, giving people across the country the chance to see this majestic hunter in action once again. This easy-to-read text explores all aspects of the Osprey's biology and ecology, including a detailed overview of the adaptations that make it such a skilled and proficient hunter. There is also a chapter dedicated to Osprey migration with a summary of the findings of groundbreaking satellite tracking research. Tim Mackrill also explores the relatTable of ContentsMeet the Osprey Diet and Feeding Behaviour Breeding Migration A History of Ospreys in Great Britain Osprey Conservation Ospreys in Culture Watching Ospreys Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisHow deep do sharks swim? Have more people been into space then the deep ocean? And what effect are we having on the health of our seas? Ask An Ocean Explorer answers these questions and more!

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Book SynopsisPart love letter, part invitation, 1,001 Ways Nature Makes You Smile is an informative celebration of the outdoors in simple, classic, fun, illustrated list-style chapters. This overview invites readers to celebrate nature while emphasizing its value for all. Enjoying the outdoors is not exclusive to the wealthy, the athletic, or the experienced; it's inclusive, gratifying, and it makes us smile!

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Book Synopsis'Charming miscellany of rhymes and reflections celebrating the garden'CHOICE***The perfect bedside book for the green-fingered - hilarious and touching poems on a gardening theme written and introduced by the nation's favourite gardener and presenter of ITV's Grow Your Own At Home and Love Your Garden, Channel 5's Secrets of the National Trust and with his own show on Classic FM.From touching poems on the peony, the snowdrop and the sweet pea to hilarious verse on Emily the Gardener and the Garden Design Course, this is Alan Titchmarsh's heartfelt and entertaining celebration of his favourite space - the garden.Trade Review'Charming miscellany of rhymes and reflections celebrating the garden' * Choice *

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Book SynopsisIntroduced by Jim Al-KhaliliCould you surf down an erupting volcano?Why do zebras have stripes?Are you breathing the same air as Leonardo da Vinci?Are there any green mammals?Why do pineapples have spikes?Why do songs get stuck in your head?What happens when black holes collide?Can you extract your DNA?New Scientist has been a treasure trove of fascinating and surprising questions and answers for over a decade. From how to measure the speed of light using chocolate, to why dogs howl at sirens, Eureka! brings together 365 mindblowing questions, fascinating facts and exciting experiments.If you've ever wondered how to escape quicksand, what would happen if the moon vanished, and why cats (nearly) always land on their feet, you've come to the right place.

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Book Synopsis*2011 Winner, International Association of Culinary Professionals Jane Grigson Award *2011 Finalist, International Association of Culinary Professionals in the Culinary History category Throughout history, people have had a complex and confusing relationship with mushrooms. Are fungi food or medicine, beneficial decomposers or deadly "toadstools" ready to kill anyone foolhardy enough to eat them? In fact, there is truth in all these statements. In Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, author Greg Marley reveals some of the wonders and mysteries of mushrooms, and our conflicting human reactions to them. With tales from around the world, Marley, a seasoned mushroom expert, explains that some cultures are mycophilic (mushroom-loving), like those of Russia and Eastern Europe, while others are intensely mycophobic (mushroom-fearing), including, the US. He shares stories from China, Japan, and Korea-where mushrooms are interwoven into the fabric of daily life as food, medicine, fable, and folklore-and from Slavic countries where whole families leave villages and cities during rainy periods of the late summer and fall and traipse into the forests for mushroom-collecting excursions. From the famous Amanita phalloides (aka "the Death Cap"), reputed killer of Emperor Claudius in the first century AD, to the beloved chanterelle (cantharellus cibarius) known by at least eighty-nine different common names in almost twenty-five languages, Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares explores the ways that mushrooms have shaped societies all over the globe. This fascinating and fresh look at mushrooms-their natural history, their uses and abuses, their pleasures and dangers-is a splendid introduction to both fungi themselves and to our human fascination with them. From useful descriptions of the most foolproof edible species to revealing stories about hallucinogenic or poisonous, yet often beautiful, fungi, Marley's long and passionate experience will inform and inspire readers with the stories of these dark and mysterious denizens of our forest floor.Trade ReviewBooklist- Mushroom lovers who can only get their fix by sampling the often paltry array that appears in their grocer’s produce section may be sorely tempted to indulge their mycophilia when they encounter some choice fungi in the wild. Unlike many Asian and European cultures, however, most Americans are hesitant to just pluck one off the forest floor and eat it on the spot. Perhaps such evocative names as the “Death Cap” mushroom has something to do with this mycophobia. Yet, says Marley, armed with proper background, this culinary caution can turn into complete confidence. From the fabled psychedelic “magic mushrooms” to the duplicitous appearance of “false morels,” Marley examines these fungal fiends and provides thorough descriptions of their habitat, appearance, and toxic properties to ward off potential misadventures. An avowed mycophile, Marley offers an entertaining and inquisitive look at both the heroes and villains of the kingdom Fungi in an enlightened guide that comprehensively examines their nutritional benefits, undesirable properties, and diverse cultural history. -- Carol HaggasPublishers Weekly- By following a few basic guidelines, readers interested in foraging for their food will find themselves with a wealth of culinary opportunities courtesy of longtime amateur mycologist Marley (Mushrooms for Health). An enthusiastic guide, Marley introduces foragers to the most common wild edible shrooms - morels, puffballs, chicken mushrooms, and shaggy mane - as well as their more recognizable cousins in the market, such as chanterelles. Basic recipes for preparation (risottos, simple pastas, and the like) are included, enabling readers to get the most from their bounty. But Marley spends equal time with their more toxic and psychedelic brethren, describing key characteristics, common regions, and potential side effects, ensuring that initiates spend more time in the woods than the ER. While the book does have a set of color slides to aid in identification of edible and poisonous varieties, the sample pales in comparison to the many species Marley mentions.Booklist- “Mushroom lovers who can only get their fix by sampling the often paltry array that appears in their grocers produce section may be sorely tempted to indulge their mycophilia when they encounter some choice fungi in the wild. Unlike many Asian and European cultures, however, most Americans are hesitant to just pluck one off the forest floor and eat it on the spot. Perhaps such evocative names as the Death Cap mushroom has something to do with this mycophobia. Yet, says Marley, armed with proper background, this culinary caution can turn into complete confidence. From the fabled psychedelic magic mushrooms to the duplicitous appearance of false morels, Marley examines these fungal fiends and provides thorough descriptions of their habitat, appearance, and toxic properties to ward off potential misadventures. An avowed mycophile, Marley offers an entertaining and inquisitive look at both the heroes and villains of the kingdom Fungi in an enlightened guide that comprehensively examines their nutritional benefits, undesirable properties, and diverse cultural history.”This book is an enticing invitation into the fungal realm, accessible and a pleasure to read. Author Greg Marley's enthusiasm is infectious, as he encourages an appreciation of fungi as essential ecological partners, and empowers readers with practical tools. These pages are filled with foraging and cultivation tips, scientific explanations, ancient lore, literary references, and entertaining stories, with the mission of transforming mycophobia into mycophilia.--Sandor Ellix Katz, author of Wild Fermentation and The Revolution Will Not Be MicrowavedTable of ContentsTales from the forest floor Part 1. Mushrooms and culture Passionate about mushrooms : the Russian and Slavic experience Overcoming distrust : mushrooming in America Part 2. Mushrooms as food Leading with our stomachs The Foolproof Four : updated for a new millennium Chanterelles Boletus edulis The Agaricus brothers Part 3. Dangerously toxic, deadly interesting poisonous mushrooms : not as bad as you fear Mushroom poisoning : not as bad as you fear ; Mushroom poisoning : the potential risks and ways to avoid them Amanita nightmares : the Death Cap and Destroying Angel False morels : the Finnish Fugu A fallen angel The poison pax : a deadly mystery Part 4. Mushrooms and the mind : the origin of religion and the pathway to enlightenment Entheogens : a new way to view hallucinogenic mushrooms Amanita muscaria : soma, religion, and Santa Psilocybin : gateway to the soul or just a good high? Part 5. Mushrooms within living ecosystems Honey mushrooms : the race for the world's largest fungus Fairy rings and fairy tales Fungal bioluminescence : mushroom nightlights Who's eating the truffles? Woodpeckers, wood decay fungi, and forest health Part 6. Tools for a new world Growing mushrooms in the garden : a how-to story

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE A naturalist’s passionate dive into the lives of bees (of all stripes)—and the natural world in her own backyard Brigit Strawbridge Howard was shocked the day she realised she knew more about the French Revolution than she did about her native trees. And birds. And wildflowers. And bees. The thought stopped her—quite literally—in her tracks. But that day was also the start of a journey, one filled with silver birches and hairy-footed flower bees, skylarks, and rosebay willow herb, and the joy that comes with deepening one’s relationship with place. Dancing with Bees is Strawbridge Howard’s charming and eloquent account of a return to noticing, to rediscovering a perspective on the world that had somehow been lost to her for decades and to reconnecting with the natural world. With special care and attention to the plight of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, and what we can do to help them, Strawbridge Howard shares fascinating details of the lives of flora and fauna that have filled her days with ever-increasing wonder and delight.Trade ReviewKirkus Reviews— A British naturalist offers crisp essays on her relationship with bees. In her debut book, Howard, a devoted bee advocate, pens a lengthy, knowledgeable, and occasionally poetic tribute to honeybees, bumblebees, and other buzzy creatures . . . [She] provides a nice balance between the very real science of studying bees and their function in nature and her cleareyed and eloquent observations about the natural world. Because of that balance, what might have sounded like a dry lecture turns into something far more interesting. Whether she's explaining how different bee species are classified, describing her mother's deteriorating health (and eventual death), or simply ruminating on the beauty around her, Howard creates a text that is compelling and worth your time even if you're not a fellow bee advocate."Library Journal— "[A] fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of nature. . .This satisfying memoir of a woman’s reawakening to the importance of nature in her life will appeal to fans of natural history memoirs, bees, the natural world, or ecology."Booklist, Starred Review— “[An] engaging, richly descriptive tale of natural discovery."“In this delightful book, Brigit Strawbridge Howard brings us into the fascinating and often overlooked world of bees. She introduces us to solitary nesting bees that lay their eggs in empty snail shells, cuckoo bees that make other bees take care of their eggs, and the amazing social lives of bumblebees and honeybees. Her curiosity and wonder at these small creatures are infectious and will inspire a greater appreciation of our natural world.”—Nancy J. Hayden, coauthor of Farming on the Wild Side“Hovering through Brigit Strawbridge Howard’s remarkable encounters with bees, alighting on beautiful and often unexpected descriptions of bumblebees, miner bees, and even parasitizing cuckoo bees, one dips into a world most of us have forgotten. By leading us gently and discretely into the minutiae of nature, Brigit shows how rewarding it is to reconnect—how the world’s tiniest beings can not only lift our spirits, but signal the way to a richer, wilder future.”—Isabella Tree, author of Wilding“Dancing with Bees is a passionate hymn to nature, a joyful celebration not just of bees, but of the power of paying attention. Strawbridge Howard’s rediscovery of the natural world is infused with a sense of wonder both irresistible and infectious. And the promise of this beautiful book is that if we take the trouble to notice our natural surroundings, we too can find a way to reconnect not just to nature, but to a deeper sense of ourselves.”—Caroline Lucas, MP, former Green Party Leader“I devoured this book as I would a jar of exquisite honey. I was as fascinated by it as I would be watching a hive of bees at work. I may read another nature book this year, but not a better one. Or a more important one. As is made so manifestly clear in these pages, we need our bees. Thank God, then, for Brigit Strawbridge Howard, our queen bee-advocate.”—John Lewis-Stempel, author of Still Water and Meadowland“Dancing with Bees is one of the most important and accessible and entertaining books I’ve ever read. Brigit has poured meticulous detail and research into her book, which has left me with even more respect for our precious bees than I ever thought possible. What’s more, it’s a touching, sensitive account of what makes us human and how we connect to the natural world. Everyone should read it.”—Kate Bradbury, author of Wildlife Gardening and The Bumblebee Flies Anyway“A beautiful book and one that hums with good life. Brigit Strawbridge Howard came late to bees but began noticing them at a time when their going was being widely announced. Her attention has been clear-sighted but also loving. By looking closely at the hummers and the buzzers, she has begun to take in the whole of what Charles Darwin called the ‘tangled bank’ of life, where there are bees (and Brigit’s winning descriptions will help you know them) and there are plants, and there are other pollinators and nectar-seekers, including Homo sapiens. No other insect—surely no other animal—has had such a long and life-giving relationship with humans. Bees may well have shaped our evolution; our continued well-being is certainly dependent on them. Bees have long been part of our consciousness and art, buzzing in parables and fables and ancient and modern poems made out of their industry and their organisation and their marvellous sweet products. All that is in this book: It is ambrosia.”—Tim Dee, author of Landfill“While the plight of our overworked honeybees elicits much hand-wringing, the rest of Earth’s splendorous apian diversity has remained unjustly obscure. In this winning tribute to our black-and-yellow fellows, Brigit Strawbridge Howard celebrates the virtues of dozens of less heralded, but no less crucial, wild species—mining bees, leaf-cutting bees, mason bees, cuckoo bees. Like a bee herself, Strawbridge Howard is at once pragmatic and whimsical, flitting lightly between practical advice for crafting a bee-friendly garden and wise digressions about our manipulative relationship with nature. By the end of Dancing with Bees, you’ll wholeheartedly agree that these indispensable creatures should be extolled as ‘our equals, not our minions.’”—Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager“A joy-filled voyage of discovery through the wonderful world of bees.”—Dave Goulson, author of Bee Quest and A Sting in the Tale“Sprinkled with moments of pathos, this exquisite book is the perfect introduction to the often neglected world of wild bees—and the beautiful plants with which they dance an ecosystem into life.”—Hugh Warwick, author of Linescapes and Hedgehog“Brigit Strawbridge Howard is an excellent pollinator of information. Dancing with Bees is a book teeming with love: for bees but also for the natural world as a whole and, by extension, for life itself. Everyone who cares about the future of our planet should read it.”—Tom Cox, author of 21st-Century Yokel“Dancing with Bees is an antidote to the reality of modern life that’s spent nose down in our smartphones while the wondrous stuff—nature—goes on all around us. Brigit Strawbridge Howard chronicles her own journey of reconnecting with the natural world with heartfelt eloquence. Her descriptions of the creatures, plants, and landscapes that populate her journey are made with the unabashed joy of someone for whom a veil has been lifted, revealing a world to be cherished but also in great need of our protection.”—Matthew Wilson, garden designer; author; panelist, BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time“We are handed a lens—light, bright, beautiful things come into focus. Brigit’s flare for observation and description, passion for knowledge, and ease with communication involve us in adventuring through the looking glass to explore with her the intimate life of wild bees. Gently, this timely book reminds us that nature is in trouble and that we must all join the dance.”—Sue Clifford and Angela King, founding directors, Common Ground“Dancing with Bees is a brilliantly described journey of discovery of bees, trees, people, and places, imbued with a childlike wonderment. Learn about cuckoo bees, carder bees, bees that are not bees, the commonplace and the rare. It is never too late to reconnect with nature and rewild oneself.”—Steven Falk, author of Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland“Well written and researched, beautifully illustrated, and packed with natural history detail, Dancing with Bees is a book to start you off on a journey that could well become an obsession. Even if you are well versed in the ways of bees, you will still want to wrap yourself in the warmth of this charming book. Brigit Strawbridge Howard gently shows you all the things you may have been missing; you are about to enter a macro-world of wonder and delight. I absolutely loved this book. If, due to infirmity perhaps, I am ever unable to walk in the countryside, I can now go dancing with bees whenever I choose.”—Dr. George McGavin, president, Dorset Wildlife Trust; honorary research associate, Oxford University Museum of Natural History“Brigit Strawbridge Howard leads us on a wistful pilgrimage of awakening into the world of bees who are among the most fascinating, charismatic, and important of insects. Written in an easy, accessible style without shying away from solid facts and beguiling detail, and beautifully illustrated by renowned Devon naturalist John Walters, Strawbridge Howard’s book is the result of hundreds of hours of watching, listening, and learning in her garden and the wider countryside, wondering what the future might bring and how human excesses may be curbed.”—Stuart Roberts, entomologistTable of ContentsPreface: Realisations Introduction: The Honey Trap 1. Spring on the Wing 2. A Nest of One's Own 3. What's in a Name? 4. The Boys Are Back in Town 5. Bees Behaving Badly 6. The Upside-Down Bird 7. The Cabin by the Stream 8. Cuckoo, Cuckoo 9. On Swarms and Stings 10. To Bee, or Not to Bee 11. Seeking the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Part 1 12. Seeking the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Part 2 13. On Bovey Heathfield 14. In Praise of Trees 15. Sedgehill, a Natural History 16. Cotton Weavers 17. Time for Tea 18. Evergreen 19. Amongst the Snowdrops Epilogue. Reflections Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA new edition of an evergreen back-to-nature book in the tradition of Thoreau. For nearly twenty-five years, poet Baron Wormser and his family lived in a house in Maine with no electricity or running water. They grew much of their own food, carried water by hand, and read by the light of kerosene lamps. They considered themselves part of the “back to the land” movement, but their choice to live off the grid was neither a statement nor a protest: they simply had built their house too far from the road and could not afford to bring in power lines. Over the years, they settled into a life that centered on what Thoreau would have called “the essential facts.” In this graceful meditation, Wormser similarly spurns ideology in favor of observation, exploration, and reflection. “When we look for one thread of motive,” he writes, “we are, in all likelihood, deceiving ourselves.” His refusal to be satisfied with the obvious explanation, the single thread of motive, makes him a keen and sympathetic observer of his neighbors and community, a perceptive reader of poetry and literature, and an honest and unselfconscious analyst of his own responses to the natural world. The result is a series of candid personal essays on community and isolation, nature, civilization, and poetry. Lovely and rich, The Road Washes Out in Spring is an immersive read. A new preface by the author rounds out this new edition. Trade Review“It’s a particularly poetic attention to detail that makes this book an especially memorable read. . . . ‘No one can count all the microcosms at work inside the macrocosms that are the living, breathing world,’ Wormser writes late in the book. That could serve as an apt description of the task he’s set for himself here—this is a book that both evokes a life and is full of life. It’s a difficult book to read without longing for a home with a root cellar and a view of tall trees—power and plumbing optional.” * Portland Press Herald *“All in all, this is the best book about rural New England life since Jane Brox’s Here and Nowhere Else. Its scope is narrow, but its reach is vast. Its short but wide-ranging essays seem like the dozens of jars of canned tomatoes Wormser and his wife put up each year to provide the base of their winter meals, each one carefully, thoughtfully, and lovingly prepared. The order in which they are taken off the shelves does not really matter, but it is evident that each is part of the same impulse of mind and heart and body, and each in return nourishes all three. As such, the book asks to be read slowly, savored, because, as Wormser says of the entire enterprise of living off-grid, ‘There was no sum. Only infinite entries.’” * Boston Globe *“His ruminations on crafting poems and thoughtful considerations of the value of literature will be of great interest to readers and fellow writers. Wormser counters any comparisons to Thoreau, and, in fact, has a far greater sense of humor than the iconic backwoodsmen, but his endearing memoir about living simply, yet richly, in woods he clearly loves certainly does extend the tradition Thoreau exemplifies.” * Booklist *“What separates this memoir from the often clichéd back-to-the-land life story is that the author’s choices are always seen through the lens of language, especially poetry. As he describes the characters who reside in his small community in Maine, the demands of keeping up with kerosene lamps and wild gardens, the dashed hopes for the community library lost to fire, the wear and tear of time, roads, wells, and woods—he never loses the context of literary history. Wormser’s authorial consciousness is permeated with Frost, Keats, Shelley, and the force of Romanticism—the individual’s journey toward and examination of what life ought to be in light of what is.” * ForeWord *“Intelligent and engaging, following no chronology, [The Road Washes Out in Spring] rambles and wanders its way in an almost Byronic fashion, slowly and modestly revealing the making of a poet.” * Down East *

