Wildlife: general interest Books

Book SynopsisOur senses are very limited compared to those of other species; some animals see ultraviolet light, communicate using electricity, or navigate long distances with magnetic information. Martin Stevens discusses the remarkable senses in nature and what they are used for, uncovering how they work and how they are shaped by ecology and the environment.Trade Reviewa riveting new volume that explores the extraordinary senses of animals....This volume brings the wonders of these sensory worlds to a more general audience. * Michael J. Ryan, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.97, no.1 *While paying its dues to those amazing abilities of animals, Secret Worlds has some very intriguing things to say about the evolution and plasticity of the sense - and above all, the cost of acquiring them. [... ] One can only hope that Stevens will return with fresh insights in a few years. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface 1: A Plethora of Senses 2: Singing Mice and Painting Pictures with Sound 3: For My Eyes Only 4: Electric Attraction 5: Stars of the Tactile World 6: Smelling in Stereo 7: Homing Turtles and Animal Magnetism 8: A Changing World

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Book SynopsisMartin Stevens explores the extraordinary variety of senses in the animal kingdom, and discusses the cutting-edge science that is shedding light on these secret worlds. Our senses of vision, smell, taste, hearing, and touch are essential for us to respond to threats, communicate and interact with the world around us. This is true for all animals - their sensory systems are key to survival, and without them animals would be completely helpless. However, the sensory systems of other animals work very differently from ours. For example, many animals from spiders to birds can detect and respond to ultraviolet light, to which we are blind. Other animals, including many insects, rodents, and bats can hear high-frequency ultrasonic sounds well beyond our own hearing range. Many other species have sensory systems that we lack completely, such as the magnetic sense of birds, turtles, and other animals, or the electric sense of many fish. These differences in sensory ability have a major bearing on the ways that animals behave and live in different environments, and also affect their evolution and ecology.In this book, Martin Stevens explores the remarkable sensory systems that exist in nature, and what they are used for. Discussing how different animal senses work, he also considers how they evolve, how they are shaped by the environment in which an animal lives, and the pioneering science that has uncovered how animals use their senses. Throughout, he celebrates the remarkable diversity of life, and shows how the study of sensory systems has shed light on some of the most important issues in animal behaviour, physiology, and evolution. He also describes evidence of the disruptive effects of human activities on the way other animals navigate the world.Trade Reviewa riveting new volume that explores the extraordinary senses of animals....This volume brings the wonders of these sensory worlds to a more general audience. * Michael J. Ryan, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.97, no.1 *While paying its dues to those amazing abilities of animals, Secret Worlds has some very intriguing things to say about the evolution and plasticity of the sense - and above all, the cost of acquiring them. [... ] One can only hope that Stevens will return with fresh insights in a few years. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface 1: A Plethora of Senses 2: Singing Mice and Painting Pictures with Sound 3: For My Eyes Only 4: Electric Attraction 5: Stars of the Tactile World 6: Smelling in Stereo 7: Homing Turtles and Animal Magnetism 8: A Changing World

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Book SynopsisThe animal world is immensely diverse, and our understanding of it has been greatly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development (''evo-devo''). In this Very Short Introduction Peter Holland presents a modern tour of the animal kingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals (not obvious in biological terms), he takes the reader through the high-level groupings of animals (phyla) and new views on their evolutionary relationships based on molecular data, together with an overview of the biology of each group of animals. The phylogenetic view is central to zoology today and the volume will be of great value to all students of the life sciences, as well as providing a concise summary for the interested general reader.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. What is an animal? ; 2. Animal phyla ; 3. The evolutionary tree of animals ; 4. Basal animals: corals, sponges and jellyfish ; 5. The bilaterians: building a body ; 6. Lophotrochozoa: wondrous worms ; 7. Ecdysozoa: insects and nematodes ; 8. Deuterostomes I: starfish, sea squirts and amphioxus ; 9. Deuterostomes II: the rise of vertebrates ; 10. Deuterostomes III: vertebrates on land ; 11. Enigmatic animals ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisScientists have long counseled against interpreting animal behavior in terms of human emotions, warning that such anthropomorphizing limits our ability to understand animals as they really are. This book challenges this long-held view. It reveals that animals exhibit a range of moral behaviors, including fairness, empathy, trust, and reciprocity.Trade Review"This provocative and well-argued view of animal morality may surprise some readers as it challenges outdated assumptions about animals.... Written as much for other academics as for interested lay readers, this lucid book is highly recommended." - Library Journal "The authors contend that, in order to understand the moral compass by which animals live, we must first expand our definition of morality to include moral behavior unique to each species. Studies done by the authors, as well as experts in the fields of psychology, human social intelligence, zoology, and other branches of relevant science excellently bolster their claim." - Publishers Weekly "Wild Justice makes a compelling argument for open-mindedness regarding nonhuman animals." - New Scientist "Humans think of themselves as the only moral animals. But what about... the rat who refuses to shock another to earn a reward, and the magpie who grieves for her young? Cognitive animal behaviorist Bekoff and philosopher Pierce argue that nonhuman animals also are moral beings - with not just building blocks or precursors of morality but the real deal. The research gathered here makes a compelling case that it is time to reconsider yet another of the traits we have claimed as uniquely our own." - Discover"

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Book SynopsisScientists have long counseled against interpreting animal behavior in terms of human emotions, warning that such anthropomorphizing limits our ability to understand animals as they really are. This book challenges this long-held view. It reveals that animals exhibit a range of moral behaviors, including fairness, empathy, trust, and reciprocity.Trade Review"This provocative and well-argued view of animal morality may surprise some readers as it challenges outdated assumptions about animals.... Written as much for other academics as for interested lay readers, this lucid book is highly recommended." - Library Journal "The authors contend that, in order to understand the moral compass by which animals live, we must first expand our definition of morality to include moral behavior unique to each species. Studies done by the authors, as well as experts in the fields of psychology, human social intelligence, zoology, and other branches of relevant science excellently bolster their claim." - Publishers Weekly "Wild Justice makes a compelling argument for open-mindedness regarding nonhuman animals." - New Scientist "Humans think of themselves as the only moral animals. But what about... the rat who refuses to shock another to earn a reward, and the magpie who grieves for her young? Cognitive animal behaviorist Bekoff and philosopher Pierce argue that nonhuman animals also are moral beings - with not just building blocks or precursors of morality but the real deal. The research gathered here makes a compelling case that it is time to reconsider yet another of the traits we have claimed as uniquely our own." - Discover"

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Book SynopsisFrom Yellowstone's elk and wolves to rhinos living with African lions and moose coexisting with tigers and bears in Asia, this book tracks cultures of fear in animals across continents and climates, engaging readers with a stimulating combination of natural history, personal experience, and conservation.Trade Review"A very novel, important, and global view of the complex interrelationships between predators and prey. Science, culture, and practical issues meet head on, as they must, in a book that surely will change existing views about the role of fear in the evolution of behavior. Only world-renowned and indefatigable field biologist Joel Berger could pull off such a comprehensive analysis of how past and present must be studied as we try to figure out how all animals - nonhuman and human - will be able to share harmoniously our one and only planet in the future." - Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals"

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Book SynopsisThe natural world is full of unusual relationships, and negotiation between life-forms striving to survive is evolution at its most diverse and awe-inspiring. This title takes us on a voyage of discovery into the world of unusual natural histories, focusing on extraordinary interactions involving animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria.Trade Review"Marty Crump's book is a trawl through the whole gamut of weird animal behaviours. Watch out for spine-anointing, toad-chewing hedgehogs; tortoises that stomp the ground to draw up worms; and the mantids of the title that mate more effectively once the female has bitten off their heads. With Crump's thirty-plus years of experience in the field, this beautifully written and charmingly illustrated book combines acute observation with helpful explanation. Nature has never seemed so bizarre and splendid." - Adrian Barnett, New Scientist"

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Book SynopsisMarty Crump has searched for salamanders along the Amazon River; surveyed amphibians and reptiles in hostile Huaorani Indian territory; and had run-ins with an electric eel, a boa constrictor and a bushmaster viper. This is a detailed chronicle of Marty Crump's adventures as a field biologist.

