Customer Reviews

Dragonflies (Smithsonian's Natural World Series)

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Steve Brooks' book "Dragonflies" is an excellent introduction to the Odonata or odonates, a group of insects comprising dragonflies, damselflies and anisozygopterans. The book looks like a shorter version of Jill Sillsby's "Dragonflies of the world", and seems to be partially based on that book.

Brooks covers all aspects of dragonfly and damselfly behaviour: feeding, mating, flying, the larval stages. There is a chapter on odonates and humans. There is also a section mentioning every known family of the Odonata. The book is superbly illustrated with glowing photos, all in colour. (It should be noted that the anisozygopterans are mentioned mostly in passing. But then, there are only two species of those!)

"Dragonflies" is definitely worth buying if you have even a passing interest in these large, sturdy and completely harmless bugs...

"Dragonflies" by Steve Brooks is a splendid volume for anyone who could probably survive a high school Biology class or perhaps Biology 101 in college. Brooks does a very good job of presenting Dragonflies and Damselflies to the reader with a notably concise but well-planned, comprehensive and accurate style. This book would be a most excellent primer for anyone and, in spite of its' brevity (96 pages with plenty of photos and drawings), will advance the reader's knowledge by a considerable degree... and do it painlessly.