It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

A beautiful and important book, 22 Nov 2007
This book and its stunning photographs show us a beautiful world that is rapidly changing. "Vanishing World" is not only a tribute to the Arctic wildlife - we meet polar bears, foxes, seals, walrus, birds and whales - but also a fascinating tale of global warming. Words can not describe this extraordinary book. It is clearly the result of enormous patience and commitment, and deserves all the praise it is getting in the press. At a first glance, it is a magnificent coffee table book, but what this is more than anything else, is an urgent appeal to engage. "Vanishing World" is an impressive achievement, and probably the most beautiful nature book in years. Nearly unreal.

It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

A beautiful and important book, 22 Nov 2007
This book and its stunning photographs show us a beautiful world that is rapidly changing. "Vanishing World" is not only a tribute to the Arctic wildlife - we meet polar bears, foxes, seals, walrus, birds and whales - but also a fascinating tale of global warming. Words can not describe this extraordinary book. It is clearly the result of enormous patience and commitment, and deserves all the praise it is getting in the press. At a first glance, it is a magnificent coffee table book, but what this is more than anything else, is an urgent appeal to engage. "Vanishing World" is an impressive achievement, and probably the most beautiful nature book in years. Nearly unreal.

A welcome addition to the South American naturalist's library, 17 Sep 2008
The South American countries are characterised by a very high natural diversity coupled with a relative scarcity of biologists and field naturalists, the result of which is a paucity of popular literature which would enable the curious resident or visitor to easily identify what he/she encounters. Admittedly, in recent years, the lack of reliable field guides is being successfully addressed for at least one group, and there are now excellent - if heavy! - guides to the birds of almost all of the countries of highest diversity. Even so, field guides to any other groups remain a rarity. So it was a very pleasant surprise to come across Sharon Chester's new book, particularly because it aims not just to identify the butterflies or the reptiles, but to provide a broad overview of the entire natural history of Chile and its territories. As far as I know, there is nothing similar available for mainland Chile and since this guide also covers the all Chilean territories, it will be of interest for visitors to the Antarctic too.

The book is very well organised and carefully laid out: it must have been a real labour of love for its creator, who wrote the nearly 400 pages of small text and produced the photographically derived illustrations. In scope it is a general guide to the natural history of Chile, something along the lines of the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series but, to my taste, better put together. After an overview of Chile's natural environments and ecology, subsequent chapters tackle marine organisms, flora, lepidoptera, reptiles and amphibians, birds (by far the largest section, though it does not replace Jaramillo's excellent Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guides)) and mammals, after which there is a short gazetteer on wildlife viewing sites. The text is concise and informative and the illustrations very lifelike. The book would fit easily into a coat pocket, so it could be used as a true field guide, but is more likely to be used to plan trip or as reference back at base camp.

Should the potential visitor to Chile, the Chilean Antarctic or any other territories buy this book? Definitely! The book will certainly make a Chilean trip more enjoyable for the birder and general naturalist - there is nothing else comparable. And if you need further convincing, at under $14, it has to be one of the bargain nature books of 2008.

Highly recommended!

Chris Sharpe, 17 September 2008. ISBN: 0691129762

It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

A beautiful and important book, 22 Nov 2007
This book and its stunning photographs show us a beautiful world that is rapidly changing. "Vanishing World" is not only a tribute to the Arctic wildlife - we meet polar bears, foxes, seals, walrus, birds and whales - but also a fascinating tale of global warming. Words can not describe this extraordinary book. It is clearly the result of enormous patience and commitment, and deserves all the praise it is getting in the press. At a first glance, it is a magnificent coffee table book, but what this is more than anything else, is an urgent appeal to engage. "Vanishing World" is an impressive achievement, and probably the most beautiful nature book in years. Nearly unreal.

A welcome addition to the South American naturalist's library, 17 Sep 2008
The South American countries are characterised by a very high natural diversity coupled with a relative scarcity of biologists and field naturalists, the result of which is a paucity of popular literature which would enable the curious resident or visitor to easily identify what he/she encounters. Admittedly, in recent years, the lack of reliable field guides is being successfully addressed for at least one group, and there are now excellent - if heavy! - guides to the birds of almost all of the countries of highest diversity. Even so, field guides to any other groups remain a rarity. So it was a very pleasant surprise to come across Sharon Chester's new book, particularly because it aims not just to identify the butterflies or the reptiles, but to provide a broad overview of the entire natural history of Chile and its territories. As far as I know, there is nothing similar available for mainland Chile and since this guide also covers the all Chilean territories, it will be of interest for visitors to the Antarctic too.