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Trade Review"Book of the year."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Blackwell's Bookshop" (5/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "Magnificent, bravura, beautiful and astoundingly interesting."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Sunday Times" (5/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "Spell-binding, brilliantly executed, extraordinary."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Guardian" (5/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "A rich mixture of science, mythology, and literature, whose plethora of entertaining digressions left me impressed."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "A sublime rumination on existence. In twenty-seven exquisitely crafted cameos, Caspar Henderson reveals the hidden wonders of life in all its exuberant strangeness, at the same time illuminating our own place in the world. Simply stunning."--Callum Roberts, author of Ocean of Life "A wonderful book! With the precision of a scientist, the elegance of an artist, and the minatory power of an Old Testament prophet, Caspar Henderson exhorts us to pay attention to the other species on our endangered planet and learn from them before it is too late."--Richard Holloway "An utterly extraordinary book: a glorious and genre-bending grimoire; a spell-book of species that entranced me from its first page. Wonderful in the richest senses of the word, as well as witty, moving, urgent, and beautiful."--Robert Macfarlane, author of The Wild Places and The Old Ways "Caspar Henderson is a zoological Borges, taking us on a fascinating and exhilarating journey through the labyrinth of natural history. This book is a brilliant and original meditation on what the animal world can teach us about who we are and who we want to be. It weaves an unforgettable spell."--Roman Krznaric, author of The Wonderbox "If you're interested, as I am, in weird details about weird animals, this is the book for you. Caspar Henderson takes us on an eye-opening tour of real animals that no sane human could ever have invented."--Frans de Waal, author of The Age of Empathy "Wondrous, capacious and strange."--Simon Critchley, author of The Book of Dead Philosophers "The Book of Barely Imagined Beings is one that Pliny would have envied, Darwin applauded, and Borges relished. It celebrates the playful imagination of the universe, capable of dreaming up the zebrafish and the yeti crab; it also celebrates our delight in reading in claws and feathers lessons about our own miraculous self. In these days of doom and gloom, I can think of nothing more rejoicing than Caspar Henderson's magical book."--Alberto Manguel, author of The Library at Night "With illumination-style flourishes, hand-drawn illustrations, and in-margin notes, from a purely aesthetic and bibliophilic point of view, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings is as magical as its name suggests. . . . Both aesthetically pleasing and scientifically intriguing, it would make an inspiring addition to any natural history collection."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Evolve Magazine, Natural History Museum" (8/1/2013 12:00:00 AM) "When it comes to nature, the truth is often stranger and more wondrous than fiction, especially in Caspar Henderson's Book of Barely Imagined Beings. The book illustrates the weird and wild histories of unusual--but real--species, including human beings, offering the reader elaborate illustrations, annotations, and much lore. And lurking in the margins is Henderson's suggestion that just as a medieval bestiary's mythical monsters reveal the values of a bygone era, the creatures that fascinate us today reveal much about us."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Nature Conservancy" (6/1/2013 12:00:00 AM) "This readable volume will appeal to the serious reader with broad interests in science, mythology, folklore, and speculation on questions of the human condition." --Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Library Journal" (5/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "Tangentially inspired by Jorge Luis Borges's Book of Imaginary Beings, and assembled like a cabinet of curiosities, journalist Caspar Henderson's first book highlights what nonhuman species reveal about being human. The disarmingly human face of the Axolotl salamander introduces a reflection on evolution, which wanders into the history of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, before landing on the question of what the Axolotl's ability to regenerate limbs can reveal about stem cells. It's an oddly anthropomorphic argument to abandon anthropomorphism, but as exotic salamanders and transparent octopi give way to miniscule water bears, whiskered owlets, and the honey badger, Henderson's contagious awe of life effortlessly advances his argument. The captivating habits of these beings are given significant scientific backbone, before digressing into a free-flowing discourse." --Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Publishers Weekly" "Present knowledge, together with environmental trouble, make it a natural time to update the bestiary in writing, and to tour nature's brilliance in light of honest science. That's exactly what the English author Caspar Henderson has done with his The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary."--Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "New Yorker" (5/16/2013 12:00:00 AM) "As humanity begins to grapple with the likelihood of extraterrestrial life, we're also reaching a fuller understanding of just how alien organisms can be right here on Earth. It is against this backdrop that Caspar Henderson offers The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, an illustrated, alphabetical compendium of some of the weirdest, wildest forms of life on Earth. . . . Henderson approaches his material with a deep respect for evolutionary science and a sophisticated understanding of the ways humans have tried to make sense of the natural world and our place in it." --Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Bookforum" (7/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "A beautiful work that celebrates Earth's extraordinary species, with the look and feel of a Victorian treatise." --Richard Fortey, author of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms "Nature" (7/15/2013 12:00:00 AM)

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Book SynopsisWhether referring to a place, a nonhuman animal or plant, or a state of mind, wild indicates autonomy and agency, a will to be, a unique expression of life. Yet two contrasting ideas about wild nature permeate contemporary discussions: either that nature is most wild in the absence of a defiling human presence, or that nature is completely humanized and nothing is truly wild. This book charts a different path. Exploring how people can become attuned to the wild community of life and also contribute to the well-being of the wild places in which we live, work, and play, Wildness brings together esteemed authors from a variety of landscapes, cultures, and backgrounds to share their stories about the interdependence of everyday human lifeways and wildness. As they show, far from being an all or nothing proposition, wildness exists in variations and degrees that range from cultivated soils to multigenerational forests to sunflowers pushing through cracks in a city alley. Spanning diverse ge

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Book SynopsisPummeled by a century of drought, depopulation, and soil erosion, America's Great Plains are in dire straits. Frank and Deborah Popper have a solution: create a Buffalo common by returning 139,000 acres in ten states to prairie and reintroducing the buffalo that once roamed there.Trade Review"An admirably crafted book, as poignant and entertaining as it is informative." - Seattle Times "Where the Buffalo Roam is very bright, active, effective journalism....An extremely savvy overlook of the dilemmas of the Great Plains." - Wallace Stegner

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Book SynopsisA state-of-the art analysis of conservation as practiced by zoos and aquariums worldwide today.Trade Review"The role of zoos and aquariums is constantly evolving, particularly as there is pressure to increase their contribution to conservation. This collection ably shows that zoos and aquariums are not a flotilla of little arks that have to be self-sufficient. Rather, we should be better grounded in the social fabric of our communities, better networked, and better connected to the animals outside our walls."--Jenny Gray, CEO of Zoos Victoria, Australia, and president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums "In an age of extinction, 'wild' places are increasingly being managed like zoos. What role do actual zoos and aquariums have to play? The Ark and Beyond looks at this question from all angles; the result is both informative and thought-provoking."--Elizabeth Kolbert, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" "The Ark and Beyond is essential reading for anyone interested in our tangled and evolving relationship with zoos and aquariums. At the zoo we find ourselves at the shifting borderland between the wild and the walled. This book's editors and contributors explore that territory, bringing together decades of practical and theoretical expertise in conservation biology, history, and education. Their insights will deeply inform and benefit readers wrestling with the complex questions we find ourselves asking when we lock eyes with our kindred creatures."--Curt Meine, Aldo Leopold Foundation & Center for Humans and Nature

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Book SynopsisIn the nineteenth century, richly-drawn social fiction became one of England's major cultural exports. At the same time, a surprising companion came to stand alongside the novel as a key embodiment of British identity: the domesticated pet. In works by authors from the Brontës to Eliot, from Dickens to Hardy, animals appeared as markers of domestic coziness and familial kindness. Yet for all their supposed significance, the animals in nineteenth-century fiction were never granted the same fullness of character or consciousness as their human masters: they remain secondary figures.Minor Creatures re-examines a slew of literary classics to show how Victorian notions of domesticity, sympathy, and individuality were shaped in response to the burgeoning pet class. The presence of beloved animals in the home led to a number of welfare-minded political movements, inspired in part by the Darwinian thought that began to sprout at the time. Nineteenth-century animals may not have been the heroes

