Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle
Book by Thor Hanson / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle is a natural history book by American conservation biologist Thor Hanson. Published by Basic Books in 2011 and written for general audiences, the book discusses the significance of feathers, their evolution, and their history both in nature and in use by humans.
Author | Thor Hanson |
---|---|
Subject | Evolutionary biology |
Genre | Non-fiction |
Published | 2011 (Basic Books) |
Publication place | United States |
Pages | 336 |
Awards | John Burroughs Medal Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award |
ISBN | 978-0-465-02013-3 |
Website | thorhanson |
Feathers is divided into five parts. In "Evolution", Hanson discusses the scientific debate over how feathers evolved, interviewing ornithologists Richard Prum and Alan Feduccia, as well as paleontologist Xing Xu. In "Fluff", Hanson discusses how feathers play a role in regulating a bird's body temperature and how feather insulation has also been utilized by humans. "Flight" discusses how flight might have evolved in birds, interviewing Prum, Feduccia, Xu, and also ornithologist Ken Dial, who described wing-assisted incline running. In "Fancy", Hanson discusses the role of feathers in sexual selection, as well as how humans have utilized feathers for fashion, interviewing costume and fashion designers on the Las Vegas Strip and New York City. "Function" discusses how feathers have been adapted for other purposes, such as waterproofing, fly fishing, and quill pens.
Hanson decided he would write Feathers after going on a run and noticing a feather dropped at his feet by a vulture; coincidentally, he had considered writing a story involving vulture feathers earlier that day. The book was published first in hardcover by Basic Books in 2011, then in paperback in 2012. Critical reception to Feathers has predominantly been positive, with praise for Hanson's enthusiasm and writing. In 2012, Feathers won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award and the SB&F Prize in the Young Adult Science Book category, presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Subaru. In 2013, the book was also awarded the John Burroughs Medal.