Thursday, February 02, 2012

Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart

Title: Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects
Author: Amy Stewart
ISBN: 9781565129603
Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2011
Hardcover, 288 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: A
Source: Purchased at Barnes and Noble

First Line: In 1909, the Chicago Daily Tribune ran an article titled "If Bugs Were the Size of Men."

In a companion volume to her Wicked Plants, Amy Stewart mines entomological gold. In short chapters she informs us all of what biological and financial threats insects pose to humans, what they've done in generations gone by, and what we've been doing to them.

I think my favorite part-- other than all the knowledge I gleaned-- was the Schmidt Sting Pain Index which seems to have been written by a person filled with knowledge, the gift of words, and a brilliant sense of humor.  My least favorite? I could have done without one of the paragraphs in the cockroach chapter. I can still do a little dance of horror and disgust just thinking about it.

If you enjoy books filled with fascinating and often humorous facts about the natural world, you'll enjoy Amy Stewart's Wicked Bugs (as well as her Wicked Plants). However, if even the sight of an insect sends you into a tizzy, please do not pick up this book!

10 comments:

  1. Cathy - Hmmm...Not something I would ordinarily think of to read. I'm not squeamish about bugs, but don't find them fascinating. That said, though, it sounds like this is an innovative and funny look at the insect world. I can respect and appreciate someone who makes bugs an interesting topic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stewart makes plants every bit as fascinating, too, Margot!

      Delete
  2. I loved this book! I am fascinated with such facts and I liked the drawings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the illustrations fit beautifully. I love this type of book!

      Delete
  3. I don't love insects, but reading about them doesn't bother me. I need to pick this book up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It could save your life, or make you the trivial life of a party, Kathy! ;-)

      Delete
  4. This makes me think of the Stephen Gould books that I used to love. They were on topics I never thought I would care about, like insects, but his take on the topic made them fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do sound very similar, Barbara. Now you've got me curious about Stephen Gould. The name is ringing faint bells....

      Delete
  5. This does sound interesting. Not that I'm looking forward to reading a paragraph on roaches that can make you dance with horror.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And disgust. Don't forget the disgust! *shudder*

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!