An Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge, this author delves deeply into the history of political thought, with contributions featured in significant compendia. Beyond this, their work extends into the realms of natural history and ornithology. Their writings are characterized by erudition and an analytical approach to a diverse range of subjects.
Exploring humanity's connection with the natural world from pre-history to modern times, the narrative delves into how nature has fueled human curiosity and creativity. It contrasts this historical reverence with the current alarming trend of environmental degradation and loss. The book highlights the importance of understanding our evolving relationship with nature as we confront its rapid impoverishment and strive for a more sustainable future.
Birds played an important role in the ancient world: as indicators of time, weather, and seasons; as a resource for hunting, medicine, and farming; as pets and entertainment; as omens and messengers of the gods. Jeremy Mynott explores the similarities and surprising differences between ancient perceptions of the natural world and our own.
What draws us to the beauty of a peacock, the flight of an eagle, or the song of a nightingale? Why are birds so significant in our lives and our sense of the world? And what do our ways of thinking about and experiencing birds tell us about ourselves? This title presents a meditation on the variety of human responses to birds.