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Book SynopsisFrom the shell wars of hermit crabs to little blue penguins spying on potential rivals, power struggles in the animal kingdom are as diverse as they are fascinating, and this book illuminates their surprising range and connections. The quest for power in animals is so much richer, so much more nuanced than who wins what knock-down, drag-out fight. Indeed, power struggles among animals often look more like an opera than a boxing match. Tracing the path to power for over thirty different species on six continents, writer and behavioral ecologist Lee Alan Dugatkin takes us on a journey around the globe, shepherded by leading researchers who have discovered that in everything from hyenas to dolphins, bonobos to field mice, cichlid fish to cuttlefish, copperhead snakes to ravens, and meerkats to mongooses, power revolves around spying, deception, manipulation, forming alliances, breaking up alliances, complex assessments of potential opponents, building social networks, and more. PowerTrade Review"A scrupulously scientific but highly accessible tour of power’s manifestations among caribou, bonobos, deer, dolphins, hyenas, meerkats, mice, mongooses (mongeese?)—and those are just some of the mammals. . . . Readable and intellectually satisfying. . . . Compact but very gratifying. . . . True to its title, Power in the Wild doesn’t address Homo sapiens. But the anthropocentrically inclined will find that the power dynamics of nonhuman animals offer plenty of insight into our own, distorted a bit as in a funhouse mirror. For the open-minded, Dugatkin’s depiction of power in the wild yields a stunningly provocative reflection." -- David P. Barash * Wall Street Journal *“Power in the Wild, by behavioral ecologist Dugatkin, reveals the realpolitik behind the lives of sweet-looking creatures from meerkats to field mice, as he examines the eternal struggle for dominance in nature.” * New Scientist, "Don't Miss" *"While visiting a wolf research park in Austria, animal behaviorist Dugatkin was startled to see one male sitting on top of another, clamping its snout in its jaws. The park’s director assured him there was no harm involved, only a display of power. This theme defines Dugatkin’s engaging book, which is based on the work of many scientists with a huge range of animals from around the world, including baboons, dolphins, mongooses and ravens. 'Power pervades every aspect of the social lives of animals,' he says." -- Andrew Robinson * Nature *"From ants to cuttlefish to wolves, this entertaining book surveys various species’ strategies for maintaining control. . . . Dugatkin’s snappy prose enlivens his evolutionary explanations, as of a discussion of how new technology aids in data collection. He is deliberate about highlighting the work of women researchers. Power in the Wild is a charming tour through the wonderful, sometimes bizarre realities of animal behavior." * Foreword Reviews *"Power struggles in the animal kingdom are still not entirely understood, not least when they take place in many more arenas and forms than the most obvious one of physical conflict. Spying, deception, manipulation, shifting social networks—all these are covered here. The author looks at more than thirty species across six continents." * Bookseller *"This captivating, illuminating, and timely book explores how power is sought, attained, maintained, and transferred in nonhuman animal societies... This colorful journey through the deep evolutionary roots of power structures and the complex paths to higher social status will inspire behavioral scientists across disciplines, including ethologists, psychologists, and anthropologists, as well as adult readers with particular interest in animal behaviors... Highly recommended." * Choice *"Like cooperation, competition in the nonhuman world takes many forms. In Power in the Wild, biologist and science historian Dugatkin shows that strength and ruthlessness are only two of the many possible assets an organism may bring to a contest... Aided by new theories and, in many cases, new technologies and techniques, researchers are untangling the influences of genetics, hormone levels, and habitat on such behaviors, and investigating how changes in these and other factors may shift power dynamics over lifetimes and generations. As they do so, they uncover even more complexity in communities long assumed to be far simpler than ours. While Dugatkin's book is not about power in human communities, he is alert to the entrenched inequalities in science and makes a commendable effort to ensure that a large proportion of the voices in his book belong to women, younger scientists, and others too often denied full credit for their work." * Sierra *“Timely and fascinating. . . . Dugatkin’s book is great food for thought regarding the nature of power, equality, and equity, the origins of justice and the origins of sociality in animals—including our own species.” -- Sheng-Feng Shen, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan * Nature Ecology & Evolution *"It would have been easy for Dugatkin, given the scope of his book, to get bogged down in numbers, names, and details, producing a litany of 'gee whiz' facts without any connecting thread. . . . Yet, on the whole, he manages to balance scientific specificity with linguistic flourishes and descriptive details that kept me immersed. . . . Dugatkin's respect for the researchers behind the science also keeps the story moving. The book is as much a profile of them and their endeavors as the animals they study. . . . One of the real joys of the book, though, is Dugatkin's enthusiasm about the subject.” -- Leah Campbell * Earth Island Journal *"This engaging publication describes the ways animals use overt and subtle behaviors to assess and influence the behaviors of others. . . . Field accounts . . . offer firsthand and thoughtful perspectives into the role of power in the lives of nonhuman animals." -- Jennifer E. Smith * Quarterly Review of Biology *“A brilliant journey into the intricate dramas of animal behavior and evolution. Along the way, we also see the scientific process in vivid light, a wonderful exposition of how to deepen understanding of the living world.” -- David George Haskell, Sewanee: The University of the South, author of Pulitzer finalist "The Forest Unseen" and Burroughs medalist "The Songs of Trees"“Power, and the way it is won and lost, unites angelfish and weaverbirds, ravens and cockroaches. By revealing its stunning variety in nature, Dugatkin shows how power isn’t necessarily abusive, or ugly—it’s simply a fact of life. From confrontation to espionage, with coalitions formed and dissolved, his absorbing stories explore how animals juggle their relationships and play a long game.” -- Marlene Zuk, Regents Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, author of "Paleofantasy" and "Sex on Six Legs"“Entertaining anecdotes and scholarly science effortlessly entwine in this delightfully raucous romp through decades of research on the nature of power in the animal kingdom. A great read whether you’re a student, scientist, or amateur animal behavior enthusiast.” -- Athena Aktipis, Arizona State University, author of "The Cheating Cell"“‘Biology’ means ‘the study of life,’ and it requires the story of life. Admirers of Dugatkin’s acclaimed books such as How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog) know that he tells rousing stories about nature and how scientists decipher its mysteries. There could not be a more pervasive aspect of life than power dynamics, nor one that more greatly influences nature’s slow change over time. For fans of both science writing and nature writing, Power in the Wild teems with enough animals and scientists around the world to satisfy David Attenborough—whose urbane narration comes to mind as one enlightening glimpse of nature follows another in this lucid and lively celebration of nature's diversity.” -- Michael Sims, author of "Adam’s Navel" and "The Adventures of Henry Thoreau"Table of ContentsPreface 1 Chart a Path to Power 2 Weigh Costs and Benefits 3 Assess Thy Rivals 4 Watch and Be Watched 5 Build Alliances 6 Cement the Hold 7 Survive the Battles 8 Rise and Fall Afterword Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTristan Gooley is a writer, navigator and explorer. He is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs, The Natural Navigator and The Natural Explorer and he has written for publications including the Sunday Times, the New York Times, the FT and Geographical Magazine. Tristan has led expeditions in five continents, climbed mountains in Europe, Africa and Asia, sailed small boats across oceans and piloted small aircraft to Africa and the Arctic. He is the only living person to have both flown solo and sailed singlehanded across the Atlantic and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and the Royal Geographical Society. Tristan has appeared on TV and radio programmes in the UK and internationally. www.naturalnavigator.comTrade ReviewThis new series of The School of Life's self-help books build on the strengths of the first, tackling some of the hardest issues of our lives in a way that is genuinely informative, helpful and consoling. Here are books that prove that the term "self-help" doesn't have to be either shallow or naive -- Alain de Botton, Founder of The School of LifeThe School of Life offers radical ways to help us raid the treasure trove of human knowledge * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisEscape into nature with Matt Baker''s fascinating journey through the natural year and family life on the farm''A delight'' Countryfile Magazine_______Matt Baker finds his calm on the farm.Surrounded by nature with his family, dogs, array of sheep, Mediterranean miniature donkeys and a whole host of wildlife in the farm''s ancient woodland, Matt shows us how the power and beauty of the countryside can bring joy to us all.Following the ever-changing seasons of the year, we see woodland animals emerge after a long winter of hibernation and lambs begin to gambol in April. We hear the dawn chorus in the height of summer and see the preparations unfold for the harsh and wild winter months.Peppered with hand drawn sketches, unforgettable moments from Matt''s TV career and stories of a landscape you''ll fall in love with - from its sun-soaked pastures to 6ft snow drifts - Matt reveals how the outdoors has made him who he is today.Trade ReviewA delight -- Margaret Bartlett * Countryfile *Delightful * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful photographic guide to British flora and fauna through the year and around the British Isles, from remote beaches to wetland centers, fens to forests, valleys to island and more!Do you know where to find an adder, or where to spot a seal? And do you know the best time of year to go in search of booming bitterns or boxing hares? If you''re seeking the answers to all these questions and more, then this may be book for you!It''s no secret that Britain is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna. From the countryside and national parks, to the coastline, the woods, fields, forests and more. Where To Go Wild in the British Isles unveils the most spectacular wild places to visit all year round. Search by time of year, destination, wildlife attraction, or simply flick through the pages and be inspired!With over 125 great wildlife sights and wild places, there''s something for everyone - from pine martens, nesting kingfishers, and woodland b

