"A French ornithologist and philosopher teach us to pause, look to the sky, and reconnect with the natural world, in twenty-two short lessons inspired by the secret lives of birds. There is a lot we can learn from birds if we pay attention. This elegant volume invites us to take a step back from our busy lives, to reconnect with nature, and to listen to the tiny philosophers of the sky. From the delicate sparrow to the majestic eagle, birds are among the most fascinating species on earth. These seemingly delicate creatures, who routinely weather the fiercest storms and travel thousands of miles each year migrating with the changing seasons are paragons of beauty and grace. There is much to be gleaned from their serene approach to life if we're willing to take the time to notice, including: Independence: what it means to be "pushed out of the nest" ; Vulnerability: what the mallard teaches us about giving up our old feathers for new ones in order to fly ; Gender equality: what happens when a papa turtledove sits on the nest ; Hierarchy and power: what the raven and the vulture know about the pecking order. Filled with elegant illustrations of bird species, A Short Philosophy of Birds is a celebration of our friends in the sky, reminding us to embrace the rhythms of the natural world all around us." --