The Earth: natural history: general interest Books

Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER***''Hancock''s books provide a fascinating, alternative version of prehistory. America Before, detailed and wide-ranging, turns what was myth and legend into a new story of the past.'' Daily MailWas an advanced civilization lost to history in the global cataclysm that ended the last Ice Age? Graham Hancock, the internationally bestselling author and television presenter, has made it his life''s work to find out -- and in America Before, he draws on the latest archaeological and DNA evidence to bring his quest to a stunning conclusion.We''ve been taught that North and South America were empty of humans until around 13,000 years ago - amongst the last great landmasses on earth to have been settled by our ancestors. But new discoveries have radically reshaped this long-established picture and we know now that the Americas were first peopled more than 130,000 years ago - many tens of thousaTrade ReviewHancock's books provide a fascinating, alternative version of prehistory. America Before, detailed and wide-ranging, turns what was myth and legend into a new story of the past. * Daily Mail *Praise for Graham Hancock * : *A great yarn... [Hancock] is a writer with a first-rate feel for colour and ambience. * The Sunday Times *Hancock's book is an absorbing big-picture analysis as well as a cautionary tale. * Nexus *

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Book SynopsisSunday Times BestsellerHow did life on Earth begin? What is the nature of space and time? What are the chances that we will discover life on other worlds?Think you know our planet?Think again.Forces of Nature takes you from the mid-Atlantic ridge in Iceland, the volcanoes of Indonesia and the precipitous cliffs in Nepal, to the manatees off the coast of Florida and the northern lights of the Arctic, in search of the fundamental laws that govern our world.These universal laws shape everything, from the structure of snowflakes to the elegant spirals of the galaxies. By seeking to understand the everyday world the colours, structure, behaviour and history of our home we can step beyond the everyday and approach the Universe beyond.Trade ReviewPraise for Professor Brian Cox: ‘Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too.’ Guardian ‘He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things.’ Independent ‘If you didn’t utter a wow watching the TV, you will while reading the book.’ The Times ‘Engaging, ambitious and creative.’ Guardian ‘In this book of the acclaimed BBC2 TV series, Professor Cox shows us the cosmos as we have never seen it before – a place full of the most bizarre and powerful natural phenomena.’ Sunday Express ‘Will entertain and delight … what a priceless gift that would be.’ Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Wildlife of Australia is a decent introduction to the most popular and easily seen mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs of the continent, and its casually written style makes it both informative and enjoyable. Whether on a first visit to Australia, returning on a casual vacation or simply enjoying armchair birding from around the world, this guide can be a useful addition to a birder's library or field bag."--Melissa Mayntz, About.com Birding/Wild Birds "We loved this pocket guide to the Wildlife of Australia and the authors and publishers are to be congratulated on producing such a high quality, genuine pocket book that is jam-packed with information. If you are heading down under, make sure you take this book with you."--Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, Biggest Twitch "[T]he emphasis is on the creatures a visitor is most likely to see in or near the major tourist regions. The text is concise but detailed and the images are uniformly excellent. I was able to use them without difficulty to identify the animals, and particularly the many birds I had photographed on my various trips to Australia. This book will certainly accompany me on my next visit."--AnthonyToole, Shvoong.com "If space or weight are an issue on your travels, then this would be the one guide to take with you."--Jim Morgan, Birding Frontiers "Anyone who likes wildlife and is planning a visit to Australia should have this book."--FHB, Wildlife Activist "The text is well written and informative giving salient points of identification and range. The photos are good quality portraits taken by 16 photographers."--Roy John, Canadian Field Naturalist "While the book is obviously designed for tourists ... it may well also appeal and be useful to local beginner naturalists or children with an interest in fauna."--Judy Smith, CorellaTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments 3 Vegetation Associations of Australia 4 Habitats 6 Mammals 26 Birds 54 Amphibians 258 Reptiles 262 Abbreviations 276 Glossary 277 Further Reading 279 Photo Credits 280 Index 281

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Book SynopsisA very enjoyable book that brilliantly blends science, insight and passion' TRISTAN GOOLEYThe secret world of fungi is another kingdom. They do things differently there. Diverse beyond our wildest imaginations, fungi don't obey rules. They pop up unbidden and often dressed in curious reds and greens.They do not seem of this world, yet fungi underpin all the life around us: the wood wide web' links the trees by a subterranean telegraph; fungi eat the fallen trunks and leaves to recycle the nutrients that keep the wood alive; they feed a host of beetles and flies, which in turn feed birds and bats. Fungi produce the most expensive foods in the world but also offer the prospect of cheap protein for all; they cure disease, and they both cause disease and kill; they are the specialists to surpass all others; their diversity thrills and bewilders.Professor Richard Fortey has been a devoted field mycologist all his life. He has rejoiced in the exuberant variety and profusion of mushrooms sinc

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Book SynopsisWINNER of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award Author of the New York Times 2023 "Notable Book" Crossings Washington Post “50 Notable Works of Nonfiction” Science News “Favorite Science Books of 2018” Booklist “Top Ten Science/Technology Book of 2018” "A marvelously humor-laced page-turner about the science of semi-aquatic rodents…. A masterpiece of a treatise on the natural world.”—The Washington Post In Eager, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern idea of what a healthy landscape looks like and how it functions is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America’s lakes and rivers. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: streams eroded, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier, for humans and non-humans alike, than those without them. From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish highlands, Believers are now hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts. Eager is a powerful story about one of the world’s most influential species, how North America was colonized, how our landscapes have changed over the centuries, and how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, extinction, and the ravages of climate change. Ultimately, it’s about how we can learn to coexist, harmoniously and even beneficially, with our fellow travelers on this planet.Trade Review“Written with clarity, intelligence, and humor, this engaging book will appeal to basically everyone.”―Forbes“Eager takes us inside the amazing world of nature’s premier construction engineer…and shows us why the restoration of an animal almost driven to extinction is producing wide-ranging, positive effects on our landscapes, ecology, and even our economy.”―National Geographic"Impressively researched, charmingly written, absolutely persuasive book. . . .Goldfarb makes his argument with a quiet power and deceptively breezy writing that paints a vivid picture of how the various inhabitants of the natural world rely on one other. Take one vital piece out and the whole thing could collapse."—The Seattle Times"This book lodges itself among the ranks of the best sort of environmental journalism.”―The Boston Globe“Eager is a passionate, captivating love letter to the beaver.”―The Christian Science Monitor "Goldfarb’s writing shines with beautiful language and colorful stories.”―Science News“Engrossing and elegantly written…. Within its wide scope, Eager includes nuggets sure to make you the most fascinating conversationalist at your next party.”―Scientific American“A revelation! If we only let them live, beavers are the solution to many of our nation’s ecological problems. . . . Goldfarb’s wonderful book might just tail-slap a politician or two into realizing how much we need them to restore our critical wetlands.”—Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus “This witty, engrossing book will be a classic from the day it is published.”—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature“European settlers who cut, plowed, and shot their way west also trapped the country nearly clean of mammals. . . . Now, though, beavers are on the rebound, and the how and who of that story, as told in Eager, will give you a new and completely different concept of the continent.”—Carl Safina, New York Times bestselling author of Beyond Words“[Goldfarb] writes eloquently of the return of this industrious, habitat–enriching animal, its conflicts with humans and their property, and of the ways both elegant and Rube Goldbergian in which beaver and human needs can be balanced.”―Booklist, Starred Review"[Goldfarb] shares his findings in lucid and entertaining prose….Filled with hard facts and fascinating people (and animals), [Eager] is an authoritative, vigorous call for understanding and action."―Kirkus, Starred Review"In this diverting volume, environmental journalist Goldfarb sings the praises of beavers. . . . An affectionate portrait of these 'hardy rodents.’"―Publishers Weekly“This comprehensive book provides a well-rounded consideration of a frequently misunderstood species….Even if you don’t think you have an opinion on beavers, this engaging book will make you a beaver believer."―Library Journal"Lively and educational….Eager offers rare insight into the history of beavers and their behavior, qualities, and characteristics. Even more importantly, [it] explores the animals’ complex relationship with humans, and the essential role they play in developing ponds and streams that support wildlife."―Foreword ReviewsChoice Reviews— "A thought-provoking book for anyone interested in ecosystems science." Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Nature’s Engineers 2. Dislodged 3. An Uneasy Truce 4. Embracing the Pest 5. The Beaver Whisperer 6. California Dreamin’ 7. Making the Desert Bloom 8. Too Far Gone 9. Going Global 10. Future of the Dammed

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Book SynopsisAn exciting journey through history, this beautifully illustrated new edition tells the stories of fifty plants that have been key to the development of the western world.

