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From one of the finest naturalists and writers of our time, a fascinating investigation of Nature's inspiring death-to-life cycle.How does the animal world deal with death? And what ecological and spiritual lessons can we learn from examining this? Bernd Heinrich has long been fascinated by these questions, and when a good friend with a terminal illness asked if he might have his "green burial" at Heinrich's hunting camp in Maine, it inspired the acclaimed biologist and author to investigate.
Life Everlasting is the fruit of those investigations, illuminating what happens to animals great and small after death.
From beetles to bald eagles, ravens to wolves, Heinrich reveals the fascinating and mostly hidden post-death world that occurs around us constantly, while examining the ancient and important role we too play as scavengers, connecting death to life.
"Bernd Heinrich is one of the finest naturalists of our time.
Life Everlasting shines with the authenticity and originality that are unique to a life devoted to natural history in the field."?Edward O. Wilson, author of
The Future of Life and
The Social Conquest of Earth"Despite focusing on death and decay,
Life Everlasting is far from morbid; instead, it is life-affirming . . . convincing the reader that physical demise is not an end to life, but an opportunity for renewal."?
Nature"A worldwide tour of the role of death in nature that is consistently fascinating and fun to read."?
Seattle Times
List of contents
Introduction ix
I. SMALL TO LARGE
Beetles That Bury Mice 3
Sendoff for a Deer 21
The Ultimate Recycler: Remaking the World 37
II. NORTH TO SOUTH
Northern Winter: For the Birds 59
The Vulture Crowd 75
III. PLANT UNDERTAKERS
Trees of Life 99
Dung Eaters 127
IV. WATERY DEATHS
Salmon Death-into-Life 147
Other Worlds 153
V. CHANGES
Metamorphosis into a New Life and Lives 169
Beliefs, Burials, and Life Everlasting 179
Acknowledgments 193
Further Reading 195
Index 213
About the author
BERND HEINRICH is an acclaimed scientist and the author of numerous books, including the best-selling
Winter World, Mind of the Raven, Why We Run, The Homing Instinct, and
One Wild Bird at a Time. Among Heinrich's many honors is the 2013 PEN New England Award in nonfiction for
Life Everlasting. He resides in Maine.
Summary
From one of the finest naturalists and writers of our time, a fascinating investigation of Nature’s inspiring death-to-life cycle.
How does the animal world deal with death? And what ecological and spiritual lessons can we learn from examining this? Bernd Heinrich has long been fascinated by these questions, and when a good friend with a terminal illness asked if he might have his “green burial” at Heinrich’s hunting camp in Maine, it inspired the acclaimed biologist and author to investigate. Life Everlasting is the fruit of those investigations, illuminating what happens to animals great and small after death.
From beetles to bald eagles, ravens to wolves, Heinrich reveals the fascinating and mostly hidden post-death world that occurs around us constantly, while examining the ancient and important role we too play as scavengers, connecting death to life.
“Bernd Heinrich is one of the finest naturalists of our time. Life Everlasting shines with the authenticity and originality that are unique to a life devoted to natural history in the field.”??—??Edward O. Wilson, author of The Future of Life and The Social Conquest of Earth
"Despite focusing on death and decay, Life Everlasting is far from morbid; instead, it is life-affirming . . . convincing the reader that physical demise is not an end to life, but an opportunity for renewal."??—??Nature
“A worldwide tour of the role of death in nature that is consistently fascinating and fun to read.”??—??Seattle Times