The book is very well organised and carefully laid out: it must have been a real labour of love for its creator, who wrote the nearly 400 pages of small text and produced the photographically derived illustrations. In scope it is a general guide to the natural history of Chile, something along the lines of the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series but, to my taste, better put together. After an overview of Chile's natural environments and ecology, subsequent chapters tackle marine organisms, flora, lepidoptera, reptiles and amphibians, birds (by far the largest section, though it does not replace Jaramillo's excellent Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guides)) and mammals, after which there is a short gazetteer on wildlife viewing sites. The text is concise and informative and the illustrations very lifelike. The book would fit easily into a coat pocket, so it could be used as a true field guide, but is more likely to be used to plan trip or as reference back at base camp.

Should the potential visitor to Chile, the Chilean Antarctic or any other territories buy this book? Definitely! The book will certainly make a Chilean trip more enjoyable for the birder and general naturalist - there is nothing else comparable. And if you need further convincing, at under $14, it has to be one of the bargain nature books of 2008.

Highly recommended!

Chris Sharpe, 17 September 2008. ISBN: 0691129762

A global trek seeking survivors, 03 Aug 2005
Over a couple of cold ones at the local pub, the good doctor and i burst out simultaneously: "I found this incredible book! You've got to read it!" It was, of course, Quammen. That's the kind of reaction this writer generates. His prose seizes your attention as he gently leads you into deserts, mountainous jungles, riverside woodlands and isolated islands in the Pacific. His quiet courage forces you to remind yourself that he's not gleaning his information from the vast list of sources in the back of this book, but from the researchers in the field. And he's right there with them as he relates their stories to him for you. Quammen writes books you want to carry around, waving at people, urging them to enjoy the superior writing and the critical message. It's all about our survival.

Quammen's resurrection of Alfred Russell Wallace was long overdue. Others have tried to bring this figure back into common knowledge, but the revival was either to accuse Darwin of plagiarism or taint Wallace's accomplishments with the flaws of penury and spiritualism. Quammen handles him as a total human being who achieved through inspiration in a delirium, what Darwin took two decades to accomplish. Quammen doesn't need to balance the two, he's more concerned with explaining the concepts in ways we can understand.

It's Quammen's ability to make you feel you are accompanying him on his quest to see how Nature that places him far above other science writers. He understands the issues, recognizes the value of the research being done and presents the methods and events alike with unblemished clarity. As a writer concerned with the impact of humanity on the world's environment, Quammen exhibits a unique talent. While the ongoing extinction of species remains the central issue of this book, Quammen is able to show how dedicated researchers given support from concerned and caring people can begin to slow that eradication of our fellow species. Quammen's concern doesn't translate into alarmist rhetoric. He calls to us softly but urgently: "There's work to be done. There's people out there doing it. Help them how you can. They're our symbol of hope." [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Island species are more vulnerable to extinction, 17 May 2005
David Quammen can't tell us about the song of the dodo because it's a too late. The bird is extinct - they were all exterminated by 1690. Dodos were an island species - a big, flightless sort of pigeon. Sailors despised their apparent 'stupidity'. This stupidity or 'tameness', as we might also mistakenly think of it, is now recognised by modern naturalists as the naivety of animals that live on islands, which results from having no previous experience of predators. They didn't know they should avoid people or run away when approached, so it didn't take long to kill enough of them to ensure their extinction. Introduced species helped to bang the last few nails into the dodos' coffin lid. David Quammen could hardly have chosen a more symbolic creature than the dodo, for the title of his book on "island biogeography in an age of extinctions".

The author has a nice, laid-back writing style and has arranged some uncomfortable facts into an easy read. Here's an example. The voracious appetites of growing populations and industry put our natural environment under enormous pressure and cause habitats to be destroyed or divided into smaller and smaller pieces. So he asks us to imagine a fine Persian carpet - then to imagine it being chopped into pieces. What would happen? The edges would unravel and the bits that were left wouldn't be nearly so useful or so beautiful as the whole carpet had been. That's what happens to ecosystems when they're chopped into small pieces, like 'islands'. They unravel and decay. Island biogeography used to be just about proper islands - the sort that are surrounded by water - but it's now applicable to the islands scattered within continents. Continents have been criss-crossed by roads and rails, buried under cities, industrial estates, farms, quarries and so on, leaving tiny pockets of natural habitat isolated from other natural areas, like islands in a sea of agriculture or urban sprawl. From the point of view of the animals and vegetation that still manage to exist in these 'island' patches, the surrounding areas amount to a barren waste that cannot be crossed.

