Taking Flight: The Evolutionary Story of Life on the Wing, by Lev Parikian, is a highly accessible, highly enjoyable, and simply fun bit of popular science, as Parikian explains how the ability to fly evolved four separate times across a range of creatures (insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats). For each of the four, Parikian, chooses a handful of representative groups to delve into some (not too much) detail, adding some personal storytelling and not a little bit of humor into the scientific mix as he does so.

In order, the 14 case study chapters cover:
• Mayflies
• Dragonflies
• Beetles
• Flies
• Bees
• Butterflies
• Pterosaurs
• Archaeopteryx
• Penguins
• Geese
• Hummingbirds
• Albatrosses
• Pigeons
• Bats

This doesn’t mean, though, that those sections cover those creatures exclusively, as Parikian makes room for a number of brief digressions into other examples, discussing for example cormorants, arctic terns, and puffins in the chapter on Albatrosses. Each chapter explains the best theories (sometimes conflicting given the dearth of fossils) for how and when the group evolved flight (or for some like penguins and ostriches, how and when they lost the ability), the differing mechanisms and physics involved in their flight, and the different anatomical structures and strategies.

The book is filled with fascinating detail. We learn, for instance, how insect wings may have evolved from gills, that mayflies are the only insects with an intermediary stage between larva and full flying adult, that “dragonflies with six-foot wingspans” are a commonly cited “fact” with no evidence behind it at all, that dragonflies have a successful kill rate of 95% when hunting and can control their wings individually, that the “sword-billed hummingbird is the only bird int eh world whose bill is longer than its body, and that flies repurposed their hindwings into “tiny organs, shaped like miniature golf clubs, called halteres, that acts like a gyroscope allowing flies to be the champion flyers they are, and much, much more. While some might think the anatomical details can be too detailed, I’d say Parikian knows just how far to take them. One’s mileage may vary on that, though certainly the book is not overwhelmingly dense or detailed.

Helping the science go down is Parikian’s winning voice, which sometimes offers up some lyrical descriptive passage, other times gives us a personal experience with one of the creatures he’s covering, and often just makes one laugh out loud. I did the last a number of times, including his description of flies’ ability to land upside down on a ceiling — “a defiant ‘f—k you’ to everything we think we know about gravity” — or when he threw in a Monty Python reference — “Their chief asset is speed. Speed and maneuverability. Speed, maneuverability and a fanatical devotion to the air.”


Taking Flight is an informative, engaging, accessible, and downright fun (and funny) work. Highly recommended.

I have given this book 4.5 stars.

I learnt so much reading this book about the beginnings of flight as well as how flight has evolved within different animals. I was super keen to read this as I thought the topic of flight would be incredibly interesting and I was 100% correct. The writing style was so easy to read, whilst still giving a huge amount of information in a great way. Each chapter focused on one species (eg. Bats, mayflies, pterosaurs) and I really enjoyed seeing how the element of flight varied between different animals. Will definitely be buying a physical copy when it comes out and recommending it to anyone who is interested in the science side of nature!

Lev Parikian's "Taking Flight" is a fascinating and well-researched look into the evolution, purpose, and diversity of flight. As a birder, I didn't think I would be interested in the non-bird material, however it was all engaging and educational. Parikian is obviously an astute student and communicator who weaves in ample imagery to explore flight in a variety of species. This is a great book for science-interested readers of all disciplines.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing this ARC.

This book breaks down the evolution of flight in 14 creatures.

This book appeals to those with a curious mind. It’s the adult equivalent of a toddler pulling wings off a daddy long legs. How did these curious creatures take flight? And how did the power of flight come about again and again.

Parikian slows down flight in animals in much the same way a slow motion camera fills in the frames which happen in a blink of the eye with detail. He produces observations in such beautiful ways it just massages the mind. It makes you want to read more, The tone is good natured, positive. You feel the author has a passion for the subject. I found myself highlighting sections more often than with typical books.

This book takes the reader through that seemingly impossible; throwing yourself at the ground and missing.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*

"Taking Flight" introduces readers to various types of birds and the evolution of wings. I particularly enjoyed the chapters about birds that I personally adore, like puffins, but all the chapters were interesting. I wouldn't recommend reading more than one chapter at once though, otherwise it's just too much information to process. I also could not read this book if I was not feeling calm and relaxed, otherwise I'd feel the need to just skim read not so interesting passages. But that's a me problem. Overall well written and entertaining albeit a bit long (but again, that might be me).

3.5 stars

Lev Parikian is an enthusiastic amateur scientist with a love of observing nature and a Douglas Adams style of humour. Packed with the sort of fascinating facts usually reserved for children's books, he investigates the power of flight in the natural world, from the usual suspects (birds and insects), to the development of flight in pterosaurs, archaeopteryx and bats.

