Lars Svensson relates how the idea for the book was born, how the book gradually became reality and explains a little of the work that lies behind the contents. He also mentions the various editions and translations to other languages than English.

The release date for the new revised edition of the IGEP is August 2023.

Lars Svensson was originally a graphic designer and publishing editor, later on a self-taught ornithologist specialising in passerines. He has been editor of Vår Fågelvärld, a member of the Board of the Swedish Ornithological Society (now BirdLife Sweden) and created the Swedish Rarities Committee. He has also sat on various taxonomy committees, including the British and Swedish. He is the author of the “Collins Bird Guide”, has recorded the sounds for the book “Fågelsång” and to the CD “Fågelsång I Sverige”. In 1994 he was awarded the Letterstedtska prize for authorship, in 2004 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Uppsala University and in 2013 he received The Marsh Award for International Ornithology.