BookOdyssey

Meet the dogs who searched for life amongst the ruins of the Twin Towers. Many heroes were made on 9/11 and in the weeks that followed. Not all of them showed human courage. Some of them could only show that they were truly man’s best friend. German Shepherds, Labradors and Spaniels accounted for the majority of the four-legged heroes. Over three hundred search and rescue dogs worked the pile at Ground Zero and the crash site at the Pentagon. For hours they searched, fighting off exhaustion with sheer determination and they continued every day long after the hope of finding survivors had passed. There were faithful Guide dogs who helped their sightless owners out of the Twin Towers and led them to safety showed unstinting devotion in the face of adversity. And later, therapy dogs arrived to bring comfort to the bereaved and confused. At every stage of the operation, dogs were there helping humankind in various roles. And invaluably, they provided comfort and reassurance and lifted spirits by their pure presence. Sadly many of the dogs are no longer with us but their achievements will never be forgotten. Isabel George was fortunate that the people close to the dogs were pleased to be asked to share their stories. This book is to honour the dogs and their people. Σελίδες: 88, Διαστάσεις: 11.1x11.1cm

Appreciating the trees of yesterday and today.You don\'t need to be a tree hugger to love trees. Whether they grow in cities or form part of a huge rainforest canopy, learn interesting facts about trees, why we need them and how we\'ve lived with them throughout the centuries. You\'ll find snippets on trees in literature, quotes and proverbs about trees, and learn about tree deities and rituals from around the world. The Little Book of Trees is crammed with information, folklore and history that will keep any dendrophile turning the pages.\'A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people\' Franklin D. RooseveltOnly about 1 per cent of rainforest plants have been researched for medicinal properties, yet over a quarter of today\'s medicines are from sources that came from rainforests. Σελίδες: 192, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0702, Διαστάσεις: 11.4x11.4cm

The hawk was everything I wanted to be: solitary, self-possessed, free from grief, and numb to the hurts of human life. How do we carry on when someone close to us dies? Is it simply a case of putting one foot in front of the other in a bleak new world or do we need something more? Reeling with grief after the sudden death of her father, Helen Macdonald found herself turning to the wild for comfort. With breathtaking honesty and insight, she recounts her months spent taming a goshawk and how, finally, this strange kinship led her to the first tentative steps to recovery. Selected from H is for Hawk VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS. A series of short books by the world’s greatest writers on the experiences that make us human. Discover the Vintage Minis ‘Head Space’ series: Therapy by Stephen Grosz Family by Mark Haddon Σελίδες: 144, Διαστάσεις: 11x11cm

Σελίδες: 48, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

An introductory guide to 180 species of bird commonly found throughout Scotland in the best-selling pocketable Gem format. Unlike many field guides, Gem Scottish Birds does not cover birds which only visit occasionally, or which occur in such small numbers and are so difficult to identify that only experienced birdwatchers can spot them. Instead, it concentrates on the commoner species that the amateur birdwatcher is most likely to see, plus a few scarcer ones of particular interest. The entries are grouped taxonomically, with a detailed introduction to all the different habitats. There are also details of key identification features and behavioural characteristics which will help you identify each bird with accuracy and ease. Each entry includes: Full-colour illustrationCommon name and Latin and Gaelic nameThe season in which the bird is likely to be spottedDetails on habitat, feeding habits and voice There is also a section with up-to-date details about places of interest and the best sites to go for birdwatching, with maps and contact information to help you get there. Packed full of information, Gem Scottish Birds is the ideal guide for both visitors and residents of Scotland who wish to learn about the fascinating wealth of birds that can be found there. Σελίδες: 192, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for nature enthusiasts keen to identify the most commonly seen insects in Britain and northern Europe. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each insect to aid identification. Features information on size, habitat, geographical range and months when they can be spotted, as well as names of similar species with which each insect could be confused, and details of the differences between them. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, now expanded to include over 240 insects. Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

