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cursed10fold's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
recycledwords's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent read from Attenborough. His fascination with all things nature is infectious and he introduces interesting topics in accessible language which keeps the reader interested throughout.
jassymay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
seclement's review against another edition
5.0
This is essentially a David Attenborough documentary in book form, and that's a good thing. It is an inevitably simplified but beautifully told story of the history of our planet based on a number of different stages of development in the animal kingdom. If you are a nature enthusiast, you will likely love this. As ever, the narrative is compelling and Attenborough manages to make you interested in even the least charming creatures. He even manages to make brutal or gross things seem charming because of his wonderful way with words. I also liked the way the book ended with what is essentially a discussion of the Anthropocene (even if it isn't described as such), and very much puts humans in their place, in an evolutionary sense. I have read so many books about nature, but I do think that this has something unique to offer, if for no other reason than it takes you on a journey through time in a really engaging way, and makes you fall in love with creatures that you may or may not have known existed.