Vulture

Thom van Dooren crafts a heartfelt defence of the scavenger birds. He finds beauty and nobility in everything, from their acidic digestive tracts, which make them invulnerable even to anthrax, to their collective ability to skeletonize a ritually presented human corpse in an hour . . . captivating. * TLS * This little book by environmental philosopher and anthropologist Thom van Dooren could go a long way toward cleaning up the reputation of our local scavengers and their vulture brethren. ­ * Natural History * Vultures are probably the most misunderstood of all birds. This lovely book, filled with art and drawings, seeks to provide a more complete and nuanced understanding and appreciation for these majestic birds. * Grrlscientist, The Guardian * Vulture is part of a wonderful series of books, each of which is devoted to a single animal, including a number of surprising and unlikely species . . . I have enjoyed many other books published by Reaktion, and this is no exception. Each wide-ranging, yet relatively short volume reviews numerous aspects of the animals under consideration, summarizing what is known about their behavior, their ecological niche, and their relationship with humans, including their significance in various cultures and religions. In engaging prose accompanied by a large number of color and black-and-white illustrations, Thom van Dooren continues this tradition and shows that quirky and long-lived vultures are amazingly diverse and highly misunderstood . . . With populations of vultures in serious decline globally, let us hope that this inspirational, informative, and myth-breaking book will engender a renewed appreciation and respect for these magnificent birds and help them survive in a human-dominated world . . . I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. * Marc Bekoff, Journal of Animal Ethics *