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Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change Paperback – November 1, 2022

by Thor Hanson (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 168 ratings
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*A New York Times Editor's Choice pick
*Shortlisted for the 2022 Pacific Northwest Book Awards

A beloved natural historian explores how climate change is driving evolution 

In  Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, biologist Thor Hanson tells the remarkable story of how plants and animals are responding to climate change: adjusting, evolving, and sometimes dying out. Anole lizards have grown larger toe pads, to grip more tightly in frequent hurricanes. Warm waters have caused the development of Humboldt squid to alter so dramatically that fishermen mistake them for different species. Brown pelicans have moved north, and long-spined sea urchins south, to find cooler homes. And when coral reefs sicken, they leave no territory worth fighting for, so aggressive butterfly fish transform instantly into pacifists.  

A story of hope, resilience, and risk, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid is natural history for readers of Bernd Heinrich, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and David Haskell. It is also a reminder of how unpredictable climate change is as it interacts with the messy lattice of life. 

Previous page
  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    5.45 x 0.95 x 8.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1541672399
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1541672390
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Hanson is an affable guide and storyteller, with a knack for analogy, a sense of humor and the natural curiosity of a scientist.”―Jonathan Balcombe, The New York Times

“A masterful storyteller, Hanson interweaves his own formative experiences into the narrative…The book’s forward-looking approach seems intended to encourage readers’ curiosity about climate change, with the notion that, once suitably informed, they will feel compelled to take action.”
 ―Science

"Open[s] trapdoors onto the vivid lives of other beings in hopes of giving humans a close-grained understanding of our role in habitat change and the varieties of adaptation that may be in store for our species too.”
 ―The Atlantic

A Publishers Weekly Pick for Book of the Week―Publishers Weekly

“An engaging author who has celebrated the wonders of nature in books about feathers, seeds, forests and bees, he’s an ideal guide to a topic that might otherwise send readers down a well of despair.”
 ―Science News

“A wonderfully engaging tour of Earth’s plant and animal kingdoms.”―Times Literary Supplement

"An outstanding introduction to a global threat."―Portland Book Review

“With contagious curiosity, Hanson nimbly avoids pedantic, moralistic admonishments. Nature-lovers will be thrilled to see science so vividly described, and will marvel at the incredible ingenuity of creatures across the globe.”―Publishers Weekly

“VERDICT: This compelling read will spark the interest of everyone who cares about what is happening to the natural world.”―Rachel Owens, Library Journal

“Hanson writes a hopeful and compelling story exploring various climate adaptations in the animal and plant worlds with a rare combination of engrossing clarity and robust interrogation. He encourages us to lift our own voices and actually assert change. Each enormously engaging essay proves what I've known for some time: Thor Hanson is a marvel whose enthusiasm for this planet is utterly contagious.” ―Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders

“One of our finest writers of literary natural history takes on the most crucial topic of our times—how will life itself respond to a warming world? —and brings back answers both utterly beguiling and strangely reassuring. This is arguably the most significant discussion of the biology of global warming I know, brought to us in the intelligent, wise, and beautiful prose we've come to rely upon Thor Hanson to deliver. If you read only one book on climate change this year, let it be this one.” 

―Robert Michael Pyle, Ph.D., author of Wintergreen and Nature Matrix

“Thor Hanson’s clear-eyed science writing meets its best topic yet in this book. While governments and publics joust over climate change, biologists studying all the ways wild animals are already responding to it are five steps ahead of the game. Hanson takes his readers on a tour of this cutting edge in our rapidly-changing world. Yes, there are looming extinctions. But before you wring your hands in despair, read this book. As it always has, life finds a way.”―Dan Flores, New York Times bestselling author of Coyote America

"Thor Hanson is not just a scientist and writer--he is a gifted raconteur, filled with wonder and love for the wild earth. In Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid Hanson brings his unique perspective to this time of ecological crisis. Rather than just a warming planet, we find stories from the infinite and varied tangle of life, with every being—from bacteria to birds—seeking to adapt with ingenuity and resilience. This book bears witness to the individual stories so often lost in climate headlines, and invites us all to live with greater depth and awareness as we seek a hopeful path forward."―Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Rooted and Mozart's Starling

About the Author

Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist, Guggenheim Fellow, and author of award winning books including Buzz, Feathers, The Impenetrable Forest, and The Triumph of Seeds. He lives with his wife and son on an island in Washington State.