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Book SynopsisTransform your garden into a haven for all kinds of wildlife.In a world with too much concrete and not enough greenery, every wildlife-friendly garden can make a huge difference. But what if we told you that you can make a difference to your local wildlife from the comfort of your own home? You can help to reverse the decline in bird numbers and much more by creating a haven in which they will thrive! Let author, presenter, and wildlife conservationist Dan Rouse show you how you can make your outdoor space more welcoming for a wide variety of visitors, from planting pollinator-friendly perennials to providing access for curious hedgehogs. Learn the best ways to provide shelter, food, and water, discover the best planting choices and how they can help, then sit back and watch as your garden becomes a much-needed refuge for a huge range of species.Dive straight in to discover:- A beautiful mixture of full-colour illustrations and photos of

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Book SynopsisCharlotte Uhlenbroek studied zoology and psychology and then spent four years living in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, studying wild chimpanzees for her PhD on chimpanzee communication. She has presented several major primetime TV series, and written accompanying books, including the BBC's Talking with Animals, a series that unravels the mysteries of animal communication.

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Book SynopsisMy Family and Other Animals is the bewitching account of a rare and magical childhood on the island of Corfu by treasured British conservationist Gerald Durrell, beautifully repackaged as part of the Penguin Essentials range.''What we all need,'' said Larry, ''is sunshine...a country where we can grow.''''Yes, dear, that would be nice,'' agreed Mother, not really listening. ''I had a letter from George this morning - he says Corfu''s wonderful. Why don''t we pack up and go to Greece?''''Very well, dear, if you like,'' said Mother unguardedly. Escaping the ills of the British climate, the Durrell family - acne-ridden Margo, gun-toting Leslie, bookworm Lawrence and budding naturalist Gerry, along with their long-suffering mother and Roger the dog - take off for the island of Corfu.But the Durrells find that, reluctantly, they must share their various villas with a menagerie of local fauna - among them scorpions, geckos, toads, bats and butterflies.Recounted with immense humour and charm My Family and Other Animals is a wonderful account of a rare, magical childhood.''Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities'' Sunday Telegraph''A bewitching book'' Sunday TimesGerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, India, in 1925. He returned to England in 1928 before settling on the island of Corfu with his family. In 1945 he joined the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper, and in 1947 he led his first animal-collecting expedition to the Cameroons. He later undertook numerous further expeditions, visiting Paraguay, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Mexico, Mauritius, Assam and Madagascar. His first television programme, Two in the Bush which documented his travels to New Zealand, Australia and Malaya was made in 1962; he went on to make seventy programmes about his trips around the world. In 1959 he founded the Jersey Zoological Park, and in 1964 he founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. He was awarded the OBE in 1982. Encouraged to write about his life''s work by his brother, Durrell published his first book, The Overloaded Ark, in 1953. It soon became a bestseller and he went on to write thirty-six other titles, including My Family and Other Animals, The Bafut Beagles, Encounters with Animals, The Drunken Forest, A Zoo in My Luggage, The Whispering Land, Menagerie Manor, The Amateur Naturalist and The Aye-Aye and I. Gerald Durrell died in 1995.Trade ReviewA bewitching book * Sunday Times *Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisMy Family and Other Animals is the bewitching account of a rare and magical childhood on the island of Corfu by treasured British conservationist Gerald Durrell. Escaping the ills of the British climate, the Durrell family - acne-ridden Margo, gun-toting Leslie, bookworm Lawrence and budding naturalist Gerry, along with their long-suffering mother and Roger the dog - take off for the island of Corfu.But the Durrells find that, reluctantly, they must share their various villas with a menagerie of local fauna - among them scorpions, geckos, toads, bats and butterflies.Recounted with immense humour and charm My Family and Other Animals is a wonderful account of a rare, magical childhood.''Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities'' Sunday Telegraph''A bewitching book'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewDurrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisChronicles the author's experiences tracking down and interacting with the few remaining members of nine of North America's most endangered species. This book describes the factors, both manufactured and natural, that have led to the animals' endangerment. It examines the efforts of those who hope to pull species back from the brink of extinction.Trade Review“This is a very personal, affecting account of one man’s endeavor to come to grips with the fact that humans in the twentieth century are causing extinctions at an unprecedented rate.” -- Publishers Weekly"Beautifully composed natural history . . . simply superb."--Kirkus"Despite its litany of stark truths, Wild Echoes is anything but an oppressive book. Bergman's prose is rich and lively, his search becomes a shared adventure, his affection for ‘broken creatures' rings clear, and his perspective elevates hope above desperation."--Orion

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Book SynopsisSouvenirs of the planet: Ten (and a half) life forms, each of which explains a key aspect of life on Earth.If an alien visitor were to collect ten souvenir life forms to represent life on earth, which would they be? This is the thought-provoking premise of Marianne Taylor's The Story of Life in 10 and a Half Species. Each life forms explains a key aspect about life on Earth. From the sponge that seems to be a plant but is really an animal to the almost extinct soft-shelled turtle deemed extremely unique and therefore extremely precious, these examples reveal how life itself is arranged across time and space, and how humanity increasingly dominates that vision. Taylor, a prolific science writer, considers the chemistry of a green plant and ponders the possibility of life beyond our world; investigates the virus in an attempt to determine what a life form is; and wonders if the human—“a distinct and very dominant species with an inevitably biased view

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: The Mule in the Coal Mine 1. Interspecies Anticapitalism in English and American Humanitarian Writings, ca. 1800–1850 Joshua Abram Kercsmar 2. Chicago’s 1872 Equine Influenza Epizootic and the Evolution of Urban Transit Technology Jennifer G. Marks 3. Cattle and Blizzards: Lessons from the Big Die-Up in 1880s Montana Susan Nance 4. Animal Photography and the “Elk Problem” in Modern Wyoming Vanessa Bateman 5. Animals, Infrastructure, and Empire: Insects and Birds as Biological Control Agents in Early Twentieth-Century Hawai‘i Jessica Wang 6. Captive Breeding and the Commodification of “Surplus” Animals at the Central Park Zoo, 1886–1974 Andrea Ringer 7. The Destructive Ecology of Human-Pig Relations in Iowa since 1950 Mary Trachsel 8. “The Next Meal for the Lions”: The US Occupation of the Baghdad Zoo, 2003–2004 John M. Kinder List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: The Mule in the Coal Mine 1. Interspecies Anticapitalism in English and American Humanitarian Writings, ca. 1800–1850 Joshua Abram Kercsmar 2. Chicago’s 1872 Equine Influenza Epizootic and the Evolution of Urban Transit Technology Jennifer G. Marks 3. Cattle and Blizzards: Lessons from the Big Die-Up in 1880s Montana Susan Nance 4. Animal Photography and the “Elk Problem” in Modern Wyoming Vanessa Bateman 5. Animals, Infrastructure, and Empire: Insects and Birds as Biological Control Agents in Early Twentieth-Century Hawai‘i Jessica Wang 6. Captive Breeding and the Commodification of “Surplus” Animals at the Central Park Zoo, 1886–1974 Andrea Ringer 7. The Destructive Ecology of Human-Pig Relations in Iowa since 1950 Mary Trachsel 8. “The Next Meal for the Lions”: The US Occupation of the Baghdad Zoo, 2003–2004 John M. Kinder List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisPresents the most current knowledge on each of the eighteen penguin speciesTrade Review"This refreshing approach is forward thinking and has the potential to stimulate more specific interest and research on penguin conservation. Additionally, the figures and photography are beautiful…this valuable resource is a must have for bird enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in conservation biology." * Choice Reviews *"This is an essential book for those who love penguins. Each of the world’s 17 penguin species is beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs of the birds in their natural habitat. Detailed charts, graphs and tables help present interesting and useful information about each species." -- Fritz Brock * Wildlife Activist, No. 74 *Table of ContentsGlobal Penguin Society Introduction I. LARGE PENGUINS GENUS APTENODYTES 1. King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) 2. Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) II. BRUSH-TAILED PENGUINS GENUS PYGOSCELIS 3. Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) 4. Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) 5. Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) III. YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN GENUS MEGADYPTES 6. Yellow-Eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) IV. CRESTED PENGUINS GENUS EUDYPTES 7. Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) 8. Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi) 9. Erect-Crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) 10. Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) 11. Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) 12. Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) V. BANDED PENGUINS GENUS SPHENISCUS 13. African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) 14. Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) 15. Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) 16. Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) VI. LITTLE (OR BLUE) PENGUIN GENUS EUDYPTULA 17. Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) Conclusion Acknowledgments Contributors

