Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

Book SynopsisThe Variety of Life can be read at many levels. Not least it is an extraordinary inventory - an illustrated summary of all the Earthly creatures that have ever lived. Whatever living thing you come across, from E coli to an oak tree or an elephant, The Variety of Life will show you what kind of creature it is, and how it relates to all others. Yet there are far too many creatures to present merely as a catalogue. The list of species already described is vast enough - nearly two million - but there could in reality be as many as 30 million different animals, plants, fungi and protists - and perhaps another 400 million different bacteria and archaea. In the 4,000 million years or so since life first began on Earth, there could have been several thousand billion different species. The only way to keep track of so many is to classify - placing similar creatures into categories, which nest within larger categories, and so on. As the centuries have passed, so it has become clear that the difTrade ReviewReview from previous edition The first part of The Variety of Life provides an excellent discussion and explanation of the systematisation of life, which is far from being static and boring. * The Herald 09/02/00 *This is much more thatn a beautifilly illustrated, engagingly written catalogue * The Independent 09/03/2002 *..wonderful encyclopedic "labour of love". * The Herald 09/02/2000 *Hopefully, the success The Variety of Life deserves will help encourage us "to share (our planet) with so many goodly creatures". * The Herald 09/02/2000 *The Variety of Life is far more than just another good popular science book. It's a celebration of the "huge privilege" it is to share the planet with so many fantastical creatures. * Independent Weekend 08/04/00 *Taxonomy may sound dull, but Tudge makes a brilliant case for it. A seasoned science writer with a delightfully light touch, he can make the most arcane subject appealing... a beautifully illustrated introduction to everything that's ever lived. * Independent Weekend 08/04/00 *...exceptionally clear, user-friendly, and up-to-date...a valuable introduction to the higher classification of organisms and an easily accessible reference work to the entire spread of biodiversity. * Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University *...For all natural historians and anyone professing biology The Variety of Life is a must * Douglas Palmer, Amazon.co.uk January 2000 *Throughout the book, which one might expect to be dryly taxonomical, he inserts adjectives like "fascinating", "marvellous", and "extraordinary". I will let his own words describe his book. * Richard Ellis, The Times 16th March 2000 *This book is a remarkable achievement, giving an authoritative overview of the whole of life in a readable way that should be accessible to anyone with an interest in natural history. Find an excuse to buy it. * Bulletin of the British Ecological Society 2000 *...this is a lovely and accessible book...It will be hugely valuable as a source-book for student libraries, and highly informative for any enthusiastic lay naturalist curious about the life around them and the fossils beneath them. * Nature September 2000 *The book is excellently produced, can be recommended unreservedly to all interested in the life sciences (especially molecular biologists), and is remarkably good value for money. * Galton Insitute Newsletter September 2000 *Table of ContentsCLASSIFICATION AND THE SEARCH FOR ORDER; THE NATURAL ORDER: DARWIN'S DREAM AND HENNIG'S SOLUTION; DATA; CLADE, GRADE, AND A PLEA FOR NONLINNEAN IMPRESSIONISM ; THE DOMAIN OF THE PROKARYOTES: BACTERIA AND ARCHAEA;THE DOMAIN OF THE NUCLEUS: THE EUCARYOTA; MUSHROOMS, MOULDS AND LICHENS: RUSTS, SMUT AND ROT: THE KINGDOM OF THE FUNGI;THE ANIMALS; ANEMONES, CORALS, JELLYFISH AND SEA-PENS; CLAMS AND COCKLES, SNAILS AND SLUGS, OCTOPUS AND SQUIDS; ANIMALS WITH JOINTED LEGS; LOBSTERS, CRABS, SHRIMPS, BARNACLES AND MANY MORE BESIDES; THE INSECTS; SPIDERS, SCORPIONS, MITES, WATER-SCORPIONS, HORSESHOE CRABS, AND SEA SPIDERS; STARFISH AND BRITTLE STARS, SEA URCHINS AND SAND DOLLARS, SEA LILIES, SEA DAISIES AND SEA CUCUMBERS; SEA-SQUIRTS, LANCELETS, AND VERTEBRATES; SHARKS, RAYS AND CHIMAERAS; THE RAY-FINNED BONY FISH; LOBEFINS AND TETRAPODS; THE REPTILES; THE MAMMALS; LEMURS, LORISES, TARSIERS, MONKEYS AND APES: THE ORDER OF THE PRIMATES; HUMAN BEINGS AND OUR IMMEDIATE RELATIVES; THE BIRDS; THE MODERN BIRDS; THE PLANTS; THE FLOWERING PLANTS; DAISIES, ARTICHOCKES, THISTLES AND LETTUCE ; EPILOGUE ; INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisRefreshes the parts other history books can't reach...A bit ropy on the Renaissance?In the dark about the Enlightenment?Or, in fact, do you need a revision course on the entire history of the world and want to read a witty, irreverent, definitely not boring romp through everything that has ever happened on planet earth from 15 billion years BC to the present day? Good.A Less Boring History of the World tells you everything you need to know from the Big Bang to Barack Obama, taking in the Byzantines, the Black Death, Bin Laden and the fall of bankers along the way, all boiled down to bite size chunks so that you can finally piece together all the different bits of history - and see how on earth we ended up in the mess we are today. A Less Boring History refreshes your memory and broadens your mind. And, if that's not enough, it will also make you laugh. A lot.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHighlighting the contributions of Victorian and Edwardian women to the study, protection, and writing of nature, this text recovers their works from the misrepresentation they often faced at the time of their composition.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNever has there been a president less content to sit still behind a desk than Theodore Roosevelt. When we picture him, he's on horseback or standing at a cliff's edge or dressed for safari. And Roosevelt was more than just an adventurer-he was also a naturalist and campaigner for conservation. His love of the outdoor world began at an early age and was driven by a need to not simply observe nature but to be actively involved in the outdoors-to be in the field. As Michael R. Canfield reveals in Theodore Roosevelt in the Field, throughout his life Roosevelt consistently took to the field as a naturalist, hunter, writer, soldier, and conservationist, and it is in the field where his passion for science and nature, his belief in the manly, strenuous life, and his drive for empire all came together. Drawing extensively on Roosevelt's field notebooks, diaries, and letters, Canfield takes readers into the field on adventures alongside Roosevelt. From Roosevelt's early childhood observations

Read more less

