Skip to main content

Phi Beta Kappa book review of Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom



The following is the Phi Beta Kappa book review of my latest (2017) book ‘Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom.’

The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the oldest academic honour society for the liberal arts and sciences education in America. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. It was founded in 1776 as the first collegiate Greek-letter fraternity and was among the earliest collegiate fraternal societies. Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) means "Love of wisdom is the guide of life" which is the foundation of “personal freedom, scientific inquiry, liberty of conscience, and creative endeavour.” One of their aims is to recognize “the exceptional achievement of writers and scholars in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics.” 

Similar but Different in the Animal Kingdom
     Similar but Different in the Animal Kingdom is a delightful and informative book that introduces students not only to the basics of zoology, but to the nuanced distinctions of classification. Ranging from physiological differences to dietary and habitudinal differences, the book lays out a cogent system that teaches children how to compare and contrast seemingly similar animals in such a way as to understand their unique place in the natural world, their life cycle, survival, and larger role in their respective ecosystem. While Similar but Different in the Animal Kingdom is detailed and deeply scientific, author Martina Nicolls’ prose makes each lesson easily accessible to students, presenting a straightforward glossary of terms coupled with a blended colloquial/academic diction that helps to break down these complicated subjects. Perfect for the classroom or at home, Similar but Different in the Animal Kingdom is sure to spark children’s interest in zoology and teach them the essential skill of classification in a fun and rigorous way. I highly recommend this book.
—Charles Asher, PBK Reviews – Phi Beta Kappa

Book Website: https://similarbutdifferentanimals.com



Book Website: https://similarbutdifferentanimals.com




MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh  (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...
1 comment
Read more

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...
1 comment
Read more

Shindi: the Georgian Cornelian cherry

The Cornelian cherry – shindi in Georgian – is a fruit with medicinal and decorative properties. It was grown from ancient times, according to the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). It is also commonly called the European cornel. It is native to southern Europe from France to Ukraine as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. The Cornelian cherry tree ( Cornus mas ) can be grown in orchards, but it is often seen in the forests of Georgia where it grows up to 1,350 metres above sea level. It is a medium to large deciduous tree, growing from 5-12 metres tall. The flowers are small with four yellow petals in clusters, which flower in February and March. The Cornus mas has three botanical varieties: (1) var. typica Sanadze with cylindrical red fruits, (2) var. pyriformis Sanadze with pear-shaped red fruits, and (3) var. flava vest with yellow fruits. The fruits are oblong red drupes about 2 centimetres ...
Post a Comment
Read more