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Book Synopsis*Part of the 5-Volume Set 2022 Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal Winner: Ecology & Environment and Special Honors as Best of Anthology Volume 5 of the Kinship series revolves around the question of practice: What are the practical, everyday, and lifelong ways we become kin? We live in an astounding world of relations. We share these ties that bind with our fellow humans—and we share these relations with nonhuman beings as well. From the bacterium swimming in your belly to the trees exhaling the breath you breathe, this community of life is our kin—and, for many cultures around the world, being human is based upon this extended sense of kinship. Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations is a lively series that explores our deep interconnections with the living world. These five Kinship volumes—Planet, Place, Partners, Persons, Practice—offer essays, interviews, poetry, and stories of solidarity, highlighting the interdependence that exists between humans and nonhuman beings. More than 70 contributors—including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Richard Powers, David Abram, J. Drew Lanham, and Sharon Blackie—invite readers into cosmologies, narratives, and everyday interactions that embrace a more-than-human world as worthy of our response and responsibility. These diverse voices render a wide range of possibilities for becoming better kin. From the perspective of kinship as a recognition of nonhuman personhood, of kincentric ethics, and of kinship as a verb involving active and ongoing participation, how are we to live? “Practice,” Volume 5 of the Kinship series, turns to the relations that we nurture and cultivate as part of our lived ethics. The essayists and poets in this volume explore how we make kin and strengthen kin relationships through respectful participation—from creative writer and dance teacher Maya Ward’s weave of landscape, story, song, and body, to Lakota peace activist Tiokasin Ghosthorse’s reflections on language as a key way of knowing and practicing kinship, to cultural geographer Amba Sepie’s wrestling with how to become kin when ancestral connections have frayed. The volume concludes with an amazing and spirited conversation between John Hausdoerffer, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sharon Blackie, Enrique Salmon, Orrin Williams, and Maria Isabel Morales on the breadth and qualities of kinship practices. Proceeds from sales of Kinship benefit the nonprofit, non-partisan Center for Humans and Nature, which partners with some of the brightest minds to explore human responsibilities to each other and the more-than-human world. The Center brings together philosophers, ecologists, artists, political scientists, anthropologists, poets and economists, among others, to think creatively about a resilient future for the whole community of life.Trade Review“This collection is a passionate call to turn towards the living Earth with reverence and respect, and in so doing to cultivate new and old forms of curiosity, of understanding, and of responsibility. Across five captivating volumes, Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations brings together a rich diversity of voices and perspectives. Contributions range in form from poetry to interviews and essays, drawing on and engaging with the insights of Indigenous stories, philosophy, the natural sciences, and much more. Ultimately, this is a collection that does much more than simply describe the webs of relationship that are our world of kin. At the same time, it invites and at times pulls the reader into a sense of the fundamental sharedness of all life and our profound obligations, perhaps now more than ever, to hold open room for others to be and to become in their own unique and precious ways.”—Thom van Dooren, author of The Wake of Crows: Living and Dying in Shared Worlds“Essential reading about the question of our time: how to belong. A chorus of beautiful, wise, grieving, exulting, and generative voices, guiding us into true ‘family values’ for a wild living Earth. These collections offer rare and rich insight into how to find, honor, and heal the bonds of blood, place, time, and ethics that knit us to all other beings.”—David George Haskell, author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees"Sometimes when we are working with a document, when it’s growing and changing, we call it “live.” Likewise, this book is live. It’s full of life. It’s living inside you as you read it and you are living inside it. It’s changing you and you’re changing it. May this book be a living document that guides us toward love and care for all kin."—Janisse Ray, author of Wild Spectacle"The Kinship series of books is an ensemble of outstanding essays that reveal the truth that reality is rooted in relationships. After reading these marvellous essays, it becomes crystal clear that there is no reality outside relationships. These books shatter the old story of separation between humans and Nature and explode the belief that nature is a machine and the planet Earth is a dead rock. Here is the new story of the living Earth and a celebration of deep connectivity of life; human as well as more-than-human life. These are inspiring and enlightening essays. They will change your perception of Nature. I recommend these books wholeheartedly!"—Satish Kumar, Founder, Schumacher College, Editor Emeritus, Resurgence & Ecologist“What a joyful series this is, this family of books, crafted with love, clarity, and compassion by a family of poets, scholars, and sages. Together the volumes form a five-part harmony, converging beautifully around notions of kinship and kinning. The authors ask, how do we rightly relate? How may we learn to live well with our kin? Can we listen with sensitivity to the voices and languages of others, the beings with fur, claws, wings, scales, and fins with whom we share the mountains, rivers, seas, grasslands, and forests, places that ring with spirit and meaning, too, who are family, too? The chapters are stories as much as studies, narratives born from experience, wisdom, and observations over many generations. I can’t wait to share this family with my students and colleagues in conservation and anthropology, and with my friends and kin everywhere.”—Dr. Amanda Stronza, Anthropologist and Professor of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University“Kinship is essential reading. Five books of elemental grace and charm, beginning with a spider's web. Each strand glistens in the sunlight, dreaming, catch and release, a journey through the multiverse. Each gathering of words, a page, a tribe, a story of who we are, who we have been, and who we've yet to become, shiny, bright, new, and very old. The DNA of rock and stone, of all our relations, the chemistry of breathing, letting go, and Love. Again, again, and again.”—John Francis, PhD, author of Planetwalker: 17 Years of Silence, 22 Years of Walking “At a time when divisive politics and human-first ideologies dominate public discourse, Kinship provides a deeply-moving, soul-rejuvenating, and course-correcting primer for recognizing and building relationships among all living things. Here readers will find solace in essays and poems about what we’re losing, as well as inspiration for how to live well with other humans—and with our other-than-human kin. But Kinship is more than instructive. Taken together, these exquisite volumes are a balm for the soul.”—Dr. Amy Brady, Executive Director of Orion magazine"Kinship is the type of series I would want to gift to my wild, untamed, and unschooled children, for from its pages springs an education at the end of homogenous time, a crack in the tarmac of ascension, an insurgency of the hitherto invisible. At a time when the human is no longer tenable as a category unto itself, we will need the prophetic voices of these poets, philosophers, mothers, fathers, scientists, thinkers, public intellectuals, artists, and awestruck fugitives to kindle a politics of humility, to help us fall down to earth from our gilded perches, to help us stray from the threatening familiarity of our own image. It is time to meet the others we imagined we left behind: this constellation of stars will guide us."—Bayo Akomolafe, Ph.D., author of These Wilds Beyond our Fences: Letters to My Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home “The Kinship series upends colonial paradigms around humans and our relationship with more-than-human nature. These paradigms have driven mainstream environmental movements to engage in myopic efforts that at times have exacerbated ecological imbalances. Through stories, essays, art, poetry, and more, contributors chip away at the layers that bind our collective colonial ethos. Rather than owning nature, we are urged to think about our kinship with all that is nonhuman. Rather than controlling our environments using methods rooted in human exceptionalism (i.e., we know best), we are urged to learn from our kin. Rather than “using” land, water, and wildlife as “natural resources,” we are urged to be in reciprocity and right relationship with our kin. Rather than labeling birds, rocks, and rivers as “it,” we are urged to think of them as persons who have their own rights. Rather than being static, we are urged to be kinetic (Kin-etic?). Decolonization begins with unlearning, and this is a good place to begin.”—Aparna Rajagopal (she/her), founding partner of the Avarna Group and cofounder of PGM ONE Summit"The wonderful essays gathered here will stir minds and open hearts with the reminder that kinship is about how all things are connected, and that these relationships are best when acknowledged, attended to, and above all, savored."—Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix: How Being in Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative

