I picked this book up as I was buried in 3 feet of snow and the question of cold weather survival was towards the front of my mind. However, until i stopped to think about it the severity of the situation faced by so many species had not come home to me. But Heinrich does an excellent job of setting forth the different challenges for different animals and then showcasing the multitude of adaptations that make survival possible. He has researched quite extensively and this research is then joined with his personal observations, which he has documented quite precisely. The study of animals in such extreme circumstances is quite difficult and this is mirrored in the lack of research in many areas. The author often presents his own theories in the lack of definitive research and explains his thought process without claiming to have solved the puzzle.

The adaptations touched on in this book are extraordinary. I feel that our society has lost so of its appreciation of the awe inspiring quality of nature. As we grow more sheltered from the natural world we have become fascinated with technological advances. Meanwhile, nature offers some of the most wondrous and captivating advances in all of history. To imagine an organism that can let its blood freeze and then bring itself back to life is amazing. To think of a frog that is able to survive for 5 months without breathing is mind-boggling. This complexity and creativity of the natural world need to be shared if there is ever to be a serious movement to sustain diversity on this planet.

There are times when the writing is fairly scientific but I view that as a necessity to understand such complex organisms. In no way is this language beyond the comprehension of a lay reader. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to respark that passion for the wonder of nature. ( )

I really wanted to like this book. I picked it up from the remainder table on the strength of an eye catching cover and intriguing back text, but it was a disappointment. The author is a biologist who has a fascination with how animals survive the freezing cold of northern winters. The text has typos, and downright errors (one glaring one referring to how close to the pole one species has been found), plus his framing species, the kinglet, seems more of an obsession than a unifying theme. The chapter breaks seem random, and sentences and paragraphs repeat, so the book reads as if he'd written a series of essays and slapped them together without reading them through. He includes his own sketches of some of the animals that he talks about, those are quite pretty and detailed. But no one species (besides the kinglet) gets much depth. And despite the slew of references, the knowledge presented feels like it skims over the surface rather than digging deeply into physiology or natural adaptations. ( )

Lovely writing on a fascinating subject. Occasionally a little dry but quite frequently humorous. I look forward to reading more by this author. ( )

The first book by Bernd Heinrich I read, it was also one that I devoured and enjoyed immensely. One thing that comes across strongly in the book is how serious Heinrich is about his research - among other "crazy" things, he collects and microwaves dead birds to see how quickly they lose body heat. That takes devotion. But coupled with this seriousness about science is the ability to convey what's he's found out in a way that is accessible and interesting to the average reader, and that's what makes him such a great author. ( )

Lovely, meditative reading on how animals survive the north woods' winters. Includes information on dormancy, torpor, hibernation, "antifreeze" in blood, etc. Animals discussed include weasels/ermine, kinglets, chipmunks, moths, bees, and many others. My favorite section involved the goings-on of mice living in the sub-nivean (under-snow) zone. This is an Intriguing, well-written book that brings a much-needed chill to any sweltering summer day. ( )