 

www.thorhanson.net

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (November 1, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541672399
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541672390
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.95 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 168 ratings

About the author

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Thor Hanson

Thor Hanson

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Dr. Thor Hanson is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Switzer Environmental Fellow, and an award winning author and biologist. His books include HURRICANE LIZARDS AND PLASTIC SQUID, BUZZ, FEATHERS, THE TRIUMPH OF SEEDS, and THE IMPENETRABLE FOREST, as well as the children's favorite BARTHOLOMEW QUILL. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including the John Burroughs Medal, the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, and three Pacific Northwest Book Awards. Hanson's many media appearances have included Fresh Air and Science Friday on NPR, and he co-hosted the PBS Nature series, American Spring Live. He lives with his wife and son on an island in Washington State. Visit his website at www.thorhanson.net. (Author photo by Kathleen Ballard Photography.)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
168 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

A. Sams
5.0 out of 5 stars most fascinating read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a so informative, "can't put-it-down" book. Well written, and will no doubt be re-read.
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Daniella Chace
5.0 out of 5 stars A new perspective on a mind bending topic!
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
I was up late last night reading Hurricane Lizards. Such great examples of the impact of climate change. This book has just the right balance of exciting juicy science and accessible explanations all delivered with a warm caring tone that inspires trust and takes us on a journey. Includes examples of climate change impact that I had not read about before. I love Thor Hanson's books so much that as each new title comes out, that book becomes my Christmas gift of the year. Everyone gets a copy from me and they are always a huge hit and start conversations that have gone on for years. It feels like everyone I know is talking about this book right now!
2 people found this helpful
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pal
4.0 out of 5 stars As advertised
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was a gift for my wife and appears to be fine and arrived pristine.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Information that you will share
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
Thor Hanson's book gives great insights into how the natural world is dealing with climate change and the scientists that are trying to track these changes around the world. His easy story telling style allows one to follow his journey and conversations with these researchers and apply it to things we see every day.

I shared some of his information with a good friend and now will share the book after completing it.
2 people found this helpful
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MDW
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
Well written and very informative. Hopefully actions will be enacted soon to minimize anthropogenic climate change. However, it's already happening and the consequences are being observed in nature. This is the first book I've encountered that addresses climate change issues from this perspective. A well researched endeavor that provides an important aspect to the changes in motion - highly recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Joan Chantler
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and not the bummer it could be
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
The author presents a lot of unusual and thought provoking information about climate change and how plants and animals adapt. I was surprised that it didn't leave me wanting to jump off a bridge, as so many t other climate change articles and news stories do have that affect.
One person found this helpful
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Jonathan Stewart
3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining But A Bit Fluffy
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
If you've ever seen Thor's YouTube videos, his writing exudes the same enthusiasm and passion. However, this book contains a bit too much fluff. The interesting stuff can be condensed down into a 15 minute YouTube talk.
One person found this helpful
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Nancy Adair
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Informative
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2021
Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson is enjoyable and accessible science writing that will appeal to a large demographic. “When complex ideas are attached to a narrative, they immediately become more relatable,” Hanson writes in his introduction. And he does a marvelous job of telling stories of climate change’s impact on species whose ecosystems are changing, the species changing, or dying, in response. And as Hanson takes us across the world, the book is an ecological travelogue.

We humans have known climate change has been happening, yet continued to believe it was ‘coming.’ Changing our lives and cultures hasn’t happened. And now, plants and animals across the globe are showing us that the change is already here. They are modifying their behaviors, even if we haven’t.

We are seeing before our eyes rapid changes in climate and shifting ecosystems. What can we learn from species adapting to these changes?

Hanson visits Waldon Pond, a major source of harvested ice in Thoreau’s time, while he found ice barely 2″ thick in February. He tells stories of the “greatest redistribution of species since the last ice age,” as Gretta Pecl stated. Some plants and animals “roll with the punches.” That gives some hope.

The book is illustrated with photographs. The ‘hurricane lizards,’ for instance, are shown during a wind test to see how they coped with gale force winds. Those with the largest toe pads could cling better. Those lizards survived the hurricanes.

The book is as enjoyable to read as it is informative.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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patricio
4.0 out of 5 stars El optimismo sobrebla capacidad de la vida de salir adelante a pesar del cambio climático
Reviewed in Spain on April 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Que sin dejar de alertar sobre las nefastas consecuencias del cambio climático para la naturaleza y la vida, existe una luz de esperanza de que no todo está perdido aún cuando no seamos capaces de frenar o revertir el cambio climático
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