Curious Encounters with the Natural World: From Grumpy Spiders to Hidden Tigers

by Michael R. Jeffords, Susan L. Post

Michael R. Jeffords and Susan L. Post have circled the globe--and explored their neighborhood--collecting images of the natural world. This book opens their personal cabinet of curiosities to tell the stories of the pair's most unusual encounters. From the "necking" battles of mate-hungry giraffes to the breathtaking beauty of millions of monarch butterflies at rest, Jeffords and Post share 200 stunning photographs and their own insightful essays to guide readers on a spectacular journey. Their training as entomologists offers unique perspectives on surprise stag beetle swarms and spider hunting habits. Their photographic eye, honed by decades of observation, finds expression in once-in-a-lifetime images. The result is an eyewitness collection of startling and unusual phenomena that illuminates the diverse life inhabiting our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Curious Encounters with the Natural World' by Michael Jeffords and Susan Post

5 stars/ 10 out of 10

The description in the foreword of this book is apposite; that this book is a museum of interactions of life in the world at large.

There is a very interesting introduction by both authors regarding cabinets of curiosities, both historical and personal. Then follow ten themed chapters, of related text and photographs.

I think the photographs in this book are outstanding, especially those of butterflies, and of birds of all shapes, sizes and colours.

For me, the best photos of all are the photo of the hoodoos in Goblin National Park and the photo of Zion National Park.

This is an excellent book, that deserves to be dipped into again and again. The authors can be very proud of their achievement.

Thank you to University of Illinois Press and to NetGalley for an ARC.

[Debbie is on Storygraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, the photographs in the book are absolutely stunning, and the authors showcase beauty in the natural world, from carpet mites to large animals, to landscapes. This book would be a marvelous coffee table book. The write-ups the were paired with the photos were interesting and I did enjoy reading them, but often found myself skimming them in order to spend more time with the pictures they were addressing.

I loved that the authors organized the book in a fairly non-traditional way - not by types of animals or region of the world, but the type of activity in the photographs. It really allowed me to appreciate the natural world in a different way.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

[Paul Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once the intros are done, the book becomes two-page chapters of each animal encounter, the first of text and the second of photos. The authors are from eastern Illinois, so most of their explorations are based there, and they love showing off their accumulated specimens. They’re entomologists, one of whom got over the “Ew, bugs!” reflex that I never will. There are more than enough bug photos to give me nightmares for the rest of my life, even though I did my best to skip over ones where I knew what was coming. I risked a look at the peanut-headed bug: revulsion killed the curiosity. On the other hand, I do love the flamingo photo. The turtle-filled log just looks hilarious, and a shot of three turtles attempting to play leapfrog was equally chuckle-worthy. Some of the pencil drawings are more intriguing than the photographs.
My highlights:
That cat-poop-in-the-beard story. . . wow.
Penguin Poop on a Johnny Rook.
I’ve seen penguins on beaches in Australia, but in sandstorms. . .
Hoodoos in Utah: “A place that illustrates the point that geology has much more of a sense of humor than geologists!”
For those who love animals, especially insects, this is fantastic. For those who like some animals or have some curiosity in the field, this is good in small doses. The photography is excellent, but then it should be, because in one photo you can see Susan using the same camera I used back in the days of film photography.
There’s fifteen pages of glossary, references, and index.
I hope I didn’t bring down the book’s grade because of my aversion to creepie-crawlies, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t.

[Regina Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic, dramatic, and informative. Book leads by places and narratives, supplying page long anecdotes and pictures to support the story. A lot of work put into this book and it shows! A very pleasant read and is something that I would like to add to my library. Cover itself is interesting and playful to stand face forward on the shelf. Pictures provided by Susan Post are detailed, astonishing and present a huge variety. I've seen my mother-in-law place books open on a page with flowers to be displayed, this book would be amazing for that. A great read, visual stimulant and a decoration.
Now narratives surrounding wrestling of snakes; insects finding one another to mate; fish knocking the glasses off and so much more. These create stories and give nature a more romantic outlook. I cannot emphasize how well this book was done. Birds, flowers, butterflies, reptiles, mammals, caterpillars - all of them took my breath away.

[Margaret Sholders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I like creatures. I really liked that Michael and Susan were both photographers. They travel the World and it is so good that the photos are in color! Each chapter is one creature at a time on a page. I found a lot of critters that I never saw before. This book is for children to adults. I would recommend this book for everyone. I hope you will read this book with your family! Thank you Michael and Susan!

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Netgalley for Review:

This book is fantastic! A combination of beautiful photographs and stories of the various quirks and oddities of the natural world. Truly this book would be a great addition to any naturalist's book collection, the photography alone makes it worth the read, and the stories are the icing on the cake.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. This is such a interesting and fabulously photographed book. It is a book that I keep dipping into, just can't stop myself, and every time I do I am intrigued and filled with amazement. If you are interested in nature and/or photography, this is the book for you. Fabulous.

[Teri Reck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exquisite compendium of essays and photos by two retired naturalists--the photos alone are worth a look at this book! The results of a lifetime of adventure and inquiry, this book entices us all to question, observe, and wonder at our natural surroundings and the creatures which inhabit them. A wonderful reminder as I begin a new reading challenge in a new year!

[Kirsten Lost 2022 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so disappointed to not have this book in physical format. Hurry up and release already!

So beautiful, so education, so wonderful, so interesting.

Buy it now! (or in 6 days, when it releases :) )

Thanks to Netgalley for the read.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with great photography about the strange and wonderful natural world.

- recommended by the library book newsletter

[Elyssa (Elyssa's Editions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read through most, but not all of this book.

I enjoyed the format of the book - first having a spread describing the natural "encounter" and then some photographic representation of the topic. I think this book would be a lovely coffee table book, but I did not find it tremendously interesting as a book to read cover-to-cover. Ultimately, my ARC expired before I was able to finish the entire book.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of stunning photography, with little stories about them, and environmental background information. I enjoyed the photos more than these little stories, and did occasionally skip them. Some photos I thought didn't fit ( road sign, restaurant sign), but those were in the minority. I occassionly wanted more photos of the scene ( different angles, varying distance). Good for a coffe table type book.