Book SynopsisLike nearly various areas of scholarly inquiry, the biological sciences are broken into increasingly narrow fields and subfields, their practitioners divided into ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and more. This title offers a ranging, eclectic collection of writings from more than eight centuries of observations of the natural world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisInterweaving historical anecdotes and modern-day scientific data, a definitive study of the natural history of Chicago describes the various forces that shaped the region's environment, from Ice Age glaciation to the human settlement of the Midwest, and discusses the various habitats of the region, environmental destruction,.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Although, as a biogeographer, I have taken an interest in Wallace for many years, I learned a great many new things about him and his times by reading these chapters, both in terms of details and of broad issues. He was quite a remarkable individual, and certainly deserves far more attention than he has received in recent decades. This book should do much to rectify that lack of attention. It will quickly come to represent a major milestone in what we know about Wallace and his contributions."--Lawrence R. Heaney, Negaunee Curator of Mammals, Field Museum of Natural History "Given the disparate nature of its subject's intellectual pursuits, this collection of scholarship on Wallace is inevitably eclectic. Usefully synthetic, it provides the hugely significant service of bringing together many disparate strands of Wallaceana in a single location. Wallace has a special need for this kind of treatment because of the breadth of his interests. If you're interested in Darwin, you need only check out the history of biology literature; if, however, you're interested in Wallace, you are compelled to hunt up references in far-flung areas--in the history of biology, history of medicine, history of economics, and in political history. An Alfred Russel Wallace Companion brings all this together in one place."--Andrew Berry, Harvard University, editor of "Infinite Tropics: An Alfred Russel Wallace Anthology" "An Alfred Russel Wallace Companion is a truly comprehensive examination of the ruminations and writings of one of the most remarkable men of the Victorian era, the co-discoverer of the theory of natural selection with Charles Darwin. This book is so thorough in its analysis of a protean mind that it is difficult to imagine that it will or can be surpassed. Anyone interested in the history of science, and in particular evolutionary theory and the foundations of biogeography, will find this collection of essays enlightening and thought-provoking. Even at his least convincing, his embrace of Spiritualism and anti-vaccinationism, Wallace the revolutionary is evident. The authors rightly argue that his concerns for social justice, the degradation of the planet, and humans' place in the universe make him relevant today, even if some of his ideas, based on the best data available to him at the time, may be outdated."--Ross A. Slotten, author of "The Heretic in Darwin's Court: The Life of Alfred Russel Wallace"

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"The sage of Walden Pond is himself in the mix with The Daily Henry David Thoreau, a quote-a-day compendium from Thoreau biographer Laura Dassow Walls of some of his best observations. In a pandemic year touched by window-gazing among homebound Americans, readers might especially respond to this musing from Christmas Eve, 1841: 'Will it not be employment enough to watch the progress of the seasons?'" * Wall Street Journal *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRobert Pack searches for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. He locates beauty, consolation, and even happiness in those commitments that we will into fulfillment in awareness of loss.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] fascinating celebration of the green world upon which all human life depends."--Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human "New Scientist, Best Books of the Year, on Silvertown's An Orchard Invisible" "A gem. . . . Read it as a gardener, scientist, food aficionado, historian, botanist, or naturalist, and you'll not be disappointed."--Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human "Times Higher Education, on Silvertown's An Orchard Invisible" "A science-informed tour of the table, showing how our fare comes to us courtesy of natural selection--and, of course, survival of the fittest. . . . Silvertown delves in with gusto. . . . His accessible discussion ranges from shellfish gathering to bread-making to gardening, from issues of food security . . . to the genetic basis for taste and genetic variability among populations of food plants. . . . A tasty nibble for the bookish, science-inclined foodie."-- "Kirkus Reviews" "A series of beautifully plated amuse-bouche, raising tantalizing and rich ideas. . . . The book left me feeling as if I had attended a dinner party, where foodies, historians, and scientists mingled, sharing vignettes on various food-related topics. Each 'bite' . . . left me contemplating the relationships between genetic changes, speciation, and, at times, even the future of our planet."--Mari-Vaughn V. Johnson, US Department of Agriculture "Science" "As pleasurable to read as it is informative."--Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human "Library Journal, on Silvertown's An Orchard Invisible" "Deserves a spot on any natural history lover's bedside bookstand. . . . It is simply a delight to read."--Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human "Natural History, on Silvertown's An Orchard Invisible" "In a nutshell, I will never look at seeds the same way again, whether teeny poppy seeds or mammoth coconuts. . . . [A] delicious little book."--Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human "Australian, on Silvertown's An Orchard Invisible" "Silvertown breaks down the sociology, selective breeding, and nutritional evolution behind each contemporary dietary staple. . . . This tour--from animal to vegetable to beer--will give even the most ambitious foodie something to chew on."-- "Scientific American" "The Darwinian dining served up by evolutionary ecologist Silvertown in this delectably erudite study is all about tracing the impact of natural selection on foods. We learn that mussels helped to fuel the hominin exodus from Africa; rye is a weed domesticated by accident; carnivory and tapeworms are intimately linked; and Penicillium camemberti mold evolved in soft cheeses. We even examine engastration--stuffing one animal into another before cooking--as a status-led manifestation of the need to share food. This intricate scientific banquet is a marvelous read: bon appetit."--Barbara Kiser "Nature" "From the opening course of oysters to the final swill of wine, Silvertown's account of the evolution of our diet is a sumptuous experience. Dinner with Darwin combines natural history, biography, archaeology, and biology into food stories that will enlighten any meal."--Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human "Washington Independent Review of Books" "Dinner with Darwin ranges far more widely--and offers vastly more substance--than the common horde of food books. This is not a candlelit foodie memoir or a 'breakthrough' weight-loss manual. Dinner with Darwin is a wide-ranging natural history of our diet, crafted at a pitch-perfect level for the science buff and the general reader alike. Silvertown is also a wonderful writer: erudite, informative, and thoroughly entertaining."--Bob Duffy "Washington Independent Review of Books"Table of Contents1. An Invitation to Dinner 2. A Cooking Animal 3. Shellfish—Beachcombing 4. Bread—Domestication 5. Soup—Taste 6. Fish—Flavor 7. Meat—Carnivory 8. Vegetables—Variety 9. Herbs and Spices—Piquancy 10. Desserts—Indulgence 11. Cheese—Dairying 12. Wine and Beer—Intoxication 13. Feasting—Society 14. Future Food Acknowledgments Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis work traces the scientific, administrative, and political strategies that enabled the foundation of the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. It argues that agriculture and animal breeding rank alongside classification and collections in explaining why natural history was important for French rulers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplorer, scientist, writer, and humanist, Alexander von Humboldt was the most famous intellectual of the age that began with Napoleon and ended with Darwin. This title traces Humboldt's ideas for Cosmos to his 1799 journey to the Americas, where he first experienced the diversity of nature and of the world's people.Trade Review"Walls reclaims for the present a man whose personality and work had a formative influence on the cultural landscape of antebellum America and whose legacy may to good effect be used in addressing current affairs. I recommend The Passage to Cosmos as a fine piece of Humboldt scholarship, a heartfelt plea for environmental holism, and an enjoyable read." (Science)"

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplorer, scientist, writer, and humanist, Alexander von Humboldt was the most famous intellectual of the age that began with Napoleon and ended with Darwin. This title traces Humboldt's ideas for "Cosmos" to his 1799 journey to the Americas, where he first experienced the diversity of nature and of the world's people.Trade Review"Walls reclaims for the present a man whose personality and work had a formative influence on the cultural landscape of antebellum America and whose legacy may to good effect be used in addressing current affairs. I recommend The Passage to Cosmos as a fine piece of Humboldt scholarship, a heartfelt plea for environmental holism, and an enjoyable read." (Science)"

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe legacy of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) looms large over the natural sciences. His 1799-1804 research expedition to Central and South America with botanist Aime Bonpland set the course for the great scientific surveys of the nineteenth century. This book features his influential work - and his personal favorite.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDaniel Hillel follows events in the Hebrew Bible to reveal the complex interplay between the ancient Israelites and their natural and cultural environments. More than just affecting their material existence, the diverse environmental character of the ancient Near East profoundly shaped the evolution of Jewish culture and beliefs and, ultimately, of Western civilization as a whole.Trade ReviewThis is a book to supplement and fill in details of natural history that are generally absent or neglected in standard hisotrical studies. It is well illustrated and the bibliography is extensive. The Master's Seminary Journal That environmental factors affect our daily lives is disputed by no one. But can environment, climate and topology play a part in the development of a religious community? Hillel, professor emeritus of environmental studies at the University of Massachusetts and senior research scientist at Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research, says yes. He comes to the subject immersed in the lore of ancient Israel, from his grandfather's instruction to his own years living in modern Israel. He sees the Jewish belief system as an amalgam of ideas emerging from an interplay of human beings with both the land and its peoples, "absorb[ing] all the cultural strands... from all the ecological domains of the ancient Near East... and assimilat[ing] them into their own culture." He divides sacred history into seven "domains," dispensations based not on some theological construct but rather on the terrain in which the Israelites lived. What emerges is a largely naturalistic explanation of Israel's beliefs and laws, with a strong emphasis on the impact of culture and environment on the evolving Jewish religion. Hillel recounts, in a richly detailed and beautifully told manner, the origins of the Hebrew Bible in a new and satisfying way. (Jan.) Publisher's Weekly Hillel recounts, in a richly detailed and beautifully told manner, the origins of the Hebrew Bible in a new and satisfying way.Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly With all the commentaries and books on the Hebrew Scriptures that have appeared over the years, it would seem nearly impossible to write something unique and illuminating. Yet this is precisely what Hillel has done by providing an environmental and ecological analysis of the text. Library Journal Engrossing... Hillel offers new perspectives on biblical views of the environment. Wispas The results are fascinating. -- Edward Rothstein New York Times Hillel... offers us a quintessential resource for understanding the role of nature in Jewish cultural and religious movements. -- Daneil Orenstein Jerusalem Report Hillel takes a fresh and invigorating approach to biblical exegesis... A detailed ecological analysis of the Bible. -- Josie Glausiusz Forward Hillel's contribution is truly distinctive, insightful and provocative. -- Sandee Brawarsky The Jewish Week [The Natural History of the Bible] should be of equal interest to the student of ecology and the student of theology. -- Sir Ghillean Prance The Times Higher Education Supplement A highly stimulating new take on an old question, and deserves to be widely read. -- John Barton Times Literary Supplement It definitely belongs on the shelves of those interested in the development of biblical culture. -- Rabbi Rachel Essermang The Reporter Daniel Hillel's The Natural History of the Bible is a very good read and deserves a place on the shelf. -- Alon Tal Environmental History Fascinating because of its fine prose, important because of its scope. Kansas City Star An informed and readable entrance into a profound world. -- Harvey E. Goldberg The European Legacy The Natural History of the Bible is one beautiful book. -- Jeanne Kay Guelke Environmental Ethics I highly recommend this book. -- Rabbi Louis A. Rieser Church and Synagogue Libraries Daniel Hillel has done a magnificent job and contributed substantially both to Biblical scholarship and to the understanding of the ecology of the area. But he goes much deeper than