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Book SynopsisA founder of soundscape ecology offers a pioneering field guide for listening to and recording the sounds of the wildTrade Review"Krause is a professional soundscape ecologist, and he reveals the wisdom and insider secrets gained from decades of recording audio in the wild . . .This is an extremely positive contribution to our understanding of the natural world."—Chris Fitch, Geographical“Here’s a handbook and philosophical guide for anyone, young or old, who wishes to open their senses to an often forgotten dimension of the reality around us: the sounds of the natural world—the sounds that are more than audio vibrations, but doorways into other worlds.”—Richard Louv, author of Vitamin N, Last Child in the Woods, and The Nature Principle“Part fascinating meditation on sound, part essential manual, Bernie Krause’s Wild Soundscapes is the veritable bible for how to record nature’s fleeting song—not just technically, but reverently.”—Alan Weisman, author of Countdown and The World Without Us“Bernie Krause hears things the rest of us don’t even realize we’re missing. But if we listen carefully, starting with him, we just might resurrect some sweet sounds we’ve lost.”—Alan Weisman, author of Countdown and The World Without Us, on Voices of the Wild -- Alan Weisman“Here’s a handbook and philosophical guide for anyone, young or old, who wishes to open their senses to an often forgotten dimension of the reality around us: the sounds of the natural world—the sounds that are more than audio vibrations, but doorways into other worlds.”—Richard Louv, author of Vitamin N, Last Child in the Woods, and The Nature Principle -- Richard Louv“Part fascinating meditation on sound, part essential manual, Bernie Krause’s Wild Soundscapes is the veritable bible for how to record nature’s fleeting song—not just technically, but reverently.”—Alan Weisman, author of Countdown and The World Without Us -- Alan Weisman"Krause is a professional soundscape ecologist, and he reveals the wisdom and insider secrets gained from decades of recording audio in the wild . . .This is an extremely positive contribution to our understanding of the natural world."—Chris Fitch, Geographical -- Chris Fitch * Geographical *

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Book SynopsisA compelling and innovative exploration of how animals shaped the birth of natural history and its ecological afterlivesTrade Review“Full of insight and wit, Curious Species is a genre-expanding account of knowledge and politics. Deeply researched and a joy to read, this book illuminates the ways animals from rattlesnakes to raccoons co-made our understandings of them.”—Bathsheba Demuth, author of Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait“A provocative, sparklingly written hybrid work combining original historical scholarship with lively first-person narrative and natural historical observation.”—Anya Zilberstein, author of A Temperate Empire: Making Climate Change in Early America“Early modern cabinets of curiosity generated sensations of wonder. So does Curious Species, with its awe-inspiring tales from the past and breathless accounts of Whitney Barlow Robles’s fearless pursuit of rare coral, raccoons, and rattlesnakes.”—Peter C. Mancall, author of Nature and Culture in the Early Modern Atlantic“Curious Species is exceptional: Whitney Robles has crafted a highly original, convincing, nuanced, and thought provoking study of how curiosity and animal nature overlap to shape, inspire, and circumscribe knowledge.”—Cameron B. Strang, author of Frontiers of Science: Imperialism and Natural Knowledge in the Gulf South Borderlands, 1500–1850“A captivating account of the many ways in which humans and other animals made each other ‘curious,’ in the eighteenth century and today. Whitney Barlow Robles expertly leads us in pursuit of Enlightenment naturalists as they observe, describe, depict, collect, and preserve corals, rattlesnakes, fish, and raccoons across the world, and reflects on what it means to follow in their footsteps in the present.”—Daniela Bleichmar, author of Visual Voyages: Images of Latin American Nature from Columbus to Darwin

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Book SynopsisSnakes, the best-known members of the reptile family, are some of the most popular animals in the world today. With over 120 species in the United States alone (including 17 poisonous varieties), snakes thrive in every region of the country. From the Rainbow snakes to the Western shovelnose snake to the Sharptail snake, dozens of species are shown in beautifully draw detail. Anatomy, behavior, reproduction, and geographic distribution are included in the engaging text. Despite their reputation, this book explains how Snakes are an essential component of the web of life.

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Book Synopsis* In the tradition of Tim Severin's bestselling tales of intrepid exploration.* Adventure travel book by explorer in search of the unseen camels of Tartary in forbidden China.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing a new foreword by Margaret Atwood!In this stunning assemblage of words and images, novelist and avid birdwatcher Graeme Gibson offers an extraordinary tribute to the venerable relationship between humans and birds.   From the Aztec plumed serpent to the Christian dove to Plato''s vision of the human soul growing wings, religion and philosophy use birds to represent our aspirational selves. Winged creatures appear in mythology and folk tales, and in literature by writers as diverse as Ovid, Thoreau, and T. S. Eliot. They''ve been omens, allegories, and guides; they''ve been worshipped, eaten, and feared. Birds figure tellingly in the work of such nature writers as Gilbert White and Peter Matthiessen, and are synonymous with the science of Darwin. Gibson spent years collecting this gorgeously illustrated celebration of centuries of human response to the delights of the feathered tribes. The Bedside Book of Birds is for everyone who

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize A Library Journal Best Science and Technology Book of the Year An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration.Trade Review"[A] gripping journey alongside the world’s feathered wanderers and the people who study them.... Brims with spectacle.... As the birds flit through these pages, but with ever less frequency through our lives, we can only hope that birders and non-birders alike take inspiration and a call to action from A World on the Wing. This is the kind of book we’ve been waiting for." -- Christian Cooper - New York Times"A World on the Wing is a paean to the beauty of data, viewed in masses, and to citizen science taking ornithology by storm.... Mr. Weidensaul offers the astonishment of birds’ travels, deep concern for their populations and hope for their future in well-measured, beautifully realized doses." -- Julie Zickefoose - Wall Street Journal"I’m not a birder, but Weidensaul persuades me that I could be, and that a greater appreciation of the movement and behaviour of migratory birds might bring me into closer contact with what it means to be a living thing on Earth.... [Weidensaul is] a master storyteller.... What emerges is an emphatic statement of confidence in nature’s resilience—a vision of nature as a force that we and our science are irrefutably a part of." -- Ashish Ghadiali - The Guardian"In vivid prose that conjures up the rich spell of each landscape, Scott Weidensaul takes us on exhilarating expeditions that crisscross the globe and travel deep into the heart of nature. For lifelong experts and backyard birders alike, he’s a superb guide to the winged marvels that share our planet and our lives." -- Diane Ackerman, author of The Zookeeper’s Wife"Scott Weidensaul, one of our finest nature writers, has produced another instant classic. In A World on the Wing he takes a pair of highly complex subjects—global patterns of bird migration, and the research into those patterns—and brings them to life with his own amazing adventures around the world. Here is proof that a book of solid science can also be a page-turner. Highly recommended for anyone curious about the natural world." -- Kenn Kaufman, author of the Kaufman Field Guides"Weidensaul’s dispatches are fascinating. Chapter by chapter, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened. The science of bird migration has reached a golden age, and we’re lucky to have such a graceful guide. This book is instantly among my all-time favorites, and one I’ll keep to reread." -- Noah Strycker, author of Birding Without Borders"The miracle of birds meets the miracle of technology in Scott Weidensaul’s wondrous new book, A World on the Wing. While there are huge gaps in our knowledge of migration and there is despair in our race to save species, advances in technology from microscopic transmitters to agile drones are changing the equation and making the future look hopeful. This is a book you won’t want to put down." -- Jane Alexander, actress, writer and wildlife conservationist"Weidensaul addresses migratory birds’ changing reality and the scientists who work tirelessly to learn more about them and advocate on their behalf.... The plight and toughness of both birds and their human defenders will move you in lasting ways." -- BookPage, starred review"Weidensaul is a peerless guide, sharing his intoxicating passion and decadeslong experience with countless bird species all over the world.... Another winner from Weidensaul that belongs in every birder’s library." -- Kirkus, starred review"Many mysteries of bird life and migration are revealed in this compelling and illuminating in-the-field narrative complete with maps and photographs." -- Booklist, starred review

