Dance of the Dung Beetles, Marcus Byrne
Dance of the Dung Beetles, Marcus Byrne
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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Dance of the Dung Beetles
Their role in our changing world

Author: Marcus Byrne, Helen Lunn

Narrator: Dennis Kleinman

Unabridged: 7 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/10/2020

Categories: Nonfiction, Nature, Animals


Synopsis

The sweeping scientific and social history of the humble dung beetle

In this sweeping history of more than 3,000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, scientist Marcus Byrne and writer Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behavior patterns. Dung beetles' fortunes have followed the shifts from a world dominated by a religion that symbolically incorporated them into some of its key concepts of rebirth, to a world in which science has largely separated itself from religion and alchemy. With over 6,000 species found throughout the world, these unassuming but remarkable creatures are fundamental to some of humanity's most cherished beliefs and have been ever present in religion, art, literature, science and the environment. They are at the center of current gene research, play an important role in keeping our planet healthy, and some nocturnal dung beetles have been found to navigate by the starry skies. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle is what makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.

About Marcus Byrne

Marcus Byrne is a professor in the school of animal, plant and environmental science at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has studied dung beetles for more than 30 years. He is a TED presenter and a recipient of an IgNobel prize and has received numerous awards for his work on popularizing the biological sciences.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Ray on December 08, 2019

My son inscribed the inside cover of his Father’s Day gift to me with these touching words: ‘Like these little critters you have shown me that you have to deal with some crap if you want to make a difference in the lives of others. Keep on rolling!’ The 6000-species dung beetle family, named for the......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on June 04, 2023

This book was not quite what I expected. I have read books about bees and flies and ants and other invertebrates, and always enjoy them, so I was sure I would like this one too. Perhaps it is my fault for not giving consideration to the implications of the subtitle, but I was surprised to discover t......more

Goodreads review by Carlos on February 13, 2023

While the long historical introduction to the topic was not the most engaging, once the authors get to the biology of these fascinating creatures the book begins to shine. Byrne and Lunn share the fascinating abilities of this lowly organism that show just how much nature can perfect and minimize. A......more

Goodreads review by Paul on February 12, 2024

I was hoping for more in the way of dung beetle behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Instead, whenever possible, the book wandered into human history (cultural, religious, intellectual, scientific, etc.) with dung beetles as the jumping off point. Among those many excursions, the early se......more

Goodreads review by The Inquisitive Biologist on June 20, 2020

Narrowly avoiding juvenile poop jokes, The Inquisitive Biologist reviews Dance of the Dung Beetles: a broad-ranging and charming introduction to the little-loved dung beetle. See my full review at [URL not allowed]......more