"Excellent book . [Birkhead's] intimacy with his avian subjects, and with everything he and centuries of others have observed about them, makes Mr. Birkhead's hypotheses--and his books--so compelling." - The Wall Street Journal "Birkhead's curiosity is contagious, and his deep respect for this most ubiquitous of nature's creations gives his words a degree of reverence that is both admirable and welcome . Absolutely delightful!" - starred review, Booklist "A thrilling voyage through what most of us think of as an ordinary item sold at the supermarket. One doesn't have to be a bird enthusiast to relish this book, but it would be the most perfect gift for anyone who is." - starred revew, Kirkus Reviews "Birkhead manages to contain what could have become an unwieldy topic, and readers with little familiarity in guillemot eggs specifically will still find the material fascinating." - Publishers Weekly "[Birkhead] writes clearly, with accuracy and wit .
Birkhead's historical acumen and sharp pen had me seeing eggs in a new light. He has convinced me that they are splendid, if not indeed most perfect." - Nature "Entertaining and elegant . Birkhead's book is not to be missed. Crack it open and enjoy the riches it contains." - Natural History "Who could imagine that tiny bird eggs were such mind-blowing scientific marvels? As compelling and inherently fascinating as it is informative and 'reader friendly' in composition and presentation, THE MOST PERFECT THING is very highly recommended." - Midwest Book Review "With THE MOST PERFECT THING Tim Birkhead proves he's one of ornithology's greatest popularizers. Through the passion he has for his subject and the clarity of his writing, he'll have you wondering how you ever managed to take eggs for granted.
" - Hipster Birder "[A]n interesting, comprehensible exploration of eggs. It will help anyone understand this 'most perfect thing.' More than that, though, it gives a tantalizing taste of the exciting things just waiting to be discovered even about topics that we might, naïvely, consider mundane." - The Bird's Library.