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Book SynopsisFormed of dramatic volcanic scenery and home to marvellous beasts, it is little wonder that the first name for the Galápagos archipelago was Las Encantadas: the enchanted islands. In this captivating natural history, Henry Nicholls builds up the ecology of these famous islands, from their explosive origins to the arrival of the archipelago's celebrated reptiles and ultimately humans. It's a story of change, as the islands are transformed from lava-strewn wilderness into a vital scientific resource and a sought-after destination for eco-enthusiasts. Charles Darwin's five-week visit to the Galápagos in 1835 played a pivotal role in this transformation. At the time, he was more interested in rocks than finches, took the opportunity to ride on the backs of tortoises and fling iguanas into the sea. Yet the Galápagos experience can be an inspiration and it certainly was for Darwin, pointing him towards one of the most important and influential ideas in the history of humankind: evolution by natural selection. And with the Darwin connection, the Galápagos found itself propelled onto a global stage. But worldwide fame has brought with it nearly 200,000 tourists a year and a human population now estimated at around 30,000. If Darwin learned from the Galápagos, so we must too. For what happens here in years to come foreshadows the fate of threatened ecosystems everywhere on earth.Trade ReviewThis is the perfect book to take with you if you are planning a trip to the Galapagos. Even if you are not, this is an enchanting and enlightening account of the most scientifically significant islands in the world. -- Tim BirkheadThe tale of the Galapagos's solitary giant tortoise and conservation icon was told to great effect by Henry Nicholls in Lonesome George. Sadly, George died in 2012, but happily Nicholls is back with an account that shows why the archipelago that shaped Darwin's ideas still matters to us. * New Scientist *If you read one book about the Galapagos, make sure it is this. Thoroughly researched, highly informative, lively and enjoyable, each page is a real pleasure to read. Whether a first time visitor or an old Galapagos 'hand' Henry Nicholls' The Galapagos should accompany you on any physical or virtual trip to these Enchanted Islands -- Ian Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, Galapagos Conservation TrustThe Galápagos is an engaging, informative introduction to the natural history of the archipelago. Charles Darwin's observations and insights on the Galápagos are effectively used to highlight key aspects of the archipelago's terrestrial and marine environments, the unique plants and animals they support, and how our understanding of them has evolved since his historic visit. The book also gives an accurate account of the current challenges facing Galápagos, and how they are being addressed. A surprising amount of information is packed into this concise and entertaining overview. An inspiring pre-travel read for anyone considering a visit to 'Darwin's Islands'. -- K. Thalia Grant and Gregory B. Estes * Darwin in Galapagos *Henry Nicholls has turned his most observant eye on the remarkable, but less often described human history of Galápagos. The future of the islands and their distinctive biota will be in the hands of the national lawmakers and growing number of Galápagos residents as the isolation enjoyed by Galápagos becomes a distant memory. In his lively prose, Henry lauds the unsung scientists and conservation managers who work doggedly and successfully on persistent wildlife management challenges wrought by human accident or design. His persistent focus on stewardship-man's absolute responsibility to nature-is refreshing and important in the world of natural history literature. A thoughtfully executed and excellent read. -- Johannah Barry, president of the Galapagos ConservancyTourists should read this book before they visit the Galápagos. In a relaxed and conversational style, Henry Nicholls introduces many of the animals and plants that live there, explains why so many are strange and unusual, and shows how natural history has been first shaped by geological history and then influenced by human history. The book is an inspiring call to visit the islands, to experience the animals and plants in the sea and on land, and to join in conserving them. -- Peter Grant, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, and coauthor of * 40 Years of Evolution: Darwin's Finches on Daphne Major Island *From the fiery volcanoes that forged the islands to the invasive species that threaten them, this is a brilliantly clear and enthusiastic guide to all that matters about the Galapagos. Henry Nicholls manages to combine detail with passion as he takes the reader through everything from Charles Darwin's inspiration for evolution to the sad demise of the last giant tortoise of his kind, Lonesome George. I only wish the book had been written in time for my visit to the islands five years ago. -- David ShukmanIn his new natural history, Henry Nicholls transforms the Galápagos archipelago from perennial example to subject. Chapters devoted to geology, plants, animals, and insects finally provide a landscape framework for some of biology's most famous stories-from Darwin's finches to the giant tortoises that give the islands their name. Nicholls also includes a welcome and thoughtful discussion of the archipelago's most recent and transformative arrivals, its people -- Thor Hanson, author of Feathers and The Impenetrable ForestI have been to the Galápagos five times, including an extended private expedition retracing Darwin's footsteps in these magnificent islands that so inspired his insights into the evolutionary process. I thought I knew everything about the islands until I read Henry Nicholls's The Galápagos, the best single-volume work I've found and the perfect guide for travelers. Every visitor to the islands should be given a copy of this marvelous natural history to read in order to fully appreciate the richness of one of the most important pieces of real estate on the planet. A captivating book. -- Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of Why Darwin MattersHenry Nicholls has added an informative, fun and up-to-date read to the Galapagos literature. By sprinkling his discussion of the geology, biology and history of the islands with quotes from historical figures, including Darwin, the Bishop of Panama, Herman Melville, and many others, he takes the reader on a unique journey of discovery of the wonders of Galapagos. He merges historical information with up-to-date science and conservation, then brings the reader back to the sites and species they will see when visiting the islands. Most importantly he discusses why Galapagos matters and the challenge to all of us to ensure its long-term protection. -- Linda J. Cayot, Science Advisor, Galapagos ConservancyIn an enticingly structured, thoroughly enjoyable, rolling narrative, [Nicholls] discusses the islands' volcanic origins, native flora and fauna, and human explorers and residents. He also describes with firsthand excitement and surprising detail what it's like to be in the presence of the islands' remarkably tame wildlife, from the playful red-footed boobies to Pacific green turtles and the enormous tortoises for which the archipelago is named and which were slaughtered to the brink of extinction.... There is no question, as Nicholls eloquently reveals, that we all have a stake in protecting the Galápagos. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisA magical journey. A safari in your hands.   Animals in living motion, as real as if you were there. The cheetah bounds, the lion charges. The African elephant snaps its ears. Using unique Photicular technology, Safari is the adventure of a lifetime, and a book unlike any other.   Experience it for yourself.Trade Review"Shots of cheetahs, rhinos, and gazelles spring to life as the pages turn." --Entertainment Weekly --Audubon magazine "Lenticular technology takes a big leap forward with this virtual safari." --PW magazine --Entertainment Weekly "An imaginative interpretation of the real thing." --Audubon magazine

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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

