The Ecology of a Summer House

by Vincent G. Dethier

Portrays the variety of plants and animals living during the summer in and around a bungalow in Maine

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Vincent Gaston Dethier was an American physiologist and entomologist. Considered a leading an expert in his field, he was a pioneer in the study of insect-plant interactions and wrote over 170 academic papers and 15 science books. From 1975 until his death, he was the Gilbert L. Woodside Professor of Zoology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he was the founding director of its Neuroscience and Behavior Program and chaired the Chancellor's Commission on Civility. Dethier also wrote natural history books for non-specialists, as well as short stories, essays and children's books.

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book at least three times now and I love the author's reverence for all the loving creatures in and around his house on the coast of Maine. If you have a summer house, you either have to love the creatures or you need to vacation someplace else, because they are inevitably part of your experience. Bats, mice, spiders--all have their place in his cabin's eco-system. I can almost hear the buoys clanging in the harbor.

[jw468 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really charming, brief book.

Dethier looks at all the creepy crawlies that live in his family's summer cottage. If I recall correctly, the book is basically divided into features of the cottage, such as the cellar, the living area, etc. There are a few illustrations that depict the cottage.

For those who have read Thermal Delight in Architecture, this book has a similar format and spirit.