Product Description

David Attenborough recounts the story of 4000 species that have outlived the dinosaurs and conquered the farthest places on Earth: the mouse-sized Pioneers who lived alongside the dinosaurs; the Insect Eaters; the tool-using Root Raiders and Seed Stealers; and the Leaf Eaters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11417 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
There are over four and a half thousand different kinds of mammals alive today. How many can you name? Many will not be entirely clear about what it is that makes a mammal rather than a reptile or bird, apart from egg laying. But then what about egg-laying mammals such as the platypus and echidna? The Life of Mammals describes and illustrates the remarkable diversity of mammals from the giant blue whale to the miniscule pigmy shrew. The cachet of David Attenborough's name and distinctive voice comes through clearly from the text and there's a stunning selection of photographs, by the best wildlife photographers in the world. The Life of Mammals is worth getting even if you just like wildlife pictures, for there are many here that you will not have seen before--the Brazilian tapir, the hairy rhino of Sumatra, the Pyrenean desman and more.

Attenborough certainly has the knack of making good stories for the general reader out of what, in other hands, can be rather dry science. He manages to weave in a great deal about the evolutionary story behind the success of the mammals over the last 65 million years since the dinosaurs bit the dust. Also, because of all the careful research behind the TV programmes, he is pretty well up to speed on many of the scientific developments in our understanding of our biologically nearest if not necessarily dearest relatives. This is especially true when the story gets around to our closest primate cousins--the apes. All the recent discoveries about tool use and culture are included.

The Life of Mammals will make a perfect gift for anyone from the age of about 10 upwards and hopefully a whole new generation will know what a kinkajou, cacomistle or a uakiri are. The only quibble is there's no further-reading list to fuel new enthusiasms lit up by this excellent book. --Douglas Palmer.

About the Author
David Attenborough was born in 1926 and educated at Cambridge. He started making television documentaries in the 1950s, produced the series "Zoo Quest", and made some of television's first black-and-white nature films before being promoted to senior management at the BBC. In the 1970s, Attenborough returned to filmmaking and has subsequently produced some of the most famous wildlife documentaries ever made, most notably his "Life" series. He was knighted in 1985 and now lives near London. He is the author of "The Life of Birds", "The Private Life of Plants", and "Life on Air" (all Princeton).

Customer Reviews

Excellent
This is another excellent book based on one of David Attenborough's programmes. Even though it has a lot of pages ( around 300 ) every page is just as interesting as the previous. It's not just writing: there is a vast selection of colour photographs as well. Based on the tv series, although it does go into more depth and detail. It has around 10 chapters, one for each programme. If you have liked other books like this, then this one is a must.

It's a nostalgia thing
This book is the literature equivalent of tea and crumpets on a cold blustery dark winters night, snuggled in the front room fresh from the bath, awaiting wildlife programmes on the telly and dreading school the next morning. It's a pure nostalgia thing; the soothing tones of Attenborough lose nothing in print; some stunning photos and comfortable insights into the animal world. Buy this book.

Life of Mammals
Bought as a present for my nephew, a young and very keen animal lover, he is very rarely seen without it. A most beautiful book with all the care and attention to detail that you'd expect from David Attenborough. The thought gone in to the television series and the book is outstanding and is good reading for both children and adult, with a curiosity for learning more about animals.