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Book Synopsis"Where the Animals Go is beautiful and thrilling, a combination of the best in science and exposition, and a joy to study cover to cover." —Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard UniversityTrade Review"[Where the Animals Go] is an enthralling volume, downright gorgeous in its illustrations and text. Its double intent is brilliant, too — to bring each of us closer to the animal world and to highlight fresh ways to think about conservation." -- Barbara King - NPR"Where the Animals Go elegantly elucidates the role new technologies has played in expanding our knowledge of animal migration." -- Science"Cheshire and Uberti write about billions of data points being collected—some by citizen scientists—and their ravishing maps put this information to good use…[They] show us with precision and clarity where the animals go." -- The Washington Post"This book is beautiful as well as informative and inspiring. There is no doubt it will help in our fight to save wildlife and wild habitats." -- Jane Goodall"In recent years, technology has made it possible to track animal movements from afar in more and more detail… [Cheshire and Uberti] have dipped into this deluge of data to create 50 beautiful and engaging maps that reveal the wanderings of animals." -- National Geographic"A striking example of how innovative technology can be used to increase our understanding of the natural world." -- Financial Times"This is a special kind of detective story. After millennia of using footprints, feces, feathers, broken foliage and nests to track animals, the process is now so teched up you need to read this book to find out the how, what and why." -- New Scientist"[A] stunning translation of movement onto paper." -- Scientific American"[W]ell laid out, easy to understand and a pleasure to return to many times." -- Seattle Times"An enthralling look at the world that technology can help us uncover… Exquisite." -- Emily Scragg - British Trust for Ornithology"Part coffee-table album, part scientific research compendium, [Where the Animals Go] presents these global perambulations in lush detail, reveling in their minutiae and in the technological leaps that make such observations possible. . . tracking an animal through time and space transforms it from a mere object of scientific interest into a story whose unsolved mysteries capture our imagination." -- M. R. O'Connor - Undark Magazine"[A] gorgeous data trove… Accompanying the text are beautifully designed four-color maps and other visualizations … [A]n inspiring introduction to an important area of science." -- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Bestseller and winner of the PEN / E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award Primatologist Frans de Waal explores the fascinating world of animal and human emotions.Trade Review"Through colorful stories and riveting prose, de Waal firmly puts to rest the stubborn notion that humans alone in the animal kingdom experience a broad array of emotions....De Waal contributes immensely to an ethical sea change for animals." -- Barbara J. King - NPR"De Waal’s eye-opening observations argue for better treatment and greater appreciation of animals, even as he ensures that you’ll never look at them—or yourself—the same way again." -- People"Game-changing....For too long, emotion has been cognitive researchers’ third rail....But nothing could be more essential to understanding how people and animals behave. By examining emotions in both, this book puts these most vivid of mental experiences in evolutionary context, revealing how their richness, power and utility stretch across species and back into deep time....The book succeeds most brilliantly in the stories de Waal relates." -- Sy Montgomery - The New York Times Book Review"An original thinker, [de Waal] seems to invite us to his front-row seats, sharing the popcorn as he gets us up to speed on the plot of how life works, through deeply affecting stories of primates and other animals, all dramas with great lessons for our own species." -- Vicki Constantine Croke - Boston Globe"De Waal’s conversational writing is at times moving, often funny and almost always eye-opening....It’s hard to walk away from Mama’s Last Hug without a deeper understanding of our fellow animals and our own emotions." -- Erin Wayman - Science News"A captivating and big-hearted book, full of compassion and brimming with insights about the lives of animals, including human ones." -- Yuval Noah Harari, New York Times best-selling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind"Before I realized Frans de Waal’s connection to Mama’s actual last hug, I sent the online video link to a large group of scientists saying, ‘I believe it is possible to view this interaction and be changed forever.’ Likewise, I believe that anyone reading this book will be changed forever. De Waal has spent so many decades watching intently and thinking deeply that he sees a planet that is deeper and more beautiful than almost anyone realizes. In these pages, you can acquire and share his beautiful, shockingly insightful view of life on Earth." -- Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel"I doubt that I've ever read a book as good as Mama's Last Hug, because it presents in irrefutable scientific detail the very important fact that animals do have these emotions as well as the other mental features we once attributed only to people. Not only is the book exceedingly important, it's also fun to read, a real page-turner. I can't say enough good things about it except it's utterly splendid." -- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas"Frans de Waal is one of the most influential primatologists to ever walk the earth, changing the way we think of human nature by exploring its continuity with other species. He does this again in the wonderful Mama’s Last Hug, an examination of the continuum between emotion in humans and other animals. This subject is rife with groundless speculation, ideology, and badly misplaced folk intuition, and de Waal ably navigates it with deep insight, showing the ways in which our emotional lives are shared with other primates. This is an important book, wise and accessible." -- Robert Sapolsky, author of Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst"In Mama’s Last Hug, Frans de Waal marshals his wealth of knowledge and experience, toggling expertly between rigorous science and captivating anecdote to explain animal behavior—humans included. While doing so, he rebukes the common conceit that we are necessarily better, or smarter, than our closest relatives." -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize A Library Journal Best Science and Technology Book of the Year An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration.Trade Review"[A] gripping journey alongside the world’s feathered wanderers and the people who study them.... Brims with spectacle.... As the birds flit through these pages, but with ever less frequency through our lives, we can only hope that birders and non-birders alike take inspiration and a call to action from A World on the Wing. This is the kind of book we’ve been waiting for." -- Christian Cooper - New York Times"A World on the Wing is a paean to the beauty of data, viewed in masses, and to citizen science taking ornithology by storm.... Mr. Weidensaul offers the astonishment of birds’ travels, deep concern for their populations and hope for their future in well-measured, beautifully realized doses." -- Julie Zickefoose - Wall Street Journal"I’m not a birder, but Weidensaul persuades me that I could be, and that a greater appreciation of the movement and behaviour of migratory birds might bring me into closer contact with what it means to be a living thing on Earth.... [Weidensaul is] a master storyteller.... What emerges is an emphatic statement of confidence in nature’s resilience—a vision of nature as a force that we and our science are irrefutably a part of." -- Ashish Ghadiali - The Guardian"In vivid prose that conjures up the rich spell of each landscape, Scott Weidensaul takes us on exhilarating expeditions that crisscross the globe and travel deep into the heart of nature. For lifelong experts and backyard birders alike, he’s a superb guide to the winged marvels that share our planet and our lives." -- Diane Ackerman, author of The Zookeeper’s Wife"Scott Weidensaul, one of our finest nature writers, has produced another instant classic. In A World on the Wing he takes a pair of highly complex subjects—global patterns of bird migration, and the research into those patterns—and brings them to life with his own amazing adventures around the world. Here is proof that a book of solid science can also be a page-turner. Highly recommended for anyone curious about the natural world." -- Kenn Kaufman, author of the Kaufman Field Guides"Weidensaul’s dispatches are fascinating. Chapter by chapter, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened. The science of bird migration has reached a golden age, and we’re lucky to have such a graceful guide. This book is instantly among my all-time favorites, and one I’ll keep to reread." -- Noah Strycker, author of Birding Without Borders"The miracle of birds meets the miracle of technology in Scott Weidensaul’s wondrous new book, A World on the Wing. While there are huge gaps in our knowledge of migration and there is despair in our race to save species, advances in technology from microscopic transmitters to agile drones are changing the equation and making the future look hopeful. This is a book you won’t want to put down." -- Jane Alexander, actress, writer and wildlife conservationist"Weidensaul is a peerless guide, sharing his intoxicating passion and decadeslong experience with countless bird species all over the world.... Another winner from Weidensaul that belongs in every birder’s library." -- Kirkus, starred review"Many mysteries of bird life and migration are revealed in this compelling and illuminating in-the-field narrative complete with maps and photographs." -- Booklist, starred review"Weidensaul addresses migratory birds’ changing reality and the scientists who work tirelessly to learn more about them and advocate on their behalf.... The plight and toughness of both birds and their human defenders will move you in lasting ways." -- BookPage, starred review

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Book SynopsisFrom world-renowned scientist Jane Goodall, as seen in the new National Geographic documentary Jane, comes an inspiring message about the future of the animal kingdom. With the insatiable curiosity and conversational prose that have made her a bestselling author, Goodall - along with Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard - shares fascinating survival stories about the American Crocodile, the California Condor, the Black-Footed Ferret, and more; all formerly endangered species and species once on the verge of extinction whose populations are now being regenerated.Interweaving her own first-hand experiences in the field with the compelling research of premier scientists, Goodall illuminates the heroic efforts of dedicated environmentalists and the truly critical need to protect the habitats of these beloved species. At once a celebration of the animal kingdom and a passionate call to arms, Hope For Animals Their World presents an uplifting, hopeful message for the future of animal-human coexistence.Praise for Hope For Animals Their WorldGoodall''s intimate writing style and sense of wonder pull the reader into each account...The mix of personal and scientific makes for a compelling read.-BooklistThese accounts of conservation success are inspirational.-Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisSpectacular, mysterious, elegant, or grotesque, the vertebrate skeletons of Earth's fossil record carry within them the traces of several billion years of life. This book provides a map of those billion years in time. It presents the undeniable truth of Darwin's theory, showing through 200 photographs of skeletons both obscure and commonplace.Trade Review'So beautiful ... so dramatic ... so evocative of life' - New Scientist'Fascinating … the restored skeletons of animals from natural history museums are lit to highlight their beauty and grace … compelling' - Financial Times'Exquisite' - Sunday TelegraphTable of Contents1. Architecture • 2. Classification • 3. The Birth of Species • 4. Selection and Seduction • 5. The Power of Environment • 6. Evolutionary Tinkering • 7. Constructions and Deconstructions • 8. A Question of Size • 9. Time and Evolution • 10. Our Family

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Book SynopsisNatural history, the deliberate observation of the environment, is arguably the oldest science. This title chronicles the rise, decline, and ultimate revival of natural history within the realms of science and public discourse.Trade Review"An engaglng writing style... Highly recommended." -- D.A. Lovejoy Choice "Anderson writes with infectious energy; he has a sharp eye for details and a gift for spinning a good story... This book is a great read and should be required in any course on natural history, ?eld biology, or the history of ecology." Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and EnvironmentTable of ContentsContents List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Adam's Task, Job's Challenge 1. From Hunter-Gatherers to Kings of Kings 2. A Wonderful Man: Aristotle and Greek Natural History 3. The Spoils of an Empire 4. An Emperor and His Descendants 5. New Worlds 6. Ray, Linnaeus, and the Ordering of the World 7. Journeys Near and Far 8. Before the Origin 9. Forms Most Beautiful: Darwin 10. The Geography of Nature: Humboldt 11. Hearts of Light: Wallace and Bates 12. Spoils of Other Empires 13. Breadfruit and Icebergs 14. Naturalists in New England: Thoreau, Agassiz, and Gray 15. From Muir and Alexander to Leopold and Carson 16. The Slow Death (and Resurrection) of Natural History Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisThey change color depending on their mood. They possess uniquely adapted hands and feet distinct from other tetrapods. They feature independently movable eyes. This comprehensive volume delves into these fascinating details and thorough research about one of the most charismatic families of reptiles--Chameleonidae. Written for professional herpetologists, scholars, researchers, and students, this book takes readers on a voyage across time to discover everything that is known about chameleon biology: anatomy, physiology, adaptations, ecology, behavior, biogeography, phylogeny, classification, and conservation. A description of the natural history of chameleons is given, along with the fossil record and typical characteristics of each genus. The state of chameleons in the modern world is also depicted, complete with new information on the most serious threats to these remarkable reptiles.Trade Review"Taken overall, this book is an excellent and timely addition to the natural history literature for both professional biologists and other chameleon aficionados." -- Robin Andrews The Quarterly Review of Biology 90, no. 1Table of ContentsContributors Foreword 1 Biology of the Chameleons: An Introduction Krystal A. Tolley and Anthony Herrel 2 Chameleon Anatomy Christopher V. Anderson and Timothy E. Higham 2.1 Musculoskeletal Morphology 2.2 External Morphology and Integument 2.3 Sensory Structures 2.4 Visceral Systems 3 Chameleon Physiology Anthony Herrel 3.1 Neurophysiology 3.2 Muscle Physiology 3.3 Metabolism, Salt, and Water Balance 3.4 Temperature 3.5 Skin Pigmentation, Color Change, and the Role of Ultraviolet Light 3.6 Developmental Physiology 4 Function and Adaptation of Chameleons Timothy E. Higham and Christopher V. Anderson 4.1 Locomotion 4.2 Feeding 5 Ecology and Life History of Chameleons G. John Measey, Achille Raselimanana, and Anthony Herrel 5.1 Habitat 5.2 Life-History Traits 5.3 Foraging and Diet 5.4 Predators 6 Chameleon Behavior and Color Change Devi Stuart-Fox 6.1 Sensory Systems and Modes of Communication 6.2 Color Changes 6.3 Social and Reproductive Behavior 6.4 Sexual Dimorphism: Body Size and Ornamentation 6.5 Antipredator Behavior 7 Evolution and Biogeography of Chameleons Krystal A. Tolley and Michele Menegon 7.1 Evolutionary Relationships 7.2 Diversity and Distribution 7.3 Regional Diversity 7.4 Patterns of Alpha Diversity 7.5 Patterns of Beta Diversity 8 Overview of the Systematics of the Chamaeleonidae Colin R. Tilbury 8.1 Evolution of Methodology in Chameleon Taxonomy 8.2 Current Status of Taxonomy of the Chamaeleonidae 8.3 Subfamilial Groupings within Chamaeleonidae 8.4 Overview of Extant Genera 9 Fossil History of Chameleons Arnau Bolet and Susan E. Evans 9.1 Phylogenetic Relationships of Iguania and Acrodonta 9.2 Fossil Record of Acrodonta 9.3 Origins of Acrodonta 9.4 Origins of Chamaeleonidae 10 Chameleon Conservation Richard Jenkins, G. John Measey, Christopher V. Anderson, and Krystal A. Tolley 10.1 Conservation Status of Chameleons 10.2 Trade in Chameleons 10.3 Chameleons and Global Change 10.4 The Way Forward Appendix Abbreviations References Photo Credits Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is an excellent introduction and a good launching point for further inquiry into understanding our planet’s coasts." * CHOICE *"Highly recommend[ed]. . . . to all coastal scientists, managers, and planners and anyone concerned about the future of our extensive global coastlines. This book serves both as a comprehensive and artfully illustrated guide to the science behind coastal processes and hazards, and an environmental call to action to address the crisis we are facing for the majority of the world’s population." * Coastal Management *"A concise overview of current . . . knowledge of these threats, and is a valuable reference for anyone concerned about the well-being of coastal zones, particularly the next generation of planners and politicians." * Conservation Biology *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments PART ONE. INTRODUCTION TO HUMANS AND COASTS 1. Human Settlement of the Coastal Zone PART TWO. NATURAL PROCESSES AND HAZARDS AFFECTING COASTAL REGIONS 2. Coastal Tectonics and Hazards 3. Tropical Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons 4. Storms, Waves, Coastal Erosion, and Shoreline Retreat 5. Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise PART THREE. IMPACTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON COASTS 6. Marine Pollution 7. Plastic and Marine Debris 8. Petroleum and the Coastal Zone 9. Coastal Power Plants 10. Renewable Energy from the Coastal Zone 11. Groundwater and Petroleum Withdrawal: Subsidence and Seawater Intrusion 12. Desalination: Fresh Water from the Ocean 13. Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, and Ocean Acidification 14. Coral Reefs and Threats to Their Health and Survival 15. Fishing, Overfishing, and Aquaculture 16. Aquatic Invasive Species 17. Sand, Dams, and Beaches Index