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Book Synopsis The Permaculture Earthworks Handbook covers the functions, design, and construction of nine types of earthworks to maximize water availability in any climate. It's a practical guide for landscape designers, permaculturists, and landowners seeking to maximize food production and ecosystem resiliency at the lowest cost and impact. Table of Contents Introduction 1. The State of Water The Colorado The Aral Talupula Worldwide Spread of deserts War and conflict Where there is hope Just add water! References 2. A Look at the Past Petra References 3. How Water Moves in the Environment The hydrological cycle The path of water Hydrology 101 The layout of landscapes References 4. Designing for the Whole Environment Permaculture and sustainability The design process Permaculture strategies Source to sink Reading the land The potential for overharvesting Permitting and legal restrictions Working with crews References 5. Elements of Design and Implementation Rain volumes Climate effects Temperate climates Tropical climates Coral atolls Drylands Decoupling catchments The path of water Soil Slope stability Finding contour Laser level Farmer's level Builder's level Water level A-Frame LIDAR Mapping Determining slope Earthmoving machines Types of machines Bulldozers Excavators Loaders Backhoes Compactors Safety Topsoil and erosion References 6. Water Storage Techniques Ponds Cisterns Dams References 7. Interception Techniques Swales Case Study: The Green Tree Foundation swales project Bench terraces Land imprinters Trees Spate irrigation Diversion drains References 8. Applying Permaculture Strategies Goal setting, planning, adjusting Zone planning Sector planning Stacking functions and functional connectivity Variations in structure and shape Flow Efficiency Where to start Case Study: Circle Organic ridge point dam References 9. Cautions The dynamics of slides The role of water Sensitive clays Landslide triggers Post-slide treatment What went wrong at Aberfan? References Appendices 1. Calculating Areas and Volumes 2. Calculating Runoff Volumes 3. Finding Slopes and Heights 4. Swale Spacing 5. Terracing 6. Costing Earthworks Index About the Author About New Society Publishers