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Book Synopsis“What [Ekelund is] addressing is the intention to walk one’s way to meaning: the walk as spiritual exercise, a kind of vision quest... A key strategy for finding ourselves, then, is to first get lost.”—The New York Times Book ReviewAn ode to paths and the journeys we take through nature, as told by a gifted writer who stopped driving and rediscovered the joys of traveling by foot.Torbjørn Ekelund started to walk—everywhere—after an epilepsy diagnosis affected his ability to drive. The more he ventured out, the more he came to love the act of walking, and an interest in paths emerged. In this poignant, meandering book, Ekelund interweaves the literature and history of paths with his own stories from the trail. As he walks with shoes on and barefoot, through forest creeks and across urban streets, he contemplates the early tracks made by ancient snails and traces the wanderings of Romantic poets, amongst other musings. If we still “understand ourselves in relation to the landscape,” Ekelund asks, then what do we lose in an era of car travel and navigation apps? And what will we gain from taking to paths once again?“A charming read, celebrating the relationship between humans and their bodies, their landscapes, and one another.”—The Washington PostThis book was made possible in part thanks to generous support from NORLA.Trade Review“What [Ekelund]'s addressing is the intention to walk one’s way to meaning: the walk as spiritual exercise, a kind of vision quest in which the answers we arrive at are less important than the impulse to seek them.”—David Ulin, New York Times“A charming read, celebrating the relationship between humans and their bodies, their landscapes, and one another.”—Washington Post“This lovely book taps into something primeval in us all.”—Star Tribune“[R]ethinking the social, historical, and spiritual needs that are met by putting one foot in front of the other.”—Outside Magazine“[Urges] a return to our ambulatory origins…[N]ever low on zeal.”—Wall Street Journal“[Ekelund] invites his readers to join him on his chosen path, a path that involves regular walking with careful mindfulness. This is an invitation we should all accept.”—The Vancouver Sun“A deeply fascinating meditation on the paths we take through our environment and our lives.”— Erling Kagge, author of Silence: In the Age of Noise and Walking: One Step at a Time“A quiet, reflective read.”—Booklist“An easygoing, gently unfolding memoir, it soothes in difficult times.”—Gail Perry, Winnipeg Free Press

