My thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for an eARC of this book to read and review.

I think the editors needed ONE more go-around with this book before it should have hit the printers. On page 368, someone's agenda and personal beliefs came out that honestly had no place where it was. That made page 369 glaring and annoying and honestly, either page 369 should have leaned hard into it or not gone there at all. It was wishy-washy and seemed tacked on and out of place. I rather it be the focus or not in there at all and honestly, I think it SHOULD have been in there and leaned into, why briefly mention it and then not go into more detail? It's like you are trying to hide it. If there is a valid connection, MAKE that connection. If not, leave it out.

Because of those two pages of needless agenda, the stars dropped from five to three.

Now, for the rest of this book? HOLY. CATS. A MILLION stars for how INTERESTING it is. It took me FOREVER to read, because I kept pausing reading to look something up online, leading to the YT Rabbit Hole, spending hours looking up videos, pictures, and more stories about what was being discussed.

I seriously loved this book and how it was so HOPEful. Usually non-fiction nature books are all "At one time there were millions of these amazing animals, and now there are only 10 in captivity, because humans suck and only know how to kill everything". This one was different. Oh, it still had the "humans really did a number on this animal/habitat", BUT it ALSO had "and here is how the local people are trying to save the endangered animal/habitat and some of these had interviews with the boots on the ground people who were leading the charge to save their native flora and fauna.

All in all, this book was hopeful and incredibly interesting, though I wish it had more pictures instead of drawings. Yes, I know nature drawings are super important and a work of art in and of themselves, but I prefer seeing pictures of what is being discussed. That's a personal preference though and there were more pictures than drawings, but I would have preferred even more pictures so I wouldn't have had to go online and spend hours in the YTRH.

If you can ignore agenda or it doesn't bother you in what you read, then you will 100% LOVE this book. It's only the two pages. However, for me, that really killed the vibe for me.

3, keep you agenda out from where it doesn't belong, stars.

From the bestselling authors of “Atlas Obscura” and “Gastro Obscura” comes a nature book like no other—a dazzling, over-the-top collection of the world’s most extraordinary wild species that takes you to all seven continents and beyond. It’s more than a field guide, it’s an adventure.

Featuring more than 500 extraordinary plants, animals, and natural phenomena, with illustrations and photos on every page, the book takes readers around the globe—from Antarctic deserts to lush jungles and into the deepest fathoms of the ocean and the hearts of our densest cities. Teeming with detail and wildly entertaining, Atlas Obscura: Wild Life reinvigorates our sense of wonder, awe, and amazement about the incredible creatures we share our planet with.

By Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer, this is a beautifully illustrated treasure trove for both armchair travelers and adventurous spirits alike—and a captivating exploration of the planet’s most extraordinary living wonders.

From the outset, Giaimo and Foer draw readers into a vibrant world teeming with the bizarre and the beautiful. Each entry showcases unique species and ecosystems, celebrating nature’s incredible diversity. Whether it’s the bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico or the elusive axolotl of Mexico, both authors provide fascinating anecdotes and scientific insights that breathe life into their subjects.

What sets this book apart is its combination of whimsy and education. The narratives are peppered with intriguing facts, engaging storytelling, and stunning photography, which makes the reading experience as enlightening as it is enjoyable. The layout is visually appealing, with each page designed to entice readers to dive deeper into the wonders of the natural world.

Atlas Obscura: Wild Life encourages exploration and conservation, reminding us of the fragility of these ecosystems. The authors weave in themes of environmental stewardship, urging readers to appreciate and protect the wonders they encounter.

An incredible, fascinating, astounding book! Hundreds of pages of obscure animals, with crazy facts about each of them. And beautifully photographed also. This is the kind of book you just leave out on your coffee table and let visitors check it out. Young or old, they will be mesmerized! And you don't have to read it straight through, you can just pick it up when you have a minute, open it at random, and start enjoying facts about animals that are hard to imagine! Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reading copy. I am definitely buying a hard copy for myself, and for my parents and children.