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Book SynopsisArt and science – they may seem like opposites, but throughout history there have been visionaries who have brought together these contrasting subjects.The Art of Science explores the work of 40 such artists and artist-scientists, uncovering how these innovators have designed futuristic technology centuries ahead of its time, investigated time and space through abstract art, and created sculpture informed by NASA technology.An expertly curated selection of artists from many different cultures and eras – including Huang Quan, Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, Anna Atkins, Olafur Eliasson and Anicka Yi – this book tells the story of the vital partnership between art and science, with over 200 lavish illustrations.Table of ContentsIntroduction • Being Human and the Post-human • Alchemy and the Cosmos • The Natural and the Post-natural • Ecologies and Environments • Machines and Systems • Bibliography • Index.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, Finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, Shortlisted for the Stella Prize, Highly Commended in the Wainwright Prize for writing on global conservation, and a Sunday Independent Book of the Year. How do whales experience environmental change? Has our connection to these animals been transformed by technology? What future awaits us, and them? Fathoms blends natural history, philosophy, and science to explore these questions. Giggs introduces us to whales so rare they have never been named and tells us of whale ‘pop’ songs that sweep across hemispheres. She takes us into the deeps to discover that one whale’s death can spark a great flourishing of creatures. We travel to Japan to board whaling ships, examine the uncanny charisma of these magnificent mammals, and confront the plastic pollution now pervading their underwater environment.Trade Review‘Fathoms is perhaps the finest book written about whales since Moby Dick was published 170 years ago. It’s also one of the best accounts I’ve ever read of the interaction, intended and unintended, between humans and other species — a work of genuinely literary imagination.’ -- Verlyn Klinkenborg * New York Review of Books *‘Fathoms took my breath away. Every page is suffused with magic and meaning. Humanity’s relationship with nature has never been more important or vulnerable, and we are truly fortunate that at such a pivotal moment, a writer of Rebecca Giggs’s calibre is here to capture every beautiful detail, every aching nuance. She is in a league of her own.’ -- Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes‘Fathoms is a magnificent book, as grand and profound in its sweep as the whale itself. Rebecca Giggs is a brilliant writer - her prose packed with wonders and glittering with ideas.’ -- Philip Marsden, author of The Summer Isles‘Fathoms reads like a poem. Its virtuoso thinking is a revelation. I can’t think of many books in which love for the world and uncompromising, ever-deepening rigour come together in this way. Time slows down. This book makes a permanent dent in the reader.’ -- Maria Tumarkin, author of Axiomatic‘Fathoms is a marvel: a glorious, prismatic, deeply affecting hymn to the beauty, majesty, and extremity of whales and the human imagining of them.’ -- James Bradley, author of Clade‘[A] lyrical, wide-ranging meditation on whales and their complex relationship with humanity … Meticulously researched and full of fascinating information.’ -- Books+Publishing‘In Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs rips the metaphors off whales and brings us closer than we can usually get to the creatures themselves. Along the way, she shows us how intimately whales are shaping our lives, how they change air quality, and crime, and even our conception of time. I can't stop thinking about the connections she has unearthed, how a whale is connected to a meteor, a mother's breast, a landfill. Under the spell of her deliciously evocative prose, you get the sense that you are truly, finally, glimpsing a whale in full glory. Like the busks she writes about—tiny missives carved into whalebone corsets by sailors—this book leaves an imprint.’ -- Lulu Miller, author of Why Fish Don’t Exist and co-founder of NPR’s Invisibilia‘Seafaring scrutiny of whales, their oceanic environment, and the dangers to their survival … Giggs presents … scholarship in crisp, creatively written chapters addressing the many layers of the whale population’s unique physiology and evolutionary history, sociality, above-water balletic athleticism, and enigmatic ‘biophony’ of their vocalisations. Most importantly, she analyses how their behaviour can be predictive for the Earth’s future … Giggs reiterates that the whale and its life, legacy, and precarious environmental state are reflective of the greater issues the Earth faces, from ecological upheaval to overconsumption. Whether describing the majesty of the blue whale or the human assault on sea ecology due to paper and plastic pollution, the author’s prose is poetic, beautifully smooth, urgently readable, and eloquently informative. Her passion for whales leaps off the page, urging readers to care and—even more so—become involved in their protection and preservation. Throughout the book, the author’s debut, she brilliantly exposes ‘how regular human life seeped into the habitats of wildlife, and how wildlife returned back to us, the evidence of our obliviousness.’ Refreshingly, she also reveals glimmers of hope regarding what whales can teach the human race about our capacity to ecologically coexist with the natural world. A thoughtful, ambitiously crafted appeal for the preservation of marine mammals.’ STARRED REVIEW * Kirkus Reviews *‘Astonishing ... utterly original ... Fathomsis an attempt to interpret our contemporary moment – and in particular our relationship with the non-human world – through the glistening figure of the whale in all its myriad aspects ... The language of Fathoms has a remarkable, almost gothic intensity. The style is vivid and estranging and luridly compelling, full of weird lights and unexpected textures ... A remarkable literary event because it is a new and hugely ambitious kind of nature writing, verging on poetry. It is itself a whale cure, thrusting us into the dark intestine of the whale, among the indigestible plastics and other pollutants, the better to hear the conscience of tomorrow.’ -- Andrew Fuhrmann * The Monthly *‘In Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs unravels a powerful nonfiction narrative, masterfully blending history, philosophy and science.’ -- Dan Shaw * Happy Magazine *‘This book is nothing less than a small masterpiece. … Rebecca Giggs’ Fathoms – the world in the whale is a remarkable meditation on, nominally, whales, but through them the delicacy and intricacy of human relationships with the environment, and the history and legacy of our intimate and devastating impact upon ecosystems … The book is a striking piece of narrative nonfiction, philosophical and personal at once wrestling with liminal vulnerabilities, fantasies, conceits and projections, and it deserves global attention.’ 4.5 STARS -- Anna Westbrook * ArtsHub *‘Fathoms is horrific, poetic and profound; a morbid dirge shot through with celestial light. As well as being an extensively researched and deeply considered study, the book is also a wunderkammer of tales that illustrate the hot mess of human aggression, obliviousness and folly … Fathoms is a vast book, the scale of which brings to mind the blue whale, anatomically mysterious and the largest creature to have lived. Giggs weaves together cosmological phenomena with their deep-sea reverberations to give us a book that feels universal.’ -- Justine Hyde * The Saturday Paper *‘With remarkable detective work, author Rebecca Giggs explores the habitats and migratory patterns of whales to reveal a great deal about them, and even more about us. It is a hauntingly beautiful examination of the moral force of animals, offering hope as well as despair.’ -- Jeff Maynard * Herald Sun *‘A work of bright and careful genius. Equal parts Rebecca Solnit and Annie Dillard, Giggs masterfully combines lush prose with conscientious history and boots-on-the-beach reporting. With Giggs leading us gently by the hand we dive down, and down, and down, into the dark core of the whale, which, she convincingly reveals, is also the guts of the world.’ -- Robert Moor, New York Times bestselling author of On Trails: an exploration‘Rebecca Giggs’ Fathoms is a triumph, a deliciously rich work of art that, as if by magic, combines exquisite prose that floats off the page and into your heart with scientific accuracy and epic scope. This is by far the best book about whales I have ever read. What an achievement!’ -- Wendy Williams, author of The Language of Butterflies and New York Times bestseller The Horse: the epic history of our noble companion‘One of the most beautifully written nonfiction books I have read in a long time. It's so hard to do justice to the immense importance of whales and the lessons they have for us all. Rebecca Giggs does an extraordinary job of bringing together the science, the history, and the brilliance and fragility of whales.’ -- Christine Kenneally, author of The Invisible History of the Human Race‘Fathoms is a work of profound insight and wonder.’ * X-Press Magazine *‘The book is a masterpiece. I am astonished that it is Giggs’s first, for it reads like the work of a far more experienced author ... Giggs’s exquisite prose is so striking as to be almost poetic, pulling the reader up constantly, either to savour a particularly apposite phrase, or to ponder a deep, unexpected connection. If a whale warrants a pause, then Fathoms warrants many.’ -- Tim Flannery * The Australian *‘Lyrical, meditative and deeply researched, this gorgeous book by WA writer Rebecca Giggs is one to linger over.’ * The Weekend West *‘This is a heavy read, but a fascinating and vital one.’ -- Ellen Cregan * Kill Your Darlings *‘Fathoms is beautifully written, always aiming for the bigger picture: what it means to live in the world; and what it means to be enthralled by the world we live in and destroying it … Fathoms is a glorious, beautiful and deeply important book.’ -- Magdalena Ball * Compulsive Reader *‘Truly remarkable … Each page is full of wonder and revelation.’ -- Grey Kelly * Talking Heads Magazine *‘This is an unforgettable, meticulously researched work that examines the ways that we’re all connected — with whales, with the, environment and each other.’ -- Eliza Henry-Jones * Organic Gardener Magazine *‘Meticulous research and stunning prose … unique, introspective and poetic.’ -- Zoya Patel * Canberra Times *‘[A] moving homage to the whale … A book that begins with obsequies for a whale ends by enlarging our knowledge of, and sense of wonder about, this magnificent species. It is non-fiction told with the vivacity and moral authority that was once reserved for fiction.’ * Australian Financial Review *‘Giggs’ meticulous research is itself awesome. Every page has its breathtaking revelations … For all this wondrous detail, the whale remains a lens through which to consider humanity’s relationship with the environment … Fathoms’ exhilarating poetic language is richly allusive and orchestrated … this marvellous work of haunted wonder ends with a fiercely unabashed vision of humanity moved 'from indecision to action', for whales, for love, for the world.’ -- Felicity Plunkett * Sydney Morning Herald *‘[A] delving, haunted and poetic debut. Giggs is worth reading for her spotlight observations and lyricism alone, but she also has an important message to deliver … [S]he uses whales as invitations to consider everything else: the selfie-isation of environmentalism, the inherent worth of parasites, Jungian psychoanalysis, solar storms, whale songs records going multiplatinum and so much more. In the cascade of mini-essays that results, Giggs comes off as much as a cultural critic as a naturalist.’ -- Doug Bock Clark * The New York Times Book Review *‘There is much to marvel at here … Deeply researched and deeply felt, Giggs’ intricate investigation, beautifully revelatory and haunting, urges us to save the whales once again, and the oceans, and ourselves.’ STARRED REVIEW * Booklist *‘In the whale, Giggs truly does find the world. She finds clues that unlock how humans have engaged nature — tales of greed, aggression, wonder, desperation, longing, nostalgia, love, curiosity and obsession. Her prose is luminous … tracing humankind’s continuing intersection with these alluring creatures, Giggs ultimately uncovers seeds of hope and, planting them in her fertile mind, cultivates a lush landscape that offers remarkable views of nature, humanity and how we might find a way forward together.’ STARRED REVIEW * BookPage *‘Fathoms immediately earns its place in the pantheon of classics of the new golden age of environmental writing.’ -- Stephen Sparks * Literary Hub *‘A profound meditation … Giggs explores how whales have permeated our lives and the many ways we have invaded and transformed theirs. Each chapter orbits a different aspect of this long and fraught relationship — commodification, pollution, voyeurism, adoration, mythology — swerving wherever Giggs’s extensive research and fervent curiosity take her … Giggs’s prose is fluid, sensuous, and lyrical. She has a poet’s gift for startling and original imagery … The lushness of her sentences and the intensity of her vision inspire frequent rereading — not for clarity, but for sheer pleasure and depth of meaning.’ -- Ferris Jabr * Los Angeles Review of Books *‘[W]idens the aperture of our attention with a literary style so stunning that the reader may forget to blink ... In a story that extends across several continents, Ms. Giggs marshals lapidary language to give the crisis a compelling voice. Her prose, like the oceans in which her subjects roam, is immersive; her sentences submerge us in a sea of sensations … [M]ore descriptive than prescriptive concerning the plight of whales and, by implication, the health of the Earth. But as with George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant and E.B. White’s Death of a Pig, Ms. Giggs, tending the final hours of a humpback on an Australian beach, reminds us that paying attention to the close of another creature’s life can be its own form of moral instruction.’ -- Danny Heitman * The Wall Street Journal *‘Immersive … Illustrating the interconnectedness of all life and the ways man's depredations travel from the smallest creatures to this largest of Earth's animals … In lyrical language, Giggs leads readers on a journey through underwater cultures and the place of whales in the chain of life. Recommended for readers interested in nature, ecology, and environmentalism.’ -- Caren Nichter * Library Journal *‘A searching debut … Giggs displays a keen awareness of what it means to write about a creature whose future is just as uncertain as our own.’ * The Nation *‘As well as being dazzlingly well researched and conveyed, the language in Fathoms is wonderful in that it never becomes sentimental and yet is thoroughly moving. Combining reportage, cultural criticism and poem as a call to action in the spirit of Rachel Carson, Giggs is an assured new voice in narrative nonfiction … Gloriously, she presents whales as poets … We need to be moved – therein the particular power of literature to expand the parameters of our compassion … More prescient for its time than the author could have imagined.’ -- Abi Andrews * The Irish Times *‘Fathoms is brilliantly full of wonder.’ * The Economist *‘Masterly.’ * The New Yorker *‘Glorious and astounding.’ -- Robbie Arnott‘With distinctive prose, as philosophical as it is scientific, this is a challenging and illuminating portrait of the oceans’ great cetaceans and what they mean to people.’ -- Helen Scales * BBC Wildlife Magazine *‘Beautiful and insightful.’ -- Pádraic Fogarty * Sunday Independent *‘By looking at the largest of our mammalian cousins Rebecca Giggs returns us to ourselves. This vital and urgent book awakens our wonder and our fear. In dense language, rich in poetry and science, it fathoms a deep empathy for the living world.’ -- Antony Gormley‘Some of the most alive, inventive writing on the planet is nature writing, and Giggs’ Fathoms is glorious proof. Ostentatious, mythic and strange, this is the kind of book that swallows you whole. Entirely fitting for its subject.’ -- Beejay Silcox * The Guardian *‘Fathoms is the result of years of research and contemplation: a cultural, historical and ecological exploration of whales and their place in human life and thought … It is simply one of the most miraculous and illuminating accounts of animality I’ve come across. Read it, read the whole magnificent tome: you’ll leave it filled with renewed awe for cetacean existence.’ -- Geordie Williamson * The Australian *‘A poetic and surprisingly wide-ranging blend of natural history, science and philosophy.’ -- Gemma Nisbet * The Weekend West Australian *‘This remarkable study of whales examines much more than the magnificent creatures of the deep. Through brilliant detective work, Giggs explores the habitats and migratory patterns of whales to reveal a great deal about them, and even more about the human impact on the oceans.’ * The Chronicle *‘Giggs’s style is all the more impactful for its sparseness … Her journey encompasses everything from whale-hunting ships in Japan to Loch Ness monster conspiracy theories in Scotland, with all of the disparate subjects deftly woven together by clipped, polished prose.’ -- Caroline Crampton * The Mail on Sunday *‘Wonder pours out of every page of this gorgeously written and daringly imagined book.’ -- Laura Miller * Slate *‘Extraordinary.’ -- Hannah James * Australian Geographic *‘A book like this shows the best of what reflective, creative non-fiction can do.’ -- Kate Evans * ABC Radio *‘Rebecca Giggs’ enthralling Fathoms: the world in the whale presents whales as immense, enigmatic, intelligent and majestic sea creatures, but also vividly describes the intricate ecosystem of the vast oceans in which they live and die. Drawing from science, history, literature, art and mythology, Fathoms is both epic in scale and rich in detail about the life cycle of whales, their behaviours and sociality.’ -- Donna Lee Brien * The Conversation *‘Lyrical … Facts like these are eye-opening. But the book shines most brightly in its poetry … Giggs’s writing has an old-fashioned lushness and elaborateness of thought … its finest passages — and they are many — awaken a sense of wonder. That other lives as marvellous and mysterious as these still exist is, for the moment at least, a reason to celebrate.’ -- Richard Schiffman * The Washington Post *‘Like fine tapestry, strands unite into a coherent work of great beauty. Yes, this is a book about what whales mean to us, but it’s also about how to interweave and admire cultural and biological stories, metaphors, and meanings.’ -- David George Haskell * Geographical Magazine *'An incredibly wonderful book ... [Giggs] is a fabulous writer' -- Brian Eno‘Giggs' work [Fathoms] … on whales, climate change and pollution has been one of the most affecting [books] I've read in a while.’ -- Sophie Overett * The Courier-Mail *‘It’s rare for whales to get what they deserve from our species, but Giggs’ fascinating and poetic natural history starts to pay back a portion of an impossible debt.’ -- Christopher J. Preston * Geographical Magazine *

