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This warm-hearted book offers fascinating science and captivating storytelling to persuade readers to fall in love with – or at least tolerate – these eight-legged wonders.
This book unveils the remarkable lives of one of the most misunderstood and maligned creatures on the planet: the spider. With over 50,000 species, spiders play vital roles in our ecosystems and the vast majority are harmless to humans. With this in mind, shouldn't we at least try to set aside our creepy-crawly associations, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for these truly wonderful beings?
Eight-Legged Wonders helps us do just that. In this affectionate and surprisingly giddy ode to spiders, James O'Hanlon, a scientist and spider expert, introduces spiders that we may never have noticed before, including spiders that cosplay as ants, balloon through the air, and scuba-dive. He describes the peacock spider's colourful dances and the Portia jumping spider's cunning hunting techniques. He dispels bite concerns, highlights groundbreaking research using spiders for human benefit, and aims to shift perceptions, ultimately revealing spiders as truly remarkable beings worthy of our admiration.
Prologue
1. Why Don't We Like Spiders?
2. Jumping Spiders: The Gateway to a Spider Addiction
3. Spiders in Disguise
4. The Hunter's Arsenal
5. Myths and Misconceptions
6. Eight-Legged Bioengineers: The Science of Silk
7. Birth, Sex, Then Death
8. Masters of the Earth
9. Spiders in Space
10. Phobias and Fables
11. Hope for Human-Spider Relationships
Thank You
References
James O'Hanlon has traveled around Australia and the globe uncovering the secret lives of insects and spiders. He has published more than 30 academic papers and his popular science writing has appeared in ABC News, Australian Geographic, The Conversation, and Biosphere Magazine. He is an award-winning science communicator and was the 2021 recipient of the Varuna–New England Writers' Centre fellowship.
"I couldn't stop turning pages. Whether you are a fan of spiders or find them terrifying, do yourself a big favor and read this book. James O'Hanlon's Eight-Legged Wonders is both fun and informative and will leave you with a newfound appreciation for these fascinating, misunderstood, and often beautiful eight-legged animals. Not only will it entertain you, but it just may change the way you think about spiders."
– Matt Kracht, author of OMFG, Bees!
"I love this book! James O'Hanlon's depth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm rubbed off on me with every page. Read it and you'll be a spider ally for life."
– Jonathan Balcombe, author of Super Fly and What a Fish Knows
"It is wonderful to witness how much James O'Hanlon loves his eight-legged friends. His wondrous and fascinating stories will convince many readers, from skeptics to enthusiasts alike, that spiders are awesome."
– Frank Nischk, author of Of Cockroaches and Crickets
