Dixe Wills likes to champion the underdog. In this new book, he celebrates 70 things from the world of nature that are maligned by humans and yet manage to beat the odds in some inspiring way. From bacteria and bluebottles, to puddles and wasps, there's so much we can learn from the natural world ar...

Dixe Wills likes to champion the underdog. In this new book, he celebrates 70 things from the world of nature that are maligned by humans and yet manage to beat the odds in some inspiring way. From bacteria and bluebottles, to puddles and wasps, there's so much we can learn from the natural world around us. Take the slug: "Slugs, like us, yearn to be the object of a little human love and sympathy. Unlike slugs, you have a chance of this dream coming true. Also, beer will not kill you. Not immediately, anyway."