simply interpreting the Bible's ecological setting. Hillel allows us to understand better the minds of those who were recording the events in Egypt, the return to Canaan, David and Solomon, and the various interpretations of Jerusalem, as well as the meaning of these events. So well presented and so informative. -- Peter H. Raven, Home Secretary of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science A refreshing, detailed and stimulating account of an important aspect of ancient Israelite development. -- Hilary Marlow Journal of Jewish Studies For anyone concerned about the origins of the Hebrew Bible... this is a fascinating book that can be highly recommended. -- Antoinette Bosco The American Catholic Hillel's rational accounts of natural phenomena in the Hebrew scriptures and his thesis about the formation of montheism will assist anyone who wishes to extend understanding of the Bible as a foundational text for Western civilization and to comprehend the relationship between faith formation and place. -- James W. Hood Friends JournalTable of ContentsAcknowledgments A Note on Translation Chronology Prologue 1. Environment and Culture 2. The Ecological Context 3. The First Riverine Domain 4. The Pastoral Domain 5. The Second Riverine Domain 6. The Desert Domain 7. The Rainfed Domain 8. The Maritime Domain 9. The Urban Domain 10. The Exile Domain 11. The Overarching Unity Epilogue Appendixes 1. On the Historical Validity of the Bible 2. Perceptions of Humanity's Role on God's Earth 3. Selected Passages Regarding the Seven Domains Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAda Smailbegović shows how twentieth- and twenty-first-century writers have intermingled scientific methodologies with poetic form to reveal unfolding processes of change. Poetics of Liveliness moves across scales to explore the realms of molecules, fibers, tissues, and clouds.Trade ReviewIn a remarkable feat of interdisciplinary scholarship, this book plumbs the depths and scans the horizons of what it means to write on, in, of, and with “life” through a poetry and poetics of experimentation. Science meets poetry meets the ongoing unknown in a redefinition of environmental poetics—bravo! -- Cary Wolfe, author of Ecological Poetics; or, Wallace Stevens’s BirdsSmailbegović addresses the entwined relations between contemporary North American poetry and developments in philosophy, art, and science. She argues that each of these fields or practices address the same kinds of complexity in the world, both enabling language to emerge from the world (whether in human or animal form) and materiality to complexify and elaborate itself chemically and evolutionarily. -- Elizabeth Grosz, author of The Incorporeal: Ontology, Ethics, and the Limits of MaterialismWriting as a poet versed in biology, physics, and meteorology, Smailbegović explains minute and slow-moving material phenomena as acutely as she does poetic nuance. Rather than unveil worlds normally imperceptible at human scale, her “edge work” tracks partial contact between actants moving past and through one another at different speeds. Offering a feminist account of the pliability or softness of matter, Poetics of Liveliness reads as an incipient, emergent organism in its own right, slowly and recursively proceeding by multiplying surfaces of responsiveness. -- Anne-Lise François, author of Open Secrets: The Literature of Uncounted ExperiencePoetics of Liveliness has two muses. One, Gertrude Stein, is named; the other, William Blake, is the “unnamed form” animating this book of wonders. Meshing handwork to brainwork, Blake’s multimedia inventions release from “the merely natural” a body of knowledge—and knowledge of bodies—that is larger, more minutely organized, and more alive than our philosophy had dreamt of. Smailbegović proves herself a member of Blake’s tribe, not just its ethnographer. Her study addresses poetry and poetics, new and old ontology, science, technology, and media studies, and ecopoetics. -- Marjorie Levinson, author of Thinking Through Poetry: Field Reports on Romantic LyricSmailbegovic’s book serves as connective tissue between a scientific treatment of literature and a deeper consideration of what it means to think with the nonhuman in all scales and on all levels of sentience. * ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment *Poetics of Liveliness is an essential read for anyone who’s interested in the connections between science and literature, and in the tremendous potential they hold for the future of critical theory and for its immediate present. * Textual Practice *[A] valuable and original contribution to interdisciplinary studies . . . it will be appealing not only to literary scholars, but also to a broader audience of philosophers, ecologists, new materialists, and possibly even to the scientific community, from entomologists to physicists. Because of its strong theoretical foundations, Poetics of Liveliness will surely act as a catalyst for future inquiries into the study of material ecologies. * H-Environment, H-Net Reviews *Poetics of Liveliness operates . . . scalarly, moves fluidly between the realms of the very small and the very large, revealing relationships between multifaceted, nonhuman material assemblages, while Smailbegović’s expertise in a variety of scientific fields buttresses the author’s ability to build the necessary information networks as she moves through the diverse levels of those relationships. * Jacket2 *For readers intrigued by the material turn (and its discontents), and no less for readers curious about what lies at the forefront of materialist-poetic experimentation today, Poetics of Liveliness should not be missed. * American Literary History *[Smailbegović's] project is to break down reified discourses of materiality by means of a poetics as lively as the nonhuman things it describes, or decorates. It is a significant, serious, yet playful account of how, in the hands of these poet-naturalists, metaphor can be used strategically to liberate readers and their reading matter alike. * Modernism/modernity *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPart I: Textures of Change Introduction: Poetic Cosmologies1. Soft Matter2. Poetry and SciencePart II: Poetic Laboratories of Matter 3. Molecules: From Code to Shape4. Fibers: Edge Textures and Nonhuman Scales of Sense5. Tissues: Histological Landscapes and the Substances of Character6. Clouds: Cloud-Writing and the Movement of QualitiesCoda: Toward a Haptic PoeticsNotesWorks CitedIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisQuestioning Borders explores recent ecoliterature by Han and non-Han Indigenous writers of China and Taiwan, analyzing relations among humans, animals, ecosystems, and the cosmos in search of alternative possibilities for creativity and consciousness.Trade ReviewIn this groundbreaking book, Robin Visser explores the shifting incarnations of the border as a territorial gateway, a contact zone, a liminal terrain, and an imaginary portal. She delves into the intersection of ethnic, cultural, political—and especially ecological—dynamics