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murpholk's review
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Delightful book. I expected it to be interesting, but was surprised by just how funny the writing style is. It's very pop science, but as someone with minimal entomology knowledge, the balance of levity and information worked. As one would expect from any contemporary book on nature, the last chapter was moderately depressing: humanity's impact on insects (the climate change and extinction events chapter).
startjpw23's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Per the back flap of the book, the author is a professor of conversation biology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and a scientific advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. This book is mainly about insects. She includes springtails and arachnids in her book as they are also multilegged creatures. She talks about the anatomy of insects, mating and parenting, and where insects fit in the food chain. Most importantly, she talks about how insects benefit other animals and plants. And ultimately how they benefit humanity. They pollinate plants. They consume dead animals and plants which helps return important nutrients to the soil. There is a chapter called "From Silk to Shellac: Industries of Insects" where she talks about some important products that insects (and spiders) gave to humanity. In addition to silk and shellac, they also gave beeswax and ink. There is a chapter called "Lifesavers, Pioneers, and Nobel Prize Winners" that talks about other Important products that humanity learned about because of insects. Products such as Velcro, natural air conditioning systems, antibiotics, and more. She has a very lively type of writing. And she has a good sense of humor. A book like this is frequently dry. Her book isn't dry. She does talk about the negative effects of activities of humanity on insects. And what is lost when insect species become extinct. I enjoyed this book a lot. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the lives or insects and their importance to the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
ida_the_vision's review against another edition
3.0
Denne boka startet så bra. Jeg var supergira og plaga familien med fakta om insekter hele tiden. Desverre ble den litt ensformig i formatet.
Korte historier (anekdoter? Essays? Faktainnlegg?) på rekke og rad, uten noen virkelig rød tråd i mellom dem. Dette kunne vært ålreit for et kapittel, men det ble for klunkete for en hel bok og gjorde at jeg fort mistet interessen. Spesielt de siste kapitlene hvor det diskuteres insektenes forhold til mennesker og hva vi kan gjøre for å ta vare på dem kunne gjort godt av å være skrevet i form av lengre, sammenhengene kapitler.
Alt i alt er dette en veldig søt og lærerik bok. Forfatterens lidenskap for faget syntes, og det er viktig i slike bøker.
Helt avslutninsgvis skriver hun, "Mitt håp for denne boka er at flere får øynene opp for insektenes underlige og vidunderlige verden." Der har hun lykkes, i det minste for min del, selv på tross av at jeg har litt å utsette på bokens utforming.
Korte historier (anekdoter? Essays? Faktainnlegg?) på rekke og rad, uten noen virkelig rød tråd i mellom dem. Dette kunne vært ålreit for et kapittel, men det ble for klunkete for en hel bok og gjorde at jeg fort mistet interessen. Spesielt de siste kapitlene hvor det diskuteres insektenes forhold til mennesker og hva vi kan gjøre for å ta vare på dem kunne gjort godt av å være skrevet i form av lengre, sammenhengene kapitler.
Alt i alt er dette en veldig søt og lærerik bok. Forfatterens lidenskap for faget syntes, og det er viktig i slike bøker.
Helt avslutninsgvis skriver hun, "Mitt håp for denne boka er at flere får øynene opp for insektenes underlige og vidunderlige verden." Der har hun lykkes, i det minste for min del, selv på tross av at jeg har litt å utsette på bokens utforming.
lanieslectory's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
acrigger's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Enjoyable quick read. I felt like the author could have written more on each topic but I can see how the short sections could be beneficial for drawing in new science readers. Luckily her sources are pretty easy to find for those who would like a more detailed read.
Enjoyable quick read. I felt like the author could have written more on each topic but I can see how the short sections could be beneficial for drawing in new science readers. Luckily her sources are pretty easy to find for those who would like a more detailed read.