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talltaya's review against another edition
2.0
I was gifted this years ago from my best friend, when I was still completing my university degree. It’s sat on my shelf for just over a decade, always being something I was excited to read but also overwhelmed to start. It’s probably lucky I didn’t start reading it when I received it, because doing Animal and Veterinary Biosciences, deep in Zoology and Biology subjects, I think I would have been even further disappointed than I am currently.
It is such an awesome concept; an A-Z bestiary of “barely imagined beings, real creatures that are often more astonishing than anything dreamt of”. Yet it fell SO flat.
I love animals (see my university degree) and find them incredibly fascinating to read about, and the author had the literal entire world at his fingertips to explore, and he barely dipped into the shallows.
My first issue is that the book isn’t REALLY about the animals, it’s more a philosophical discussion on humanity and the effects we’re having/have had on earth, the climate and animal populations. While this is also a super interesting topic, it’s not what the premise promises. Majority of the chapters barely touch on the animal of honour, before going on a side quest worthy of my ADHD brain. There were times where I completely forgot what animal the chapter was about because it was so far off topic.
My second issue was the animals that were chosen. I love animals, no disrespect to them, but it felt like lazy pickings from the author.
“U - in search of a unicorn: Goblin Shark” - just no.
“X - Xenoglaux” a long whiskered owlet. That is very quickly described as being “not especially beautiful or wise” and then not much else. For a book about things you can’t dream up, believe it or not, I have dreamed up an owl before.
“Z - zebrafish” this could be my bias showing, but having worked in a pet shop for years selling them, and studied in laboratories and studied them, they are not very exciting or special. They are a great species for genetic studies, but so is the fruit fly, and surprise surprise, that didn’t make it into the book.
It felt like the animals were picked to fit the narrative the author wanted to push, rather than for their genuine interest factor. Some chapters were painfully long (not talking about the animal but other topics), and some of the more interesting animals had the shortest chapters.
I’ve never been so excited for a book, and so let down.
2 stars because the actual animal content was great, there was sadly just not enough of it.
It is such an awesome concept; an A-Z bestiary of “barely imagined beings, real creatures that are often more astonishing than anything dreamt of”. Yet it fell SO flat.
I love animals (see my university degree) and find them incredibly fascinating to read about, and the author had the literal entire world at his fingertips to explore, and he barely dipped into the shallows.
My first issue is that the book isn’t REALLY about the animals, it’s more a philosophical discussion on humanity and the effects we’re having/have had on earth, the climate and animal populations. While this is also a super interesting topic, it’s not what the premise promises. Majority of the chapters barely touch on the animal of honour, before going on a side quest worthy of my ADHD brain. There were times where I completely forgot what animal the chapter was about because it was so far off topic.
My second issue was the animals that were chosen. I love animals, no disrespect to them, but it felt like lazy pickings from the author.
“U - in search of a unicorn: Goblin Shark” - just no.
“X - Xenoglaux” a long whiskered owlet. That is very quickly described as being “not especially beautiful or wise” and then not much else. For a book about things you can’t dream up, believe it or not, I have dreamed up an owl before.
“Z - zebrafish” this could be my bias showing, but having worked in a pet shop for years selling them, and studied in laboratories and studied them, they are not very exciting or special. They are a great species for genetic studies, but so is the fruit fly, and surprise surprise, that didn’t make it into the book.
It felt like the animals were picked to fit the narrative the author wanted to push, rather than for their genuine interest factor. Some chapters were painfully long (not talking about the animal but other topics), and some of the more interesting animals had the shortest chapters.
I’ve never been so excited for a book, and so let down.
2 stars because the actual animal content was great, there was sadly just not enough of it.
lexish00's review against another edition
4.0
Loooved this book. Had to dock a star for surprisingly poor editing and the inconsistency between chapters. Some chapters were just wonderful and others didn't seem to connect to the organism it was supposedly describing at all. That said, seriously enjoyable, thoughtful book, I've already bought it for someone for Christmas. Henderson is able to weave jokes and facts and philosophy beautifully.
tog_og's review against another edition
4.0
At times the author was a bit pompous, but otherwise an excellent book- engaging and fascinating, allowing the reader to marvel at the diversity of life. I also do wish there was a little more time spent on the animals themselves rather than using them as a springboard for human musings, but I also recognize sometimes a bit of that is necessary to allow a reader to better identify with the subject matter.
fabydemar's review against another edition
5.0
"Per il filosofo della natura non esiste oggetto naturale futile o irrilevante...una bolla di sapone...una mela...un ciottolo...Egli cammina nel mezzo di meraviglie." John Herschel
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Spugna barile, diavolo spinoso, cinto di Venere, granchio yeti: sono solo alcuni degli esseri a malapena immaginabili, forme di vita che sfidano le nostre più ardite capacità di immaginazione. Questo bestiario moderno di animali reali riprende l'idea degli antichi bestiari medievali popolati di creature fantastiche, per illustrare le incredibili forme di vita che ci circondano, comprese anche creature più note, come i delfini, che presentano caratteristiche uniche, note alla biologia solo da poco tempo. Un'opera enciclopedica in cui gli animali in un caleidoscopio di forme, colori e dimensioni sono il punto di partenza per una riflessione più ampia sul ruolo dell'uomo in quest'era definita Antropocene, con riferimenti non solo alle epoche passate ma anche alla cultura pop. Pagine intrise di autentica meraviglia
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Spugna barile, diavolo spinoso, cinto di Venere, granchio yeti: sono solo alcuni degli esseri a malapena immaginabili, forme di vita che sfidano le nostre più ardite capacità di immaginazione. Questo bestiario moderno di animali reali riprende l'idea degli antichi bestiari medievali popolati di creature fantastiche, per illustrare le incredibili forme di vita che ci circondano, comprese anche creature più note, come i delfini, che presentano caratteristiche uniche, note alla biologia solo da poco tempo. Un'opera enciclopedica in cui gli animali in un caleidoscopio di forme, colori e dimensioni sono il punto di partenza per una riflessione più ampia sul ruolo dell'uomo in quest'era definita Antropocene, con riferimenti non solo alle epoche passate ma anche alla cultura pop. Pagine intrise di autentica meraviglia
ihyuca's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
lconrad15's review against another edition
5.0
A book of philosophical musings on scientific theory and human nature which I found charming and insightful.