Books How animal senses reveal hidden worlds Ed Yong’s fascinating new book on the complex behaviours of creatures uncovers a universe of unfathomable beauty. By Mark Cocker
Nature Tom Fort’s Casting Shadows is an excellent, balanced portrait of fisher folk in Britain By Mark Cocker
Michael Bond’s Wayfinding: a compelling study of our ability to get from A to B This fascinating book suggests that navigation is a question of psychology. By Mark Cocker
The people fighting to save our wildernesses from climate change This year Guardian contributors such as myself were advised to alter the language we use to write about long-standing… By Mark Cocker
The Moon: an in-depth study of our closest celestial companion Oliver Morton’s 2007 book Eating the Sun is a brilliant exploration of how that single star in our solar… By Mark Cocker
Dan Gretton’s I You We Them: the mass murderers who killed from behind a desk As the rather elaborate title might indicate, I You We Them is a complex and exceptional book. It also strikes me… By Mark Cocker
How animals feel: the complexity of non-human emotions Why the emotions of animals will be the next great area of study for behavioural science. By Mark Cocker
Hell pigs and mega-elephants: Europe’s forgotten wildlife Once upon a time, Europe’s animal kingdom was as diverse as Africa’s. By Mark Cocker
How five humble fish transformed the British Isles Cod, carp, eel, herring and salmon might seem an odd quintet, but these charismatic, story-rich species changed our nation. By Mark Cocker
In praise of the pollinators: why bees are even more important than you think The public is obsessed with the domestic bee, but most people don’t know how many different kinds of bee… By Mark Cocker