Beauty of the Beasts

Rethinking Nature's Least Loved Animals

Jo Wimpenny (Author)

Beauty of the Beasts

Rethinking Nature's Least Loved Animals

Jo Wimpenny (Author)

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Description

A SPOTIFY BEST NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026

Wasps. Snakes. Cockroaches. Sharks. We fear them, loathe them and often kill them without question. But what if everything we think we know about these animals is wrong?

In an age of catastrophic biodiversity loss, Beauty of the Beasts is a celebration of nature's underdogs and a call to arms for greater coexistence with the natural world. Drawing on the latest research, Jo Wimpenny explores what shapes our beliefs about other animals, challenging our perceptions of 'good' species and setting the record straight about those we call 'pests' and 'villains'. Looking past these labels allows us to see that many of these animals are ecologically vital and live strikingly complex inner lives.

It may be tempting to imagine a more pleasant world without the animals that scare or repulse us, but such a purge would have devastating consequences. From wasps that provide free pest control and snakes whose venom may cure cancer to the deep social bonds of crocodiles and vultures, this book invites you to rethink our most misunderstood beasts.

Preface
Chapter 1: All animals aren't equal
Chapter 2: An awfulness of teeth and claws
Chapter 3: Snake in the grass
Chapter 4: To make flesh creep
Chapter 5: Keep calm and carrion
Chapter 6: Easy on the aye-aye
Chapter 7: Naughty neighbours
Chapter 8: The good, the bad and the animal
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published	Jun 01 2027
Format	Paperback
Edition	1st
Pages	320
ISBN	9781399417594
Imprint	Bloomsbury Wildlife
Illustrations	Black and white chapter illustrations
Dimensions	9 x 5 inches
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Jo Wimpenny

Jo Wimpenny is a zoologist and writer with a resea…

Zoologist Jo Wimpenny is out to have some fun in Beauty of the Beasts, a defence of snakes, wasps, crocodiles and the like, and why we should champion them amid catastrophic biodiversity loss.

New Scientist
Wimpenny aims to rehabilitate creepy-crawlies, predators and even, somewhat, real and presumed disease carriers. Beauty of the Beasts is chock-a-block with wonderful scientific and cultural facts.

Wall Street Journal
A brilliantly written and wildly entertaining tour de force. Beauty of the Beasts bites and snarls in its passion for the planet and our entangled life in amongst it all.

Sophie Pavelle, author of To Have or To Hold
Written with great knowledge, humour and tenderness, Beauty of the Beasts is as much about humans as it is about animals. Intertwining threads of zoology, history, psychology and philosophy, Jo Wimpenny prompts us to reflect on our relationship with nature.

Joanna Bagniewska, author of The Modern Bestiary
A charming, entertaining glimpse into the lives of unjustly scorned animals.

Kirkus Reviews
Jo Wimpenny has written an important love letter to the natural world. I urge you to dive into the magic and mystery of the often-dismissed species that are every bit as fascinating as the predictable poster children of the wild.

Hugh Warwick, author of Cull of the Wild