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Animals Make Us Human
A fundraiser for our wildlife, from land, sea and sky. Proceeds go to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
A response to the devastating 2019–20 bushfires, Animals Make Us Human both celebrates Australia’s unique wildlife and highlights its vulnerability. Through words and images, writers, photographers and researchers reflect on their connection with animals and nature. They share moments of wonder and revelation from encounters in the natural world: seeing a wild platypus at play, an echidna dawdling across a bush track, or the inexplicable leap of a thresher shark; watching bats take flight at dusk, or birds making a home in the backyard; or following possums, gliders and owls into the dark.
Hopeful, uplifting and deeply moving, this collection is also an urgent call to action, a powerful reminder that we only have one world in which to coexist and thrive with our fellow creatures. By highlighting the beauty and fragility of our unique fauna, Australia’s favourite writers, renowned researchers and acclaimed photographers encourage readers to consider it in a new light.
Featuring: Barbara Allen, Robbie Arnott, Tony Birch, James Bradley, Mark Brandi, Geraldine Brooks, Anne Buist, Melanie Cheng, Claire G. Coleman, Ceridwen Dovey, Chris Flynn, Nayuka Gorrie, Dan Harley, Ashley Hay, Toni Jordan, Leah Kaminsky, Paul Kelly, Meg Keneally, Tom Keneally, Cate Kennedy, David Lindenmayer, Ella Loeffler, Maia Loeffler, Jen Martin, Angela Meyer, Sonia Orchard, Favel Parrett, Marissa Parrott, Bruce Pascoe, Jack Pascoe, Sue Pillans, Nick Porch, Holly Ringland, Euan Ritchie, Antoinette Roe, Kirli Saunders, Graeme Simsion, Tracy Sorensen, Shaun Tan, Lucy Treloar, Karen Viggers, Emma Viskic, John Woinarski, Clare Wright.
And photographers: Tim Bawden, Kristian Bell, Rohan Bilney, Justin Bruhn, Andrew Buckle, Matt Clancy, Amy Coetsee, Craig Coverdale, Angus Emmott, Jayne Jenkins, Vivien Jones, Sue Liu, Michael Livingston, Caleb McElrea, Nick Monaghan, Richard Pillans, Gillian Rayment, Linda Rogan, David Maurice Smith, Steve Smith, Colin Southwell, Georgina Steytler, Wayne Suffield, Heather Sutton, Peter Taylor, William Terry, Patrick Tomkins, Matt Wright.
A response to the devastating 2019–20 bushfires, Animals Make Us Human both celebrates Australia’s unique wildlife and highlights its vulnerability. Through words and images, writers, photographers and researchers reflect on their connection with animals and nature. They share moments of wonder and revelation from encounters in the natural world: seeing a wild platypus at play, an echidna dawdling across a bush track, or the inexplicable leap of a thresher shark; watching bats take flight at dusk, or birds making a home in the backyard; or following possums, gliders and owls into the dark.
Hopeful, uplifting and deeply moving, this collection is also an urgent call to action, a powerful reminder that we only have one world in which to coexist and thrive with our fellow creatures. By highlighting the beauty and fragility of our unique fauna, Australia’s favourite writers, renowned researchers and acclaimed photographers encourage readers to consider it in a new light.
Featuring: Barbara Allen, Robbie Arnott, Tony Birch, James Bradley, Mark Brandi, Geraldine Brooks, Anne Buist, Melanie Cheng, Claire G. Coleman, Ceridwen Dovey, Chris Flynn, Nayuka Gorrie, Dan Harley, Ashley Hay, Toni Jordan, Leah Kaminsky, Paul Kelly, Meg Keneally, Tom Keneally, Cate Kennedy, David Lindenmayer, Ella Loeffler, Maia Loeffler, Jen Martin, Angela Meyer, Sonia Orchard, Favel Parrett, Marissa Parrott, Bruce Pascoe, Jack Pascoe, Sue Pillans, Nick Porch, Holly Ringland, Euan Ritchie, Antoinette Roe, Kirli Saunders, Graeme Simsion, Tracy Sorensen, Shaun Tan, Lucy Treloar, Karen Viggers, Emma Viskic, John Woinarski, Clare Wright.
And photographers: Tim Bawden, Kristian Bell, Rohan Bilney, Justin Bruhn, Andrew Buckle, Matt Clancy, Amy Coetsee, Craig Coverdale, Angus Emmott, Jayne Jenkins, Vivien Jones, Sue Liu, Michael Livingston, Caleb McElrea, Nick Monaghan, Richard Pillans, Gillian Rayment, Linda Rogan, David Maurice Smith, Steve Smith, Colin Southwell, Georgina Steytler, Wayne Suffield, Heather Sutton, Peter Taylor, William Terry, Patrick Tomkins, Matt Wright.
