SCIENCE & NATURE
SCIENCE & NATURE
THE WHISPERS OF ROCK
Anjana Khatwa
PB $ 34.99
From the sacred stones of Stonehenge to the rose red city of Petra, from towering mountains to the smallest grains of sand, rocks have had a profound influence on human life. Anjana Khatwa, an award-winning earth scientist and TV presenter, has dedicated much of her life to geology. Here she tells us in beautifully descriptive writing how rocks have been shaped over the eons, but also how they have shaped us. Khatwa takes us on an exhilarating journey through deep time.
( BE) WILDER Darryl Jones
PB $ 32.99
In( Be) wilder, acclaimed urban ecologist Darryl Jones explores how people around the world interact with wildlife. He spends time with bearded pigs in Borneo, rock ptarmigans in the Arctic, birdwatchers in Iowa, and conservationist farmers in Australia’ s Snowy Mountains. Along the way, Jones asks, is it possible for farming and conservation to work together? How can urban landscapes be redesigned to enhance biodiversity? What happens when a local community turns centuries of traditional land use over to wildlife? And can birdwatching help save the planet?
THE HIDDEN SEASONS
Tristan Gooley
HB $ 49.99
due dec 9
In The Hidden
Seasons, Tristan Gooley shows us how to read the clues that the sun, moon, stars, plants, fungi, animals, water and weather give us – but that we continually miss, because we don’ t know how and where to look. As with Tristan Gooley’ s bestsellers The Walker’ s Guide, How to Read Water and How to Read a Tree, The Hidden Seasons inspires us to explore these signs for ourselves, giving us many rich insights into our turning year. Soon we will be able to anticipate and celebrate daily changes that few notice, however surprising they may be.
AN INCON- VENIENCE OF PENGUINS
Jamie Lafferty
PB $ 34.99
From Kings and Emperors to Macaronis and Rockhoppers, penguins are one of the most immediately recognisable animals on Earth. Yet for all that familiarity, what do we really know about them? An Inconvenience of Penguins follows award-winning travel writer Jamie Lafferty as he visits all 18 species in a bid to understand the birds and their extraordinarily varied habitats a little better. On voyages to some of the world’ s most inaccessible and challenging landscapes, he recounts the history of our unique relationship with the world’ s most popular bird, and the people and places around them.
NATURE’ S LAST DANCE
Natalie Kyriacou OAM
PB $ 36.99
This is a story of survival and extinction, of life and death, of curiosity and perversion, of unimaginable joy and harrowing sorrow. Conservationists are locked in a high-stakes battle with the ghost of a drug lord and his herd of hippos. Scientists are fighting to save a flightless bird that romances rocks. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly unfolding mass extinction event, Nature’ s Last Dance takes readers into the heart of battles to survive against all odds. Award-winning environmentalist Natalie Kyriacou confronts the extinction crisis with courage and curiosity, charting a new course for nature.
THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRON- ICLES
Amy Tan
HB $ 45.00
In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. So Tan turned toward the natural world and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater – an opportunity to savour quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired. Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time.
shop online at hillofcontentbookshop. com or hillofcontentbalmain. com. au 18 | Summer Reading Guide 2025