In a rare blend of scientific fact and poetic truth, the acclaimed author of A Natural History of the Senses explores the activities of whales, pen...
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Mar 24, 2008
Mary Lee
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My favorite essay was the one about whales. (She also writes about bats, alligators and penguins.) In the first part of it, she wonders about the size of whale brains and what they might do with the largest brain on earth.
"After all, mind is such an odd predicament for matter to get into. I often marvel how something like hydrogen, the simplest atom, forged in some early chaos of the universe, could lead to us and the gorgeous fever we call consciousness. If a mind is just a More...
"After all, mind is such an odd predicament for matter to get into. I often marvel how something like hydrogen, the simplest atom, forged in some early chaos of the universe, could lead to us and the gorgeous fever we call consciousness. If a mind is just a More...
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Jan 01, 2009
Stephen
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In the summer of 1988, I went whale watching off the coast of Cape Cod. The boat moved through a group of humpback whales that seemed to lift their eyes above the water just enough to get a peek at what we were doing, seemingly just as curious about us as we were of them.
That’s why I was eager to read Ackerman’s book “The Moon by Whale Light,” a collection of long pieces about her explorations around the world. It did not disappoint.
In the book, Ackerman quotes whale res More...
That’s why I was eager to read Ackerman’s book “The Moon by Whale Light,” a collection of long pieces about her explorations around the world. It did not disappoint.
In the book, Ackerman quotes whale res More...
Nov 24, 2010
Amy
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This was a wonderful nature book. It is divided nicely into 4 chapters, each on a different animal. What´s great is that there isn´t a lot of literature about the animals that Ackerman writes about. I was very surprised to learn that bats are actually pretty calm creatures and loving parents that can find their babies among hundreds of other babies from their specific cry. That´s pretty cool. What´s more interesting is that bat habitats are being disturbed and destroyed due to ignorance and that
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Jan 08, 2009
Ill Literati
rated it:
Ackerman's delightful travels into the world of bats, crocodilians, whales, and penguins enlightens the reader with stories of these creatures and the people who study them.
Did you know that bats actually hold and coddle their babies, or that no one knows where the blue whale, the largest mammal on earth, goes to give birth?
This book will delight and fascinate the animal lover and will intrigue any reader who is fascinated by living things.
Did you know that bats actually hold and coddle their babies, or that no one knows where the blue whale, the largest mammal on earth, goes to give birth?
This book will delight and fascinate the animal lover and will intrigue any reader who is fascinated by living things.
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Aug 28, 2011
I'm pretty sure this is not the edition I read.
I encountered the essay on bats from this book in serial form in the New Yorker. I was more captivated by the description of the bats (and of Bat Conservation International's Merlin Tuttle) than by the other esssays in this book--but I did like the other essays. I was interested enough in Ackerman's work that I got another book by her--but I had difficulty getting through that, so I didn't pursue her work further.
Still, I'd More...
I encountered the essay on bats from this book in serial form in the New Yorker. I was more captivated by the description of the bats (and of Bat Conservation International's Merlin Tuttle) than by the other esssays in this book--but I did like the other essays. I was interested enough in Ackerman's work that I got another book by her--but I had difficulty getting through that, so I didn't pursue her work further.
Still, I'd More...
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Dec 12, 2009
Lauren
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Another beautiful book of writings by Diane Ackerman. Her writing style is so lyrical and her descriptions are so vivid - reading her work is like biting into the juiciest of fruits. This particular collection highlights bats, crocodiles, penguins, and whales. Ackerman spends time with these animals, learning about their biology and psychology, talks with their keepers, trainers, and researchers.
While all of them were wonderful, the chapters on bats and crocodiles were my favorit More...
While all of them were wonderful, the chapters on bats and crocodiles were my favorit More...
May 28, 2011
Linda
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I learned much about whales and other animals you would expect to see in a zoo. How scientists compile their research is at times amazing. This would be a good book to use if you were writing a childs book about one of these animals such as penguins or writing a factual report. I learned much and it is well written so that I will pick up another of this authors non-fiction books.
Apr 17, 2011
Alec
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If you took out all of the pointless descriptions of how people look, what they and Ackerman ate together, what they were wearing, what their offices or boats or the roads leading to their work sites reminded her of, how much of this book would be left? A third? Maybe.
Jul 25, 2010
Cheryl
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I now love bats - how's that for a life-changing event...who could not love bats after reading this book. However, I still do not love reptiles, but they are interesting. The whale and penguin sections are amazing and I love the way Ackerman writes about these creatures.
Nov 07, 2009
Nick
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Four essays by Diane Ackerman on bats, alligators, penguins and whales. I like her eye for detail and striking descriptions of small things, like the way those bulging alligator eyes retract when the beast submerges or a person gently presses on them.
