The Book of Animals  
John Lloyd and John Mitchinson   
Faber & Faber ISBN 978 0 571 24513 0

This 'pocket edition' is a handy resource of man's allies, big and small. Thumbing through reveals two pages (black and white throughout, with small line-drawings & clever cartoons) dedicated to each animal and their eccentricities. It's amazing to find out how alike we actually are to animals. Learn about earthworms and how they can bizarrely become addicted – and even suffer 'terrible withdrawal symptoms' – to nicotine as humans do. Did you know that those often pesky albatrosses are able to fly a total of 10 years without stopping? I certainly didn't and I'm sure this book will pleasantly surprise.