Books
I’ve written six books. Click on the title for more info and buying options.
Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?
Taking Flight
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2023
‘This book soars… Parikian is a nature writer at the top of his game.’ Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
This is the miracle of flight as you’ve never seen it before: the evolutionary story of life on the wing.
The paperback edition of Taking Flight will be published on 16th May 2024. You can pre-order it from various outlets.
If you don’t live in the UK, I think your best option is to buy from Blackwell’s, who say ‘delivery cost included in price of book’.
A bird flits overhead. It’s an everyday occurrence, repeated hundreds, thousands, millions of times daily by creatures across the world. It’s something so normal, so entirely taken for granted, that sometimes we forget how extraordinary it is. But take that in for a moment. This animal flies. It. Flies.
The miracle of flight has evolved in hugely diverse ways, with countless variations of flapping and gliding, hovering and diving, murmurating and migrating.
Conjuring lost worlds, ancient species and ever-shifting ecologies, this exhilarating new book is a mesmerising encounter with fourteen flying species: from the first fluttering insect of 300 million years ago to the crested pterosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, from hummingbirds that co-evolved with rainforest flowers to the wonders of dragonfly, albatross, pipistrelle and monarch butterfly with which we share the planet today.
Taking Flight is a mind-expanding feat of the imagination, a close encounter with flight in its myriad forms, urging us to look up and drink in the spectacle of these gravity-defying marvels that continue to shape life on Earth.
‘[Lev Parikian] brings a sense of infectious enthusiasm to his account of the evolution of flight in the natural world, from mayflies and bees to bats and hummingbirds by way of pterosaurs and archaeopteryx, combining a wealth of information with a sense of wonder.’ The Observer
‘This accessible account of the animal kingdom’s development of flight exhibits a layman’s enthusiasm for an everyday wonder.’ Rebecca Foster, TLS
‘A compelling, chatty and wildly informative look at the various species on Earth with the ability to fly … An evocative, entertaining and educational flight path through the natural histories of various winged creatures.’ BirdGuides
‘This book soars. Lev Parikian illuminates one of the most magical mysteries of the natural world: how birds, bats, and insects break the bounds of Earth and fly through the heavens… Parikian is a nature writer at the top of his game.’ Steve Brusatte, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
‘Thanks to Parikian, you'll never look at a bird, a bat, or a beetle the same way again.’ Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
‘Had P. G. Wodehouse ghost-written Attenborough’s Life on Earth, we might have had Taking Flight forty years ago. This is a charming book, which – like its author – fizzes with erudition, wordplay and humour.’ Nick Acheson, author of The Meaning of Geese
‘As dashing as a swallowtail, as colourful as a hummingbird… An illuminating book written with Lev’s characteristic warmth, I didn’t want this flight to end.’ Jon Dunn, author of The Glitter in the Green
‘Lev Parikian’s writing – about the extraordinary wonders of flight – is as magical and uplifting as the aerial dynamics of our tiniest insects and birds.’ Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for the New Green Deal
‘Whether you’re an engineer, a linguist, a historian or just curious, this book has something for you … Get ready to be swept away by the expertly crafted harmony of Taking Flight.’ Professor Lucy Rogers, author of It’s ONLY Rocket Science
‘Lev Parikian explores one of nature’s most astounding evolutionary conjuring tricks … A work of clarity, levity and joy.’ Caspar Henderson, author of A New Map of Wonders
‘This is a soaring, joyful book, filled with the wit and wonder of aerial gymnastics, deep time, evolution and biology. It might just be the nearest thing to flight in a literary form.’ Patrick Barkham, author of Wild Isles
‘A beautiful concept, flawlessly executed, Taking Flight is among the most charming popular science books I’ve read in years. Parikian is fast becoming one of the finest science writers out there.’ Jules Howard, author of Wonderdog
‘Witty and enlightening. This book may not give you wings, but it will give you a deep appreciation for all those animals that glide, soar, hover and flutter… and penguins.’ Helen Pilcher, author of Life Changing: How Humans are Changing Life on Earth
‘Lev Parikian has produced a clear, crisp and entertaining account of the history of animal flight. A delightful and insightful read.’ Dominic Couzens, author of A Year of Bird Song
‘Taking Flight is full of wonders, large and small, and Lev’s own sense of the astounding fact of flight will make you look at the world differently. Those of us who can’t distinguish a pigeon from a pterosaur will learn lots, but it’s also bang up to date and informed by research.’ Chris Lintott, author of Our Accidental Universe
‘Taking Flight is a triumph of science communication. Full of surprises, insights and connections, I found delights with every turn of the page.’ Amy-Jane Beer, author of The Flow
‘This book is fascinating – packed with “well, I never!” and “who’d have thought?” lines which you feel compelled to share with anyone within earshot – and beautifully written with characteristic warmth and humour.’ Brigit Strawbridge, author of Dancing With Bees
Light Rains Sometimes Fall
See the British year afresh and experience a new way of connecting with nature – through the prism of Japan’s seventy-two ancient microseasons.
Across seventy-two short chapters and twelve months, writer and nature lover Lev Parikian charts the changes that each of these ancient microseasons (of a just a few days each) bring to his local patch – garden, streets, park and wild cemetery.
From the birth of spring (risshun) in early February to ‘the greater cold’ (daikan) in late January, Lev draws our eye to the exquisite beauty of the outside world, day-to-day.
Instead of Japan’s lotus blossom, praying mantis and bear, he watches bramble, woodlouse and urban fox; hawthorn, dragonfly and peregrine. But the seasonal rhythms – and the power of nature to reflect and enhance our mood – remain.
By turns reflective, witty and joyous, this is both a nature diary and a revelation of the beauty of the small and subtle changes of the everyday, allowing us to ‘look, look again, look better’.
It is the perfect gift to read in real time across the British year.
If you don’t live in the UK, I think your best option is to buy from Blackwell’s, who say ‘delivery cost included in price of book’.
‘A fresh new look at the microseasons of nature’s calendar, seen through Lev Parikian’s eyes – with his usual humour, attention to detail and beautifully written prose.’ Stephen Moss
‘Buy this book. Plant it somewhere handy and whenever you’re in need of a “spark of joy” pick it up and read a few pages. Its wit will make you smile. It will transport you to a wilder, gentler, more beautiful world.’ Ann Pettifor
Into The Tangled Bank
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING
‘Funny, accessible and full of wonders – a genuine breath of fresh air.’ – Melissa Harrison, author of All Among the Barley and The Stubborn Light of Things
Lev Parikian is on a journey to discover the quirks, habits and foibles of how the British experience nature. Open a window, hear the birds calling and join him.
It’s often said that the British are a nation of nature lovers; but what does that really mean? For some it’s watching racer snakes chase iguanas on TV as David Attenborough narrates, a visit to the zoo to convene with the chimps; for others it’s a far-too-ambitious clamber up a mountain, the thrilling spectacle of a rare bird in flight.
Lev Parikian sets out to explore the many, and particular, ways that he, and we, experience the natural world – beginning face down on the pavement outside his home, then moving outwards to garden to wildlife reserve and as far afield as the dark hills of Skye. He visits the haunts of famous nature lovers – reaching back to the likes of Charles Darwin, Etta Lemon, Gavin Maxwell, John Clare and Emma Turner – to examine their insatiable curiosity and follow in their footsteps.
And everywhere he meets not only nature, but nature lovers of all varieties: ramblers, dog-walkers, photographers; kite-flyers, den-builders, grass-loungers; beginners, specialists, all-rounders; or just people out for a stroll in the sun.
Warm, humorous and full of telling detail, Into the Tangled Bank celebrates our collective relationship with the natural world and what it might mean to be a nature lover in Britain today.
If you don’t live in the UK, I think your best option is to buy from Blackwell’s, who say ‘delivery cost included in price of book’.
‘Lev Parikian is one of those rare beasts: a nature writer with a sense of humour. This is a witty, touching and profound book about one man’s burgeoning relationship with the natural world – and it’s also a joy to read.’ – Stephen Moss, naturalist and author
‘An open, warm and unique journey full of unabashed enthusiasm for the natural world. A rare thing.’ – Stephen Rutt, author of The Seafarers and Wintering
Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?
‘The loveliest book about birdwatching you will ever read’ Emma Kennedy
At twelve years old, Lev Parikian was an avid birdwatcher. He was also a fraud, a liar and a cheat. Those lists of birds seen and ticked off? Lies. One hundred and thirty species? More like sixty.
Then, when he turned fifty, he decided to right his childhood wrongs. He would go birdwatching again. He would not lie. He would aim to see two hundred British bird species in a year.
Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? is the story of that year, a story about birds, family, music, nostalgia, the nature of obsession and obsession with nature. It’s about finding adventure in life when you twig it’s shorter than you thought, and about losing and regaining contact with the sights, sounds and smells of the natural world.
It’s a book for anyone who has ever seen a small brown bird and wondered what it was, or tried to make sense of a world in which we can ask, ‘What’s that bird?’ and ‘What’s for lunch?’ and get the same answer.
If you don’t live in the UK, I think your best option is to buy from Blackwell’s, who say ‘delivery cost included in price of book’.
‘Funny and clever . . . and even a little bit gripping’ TLS
‘Beautifully written . . . Parikian has a musician's ear for birdsong’ Samuel West
‘Gentle and enormously enjoyable’ Metro
Music To Eat Cake By
‘Eccentric and delightful’. Lissa Evans, author of Old Baggage
Today’s reader has choices: books about love, about life, about death – and everything in between. The variety is overwhelming, bewildering.
But what if the reader could play a part in producing something different, something about everything, about nothing, about everything and nothing at the same time? What if the reader could tell the writer what to write about?
Lev Parikian asked his readers those very questions, gathered their responses and then set out to write that book. Music to Eat Cake By is the result, a collection of essays exploring everything from the art of the sandwich and space travel to how not to cure hiccups and, of course, his beloved birdsong. Lev considers each subject with his signature wit and warmth, inviting the reader to wonder: what might we ask him to write about next?
MUSIC TO EAT CAKE BY IS NOW OUT OF PRINT.
Blackwell’s seem to have a few copies. Otherwise your best bet, if you’re looking for a copy, is a secondhand book site like AbeBooks.
‘Please read this book. My heart brimmed with joy for a thousand reasons. If you love words, books, music, nature, food or, well, anything, this book is for you.’ BC, Kobo reader
‘Ordered and it arrived quicker than expected.’ Anonymous Kindle reader
Waving, Not Drowning
‘Brilliant… a must for any would-be conductor, of an orchestra, electricity or a bus.’ Sir Ronald Harwood
Anyone who has ever wondered exactly what a conductor is doing will find the answers in this book. Covering a multitude of issues including technique, player psychology, shirt colours, anecdotes, pencil choices and much more besides, Waving, Not Drowning is the indispensable guide for all budding Maestros.
With the tragic death of co-author and doyen of the podium Barrington Orwell in an as yet unexplained contrabassoon accident, it was left to his colleague and friend Lev Parikian to complete the story on his behalf.
The result is part biography, part coaching manual, all wisdom.
From the profound insights of his professor, the incomparable Etwas Ruhiger, to his views on spectacles management, Orwell’s thoughts, collected in this mercifully short book, will keep you enthralled from Auftakt to ovation.
‘Highly entertaining … Hilarious … A must-read.’ Classical Music magazine
‘A must for any would-be conductor—of an orchestra, electricity or a bus. Brilliant because it’s both serious and funny.’ Sir Ronald Harwood
‘Very funny … there are very, very few books that have genuinely made me laugh out loud more than once.’ Anonymous Amazon reader