Living Night
On the Secret Wonders of Wildlife After Dark
Published on 29. August 2025
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-891011-93-1 (ISBN)
Description
When the sun sets, things start to get interesting among wild animals. Wherever we live, whether in the city or suburbs or country, darkness conjures a hidden world of wildlife that most of us rarely glimpse. Foxes, wolves, and bears prowl while skunks, opossums, and porcupines lurk; fireflies send flashing signals to potential mates; raccoons rummage for food; owls and bats fly overhead.
Wildlife biologist Sophia Kimmig is our guide to the startling behaviors of these and many more nocturnal creatures. Introducing us to night's wild inhabitants, she reveals what life for them is like in this parallel world-how it looks, feels, and smells-and the ingenious ways some creatures thrive after sunset. Living Nighthelps us appreciate how essential darkness is: not just a time but a diverse habitat all to itself-one that we still know too little about, and that we must urgently protect for the benefit of the world's flora and fauna that depend on the day-night cycle.
Wildlife biologist Sophia Kimmig is our guide to the startling behaviors of these and many more nocturnal creatures. Introducing us to night's wild inhabitants, she reveals what life for them is like in this parallel world-how it looks, feels, and smells-and the ingenious ways some creatures thrive after sunset. Living Nighthelps us appreciate how essential darkness is: not just a time but a diverse habitat all to itself-one that we still know too little about, and that we must urgently protect for the benefit of the world's flora and fauna that depend on the day-night cycle.
Reviews / Votes
"An entertaining and illuminating love letter to the mysterious and often misunderstood creatures that come alive when we go to bed-and a call to preserve our precious, shared world." -- Robin Bicknell, award-winning documentary filmmaker, Ice and Fire and Nature's Cleanup Crew "[A] wonder-filled look at wildlife most active in the dark. From the captivating prologue set in Berlin to the frank and personal epilogue, the book explains why it's important for humans to preserve darkness. For readers, animal nightlife will no longer be foreign territory. . . . A pleasure to read." -- AFARMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Paper over boards
Illustrations
10 B&W images and illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
364 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-891011-93-1 (9781891011931)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2025
The Experiment
€15.49
Available for download
Person
Sophia Kimmig researches how wild animals adapt to changing habitat conditions at an institute of the Leibniz Society in Berlin. Her previous book, On Foxes and People, was a Spiegel bestseller. In lectures, journalism, and books, she pursues her goal of bringing people closer to the diversity and value of nature and creating acceptance for nature and species protection. She lives in Berlin.
Content
Prologue: Night in the City
Chapter 1: The Dark Side of the Day
Of Subjective Realities
The Other World
A Life in the Dark
Fun Fact | Shining Eyes
Chapter 2: Dwellers of the Night - DORMICE
Of Mafiosi and Sleepers
Secret Neighbors
Fun Fact | Adhesive feet
Chapter 3: Why animals are nocturnal and what dinosaurs have to do with it
From shadowy existence to triumphant march
Excuse me, is there still room for me somewhere?
Fun Fact | Artistic Freedom
Chapter 4: Dwellers of the Night - OWLS
Silent Hunters
Two Weird Birds
Fun Fact | 270 degrees
Chapter 5: Only where there is light, there are shadows
When organisms bring light into the dark
Fun Fact | Obligatory or optional?
Chapter 6: Inhabitants of the night - BATS
Vampire or cotton ball
Delicate but tough
Fun Fact | Dark wings
Man under the spell of darkness
The night is dark and full of terror
Nocturnal cultural assets
Fun Fact | Fifty shades of gray
Chapter 7: Dwellers of the night - RACCOONS
Sensitive survival artist
The tank busters among the animals
Fun Fact | The Guild
Chapter 8: The Loss of Night
The Dark Side of Light
The Meaning of Darkness
Fun Fact | From sleepy cows to relaxed mice
Chapter 9: Inhabitants of the night - NIGHT FEEDING
Brown bear and copper mother hen - the world of night owls
Sensual
Fun Fact | Nemo's Anemone
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes, selected references, and bibliography
Index
Chapter 1: The Dark Side of the Day
Of Subjective Realities
The Other World
A Life in the Dark
Fun Fact | Shining Eyes
Chapter 2: Dwellers of the Night - DORMICE
Of Mafiosi and Sleepers
Secret Neighbors
Fun Fact | Adhesive feet
Chapter 3: Why animals are nocturnal and what dinosaurs have to do with it
From shadowy existence to triumphant march
Excuse me, is there still room for me somewhere?
Fun Fact | Artistic Freedom
Chapter 4: Dwellers of the Night - OWLS
Silent Hunters
Two Weird Birds
Fun Fact | 270 degrees
Chapter 5: Only where there is light, there are shadows
When organisms bring light into the dark
Fun Fact | Obligatory or optional?
Chapter 6: Inhabitants of the night - BATS
Vampire or cotton ball
Delicate but tough
Fun Fact | Dark wings
Man under the spell of darkness
The night is dark and full of terror
Nocturnal cultural assets
Fun Fact | Fifty shades of gray
Chapter 7: Dwellers of the night - RACCOONS
Sensitive survival artist
The tank busters among the animals
Fun Fact | The Guild
Chapter 8: The Loss of Night
The Dark Side of Light
The Meaning of Darkness
Fun Fact | From sleepy cows to relaxed mice
Chapter 9: Inhabitants of the night - NIGHT FEEDING
Brown bear and copper mother hen - the world of night owls
Sensual
Fun Fact | Nemo's Anemone
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes, selected references, and bibliography
Index