Curious Encounters with the Natural World

From Grumpy Spiders to Hidden Tigers

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Pub Date 26 Jun 2017 | Archive Date 17 Jul 2017

Description

Michael R. Jeffords and Susan L. Post have circled the globe--and explored their neighborhood--collecting images of the natural world. This book opens their personal cabinet of curiosities to tell the stories of the pair's most unusual encounters.
From the "necking" battles of mate-hungry giraffes to the breathtaking beauty of millions of monarch butterflies at rest, Jeffords and Post share 200 stunning photographs and their own insightful essays to guide readers on a spectacular journey. Their training as entomologists offers unique perspectives on surprise stag beetle swarms and spider hunting habits. Their photographic eye, honed by decades of observation, finds expression in once-in-a-lifetime images. The result is an eyewitness collection of startling and unusual phenomena that illuminates the diverse life inhabiting our planet.

Michael R. Jeffords is the retired education/outreach director for the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and was staff photographer for The Illinois Steward magazine. Susan L. Post is a retired INHS field biologist and staff writer for The Illinois Steward magazine, and author of Hiking Illinois. They are coauthors of Exploring Nature in Illinois and Illinois Wilds.

Michael R. Jeffords and Susan L. Post have circled the globe--and explored their neighborhood--collecting images of the natural world. This book opens their personal cabinet of curiosities to tell...

Advance Praise

"Sitting down with this collection of tales is setting off on a series of adventures in which the reader is enticed to share vicariously one exceptional experience after another. The experiences are presented in succinct, entertaining essays and striking images--some poignant, some humorous, some bordering on the incredible, and all informative. Susan Post and Michael Jeffords speak from decades of professional experience and a lifelong passion for natural history that has endowed them with an exceptional receptiveness for nature's curious events, those events rarely witnessed and those that often pass unnoticed and unappreciated."--James B. Nardi, author of Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners

 

"Michael Jeffords's and Susan Post's book is unique in its rich compilation of entertaining narratives and beautiful photographs of natural history phenomena across the world. Their beautiful descriptions of the adaptations and behaviors of creatures large and small incorporate important issues such as invasion of exotic species, extinction, environmental change, and habitat destruction and will inspire others to look more closely at the natural world."--Bonnie Styles, Director Emeritus, Illinois State Museum System

"Sitting down with this collection of tales is setting off on a series of adventures in which the reader is enticed to share vicariously one exceptional experience after another. The experiences...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780252082665
PRICE $24.95 (USD)
PAGES 232

Average rating from 18 members


Featured Reviews

When I opened this book to a gorgeous photo of a luna moth on a green fern, I felt my blood pressure go down and my breathing slow. I felt relaxed for the first time all day. The authors understand the tremendous power that nature has on us, and we on it. From insects (both authors are entomologists) to large mammals and everything in between, readers are treated to an unusual look into the private lives of the beings we share our planet with. Sometimes creepy – mites and Japanese beetles, sometime beautiful, birds and butterflies we gain a new appreciation for the balance of our natural world. Highly recommended

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This book is fantastic! A combination of beautiful photographs and stories of the various quirks and oddities of the natural world. Truly this book would be a great addition to any naturalist's book collection, the photography alone makes it worth the read, and the stories are the icing on the cake.

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Tons of stunning photography, with little stories about them, and environmental background information. I enjoyed the photos more than these little stories, and did occasionally skip them. Some photos I thought didn't fit ( road sign, restaurant sign), but those were in the minority. I occassionly wanted more photos of the scene ( different angles, varying distance). Good for a coffe table type book.

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Romantic, dramatic, and informative. Book leads by places and narratives, supplying page long anecdotes and pictures to support the story. A lot of work put into this book and it shows! A very pleasant read and is something that I would like to add to my library. Cover itself is interesting and playful to stand face forward on the shelf. Pictures provided by Susan Post are detailed, astonishing and present a huge variety. I've seen my mother-in-law place books open on a page with flowers to be displayed, this book would be amazing for that. A great read, visual stimulant and a decoration.
Now narratives surrounding wrestling of snakes; insects finding one another to mate; fish knocking the glasses off and so much more. These create stories and give nature a more romantic outlook. I cannot emphasize how well this book was done. Birds, flowers, butterflies, reptiles, mammals, caterpillars - all of them took my breath away.

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If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. This is such a interesting and fabulously photographed book. It is a book that I keep dipping into, just can't stop myself, and every time I do I am intrigued and filled with amazement. If you are interested in nature and/or photography, this is the book for you. Fabulous.

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I am so disappointed to not have this book in physical format. Hurry up and release already!

So beautiful, so education, so wonderful, so interesting.

Buy it now! (or in 6 days, when it releases :) )

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I chose this book because I like creatures. I really liked that Mmichael and Susan were both photographers. They travel the World and it is so good that the photos are in color! Each chapter is one creature at a time on a page. I found a lot of critters that I never saw before. This book is for children to adults. I would recommend this book for everyone. I hope you will read this book with your family. Thank you Michael and Susan! I volunteered to read and review this book.

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It was great to read about the animals in their natural habitat.....The pictures are so wonderful.......

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This is a beautiful book of essays and photographs of the natural world. The authors are based in Illinois but they have traveled the world. In the pages you will encounter familiar as well as unfamiliar animals. The book is very to easy to read and appropriate for all ages. Enjoy nature writing and photographing at its best.

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