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Description
What makes a mammal a mammal? The answer is more complicated than you think!
I, Mammal is a history of mammals and their ancestors and of how science came to grasp mammalian evolution. After a misdirected football left new father Liam Drew clutching a uniquely mammalian part of his anatomy, he decided to find out more. Considering himself as a mammal first and a human second, Liam delves into ancient biological history to understand what it means to be mammalian.
In his humorous and engaging style, Liam explores the different characteristics that distinguish mammals from other types of animals. He charts the evolution of milk, warm blood and burgeoning brains, and examines the emergence of sophisticated teeth, exquisite ears, and elaborate reproductive biology, plus a host of other mammalian innovations. Entwined are tales of zoological peculiarities and reflections on how being a mammal has shaped the author's life.
In celebrating our mammalian-ness, Liam Drew binds us a little more tightly to the five and a half thousand other species of mammal on this planet and reveals the deep roots of many traits humans hold dear.
Product details
Published | Jan 16 2018 |
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Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 336 |
ISBN | 9781472922892 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Sigma |
Illustrations | 14 black and white illustrations |
Dimensions | 9 x 5 inches |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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I, Mammal is just the sort of book that can spark a love of nature and an appreciation for the ever-changing, eternally correcting march of science.
Science
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A splendid evolutionary study. . . Drew is a wry guide to wonders such as the evolution of the scrotum and the epic journey of marsupial newborns.
Nature
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Drew's immersion makes one proud to be a mammal.
Nancy Bent, Booklist
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An excellent combination of scientific principle and comedic wit that will appeal to biology fans and non-scientists alike. An excellent read.
How It Works
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Drew vividly conveys the excitement of scientific discovery [and] combines detailed technical information with interesting natural-history tidbits. There's much to be savoured by scientists and nonscientists alike.
Publishers Weekly
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From ice-sliding bison and tail-biting platypuses to cats and bats, hedgehogs and hooded seals, I, Mammal will change the way you think about hairy, milk-making, warm-blooded animals (yourself included). This carnival of mammals is science writing at its most funny, companionable and smart.
Helen Scales, marine biologist, broadcaster and author of Spirals in Time

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