There are more than 50 000 species of spiders. They surround us in our daily lives and, contrary to popular belief, the vast majority are completely harmless to humans.

In Silk & Venom, James O’Hanlon takes us from his backyard to all corners of the globe (and even outer space!) to explore these fascinating creatures and show us why they’re not so scary after all.

You’ll encounter everything from miniscule jumping spiders with super intelligence to giant tarantulas whose venom could one day save your life, as well as the people who seek them, including the unlikely Australian who stumbled upon a beautiful but elusive new species of peacock spider, which sparked an international collaboration.

Clearing up spider myths and misconceptions, James O’Hanlon introduces readers to the beauty of their lives, including remarkable hunting techniques, the fascinating engineering of spider silk and the spiders that live in extremes — from underwater to the slopes of Mount Everest.

‘If, like me, you love natural history, ALL OF NATURAL HISTORY, you’ll adore James O’Hanlon’s enthralling Silk & Venom. It is surprising and funny, and will make every part of the garden (and even dark crevices indoors) look so much more intriguing — and safe.’ — Robyn Williams