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Book SynopsisOn the timing of seasonal activity in plants and animals, the impact of climate change, and what each of us, as everyday phenologists, can do to help.Phenology is all about timing?when trees leaf out, flowers bloom, birds migrate, animals bear young and hibernate?and it is everywhere around us. This handy companionable volume shows how we are all phenologists in our own way, and how the everyday science can help us make sense of the changing seasons and our changing world. Explaining how the phenomenon of phenology is threaded through our daily lives, Theresa Crimmins points to events that occur on an annual basis in plants? and animals? lives in response to fluctuations in daylength, temperatures, and rainfall patterns. She also covers less visible seasonal events, such as when roots typically begin to grow or when mushrooms release their spores. On a more urgent note, Phenology describes how this seasonal activity is being affected by rapidly changing climate conditions?and why this matters. Consequently, the book invites readers to participate in documenting the timing of seasonal life cycle events?for the practice?s real benefits to mental health, but also for the good of the environment, as the data gathered can be directly helpful in supporting climate change action.

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Book SynopsisA beautifully written classic of nature writing.''A masterly account...of supreme interest...a classic'' Country LifeLong accepted as the best work on the subject, Oliver Rackham''s book is both a comprehensive history of Britain''s woodland and a field-work guide that presents trees individually and as part of the landscape.From prehistoric times, through the Roman period and into the Middle Ages, Oliver Rackham describes the changing character, role and history of trees and woodland. He concludes this definitive study with a section on the conservation and future of Britain''s trees, woodlands and hedgerows.Trade ReviewA masterly account...of supreme interest...a classic of recorded field work and meticulous scholarship * COUNTRY LIFE *As an aid to understanding the landscape I haven't found its equal * NEW SCIENTIST *Have you ever thought about how trees are represented in landscape paintings? Even country-loving Gainsborough could hardly paint them in such a way that individual species can be identified by Dr Rackham * DAILY TELEGRAPH *This is the book that felled the romantic cliche of sylvan England ... There are heroes in this book as much as in any history but they are ancient oaks and beeches and hornbeams. Besides, how could anyone not want to read a book with a section on "What nettles say"? -- Simon Schama

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Book Synopsis“The Sacred Balance has a beautiful spirit.”—E.O. WilsonWith a new foreword from Robin Wall Kimmerer, New York Times-bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass—and an afterword from Bill McKibben—this special 25th anniversary edition of a beloved bestseller invites readers to see ourselves as part of nature, not separate.The world is changing at a relentless pace. How can we slow down and act from a place of respect for all living things? The Sacred Balance shows us how.In this extensively updated new edition, David Suzuki reflects on the increasingly radical changes in science and nature—from the climate crisis to peak oil and the rise in clean energy—and examines what they mean for humankind. He also reflects on what we have learned by listening to Indigenous leaders, whose knowledge of the natural world is profound, and whose peoples are on the frontlines of protecting land and water around the world.Drawing on his own experiences and those of others who have put their beliefs into action, The Sacred Balance combines science, philosophy, spirituality, and Indigenous knowledge to offer concrete suggestions for creating an ecologically sustainable future by rediscovering and addressing humanity’s basic needs.Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Read this book, then look and wonder' Sunday Times *A TLS Book of the Year*We have to learn to live as part of nature, not apart from it. And the first step is to start looking after the insects, the little creatures that make our shared world go round.Insects are essential for life as we know it - without them, our world would look vastly different. Drawing on the latest ground-breaking research and a lifetime's study, Dave Goulson reveals the long decline of insect populations that has taken place in recent decades and its potential consequences.Eye-opening and inspiring, Silent Earth asks for profound change at every level and a passionate argument or us to love, respect and care for our six-legged friends.'Compelling - Silent Earth is a wake-up call' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding'Enlightening, urgent and funny, Goulson's book is a timely call for action' New StatesmanTrade ReviewA powerful book * Mark Cocker, Financial Times *Thoughtful, frightening and yet hugely enjoyable... This book will make you think differently about our right of dominion over the planet * Daily Telegraph *It's remarkable that insect decline has gone largely unnoticed by non-specialists... Keep dreaming, Dave Goulson. We'll need more dreamers like you * The Times *If Silent Earth contains a single incontestable message it is that nature - insects, flowers, plants, trees, birds and mammals, including our species - is a single system... This powerful book tells us that we need to act as if we understand this essential truth * Financial Times *Compelling, penetrating, devastating - Silent Earth is a wake-up call for the world. Dave Goulson matches science with eloquence and passion to spotlight the cataclysmic loss of insect life on our planet. Rachel Carson would be proud. -- Isabella Tree

