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The Most Perfect Thing cover art

The Most Perfect Thing

By: Tim Birkhead
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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Summary

How are eggs of different shapes made, and why are they the shapes they are? When does the shell of an egg harden? Why do some eggs contain two yolks? How are the colours and patterns of eggshells created, and why do they vary? And which end of an egg is laid first - the blunt end or the pointy end?

These are just some of the questions The Most Perfect Thing answers, as the journey of a bird's egg from creation and fertilisation to its eventual hatching is examined, with current scientific knowledge placed within an historical context.

Beginning with an examination of the stunning eggs of the guillemot, each of which is so variable in pattern and colour that no two are ever the same, acclaimed ornithologist Tim Birkhead then looks at the eggs of hens, cuckoos and many other birds, revealing weird and wonderful facts about these miracles of nature. Woven around and supporting these facts are extraordinary stories of the individuals who, from as far back as ancient Egypt, have been fixated on the study and collection of eggs, not always to the benefit of their conservation.

Firmly grounded in science and enriched by a wealth of observation drawn from a lifetime spent studying birds, The Most Perfect Thing is an illuminating and engaging exploration of the science behind eggs and the history of man's obsession with them.

©2016 Tim Birkhead (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"Birkhead has made birds' eggs interesting again, by giving us a new way of looking at them: not as commodities to be drooled over and collected, but as wonders of natural science." (Independent)
"The title is also a perfect description of the book itself - full of wonder and surprise and beautifully written." (Nick Davies, author of Cuckoo)

What listeners say about The Most Perfect Thing

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A really brilliant book

This book is superb. It's an amazing blend of education, history, science, personal anecdotes and even the odd sprinkle of humour. The author's passion and expertise shine through. It's also beautifully written which is a bonus for a science book - the sentences are put together so well it's a joy to listen to. The narrator did a great job too, his voice is a warm and soothing thing to put in ones ears!

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Fascinating.

Not easy listening but if you are seriously interested in birds' eggs this is an informative and fascinating book.

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So many fascinating things I had never thought to

I loved this book. Excellent narration and wonderful content. The author is an expert in the field and covers both history and biology in depth.

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