A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future by David Attenborough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fantastic read!
When I read this book it felt as though I was actually listening to Sir David’s voice with the explanations and statistical revelations about the state of our planet after some of the ways humans have ‘abused’ it for many hundreds of years. Of course the problems have become much bigger than any single individual can solve or put right quickly enough. It will take large organisations, even countries and their governments, to correct things to make a real difference. Such words of wisdom of course came from David Attenborough in this book.

As expected it was information that we, as individuals need to follow if we wish to save our beautiful world for future generations. Without doubt this ultimately sounds just too depressing to easily contemplate, but the likes of Attenborough and very many others will maintain that it is achievable. Things can be done even when so many powerful industrialists and financial executives have issues against this. The issues that David Attenborough discusses in detail include population, the oceans, biodiversity and plastic waste and it makes so much complete sense. Changes in the way certain industries, for example energy production, carry out their business should be commenced as soon as possible according to him. We are trying to reverse the effects of climate change and global warming after all. The book includes plenty of data and methodology to support his arguments. It is encouraging, helpful and convincing throughout and needs to be taken seriously by everyone living today. Sir David and his ilk must be allowed to champion the ultimate cause of saving our beautiful world – maybe before it is too late?
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No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although I am full of admiration for Greta Thunberg and the young people (and many older of course) involved in the environmental movement she has helped to create, I was a little disappointed in this book. For a long time I have been very aware of the climate change crisis situation, global warming, and the threat to biodiversity, having written and taught on such topics as a teacher. It seems to me that the most laudable thing that Greta and her young supporters have done is to have shaken up the cosy world of politicians and big business executives to the urgency of the situation – that of ensuring there is no further increase in the planet’s mean temperature rise than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The methods, ways and means of attempting to do this are various, known by conscientious scientists for decades! But the resistance, for that is what it is essentially, to applying these measures stems from the dramatic effects they are likely to have upon the economies and politics of the so-called developed countries of the world. I believe that Greta and most of her young supporters ‘get it’, and they are pleading the cause because it will affect their world most of all, by which I mean the future world of themselves, and of their future children.

Unfortunately, the book is little more than a collection of her speeches to many important bodies around the globe, and inclined to be, therefore, somewhat repetitive in parts. Whilst repeating a point many times can be effective it is a pity that some of the background climate information was not included for the benefit of the less informed readers. As it is, there is the danger of it becoming rather boring to some, such as those who are curious to know ‘why all the fuss about Greta’, and then failing in its aim of being a rallying cry to save our living planet. The speeches are indeed ‘ground-breaking’ and wholly justified, but this small book about small people making a difference needs some more ammunition to pad it out into something even more significant and potent.


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Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea and Human Life by George Monbiot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an amazing book! I really liked it but only after about 5 or 6 chapters - because there seemed to be too many personal musings and angry thoughts about the author's lost opportunities to catch (endangered?!) fish or become a member of an African tribe etc. There was even a chapter about people who thought they had seen a black panther on various moors in the UK. Quite interesting and amusing but its relevance escaped me.
However, if you can get through those earlier bits then the author proceeds to provide a wealth of information about the loss of habitat, extinction of various species and theories about the causes. Inevitably homo sapiens figures as the main culprit over the many millennia in his quest for superiority over all other species on Earth. There is an impressive volume of research with pages and pages for reference at the end of the book.
It is vexing for anyone interested in rewilding our planet to read about obvious things that can, or could, be done but ignored by most governments and organisations with vested interests in clearing forests, scrubland, peat moors etc, thus maintaining a damaging status quo! Not enough people it seems are aware of the real damage to the Earth and the loss our children and grandchildren will find later - too late! Monbiot's book was written several year ago and its importance cannot be overstated.

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The Private Life of the Otter by Philip Wayre
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading this fascinating book about a year ago while on holiday in a cottage on the Isle of Skye. It was the usual thing; I picked it out from the various genres on the shelf of books left for visitors who found the weather particularly 'unfair' one day and wanted something to read. I was unable to finish it before leaving but managed to obtain a used copy on returning home. Apparently otters are more common on the west coast of Scotland and we felt lucky to see them more than once swimming in the various bays around Skye. Thrilling for everyone in our party of four adults and two girls, and which increased my desire to find out more. I had previously read Gavin Maxwell's 'Ring of Bright Water' and 'The River People' also by Philip Wayre, the author of the book in Skye.

Wayre must have been one of the most expert people in the world on the subject of otters, and not just the European species. He and his wife established the first British Wildlife park in 1971 where they set up a very successful breeding project in order to re-introduce otters back into the wild. Both of his books include all sorts of details about otters: amusing tales about his own close-up experiences with those he kept; intricate details and measurements recorded for studying them further, and in this book, lots of amazing black and white photographs. The pictures may lack the amazing clarity and colour available to almost anyone in these digital times but the photos, taken in the late 1960s and early 70s, were so poignant and somehow underlined how terribly persecuted these wonderful animals once were - almost to extinction in the UK. There is advice for readers who wish to study otters further although Wayre and others have set up important otter trusts that will be far more efficient in my opinion. There is always the danger that well meaning individuals may do more harm than good, or even, unknowingly, cross the legal lines involved in caring for wild animals like otters, polecats, badgers etc. Notwithstanding all that this book is a Tour de Force! Highly recommended to lovers of wildlife.

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