This book is a pleasure to read and people with better memories than mine could learn enough to make them an asset to any pub quiz team. I’d imagine the only reason any nature enthusiast might not enjoy it were if they were already an expert, but how many people know everything flight-related about birds and insects and bats and prehistoric flying creatures? Also people who don’t enjoy their facts with a dose of humour might be irritated, but if you’re the sort of person who enjoys QI, then I heartily recommend reading this!

This was the second time I requested Taking Flight as a digital ARC from NetGalley because when it came out in hardback last year, I didn’t quite manage to finish it. I was really disappointed I hadn’t read the chapter about bats, so when I saw they were offering the paperback for review, I jumped at the chance. The hardback cover shows the elegant tracery of a dragonfly’s wing on a black background that less than inspired me. The paperback has a much more striking and colourful cover that matches the tone of the writing. I am a fan! I’m also appreciative that the book includes a decent bibliography and an excellent index.

This book uncovers the biological history of flight, exploring the evolution of life on the wing. From the first fluttering insect 300 million years ago to the soaring albatrosses of today, witness the incredible diversity and wonder of flying creatures. A beautiful celebration, this book is enlightening and entertaining.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Lev Parikian is such an engaging author. He always manages to enthuse me about whatever he writes about because he himself is so excited by what he is discovering. I learned so much in this book. Each chapter deals with a different flighted animal, from pterosaurs to dragonflies, from hummingbirds to flies, this is a fascinating look at the hidden complexities of flight. I love that he includes everything we do know and quite a few things we still don't understand. This is such a great, chatty book.

In Taking Flight, Lev Parikian explores the mechanics of flight and how the ability came to evolve so widely across the animal kingdom. Chapters cover the mayfly, dragonfly, beetle, fly, bees, ants and wasps, butterflies and moths, the pterosaur (birds evolved from dinosaurs, after all), the archaeopteryx, penguins, geese, hummingbirds, albatrosses, pigeons and bats. Other species are covered in each chapter too.

The author’s writing is accessible and informative, presenting scientific information in a way that does not alienate. I found it to be an engaging read.

Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Elliott & Thompson, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book because it seemed right up my alley - the development of flight in different species. I was excited. Then I started the book and learned that the author didn't have an academic background in the subject, and I was a little disappointed, BUT, I gave it a go anyway, and WOW the writing was great. Clearly knows how to engage an audience: humor, factoids, and a story. I was hooked by the writing and the authors obvious obsession with the topic and decided to stick around. THEN I discovered the amount of research the author had done and I tossed my snobby notions of academic background aside and just enjoyed and learned. Bees, hummingbirds, bats, dinosaurs, beetles, and butterflies, and more. A little of their evolution, a little of the biomechanics, a little of how they make their way in the world (or not, as the case may be for those dinos). I particularly appreciated when the author offered the multiple sides of conflicting theories. I greatly enjoyed the humor. As a librarian, I can't say that I would recommend this book to students as an authoritative source for a paper, but I don't think that is the audience for the book. If you love nature, or science, the author will share his love and knowledge in this very enjoyable book.

I love books about animals and the scientific aspects that made them what they are today. This books talks about how animals have mastered flight, going from insects to mammals and detailing the differences between them. The insects with their colors and quitinous wings, birds that are whats left of dinosaurs, the pteresaurs and their gigantic sizes and bats the only mammal capable of flight. The autor choses some specific group of animals to explain their flight in detail, like the butterfly, the albatrosses, hummingbirds, ants and a lot more. I really liked this book, it opened my eyes for things that we take for granted, and now when I go out I look at the animals flying and admire them.

Thank you netgalley. Elliot & Thompson and Lev Parikian fot this ARC.

Taking Flight was a delightful reading experience. I enjoy accessible, popular science books, and this one hit the mark. My favorite part of the book was the authors range of research from the prehistoric fossil record to the current day. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I had a great time reading it and would absolutely recommend it to friends.

Taking Flight by Lev Parikian is an absolute delight to read and as interesting as it is entertaining.

The first thing I noted down was how Parikian shares that the book was as much a journey for him to learn about the mechanics of flight to write the book and a nod to the experts who would know a lot more than he. This set me up to enjoy Lev's writing style based on a natural, easygoing narrative

The book as I said is delightful. Lev Parikian shows a real interest and excitement and this glitters through the narrative making it a very engaging read and I was utterly fascinated

An absolutely brilliant insight into natural flight and a real pleasure to read. Lev Parikian is like the fun teacher that everybody liked in school whose lessons left you smiling. I adore books about the natural world and this is an author I will be looking out for on the bookshelves

Thank you very, very much to Netgalley, Elliott and Thompson and the author, Lev PArikian for this wonderful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own