Thank you, Workman Publishing Company for the copy of Atlas Obscura: Wild Life. I loved this book, and it would be a great gift for all of your friends that are curious about the natural, often unseen, wonders of the world. I really liked how there were short descriptions of each animal or plant as well as a photo or sketch. While there were many I already knew about, some of them were new to me and almost felt unreal. There’s a lot of material for trivia questions if that’s what you’re looking for! 5 stars.

Excellent addition to the Atlas Obscura family! Tremendous amount of information delivered in an easily digestible fashion. Beautiful photography. Something for everyone. Immediately pre-ordering several copies for Christmas gifts.

You really can't go wrong with an Atlas Obscura book. This volume features the usual focus on the rare and peculiar but as related to creatures, their behaviors, habitats, etc. It's broken up but the various environs throughout the world. A fun coffee-table book but still dense with info, maybe more so than their other books. Probably a bit text heavy for Elementary age kids but still accessible and fun.

3.5 stars. This isn't so much a book to read all the way through. It would make a great coffee table book, or I could see a person reading a section (the book is divided into biomes, so alpine, desert, etc.), or all the chapters for a region (each biome section is divided into continent/area, so you could read the Asia chapters within each section, for example). The articles are only 1-2 pages at most, so this isn't an exhaustive reference resource for adults but it could definitely be a starting place or initial resource on any of the topics.

The writing was all over the place as far as writing level/accessible audience. Each section is credited to a different team. On the whole, the book can likely be read by tweens and up, but some articles had an even lower reading level. It felt like an editing oversight.

The book is very photo-heavy, but also includes a number of sketches instead of photos. There didn't seem to be a consistency to which items get only a sketch, and I don't think they added anything that a photo wouldn't have.

eARC from NetGalley.

Dan's Reviews > Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders
Atlas Obscura by Cara Giaimo
Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders
by Cara Giaimo, Cara Giaimo, Atlas Obscura
M 50x66
Dan's reviewJul 13, 2024 · edit
really liked it

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Workman Publishing Company for an advance copy of this book that highlights in essays the amazing variety of odd, animals, plants and environments we share the planet with, the risks the face in our modern world, and just how nature keeps surprising us with new, amazing things.

When I was young I was able to persuade my parents to buy these nature cards I saw advertised on various Saturday morning cartoon blocks. Well the introductory cards, I don't think I ever had the full set. However I loved them. On the front was a big picture of an animal or an environment, on the back was information where to find it, what they ate, all sorts of things. I loved those cards, and my brother did also. One doesn't need cards anymore in our time of just asking the air around us a question, and having an AI device answer us, sometimes right sometimes wrong. The problem is especially about nature are we asking the right questions. ECHO, do ants explode, and why?. Can birds find honey? Why are there seal corpses so far from shoreline? Can spiders fly? None of these questions I would have thought of, and my life would be the poorer for it. And that's why I loved this book. Atlas Obscura: Wild Life:An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders by Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer is a nature book I would have loved as a child, a huge guide to all the strange, different and beautiful creatures, animal and natural, that share the world with us. And make the natural world so wonderful.

The book is broken down into environments, deserts, jungles, urban areas, islands and more. Readers are given an idea what life is like in these places, with looks at weather conditions, and possible extremes. From there is is a guide to animals and plants that Ranger Rick might not have covered, if anyone remembers that nature magazine, that I had a subscription to. The entries are about a page in length, with information about where the animals are located, stories of discovery, oddities, and how one can see them. The book also has interviews with various people from conservation groups, scientists, even cultural representatives who discuss certain animals, their meaning to the community, particular threats and the like. Along with lots and lots of wonder photos, or drawings. One learns about birds that move traffic cones, exploding ants, or even better ants that live in deserts and can almost fly, and have body armor to deflect heat. Owls that winter in Acapulco. Ghost Dogs, wild looking cats, and camels that live in nuclear testing zones.

I loved this book, far more than I thought I would. Each page has wonder, animals presumed to be extinct living their best lives deep in the outback. Stories about tool using mammals and birds, rock walls covered in parrots. Mice immune to scorpion poison. The interviews I found to especially thought provoking. As I said, they are a varied group of people, animal lovers, scientists, and people trying to keep their ancient knowledge alive, or working to stop extinctions. The writing is very good, informative and entertaining, even as they are succinct. What I enjoyed most is that it can be read by people of all ages. I know I am buying this for my nephew. He calls himself a friend of the animals and he will devour this. My nephew is 11, and I am much older, but I had a hard time putting it down. Readable, fascinating, and one of those books you can't help but share bits with others. I have liked most of the books in the Atlas Obscura series, this might be my favorite.

A wonderful gift for oneself, or for others. Burgeoning naturalists will get a kick out of the menagerie of oddness. Older people will enjoy the writing, and the animals. Also this would be a great book for role gamers as there are great ideas for interesting new creatures, and cryptid fans, as a lot of these real animals might explain a lot of encounters.

So many wonderful photographs and illustrations! There are somewhat commonplace, but odd, beings like cacti and bears included, as well as ones folks may not have heard of, like the pink fairy armadillo and the olm. A solid and valuable addition to a library or personal collection.

Another book n the Atlas Obscura series. Very well illustrated. Past editions have focused on obscure geographical locations. This book focuses on all aspects of obscure wildlife - obscure in terms of the way they look, act, or live. Covers all types of wildlife, including of course animals, but also plants.

I loved the other Atlas Obscura books that this is another great edition. The book is well researched and full of new facts that kept me learning new things on every page. The layout is easy to read and full of illustrations and photos that compliment the entries. This is a great addition for any nature/animal enthusiast, filled with hours of discovery that you will keep coming back too. I can't wait to have my own addition to bookmark all my favorites and share new facts with friends.

Gorgeous photos, unique creatures and all the details on their habitats makes Atlas Obscura: Wild Life a great addition to the Atlas Obscura books. Truly any wild life enthusiast would be ecstatic at the chance to have this book in their collection. And personally, I really want a white bat now!

This is a great book full of unusual and fascinating information. While you could read it cover-to-cover, I think it’s fun to randomly pick a page and discover something you never knew about. I can imagine older children really getting into this book, too. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love the pictures, weird stories, and variety of places that are included in here. The salty clay lick spot photo was great. Who knew parrots preferred getting their salt through cliffs? The only problem I can see with this book is that it could be really heavy with all the info in it!

I love Atlas Obscure, and I love the ways that they've branched out from just cool places. Alongside their cookbook, this is a great addition to the series. So many fun and interesting facts.