that inform cartographies and cosmologies of Sinophone states. A fantastic work. -- David Der-wei Wang, author of Why Fiction Matters in Contemporary ChinaA comprehensive and illuminating comparison of Chinese and Indigenous literatures on the border ecologies of China and Taiwan. Questioning Borders sheds light on the power dynamics of China as a settler-colonialist regime in which Indigenous ecocriticism confronts the Chinese imperial geography of center and periphery, which underpins both China’s development strategies and even the most radical Chinese ecoliteratures. -- Uradyn E. Bulag, author of Collaborative Nationalism: The Politics of Friendship on China’s Mongolian FrontierThis illuminating book offers deep insights into the tensions, interactions, and reciprocity among diverse ecologies, ethnicities, humans, and nonhumans. Robin Visser’s brilliant analysis of ecoliterature by Han and Indigenous authors makes this book a must-read for students of environmental humanities. -- Ban Wang, author of At Home in Nature: Technology, Labor, and Critical Ecology in Modern ChinaVisser’s Questioning Borders provides a timely critical intervention that destabilizes the historically established borders and center-periphery relationship within the cultural and political imaginaries of the Hanspace. It offers rich textual studies on Indigenous ecoliteratures in China and Taiwan. A must-read for those interested in Chinese, Sinophone, global, and transnational Indigenous ecocriticism. -- Chia-ju Chang, editor of Chinese Environmental Humanities: Practices of Environing at the MarginsQuestioning Borders radically approaches contemporary literatures of the Chinese world via critical discourses of ecocriticism, global Indigenous studies, and decolonization theory. Incorporating diverse Han majority and ethnic minority writing, the volume charts the emergent Chinese cosmology of the present dynamic era and stimulates deep yet far-ranging conversations. An exciting book. -- Mark Bender, editor of The Borderlands of Asia: Culture, Place, PoetryGroundbreaking . . . Visser’s breathtaking scope is both incredibly ambitious and highly effective. One of the most significant contributions of Questioning Borders is its systematic examination, for the first time in English-language scholarship, of authors writing about nature from less-studied ethnic groups in the field of modern Chinese literature. -- Cheng Li * ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ecoliteratures Inhabiting Borders1. Beijing Westerns and Hanspace Elixirs in Southwest China2. Grassland Logic and Desert Carbon Imaginaries in Inner Mongolia3. Sacred Routes and Dark Humor in Grounded Xinjiang4. Cosmic Ecologies and Transcendent Tricksters on the Tibetan Plateau5. Island Excursions and Indigenous Waterways in Activist TaiwanEpilogue: Indigenous Entanglements in Techno HypersubjectivityAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisQuestioning Borders explores recent ecoliterature by Han and non-Han Indigenous writers of China and Taiwan, analyzing relations among humans, animals, ecosystems, and the cosmos in search of alternative possibilities for creativity and consciousness.Trade ReviewIn this groundbreaking book, Robin Visser explores the shifting incarnations of the border as a territorial gateway, a contact zone, a liminal terrain, and an imaginary portal. She delves into the intersection of ethnic, cultural, political—and especially ecological—dynamics that inform cartographies and cosmologies of Sinophone states. A fantastic work. -- David Der-wei Wang, author of Why Fiction Matters in Contemporary ChinaA comprehensive and illuminating comparison of Chinese and Indigenous literatures on the border ecologies of China and Taiwan. Questioning Borders sheds light on the power dynamics of China as a settler-colonialist regime in which Indigenous ecocriticism confronts the Chinese imperial geography of center and periphery, which underpins both China’s development strategies and even the most radical Chinese ecoliteratures. -- Uradyn E. Bulag, author of Collaborative Nationalism: The Politics of Friendship on China’s Mongolian FrontierThis illuminating book offers deep insights into the tensions, interactions, and reciprocity among diverse ecologies, ethnicities, humans, and nonhumans. Robin Visser’s brilliant analysis of ecoliterature by Han and Indigenous authors makes this book a must-read for students of environmental humanities. -- Ban Wang, author of At Home in Nature: Technology, Labor, and Critical Ecology in Modern ChinaVisser’s Questioning Borders provides a timely critical intervention that destabilizes the historically established borders and center-periphery relationship within the cultural and political imaginaries of the Hanspace. It offers rich textual studies on Indigenous ecoliteratures in China and Taiwan. A must-read for those interested in Chinese, Sinophone, global, and transnational Indigenous ecocriticism. -- Chia-ju Chang, editor of Chinese Environmental Humanities: Practices of Environing at the MarginsQuestioning Borders radically approaches contemporary literatures of the Chinese world via critical discourses of ecocriticism, global Indigenous studies, and decolonization theory. Incorporating diverse Han majority and ethnic minority writing, the volume charts the emergent Chinese cosmology of the present dynamic era and stimulates deep yet far-ranging conversations. An exciting book. -- Mark Bender, editor of The Borderlands of Asia: Culture, Place, PoetryGroundbreaking . . . Visser’s breathtaking scope is both incredibly ambitious and highly effective. One of the most significant contributions of Questioning Borders is its systematic examination, for the first time in English-language scholarship, of authors writing about nature from less-studied ethnic groups in the field of modern Chinese literature. -- Cheng Li * ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ecoliteratures Inhabiting Borders1. Beijing Westerns and Hanspace Elixirs in Southwest China2. Grassland Logic and Desert Carbon Imaginaries in Inner Mongolia3. Sacred Routes and Dark Humor in Grounded Xinjiang4. Cosmic Ecologies and Transcendent Tricksters on the Tibetan Plateau5. Island Excursions and Indigenous Waterways in Activist TaiwanEpilogue: Indigenous Entanglements in Techno HypersubjectivityAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDr Chris Thorogood is a botanist at the University of Oxford, and an illustrator and public speaker. Chris's research areas include the evolution of parasitic and carnivorous plants and taxonomic diversity in biodiversity hotspots, such as the Mediterranean Basin. Chris won a scholarship in 2005 to carry out his PhD research on speciation in parasitic plants at the University of Bristol, for which he was awarded a Faculty Commendation, and the national Irene Manton Prize for best thesis in botany in 2009. Chris is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and a Junior Research Fellow of Linacre College, Oxford.