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Book Synopsis ‘A sea breeze wafts up from every page. This book is a delight.’ – Nigel Slater Both grounding and uplifting, From Coast & Cove, the new book from author and acclaimed illustrator Anna Koska, walks us through the four seasons on the English coast. Beautifully observed, contemplative and deeply personal, Anna combines emotive and evocative tales of life beside the sea with her exquisitely detailed and intricate illustrations of the plants and wildlife found in the water and along the coastline. Anna and her family moved from East Sussex to Devon in 2020 and she now finds inspiration for her artworks in the ebb and flow of the tide throughout the year, the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shore and the creatures spotted in the air, on land and tucked away in rockpools – whether it’s the haunting cry of the curlew heard while kayaking along the River Dart, the iridescent scales and pointed teeth of a hake, the mussel shells discarded by an oystercatcher, or the kelp, wrack and eelgrass strewn along the beach and pressed for posterity. A love letter to the natural world captured in materials ranging from pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and egg tempera, From Coast & Cove details an artist’s year spent beside the sea. A book to savour, and a wonderful celebration of nature’s cycles and minutiae.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Stuart reveals the vibrant lives of Pleistocene megafauna, driven extinct by climate change and human hunters. Can lessons from the past halt a sixth mass extinction?" * New Scientist, "Don't Miss" *"Woolly rhinos, mammoths, saber-toothed cats and other astounding animals once roamed the Earth. How did they live and what caused their extinction? This illustrated book delves into the world of the Pleistocene with lessons about our current conservation crises." * Bookseller *“Deft and entertaining, Vanished Giants reveals the ‘hugest, fiercest, and strangest’ Ice Age animals—mastodons, saber-toothed cats, immense ground sloths, and other odd, extinct creatures. Relaying research in an accessible way and with informative illustrations, this enthralling paleontology text discusses megafauna in order of geographic regions and in the context of disparate climates, habitats, and human settlements. . . . Stuart’s conclusions about global extinction patterns are as fascinating and complex as the species he examines themselves, and his reflections about how similar forces threaten so many large animals today makes this an important and captivating book.” -- Rachel Jagareski * Foreword Reviews *"Vanished Giants provides a fascinating introduction to the Ice Age biota and a judicious assessment of the nature and causes of the megafaunal extinctions during the last 100,000 years." * Metascience *“Clearly written by an author with a long pedigree working on these animals, this is an interesting overview of the Ice Age megafauna and its extinction in the Pleistocene and Holocene. Vanished Giants is superior to other books in the field in providing much more detail on the animals themselves. Stuart has produced thorough coverage of all the extinct megafauna with a description (usually with an illustration) and discussion of their lifestyles. He also discusses the debate on the causes of these extinctions, which for many years have been polarized into human-driven—often called the Blitzkrieg hypothesis—and climate-driven causes. It is a fascinating topic and surely one of the most intense ongoing debates in science, certainly in paleontology.” -- Paul Wignall, professor of paleoenvironments, University of Leeds“We are very quick to blame species decline on human action. Although this is certainly the cause today, it is not necessarily the case historically. Stuart raises the potential for more localized events, providing evidence of small meteorite impacts, hyperdisease, and more, for the decline of Ice Age megafaunal communities around the globe. This is fascinating. Stuart discusses different species and different regions that were affected, starting with Eurasia, then heading to North America, the most famous region with the most recognized species to go extinct: mammoth, ground sloth, camelids, sabretooth cats. The conclusions are broad because, as Stuart points out, there is not a straightforward answer to the question. The illustrations are superb, and with the sheer inclusivity of time, geography, and species covered, Vanished Giants really enhances the field. An excellent book.” -- Neil Gostling, lecturer in evolution and paleobiology, University of SouthamptonTable of Contents1 Introduction 2 Crises in the History of Life 3 The Ice Age and the Megafauna 4 Cold Case: The Search for the Ice Age Killer 5 Northern Eurasia: Woolly Rhinos, Cave Bears, and Giant Deer 6 North America: Mastodon, Ground Sloths, and Sabertooth Cats 7 South America: Ground Sloths and Glyptodonts 8 Sahul: Giant Marsupials, a Thunderbird, and a Huge Lizard 9 Madagascar: Giant Lemurs, Elephant Birds, and Dwarf Hippos 10 New Zealand: Land of the Moa 11 Island Megafauna 12 Megafaunal Survival: Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia 13 Summary and Conclusions: The Global Pattern of Megafaunal Extinctions Acknowledgments Appendix: Dating the Past Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of Bradt's Sri Lankan Wildlife has been fully updated to reflect all the most recent developments relevant to visitors to this beguiling island who come to watch wildlife. Whale watching, now a major part of Sri Lanka's wildlife experience, is covered, and so too is the improved visitor access to some of the national parks. With a general increase in visitors over the past decade, more entrance gates have been opened to popular national parks and access improved to others. Sri Lanka is home to elephants, leopards, bears and water buffalo and boasts one of the highest species densities of marine mammals in the world, with populations of blue whales and sperm whales off the coast proving a compelling draw. Sri Lanka is one of the few destinations in the world where you can be out at sea whale watching in the morning, then spend the afternoon in a national park watching leopards and elephants or visiting a rainforest. A balanced, all-round natural history guide, ideal field guide and armchair read, Bradt's Sri Lankan Wildlife is illustrated with colour photographs of species and includes maps charting animal habitats to aid identification. It is an ideal companion for general wildlife travellers and wildlife enthusiasts who want some background reading on the island's natural history, and is written in an accessible, easy-to-read style by an expert who visits Sri Lanka at least once a year.Trade Review'Bradt Travel Guides simply have the best wildlife coverage of any of the popular guide books.' BBC Wildlife 'Sri Lankan Wildlife provides a very good overview.' WanderlustTable of ContentsContents Introduction Sri Lanka: a biodiversity jewel, How to use this book, The Sri Lankan environment Habitats and Reserves Habitats, National parks and reserves Mammals Asian elephant, Ungulates, Carnivores, Primates, Squirrels, Bats, Other mammals Birds Birds of town and garden, Birds of the rainforest, Birds of the highlands, Birds of the dry lowlands, Birds of the wetlands, Birds of the coast, Endemic birds Reptiles and Amphibians Lizards, Snakes, Crocodiles, Turtles, terrapins and tortoises, Amphibians Invertebrates Lower invertebrates, Arthropods, Butterflies, Dragonflies and damselflies The Underwater World Freshwater fish, Marine life, Under the sea, Marine mammals Getting About Independent travel, Tours, Suggested itinerary, Photography tips Further Information Books, Societies, Finding out more Index Features Where to watch primates in Sri Lanka Watching nocturnal wildlife Snake bites Nesting sea turtles in Sri Lanka

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Book SynopsisContains everything you need to know about the development and survival of life on Earth. This book includes detailed comparative anatomy, evolutionary legacies, and the breakthrough theories of eminent scientists.Trade Review'I cannot think of another book that attempts to catalogue the entire expanse of life and succeeds in such a remarkably palatable way' - New Scientist'An endlessly fascinating book and, with more than 1,000 illustrations, absolutely ideal for the whole family' - Mature TimesTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. Earliest Life • 2. Plants • 3. Invertebrates • 4. Fish and Amphibians • 5. Reptiles • 6. Birds • 7. Mammals

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from its successful launch in 2009, Collins Wild Flower Guide the ultimate reference book for wild flower enthusiasts now enters its second edition.Featuring all flowering plants, including trees and grasses, and ferns, this fully revised and updated field guide to the wild flowers of Britain and northern Europe is the most complete illustrated, single-volume guide ever published.Leading botanical artists have been specially commissioned to ensure accurate, detailed illustrations. Species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. Plants are arranged by family, with their key features highlighted for quick and easy reference. The text offers a complete account of over 1,900 wild flowers of Britain and Ireland, along with a summary of their European distribution.Collins Wild Flower Guide is an indispensable guide for all those with an interest in the countryside, whether amateur or expert.Trade Review'This book is a great achievement that will be hard to match … a beautiful and well-judged illustrated flora.' British Wildlife

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Book SynopsisThe ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.