A handy, pocket-sized guide to 220 of the world’s spiders, Gem Spiders is the perfect introduction to these ‘creepy-crawlies’ There are approximately 35,000 known species of spider in the world, but it is estimated that the true number in existence could be nearer 70,000. They occur everwhere naturally and, because of their sharp bite and venom, they are one of the most successful groups of animal. Each entry includes: A photograph of the spider and details of any distinguishing features which may help identificationInformation on size, web, habitat, distribution range and the times of the year when it is most likely to be spottedAn icon shows the potency of each spider’s venom Each species is sorted by family and illustrated with a symbol, enabling you to quickly find what you are looking for. There is a detailed introduction which covers aspects of spiders’ natural history, their relatives, anatomy, the production and uses of silk. From the Goliath Tarantula to the patu digua, this photographic guide is the perfect introduction for those who want to learn about these fascinating creatures. Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for nature and foraging enthusiasts keen to identify the most commonly found mushrooms and toadstools in Britain and northern Europe. Authoritative text, beautiful photographs and detailed illustrations show the distinguishing features of each mushroom and toadstool, including details of size, habitat and when it can be found, whether it is edible or poisonous and most importantly, which similar species it can be confused with and why. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, now expanded to include over 240 species of mushroom and toadstool. Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for nature enthusiasts keen to identify the most commonly seen trees, whether they are out on the town or strolling through the countryside. Authoritative text, beautiful photographs and detailed illustrations show not only the overall shape of the tree but also details of leaf shape, flowers, fruits and bark. Features both deciduous and evergreen species, with information on the origin of each species, its height, preferred habitat and growing conditions. Illustrations of cones, catkins, nuts and fruits allow you to distinguish between similar species at a glance. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, now expanded to include over 220 trees and shrubs that are native to or flourish in Britain and northern Europe. Σελίδες: 240, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the diverse range of birds that inhabit their gardens. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including information on each species\' feeding, behavioural habits, breeding, voice and population. An extensive introduction provides information on nesting sites, water, pests and predators. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering all birds most likely to be found in our gardens. Σελίδες: 192, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the most commonly seen species in Britain and Europe. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including notes on appearance, colour and distinctive features, and information on juveniles, range and habitat, nests, call and breeding sites. In addition, an extensive introduction covers general information on plumage, habitats and migration, and gives first-time birdwatchers advice on what equipment to buy and where to go to spot the most desirable species. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering over 200 species of bird found in Britain and Europe. Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for nature enthusiasts keen to identify the most commonly seen butterflies and moths in Britain and northern Europe. Authoritative text, beautiful photographs and detailed illustrations show the distinguishing features of each butterfly and moth to aid identification. Features information on size, habitat, geographical range and months when they can be spotted, as well as names of similar species with which each butterfly or moth could be confused, and details of the differences between them. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, now expanded to include over 240 butterflies and moths. Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for aspiring foragers. Over 100 edible plants are listed, fully illustrated and described, together with recipes and other fascinating details on their use throughout the ages. Practical advice on how to pick along with information on countryside laws and regulations on picking wild plants helps you to plan your foray with a feast in mind. This is the ideal book for both nature lovers and cooks keen to enjoy what the countryside has to offer. Σελίδες: 240, Διαστάσεις: 8.2x8.2cm

\'An ideal introduction [to Stephen Hawking]\' - Independent \'Astonishingly comprehensive - clearer than Hawking himself\' - Focus Stephen Hawking was a world-famous physicist with a cameo in The Simpsons on his CV, but outside of his academic field his work was little understood. To the public he was a tragic figure - a brilliant scientist and author of the 9 million-copy-selling A Brief History of Time, and yet spent the majority of his life confined to a wheelchair and almost completely paralysed. Hawking\'s major contribution to science was to integrate the two great theories of 20th-century physics: Einstein\'s General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. J.P. McEvoy and Oscar Zarate\'s brilliant graphic guide explores Hawking\'s life, the evolution of his work from his days as a student, and his breathtaking discoveries about where these fundamental laws break down or overlap, such as on the edge of a Black Hole or at the origin of the Universe itself. Σελίδες: 176, Διαστάσεις: 11.8x11.8cm

Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities\' Sunday TelegraphTen-year-old Gerald doesn\'t know why his older brothers and sisters complain so much. With snakes in the bath and scorpions on the lunch table, the family home on the Greek island of Corfu is a bit like a zoo so they should feel right at home... Gerald joyfully pursues his interest in natural history in the midst of an unconventional and chaotic family life - all brilliantly retold in this very funny book. Σελίδες: 384, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Since the earliest humans walked the earth, the vast mysteries and wonders of the night sky have fascinated and beguiled us, as we’ve struggled to understand our place in the cosmos.Even after the last century, which saw important and startling discoveries about our own planet, our solar system and the stars and galaxies beyond, there remain more questions than answers. But those questions – What is dark matter? Are we alone in the universe? Is time travel possible? – provide a fascinating insight into the vastness and infinite possibilities of space that we’re yet to determine. The sheer scale of the universe can be intimidating, but in this easily digestible book we embark on an incredible journey through all the essential astronomical discoveries, from the beliefs of ancient civilizations, through to the recent groundbreaking observations of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago. There’s never been a better time to get to grips with the universe and this essential guide to the cosmos is the perfect place to start! Σελίδες: 240, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

My 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. Σελίδες: 320, Διαστάσεις: 11.2x11.2cm

The ideal gift for aspiring astronomers. The sights in our Solar System are dynamic reminders of our planet\'s position as part of a larger neighbourhood. Study the ever-changing face of the Moon, watch the steady march of the planets against the stars, witness the thrill of a meteor shower, or the memory of a once-in-a-generation comet. In a few short generations, scientists have taken us from wondering about the nature of the Solar System to exploring every corner of it with advanced robotic probes, and inexpensive but powerful telescopes have become ubiquitous, allowing all of us to follow in the footsteps of Galileo as explorers. In this guide, you will learn how the Solar System came to be understood – from ancient theories of its mechanics to the modern age of remote sensing, We\'ll then look at the significant targets for amateur astronomers – the Moon, Sun and planets – to see how they can be explored by eye and with telescopes. We\'ll discuss some of the more obscure but fascinating worlds, including asteroids and dwarf planets, and dazzling special events, such as meteor showers, conjunctions, occultations and eclipses. Σελίδες: 112, Διαστάσεις: 14.8x14.8cm

A perfect book for anyone wishing to learn more about our local star, eclipses and the Northern Lights The Sun is incredibly dynamic and shrouded in mystery, despite its apparent unchanging appearance in the daytime sky. In this guide, Dr. Ryan French explores history, science and modern observations to uncover the mysteries of the Sun. From ancient astronomers who hailed the Sun as a deity, to new age space exploration, the way we observe the Sun has come a long way. Humanity’s scientific journey to understand the Sun has included many intriguing and humorous tales from over the centuries. In today’s age, it is far easier to become a sun observer. Learn about cutting-edge space observations of the Sun and how to access these images from home. Uncover further methods of observing the Sun safely from your own back garden using off-the-shelf solar telescopes, DIY pin-hole cameras and solar projectors. Σελίδες: 112, Διαστάσεις: 14.8x14.8cm

\'I grew up on the world\'s largest island.\'From his childhood, Tim Winton\'s relationship with the landscape around him – Australia\'s swamps and bush, rockpools, seacaves and scrub – has been as vital as any other connection. Whether camping in hidden inlets, walking in the high rocky desert fringe, or diving at Ningaloo Reef, Winton has felt the place seep into him – its rhythms, its dangers, its strange sustenance.Island Home is the story of how that relationship with the landscape came to be. Charged with love for the huge, besieging force of Australia\'s wild spaces, this book is a passionate call for their conservation, a memoir that urges us all to feel the ground beneath our feet. Tim Winton\'s Land\'s Edge: A Coastal Memoir, is also available. Σελίδες: 256, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0420, Διαστάσεις: 13.1x13.1cm