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2020
7 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Leah Kaminsky
11 books112 followersLeah Kaminsky, is a physician and award-winning writer. Her debut novel The Waiting Room won the Voss Literary Prize and was shortlisted for the Helen Asher Award. The Hollow Bones, won the 2019 International Book Awards in both Historical Fiction & Literary Fiction Categories. Doll's Eye will be published in 2023. We’re all Going to Die has been described as ‘a joyful book about death’. She edited Writer MD and co-authored Cracking the Code. Her poetry collection, Stitching Things Together, was a finalist in the Anne Elder Award. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 20, 2021
A book to make you think. Very good reading…. And very thought provoking. Quoting the description on back of book… “Hopeful, uplifting and deeply moving….” . Nearly every short story brought teas to my eyes.
May 5, 2022
Such a beautiful book and a fundraiser for two wonderful organisations - The Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
I know there are those out there that do not trust 5 start ratings but I was at a loss at how not to give this book one.
The photography is wonderful and the book is made up of individual stories by various authors and their experience with a specific species. It highlights how diversified our wildlife is but also how fragile. The 2019 - 2020 bushfires played havoc with so may of our native species and without help they may continue to struggle.
It's a lovely book to share with others and prompt a conversation around how best to save our wildlife which should lead to a broader discussion on how best to save the planet.
I know there are those out there that do not trust 5 start ratings but I was at a loss at how not to give this book one.
The photography is wonderful and the book is made up of individual stories by various authors and their experience with a specific species. It highlights how diversified our wildlife is but also how fragile. The 2019 - 2020 bushfires played havoc with so may of our native species and without help they may continue to struggle.
It's a lovely book to share with others and prompt a conversation around how best to save our wildlife which should lead to a broader discussion on how best to save the planet.
August 7, 2021
After the black summer fires I needed to read something uplifting. This little book is something I can return to and read over again and again. A beautiful reminder that I am not the only one who appreciates the wonderful wildlife we have in Australia and the interaction we have with wild animals even in our own back yards. With the threat of climate change and more weather events that are happening all over this beautiful earth we all need to start thinking how we can do things differently and protect what we have. One of my all time favourites.
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February 5, 2021A fundraiser for our wildlife, from land, sea and sky
Animals Make Us Human is a newly released anthology edited by Leah Kaminsky and Meg Keneally. In addition to a collection of reflections on the natural world in all its many wondrous formations, the book is also a fundraiser for our wildlife, from land, sea and sky. Proceeds will go to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
This anthology has been produced as a response to the devastating 2019–20 bushfires and is a celebration of Australia's unique wildlife and all its unique wonders, but crucially it also highlights the vulnerability of our environment.
The collection includes short reflections on the often subtle and flawed connection between animals and humans. The photographs that accompany the book are outstanding revelations of the natural world. This is a book with high production standards that is a joy to hold and delve into. There are stories about wild platypus, an echidna, lyrebirds, possums, gliders, owls, and even sharks get a mention.
This book is clearly a labour of love and a homage to our beautiful but fragile earth, and a contemplation on how we can coexist and thrive with our fellow creatures. The book is published by Penguin with further details on how to purchase available here. This is a hopeful and beautifully written anthology that features a host of acclaimed writers.
The book forward is by Bruce Pascoe who notes "our fellow creatures notice each other. If only humans could show the same respect for the differences in our species." This is book is certainly a step in the right direction.
Animals Make Us Human is a newly released anthology edited by Leah Kaminsky and Meg Keneally. In addition to a collection of reflections on the natural world in all its many wondrous formations, the book is also a fundraiser for our wildlife, from land, sea and sky. Proceeds will go to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
This anthology has been produced as a response to the devastating 2019–20 bushfires and is a celebration of Australia's unique wildlife and all its unique wonders, but crucially it also highlights the vulnerability of our environment.
The collection includes short reflections on the often subtle and flawed connection between animals and humans. The photographs that accompany the book are outstanding revelations of the natural world. This is a book with high production standards that is a joy to hold and delve into. There are stories about wild platypus, an echidna, lyrebirds, possums, gliders, owls, and even sharks get a mention.
This book is clearly a labour of love and a homage to our beautiful but fragile earth, and a contemplation on how we can coexist and thrive with our fellow creatures. The book is published by Penguin with further details on how to purchase available here. This is a hopeful and beautifully written anthology that features a host of acclaimed writers.
The book forward is by Bruce Pascoe who notes "our fellow creatures notice each other. If only humans could show the same respect for the differences in our species." This is book is certainly a step in the right direction.
January 29, 2021
Beautiful stories of humans connecting with wildlife in Australia. The book highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the degradation that has already occurred to their habitats. The stories show the resilience of some species to occur in the most urban of landscapes and the fortunate experiences in the most wild of landscapes.
November 26, 2020
Wonderful selection of essays and photographs from a excellent selection of contributers.
July 11, 2021
Heartwarming stories about our connection with animals and nature, alongside stunning wildlife photos.
July 26, 2022
Really beautiful and touching collection of short stories about the author’s personal relationship to certain Australian wildlife.
July 25, 2023
Really beautiful visually and in content. Very human anecdotes of their encounters with animals and the emotions evoked.
August 9, 2023
Loved this book reading about Australian native birds, animals and insects, gives a great understanding of their habitats and how we as humans can protect them.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews