Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution

Summary

Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution is a 2021 book written by Richard Dawkins and illustrated by Jana Lenzová.

Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution
AuthorRichard Dawkins
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SubjectAnimal flight
Published2021 (Head of Zeus, London)
Media typePrint
Pages294
ISBN1838937854
OCLC1299256370
LC ClassQP310.F5
Preceded byBooks Do Furnish a Life: Reading and Writing Science 

Themes edit

Flights of Fancy talks about almost every aspect of flying–all the different ways of defying gravity–in imagination and in technology, in humans and in animals. It ranges over many instances of flight including the Wright brothers, Greek mythology, extinct and living birds, helicopters, insects, bats, and flying squirrels.[1]

Reception edit

  • Alexander McCall Smith called it "A masterly investigation of all aspects of flight, human and animal... A beautifully produced book that will appeal across age groups"[2][3]
  • James McConnachie in The Times said, "Dawkins has always been an extraordinarily muscular, persuasive thinker. What feels new here is that he writes with such charm and warmth"[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Book Review: Flights of Fancy Skeptic Heretic: "From the deadly dance between moths and bats, to the wonders of mechanized flight, this book examines nature’s desire to break free from the bonds of gravity"
  2. ^ Richard Dawkins on Wonder – Live on Stage in London Feb 21 2022, Emmanuel Centre, London
  3. ^ Flights of Fancy Golden Notebook Press
  4. ^ Flights of Fancy review — a very different Richard Dawkins by James McConnachie, Dec 12 2021, The Sunday Times

External links edit

  • Richard Dawkins Interviewed on his Book Flights of Fancy [video]