Get back to nature with this easy to use guide to Britain\'s greenery. From the experts at Westonbirt Arboretum in the depths of the Cotswolds, with one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, comes this beautiful pocket guide covering 100 popular wild plants and flowers.Categorised by type of plant, the simple layout ensures that this text is easy to use ‘on the go’. Meadow Saffron, Sweet Woodruff and Solomon’s Seal are just a few examples of the vibrant entries - each accompanied by two beautiful images and a short description.Illustrated with enchanting colour artwork, depicting each plant and their individual bloom or sprig, this covetable book will educate and entertain with text by two leading experts from the Arboretum and the Forestry Commission. Σελίδες: 144, Διαστάσεις: 10.8x10.8cm

A moving portrait of the landscape that shaped the life of Laurie Lee, the beloved author of Cider With Rosie \'Before I left the valley I thought everywhere was like this. Then I went away for 40 years and when I came back I realized that nowhere was like this.\' Laurie Lee walked out of his childhood village one summer morning to travel the world, but he was always drawn back to his beloved Slad Valley, eventually returning to make it his home. In this portrait of his Cotswold home, Laurie Lee guides us through its landscapes, and shares memories of his village youth - from his favourite pub to winter skating on the pond, the church through the seasons, local legends, learning the violin and playing jazz records in the privy on a wind-up gramophone. Filled with wry humour and a love of place, Down in the Valley is a writer\'s tribute to the landscape that shaped him, and where he found peace. Σελίδες: 112, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

‘An entertaining book, written with Fort’s characteristic conversational style… A real pleasure to read’ – BBC Countryfile ‘A wide-ranging, intelligent and bracingly enjoyable book’ – The Literary Review ‘Meticulously researched and seasoned with wry humour, this is a perceptive and richly rewarding read’ – Mail on Sunday We have lived in villages a long time.  The village was the first model for communal living. Towns came much later, then cities. Later still came suburbs, neighbourhoods, townships, communes, kibbutzes. But the village has endured. Across England, modernity creeps up to the boundaries of many, breaking the connection the village has with the land. With others, they can be as quiet as the graveyard as their housing is bought up by city ‘weekenders’, or commuters. The ideal chocolate box image many holidaying to our Sceptred Isle have in their minds eye may be true in some cases, but across the country the heartbeat of the real English village is still beating strongly – if you can find it. To this mission our intrepid historian and travel writer Tom Fort willingly gets on his trusty bicycle and covers the length and breadth of England to discover the essence of village life. His journeys will travel over six thousand years of communal existence for the peoples that eventually became the English. Littered between the historical analysis, are personal memories from Tom of the village life he remembers and enjoys today in rural Oxfordshire. Σελίδες: 400, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0321, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

Journeying along London\'s waterways on a canal boat called Pike, Helen Babbs puts down roots for two weeks at a time before moving on. From Walthamstow Marsh in the east to Uxbridge in the west, she explores the landscape in all its guises: marshland, wasteland, city centre and suburb.From deep winter to late autumn, Babbs explores the people, politics, history and wildlife of the canals and rivers, to reveal an intimate and unusual portrait of London - and of life. Σελίδες: 288, Έτος Έκδοσης: 2016, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

