The life of mammals

The veteran natural history author and filmmaker (The Private Life of Plants, The Life of Birds) now turns his attention to the order of mammals. Published to coincide with a television series to air on the Discovery Channel, the book's 10 chapters mirror the series' 10 episodes. The most diverse of the vertebrates, mammals include the largest animals on earth (blue whales), animals that fly (bats), and animals that can eat almost any type of food. The author makes sense of this diversity by dividing mammals into easily understandable groups and explaining how evolution has shaped the lives of each of these groups of mammals. Attenborough discusses what makes a mammal a mammal, then goes on to discuss the varying lifestyles of mammalian species. Heavily illustrated with beautiful photographs and enlivened by Attenborough's friendly, informative writing style, this is a terrific introduction to the wonders of our hairy, milk-producing relatives. --Nancy Bent