There is a side of me that just wants to review this through the medium of the remarkable details it's garnered from the world of animals – the scorpion that can lose its rear end, and therefore have to live constipated for the last year of its life; the fact giant anteaters don't have any stomach acid of their own, as they don't need it when ants come packed with their own formic acid and therefore digest themselves; and the nanochameleon with a penis 19% as long as his whole body. But the thing is this is so adult, mature, wide-ranging and authoritative, it's quite daft to want to present it that way. Yes, it is just a selection of the bonkers, unlikely and superlative of the natural world, but it's much too encyclopaedic to be thought of as trivia-containing. Photographs are well-captioned, interviews with experts and conservators are cited, and we're told how to join in with looking at these critters, events and plants in real life. It's a mammoth undertaking, a cause of hours' browsing in the smallest room, perhaps – and also a provoker of even more respect for Mother Nature's output. And much less still for the result of humans', as a great proportion of entries show species dallying with extinction. Anyone thinking of bettering this has a mammoth task on their hands.

Atlas Obscura has been a recurrent joy in my life, with their podcasts, daily emails and wormhole of a website, I always look forward to seeing what they feature or explore next! Their latest book, Wild Life, expands from prior books to focus on natural wonders. Across the 450+ page book we move from through different biomes continent by continent learning about rare or unique animals, plants and natural features.

The book is divided into 7 chapters, separated by biomes (Forests & rain forests, Mountains, deserts, islands, etc..). After a brief 1 page introduction, the chapter features mostly 1 page entries about the different wildlife in the biomes. Each write up usually features at least 1 image, but often there are two or three. To break up the potential encyclopedic feel of the book, these entries are frequently interspersed with translated interviews with experts, guides, traditional practitioners or activists. Another feature is a full sensory description of a particular city, island or biomes detailing what you might see, hear or even smell.

Like everything Atlas Obscura produces, this book invites exploration and wonder. Great to pick up and browse or help plan your next trip.

Recommended to all readers, especially ones who enjoy travel in person or of the armchair variety.

I really love this book so much. I'm thinking about giving this to friends so we can share discussions about what parts we like best. There were some things I vaguely remember, like the beaver dam you can see from space, but just about every page had something amazing. The pictures are bright, clear, and informative. Reading books like this doesn't feel like work because they're so much fun. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing for the ARC.

I remember getting the first book from Atlas Obscura during college, bringing it to a DnD session for our group to geek out over. They followed that up with a book dedicated to food, my favorite subject. Now they're focusing on the natural world, my second favorite subject if my watch history is any judge. Maybe because I've been rewatching the same nature documentaries when I have nothing better to do, but many of the subjects here I was already familiar with. No matter, because the writers at Atlas Obscura cover them so well. You get the beauty and wonder of the world, how humankind and climate change have been affecting many of them, and interviews with people intimately familiar with the creatures, plants, and locations. The last one is especially important to me because it reminds me how there can still be a shot at recovering from the damage done, that there are still good people still fighting, and that we can be those people. This book reminds us to be aware of our surroundings because there is some awesome stuff out there, and I can't recommend it enough.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6941773036

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/c8c77450-a2f7-4917-b261-e4da0a49ffa0

Check out this review of Atlas Obscura: Wild Life on Fable. https://fable.co/review/3f24ade4-b057-434b-b2ba-f081393e3990/share

It took me a long time to finish this book but only because I was enjoying it so much that I didn’t want it to end. I wish I could memorize it from the introduction to the very end. Every page is full of fascinating and entertaining details about life on Earth. Unusual creatures of all species, as well as plants, fungi and even microscopic beings. Divided by ecosystems and into continents and regions, all the photographs are of the highest quality, and there are illustrations, diagrams and interviews with experts or regular people who deal with the subject in question. Combining science, trivia and behavioral issues, it is easy for readers of all ages to understand, and it taught me so much. There is a big emphasis on how we humans are affecting our home, and these parts were heartbreaking. It does make me optimistic about the future, considering that more and more humans are starting to value all creatures.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Workman Publishing Company.

I love Atlas Obscura and I love animals, so my reaction to this book is not surprising. I loved it, read it cover to cover, et cetera. Whoever you are, there is something in this book for you.

Chock full of interesting facts about wild life from around the world, accompanied with beautiful photos. Great gift for any Atlas Obscura fans.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Workman Publishing Company for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I am a HUGE fan of the 'Obscura" books, and have also been a fan of Cara Giaimo's science writing for several year, so I was super STOKED to hear about this book and get my hands on a copy.

First, the graphics and photos are amazing; and there are HUNDREDS throughout the book. The book itself is broken down into 7 chapters, covering all the areas and habitats of the earth: Forests & Rainforests, Grasslands & Tundras, Mountains, Deserts, Shallows & Deeps, Cites, and Islands. Being a scientist myself, I thought I knew "a lot" about animals, but this book blew my mind!! It takes you on a whirlwind trip around the globe to discover over 500 spectacular, weird, and beautiful flora and fauna.

I enjoyed everything about this book, and especially loved the layout, and insertions of interesting facts and folklore, and even first-person interviews. And the illustrations and photos really tie everything together. This book will invigorate your sense of wonder and open your mind to all the extraordinary creatures we share the Earth with.

Fans of Atlas Obscura (Hidden Wonders) and Gastro Obscura will want to check this book out! You won't be disappointed! I will definitely be recommending this one to my Non-fiction book club, and will likely buy several copies as gifts for friends and family!

This is a gorgeous book. One might be tempted to devour it, but I recommend taking the time to savor each of the fascinating pieces.

I read this as a digital advanced copy, but this is a book best read in print. I'm looking forward to many cozy mornings re-reading this book once it's out in print.

This title would make an excellent gift for the nature lovers and travelers in your life.

This review refers to the ARC provided by netgalley.

"Atlas Obscura: Wild Life" is a captivating and beautifully illustrated guide to the strange and wondrous creatures that inhabit our planet. Author Cara Giaimo takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the natural world, introducing us to 100 extraordinary animals, insects, and plants.

Each entry is accompanied by stunning illustrations, detailed descriptions, and intriguing facts that shed light on the fascinating adaptations and behaviors of these creatures. From the otherworldly axolotl to the elusive Amur leopard, this guide offers a glimpse into the astonishing diversity of life on Earth.

While the book may not be for everyone, particularly those with a strong aversion to insects or creepy-crawly things, it is an absolute treasure trove for anyone interested in the natural world and its most unusual inhabitants. The author's passion for these creatures and their importance in our ecosystem shines through on every page, making this book a must-have for nature enthusiasts, biologists, and curious minds alike.

Overall, "Atlas Obscura: Wild Life" is a visually stunning and captivating guide that celebrates the extraordinary creatures that share our planet. This book is a perfect gift for anyone who loves exploring the wonders of the natural world and appreciates the beauty and diversity of life on Earth.

This is a great book if you're looking to learn about interesting nature facts, it's very in depth and well written. Personally, though I didn't love the format. I suppose sorting animals and plants by country is more difficult, but I use the other Atlas Obscura books as resources for finding out what's in an area when I'm traveling. I was excited about this one, and had already pre-ordered it before receiving this advanced copy, but I don't foresee myself referring back to this one the way I have done with the previous books. Still an interesting read, just not what I was expecting, and my least favorite AO book by a mile.

I was stunned at the density of this book. I loved the variety of biomes, animals, plants, fungi, and the linkages between them and humans (we are, after all, animals too). Personal highlights for me were:
- the explicit explanations of how climate change has and will continue to impact the earth
- the senses one might experience in different locations (e.g. see, smell, hear)
- interviews with expert scientists and local knowledge keepers

Many sections had brief recommendations for how to experience these items. The book only listed warnings for very specific items (e.g. endangered species). In reality, most of the general population need to exercise the utmost caution for so many more. Don't follow a caribou or other large animals without an expert!