As end-of-the-world scenarios go, an apocalyptic collision with anasteroid or comet is the new kid on the block, gaining respectability only inthe last decade of the 20th century with the realisation that the dinosaurs hadbeen wiped out by just such an impact. Now the science community is making up for lost time, withworldwide efforts to track the thousands of potentially hazardous near-Earthobjects, and plans for high-tech hardware that could deflect an incoming objectfrom a collision course - a procedure depicted, with little regard forscientific accuracy, in several Hollywood movies.Astrophysicist and science writer Andrew May disentanglesfact from fiction in this fast-moving and entertaining account, covering thenature and history of comets and asteroids, the reason why some orbits are morehazardous than others, the devastating local and global effects that an impactevent would produce, and - more optimistically - the way future space missionscould avert a catastrophe. Σελίδες: 176, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0514, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Discover over 325 species of butterfly and moth found in Britain and Northwest Europe with this new edition.From the Short-tailed Blue Butterfly to the Winter Moth, discover over 325 species of butterflies and moths with this pocket-sized guide. In-situ photographs and no nonsense notes covering both anatomy and identifying marks will help you identify them in the field quickly and accurately.Maps show you what butterflies and moths to find where so you can plan your spotting and make the most of your surroundings, whether you are on a holiday browse or serious quest. An ideal guide for all the family. Σελίδες: 224, Διαστάσεις: 10x10cm

\"Pack soup, cheese and a copy of How To See Nature by the Bard of Wenlock Edge and Guardian diarist.\"John Vidal With a title taken from the 1940 Batsford book, this is nature writing for the modern reader. Evans weaves historical, cultural and literary references into his writing, ranging from TS Eliot to Bridget Riley, from Hieronymus Bosch to Napoleon. It is a book both for those that live in the country and those that don\'t, but experience nature every day through brownfield edge lands, transport corridors, urban greenspace, industrialised agriculture and fragments of ancient countryside. The essays include the The Weedling Wild, on the wildlife of the wasteland: ragwort, rosebay willowherb, giant hogweed and the cinnabar moth; Gardens of Light, about the creatures to be found under moonlight: pipistrelle bats, lacewings and orb-weaver spider; The Flow, with tales from the riverbank, estuaries and seas, including kingfisher, minnow, otter and heron. The Commons looks at meadowland with a human footprint, with the Adonis blue butterfly, horseshoe vetch, skylark, black knapweed and the six-belted clearwing moth. The author also looks at the wildlife returned to Britain, such as wild boar and polecats, and finds nature in and around landscapes as varied as a domestic garden or a wild moor. The book ends with an alphabetical bestiary, an idiosyncratic selection of British wildlife based on the author\'s personal encounters. Σελίδες: 176, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0709, Διαστάσεις: 13.4x13.4cm

In his trademark style, Richard Mabey weaves together science, art and memoirs (including his own) to show the weather\'s impact on our culture and national psyche. He rambles through the myths of Golden Summers and our persistent state of denial about the winter; the Impressionists\' love affair with London smog, seasonal affective disorder (SAD - do we all get it?) and the mysteries of storm migraines; herrings falling like hail in Norfolk and Saharan dust reddening south-coast cars; moonbows, dog-suns, fog-mirages and Constable\'s clouds; the fact that English has more words for rain than Inuit has for snow; the curious eccentricity of country clothing and the mathematical behaviour of umbrella sales. We should never apologise for our obsession with the weather. It is one of the most profound influences on the way we live, and something we all experience in common. No wonder it\'s the natural subject for a greeting between total strangers: \'Turned out nice again.\' Σελίδες: 112, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0516, Διαστάσεις: 11x11cm

The perfect introduction to the Ice Age, complete with ENORMOUS fold-out pages!Nearly three million years ago the Ice Age began. Oceans froze, ice sheets covered land and animals, along with humans, found ways to thrive. These prehistoric creatures were weird, wonderful and enormous ...Explore the Earth continent by continent and come face to face with Ice-Age megafauna, such as North America\'s short-faced bear - which was 3.7 metres tall, and mastodons - which weighed twice as much as a T. rex! Accompanying the images, lively text allows you imagine exactly what these mega animals were like! Σελίδες: 64, Διαστάσεις: 25x25cm

