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leasummer's review
4.0
This book covers a lot of specific details about birds. It’s easy to read, as long as you’re looking to read specific biological and scientific information about birds, how and why they are the way they are. It does have diagrams about the very specific bird things. There’s beautiful photos as well.
It’s a good reference for anyone looking to know about the inner and outer workings of birds. It’s not necessarily a page turning narration.
It’s a good reference for anyone looking to know about the inner and outer workings of birds. It’s not necessarily a page turning narration.
erinflight's review
4.0
A lovely book filled with carefully organized bird facts and brilliant photographs.
This is a book about birds in general, everything from the way their feathers work to their reproduction, and doesn't focus on any species of bird in particular except as interesting examples of one fact or another.
It's well organized, and manages to be both in depth and accessible to the casual reader.
There are a few sections that get pretty dry, where I think actual understanding required more page space than the book had to give, so we were mostly being given lists of names or contextless facts with nothing much to tie them to. (For example, when talking about various cell types).
But, overall this book achieves a great balance between depth and breadth and is fun to read.
This is a book about birds in general, everything from the way their feathers work to their reproduction, and doesn't focus on any species of bird in particular except as interesting examples of one fact or another.
It's well organized, and manages to be both in depth and accessible to the casual reader.
There are a few sections that get pretty dry, where I think actual understanding required more page space than the book had to give, so we were mostly being given lists of names or contextless facts with nothing much to tie them to. (For example, when talking about various cell types).
But, overall this book achieves a great balance between depth and breadth and is fun to read.
annieb123's review
5.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
How Birds Work is an adept technical examination of birds and the mechanisms they have developed to interact with and survive in their environment. Released 28th April 2020 by The Experiment, it's 224 pages and available in flexibound and ebook formats.
This isn't a field guide or just a collection of facts. Each of the entries contains isometric drawings and line art showing the engineering concepts and principles behind many of the functional physiological characteristics of different types of birds.
The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introductory chapter covers the ancient bird-like animals and dinosaurs - the family tree of modern day birds including convergent evolutionary lines and extinct oddities without comparable modern day equivalents. The following chapters "build up" the bird structurally from the inside out: the skeleton, muscles, nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory system, respiratory, and digestive systems and more. Each is thoroughly represented, accurate, and very well illustrated and interesting.
This would make a nice choice for all ages, bird watchers, students of nature and biology, as well as artists and readers interested in technical drawing. Note: no drawing tutorials or instructions are included, but there are numerous well illustrated exploded drawings to study.
Five stars, very impressive.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
How Birds Work is an adept technical examination of birds and the mechanisms they have developed to interact with and survive in their environment. Released 28th April 2020 by The Experiment, it's 224 pages and available in flexibound and ebook formats.
This isn't a field guide or just a collection of facts. Each of the entries contains isometric drawings and line art showing the engineering concepts and principles behind many of the functional physiological characteristics of different types of birds.
The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introductory chapter covers the ancient bird-like animals and dinosaurs - the family tree of modern day birds including convergent evolutionary lines and extinct oddities without comparable modern day equivalents. The following chapters "build up" the bird structurally from the inside out: the skeleton, muscles, nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory system, respiratory, and digestive systems and more. Each is thoroughly represented, accurate, and very well illustrated and interesting.
This would make a nice choice for all ages, bird watchers, students of nature and biology, as well as artists and readers interested in technical drawing. Note: no drawing tutorials or instructions are included, but there are numerous well illustrated exploded drawings to study.
Five stars, very impressive.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
agooding's review
5.0
Really good book full of great information about birds. A lot that I already knew, but the refreshers was well needed. Also had a good amount of new information for me to learn! Very enjoyable read.
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
A very easy, informative book about all things avian.
Although it is very easy to read, this does not mean it was not informative, or delve into very intersting aspects of all things birds.
From their feathers, to their bones, to their eyes, there is so much to know about birds.
Great book to have around when you wonder about anything having to do with birds.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Although it is very easy to read, this does not mean it was not informative, or delve into very intersting aspects of all things birds.
From their feathers, to their bones, to their eyes, there is so much to know about birds.
Great book to have around when you wonder about anything having to do with birds.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.