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Book SynopsisPolly Pullar has had a passion for red squirrels since childhood. As a wildlife rehabilitator, she knows the squirrel on a profoundly personal level and has hand-reared numerous litters of orphan kits, eventually returning them to the wild. In this book she shares her experiences and love for the squirrel and explores how our perceptions have changed. Heavily persecuted until the 1960s, it has since become one of the nation’s most adored mammals. But we are now racing against time to ensure its long-term survival in an ever-changing world. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Polly’s Perthshire farm, where she works continuously to encourage wildlife great and small, she highlights how nature can, and indeed will, recover if only we give it a chance. In just two decades, her efforts have brought spectacular results, and numerous squirrels and other animals visit her wild farm every day.Trade Review'A Scurry of Squirrels is a delight. Part history, part natural history, and part memoir, and written in Polly Pullar's compelling and always readable style, it will appeal to anyone captivated by one of Britain's favourite wild creatures' -- Stephen Moss, author and naturalist'A charming, engrossing story of the many creatures Pullar has fostered over the years. It's a treat for animal lovers and a tribute to the healing power of nature' -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *'In A Scurry of Squirrels, Pullar shares her experiences and love for the red squirrel, and, with reference to history and natural history, explores how our perceptions of the animals have changed. The book highlights how nature can, and indeed will, recover if we give it a chance' * Dundee Courier *'Polly Pullar brings her lifetime's experience of Scottish nature into this compelling account set around the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wild animals at her Perthshire home…. It's a very personal tale of paradise lost and hope that it can be regained' -- Sheena Harvey * BBC Countryfile *'Truly fascinating…accompanied by personal photographs and anecdotes, this book is. A good read for any wilderness enthusiasts or strong believers in the preservation of native animals' * Scottish Field *'This engaging book also reminds us that our life’s troubles are seen in clearer perspective when viewed in the context of the part we play in the living world' * Green Christian Magazine *'It’s the storytelling that really sings here... the squirrels in particular will capture your heart' * Rewilding Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWhen Anne Marie McAleese invited birding expert Dot Blakely on to her radio show, Your Place and Mine, she had no idea that it would mark the beginning of an enduring friendship and a life-changing birding odyssey. For the next two decades, the pair travelled all over Northern Ireland, exploring the wonderful world of birds and the glorious and varied landscapes they inhabit. In Homebirds, Anne Marie and Dot tell the inspiring and often funny story of their adventures. In all weathers, they make their way around parks and loughs, up hills and along coastlines, through villages and towns, meeting a cast of oystercatchers, blackcaps, fulmars, pied wagtails, buzzards, blue tits, herons, brent geese and many more. Illustrated with more than 100 images, Homebirds is packed with information on how to identify birds and attract them to your garden, and includes fascinating facts about the places visited. Above all, Homebirds is a celebration of the wonders of nature on our doorstep and a call for us all to get out and enjoy them.

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Book Synopsis'Warmly entertaining...an endearing account of the search for rare bees' GuardianA hunt for the world's most elusive bees leads Dave Goulson from Poland to Patagonia as well as closer to home, amongst the secret places hidden right under our noses: the abandoned industrial estates where great crested newts roam; or the rewilded estate at Knepp Castle, where, with the aid of some hairy, bluebell-eating Tamworth pigs, nightingale song has been heard for the first time in generations. Whether he is tracking great yellow bumblebees in the Hebrides or chasing orchid bees through the Ecuadorian jungle, Dave Goulson's wit, humour and deep love of nature make him the ideal travelling companion.Trade ReviewYou’ll learn all sorts of interesting things without effort because he’s a natural storyteller with a particular gift of understatement that is often laugh-out-loud funny – which you don’t expect from a bee book… It’s warmly personal, and stuffed full of the inescapable poetry and beauty of the natural world… Going on Bee Quest with him puts the natural world within our reach – to enjoy but also to protect… This is a truly positive and empowering read – you closed it better informed, filled with poetry, pies and ready to get out there and make a difference. -- Laline Paull * Observer *This is a quest that takes us from Patagonia to Poland, from Ecuador to Essex, fueled by Dave Goulson’s extraordinary passion for the bumblebee… Goulson’s search for some of the world’s rarest bees has led him on a geographical and intellectual exploration that combines bizarre facts about bumblebees…with passionate ideas about conservation. -- Martha Kearney * The Times *Dave Goulson… has perfected the art of turning the entomologist’s technical expertise into easy-reading everyman’s prose. He also laces his stories with rich helpings of wit and humour. -- Mark Cocker * Spectator *In this delightful book [Goulson] tells us of the discoveries he has made during his ‘bee travels’… a humorous, beautifully written tribute to these insects, and hope-filled examples of nature’s resilience. * Outdoor Photography *Entomologist Dave Goulson journeyed as far as Patagonia to track down populations of the world’s rarest bumblebees. The result is this fun serial travelogue and ode to diverse countryside… In a world skewed towards saving photogenic mammals, Goulson extols the intrinsic importance of insects, rather than their economic value. -- Barbara Kiser * Nature *

