Life Everlasting: The Animal Way of Death - Paperback

by Bernd Heinrich (Author)

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

Back Jacket

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"
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.
"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"
[AU PHOTO] BERND HEINRICH is an acclaimed scientist and the author of numerous award-winning books, including the best-selling The Mind of the Raven, Why We Run, and Winter World. He is a frequent contributor to national media, and professor emeritus of biology at the University of Vermont.

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Author Biography

BERND HEINRICH is an acclaimed scientist and the author of numerous award-winning books, including the best-selling The Mind of the Raven, Why We Run, and Winter World. He is a frequent contributor to national media, and professor emeritus of biology at the University of Vermont.