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVolume Two of Gerald Durrell's beloved account of his childhood in Corfu, now in Penguin Modern Classics for the first time''A lot of frolic, fun and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable'' - The New York TimesAnother tiger-golden day lay ahead of us. It was as though England had never really existed'The Durrell clan's escapades on their Greek island home resume with the second volume of the Corfu Trilogy. Budding zoologist Gerald continues to explore the natural wonders around him, enjoying a night fishing trip, receiving a donkey as a birthday present and accidentally bringing a bear home for tea. Here too are more stories of the eccentric creatures he calls his family, including Margo's ill-advised foray into spiritualism and what becomes known as Mother's Great Romance'. Ending as the Second World War is declared, Birds, Beasts and Relatives is an enchanting return to a magical place.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe follow up to My Family and Other Animals and the second book in The Corfu Trilogy, the beloved books that inspired ITV''s television series The Durrells.In this second collection of tales concerning the Durrell family on the island of Corfu, young Gerry continues to be captivated by the fascinating flora and fauna of their adopted home - much to the bemusement and upset of his long suffering siblings and mother.Whether it''s lamp fishing by night or roving the countryside with his mentor Theodore, Gerry encounters intoxicated hedgehogs, tarantulas, dung beetles, water spiders and other animals, some of which become the family''s very unwanted pets.''A wild and amusing chronicle'' Daily Express''This book, an evocation of a budding naturalist''s life as a boy on Corfu, will delight many readers, even those who can''t stand spiders...'' Evening Standard''Delightful, charming, funny''Trade ReviewDelightful, charming, funny * The Times *A wild and amusing chronicle * Daily Express *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe third book in The Corfu Trilogy (after My Family and Other Animals and Birds, Beasts and Relatives), the beloved books that inspired ITV''s television series The Durrells.Just before the Second World War the Durrell family decamped to the glorious, sun-soaked island of Corfu where the youngest of the four children, ten-year-old Gerald, discovered his passion for animals: toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies, scorpions and octopuses. Through glorious silver-green olive groves and across brilliant-white beaches Gerry pursued his obsession . . . causing hilarity and mayhem in his ever-tolerant family.''A wild and amusing chronicle'' Daily Express''This book, an evocation of a budding naturalist''s life as a boy on Corfu, will delight many readers, even those who can''t stand spiders...'' Evening Standard''Delightful, charming, funny'' The TimesTrade ReviewDelightful, charming, funny * The Times *A wild and amusing chronicle * Daily Express *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''If bravery itself could write, it would write like she does'' John BergerWhy rebel?Because our footprint on the Earth has never mattered more than now. How we treat it, in the spirit of gift or of theft, has never been more important.Because we need a politics of kindness, but the very opposite is on the rise. Libertarian fascism, with its triumphal brutalism, its racism and misogyny - a politics that loathes the living world.Because nature is not a hobby. It is the life on which we depend, as Indigenous societies have never forgotten.Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars, and they are lining up now to write rebellion across the skies.From the author of Wild, this passionate, poetic manifesto for urgent rebellion is also a paean to the deep and extraordinary beauty of the natural world.Jay Griffiths helped redefine activism for a generation, combining detailed research with a poeTrade ReviewThere is just one question left today for all writers. What would Nature say to us if Nature had a voice? I know of nobody who is facing up to that question with more honesty, courage and commitment than Jay Griffiths * John Ashton, independent activist and former UK Climate Change Ambassador *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIllinois bodies of water are home to a diverse population of fishes. This title includes the twenty-eight families of fishes, identifying each family's common and scientific name and detailing its evolutionary relationships and economic importance. It is suitable for students, teachers, ichthyologists, and those who enjoy fishing and nature.Trade Review"The definitive reference for anyone, whether a fisherman or ichthyologist, who is interested in the past and present status of fishes and aquatic habitats in the Midwest." -- Illinois Wildlife "A worthy descendent of Forbes and Richardson's classic Fishes of Illinois... this updated version is a welcome addition to an icthyologist's shelf." -- Copeia "Barring ecological disaster, the fishes of Illinois should need no further recountal for eons." -- American Scientist

Read more less

Book SynopsisFusing general interest in mushrooming with serious scholarship, this title describes and illustrates over five hundred of the region's mushroom species. It discusses the DNA revolution in mycology and its consequences for classification and identification, as well as the need for well-documented contemporary collections of mushrooms.Trade Review"This book does what no prior book has done by describing many of the thousands of species of mushrooms found in the Midwest. Anyone studying fungi will appreciate this large collection of species documented in a single volume. Mushrooms of the Midwest is a significant contribution."--Joe McFarland, coauthor of Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois and Surrounding States: A Field-to-Kitchen Guide"Especially well-written and packaged. . . . from the cold conifer bogs of northern Michigan to the steamy oak forests of southern Missouri, the book offers a broad cross section of the fungi, edible and not, that can be found growing in the Midwest's diverse ecosystems."--James A. Baggett, Better Homes and Gardens"An attractive, informative book for mycologists and mushroom enthusiasts. Though it focuses on the Midwest, it will be useful for all geographic areas. . . . A beautiful presentation of a fascinating group of organisms. Highly recommended.--Choice"A significant new field guide and study manual for the novice and expert mushroomer alike. Never before has a field guide devoted chapters to the potential role of enthusiasts to the field or detailed a training manual that will ensure their contributions are useful to the professional."--Prairie Naturalist

Read more less

