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The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised ( and Least Understood) Creature on Earth
everything you ever wanted to know, and then some, about the different types of cockroaches
- GenresNonfictionBiologyScience
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 22, 2022
Although it is clearly obvious that David George Gordon has penned and conceptualised his 1996 The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth with primarily an adult audience in mind, I definitely and strongly do consider The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth as being suitable reading material for anyone (with an interest in insects and of course in particular cockroaches) from about the age of elven of twelve onwards.
And no, an intrested reader would most certainly not require advanced post-secondary knowledge regarding biology, entomology etc. in order to both read and easily understand as well as enjoy The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth. For indeed, David George Gordon, although he is textually presenting a major plethora of cockroach and insect specific information and details (both scientific and cultural and quite informatively, densely presented), Gordon appreciatively and delightfully is also in The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth always refraining from using potentially confusing and distracting scientific jargon, which manages to keep the narrational flow light, breezy, occasionally humorous, and above all educational and enlightening without The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth ever becoming textually overwhelming, and thus making this book a truly wonderful and spectacular introduction to everything cockroach oriented (ostentatiously for adults, but yes, and as already mentioned, for me and in my opinion, The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth makes for interesting reading for not only adults but also for teenagers, for basically and really anyone above the age of twelve).
And no, an intrested reader would most certainly not require advanced post-secondary knowledge regarding biology, entomology etc. in order to both read and easily understand as well as enjoy The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth. For indeed, David George Gordon, although he is textually presenting a major plethora of cockroach and insect specific information and details (both scientific and cultural and quite informatively, densely presented), Gordon appreciatively and delightfully is also in The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth always refraining from using potentially confusing and distracting scientific jargon, which manages to keep the narrational flow light, breezy, occasionally humorous, and above all educational and enlightening without The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth ever becoming textually overwhelming, and thus making this book a truly wonderful and spectacular introduction to everything cockroach oriented (ostentatiously for adults, but yes, and as already mentioned, for me and in my opinion, The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth makes for interesting reading for not only adults but also for teenagers, for basically and really anyone above the age of twelve).
May 27, 2014
I am passionately in love with several bugs on this planet. As a beekeeper I work with insects regularly. Ladybugs, fireflies, cicadas, and many others capture my fancy. However, the cockroach still makes me shrink away in disgust. I read this book hoping to understand them better, and possibly to be less repulsed by them.
This book is extremely informative and I did learn a great deal. The author truly knows his way around a cockroach! I learned not only about their life cycles, habits, and intelligence, but also about their history in art, literature, and even the Egyptian Book of the Dead!
Knowledge is power, and although I feel I have a bit more respect for them as beings on the planet, I also have quite a bit of knowledge to fuel my disgust. I am quite certain that I don't really want to have anything to do with them on a personal, face-to-feeler level!
This book is extremely informative and I did learn a great deal. The author truly knows his way around a cockroach! I learned not only about their life cycles, habits, and intelligence, but also about their history in art, literature, and even the Egyptian Book of the Dead!
Knowledge is power, and although I feel I have a bit more respect for them as beings on the planet, I also have quite a bit of knowledge to fuel my disgust. I am quite certain that I don't really want to have anything to do with them on a personal, face-to-feeler level!
March 24, 2020
Back when you could not find all in the internet; one of my favorite insect books....
March 17, 2008
So maybe this is a really random book, and you're probably wondering why I read it (and gave it five stars!). It was my selected reading for an entomology course I took a few years ago. And, honestly, the book is hilarious and educational at the same time. As Gordon describes them, roaches are "the most despised (and least understood) creature on earth." Honestly, if you're willing to read about cockroaches, read this book. You get a combination of humor, science, pop culture, and history. Love it.
July 11, 2008
This is one of my favorite books. I bought it to assist in conquering my fear of cockroaches. Fear was transformed to respect and admiration. Archy and Mehitabel are next. There's a spiffy edition at the Iliad Book Shop.
February 15, 2013
Fascinating up-close and personal look at cockroaches
April 3, 2016
3 1/2 stars.
An interesting book with a lot of facts about cockroaches I wasn't aware of before. I found it fairly comprehensive, on a beginner's level, with information ranging from the history or cockroaches (including where the name "cockroach" came from), mating habits, life cycles, different species, and even methods for trying to get rid of them. Enjoyable, even for those who are squeamish about the little buggers. (Like me.)
An interesting book with a lot of facts about cockroaches I wasn't aware of before. I found it fairly comprehensive, on a beginner's level, with information ranging from the history or cockroaches (including where the name "cockroach" came from), mating habits, life cycles, different species, and even methods for trying to get rid of them. Enjoyable, even for those who are squeamish about the little buggers. (Like me.)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews