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Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures
From the award-winning author Katherine Rundell comes a “rare and magical book” (Bill Bryson) reckoning with the vanishing wonders of our natural world.
The world is more astonishing, more miraculous, and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings. In this brilliant and passionately persuasive book, Katherine Rundell takes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction.
Consider the seahorse: couples mate for life and meet each morning for a dance, pirouetting and changing colors before going their separate ways, to dance again the next day. The American wood frog survives winter by allowing itself to freeze solid, its heartbeat slowing until it stops altogether. Come spring, the heart kick-starts itself spontaneously back to life. As for the lemur, it lives in matriarchal troops led by an alpha female (it’s not unusual for female ring-tailed lemurs to slap males across the face when they become aggressive). Whenever they are cold or frightened, they group together in what’s known as a lemur ball, paws and tails intertwined, to form a furry mass as big as a bicycle wheel.
But each of these extraordinary animals is endangered or holds a sub-species that is endangered. This urgent, inspiring book of essays dedicated to 23 unusual and underappreciated creatures is a clarion call insisting that we look at the world around us with new eyes—to see the magic of the animals we live among, their unknown histories and capabilities, and above all how lucky we are to tread the same ground as such vanishing treasures.
Beautifully illustrated, and full of inimitable wit and intellect, Vanishing Treasures is a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck, to reckon with the beauty of the world, its fragility, and its strangeness.
The world is more astonishing, more miraculous, and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings. In this brilliant and passionately persuasive book, Katherine Rundell takes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction.
Consider the seahorse: couples mate for life and meet each morning for a dance, pirouetting and changing colors before going their separate ways, to dance again the next day. The American wood frog survives winter by allowing itself to freeze solid, its heartbeat slowing until it stops altogether. Come spring, the heart kick-starts itself spontaneously back to life. As for the lemur, it lives in matriarchal troops led by an alpha female (it’s not unusual for female ring-tailed lemurs to slap males across the face when they become aggressive). Whenever they are cold or frightened, they group together in what’s known as a lemur ball, paws and tails intertwined, to form a furry mass as big as a bicycle wheel.
But each of these extraordinary animals is endangered or holds a sub-species that is endangered. This urgent, inspiring book of essays dedicated to 23 unusual and underappreciated creatures is a clarion call insisting that we look at the world around us with new eyes—to see the magic of the animals we live among, their unknown histories and capabilities, and above all how lucky we are to tread the same ground as such vanishing treasures.
Beautifully illustrated, and full of inimitable wit and intellect, Vanishing Treasures is a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck, to reckon with the beauty of the world, its fragility, and its strangeness.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2024
385 people are currently reading
19697 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Rundell
52 books1,883 followersKatherine Rundell was born in 1987 and grew up in Africa and Europe. In 2008 she was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Her first book, The Girl Savage, was born of her love of Zimbabwe and her own childhood there; her second, Rooftoppers, was inspired by summers working in Paris and by night-time trespassing on the rooftops of All Souls. She is currently working on her doctorate alongside an adult novel.
Source: Katherine Rundell
Source: Katherine Rundell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 675 reviews
December 8, 2024
Greenland sharks: "I am glad not to be a Greenland shark; I don't have enough thoughts to fill five hundred years." (20)
Hedgehogs: "Those hedgerows that still exist are largely at the mercy of British whims and fashions and carefulness: and it takes only a very little reading of history to lose confidence in that particular trinity." (97)
Seahorses: "The largest in the world, the big-belly seahorse, would in fact at a foot long be just large enough for a human baby to ride, if both were so minded." (133)
Tuna (bluefin): "This is the prose of a man who longs in his deepest heart to punch fish straight out of the sea." (172)
Golden mole: "The iridescence is an accidental by-product. It is glory without necessary purpose, cast up by the world's slow finessing." (185)
Hedgehogs: "Those hedgerows that still exist are largely at the mercy of British whims and fashions and carefulness: and it takes only a very little reading of history to lose confidence in that particular trinity." (97)
Seahorses: "The largest in the world, the big-belly seahorse, would in fact at a foot long be just large enough for a human baby to ride, if both were so minded." (133)
Tuna (bluefin): "This is the prose of a man who longs in his deepest heart to punch fish straight out of the sea." (172)
Golden mole: "The iridescence is an accidental by-product. It is glory without necessary purpose, cast up by the world's slow finessing." (185)
February 25, 2025
This is a literal treasure. I HIGHLY recommend a read, due to the glorious illustrations of each animal, AND listen, due to the AMAZING narration by the author and Lenny Henry. I read that this book is “passionately persuasive,” and that is exactly what it is. You can’t help but fall in love with every animal and have your heart left bereft by the near extinction of so many of them. It’s a book that rejoices in each animal’s contribution to our world and the ecosystem, as well as the ephemeral nature of their lives. My strongest recommendation.
I received a gifted copy of the book and purchased the audio from Libro.fm.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I received a gifted copy of the book and purchased the audio from Libro.fm.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
October 31, 2024
From Cara Reilly, editor at Doubleday, to readers: 'The greatest lie we humans tell ourselves is that the world is at our disposal, that it's ours for the taking.' As a result, in the past 50 years we have lost more than half of all wild things. As Katherine Rundell says, we are Noah's Ark in reverse. Her essays on 23 endangered animals are love letters to the magnificence and diversity of the natural world as well as a call to action. I highly recommend reading as well as giving as a gift this holiday season.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this book via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this book via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
February 6, 2025
Vanishing Treasures is a fun quick read about various endangered species. It’s mostly fun facts with some history about local legends and how the species became endangered, mostly due to human interactions of one sort or another. I thought the facts were interesting such as how people have trained elephants to detect land mines in Africa and I wasn’t aware of a lot of subspecies such as the Cozumel Raccoon aka the Pygmy Raccoon. Really the main message of the book is to show the reader how these animals are more complex than most of us might realize and that they deserve our protection.
November 22, 2024
I want to rate this higher due to the intent behind it (and the funds going to good causes from sales of it) but I can't. It feels rather hollow and very limited in scope without good reason. If you have time to speak of human myths about these creatures, you have more time to speak of the creatures themselves.
May 2, 2025
“We risk losing all this magnificence before we begin to understand it.”
This book contains 23 essays on various critters that have one thing in common, the threat of extinction. It is a fascinating read with cute little illustrations. I would normally share quotes, but I don’t want to ruin the reading experience for anyone else.
I do agree with the author, we all need to take steps to protect our environment and the beings that live in it…NOW. Knowing that there very well could be a future where most of the creatures I grew up with could be gone, is terrifying.
Five stars to a book that informs and warns.
This book contains 23 essays on various critters that have one thing in common, the threat of extinction. It is a fascinating read with cute little illustrations. I would normally share quotes, but I don’t want to ruin the reading experience for anyone else.
I do agree with the author, we all need to take steps to protect our environment and the beings that live in it…NOW. Knowing that there very well could be a future where most of the creatures I grew up with could be gone, is terrifying.
Five stars to a book that informs and warns.
October 5, 2024
It’s estimated that there are around 7.8 millions animal species on the planet, many of which we know little about. Unfortunately, some may vanish before we can learn much more – which is a pity, because the variety of life on this planet is far more wondrous and strange than anything our imaginations could conjure up.
This is a quiet and contemplative peek at the natural world in easy bite-sized installments. Each essay discusses an animal species which threatened in one way or another, covering a range of animals from those as seemingly ordinary as the hare to those as unusual and mysterious as the narwhal. Rundell’s writing is bright and playful but also entirely filled with awe – each chapter thrums with wonder.
I’ve always been an animal lover. Some of it is the overfamiliar cuddly fondness one can safely have only toward domestic animals (and I mean specifically my dog), but just a general admiration and interest in all our fellow denizens here on Planet Earth, all going about their business with little interference from us busybody humans – or so I’d thought when I was young.
It’s pretty obvious now that we cannot help but leave an outsized imprint on the natural world, for better or for worse. It’s still good to be reminded every so often of it. And I looked around with fresh eyes at all the wild creatures I see around me every day, and marveled anew.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a quiet and contemplative peek at the natural world in easy bite-sized installments. Each essay discusses an animal species which threatened in one way or another, covering a range of animals from those as seemingly ordinary as the hare to those as unusual and mysterious as the narwhal. Rundell’s writing is bright and playful but also entirely filled with awe – each chapter thrums with wonder.
I’ve always been an animal lover. Some of it is the overfamiliar cuddly fondness one can safely have only toward domestic animals (and I mean specifically my dog), but just a general admiration and interest in all our fellow denizens here on Planet Earth, all going about their business with little interference from us busybody humans – or so I’d thought when I was young.
It’s pretty obvious now that we cannot help but leave an outsized imprint on the natural world, for better or for worse. It’s still good to be reminded every so often of it. And I looked around with fresh eyes at all the wild creatures I see around me every day, and marveled anew.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 6, 2024
I absolutely adore the idea of this book; short chapters exploring some unique and fascinating animals on the brink of extinction.
I just didn’t love the execution of it.
To be specific, I found some factual errors that I think could have been easily corrected if proper research was conducted. It was disappointing and threw the chapters where I had less knowledge into doubt.
This review is based on an arc and if the sections that I flagged have been corrected in the final book, I will come back and change the rating. But I couldn’t speak for all the sections of this book, so I hope there’s some fact-checking going on in the meantime.
I appreciate the opportunity to read this book early and I hope feedback sent to the publisher is helpful to make this book the best it can be.
I just didn’t love the execution of it.
To be specific, I found some factual errors that I think could have been easily corrected if proper research was conducted. It was disappointing and threw the chapters where I had less knowledge into doubt.
This review is based on an arc and if the sections that I flagged have been corrected in the final book, I will come back and change the rating. But I couldn’t speak for all the sections of this book, so I hope there’s some fact-checking going on in the meantime.
I appreciate the opportunity to read this book early and I hope feedback sent to the publisher is helpful to make this book the best it can be.
November 23, 2024
Absolutely loved the book! A lot of animals and insects we think are “everywhere” are actually going to disappear by 2050. Really gives you a perspective of how much damage we’ve done to the planet. I loved how passionate the author was about these wonderful creatures, but was also respectfully telling the reader to do something before these creatures vanish.
My only gripe with the book is how short the chapters are. You’re onto the next one before you can even wrap your head around the previous one.
My only gripe with the book is how short the chapters are. You’re onto the next one before you can even wrap your head around the previous one.
February 27, 2025
This was an incredibly well put together source of in depth information about so many fascinating species. It’s no shocking secret how toxic and evil humans are to the planet, so I wish I could say some of the horrors were surprising, but they weren’t.
December 13, 2024
[ 4.5/5 stars ]
VANISHING TREASURES is a collection of essays dedicated to 23 underappreciated (endangered) creatures.
With beautiful illustration opening each chapter, this book has a great capacity to make the reader wonder at these living things, threatened by human impact and environmental destruction. Blending urgency with tenderness, Rundell shows their magnificence and ordinary charm, providing from early records to legend/folklore facts that easily feed one's curiosity.
I was able to discover new species (not me googling each animal while reading the book) and my heart ached for these vanishing creatures. However, these glimpses of the world's wildlife also offer some kind of solace and their lifespan allow an unexpected meditation on one's own mortality.
For appreciator of animals or not, VANISHING TREASURES is inspiring and astonishing. This is a call for us to engage actively and educate ourselves. The book that I now treasure and I didn't know I needed.
(ps: half of all the author royalties from this book will go to charities working with climate change)
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Doubleday books . All opinions are my own ]
VANISHING TREASURES is a collection of essays dedicated to 23 underappreciated (endangered) creatures.
With beautiful illustration opening each chapter, this book has a great capacity to make the reader wonder at these living things, threatened by human impact and environmental destruction. Blending urgency with tenderness, Rundell shows their magnificence and ordinary charm, providing from early records to legend/folklore facts that easily feed one's curiosity.
I was able to discover new species (not me googling each animal while reading the book) and my heart ached for these vanishing creatures. However, these glimpses of the world's wildlife also offer some kind of solace and their lifespan allow an unexpected meditation on one's own mortality.
For appreciator of animals or not, VANISHING TREASURES is inspiring and astonishing. This is a call for us to engage actively and educate ourselves. The book that I now treasure and I didn't know I needed.
(ps: half of all the author royalties from this book will go to charities working with climate change)
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Doubleday books . All opinions are my own ]
December 19, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC.
Katherine Rundell really has a way with words. While this is at its core, a factbook about animals that are at risk of going extinct in our near future, the way she writes about it is very beautiful. It's so full of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Despite the state of the world, it remains hopeful yet realistic that we can turn this around if we kick our asses into gear.
Katherine Rundell really has a way with words. While this is at its core, a factbook about animals that are at risk of going extinct in our near future, the way she writes about it is very beautiful. It's so full of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Despite the state of the world, it remains hopeful yet realistic that we can turn this around if we kick our asses into gear.
October 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Vanishing Treasures.
I don't read nonfiction much but when I do its only because the topic has piqued my interest.
This is a great book! The author takes us on a tour of the most incredible animals currently facing extinction.
I knew a few facts about some of the animals but I learned so much! 🤯
The author's writing style is warm, empathetic, and humorous, never preachy or snarky.
I'm not sure if there were more illustrations, I only saw the one that began each chapter, but it's possible others didn't come through since I read this on a Kindle.
My only caveat is I wished the book was longer.
The author's plea is clear:
We are responsible for our planet and if we don't protect nature, these amazing creatures and their unique, almost otherworldly talents will disappear forever. And we suffer all the more from their devastating loss.
I don't read nonfiction much but when I do its only because the topic has piqued my interest.
This is a great book! The author takes us on a tour of the most incredible animals currently facing extinction.
I knew a few facts about some of the animals but I learned so much! 🤯
The author's writing style is warm, empathetic, and humorous, never preachy or snarky.
I'm not sure if there were more illustrations, I only saw the one that began each chapter, but it's possible others didn't come through since I read this on a Kindle.
My only caveat is I wished the book was longer.
The author's plea is clear:
We are responsible for our planet and if we don't protect nature, these amazing creatures and their unique, almost otherworldly talents will disappear forever. And we suffer all the more from their devastating loss.
December 1, 2024
Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell, is not only one of my favourite nonfiction books to date, it's also an incredibly heart-breaking reality check. Humans as a species have in the past and continue to ruin the habitats of animals worldwide, through greed, need for more space and deforestation. Some of these animals were a surprise to me! While I was aware of certain endangered species, I had no idea about the golden mole or the bluegill tuna. Or that some humans when faced with the fact of an animals' extinction try to hurry it along to increase the market value of endangered animal products.
If I could give Vanishing Treasures 10 stars I would.
If I could give Vanishing Treasures 10 stars I would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2025
5 stars for the message this book conveys and the love for endangered species.
May 4, 2025
Lovely! Learned a lot of little fun facts.
February 7, 2025
A fun, quick book about creatures of earth who are endangered. In all the current chaos of the world, it was a nice little book to think about the wonder that still exists on our planet.
March 24, 2025
Lovely brief book with charming drawings and lots of heart packed into chapters of just a few pages with observations on some of Earth’s endangered creatures.
There are chapters on creatures such as spiders, bears and raccoons, which seem to be in no danger of disappearing here, but when Randell talks about the pygmy raccoon, with perhaps 300 left in the wilds on an island off the coast of Mexico, and the Barbados raccoon, which disappeared 50 years ago, one realizes the species and sub-species, the variety of life, we are losing. The tiny spruce-fir moss spider lives only in the Frazier fir tree in the Appalachians and as those trees are rapidly disappearing, so, too are their tiny unique spiders.
There’s passion and research in Rundell’s stories; also author has a deft touch with words.
This is a book I would gladly re-read and I will look for other books by this author.
There are chapters on creatures such as spiders, bears and raccoons, which seem to be in no danger of disappearing here, but when Randell talks about the pygmy raccoon, with perhaps 300 left in the wilds on an island off the coast of Mexico, and the Barbados raccoon, which disappeared 50 years ago, one realizes the species and sub-species, the variety of life, we are losing. The tiny spruce-fir moss spider lives only in the Frazier fir tree in the Appalachians and as those trees are rapidly disappearing, so, too are their tiny unique spiders.
There’s passion and research in Rundell’s stories; also author has a deft touch with words.
This is a book I would gladly re-read and I will look for other books by this author.
July 23, 2025
JULY 2025 (ebook):
Re-read to highlight all the things. This book is still wonderful, though it still makes me sad what we are doing to the amazing inhabitants of this planet we share. Also it’s very concise!! Why haven’t you read it yet??
APRIL 2025 (Audiobook):
This was an absolute delight. Chock full of cute animal facts, which I love. Less delightful are all the horrible things humans have done and are doing to these sweet creatures and their habitats.
Dear people, please stop killing animals because you think they will give you a magic penis, I 100% guarantee it won't work. (You know who you are.)
Also the scum who are hoarding endangered animal parts while also HASTENING THE EXTINCTION OF THOSE SAME ANIMALS (e.g. also killing the rhinos without viable horns just 'cuz they want more money faster) so they can cash in are THE LITERAL WORST (looking at you, Mitsubishi) and are the reason why it is justified to eat the rich.
Conclusion: Learning stuff is an act of resistance, because I swear, the more I learn about literally any topic, (even in the most unexpected of places) the madder I get. There's a reason why THEY ban books and make fun of getting an education and gut research funding. I think you should read this book, because it's good and it's about animals and how amazing they are, but if you don't, go read A book, learn something cool, and come back and tell me about it, please.
Now It's Time For My Favorite Quotes and Facts!
- Rebecca (Calvin Coolidge's pet raccoon) has "done what many Americans have dreamed of but few have accomplished: she bit the president of the United States."*
- Giraffes pick their noses with their tongues! I can't wait to share that one with the next kid I meet.
- Hermit crabs probably ate Amelia Earhart, sad to say.
- "A teeming horrorscape, but make it fashion."
- The thing about how you swallow 8 spiders per year in your sleep is a myth (I hope you knew that already) but comes from the fact that you do swallow some amount spider per year in the form of dust particles, but when you think about it that way, also means you've swallowed some amount of human dust too.
- Plate tectonics might be responsible for the shape of the seahorse???
- Golden moles are bioluminescent, but SO ARE HUMANS, just infinitesimally so. You are glowing and radiant and you don't even realize it.
- "Those who have profited from the destruction of such places should be made to live in a motorway service station their whole lives."
-"We never learn that a creature is LESS complex than we thought."*
*These quotes may not be not exact; I'm paraphrasing from memory after listening to the audiobook, which I already returned to the library so the people waiting for a copy could enjoy this amazing book sooner, because I'm nice like that, so apologies to the author for any errors.
Pre-Read Thoughts:
I love what the author is saying (Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria podcast, 25 Nov 2024) about how it is the writer's job to know what is important about their subject to communicate to the reader and winnow the material down appropriately and not put that onus on the reader to have to make all those decisions because she values our time as readers and I wish more writers thought like this.
Re-read to highlight all the things. This book is still wonderful, though it still makes me sad what we are doing to the amazing inhabitants of this planet we share. Also it’s very concise!! Why haven’t you read it yet??
APRIL 2025 (Audiobook):
This was an absolute delight. Chock full of cute animal facts, which I love. Less delightful are all the horrible things humans have done and are doing to these sweet creatures and their habitats.
Dear people, please stop killing animals because you think they will give you a magic penis, I 100% guarantee it won't work. (You know who you are.)
Also the scum who are hoarding endangered animal parts while also HASTENING THE EXTINCTION OF THOSE SAME ANIMALS (e.g. also killing the rhinos without viable horns just 'cuz they want more money faster) so they can cash in are THE LITERAL WORST (looking at you, Mitsubishi) and are the reason why it is justified to eat the rich.
Conclusion: Learning stuff is an act of resistance, because I swear, the more I learn about literally any topic, (even in the most unexpected of places) the madder I get. There's a reason why THEY ban books and make fun of getting an education and gut research funding. I think you should read this book, because it's good and it's about animals and how amazing they are, but if you don't, go read A book, learn something cool, and come back and tell me about it, please.
Now It's Time For My Favorite Quotes and Facts!
- Rebecca (Calvin Coolidge's pet raccoon) has "done what many Americans have dreamed of but few have accomplished: she bit the president of the United States."*
- Giraffes pick their noses with their tongues! I can't wait to share that one with the next kid I meet.
- Hermit crabs probably ate Amelia Earhart, sad to say.
- "A teeming horrorscape, but make it fashion."
- The thing about how you swallow 8 spiders per year in your sleep is a myth (I hope you knew that already) but comes from the fact that you do swallow some amount spider per year in the form of dust particles, but when you think about it that way, also means you've swallowed some amount of human dust too.
- Plate tectonics might be responsible for the shape of the seahorse???
- Golden moles are bioluminescent, but SO ARE HUMANS, just infinitesimally so. You are glowing and radiant and you don't even realize it.
- "Those who have profited from the destruction of such places should be made to live in a motorway service station their whole lives."
-"We never learn that a creature is LESS complex than we thought."*
*These quotes may not be not exact; I'm paraphrasing from memory after listening to the audiobook, which I already returned to the library so the people waiting for a copy could enjoy this amazing book sooner, because I'm nice like that, so apologies to the author for any errors.
Pre-Read Thoughts:
I love what the author is saying (Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria podcast, 25 Nov 2024) about how it is the writer's job to know what is important about their subject to communicate to the reader and winnow the material down appropriately and not put that onus on the reader to have to make all those decisions because she values our time as readers and I wish more writers thought like this.
November 2, 2024
This was an interesting history of a wide variety of exotic and ordinary endangered animals told with a history of their existence, fascinating literary tales and reasons why their lives are in danger for a number of different reasons. Good on audio and a quick read, this is a good read for anyone who wants to learn more about ways they might help protect some of the animals.
May 3, 2025
I learned some interesting facts but also, the chapters were really short (5 to 7 pages). Often, the biggest part of the chapter wasn't about the animal but a subject related to the animal and humans. So the part about the animal itself i often found too short.
Read
February 17, 2025this doesn’t particularly have a story to it- each chapter is filled with facts about different animals, some facts that are very strange and old and lowkey don’t make sense. so not what I would have expected from a book! But still it was very good if not a little bit redundant from old college classes. Wish I could force some people I know to read it.
May 16, 2025
I only picked this up because I saw it on the new book shelf at my library and it looked kind of cool. I was not expecting the 5 star read that this was. Holy shit. The writing is so good. The author manages to be informative and entertaining, which is a hard balance to find in non-fiction. But she also doesn’t shy away from the seriousness of the topic. I’d go from laughing at an anecdote about a raccoon biting the president to wondering at the number of raccoon species I had no idea existed to being sad about the raccoon species that are endangered. All in the span of about 4 pages. This is one I might have to own.
April 9, 2025
quotes I liked! with no context!
• "extinction isn't just happening because of our inertia - it's incentive driven"
• "this is the prose of a man who longs in his deepest heart to punch fish straight out of the sea."
• "a stupidity so grotesque we could not expect to be forgiven"
• "it is hard to remember how urgently something needs protecting when it could also kill you"
• "we needed a symbol in which to pour our fear and mistrust of the world, and we have chosen the wolf, and chosen it with passion and commitment"
• "they are a victim of a far larger conundrum: that we have not yet risen, as a human species, to the concept of which we cannot undo"
• "fear and rage will help galvanize us, but they will not suffice alone: our competent and furious love will have to be what fuels us. For what is the finest treasure? Life. It is everything that lives, and the earth upon which they depend: narwhal, spider, pangolin, swift, faulted, and shining human. It calls out for far more urgent, more iron-willed treasuring"
• "extinction isn't just happening because of our inertia - it's incentive driven"
• "this is the prose of a man who longs in his deepest heart to punch fish straight out of the sea."
• "a stupidity so grotesque we could not expect to be forgiven"
• "it is hard to remember how urgently something needs protecting when it could also kill you"
• "we needed a symbol in which to pour our fear and mistrust of the world, and we have chosen the wolf, and chosen it with passion and commitment"
• "they are a victim of a far larger conundrum: that we have not yet risen, as a human species, to the concept of which we cannot undo"
• "fear and rage will help galvanize us, but they will not suffice alone: our competent and furious love will have to be what fuels us. For what is the finest treasure? Life. It is everything that lives, and the earth upon which they depend: narwhal, spider, pangolin, swift, faulted, and shining human. It calls out for far more urgent, more iron-willed treasuring"
November 27, 2024
Katherine Rundell's "Vanishing Treasures" is an extraordinary achievement that defies easy categorization. Part natural history, part poetic meditation, and part impassioned plea for conservation, this collection of essays introduces readers to 23 remarkable creatures teetering on the edge of extinction. Through Rundell's masterful prose, we encounter animals both familiar and obscure - from the centuries-old Greenland shark to the iridescent golden mole - each portrayed with a combination of scientific precision and literary artistry that makes their potential loss feel personally devastating.
The book's greatest strength lies in Rundell's ability to make the unfamiliar feel intimate. Her writing style seamlessly blends rigorous research with an almost magical realist sensibility that brings these creatures vividly to life. When she describes how seahorses dance together each morning before parting ways, or how bears recycle their own urea during hibernation, the facts feel less like dry biology and more like discovering secrets of the universe.
However, this poetic approach occasionally comes at the cost of scientific depth. While Rundell's research is evident, readers seeking comprehensive biological profiles may find themselves wanting more detailed information about some species' behaviors and ecosystems. The book's structure - organizing each chapter around a single animal - sometimes feels constraining, potentially oversimplifying the complex web of relationships that define natural systems.
Writing Style & Literary Merit
Rundell's prose is nothing short of extraordinary. Having previously won the Baillie Gifford Prize for her biography "Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne," she brings the same literary sophistication to natural history. Her sentences dance with metaphor and unexpected connections, making even the most obscure creatures feel worthy of wonder. Consider her description of the pangolin: "Pangolins are more beautiful than seems plausible in this fallen old world; they look as though they should be strictly prelapsarian."
The author's background in children's literature (including acclaimed works like "The Explorer" and "Rooftoppers") shines through in her ability to make complex concepts accessible without oversimplification. She treats her readers as intelligent partners in discovery rather than passive recipients of information.
Strengths & Notable Elements
- Exceptional research woven seamlessly with historical anecdotes and cultural references
- Vivid, memorable descriptions that bring each creature to life
- Powerful advocacy that never feels preachy
- Thoughtful balance between scientific fact and emotional resonance
- Strong connection between individual species and larger environmental concerns
Areas for Improvement
- Some chapters could benefit from more detailed ecological context
- Occasional tendency to romanticize certain species at the expense of scientific precision
- The structure sometimes feels repetitive despite the diversity of subjects
- Could include more concrete conservation actions for readers
Impact & Relevance
What sets "Vanishing Treasures" apart from other natural history works is its urgent contemporary relevance. Rundell doesn't just describe these creatures - she makes a compelling case for why their preservation matters to human civilization. The book arrives at a crucial moment when biodiversity loss threatens global ecosystems, making its message particularly timely.
Educational Value
The book serves as an excellent introduction to conservation biology for general readers. Rundell's ability to explain complex concepts through engaging narratives makes this an ideal text for:
- Students of environmental science
- Nature enthusiasts
- Conservation advocates
- Anyone interested in understanding biodiversity loss
Conclusion
"Vanishing Treasures" is a remarkable achievement that manages to be both a celebration of life's diversity and a warning about its fragility. While not perfect, its few shortcomings are far outweighed by its considerable strengths. Rundell has created something rare: a book about extinction that leaves readers feeling not just concerned but inspired to action.
The book succeeds brilliantly in its primary aim - to make readers fall in love with the extraordinary creatures we share our planet with, and to understand what we stand to lose if we fail to protect them. It's a work that deserves to be read widely and taken seriously as both literature and environmental advocacy.
The book's greatest strength lies in Rundell's ability to make the unfamiliar feel intimate. Her writing style seamlessly blends rigorous research with an almost magical realist sensibility that brings these creatures vividly to life. When she describes how seahorses dance together each morning before parting ways, or how bears recycle their own urea during hibernation, the facts feel less like dry biology and more like discovering secrets of the universe.
However, this poetic approach occasionally comes at the cost of scientific depth. While Rundell's research is evident, readers seeking comprehensive biological profiles may find themselves wanting more detailed information about some species' behaviors and ecosystems. The book's structure - organizing each chapter around a single animal - sometimes feels constraining, potentially oversimplifying the complex web of relationships that define natural systems.
