Beauty of the Beasts Rethinking Nature's Least Loved Animals

About this book

In an age of catastrophic biodiversity loss, the author of Aesop's Animals explains why we should champion and protect nature's underdogs.

The living world evokes many emotions, especially when it comes to our relationships with animals. Some of our reactions are logical responses to potential harm, but many are irrational, and our loathing and persecution of some species far exceed the threat they pose to us. We no longer prosecute animals for their 'crimes' as we did in the Middle Ages, but our human exceptionalism and vilification of unwelcome animal behaviour continues.

In Beauty of the Beasts, Jo Wimpenny challenges our perceptions of 'good' species and sets the record straight about those we label 'pests', 'scavengers' and 'predators'. Using the latest research, Jo explains the natural behaviours we use to villainise animals while demonstrating how these species benefit humanity and are more sentient than we ever thought. From wasps that provide free pest control and snakes whose venom may cure cancer to crocodiles that play together and spiders that dream, this book will convince you to rethink our most misunderstood beasts.

While it may be tempting to imagine a more pleasant world devoid of animals that scare and repulse us, Jo explains why losing them would devastate many ecosystems, encouraging all of us to appreciate these animals for what they are and the vital roles they fulfil for all life on Earth.

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. All animals aren't equal
Chapter 2. An awfulness of teeth and claws
Chapter 3. Ancient chemical weapons
Chapter 4. To make flesh creep
Chapter 5. Keep calm and carrion
Chapter 6. Easy on the aye-aye
Chapter 7. Naughty neighbours
Chapter 8. The good, the bad and the animal

Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Jo Wimpenny is a zoologist and writer, with a research background in animal behaviour and the history of science. She is the author of Aesop's Animals: The Science Behind the Fables and co-author of Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology Since Darwin with Tim Birkhead and Bob Montgomerie, which won the 2015 PROSE award for History of Science, Medicine and Technology.