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Book Synopsis'Ghost towns, corporate cruelty, the centuries-old relationship between humans and a species almost magical in its abilities ... fabulous.' The New York Times'Eye-opening' Geographical 'A beautifully written book on diamond smuggling, the universe, life and much of what lies in between.' Toby Muse, author of Kilo: Life and Death Inside the Secret World of the Cocaine CartelsFor nearly 80 years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed "overmined" and abandoned, journalist and author Matthew Gavin Frank set out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade - the smuggling of diamonds by carrier pigeon - that supplies a global market.Uncovering a long overlooked truecrime story dating back to the founding of the De Beers corporation, and blending elements of reportage, memoir and legend, he weaves interviews with local diamond divers, who extract mineral wealth from the seabed by day and raise pigeons in secret by night, with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters.A rare and remarkable portrait of exploitation and greed, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town.Trade ReviewGhost towns, corporate cruelty, the centuries-old relationship between humans and a species almost magical in its abilities ... fabulous. * The New York Times *An eye-opening account and one that's likely to make you reassess the role of diamonds in society today. * Geographical Magazine *Unforgettable. ... An outstanding adventure in its lyrical, utterly compelling, and heartbreaking investigations of the world of diamond smuggling. -- Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of Oceanic and World of WondersA fascinating read...a perfect combination of memoir and investigative reporting...a page-turning tale of suspense.... Frank's reporting on mineworkers, their pigeons, the towns, communities, and the people that have struggled in the wake of mine closures makes for compelling reading. * The South African *A beautifully written book on diamond smuggling, the universe, life and much of what lies in between. -- Toby Muse, author of Kilo: Life and Death Inside the Secret World of the Cocaine CartelsA lyrical portrait of a resilient species caught in the grinding gears of a cruel industry of extraction and exploitation. -- Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of The Feather Thief

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Book SynopsisA stag leaps on an ancient brooch. A doe and a fawn step across a field at first light. A pair of antlers is silhouetted by the side of a busy road. From the earliest cave paintings to the present day, humans and deer have a long and complex history. Royal harts were the coveted quarry of European kings, while the first Americans relied on deer for everything from buckskins to arrow heads. Once hunted to the point of extinction in some parts of the world, deer numbers have exploded in recent years, causing tension between scientists and conservationists. And yet, this is our own story, as the fortune of deer is inextricably bound up with the actions that we humans take on the world around us. Weaving together history and reportage, in The Age of Deer Erika Howsare deftly explores the relationship between our two species in the line where wildness meets humankind. It is a reminder of the poetry and violence of the natural world, from an exciting new voice in nature writing. AUTHOR: Erika Howsare is a writer, journalist and teacher. Her essays, reviews and interviews have appeared in publications such as the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Rumpus, and she is the author of two collections of poetry, How is Travel a Folded Form? and FILL: A Collection (with Kate Schapira). She lives in the Blue Ridge in central Virginia.Trade ReviewA poignant meditation on humanity's relationship with deer . . . [Howsare's] lyrical musings cast her subject in a new light . . . Readers will be enthralled. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A fascinating exploration of deer . . . Outstanding natural history writing. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Extraordinary and absorbing, The Age of Deer proves John Muir's notion that when we pick out one thing in the universe we find it hitched to everything else. Howsare understands that we live in an age of numbness when 'few of us are willing to really feel,' and suggests, through the lives of deer and her experience with them, an elemental antidote. * David Gessner, author of Return of the Osprey and All the Wild That Remains *By paying close attention to an animal often seen but rarely observed, Howsare reveals that deer are far more mysterious and complicated-and far more deeply embedded in our lives and collective histories-than they may seem. The Age of Deer is a wonderfully perceptive, absorbing, and rewarding exploration of life in all its interconnected forms. * Michelle Nijhuis, author of Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction *Erika Howsare has written a fascinating and brilliantly researched book on deer. She has an ear for the conundrums and contradictions of our entanglements with these creatures, who increasingly occupy a middle ground between wild and domestic, survivors of our species' worst predations. * Alison Hawthorne Deming, author of A Woven World *A warm, engaging, and thoughtful look at what matters to deer and what they mean to us. Howsare is fascinated by the paradoxical status of an animal we all think we know: Not tame, but not quite wild either; fetishized by some, resented by others; all too common, and yet impossible to ignore. I highly recommend it! * Nate Blakslee, author of American Wolf *In her lyrical and revelatory The Age of Deer, Erika Howsare crafts the definitive account of humanity's longstanding dependence on the lovely creatures, their prominent place in myth and legend, and our modern failures to live peaceably alongside them. A cautionary (but often beautiful) tale of good intentions gone awry. * Earl Swift, author of Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings *The Age of Deer joins a growing canon of fresh treatments of wild creatures that are anciently enmeshed in the human story. And as Howsare reminds us in her warm, relaxed style, we will always have such a relationship with deer. The next one you see is going to intrigue you in a whole new way. * Dan Flores, New York Times bestselling author of Coyote America and Wild New World *I carried The Age of Deer in my pack for a few days through a canyon in Colorado, and it was a great complement to the lopsided slopes of fallen trees and the sound of roaring water. The deer is due its storyteller and Howsare takes the role with smartness and grace. * Craig Childs, author of Tracing Time, House of Rain, and The Secret Knowledge of Water *An unflinching look at a wild and mysterious creature that has run through our physical lives and imaginations since the Palaeolithic era and now faces us with the complexity and brutality of the Anthropocene. Erika Howsare's The Age of Deer is a compelling inquiry into the violence and beauty of a relationship that asks as many questions as it provides insights: about control, about desire, about what it means to be alive, and whether it is possible to re-forge an ancestral kinship with the more-than-human world in a time of ecological collapse. * Charlotte Du Cann, co-director of The Dark Mountain Project *This is a diligently researched and engaging mixture of mythology, history, and modern culture, blended seamlessly by personal observation and deft reporting. The end result is some highly accomplished natural history writing. It is erudite, absorbing and very readable with regular and stunning flashes of insight and lyricism * Charles Smith-Jones, author of A Guide to the Deer of the World *A timely and passionate book that places deer, philosophically as well as actually, much nearer humanity than we might have once thought. And a brave ending around what it means for a non-hunter to hunt. * Roger Morgan-Grenville *A brilliant exploration of the complex ties between humans and deer. I have hoped for an equally insightful book about our fraught relationship with this familiar neighbor. The Age of Deer is that book - and it is a masterpiece * Washington Post *The book is not a collection of deer facts so much as a many-stranded conversation ... a splendid document of intellectual and emotional growth * LA Times *It is an absolute delight. There's not a page on which the reader will not learn something * Boston Globe *Howsare is a fine writer * John Lewis-Stempel *The Age of Deer is a fascinating history of our relationship with, and dependency on, deer. Erika Howsare explains her revelatory and encyclopaedic research of a complex subject with great warmth and in a lyrical and eminently readable style. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone with a love of natural history and an interest in wildlife conservation. * Johnny Scott, author of A Book of Britain: The Lore, Landscape and Heritage of a Treasured Countryside *

