National treasure (or may I say, international treasure), Sir David Attenborough, has been fighting the good fight for flora and fauna since childhood. David was born on the 8th of May 1926 in Middlesex, England, and spent his childhood collecting fossils and other natural specimens. One of his sisters gave him prehistoric creatures contained within a piece of amber; 50 years later, that gift became the focus of his programme The Amber Time Machine.
Sir David has been a significant figure in British Broadcasting having spent over 50 years on our screens, using his strength and compassion to give a voice to the natural world. We have picked out 5 of the many wonderful books he has been involved with; perfect for any nature lover or Attenborough fan.
Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery
“The great voyages of discovery of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries brought European artists face-toface with new and exotic plants and animals, and created an intense interest in the way nature was investigated and recorded. In Amazing Rare Things, Sir David Attenborough explores the history of natural history. With expert curators from the Royal Library, he examines the contributions of four great artists and one pre-eminent collector to this era of extraordinary scientific advances. Beautifully illustrated with a selection of exquisite drawings and watercolours by Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander Marshal, Maria Sibylla Merian and Mark Catesby; and with works collected by Cassiano dal Pozzo, this book examines the engagement between art and nature, from Renaissance Italy to the New World of the Americas. This unique and fascinating book shines a light on the role of artists in our exploration of the natural world.”
Adventures of a Young Naturalist
“In 1954, a young television presenter was offered the opportunity of a lifetime – to travel the world finding rare and elusive animals for London Zoo’s collection, and to film the expeditions for the BBC. This is the story of those voyages. Staying with local tribes while trekking in search of giant anteaters in Guyana, Komodo dragons in Indonesia and armadillos in Paraguay, he and the rest of the team battled with cannibal fish, aggressive tree porcupines and escape-artist wild pigs, as well as treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather, to record the incredible beauty and biodiversity of these regions. The methods may be outdated now, but the fascination and respect for the wildlife, the people and the environment – and the importance of protecting these wild places – is not. Written with his trademark wit and charm, Adventures of a Young Naturalist is not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world, and who is still doing so today.”
Blue Planet II
“Our understanding of ocean life has changed dramatically in the last decade, with new species, new behaviours, and new habitats being discovered at a rapid rate. Blue Planet II, which accompanies an epic 7-part series, is a ground-breaking new look at the richness and variety of underwater life across our planet. With 300 breathtaking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit’s spectacular footage, each chapter brings to life a different habitat of the oceanic world. Voyages of migration show how each of the oceans on our planet are connected; coral reefs and arctic ice communities are revealed as thriving underwater cities; while shorelines throw up continual challenges to those living there or passing through. A final chapter explores the science and technology of the Ocean enterprise—not only how they were able to capture these amazing stories on film, but what the future holds for marine life based on these discoveries.”
Life Stories
“A personal view of the natural world
‘I dare say my mind would wander over a range of animals remarkable for the extravagance of their reproductive techniques’ – Sir David Attenborough, when asked which animal he would like to be if he returned to Earth.
This fantasy reincarnation was reserved only when in ’racy’ company, said the distinguished wildlife broadcaster. But in more sober company, he would go for a sloth, which hangs upside-down all day. The sloth is Sir David’s first essay in this collection of his own personal insight into the natural world around us. He also talks about his first ever pet, a salamander, and his favourite animal – the bird of paradise, as well as living fossils, flying dinosaurs, dragons and the strange antics of the duck-billed platypus.
This is Sir David looking at the wildlife that has captured his imagination and enthusiasm over his distinguished career in TV, then wildlife TV. It is a fascinating trip around the world in search of extraordinary plants and animals, in the company of this wonderful communicator.”
Planet Earth II
“Each chapter reveals an environment – some never-before-seen, some astonishingly familiar – defined by a unique set of rules required for survival. From the most desolate desert to the depths of the jungle, from blistering heat and freezing cold to perpetual darkness and deadly UV, discover how a whole host of creatures have adapted to life in the most extreme conditions. And how they compete with one another to become the largest, the fastest, the most poisonous, or most devious – all in a bid to survive. Planet Earth II includes the first in-depth look at the urban environment, and the surprising range of behaviours occurring right under our noses, as well as some previously untouched island worlds. Filmed with remarkable 5k and infra-red technology, these are the challenges, the confrontations, and the triumphs of some of the most extraordinary creatures in the natural world, told from their perspective. This is our planet, as you have never seen it before.”
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