Writing Style & Literary Merit
Rundell's prose is nothing short of extraordinary. Having previously won the Baillie Gifford Prize for her biography "Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne," she brings the same literary sophistication to natural history. Her sentences dance with metaphor and unexpected connections, making even the most obscure creatures feel worthy of wonder. Consider her description of the pangolin: "Pangolins are more beautiful than seems plausible in this fallen old world; they look as though they should be strictly prelapsarian."
The author's background in children's literature (including acclaimed works like "The Explorer" and "Rooftoppers") shines through in her ability to make complex concepts accessible without oversimplification. She treats her readers as intelligent partners in discovery rather than passive recipients of information.
Strengths & Notable Elements
- Exceptional research woven seamlessly with historical anecdotes and cultural references
- Vivid, memorable descriptions that bring each creature to life
- Powerful advocacy that never feels preachy
- Thoughtful balance between scientific fact and emotional resonance
- Strong connection between individual species and larger environmental concerns
Areas for Improvement
- Some chapters could benefit from more detailed ecological context
- Occasional tendency to romanticize certain species at the expense of scientific precision
- The structure sometimes feels repetitive despite the diversity of subjects
- Could include more concrete conservation actions for readers
Impact & Relevance
What sets "Vanishing Treasures" apart from other natural history works is its urgent contemporary relevance. Rundell doesn't just describe these creatures - she makes a compelling case for why their preservation matters to human civilization. The book arrives at a crucial moment when biodiversity loss threatens global ecosystems, making its message particularly timely.
Educational Value
The book serves as an excellent introduction to conservation biology for general readers. Rundell's ability to explain complex concepts through engaging narratives makes this an ideal text for:
- Students of environmental science
- Nature enthusiasts
- Conservation advocates
- Anyone interested in understanding biodiversity loss
Conclusion
"Vanishing Treasures" is a remarkable achievement that manages to be both a celebration of life's diversity and a warning about its fragility. While not perfect, its few shortcomings are far outweighed by its considerable strengths. Rundell has created something rare: a book about extinction that leaves readers feeling not just concerned but inspired to action.
The book succeeds brilliantly in its primary aim - to make readers fall in love with the extraordinary creatures we share our planet with, and to understand what we stand to lose if we fail to protect them. It's a work that deserves to be read widely and taken seriously as both literature and environmental advocacy.
December 6, 2024
4⭐️ “The greatest lie that humans ever told is that the Earth is ours, and at our disposal. It’s a lie with the power to destroy us all.”
April 13, 2025
A beautiful book but quite depressing. One I would like in my bookshelf that I could dip in and out of.
November 27, 2024
This is excellent. A lot of little facts about a lot of my favorite animals like raccoons, giraffes, crows. 4.4
January 15, 2025
You know, what's there is lovely. The animal subjects are well chosen, and the facts shared are interesting.
However, the chapters are short. There is no real depth here. This is a very brief overview.
However, the chapters are short. There is no real depth here. This is a very brief overview.
January 25, 2025
Vanishing Treasures takes a brief yet harrowing glance at just a few animal species facing extinction today. I was shocked that almost all of the animals mentioned are considered to be so common (i.e. hedgehogs, seahorses, crows, etc.) and will likely be gone by 2050. When I visited the Field Museum in Chicago, there was a counter that measures species going extinct with the number ascending in real time. The fast-climbing numbers were astounding and gut-wrenching. To quote my boy David,
“If children don't grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it, and they don't understand it, they won't protect it.... and if they don't protect it, who will?” - David Attenborough
I gotta speak for the trees on this one. We are their only chance for survival. This book is short, witty, and full of historical and modern beliefs and folklore about each animal (which I thought was very different). It’s easy to absorb and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to dip their toe into the miraculous intricacies of our animal world.
“If children don't grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it, and they don't understand it, they won't protect it.... and if they don't protect it, who will?” - David Attenborough
I gotta speak for the trees on this one. We are their only chance for survival. This book is short, witty, and full of historical and modern beliefs and folklore about each animal (which I thought was very different). It’s easy to absorb and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to dip their toe into the miraculous intricacies of our animal world.
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