Feb 27, 2008
Sarah
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What I liked about this book were the first two chapters. Bats and crocodilians. It was like the BBC Planet Earth series in book form. The essay about whales is what made me give up. Loving whale songs is so middle aged and I'm just not there (quite) yet. I like the rough and tumble animals, not the placid and serene. This book also felt dated, in that a series like Planet Earth or a movie like March of the Penguins has already given us so much of this information (with the bonus dazzling visual
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Dec 01, 2009
I can't get right through this book but every time I am in-between books I pick it up. It is so interesting. Adam thinks I'm crazy because I keep telling him how cool bats are!
Mar 24, 2009
Colleen
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A wonderful book, informative and poetic at the same time. Reminds you to appreciate the wonder and beauty of the natural world
Jan 23, 2011
Nico
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She tries to make everything sound beautiful and poignant, but at some point I just start to get annoyed.
Sep 12, 2010
Laurie
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I really loved this book. It is filled with beautiful descriptions of Ackerman's experiences learning about four different types of animals: bats, crocodilians, whales and penguins. In each chapter I learned unexpected things about the animals, and experienced Ackerman's wonder at the beauty and uniqueness of each animal group. Seriously, I cannot say enough good things about this book. Ackerman perfectly captures that feeling of awe and wonder experienced when observing nature working so perfec
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Apr 26, 2011
Dusty
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One of my favorite books of all time. She takes you with her on her adventures. Love it.
Aug 03, 2008
Book
rated it:
Ackerman's delightful travels into the world of bats, crocodilians, whales, and penguins enlightens the reader with stories of these creatures and the people who study them.
Did you know that bats actually hold and coddle their babies, or that no one knows where the blue whale, the largest mammal on earth, goes to give birth?
This book will delight and fascinate the animal lover and will intrigue any reader who is fascinated by living things.
~Jessie T., Book
Did you know that bats actually hold and coddle their babies, or that no one knows where the blue whale, the largest mammal on earth, goes to give birth?
This book will delight and fascinate the animal lover and will intrigue any reader who is fascinated by living things.
~Jessie T., Book
Aug 26, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
I adored every single chapter in this book and am a complete and total Diane Ackerman fan. She does an amazing job researching her subjects and describing them in such a way that you will never ever forget. She made me absolutley love and adore bats...not so much with crocodiles but uhmm maybe a little.
Read this and every other Diane Ackerman book you can find!
Read this and every other Diane Ackerman book you can find!
Apr 19, 2008
Sunny
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I was excited to read something other than a text by an author with a PhD. I learned something new every paragraph in the section about bats. Everyone ought to read it just to read about the guy who swam across a pond full of piranhas and electric eels. I am sure I would have never made it to that point. In any case after reading this book I want to build my own bat-house to keep in my yard someday, so long as it doesn't interfere with the local bee farms.
Jan 28, 2010
Victoria
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This collection of essays is certainly beautifully written. The topics of bats, crocodiles, whales and penguins were all fascinating and fairly informative. The book just didn't really wow me - much of the information was not new and though the author put herself into the essays, there wasn't really enough of that to put a more interesting angle on the collection as a whole.
Jan 03, 2008
Jenwah
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Sort of reading this off and on. A collection of essays about Bats, Penguins, Crocs and Whales. It's actually really interesting, and I like that she is learning about these animals through the eyes of scientists who study them. I'm on the part about whales right now, and it's really beautiful and heartwarming to think of these guys. Interesting info, pretty well written, but just not sure how well it's all coming together for me.
Mar 28, 2008
Karyn
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Diane Ackerman is one of my favorite authors!! She blends natural history, ethology, and psychology; all subjects which are dear to my heart. Her descriptive writing is captivating, and I always find her books inspiring and thought-provoking.
In this book, she recounts many adventures with naturalists and tells stories of these wonderful creatures in their own environments.
In this book, she recounts many adventures with naturalists and tells stories of these wonderful creatures in their own environments.
Jun 09, 2011
Alexandra
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A beautiful blend of science and poetry, Ackerman shares her stories of bats, alligators, whales and penguins. I read this because I was a fan of A Natural History of the Senses, and this has a comparable style.
Jul 16, 2011
Khinna
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This book has made me fallen in love with natural, nonfiction writing, and I've become a fan of Diane Ackerman. It has compelled me to look at my life, and be more aggressive about engaging myself in my natural environment (instead of dreaming up things I want to do, I just need to do them). I can't wait to read more of Ackerman's writing.
Dec 16, 2009
Mads
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After reading "The Natural History of the Senses" what else can one do but read the other natural history essay collections by the brilliant Ackerman. Brilliant writer at her best. This book made me very interested in crocodiles I actually went to the Manila Zoo and spent half a day just observing the Saltwater Crocs there. Fascinating creatures.
