“Just think about the abuse a feather must endure—sub-zero temperatures and ferocious winds for the penguin in Antarctica, or the way a pelican’s feathers allow it to dive into the frigid waters of the Pacific, then erupt from the waves to rise into the sky. Feathers are pretty remarkable, and Thor Hanson traces them from their origins all the way to our downy pillows. I found myself totally involved in his story of a fossilized wing being used in a debate about evolution. Hearing about feathers from Hanson is like sitting down for a lively chat with a particularly bright friend. He’s a marvelous writer, and his passion for the natural world is contagious.”—Deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books & Music, Sunriver, OR
Face Out
Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle by Thor Hanson
July 12, 2011