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Taking Flight - 2nd Edition by Lev Parikian (Paperback)

Taking Flight - 2nd Edition by  Lev Parikian (Paperback) - 1 of 1
$17.99 when purchased online
Target Online store #3991

About this item

Highlights

  • 'This book soars . . . Parikian is a nature writer at the top of his game.'
  • About the Author: Lev Parikian is a writer, birdwatcher and conductor.
  • 304 Pages
  • Nature, Animals

Description



Book Synopsis



'This book soars . . . Parikian is a nature writer at the top of his game.' --Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2023*

This is the miracle of flight as you've never seen it before: the evolutionary story of life on the wing.

A bird flits overhead. It's an everyday occurrence, repeated hundreds, thousands, millions of times daily by creatures across the world. It's something so normal, so entirely taken for granted, that sometimes we forget how extraordinary it is. But take that in for a moment. This animal flies. It. Flies. The miracle of flight has evolved in hugely diverse ways, with countless variations of flapping and gliding, hovering and diving, murmurating and migrating.

Conjuring lost worlds, ancient species and ever-shifting ecologies, this exhilarating new book is a mesmerising encounter with fourteen flying species: from the first fluttering insect of 300 million years ago to the crested pterosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, from hummingbirds that co-evolved with rainforest flowers to the wonders of dragonfly, albatross, pipistrelle and monarch butterfly with which we share the planet today.

Taking Flight is a mind-expanding feat of the imagination, a close encounter with flight in its myriad forms, urging us to look up and drink in the spectacle of these gravity-defying marvels that continue to shape life on Earth.



Review Quotes




'[Lev Parikian] brings a sense of infectious enthusiasm to his account of the evolution of flight in the natural world, from mayflies and bees to bats and hummingbirds by way of pterosaurs and archaeopteryx, combining a wealth of information with a sense of wonder.' The Observer

'This accessible account of the animal kingdom's development of flight exhibits a layman's enthusiasm for an everyday wonder.' Rebecca Foster, TLS

'A compelling, chatty and wildly informative look at the various species on Earth with the ability to fly ... An evocative, entertaining and educational flight path through the natural histories of various winged creatures.' BirdGuides

'I didn't want this flight to end.' Jon Dunn, author of The Glitter in the Green

'Magical and uplifting' Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for the New Green Deal

'Whether you're an engineer, a linguist, a historian or just curious, this book has something for you ... Get ready to be swept away by the expertly crafted harmony of Taking Flight.' Professor Lucy Rogers, author of It's ONLY Rocket Science

'Explores one of nature's most astounding evolutionary conjuring tricks ... A work of clarity, levity and joy.' Caspar Henderson, author of A New Map of Wonders

'A beautiful concept, flawlessly executed, Taking Flight is among the most charming popular science books I've read in years. Parikian is fast becoming one of the finest science writers out there.' Jules Howard, author of Wonderdog

'A clear, crisp and entertaining account of the history of animal flight. A delightful and insightful read.' Dominic Couzens, author of A Year of Bird Song

'A triumph of science communication. Full of surprises, insights and connections, I found delights with every turn of the page.' Amy-Jane Beer, author of The Flow

'This book is fascinating - packed with "well, I never!" and "who'd have thought?" lines which you feel compelled to share with anyone within earshot - and beautifully written with characteristic warmth and humour.' Brigit Strawbridge, author of Dancing with Bees



About the Author



Lev Parikian is a writer, birdwatcher and conductor. He is the author of Into the Tangled Bank, longlisted for the Wainwright Prize, Light Rains Sometimes Fall and Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? He lives in West London with his family, who are getting used to his increasing enthusiasm for nature. As a birdwatcher, his most prized sightings are a golden oriole in the Alpujarras and a black redstart at Dungeness Power Station.
Dimensions (Overall): 7.9 Inches (H) x 5.1 Inches (W) x 1.0 Inches (D)
Weight: .55 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 304
Genre: Nature
Sub-Genre: Animals
Publisher: Elliott & Thompson
Theme: Birds
Format: Paperback
Author: Lev Parikian
Language: English
Street Date: April 8, 2025
TCIN: 1003824917
UPC: 9781783967827
Item Number (DPCI): 247-13-2559
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 5.1 inches width x 7.9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.55 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO

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