I’ve never seen a book quite like this one! The idea is common enough – one-page answers to a number of questions about New Zealand and its fauna and flora, written in a manner accessible to the general public. The questions themselves, though, cover a wide range and are loosely organised by subject, from weather to geology to animals and people.
“This book aims to provide a fun and illuminating way through the sometimes bewildering maze of information out there. But more than that, it asks questions about New Zealand’s natural history that many might never have thought to ask. ” True enough. Did you know that there used to be a population of moose in Fiordland? Why Can’t Kiwis Fly will help you out!
I’m liking
Lots of information here for the trivia junkie, and a worthwhile read for any NZer wanting to know more about our unique country and its history. The answers are solidly scientific (there are even references at the end) and yet easily readable.
Some of the questions will make you laugh. “Do male kakapo ever get lonely?” “Why do 92% of plants twine in an anticlockwise direction?” (yes, that’s just what I ask myself every time I go into the bush…..)
Things that made me go hmmmm
You can tell that some of the questions were written just to showcase a cool fact that he found – “Can you teach old birds new tricks?” indeed! And “How do we know so accurately how many kea were killed between 1860 and 1971?” Also some of the answers are inconclusive, a longwinded way of saying ‘we don’t know for sure’, or else they go off on a tangent and don’t address the original question.
The contents list at the beginning is useful, but a keyword index at the end would have been handy for quick reference during a home trivia night or pub quiz.
The conclusion
I enjoyed learning random bits of information from this book, and will no doubt learn more each time I dip into it. A fun way of keeping the brain cells active for parents with little time and concentration!!