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Book Synopsis'Late Light brings the refreshing perspective of someone who goes from seeing England as a foreign place to someone who deeply studies its secret wonders. An astonishing read.' - Amy Liptrot, The OutrunThis is a book about falling in love with vanishing thingsLate Light is the story of Michael Malay's own journey, an Indonesian Australian making a home for himself in England and finding strange parallels between his life and the lives of the animals he examines. Mixing natural history with memoir, this book explores the mystery of our animal neighbours, in all their richness and variety. It is about the wonder these animals inspired in our ancestors, the hope they inspire in us, and the joy they might still hold for our children.Late Light is about migration, belonging and extinction. Through the close examination of four particular 'unloved' animals - eels, moths, crickets and mussels - Michael Malay tells the story of the economic, political and cultural events that have shaped the modern landscape of Britain.For readers of Robert Macfarlane, Raynor Winn and Helen Macdonald, Late Light is a rich blend of memoir, natural history, nature writing, and a meditation on being and belonging, from a vibrant new voice.'Late Light is a book that glows with warmth in spite of its dark subtext. Malay's prose is gorgeous and astute; he looks with fresh eyes at unpopular species and finds poetry and meaning. His voice is irresistible - Late Light is a powerful new work of nature writing. ' - Sara Baume, Seven Steeples'Late Light is a book of little revelations. It approaches small things with a quiet and tender profundity, and its attentiveness to the quivering of life will leave you aching with world-love.' - Abi Andrews, The Word for Woman is WildernessTrade Review'Late Light brings the refreshing perspective of someone who goes from seeing England as a foreign place to someone who deeply studies its secret wonders. An astonishing read.' -- Amy Liptrot, author of THE OUTRUN'Late Light is a book that glows with warmth in spite of its dark subtext. Malay's prose is gorgeous and astute; he looks with fresh eyes at unpopular species and finds poetry and meaning. His voice is irresistible - Late Light is a powerful new work of nature writing.' -- Sara Baume, author of SEVEN STEEPLESIn underscoring the concept of basic dignity as being the right of all species and illuminating the idea of an expansive, planetary politics, Malay offers a bright, fierce hope for the future. -- Neil Hegarty * Irish Times *'Malay writes prose of gorgeous balance, shifting between the patience of his observations of nature and a controlled examination of the politics and histories that affect landscapes. His voice is fresh, passionate, and beautifully attuned to the layers of enchantment and melancholy that emerge from the living world in today's challenging times.' -- Melanie Challenger, author of ON EXTINCTION'Late Light is a book of little revelations. It approaches small things with a quiet and tender profundity, and its attentiveness to the quivering of life will leave you aching with world-love.' -- Abi Andrews, author of THE WORD FOR WOMAN IS WILDERNESS'Late Light is simply mesmerising. Michael Malay makes the unseen details of our world vibrant and insistent. This is a book that will re-enchant you with the parts of nature we've too-long forgotten - and a writer we urgently need to guide us.' -- Jessica J. Lee, author of TWO TREES MAKE A FOREST'Most nature books claim to make the world feel bigger and more precious, but Late Light really does. It's a tender, marvellous book. Through his journeys to understand the lives of four "unloved" animals, Michael Malay pays a debt of deep respect to the Earth and its interconnectedness. It is also a kind of travel book, making me see the familiar landscapes of the place I call home (England and specifically Bristol) with a sparkling newness. This book has given me new eyes, and I was sad when it ended. Nature writing -- and the world as a whole -- feels fresher.' -- Nick Hunt, author of OUTLANDISH'Beautiful in its clarity of thought and emotion, for some it could be life changing.' -- Jeremy Irons

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Book SynopsisDocumenting the species that have emerged, disappeared and been reborn over the millennia since the Cambrian Explosion, Lost Animals is the story of life on Earth. Over 520 million years ago, all the major animal groups – molluscs, worms, crustaceans, vertebrates – appear in the fossil record in what is, geologically speaking, the blink of an eye. As well as the animals we're familiar with today, evolution also experimented with now-obsolete body forms. Once, the world was a blank slate, but as this slate filled up, some lines were erased while others carried on to this day. Beautifully illustrated with artist's interpretations, photographs of fossils and excavations and scientific drawings, Lost Animals brings back to life some of the most charismatic creatures to inhabit the planet, as well as those representing an important link or leap in evolutionary terms. Zoologist Dr John Whitfield discusses those species we have lost, are only just discovering and those thought extinct until rediscovered, and the attempts to conserve and resurrect others.

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Book SynopsisWildlife expert Eanna Ni Lamhna takes us on a tour of all things to do with our wonderful natural world: from a celebration of our fascinating birds and bees, and their powers of migration and pollination, to the thorny challenges of our time, such as climate change, sustainability and our carbon footprint.Her mantra is that learning about our wild world is not just for young children or David Attenborough fans, it is a lifelong necessary knowledge for our survival ? and we need to open our eyes and our minds to the challenges that face us and our world into the future. The key is to find the balance between our needs and wants and the future of our precious planet and all its inhabitants.This brand new book raises, and discusses, questions such as; Why should we care about this natural world? Do we need and value the great outdoors now more than ever? But who wants spiders in their house? And what use are wasps anyway? Should we be worried by genetic engineering and windfarms? Biodiversity ? what did it ever do for us? Does it mean the end of the world if the whales become extinct? Are global warming and climate change the same thing? What happened to the hole in the ozone layer? Is veganism the answer to sustainable food? What is carbon sequestration ? just fancy words for trees? And why are carbon sinks so important? Is the mobile phone taking over our lives for good or for evil? How does a virus become a pandemic, and why?

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Book SynopsisCommunicating the Climate Crisis puts communication at the center of the change we need, providing concrete strategies that help break the social inertia that blocks social change and cultural transformation. After reimagining “earth” not just as the ground upon which we walk but as the atmosphere we breathe—Eairth—the book examines our consumption-based identities in fossil fuel culture and the necessity of structural change to address the climate crisis. Strategies for overcoming obstacles start with facing the emotional challenges (and the mental health tolls) of the crisis that lead to climate silence. Breaking that silence through personal climate conversations is a powerful tool that elevates the importance of the problem, finds common ground, and eases “climate anxiety.” The lens of climate justice and faith-based worldviews helps articulate our moral responsibility to take drastic action to protect all humans and the living world. This book tells a new story of hope through action—not as isolated, “guilty” consumers but as social actors who engage hearts, hands, and minds to envision and create a desired future.Trade Review"In this comprehensive and engagingly written book, Julia Corbett lays out not only the scientific, philosophical, and emotional dimensions of global climate change, but a compelling primer for more effective communication about the most pressing environmental crisis of our time. This is a book for teachers and students, activists and politicians, scientists and artists—for anyone hoping to do a better job of communicating climate change or to understand how effective communication can enable all of us to face our changing planet." -- Scott Slovic, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Humanities, University of Idaho"In her book Communicating the Climate Crisis, Julia Corbett stands unblinking in front of humanity’s fiercest enemy—like David stood before Goliath. In a calming voice, she patiently explains to her readers how we made this foe, and how with the strategic use of communication we can unmake it—and thereby create a better and more sustainable world." -- Ed Maibach, Director, Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason UniversityTable of ContentsTable of ContentsChapter 1: EairthChapter 2: Fossil Fuel CultureChapter 3: Individuals as Social Actors, Not ConsumersChapter 4: Emotions and Climate SilenceChapter 5: Breaking the Silence: Strategies for Talking About Climate ChangeChapter 6: Justice and Faith: The Moral Imperative of Climate ChangeChapter 7: A New Relationship with EairthChapter 8: Telling a New Story

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Book SynopsisWhen Darwin announced his theory of evolution by natural selection, he did more than transform biology. By showing how life on Earth evolved, Darwin told us that humans too are part of nature.

