The man above the fireplace

Yossi Yovel The Genius Bat Understanding our most mysterious mammal 336pp. Oneworld. £20. Philosophy begins with wonder, according to Plato and Aristotle. As for philosophy, so, and more so, for biolo

A Russia of trees and liberty and peace: ...

David Farrier Nature’s Genius Evolution’s lessons for a changing planet 288pp. Canongate. £20. In David Farrier’s latest book, he warns us that humanity is endangering every facet of life on Earth thr

"Dad used to call me a feckless environmentalist,” Hugh Crossley says warmly of his father, the 3rd Baron Somerleyton. “But he was a conservationist in his own way – he’s the reason we have good hedge

Being a naturalist came from my dad. We had similar brains I think, quite neurodivergent, we had these little obsessions. He was into aeroplanes, I was into birds, but he taught me to look up, and he

Best books… Roy Foster The emeritus professor of ...