A History of the World in 100 Animals
Fully illustrated in color, a fascinating exploration of the one hundred animals that have had the most profound influence on humanity throughout the ages.

We are not alone. We are not alone on the planet. We are not alone in the countryside. We are not alone in cities. We are not alone in our homes. We are humans and we love the idea of our uniqueness. But the fact is that we humans are as much members of the animal kingdom as the cats and dogs we surround ourselves with, the cows and the fish we eat, and the bees who pollinate so many of our food-plants.

In The History of the World in 100 Animals, award-winning author Simon Barnes selects the one hundred animals who have had the greatest impact on humanity and on whom humanity has had the greatest effect. He shows how we have domesticated animals for food and for transport, and how animals powered agriculture, making civilisation possible. A species of flea came close to destroying human civilisation in Europe, while the slaughter of a species of bovines was used to create one civilisation and destroy another. He explains how pigeons made possible the biggest single breakthrough in the history of human thought. In short, he charts the close relationship between humans and animals, finding examples from around the planet that bring the story of life on earth vividly to life, with great insight and understanding.

The heresy of human uniqueness has led us across the millennia along the path of destruction. This book, beautifully illustrated throughout, helps us to understand our place in the world better, so that we might do a better job of looking after it. That might save the polar bears, the modern emblem of impending loss and destruction. It might even save ourselves.
1136314557
A History of the World in 100 Animals
Fully illustrated in color, a fascinating exploration of the one hundred animals that have had the most profound influence on humanity throughout the ages.

We are not alone. We are not alone on the planet. We are not alone in the countryside. We are not alone in cities. We are not alone in our homes. We are humans and we love the idea of our uniqueness. But the fact is that we humans are as much members of the animal kingdom as the cats and dogs we surround ourselves with, the cows and the fish we eat, and the bees who pollinate so many of our food-plants.

In The History of the World in 100 Animals, award-winning author Simon Barnes selects the one hundred animals who have had the greatest impact on humanity and on whom humanity has had the greatest effect. He shows how we have domesticated animals for food and for transport, and how animals powered agriculture, making civilisation possible. A species of flea came close to destroying human civilisation in Europe, while the slaughter of a species of bovines was used to create one civilisation and destroy another. He explains how pigeons made possible the biggest single breakthrough in the history of human thought. In short, he charts the close relationship between humans and animals, finding examples from around the planet that bring the story of life on earth vividly to life, with great insight and understanding.

The heresy of human uniqueness has led us across the millennia along the path of destruction. This book, beautifully illustrated throughout, helps us to understand our place in the world better, so that we might do a better job of looking after it. That might save the polar bears, the modern emblem of impending loss and destruction. It might even save ourselves.
39.95 In Stock
A History of the World in 100 Animals

A History of the World in 100 Animals

by Simon Barnes
A History of the World in 100 Animals

A History of the World in 100 Animals

by Simon Barnes

Hardcover

$39.95 
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Overview

Fully illustrated in color, a fascinating exploration of the one hundred animals that have had the most profound influence on humanity throughout the ages.

We are not alone. We are not alone on the planet. We are not alone in the countryside. We are not alone in cities. We are not alone in our homes. We are humans and we love the idea of our uniqueness. But the fact is that we humans are as much members of the animal kingdom as the cats and dogs we surround ourselves with, the cows and the fish we eat, and the bees who pollinate so many of our food-plants.

In The History of the World in 100 Animals, award-winning author Simon Barnes selects the one hundred animals who have had the greatest impact on humanity and on whom humanity has had the greatest effect. He shows how we have domesticated animals for food and for transport, and how animals powered agriculture, making civilisation possible. A species of flea came close to destroying human civilisation in Europe, while the slaughter of a species of bovines was used to create one civilisation and destroy another. He explains how pigeons made possible the biggest single breakthrough in the history of human thought. In short, he charts the close relationship between humans and animals, finding examples from around the planet that bring the story of life on earth vividly to life, with great insight and understanding.

The heresy of human uniqueness has led us across the millennia along the path of destruction. This book, beautifully illustrated throughout, helps us to understand our place in the world better, so that we might do a better job of looking after it. That might save the polar bears, the modern emblem of impending loss and destruction. It might even save ourselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781643139159
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Publication date: 05/17/2022
Pages: 496
Sales rank: 1,012,313
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Simon Barnes was the chief sportswriter for the Times of London. He is the author of several books, including the bestselling How to be a Bad Birdwatcher as well as The Meaning of Birds, which is available from Pegasus Books. He lives in England.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

1 Lion 10

2 Domestic cat 15

3 Gorilla 19

4 Galápagos mockingbirds 23

5 American bison 28

6 Oriental rat flea 33

7 Cattle 38

8 Blue whale 43

9 Coral 48

10 Eagle 52

11 Platypus 56

12 Honeybee 60

13 Tyrannosaurus rex 65

14 Shark 69

15 Cockroach 74

16 Panda 78

17 Cod 83

18 Egret 87

19 Dodo 91

20 Donkey 95

21 Wolf 99

22 Pigeon/dove 104

23 Mosquito 109

24 Tiger 113

25 Rat 118

26 Wasp 122

27 Earthworm 126

28 Snake 130

29 Chicken 135

30 Monkey 139

31 Archaeopteryx 144

32 Housefly 148

33 Dog 152

34 Bear 158

35 Camel 163

36 Penguin 167

37 Octopus 171

38 Dolphin 175

39 Rhinoceros 180

40 Nightingale 185

41 Pig 189

42 Chimpanzee 194

43 Albatross 199

44 Passenger pigeon 203

45 Tsetse fly 207

46 Duck 210

47 Kangaroo 215

48 Thylacine 219

49 Crocodile 223

50 Horse 228

51 Owl 234

52 Seal 238

53 Bowerbird 242

54 Elephant 246

55 Piranha 252

56 Tits and chickadees 256

57 Spider 260

58 Silkworm 265

59 Falcon 270

60 Pheasant 275

61 Barnacle 279

62 Head louse 283

63 Crow 287

64 Bat 291

65 Bumblebee 295

66 Salmon 299

67 Oryx 303

68 Sheep 307

69 Nene or Hawaiian goose 311

70 Orang-utan 315

71 Parrot 320

72 Colorado beetle 325

73 Locust 329

44 Baiji or Chinese river dolphin 333

75 Crane 337

76 Mammoth 342

77 Goat 347

78 Loa loa worm 352

79 Peafowl 356

80 Goldfish 361

81 Canary 365

82 Reindeer 370

83 Turkey 374

84 Deer 378

85 Rabbit 383

86 Sparrow 388

87 Butterfly 393

88 Fruit fly 399

89 Saola 403

90 Giant squid 407

91 Beaver 412

92 Guanay cormorant 416

93 House mouse 420

94 Stork 425

95 Oyster 430

96 Jaguar 434

97 Pink pigeon 438

98 Vaquita 442

99 Ant/termite 446

100 Polar bear 451

Epilogue 457

Index 460

Picture Credits 478

Acknowledgements 479

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