A beautiful gift for anyone interested in the night sky. Follow the progress of constellations throughout the seasons with this beautiful companion to the night sky from Astronomy experts Collins. With the aid of easy-to-understand monthly calendars and maps, you will chart the rhythm of the lunar phases, discover events that light up the sky for brief periods, and explore the rich tapestry of characters that adorn the starry canvas overhead. never miss a night sky event wherever you are in the world with this month-by-month guidego meteor spotting, track the phases of the moon and explore the constellationsworldwide coverage – with details for both the Northern and Southern hemispheresdiscover fascinating celestial facts and notable astronomical anniversaries Written and illustrated by astronomical experts, Radmila Topalovic and Wil Tirion, and approved by the astronomers of Royal Observatory Greenwich. Σελίδες: 272, Διαστάσεις: 11.7x11.7cm

Another beautiful, revelatory country diary from one of the best nature writers in Britain.\'If you’ve never read Mark Cocker, then you must. His style is sharp, selfless, and wonderfully evocative, his knowledge deep and wide-ranging but lightly borne, his curiosity joyful and infectious.\' Mail On Sunday, Books of the YearFor seventeen years, as part of his daily writerly routine, the author and naturalist Mark Cocker has taken a two-mile walk down to the river from his cottage on the edge of the Norfolk Broads National Park. Over the course of those 10,000 daily paces he has learnt the art of patience to observe a butterfly, a bird, flower, bee, deer, otter or fly and to take pleasure in all the other inhabitants of his parish, no matter how seemingly insignificant. In turn these encounters have then been converted into literary epiphanies that are now a widely celebrated part of his work. In A Claxton Diary he has gathered some of the finest short essays that he has ever written on wildlife. They range over almost everything he can see, touch or smell, from the minute to the cosmic, from a strange micromoth called yellow-barred longhorn to that fiercest of winter storms the so-called ‘Beast from the East’.From the marvellous to the macabre, Cocker tries to capture nature without flinching and in its entirety. In so doing he provides us with a vision of an English country parish that for intimacy and precise detail is comparable with Gilbert White’s diary on Selbourne. Above all he reminds us that we are all just members of one miraculous family, fashioned from sunlight and the dust from old stars. Σελίδες: 224, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Part of the Pocket Nature series, this petite volume features helpful tips for stargazing, plus thoughtful meditations related to stars, space, and the universe. In a cool palette with celestial illustrations, Stargazing is a must-have companion for amateur astronomers, space enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and anyone looking to slow down and find time for contemplation. In these pages, learn about features of the night sky, from the Milky Way to moon craters to the planets in our solar system; read a brief history of stargazing in cultures around the world; and discover seventeen notable constellations to observe in the northern hemisphere throughout the year. With ruminative meditations on the universe, moonlight, stardust, and more, this pocket-size guide to the cosmos has everything you need to better understand and appreciate the night sky. Σελίδες: 128, Διαστάσεις: 10.2x10.2cm

