{"product_id":"the-book-of-barely-imagined-beings-a-21st-century-bestiary-1","title":"The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary","description":"From medieval bestiaries to Borgess Book of Imaginary Beings  weve long been enchanted by extraordinary animals  be they terrifying three-headed dogs or asps impervious to a snake charmers song. But bestiaries are more than just zany zoologythey are artful attempts to convey broader beliefs about human beings and the natural order. Today  we no longer fear sea monsters or banshees. But from the infamous honey badger to the giant squid  animals continue to captivate us with the things they can do and the things they cannot  what we know about them and what we dont.  With The Book of Barely Imagined Beings  Caspar Henderson offers readers a fascinating  beautifully produced modern-day menagerie. But whereas medieval bestiaries were often based on folklore and myth  the creatures that abound in Hendersons bookfrom the axolotl to the zebrafishare  with one exception  very much with us  albeit sometimes in depleted numbers. The Book of Barely Imagined Beings transports readers to a world of real creatures that seem as if they should be made upthat are somehow more astonishing than anything we might have imagined. The yeti crab  for example  uses its furry claws to farm the bacteria on which it feeds. The waterbear  meanwhile  is among natures extreme survivors  able to withstand a week unprotected in outer space. These and other strange and surprising species invite readers to reflect on what we valueor fail to valueand what we might change.  A powerful combination of wit  cutting-edge natural history  and philosophical meditation  The Book of Barely Imagined Beings is an infectious and inspiring celebration of the sheer ingenuity and variety of life in a time of crisis and change.","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44858612711477,"sku":"ByrdShop_022604470X","price":59.22,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/ByrdShop_022604470X_db5da91d-e4be-49b7-bf29-0e2a19d58028.jpg?v=1766140324","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-book-of-barely-imagined-beings-a-21st-century-bestiary-1","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}