I read the Tallgrass prairie section with interest because it was/is hugely important in my home province. I would have liked this section to reflect Manitoba more. I have a very small version growing in my front yard! I also note that this section quotes "Tallgrass Prairie" by Robin Wall Kimmerer which is actually an essay of hers I had to google, and not her award-winning book Braiding Sweetgrass. I thought that was a strange choice.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

This book is gorgeous. It's filled with amazing pictures and facts about obscure wild life from all around the world. Exactly what I'd expect in a wild life book from Atlas Obscura. I'll be highly recommending this book to my patrons and customers.

This book is part of a series that covers anomalies and interesting facts about the world. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys learning new information about the natural world such as why some species are fluorescent for example.

Nature has created some wild things and Atlas Obscura: Wild Life describes them all!

From heavy metal vultures called lammergeiers to the Himalayas’ Noble Rhubarbs, these living beings are fascinating to read about. The lammergeier wears “KISS-worthy eye masks”, eats skeletons and loves to dye themselves blood red. The Nobel Rhubarb grows six feet tall on a mountainside that is more than 16,000 feet above sea level. The climate is both frigid and extremely windy. The plant is shaped like a spaceship with an outer protective shell for its flowers that bloom only once every 33 years. Talk about having a hard life! These are just two intriguing wild things from a book filled with them.

There are plenty of color photos and ideas on where to find these extraordinarily unusual plants and animals. If you or your children love nature, Atlas Obscura: Wild Life is a great choice. I’m sure you will find many new creatures that you have never even heard of before. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing me with an advanced review copy.

Atlas Obscura: Wild Life by Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer contains riveting information on 500 of the most enthralling living things one could hope to learn about. The photography is lushly detailed, rich in colour and mesmerizing.

Though the tallest living organism is fascinating, the second tallest grabs my attention even more. Tent-making bats, strangler figs, "stinkbirds", clever decoy spiders (this amazes me to no end), the world's largest freshwater fish with nearly indestructible scales, leaf engineering crickets' special ability to amplify sound, rainbow eucalyptus, the caterpillar which retains its old heads, shimmering "golden grass" in Brazil, living green "furniture", bull kelp, slime mold, split-gill fungi and fishing cats are just some of the remarkable organisms and creatures described. The "arboreal superlatives" table is brilliant! I feel smarter and more knowledgeable than I did before reading this magnificent book. What a happy find!

As a nature nut I absorbed information contained therein like a sponge and as it is so beautifully presented, I won't forget it. If you are curious and excited about the weird and wonderful oddities of our world, do not miss this.

My sincere thank you Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating book.

Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders is a 464 page book filled with colorful photographs and written information celebrating the world's most extraordinary natural wonders and curiosities. The following chapters are included in the book.

Forests & Rainforests

Grasslands & Tundras

Mountains

Deserts

Shallows & Deeps

Cities

Islands

As a reviewer my only complaint is the fact that every page is adorned with the publisher's watermark. This greatly interferes with the overall enjoyment of viewing the book. My initial reaction was that I did not want to even begin my review.

The Carnivorous Plant Cookbook was very fascinating.

Wood Frogsicles? These unassuming frogs survive each winter by freezing solid.

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: A giant accidental experiment.

Exploding Ants: Some treetop ants protect their colonies by blowing themselves up.

Firehawks: Some birds just want to watch the world burn.

Glacier Mice: These mysterious moss balls travel together — but why?

Potentially Immortal Bristlecone Pines: These scrappy and squat high-elevation trees can live for thousands of years without seeming to age.

Himalayan Birches: These trees have helped record sacred text for millenia.

Fog-Harvesting Beetles: These bugs wring water from the very air using engineering and acrobatics.

An Unusual Annelid: A worm with 1,000 annuses.

Money Cowries: A snail's slow journey into currency.

King's Holly: The world's oldest living thing continually remakes itself.

This is just a very small list of the amazing and incredible wonders that you will find within the pages of Atlas Obscura.