Worm - (Animal) by Kevin Butt (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A richly illustrated celebration of the mysterious world of worms in science and culture.

This book celebrates the mysterious world of worms from gardens to toothaches and beyond. Kevin Butt introduces all manner of worms, including many that bear only superficial resemblance to our limbless, sinuous friends in the dirt. To trace the intimate history between worms and people, he discusses worms that live in bodies, soil, and water as well as worms from literature and mythology. Throughout the ages, worms have been portrayed as benign, even beautiful, yet at other times spitefully ostracized as deadly creatures. This richly illustrated book looks at the microscopic and the very large indeed, asking what the future holds for both human- and worm-kind.

Review Quotes

"I was thoroughly drawn in as I read this installment in Reaktion's series on animals. This book was an enjoyable read after all, full of little-known but interesting and even useful facts about the many types of organism we call worms."-- "American Biology Teacher"

"Of unique interest to the environmental humanities, Worm skillfully weaves together an ecological and cultural examination concerning this wild world of worms. . . . indeed a must-read."-- "H-Environment"

"This book has the basis of more than 35 years of scientific research by the author into earthworm ecology but is much more than that. . . . The whole book is an insight into the mysterious world of the remarkable but often underrated worm."-- "Earth Society of Britain"

"From Shakespearean metaphor to nematodes in space and the virtues of earthworm pâté, this book is practically wriggling with fascinating information!"--Frank Ashwood, soil ecologist

"Read this book to appreciate the diversity, importance and allure of these earthly creatures."--Olaf Schmidt, Professor, University College Dublin

About the Author

Kevin Butt is a reader in ecology at the University of Central Lancashire.