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Book SynopsisDazzling photographs combine with inspiring insights from international ocean icon Sylvia Earle and other notable ocean advocates, paying a poignant tribute to the beauty and magic of the ocean and shedding light on its abundant gifts to the planet.Trade Review"Whether you are new to understanding all the problems the oceans face, or you need an injection of joy and positivity about conservation, this book is a must-read." --Mother Nature Network

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A pleasure to browse. . . . Compact but informative species accounts and the colourful photos are a constant delight."---Matthew Merritt, Bird Watching Magazine"Wildlife of Ecuador is the all-in-one nature guide for the generalist nature traveler. . . . Photographs are large, clear, and colorful, and often delightful."---Donna Lynn Schulman, 10,000 Birds"The guide is a one-stop treasure trove of information. . . . A must for those visiting or conducting research in Ecuador."---Howard O. Clark, Jr., Sonoran Herpetologist"Sections of the book focus on birds (223 species), mammals (70), reptiles (40) and amphibians (37). This serves to close a gap I personally have always found frustrating as I travel, for often books on mammals and herps don’t even exist for many regions and I drool every time I find one." * North Durham Nature Newsletter *Table of ContentsPreface 7 Acknowledgments 9 Plan of the Book 10 Biogeography of Ecuador 12 Diversity and Its Causes 12 The Andes 13 The Equator 14 Marine Currents 15 Habitats and Bioregions 17 Species Accounts Amphibians 19 Reptiles 42 Birds 72 Mammals 218 Bibliography and References 270 Appendix: Map of Main Roads and National Protected Areas of Ecuador 272 List of Photographers 274 Index of Common Names 275 Index of Scientific Names 281

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Book SynopsisChris Yates, one of Britain's most insightful and lyrical writers, raises his gaze from his beloved rivers and ponds and takes us on a mesmerizing tour of the British countryside.Last November, the sudden appearance of a hundred wintering ravens in a wood in Cranborne Chase, where I have lived for twenty-five years without seeing more than a few solitary specimens, reminded me that there is always something ready to flame up again in the landscape, just when it seemed the fire had gone out.In Nightwalk we accompany Chris Yates on the most magical of journeys into the very heart of the British countryside. His acute observation of the natural world and ability to transcend it exquisitely sets Chris apart from his contemporaries.Time slows down for a deeper intimacy with nature, and through Chris's writing we hear every rustle of a leaf, every call of a bird. He widens the power of our imagination, heightening our senses and revealing beauty in the smallest details.Trade Review‘Wonderful stuff’Independent on Sunday ‘There can be few who have explained so elegantly both the zen-like trance of the serious fisherman and the all-too-active comedy of preparation, expedition and return’Guardian ‘Chris Yates is a god’Condé Nast Traveller ‘A wonderfully elegiac book’Big Issue ‘lyrical and haunting…Yates’ narrative is presented as an account of a midsummer countryside walk…Its beauty lies in its tenderness about the world and the author’s personal responses to what he hears, feels and smells…It stayed with me a long time after I finished.’ Rachel Joyce, The Times ‘This book is the result of following a whim to its natural conclusion. It’s about time and losing track of it. Chris Yates doesn’t really want his wanderings to end, and neither will you. It’s a wonderful book, and I’m happy to recommend it without qualification.’ Marcus Berkmann, Daily Mail ‘there is no doubt about the elegance and precision of Yates’ language, or his ability to conjure up an atmosphere… perhaps this is the real beauty of Nightwalk, and the true value of Yates’ gift as a writer: that it gives back the night to us, offers up a sense of freedom in the place of anxiety, reminds us of the silence in the midst of its bustling life, and soothes our atavistic fear of the dark while never quite permitting us to be complacent.’ EarthLines ‘Chris’s existing and extensive fan-base, the anglers, will find a freedom in Nightwalk…I believe this is [his] finest work to date…What is certain, though, is that Nightwalk will delight for many, many years to come.’ Kevin Parr, Caught By the River ‘In Yates’s darkest England, four delightful decades of meandering nostalgia, curiosity and hedonism meet creatures of the night in the finest tradition of country writing.’ BBC Wildlife

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Book SynopsisA fascinating look at the insect world found in one field in France - and how important that world is to all of us - from the author of the Sunday Times bestseller A Sting in the Tale In 2003 Dave Goulson bought a derelict farm in the heart of rural France, together with 33 acres of surrounding meadow. Over the course of a decade, he created a place for his beloved bumblebees to thrive along with myriad insects of every kind. In this book you will learn how a deathwatch beetle finds its mate, about the importance of houseflies, why butterflies have spots on their wings, about dragonfly sex, bed-bugs and wasps. But it is also a wake-up call, urging us to cherish and protect life on earth in all its forms. A Buzz in the Meadow is a captivating look at our natural world and a call to arms for nature-lovers everywhere. ''Glorious'' The Times ''Captivating'' IndependentTrade ReviewWonderfully entertaining… Engages the reader as much with the eloquence of its argument as with the charm of its humour -- Mark Cocker * Mail on Sunday *Goulson writes with infectious enthusiasm… A lively and important read. -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times *Had me exclaiming with delight… Goulson’s book is juicy and delicious, layered with flavours and steeped in culture * Daily Telegraph *Buy this book, give it as a present. It is required reading for being a human in the 21st century. -- Matthew Cobb, professor of zoology at the Univerity of Manchester * New Scientist *A gripping account of the importance of insects to our environment…. Goulson has an easy-going style and an enthusiastic yet rigourous approach to material that could seem dry … Goulson’s patient attempts to establish a link between [bees’ colony collapse disorder and a new class of insecticide] become as gripping as any forensic thriller. -- Suzi Feay * Financial Times *For those who think of science as being dry and boring this book will be a revelation. Goulson’s book is juicy and delicious, layered with flavours and steeped in culture. -- Nicola Davies, 5 stars * Daily Telegraph *Glorious… The real pleasure of reading this book is hearing the hum of biodiversity rising from every page. -- Damian Whitworth * The Times *A wonderfully entertaining one-man campaign… A blend of scientific evidence and amusing travelogue that engages the reader as much with the eloquence of its argument as with the charm of its humour. -- Mark Cocker, 5 stars * Mail on Sunday *An inspirational case for awareness and appreciation of the teeming diversity. -- John Akeroyd * Spectator *Urgent and impassioned. -- Max Liu * Independent *Witty, clever and richly informative. -- Mark Cocker * New Statesman *Will make you glad that British universities are full of slightly fruity, quietly impassioned academics devoting their life to the smallest of creatures on Earth. * Big Issue *Much more than a series of romantic wildlife walks… A trove of elegant and fascinating ecological tales. -- Richard Jones * BBC Wildlife *Absolutely captivating. * Independent *Biology is beautiful, as told in these pages. -- Gerald Isaaman * Camden Review *A latter-day Gerald Durrell, Goulson fairly buzzes with enthusiasm, recounting numerous hilarious wildlife encounters with great literary flair, whilst retaining a scientist’s meticulous eye for detail and a conservationist’s concern for the future of the planet. * Good Book Guide *‘[Goulson’s] heartfelt call for us to cherish the nurture of nature is as sweet as honey. -- Lain Finlayson and Kate Saunders * Saga Magazin *

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Book SynopsisHailed by The New York Times for writing ?with wonderful clarity about science . . . that effortlessly teaches as it zips along,? nationally bestselling author Robert M. Hazen offers a radical new approach to Earth history in this intertwined tale of the planet?s living and nonliving spheres. With an astrobiologist?s imagination, a historian?s perspective, and a naturalist?s eye, Hazen calls upon twenty-first-century discoveries that have revolutionized geology and enabled scientists to envision Earth?s many iterations in vivid detail?from the mile-high lava tides of its infancy to the early organisms responsible for more than two-thirds of the mineral varieties beneath our feet. Lucid, controversial, and on the cutting edge of its field, The Story of Earth is popular science of the highest order.A sweeping rip-roaring yarn of immense scope, from the birth of theelements in the stars to meditations on the future habitability of our world. -ScienceA fascinating story. -Bill McKibben