Book SynopsisLoaded with full color photographs and evocative descriptions, this book provides a panorama of the state's overlooked natural diversity. It helps you explore fifty preserves, restoration areas, and parks, bringing an expert view to wildlife and landscapes and looking beyond the obvious to uncover the unexpected beauty of Illinois' wild places.Trade Review"The definitive guide to Illinois wildlife."--The News-Gazette “Authors Michael Jeffords and Susan Post do an excellent job of ferreting out the best natural spots in the state. . . . Their passion and love of Illinois comes through in their descriptive and lyrical prose.”--Chicago Book Review "These authors prove in no uncertain terms there is much to explore out-of-doors in Lincoln-land."--Booklist"Very well done! Exploring Nature in Illinois is an enjoyable read providing vivid descriptions of Illinois's special natural places. . . . [Jeffords and Post] know these areas well [and] highlight the history, natural character and resource management--all of which helps the reader develop a better understanding of each place. . . . I look forward to taking their challenge and venturing out throughout the state to listen, look, hike, photograph, paddle and explore Illinois's wild places."--Elizabeth Jones, Assistant Manager, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge"A truly gorgeous, informative, educational volume."--The Rock River Times“The goal is simple for Michael Jeffords and Susan Post: ‘We feel these special places and events should not be missed by any Illinois citizen with an interest in nature and wild things.’ As a fellow traveler in and appreciator of Illinois' wild places, I truly value the same love that Jeffords and Post show for their native state, and the expertise they bring to the book as biologists (entomologists) makes all our journeys through Illinois’s remaining places richer.”--Dale Bowman, outdoors columnist, Chicago Sun-Times"The reader is transported into the vivid, multisensory landscape of Illinois’ most beloved natural areas. History and biology intertwine on a narrative pathway unabashedly intended to inspire travel. The authors remind us there is still much beautiful wildness to love and protect in Illinois."--Stacy James, Prairie Rivers Network

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Sitting down with this collection of tales is setting off on a series of adventures in which the reader is enticed to share vicariously one exceptional experience after another. The experiences are presented in succinct, entertaining essays and striking images--some poignant, some humorous, some bordering on the incredible, and all informative. Susan Post and Michael Jeffords speak from decades of professional experience and a lifelong passion for natural history that has endowed them with an exceptional receptiveness for nature's curious events, those events rarely witnessed and those that often pass unnoticed and unappreciated."--James B. Nardi, author of Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners"Michael Jeffords's and Susan Post's book is unique in its rich compilation of entertaining narratives and beautiful photographs of natural history phenomena across the world. Their beautiful descriptions of the adaptations and behaviors of creatures large and small incorporate important issues such as invasion of exotic species, extinction, environmental change, and habitat destruction and will inspire others to look more closely at the natural world."--Bonnie Styles, Director Emeritus, Illinois State Museum System

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe second edition of the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois offers up-to-date information on the state's 102 species of frogs and toads, salamanders, turtles, lizards, and snakes. Detailed descriptions by the authors include habitats, distinguishing features, behaviors, and other facts, while revised range maps and full-color photographs help users recognize animals in the field. In addition, an identification key and easy-to-navigate page layouts guide readers through extensive background material on each species' population, diet, predators, reproduction, and conservation status. A one-of-a-kind resource, the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois is a definitive guide aimed at biologists, teachers, students, wildlife specialists, natural resource managers, conservationists, law enforcement officials, landowners, hobbyists, and everyone else eager to explore herpetology and nature in the Prairie State.Trade Review"A fantastic resource for all seeking to study the 102 herpetofauna species found in Illinois." --Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation"The second edition of the Guide is an attractive, up-to-date contribution to our understanding of Illinois’ herpetofauna, and is well worth the modest price." --Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society"With thoughtfully revised descriptions, expanded natural history accounts, and updated range maps and photos, this guide offers something for everyone and will be a relevant resource for natural historians and herp enthusiasts alike."--Bill Peterman, The Ohio State University"Regardless of your level of knowledge regarding Illinois's reptiles and amphibians, you'll definitely want a copy of this in your backpack or on your bookshelf. " --Illinois Outdoor News

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Guide to Natural Areas of Southern Indiana fills a void in available guidebooks geared to nature-based tourism. You would need to do hours and hours of internet research to compile just a small portion of what this one book provides. This is an excellent guidebook and offers a big-picture view of southern Indiana's diverse environments. There is something for everyone-from botany and geology to history-which makes the book extremely useful for both families and ecotour groups as well as the lone explorer seeking out a new experience." -Cheryl Ann Munson, Indiana University "Steven Higgs has done an excellent job of not only compiling the places, but also detailing the important flora and fauna located therein, along with recreational opportunities for visitors to these preserves. I cannot imagine the amount of time that went into exploring all these places! Anyone with a general interest in the outdoors, including hikers, birders, campers and fishermen, will find this book useful." -Johnny Molloy, author of Top Trails Great Smoky Mountains National ParkTable of ContentsForeword by James Alexander ThomPrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroductionNatural Area EtiquettePart 1. The Land StewardsPart 2. The Southern Indiana landscapePart 3. DestinationsSection 1Section 2Section 3Section 4Part 4. Supplementary MaterialsSpecies listGlossaryResourcesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review[This] translation makes it easy to see why Arsenyev maintains a fan base among Russian readers: his travelogue is both romantic and closely observed, and he is an appealing narrator, courageous but more than willing to admit faults and share credit. * The New Yorker *Excellent and accessible . . . Slaght follows in Arsenyev's snowy, muddy footsteps — preserving, but also teaching others to identify and appreciate what is unique. Thus the pleasure of reading his new translation lies in the details, which are abundant but never