Jo Wimpenny

Beauty of the Beasts (MP3-Download)

Rethinking Nature's Least Loved Animals Ungekürzte Lesung. 540 Min.

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Produktbeschreibung

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 the deep social bonds of crocodiles and vultures, 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.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury Wildlife
• Erscheinungstermin: 26. Februar 2026
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781399417624
• Artikelnr.: 75875308

Autorenporträt

Jo Wimpenny is a zoologist and writer, with a research background in animal behaviour and the history of science. She studied Zoology at the University of Bristol, and went on to research problem-solving in crows for her DPhil at Oxford University. After postdoctoral research on the history of ornithology at Sheffield, she co-authored the book 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. Jo writes for BBC Wildlife and has previously presented at the BA Festival of Science, Science Oxford, the Royal Society Summer Science Fair and Glasgow Science Fair.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface
Chapter 1: All animals aren't equal
Chapter 2: An awfulness of teeth and claws
Chapter 3: Snake in the grass
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
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Index

Rezensionen

Jo Wimpenny has written an important love letter to the natural world. I urge you to dive into the magic and mystery of the often dismissed species that are every bit as fascinating as the predictable poster children of the wild.