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Book SynopsisA startling book, his most personal to date, from Philip Hoare, co-curator of the Moby-Dick Big Read and winner of the 2009 Samuel Johnson Prize for Leviathan'.The sea surrounds us. It gives us life, provides us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. It is ceaseless change and constant presence. It covers two-thirds of our planet. Yet caught up in our everyday lives, we barely notice it.In The Sea Inside', Philip Hoare sets out to rediscover the sea, its islands, birds and beasts. He begins on the south coast where he grew up, a place of almost monastic escape. From there he travels to the other side of the world the Azores, Sri Lanka, New Zealand in search of encounters with animals and people. Navigating between human and natural history, he asks what these stories mean for us now.Along the way we meet an amazing cast; from scientists to tattooed warriors; from ravens to whales and bizarre creatures that may, or may not, be extinct. Part memoir, part fantastical travelogue, TTrade Review‘As bracing as a great blustery lungful of ozone-filled air … Hoare has wonderful, almost child-like relish for colourful stories and incredible facts … His passionate engagement will infect you. As you close this book, you will probably feel as ecstatic as the author does after one of his cold morning dips.’ Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times ‘A beautifully written mixture of travelogue and essay … Hoare has invented a new genre: an elegy for something not yet lost.’ David Evans, Independent on Sunday ‘A passionate, wonderfully engaging book … His oceanic pursuit of the most remarkable animals on the planet has produced two books of the utmost interest.’ Christopher Hirst, Independent ‘Everything he writes is remarkably interesting, and always expressed in his singular prose, at the one and the same time both exact and numinous … Hoare’s enthusiasms are boundless … packed full of strange delights – perhaps a bit of a ragbag, but what rags! And what a bag!’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday **** ‘A grand cabinet of natural curiosities … The pace is exhilarating. The learning is profound. The surprises are tumultuous and the simple love of nature, in all its forms … is a delight.’ Jan Morris, Sunday Telegraph ‘Ceaselessly fascinating … In flowing, liquid prose, Hoare is drawn back and forth from story to story, place to place … This is a magnificent book.’ Carl Wilkinson, Financial Times ‘A profound and lyrical love affair.’ Bella Bathurst, Observer ‘Hoare weaves together stories of magic, faith and fear, of wilderness, destruction, mortality and nature’s often savage beauty … This is a work where it pays to go with the flow.’Gerard Henderson, Daily Express **** ‘Glorious stuff.’ Caspar Henderson, Guardian ‘The pace is exhilarating. The learning is profound’ Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe science of geology is going through a remarkable period of expansion and advancement. This dictionary contains over 7500 full-updated definitions. It includes a full bibliography of up-to-date works covering all areas of geography.

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Book SynopsisSheep are the thread that runs through the history of the English countryside. Our fortunes were once founded on sheep, and this book tells a story of wool and money and history, of merchants and farmers and shepherds, of English yeomen and how they got their freedom, and above all, of the soil. Sheep have helped define our culture and topography, impacting on everything from accent and idiom, architecture, roads and waterways, to social progression and wealth. With his eye for the idiosyncratic, Philip meets the native breeds that thrive in this country; he tells stories about each breed, meets their shepherds and owners, learns about their past - and confronts the present realities of sheep farming. Along the way, Philip meets the people of the countryside and their many professions: the mole-catchers, the stick-makers, the tobacco-twisters and clog-wrights. He explores this artisan heritage as he re-discovers the countryside, and finds a lifestyle parallel to modern existence, struggling to remain unchanged - and at its heart, always sheep.Trade ReviewPhilip Walling has written a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable account of this shared history... after reading this book you may look at a sheep, or a roast lamb, or a tweed jacket, with the glimmerings of a new appreciation.' -- Angus Clarke * The Times *Delightful ... Counting Sheep deserves its place on the bookshelf of any lover of the countryside. -- Horatio Clare * Daily Telegraph *Jacobs are yet another breed supposed to have swum ashore from a wrecked ship, this time a Spanish galleon in 1588. These were gentlemen's sheep, and commercial farmers would be disdainful of their being kept as ornaments with no concern for profit. To their gentle owners they were living lawn mowers that bred their own replacements and needed no fuel. But to a working farmer they were (and still are) little better than goats, and a damned nuisance. * From Counting Sheep *

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Book SynopsisThaddeus Holownia travelled to the many salmon rivers of eastern Canada, in all seasons, to capture their essential qualities. Harry Thurston''s accompanying essay explores the elemental nature of these rivers that both nurture Atlantic salmon and inspire the salmon fisher. This 1,000-copy edition includes 50 full-size stochastic duotone reproductions of Holownia''s 17 x 7-inch contact prints, casebound in quarter cloth with a printed card slipcase.

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Book SynopsisHans Florine embodies the genius of andcollaborative and competitive, fast and safe, audacious and disciplined, visionary and quantitative. The themes that run through Florine's 101 ascents of Yosemite's most iconic route can benefit people who will never climb a rock, indeed anyone inspired by the idea of a passionate, lifelong quest of any type. Jim Collins, author of Good to GreatHans Florine is a big-wall climbing legend in his own time. He holds the speed record on the Nose route of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite cliff in Yosemite Valley that's considered the Everest of the rock-climbing world. Ascending the Nose takes most climbers anywhere from 12 to 96 hours. Florine, along with climbing partner Alex Honnold, does it in an astounding 2.5 hours. But Florine's story is not one of super-human athletic prowess; it's one of persistence and dogged determination. In 30 years of climbing, he's ascended the Nose a mind-blowing, death-defying 100 times, more than anyone else ever hasTrade ReviewHans Florine embodies the genius of "and"—collaborative and competitive, fast and safe, audacious and disciplined, visionary and quantitative. The themes that run through Florine's 101 ascents of Yosemite's most iconic route can benefit people who will never climb a rock, indeed anyone inspired by the idea of a passionate, lifelong quest of any type. -- Jim Collins, author of Good to Great

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Book SynopsisThe paperback of the Sunday Times bestseller that reveals how the earth became the shape it is today. This book will change the way you see the world permanently.The face of the earth, criss-crossed by chains of mountains like the scars of old wounds, has changed constantly over billions of years. Its shape records a remote past of earthquakes, volcanos and continental drift, and the ongoing subtle shifts that bring our planet alive.Richard Fortey introduces us to the earth's distinct character, revealing the life that it leads when humans aren't watching. He follows the continual movement of seabeds, valleys, mountain ranges and ice caps and shows how everything our culture, natural history, even the formation of our cities has its roots in geology. In Richard Fortey's hands, geology becomes vital and exhilarating and unmistakably informs our lives in the most intimate way.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘The Earth’: ‘A dazzling achievement. Richard Fortey is without peer among science writers.’ Bill Bryson ‘Books with a title this ambitious generally do not live up to their billing. This one does.’ New Scientist ‘“The Earth” is a true delight: full of awe-inspiring details…it blends travel, history, reportage and science to create an unforgettable picture of our ancient earth.’ Sunday Times ‘Read this book because it is, indeed, the best natural history of the first four billion years of life on earth.’ John Gribbin, Sunday Times Praise for ‘The Hidden Landscape’: ‘Don’t drop dead until you have read “The Hidden Landscape”.’ Jonathan Keates, Observer Praise for ‘Life: An unauthorised Biography’: ‘This is not a book for people who like science books. It is a book for people who love books, and life…[Fortey] has written a wonderful book.’ Tim Radford, Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe land that was to become Scotland has travelled across the globe over the last 3,000 million years - from close to the South Pole to its current position. During these travels, there were many continental collisions, creating mountain belts as high as the present-day Himalayas. The Highlands of Scotland were formed in this way. Our climate too has changed dramatically over the last 3 billion years from the deep freeze of the Ice Age to scorching heat of the desert. And within a relatively short time - geologically speaking, we will plunge back into another ice age. In Set in Stone, Alan McKirdy traces Scotland's amazing geological journey, explaining for the non - specialist reader why the landscape looks the way it does todays. He also explores Scots and those working in Scotland have played a seminal role in the development of the science of geology, understanding Earth processes at a local and global scale.

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Book SynopsisSouth Africa has just about the richest geological heritage on the planet. By pinpointing 50 Must-see sites, this book shows why, where and how to enjoy it. The book presents 50 of the most recognizable and geologically interesting sites around South Africa, including some of palaeontological or historical renown and some of mining interest. The diverse selection includes sites such as Chapman's Peak, Howick Falls, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, Mapungubwe, Tswaing Meteorite Crater and the Fraserburg Fossil Surface. Each site is unpacked to reveal: Key features; Geological heritage; Landscape and rock formations; Topics of local or historical interest; Things to see and do at the site and in the surrounding area. Maps and GPS pointers make the sites easy to find, and some of the more complicated features are explained by means of simplified diagrams. Nearly 1,000 colour images illustrate South Africa's remarkable geology and bring the topic vividly to life, making the book suitable for armchair travel too.

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