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Book SynopsisSteve Nicholls makes an epic journey along the River Tees in north-east England, from the industrial complexes near its estuary to its source high in the Pennine Hills.The Tees estuary was where Steve's life-long passion for nature was born, launching a long career as a documentary maker. As he travels the length of the eighty-mile river, he uses his years of travelling the world and his work on nature films to place the fauna and flora he encounters along the Tees in a wider context.He skilfully weaves together strands of personal experience, nature writing, botany, geology and local and wider history with an account of the depredations wrought by human industry and agriculture on the valley and waters of the Tees. Steel River is thus a natural and social history of a remarkable river, but also presents the Tees as a universal exemplar of environmental degradation, allowing the author to reflect on and offer prescriptions for the broken state of the natural world after 10,000 years of human impact.

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Book SynopsisThis keepsake is an ode to our most beloved broadcaster, biologist and environmentalist, packed to the brim with facts, trivia questions and a selection of his most insightful and inspiring quotes. Celebrate the incredible richness of the natural world around us and discover a hopeful outlook for the future, through Sir Attenborough's eyes.

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Book SynopsisOne of the Financial Times' Best Summer Books of 2022'A compelling account of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of life as a vet - and a lesson to us all on how we should treat the animals with which we share our lives.' - Stephen Moss, naturalist and author of The Robin: A biography 'If you love animals, read this book' - Jay Griffiths, author of Wild: An elemental journeyOur lives are intrinsically linked to those of animals - whether that's the animals we farm for food, those living in the wild, those we use for sport or the ones we choose to keep as pets. We all have a responsibility to consider our impact, and even small changes in our own lives could significantly improve the quality of theirs.Dr Sean Wensley is an award-winning vet and lifelong naturalist, advocating animal wellbeing around the world. Fusing keen scientific insight with tender meditations on the natural world, Through a Vet's Eyes reveals the injustices which animals experience every day and raises an important question: how can we choose a better life for animals?Compelling and compassionate, Through a Vet's Eyes helps us to see things from the animals' perspectives, and illuminates the ways we can better care for our fellow creatures.Trade ReviewAn enlightening guide to how scientists get inside the minds of other animals -- Henry Mance * Financial Times *A compelling account of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of life as a vet - and a lesson to us all on how we should treat the animals with which we share our lives. -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and author of THE ROBIN: A BIOGRAPHYOver the years as a vet, I have experienced many of the same situations, challenges and feelings that Sean reflects on in this incredible book. He helps us see things from the animals' perspectives, which is one of the key skills that every vet has to learn. We must, as individuals and as societies, be responsible for the part we each play in the lives of animals, whether they be used for food, sport, as our pets or for our enjoyment in nature. I strongly encourage you to read this book - I believe it helps us to understand the interwoven challenges we face as we navigate an uncertain future and equips us with the tools necessary to make a difference. I'm already telling everyone I know to read it! -- Dr Justine Shotton, President, British Veterinary Association[Through a Vet's Eyes] is comprehensive yet concise, sensitive without being sentimental and idealistic without being overly ideological. I loved it. -- Josh Loeb * Vet Record *Fascinating, engaging, urgent and important. Wensley is the ideal guide to the mysteries of the animal mind. If this doesn't revolutionize your view of the food on your plate and the whine of your dog, nothing will. -- Charles Foster, author of BEING A BEAST and BEING A HUMANThrough a Vet's Eyes provides a fascinating insight into the lives of different animals: those that live in the wild, are farmed for human consumption and the ones we choose to live with in our homes as domestic pets. The welfare and experiences of the animals who share this planet with humans in their different ways is told humanely with genuine compassion that drives home the responsibility we all share to think about the impact that we have in the way we live our lives. -- Dr Elaine Mulcahy, Director, UK Health Alliance on Climate ChangeBeguiling and devastating, this book explores how to play with a fox and recognise kinship with animals, even as it calmly and kindly reveals the truth of how animals are treated before they are made into food. If you love animals, read this book. -- Jay Griffiths, author of WILD: AN ELEMENTAL JOURNEYThrough a Vet's Eyes is a sensitive and intimate chronicle charting one man's journey through the wonders of the animal and natural world. By blending keen observation and scientific enquiry with an enduring passion for nature, Dr Sean Wensley provides a hugely insightful commentary into our relationship with animals and the wider living environments we co-habit. An excellent read for anyone with an interest in the collective responsibility we all have to ensure the welfare of the animal world and the sustainability and wellbeing of our ecosystems. -- Dr Osman A. Dar, One Health Project Director, Royal Institute of International Affairs, and Working Group Co-chair, One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), and Consultant in Global Health, Global Operations, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)Framed around a compelling and very personal journey, this book is packed with decades of insight. Each chapter dances naturally between nature-writing and first-person tales of animals in our care. I loved the storytelling prose, the binocular-clad explorations of a fellow naturalist and the quirky pairings of animals wild and domesticated. All delivered in a tone that is measured yet passionate. And what I really liked is that it's told by a vet, offering the reader fresh perspectives through the eyes of animals. -- Philip Lymbery, CEO, Compassion in World Farming and author of FARMAGEDDON: THE TRUE COST OF CHEAP MEATIn this book, Sean Wensley explores some of the ways our human lives are intrinsically linked to those of animals and how a better understanding of these relationships can benefit both. I commend it to anyone who would like to know more about this fascinating subject. -- Dr David Danson, President, Comparative Medicine Section, The Royal Society of MedicineA landmark book -- Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado, author of THE ANIMALS' AGENDAA very good read...I learned a lot. This book should make all of us think more deeply about those animals that are kept for our benefit. -- Mark Avery, environmental campaigner and author of REMARKABLE BIRDSThis inspiring, compassionate memoir offers informed and practical insights into how to reduce our animal welfare footprint...A thoroughly enlightening read. * LoveReading *'This deeply thoughtful and insightful book speaks to the heart of our responsibility to animals. Sean Wensley takes off the blinkers, strips away anthropomorphism, and asks us to focus on the species-specific needs of a range of creatures that we may choose to eat, keep as pets, or use in sport or leisure. Utterly humane, evidence-based, and beautifully argued, this book should be read by everyone whose life intersects with those of animals.' -- Roly Owers MRCVS, CEO, World Horse WelfareA must-have for any animal lover who wants to understand the reality of how we treat animals...brings together keen scientific insight with beautiful reflections on the natural world. * Lancashire Wildlife Trust *

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