frivolous. * LA Review of Books *A translation that, in its fluency and readability, stands comparison with English-language classics of the genre. . . . Slaght has done Arsenyev proud. The smooth translation doesn't read like one: it is seamless and colloquial while remaining entirely in tune with the style of period in which it was written. * Asian Review of Books *Arsenyev's narrative in Jonathan Slaght's fine translation should inspire us all to treasure and protect these remarkable places. * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsForeword: The Unknown Arsenyev / Ivan YegorchevPreface to the 1921 EditionTranslator's AcknowledgementsTranslator's IntroductionPart I: The 1902 Expedition1. The Glass Valley2. Meeting Dersu3. The Boar Hunt4. The Incident at a Korean Village5. The Lower Reaches of the Lefu6. The Blizzard at Lake Khanka7. Parting Ways with DersuPart II: The 1906 Expedition8. The 1906 Expedition—Preparations and Equipment9. At the Departure Site10. Up the Ussuri11. From Chzhumtayza to the Village Zagornaya12. The Route across the Mountains to the Village of Koksharovka13. The Fudzin River Valley14. Through the Taiga15. The Great Forest16. Across the Sikhote-Alin to the Sea17. The Villages of Fudin and Permskoye18. Saint Olga Bay19. Trip to the Sydagou River20. Adventure on the Arzamasovka River21. Saint Vladimir Bay22. The Tadusha River23. Dersu Uzala24. Amba25. The Li-Fudzin26. The Path along the Noto River27. An Accursed Place28. Return to the Sea29. Up the Tyutikhe River30. The Red Deer Rut31. The Bear Hunt32. From the Mutukhe River to Seokhobe33. An Encounter with the Khunkhuz34. Fire in the Forest35. The Winter Expedition36. To the Iman37. A Dangerous River Voyage38. Plight39. From Vagunbe to Parovoza40. The Final TripAppendix I: Historical and Current Names of Landmarks and SettlementsAppendix II: Biographical InformationBibliographyIndex of Plants and AnimalsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewEastbound through Siberia, a work newly translated to English by two emerita language professors from the University of Alaska Anchorage, adds fascinating details to the life of Steller and his travels and discoveries just before joining Bering in Kamchatka to set sail. . . . This new addition to understanding the life of Steller and 18th-century conditions in Siberia will be welcomed by historians, ethnographers, naturalists and armchair adventurers. -- Nancy Lord * Anchorage Daily News *What emerges is a remarkable window into lifeboth human and animalin 18th century Siberia. Due to the secret nature of the expedition, Steller's findings were hidden in Russian archives for centuries, but the near-daily entries he recorded on journeys from the town of Irkutsk to Kamchatka are presented here in English for the first time. RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in Georg Steller and/or Russian history. -- Ian Paulsen * Birdbooker Report *I want to acknowledge the miracles the translators have performed with this material, synthesizing and rearranging it in ways that make sense of Steller's probable intentions for later editing. -- Ryan Jones - University Of Oregon * H-NET Reviews Humanities & Social Sciences *Table of ContentsContentsForeword: The Steller Legacy / Jonathan C. SlaghtTranslators' PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionInstructions for Georg Wilhelm Steller from February 18, 1739, from Yeniseysk / Johann Georg Gmelin and Gerhard Friedrich MüllerPart I: Description of Irkutsk and Its Surroundings1. About Irkutsk and Its Surroundings2. About Irkutsk Itself3. About the Public Offices4. About the Clergy5. About the Chinese Trade and Chinese Trade Goods6. About Customs and Lifestyle in Irkutsk7. About Transbaikalia8. Report from the Uda River Part II: Travel Journal from Irkutsk to Kamchatka9. From Irkutsk to Ust'Ilginskaya (3/4-13)10. From Ust'Ilginskaya to Kirensk (3/14-5/1)11. From Kirensk to Yakutsk (5/2-24)12. In Yakutsk and Yarmanka (5/25-6/19)13. From Yarmanka to the Amga River (6/20-7/2)14. From the Amga to the Yuna River (7/3-21)15. From the Yuna River to Yudoma Cross (7/22-8/8)16. From Yudoma Cross to Okhotsk (8/9-13)17. In Okhotsk (8/14-26)18. Salmon Fishing and Preserving (8/27)19. From Okhotsk to Bol'sheretsk (8/28-9/16)AfterwordAppendix A: Georg Wilhelm Steller's Life 11-20 – '18Appendix B: Schnurbuch Account Ledger Appendix C: Letter to Johann Daniel SchumacherAppendix D: Plants Named After StellerGlossary of Foreign WordsGlossary of PeopleBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewEastbound through Siberia, a work newly translated to English by two emerita language professors from the University of Alaska Anchorage, adds fascinating details to the life of Steller and his travels and discoveries just before joining Bering in Kamchatka to set sail. . . . This new addition to understanding the life of Steller and 18th-century conditions in Siberia will be welcomed by historians, ethnographers, naturalists and armchair adventurers. -- Nancy Lord * Anchorage Daily News *What emerges is a remarkable window into lifeboth human and animalin 18th century Siberia. Due to the secret nature of the expedition, Steller's findings were hidden in Russian archives for centuries, but the near-daily entries he recorded on journeys from the town of Irkutsk to Kamchatka are presented here in English for the first time. RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in Georg Steller and/or Russian history. -- Ian Paulsen * Birdbooker Report *I want to acknowledge the miracles the translators have performed with this material, synthesizing and rearranging it in ways that make sense of Steller's probable intentions for later editing. -- Ryan Jones - University Of Oregon * H-NET Reviews Humanities & Social Sciences *Table of ContentsContentsForeword: The Steller Legacy / Jonathan C. SlaghtTranslators' PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionInstructions for Georg Wilhelm Steller from February 18, 1739, from Yeniseysk / Johann Georg Gmelin and Gerhard Friedrich MüllerPart I: Description of Irkutsk and Its Surroundings1. About Irkutsk and Its Surroundings2. About Irkutsk Itself3. About the Public Offices4. About the Clergy5. About the Chinese Trade and Chinese Trade Goods6. About Customs and Lifestyle in Irkutsk7. About Transbaikalia8. Report from the Uda River Part II: Travel Journal from Irkutsk to Kamchatka9. From Irkutsk to Ust'Ilginskaya (3/4-13)10. From Ust'Ilginskaya to Kirensk (3/14-5/1)11. From Kirensk to Yakutsk (5/2-24)12. In Yakutsk and Yarmanka (5/25-6/19)13. From Yarmanka to the Amga River (6/20-7/2)14. From the Amga to the Yuna River (7/3-21)15. From the Yuna River to Yudoma Cross (7/22-8/8)16. From Yudoma Cross to Okhotsk (8/9-13)17. In Okhotsk (8/14-26)18. Salmon Fishing and Preserving (8/27)19. From Okhotsk to Bol'sheretsk (8/28-9/16)AfterwordAppendix A: Georg Wilhelm Steller's Life 11-20 – '18Appendix B: Schnurbuch Account Ledger Appendix C: Letter to Johann Daniel SchumacherAppendix D: Plants Named After StellerGlossary of Foreign WordsGlossary of PeopleBibliographyIndex

Read more less