LOOK BIG (Ten Speed, 2018)

Available at your local bookstore, online at Amazon  + Green Apple
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“LOOK BIG is the definitive guide for anyone who has ever wondered what to do in an animal encounter. With equal parts humor and sound advice, Rachel Levin provides all the info you need to defuse a major critter crisis. Just don’t run. Unless it’s an alligator.” —Chris Keyes, editor of Outside magazine

“Ms. Levin has mastered the art of describing animals and their behavior in archly urban ways. . . a nifty idea carried out with humor and a deft touch.” —Wall Street Journal

“Hilarious but genuinely helpful” The Best Books from 2018 for Every Kind of Reader, Buzzfeed

“Finally, a book that answers the questions every outdoor-loving North American urbanite asks: What is it that I do again if I encounter a mountain lion while hiking? And are you supposed to run if you stumble upon a moose or hold your ground? Rachel Levin’s light-hearted read combines funny stories about wildlife encounters with facts and knowledgeable tips on what to do if you find yourself faced with any one of 50 North American creatures, from alligators to bed bugs. You’ll be ready to walk on the wild side in no time.” — 10 Books to Travel with this Summer, AFAR

“This book both amused and empowered me. I’m now prepared to haze a goose or do hand-to-hand combat with a cougar. . .  whatever it takes.”  — Jon Mooallem, author of The Wild Ones

“Journalist Levin gives well-researched advice for surviving run-ins with coyotes, bears, and moose, among other large animals, along with helpful tips, anecdotes, and charts for dealing with smaller critters, from bees to skunks. The illustrations make it the perfect coffee table book, while its small size means it also fits nicely in a backpack.” —Real Simple

“Levin takes a fun-filled, practical approach to dealing with all kinds of critters. . . Beyond being a simple and speedy reference book, the gorgeous and often humorous illustrations from Jeff Östberg make this fun to flip through, too. . . You’ll likely find yourself spending more time than you expected learning how to look big.” —Mother Nature Network

“Rachel Levin is a heck of a writer … ” —Hunting Life  

LOOK BIG is a humorous and helpful illustrated field guide that explains what to do in the face of fifty of our most feared— or frustrating—animals.

As humans encroach on wild places, encounters with animals—from bears, bison, mountain lions, and mice to turkeys, ticks, rats, and raccoons—have become increasingly commonplace. But wait, what are the rules for facing a moose up close? Do you run from a coyote or stand your ground? How deadly, really, are black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, and sharks?

Packed with expert tips, fascinating facts, and not-so-harrowing true tales (from writers like Peter Orner and Samin Nosrat), LOOK BIG is a must-have survival guide for urban, suburban, and outdoor adventurers alike. If you have ever feared the approach of a grizzly, the spray of a skunk, or an army of cockroaches in the kitchen, this book is for you.

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