\'Every essay in this book is magnificent... Mesmerizing.\' New York Times\'How we interact with animals has preoccupied philosophers, poets, and naturalists for ages,\' writes Susan Orlean. Since the age of six, when Orlean wrote and illustrated a book called Herbert the Near-Sighted Pigeon, she\'s been drawn to stories about how we live with animals, and how they abide by us. Now, in On Animals, she examines animal-human relationships through the compelling tales she has written over the course of her celebrated career.These stories consider a range of creatures - the household pets we dote on, the animals we raise to end up as meat on our plates, the creatures who could eat us for dinner, the various tamed and untamed animals we share our planet with who are central to human life. In her own backyard, Orlean discovers the delights of keeping chickens. In a different backyard, in New Jersey, she meets a woman who has twenty-three pet tigers - something none of her neighbours knew about until one of the tigers escapes. In Iceland, the world\'s most famous whale resists the efforts to set him free; in Morocco, the world\'s hardest-working donkeys find respite at a special clinic. We meet a show dog and a lost dog and a pigeon who knows exactly how to get home.Equal parts delightful and profound, enriched by Orlean\'s stylish prose and precise research, these stories celebrate the meaningful cross-species connections that grace our collective existence. Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Seeing a total solar eclipse (\'totality\' - when the sun is fully obscured by the moon) is a bucket-list event, generating a sense of wonder and even an \'end-of-the-world\' sensation. New from Bradt, Solar Eclipses 2024-2027 is the only guide to cover the world\'s next three total solar eclipses, arguably Nature\'s most incredible spectacle. Written by an eclipse expert, this guide offers potential eclipse-tourists and eclipse-chasers alike everything they need to understand, prepare for and travel to each eclipse. Each eclipse will be remarkable in its own right. The 2024 totality will be visible in 15 US states, six Canadian provinces and parts of Mexico. The events offer US residents a second bite at the cherry, after many people regretted not travelling a short distance into the 2017 eclipse zone. The 2026 event is Europe\'s first totality since 1999 and will be visible in Greenland, Iceland and Spain. The 2027 eclipse (visible from Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia) will be the longest until 2168. Chapters explain the climatology of each eclipse track, chart the sky during totality, and advise precisely where and when to see it - with detailed information on duration, altitude and timings for various locations. Such travel advice is critical, because the best eclipse-viewing locations tend to be in relatively remote places that either require careful planning or advance booking on specialist tours, which have limited capacity. A complementary chapter helps the beginner understand eclipse science, the types of solar eclipse and great historical eclipses. Another details other minor eclipses during 2024-2027 plus the annular eclipses due in 2023 and 2028, when the moon obscures all but the outer ring of the sun. Another chapter provides advice on how to prepare for and photograph solar eclipses. Throw in a schedule of eclipses through to 2050, and listings for tour operators specialising in eclipse tourism and the result is the most detailed eclipse guide around - perfect for everyone from beginners to experts via anyone who wants an excuse to travel somewhere different. Σελίδες: 128, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

This easy-to-use RSPB pocket companion to European and British birds is the ideal field guide for novice birdwatchers and experienced birders alike.From frequently seen garden birds to some of the more elusive birds of prey, discover over 300 species of bird found in the UK and Europe with RSPB Pocket Birds of Britain and Europe. Learn all about birds from their calls and feeding behaviour, nesting habits and habitats, and differences in plumage. Crystal clear photographs bring the birds on the page to life, and notes on distinguishing features will help you identify different species of bird wherever you spot them. Maps show where and when you\'re likely to see each species, further aiding identification. This edition also includes a web link, where you can hear common bird songs and calls to make identification even easier. This handy book is perfectly portable, making RSPB Pocket Birds of Britain and Europe the perfect companion for taking out in the field. Σελίδες: 224, Διαστάσεις: 10.2x10.2cm

LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2016 Charles Foster wanted to know what it was like to be a beast: a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox, a swift. What it was really like. And through knowing what it was like he wanted to get down and grapple with the beast in us all. So he tried it out; he lived life as a badger for six weeks, sleeping in a dirt hole and eating earthworms, he came face to face with shrimps as he lived like an otter and he spent hours curled up in a back garden in East London and rooting in bins like an urban fox. A passionate naturalist, Foster realises that every creature creates a different world in its brain and lives in that world. As humans, we share sensory outputs, lights, smells and sound, but trying to explore what it is actually like to live in another of these worlds, belonging to another species, is a fascinating and unique neuro-scientific challenge. For Foster it is also a literary challenge. Looking at what science can tell us about what happens in a fox\'s or badger\'s brain when it picks up a scent, he then uses this to imagine their world for us, to write it through their eyes or rather through the eyes of Charles the beast. An intimate look at the life of animals, neuroscience, psychology, nature writing, memoir and more, it is a journey of extraordinary thrills and surprises, containing wonderful moments of humour and joy, but also providing important lessons for all of us who share life on this precious planet. Σελίδες: 256, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0804, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm