The author is real enthusiast for hedgehogs but he's not over-sentimental about them. At the heart of the book is some of the research on hedgehog ecology that he's carried out over the years, and it does tell you a lot about the biology and behaviour of hedgehogs, as well as dispelling some of the myths about them. Woven round that are all sorts of tales and anecdotes about the animals and the people who tend for them. There's a strong vein of eccentricity, not to say downright barminess, running through this, but there's also a real awareness of that eccentricity and you know what, the world's a better place for it. A charming book, packed with all sorts of interesting oddities. ( )

This is like a romp through the hedgehog world. Barbara who looks after hedgehogs in Manchester is a bit scary. So is the plight of the hedgehog which, I fear, has deteriorated further since publication of this book, first published in 2008.

Recommended to me by my hedgehog. A wonderful book, get it and read it yourself with a hedgehog if possible. ( )

What a great book!

[a:Hugh Warwick|1991216|Hugh Warwick|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] has managed to write a book that is simultaneously informative and deeply entertaining. His passion for the humble hedgehog shines through in every page, and it's impossible to not have some of that rub off on you while reading this book. Indeed, it's impossible not to fall a bit in love with the animal the second you 'do the nose to nose thing' with them.

The hedgehog is an inherently silly animal, but there's something in its industrious and utterly benign nature that attracts both passion and obsession. There's something fascinating in the tiny creature, and what a joy it is to witness that love ignite in everyone I introduce the spiny beasts o. To see those emotions beautifully highlighted in someone else's words is heartwarming. To see it paired with a deeper scientific understanding of the animal was plain beautiful.

I've already passed this book on to two other people, and I honestly can't wait to encourage still others to read it. Save the hedgehog, save the world as the author put it. Any way an animal can be better loved and understood is a good one, and I've seen firsthand how passion for one creature can extend to all the others in our lives. ( )

Showed how to admire nature without having to interfere to the point of doing more harm than good and how to be passionate without being too attached and sentimental. Quite an eye-opener. ( )