David Attenborough

LIFE ON EARTH by David Attenborough (and read by him as well) was a good pick to listen to during finals week - not so engaging that I keep listening to find out what happens next at the expense of getting my grading done, but engaging enough to take my mind off my grading and other responsibilities when I needed a break, or was cooking, etc. I will say that I found it more relaxing to listen to in the chapters when he's describing things that I'm somewhat familiar with, but don't know well show more (i.e. the chapters on plants and invertebrates.) The chapters on vertebrates, however, were somewhat less relaxing to listen to, as I spent the whole time listening very carefully for any mistakes.

One thing Attenborough does very well in this book is connect the evolution of traits together, helping explain why certain traits evolved when they did. For example, as vascular plants evolved, there was a selective advantage for getting taller in order to better compete for light. But then, once plants started getting taller, there was a selective advantage to herbivores that could reach the tasty parts of the plants, which led to the evolution of flying insects, which in turn contributed to the evolution of the flowering plants to use those insects as targeted pollinators vs. relying on wind pollination. Some of it is almost certainly adaptationism / just-so-story-ism, but he does an excellent job of connecting various pieces together into a coherent whole.

He does get some stuff wrong -- some factual details that may have just gotten missed in the 40th anniversary update of the text, but also other places where the way he frames evolutionary history is... antiquated at best. The most egregious (in my opinion) is that he repeatedly refers to various living organisms as "primitive", and refers to non-mammalian synapsids (everything that is more closely related to mammals than any other living organism, but is not technically a true mammal -- includes things like Dimetrodon, the sail-back "dinosaur") as "reptiles". Which: No. Absolutely not. Synapsids split from the branch that would become reptiles over 200 million years ago. (He also calls early tetrapods like Tiktaalik "amphibians", which: they were almost certainly amphibious, but they were absolutely not the same as modern amphibians.)

But overall: Enjoyable to listen to Attenborough's narration even without the amazing visuals of a nature documentary. show less

"Zoo Quest to Guiana" is a captivating travelogue written by David Attenborough, the renowned British naturalist and broadcaster. Published in 1956, the book documents Attenborough's expedition to the remote and unexplored wilderness of British Guiana (now Guyana) in South America.

The narrative takes readers on a thrilling adventure as Attenborough and his team set out to capture and bring back exotic animals for the London Zoo. As the leader of the Zoo Quest television series, Attenborough show more combines his passion for wildlife with a quest for discovery, immersing himself in the vibrant ecosystems of the Guianan rainforest.

Attenborough vividly describes the awe-inspiring biodiversity he encounters, from the colorful birdlife to elusive mammals, reptiles, and insects. He showcases his deep appreciation for the natural world, sharing his insights into the unique adaptations and behaviors of the species he encounters.

As the expedition progresses, Attenborough delves into the cultural and historical aspects of the region, exploring the indigenous communities and their relationship with the natural environment. He sheds light on their customs, traditions, and knowledge of the local flora and fauna, offering readers a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and their surroundings.

Throughout the book, Attenborough's passion for conservation shines through. He highlights the importance of preserving these diverse ecosystems and the need for responsible wildlife management. His observations and experiences provide readers with an educational and entertaining glimpse into the world of animal collection and the efforts to learn more about and protect the planet's biodiversity.

"Zoo Quest to Guiana" showcases Attenborough's engaging storytelling style, infused with humor, curiosity, and reverence for the natural world. The book not only captures the spirit of adventure but also serves as a valuable resource for nature enthusiasts, highlighting the importance of conservation and the wonders that await in remote corners of the globe. show less

David Attenborough recounts his life working for the BBC making nature documentaries. While I love his programmes and thoughtful, eloquent and always engaging narration, I was surprised by how much I struggled with these memoirs. There are plenty of amusing anecdotes from trips abroad (and even from his time working behind a desk), recounted with a wry and gentle sense of humour, to entertain the reader, but somehow they all bleed into one another and after a while I couldn't remember where show more a particular incident occurred. The rather indifferent editing didn't help, and so I only had a feeling of relief when I realised that I'd left the book behind in the waiting room of a hospital, and I'd kept on reading long after I would have given up on any other book, persisting merely out of a sense of duty to the man. show less

Sir David Attenborough is well-known to fans of the BBC in the United Kingdom for his interesting explorations on various topics, especially ones relating to natural history. In this book, he further dives into natural history about how the world has changed during his lifetime. His picture is quite bleak, with much of our wilderness becoming subsumed by humanity’s growth. Still, he manages to propose several hopeful strategies out of this crisis if we begin immediately to act.

Attenborough show more has the reputation of being able to make journalistic explorations supremely interesting, and this book is no exception. He voyages down the decades of his life, beginning before World War II. He charts how natural biodiversity has been steadily lost and how humans have begun to manage the balance of the planet. To no one’s surprise, human management (started in the 1950s) has not gone well. Oceans have been depleted of fish, and the fraction of uninhibited wilderness has greatly decreased.

As depressing as the early stages of this work are, the end offers specific remedies for our position. He leaves us not with just a dystopia. He identifies strategic ways to increase fish stores while restoring economies of fishing. He shows us how we all can adjust our meat-heavy diets to soy-based and plant-based foods. In particular, we can cut down the percentage of beef in our diets because a pound of beef takes more agriculture to develop than other forms of meat. Energy must be transitioned from fossil fuels to other forms of energy.

Human survival must become our common currency even more than making money. Many of these solutions are cost-neutral – they cost about as much as our current solutions – but they are green-positive by helping to reduce costs to the environment. Some economists are theorizing how to create a financial cost to offset the environmental impacts of harmful technologies. Unfortunately, reliance on old ways of classical economics will lead to destructive outcomes to humanity.

The general public needs to hear this argument. It’s perhaps the most eloquent piece about contemporary climate change that I’ve read to date. Unfortunately, many (in America, at least) will reject even listening to this jeremiad because they revel in ignorance. Once again, contemporary social problems limit scientific progress in humans. Will the recurring modern story repeat itself? We know where we need to get to and how we need to get there; we just lack the collective determination to see the course. Or will Attenborough’s eloquent plea, amongst others’ informative pleas, light our way? show less