"The Chicken: a Natural History", by Dr. Joseph Barber
In the "About this book" blurb at the front of this book, Barber makes the very bold statement that: "In the first four chapters you will discover all that science can tell us about the origins, anatomy, behavior, and capabilities of modern domesticated chickens."
My first thought was: "Oh Really? In just a hundred and fifty pages? We'll see."
Guess what. He wasn't kidding. I was, and am, amazed. If you have any interest in poultry, specifically chickens, you will thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this book. Thankfully, it does not include a lot of very forgettable trivia.
Barber has put an incredible amount of useful and interesting information into readable-sized presentations that cover chickens from topknot to tail. And in the sixty-six pages following his "tutorial" you will find a great portfolio of informative and actually useful breed discussions, terminology and bibliography.
If you like chickens, are interested in chickens, have chickens, want chickens, live near chickens, or are a chicken - you should get this book.