| Top Destinations |
|
•
|
Big Island, Hawaii
|
|
•
|
Fraser Island, Australia
|
|
•
|
Sicily, Italy
|
|
•
|
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
|
|
•
|
Iceland, Europe
|
|
•
|
Santorini, Greece
|
|
•
|
Malta Island, Malta
|
|
•
|
Phuket, Thailand
|
|
•
|
Maldives, Indian Ocean
|
|
•
|
Bermuda, The Caribbean
|
|
|
|
|
Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and Their People | 
 enlarge | Authors: Catherine Cheung, Lyndon Devantier, Kay Van Damme
Publisher: Odyssey
Category: Book
List Price: $59.95
Buy New: $38.37
You Save: $21.58 (36%)
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 480799
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.3
Dimensions (in): 11.1 x 8.6 x 1.9
ISBN: 9622177700
Dewey Decimal Number: 916
EAN: 9789622177703
ASIN: 9622177700
Publication Date: February 19, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This richly illustrated book provides the first comprehensive review of the natural history of these islands. The islands became a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in 2003 and have been nominated as a World Heritage site. While documenting Socotra's geology, biodiversity, ecology, human history and culture, the book also highlights aspects of the islands' biogeography, evolution, and conservation. Thoroughly researched, with contributions from numerous international and local specialists, the book is packed with up-to-date scientific, historic and cultural information. 300 color photos, 10 maps.
|
| Customer Reviews:
You must buy it. March 29, 2007
Jedidiah Palosaari (Washington Province of the American Empire)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
There is nothing out there like this book. Nothing even comes close. If you're interested in the island of Suqutra, you basically must have this book. Live on the streets. Eat only rice. Sell your children. But buy this book.
"Natural History" contains everything you could possibly want to know about the islands and their people- including that they aren't one island, but actually six, three of which are inhabited. The book goes into great detail on the history, the customs, the flora and fauna, marine life, geology, and the environmental impact and future of Suqutra. Cheung and DeVantier have taken a century and a half of research, countless articles and books, and their own personal experience to present a beautifully photographed and intricate portrayal. Here you can learn about the poisonous animals (and what the possibility is of a giant poisonous snake); how to politely visit a Suqutri home and eat; why the Suqutri marine ecology is so unique; when the island was Christian; and how frankincense and ambergris are formed by battle between giant monsters and from special trees. Perhaps the only thing missing is a more detailed analysis of the centrality of folk Islam in the society, which is only alluded to at times- but that can be found in the ethnography Island of the Phoenix. Truthfully, this book is a bargain- it should be selling at about three times the price, for no other book comes close to matching it.
Some have a thirst for Suqutra and want to learn more about it by reading this book. There may be some reading this review who've never heard of the place. Go buy the book to find out. This is the oldest isolated continental land in the world. Because of this, and fierce winter storms six months of the year with unique alternating encircling currents, the island's biology is unique and has a rate of endemic species comparable for it's size to Hawaii or the Galopogus. Dragon's Blood Trees and actual Cucumber trees (trees grown to the size of cucumbers) are unique to this island, as are the inaptly named Persian Violets (now available from florists). But unlike those other islands of uniqueness, Suqutra is not only continental crust, but also has had an indigenous population of humans for over two millennia. These people have been largely culturally and linguistically isolated as well over that time, and have had specific impacts on their small land, as well as learning valuable environmental tools to care for the ecology and continue to survive.
In it's second to last chapter "Natural History" takes a look at these environmental issues, in a series of studies so engaging they read like short stories. They tell of modern attempts at ecological protection, with successes and failures. But the studies are always encouraging, for even in failures there is at least the recognition of the problem, and what needs to continue to be protected. Due to the public's lack of awareness of Suqutra, and the long history of ecological concern by the islanders, there is time to actively work to identify unique animals and ecology of the islands and protect them before there is great loss, as has occurred in Hawaii. As such, many like the authors are working towards sustainable development and technological application on the islands, without removing natural culture or wildlife, to the extent that this is possible.
I perhaps appreciated most of all the final chapter. Many may have read the recent New York Times article on Suqutra, and are considering it as a pleasing new adventure, and out of the way destination. The final chapter of "Natural History" warns against this. While ecotourism is growing on the island, it is having a greater negative impact on the animals and plants of Suqutra. Suqutra is very hot, with fierce winds, a high chance of contracting malaria, strange customs (for Westerners), dangerous biting insects, extremely limited hospital care and doctors, and water too limited to allow regular bathing. If you're going to go, the authors wish to communicate that it's not for a lark or the faint of heart, and please respect the people and the land, so as to sustain it for future generations. Suqutra is a land of adventure, but the kind of adventure that is grueling and difficult, that involves emotional death to self in changing cultural practices, potentially taking lives and causing a lifetime of injury.
|
|
|
| | Luxury Vacation Info |
|
Are you ready for your next luxury vacation? Let Travelwizard experts
take care of all the details.
The best available price is our starting point. Then we add value through
complimentary excursions, amenities, or services.
TravelWizard.com can get you the room, or suite, condo or villa you want,
when others can't.
We have tons of money saving specials: free nights, free meals, room
upgrades, and wonderful inclusions such as free golf and spa visits.
Free car with a 7 night stay at 40 different hotels, or receive a
credit of $199 value, and apply it to another car category.
We work with every airline, so you can choose the airline you prefer.
You get frequent flyer miles on most of them.
We can get you discount first class, or
business class tickets.
You can book your activities ahead of time to
assure peace of mind.
How do we do it? Simple. We leverage our
tremendous buying power!
Email this page to a friend
Bookmark this page
|
|
|
|
|
