Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Nature & Travel Book Reviews Available Now (page 8)


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Cover art for WIND WIZARD
NONFICTION
Released: Dec. 1, 2012

"A winning, enlightening investigation into wind engineering and the man who made the airwaves speak."
A richly drawn portrait of Alan Davenport (1932–2009), the maestro of "balancing the wind's fickle forces." Read full book review >
Cover art for THE GRAND TOUR
NONFICTION
Released: Dec. 1, 2012

"A magical tour back to a time before telephone and instant forms of communication. Narrated by a woman who went on to become the most widely published author of all time, this volume should delight both Christie fans and history buffs."
A collection of the mystery writer's 1922 British Empire Tour correspondence. Read full book review >
Cover art for CHASING DOCTOR DOLITTLE
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 27, 2012

"Intriguing but not entirely convincing."
The director of the Animal Language Institute gives an affirmative answer to the question: "Do animals have language?" Read full book review >
Cover art for THE CARBON CRUNCH
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 27, 2012

"An optimistically levelheaded book about actually dealing with global warming."
A serious attempt to address climate change: "why it matters, what causes [it], and who is responsible." Read full book review >
Cover art for THE $60,000 DOG
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 20, 2012

"Beautifully written, and not just for animal lovers."
Slater (Blue Beyond Blue: Extraordinary Tales for Ordinary Dilemmas, 2005, etc.) shares her thoughts and feelings about animals in a revealing, often surprising memoir. Read full book review >
Cover art for ROUND ABOUT THE EARTH
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 13, 2012

"A welcome, unique addition to our travel literature."
Relying largely on first-person accounts, Chaplin (History/Harvard Univ.; The First Scientific American: Benjamin Franklin and the Pursuit of Genius, 2006, etc.) pieces together a centuries-old story: our obsession with circling the globe. Read full book review >
Cover art for 1912
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 13, 2012

"While each expedition could easily merit its own book, Turney adroitly manages to give a full portrait of each explorer and crew without giving any short shrift."
An in-depth look at a year in which five different expeditions set out to explore Antarctica. Read full book review >
Cover art for WALKABLE CITY
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 13, 2012

"Some intriguing ideas amid a dry narrative."
A city planner offers a blueprint for making midsize American cities more pedestrian-friendly. Read full book review >
Cover art for BIRTHRIGHT
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 13, 2012

"Kellert isn't advocating for a Luddite existence, but he argues convincingly for an increased understanding of our place as part of nature rather than just conquerors of it."
An exploration of the specific ways in which a connection with the natural world affects the well-being of humankind. Read full book review >
Cover art for NATURE WARS
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 13, 2012

"An eye-opening take on how romantic sentimentalism about nature can have destructive consequences."
Journalist Sterba (Frankie's Place: A Love Story, 2003, etc.) employs humor and an eye for the absurd to document the sometimes bizarre conflicts that arise as a consequence of America's transformed relationship with nature. Read full book review >
Cover art for WHAT'S A DOG FOR?
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 12, 2012

"Although aimed primarily at dog owners and dog lovers, other animal enthusiasts will find illuminating nuggets of information on the ever-changing and complex world of people and their pets."
An intriguing look into the life of dogs. Read full book review >
Cover art for AMONG THE ISLANDS
NONFICTION
Released: Nov. 6, 2012

"A breathtaking, informative tour of faraway lands."
From the tides of the South Pacific to the impossible peaks of jungle islands, one zoologist sets out to find the living riches of the planet. Read full book review >