The Genius Bat
Understanding Our Most Mysterious Mammal
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oneworld Publications
Published:16th Oct '25
£20.00
Available for immediate dispatch.
An awe-inspiring journey to understand bats by the world’s leading expert
Step into the shadows and listen
'Brings the poster-species of Halloween out of the shadows, so we can better appreciate the flying mammal.' National Geographic
Usually, you’ll hear a bat before you see it – the gentle flutter of wings, their high-pitched chatter as they dive and roll for insects. Only occasionally do you spot them, a blur against the evening sky.
With nearly 1,500 known species, bats are among the most successful mammals on earth. From the tiny bumblebee bat – which could rest comfortably on your index finger – to the giant golden-crowned flying fox with its 1.5-metre wingspan, they are evolutionary marvels, adapted to practically every environment. The only mammal that can fly, they can reach speeds of up to 100 mph, leaving cheetahs in the dust.
Yossi Yovel, an ecologist and neurobiologist, is passionate about deciphering their secrets. In The Genius Bat, he brings to life these amazing creatures as well as the obsessive and sometimes eccentric people who study them. From muddy rainforests to star-covered deserts, from guest houses in Thailand to museum drawers full of fossils in New York, this is an eye-opening account of a remarkable animal.
'A marvellous book.' Nancy Simmons, Curator of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History
'Fascinating... Yovel clearly explains bats' vital contributions to a healthier planet.' Merlin Tuttle, author of The Secret Lives of Bats and founder of Bat Conservation International
'By page eight, I was a confirmed batman... In all this batty marvellousness, nothing intrigues more than the evolutionary ‘arms race’ between bats and insects... This book, it must be stated, is no dry-as-dust science text. Prof Yossi Yoval is out in jungle, desert and tropical island, the Indiana Jones of chiropterology. It’s bonkersly interesting.' —Country Life
'A marvellous book. If you are at all curious about bats and the scientists who study them, this is the book for you.' —Nancy Simmons, Curator of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History
'A book that brings the poster-species of Halloween out of the shadows, so we can better appreciate the flying mammal. They may be elusive but bats are one of the planet's most successful animals.' —National Geographic
'You will never think of bats (or zoologists) in the same way. The book is a masterpiece of storytelling.' ―Ron Milo, author of Biology by the Numbers
'Fascinating... Yovel clearly explains bats' vital contributions to a healthier planet... and provides an insider view of what motivates scientists to study bats.' ―Merlin Tuttle, author of The Secret Lives of Bats and founder of Bat Conservation International
'In this excellent book, Yovel draws you into the lives of bats. He provides many astonishing details of what bats do and why.' ―Brock Fenton, author of A Miscellany of Bats
'Accessible, engaging and inspiring.' ―Winifred Frick, Chief Scientist, Bat Conservation International
'Yovel's passion and curiosity will leave readers with a greater appreciation for the wonders and mysteries of the bat world. This is a revelation.' ―Publisher's Weekly (starred review)
'Yovel’s enthusiasm for these little creatures is infectious.' ―Library Journal
ISBN: 9781836432036
Dimensions: 216mm x 135mm x 29mm
Weight: unknown
336 pages