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, Peru has transformed from a war-torn country to a global high-end culinary destination. Connecting chefs, state agencies, global capital, and Indigenous producers, this gastronomic revolution makes powerful claims: food unites Peruvians, dissolves racial antagonisms, and fuels development. Gastropolitics and the Specter of Race critically evaluates these claims and tracks the emergence of Peruvian gastropolitics, a biopolitical and aesthetic set of practices that reinscribe dominant racial and gendered orders. Through critical readings of high-end menus and ethnographic analysis of culinary festivals, guinea pig production, and national-branding campaigns, this work explores the intersections of race, species, and capital to reveal links between gastronomy and violence in Peru. Trade Review"The book presents a stunning and innovative analysis of the politics of Peru’s recent gastronomic boom. . . .[it] is at the forefront of scholarly discussions on the topic and deserves a wide readership among anthropologists and food studies scholars working on food, race, and nationalism in a range of geographic settings." * Gastronomica *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface: Understories Acknowledgments Introduction: Stories of Resurgence and Coloniality Part One: Structures of Accumulation Interlude: Hauntings 1 • Gastropolitics and the Nation Interlude: Eating the Nation 2 • Cooking Ecosystems: The Beautiful Coloniality of Virgilio Martínez Interlude: "Gastronomy Is a Display Case" 3 • Staging Difference: The Gastropolitics of Inclusion and Recognition Part Two: Narratives from the Edge Interlude: "Apega Needs Us to Look Pretty" 4 • Gastropolitics Otherwise: Stories in and of the Vernacular Interlude: Of Humor and Violence 5 • Guinea Pig Matters: Figuring Race, Sex, and Nation Interlude: Chemical Castration 6 • Death of a Guinea Pig Epilogue. Huacas Rising Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, Peru has transformed from a war-torn country to a global high-end culinary destination. Connecting chefs, state agencies, global capital, and Indigenous producers, this gastronomic revolution makes powerful claims: food unites Peruvians, dissolves racial antagonisms, and fuels development. Gastropolitics and the Specter of Race critically evaluates these claims and tracks the emergence of Peruvian gastropolitics, a biopolitical and aesthetic set of practices that reinscribe dominant racial and gendered orders. Through critical readings of high-end menus and ethnographic analysis of culinary festivals, guinea pig production, and national-branding campaigns, this work explores the intersections of race, species, and capital to reveal links between gastronomy and violence in Peru. Trade Review"The book presents a stunning and innovative analysis of the politics of Peru’s recent gastronomic boom. . . .[it] is at the forefront of scholarly discussions on the topic and deserves a wide readership among anthropologists and food studies scholars working on food, race, and nationalism in a range of geographic settings." * Gastronomica *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface: Understories Acknowledgments Introduction: Stories of Resurgence and Coloniality Part One: Structures of Accumulation Interlude: Hauntings 1 • Gastropolitics and the Nation Interlude: Eating the Nation 2 • Cooking Ecosystems: The Beautiful Coloniality of Virgilio Martínez Interlude: "Gastronomy Is a Display Case" 3 • Staging Difference: The Gastropolitics of Inclusion and Recognition Part Two: Narratives from the Edge Interlude: "Apega Needs Us to Look Pretty" 4 • Gastropolitics Otherwise: Stories in and of the Vernacular Interlude: Of Humor and Violence 5 • Guinea Pig Matters: Figuring Race, Sex, and Nation Interlude: Chemical Castration 6 • Death of a Guinea Pig Epilogue. Huacas Rising Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisOne of Smithsonian Magazine's Favorite Books of 2022With wildlife thriving in cities, we have the opportunity to create vibrant urban ecosystems that serve both people and animals. The Accidental Ecosystem tells the story of how cities across the United States went from having little wildlife to filling, dramatically and unexpectedly, with wild creatures. Today, many of these cities have more large and charismatic wild animals living in them than at any time in at least the past 150 years. Why have so many citiesthe most artificial and human-dominated of all Earth's ecosystemsgrown rich with wildlife, even as wildlife has declined in most of the rest of the world? And what does this paradox mean for people, wildlife, and nature on our increasingly urban planet? The Accidental Ecosystem is the first book to explain this phenomenon from a deep historical perspective, and its focus includes a broad range of species and cities. Cities covered include New York City, Los Angeles, San FrancTrade Review"Historian Alagona skillfully demonstrates how America’s cities have become ‘weird wildlife refuges,’ in this hopeful account. He sets the stage by describing animal life in cities in times past: many metropolises were founded on sites of biological richness, but as cities grew, wildlife populations declined. But in the past few decades, that’s changed, and cities have become places with rich ecosystems that have fostered an ‘explosion of wildlife’. . . . Alagona argues that people must learn to live with wildlife." * Publishers Weekly *“Alagona shows that wildlife in urban areas can be a blessing, a curse, or both. Ultimately, he sees a golden opportunity to redefine our relationship with wildlife and perhaps with each other as we share urban ecosystems.” * Natural Resource Management Today *"Highly readable and relevant." * Forbes *"This book is equal parts history and science lessons, both of which are delivered in an accessible and engaging manner." * The Quarterly Review of Biology *"A marvelous history of the present. . . . an eminently teachable book." * California History *"The Accidental Ecosystem by Peter Alagona, explains why urban neighborhoods like yours and mine, are being slowly repopulated by wild animals. Repopulation is the key, because the locations of early cities were originally chosen for their access to water, forests, and surrounding agricultural resources." * Triangle Gardener *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction: Where the Wild Things Are, Now 1: Hot Spots 2: The Urban Barnyard 3: Nurturing Nature 4: Bambi Boom 5: Room to Roam 6: Out of the Shadows 7: Close Encounters 8: Home to Roost 9: Hide and Seek 10: Creature Discomforts 11: Catch and Release 12: Damage Control 13: Fast-Forward 14: Embracing the Urban Wild Coda: Lost and Found Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Historian Alagona skillfully demonstrates how America’s cities have become ‘weird wildlife refuges,’ in this hopeful account. He sets the stage by describing animal life in cities in times past: many metropolises were founded on sites of biological richness, but as cities grew, wildlife populations declined. But in the past few decades, that’s changed, and cities have become places with rich ecosystems that have fostered an ‘explosion of wildlife’. . . . Alagona argues that people must learn to live with wildlife." * Publishers Weekly *“Alagona shows that wildlife in urban areas can be a blessing, a curse, or both. Ultimately, he sees a golden opportunity to redefine our relationship with wildlife and perhaps with each other as we share urban ecosystems.” * Natural Resource Management Today *"Highly readable and relevant." * Forbes *"This book is equal parts history and science lessons, both of which are delivered in an accessible and engaging manner." * The Quarterly Review of Biology *"A marvelous history of the present. . . . an eminently teachable book." * California History *"The Accidental Ecosystem by Peter Alagona, explains why urban neighborhoods like yours and mine, are being slowly repopulated by wild animals. Repopulation is the key, because the locations of early cities were originally chosen for their access to water, forests, and surrounding agricultural resources." * Triangle Gardener *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction: Where the Wild Things Are, Now 1: Hot Spots 2: The Urban Barnyard 3: Nurturing Nature 4: Bambi Boom 5: Room to Roam 6: Out of the Shadows 7: Close Encounters 8: Home to Roost 9: Hide and Seek 10: Creature Discomforts 11: Catch and Release 12: Damage Control 13: Fast-Forward 14: Embracing the Urban Wild Coda: Lost and Found Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisPresenting the year's very best wildlife images, this powerful collection of pictures represents the work of many international photographers, both professionals and amateurs. It comprises all the winning and commended photographs from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 competition, the most prestigious event of its kind in the world.

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Book SynopsisFor more than 50 years, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has championed honest and ethical wildlife photography, while pushing the boundaries of artistic freedom, technical skill, and narrative excellence. This powerful collection of pictures features all the winning photographs from the 2018 competition. The collection represents the work of many international photographers, both professionals and amateurs. The photographs are chosen by an international jury for their artistic merit and originality, from categories that represent a diversity of natural subjects. The range of styles is diverse, as is the genre of photography, including action, macro, underwater, landscape, or environmental reportage. Each photograph is accompanied by an extended caption and there is an introduction by one of the world's most respected nature photographers.

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