Quammen is understandably critical of the destructiveness of our species. He refers to the 'background' rate of extinction and the 'normal' rate of extinction, meaning: what the rate of extinction would be if it were not being driven by Homo sapiens. He says, for instance, it's estimated that the rate of extinction of birds and mammals alone, is about one hundred times the background level. And if that figure isn't staggering enough, he points out that Edward O Wilson's studies suggest the current loss of rainforest species, particularly invertebrates, is "at least a thousand times above normal". Quammen believes it would take this planet's ecosystems ten or perhaps even twenty million years to recover to previous high levels of diversity, if our species were to stop driving up extinction. He says that the difference between a normal extinction rate and the present human driven extinction rate is like the difference between having a pilot light permanently burning in the basement furnace and the house being on fire.

It's a big book (almost 700 pages), packed with interesting stories and information. There are ripping yarns (all true and documented!) about the intrepid chaps who started it all: Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. And there are stories of the scientists who are working on island biogeography today, that are just as hair raising. I recommend this book to everyone who's interested in natural history and the environment.

Thoughtful, sincere and adventurous, 26 Nov 2004
David Quammen has produced a book reminding us that biology, history and science are life's enjoyments. Not some abstract or sometimes notion. He brings a real sense that your surroundings are rich and potent. Song of the Dodo brings together travel and science, using humanity as its foil; rarely becoming 'liberal' or 'tree-hugging'. If you enjoy reasoned argument and wit, take the time to enjoy one of the most enjoyable books on offer. Always rewarding, and with the exceptional ability to make you feel smarter (the sign of a truly gifted science writer) Mr. Quammen brings a great voice to writing, biology and humanity.

A beautiful and complex song, 16 Sep 2004
I read this book whilst on holiday in western France in 1992. It completely blew me away. Up until that point I never imagined that a book dealing with very complex scientific ideas could be so entertaining. The story is beautiful but heartbreaking, according to Quammen natural habitats have been so fractured and reduced on the mainlands of the world that new species of large land mammals will never again emerge. The story of evolution on island habitats is fascinating and large chunks of travel writing nicley break up the scientific discourse. All in all a remarkable book.

Re-read with passion, 11 May 2004
This is one of those books for "have a go" scientists ie those of us who would like to be cleverer or better educated than we are. It's readable, facinating & for such a long book surprising in that it captures you & keeps you hooked without repeating itself.

It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

A beautiful and important book, 22 Nov 2007
This book and its stunning photographs show us a beautiful world that is rapidly changing. "Vanishing World" is not only a tribute to the Arctic wildlife - we meet polar bears, foxes, seals, walrus, birds and whales - but also a fascinating tale of global warming. Words can not describe this extraordinary book. It is clearly the result of enormous patience and commitment, and deserves all the praise it is getting in the press. At a first glance, it is a magnificent coffee table book, but what this is more than anything else, is an urgent appeal to engage. "Vanishing World" is an impressive achievement, and probably the most beautiful nature book in years. Nearly unreal.

A welcome addition to the South American naturalist's library, 17 Sep 2008
The South American countries are characterised by a very high natural diversity coupled with a relative scarcity of biologists and field naturalists, the result of which is a paucity of popular literature which would enable the curious resident or visitor to easily identify what he/she encounters. Admittedly, in recent years, the lack of reliable field guides is being successfully addressed for at least one group, and there are now excellent - if heavy! - guides to the birds of almost all of the countries of highest diversity. Even so, field guides to any other groups remain a rarity. So it was a very pleasant surprise to come across Sharon Chester's new book, particularly because it aims not just to identify the butterflies or the reptiles, but to provide a broad overview of the entire natural history of Chile and its territories. As far as I know, there is nothing similar available for mainland Chile and since this guide also covers the all Chilean territories, it will be of interest for visitors to the Antarctic too.

The book is very well organised and carefully laid out: it must have been a real labour of love for its creator, who wrote the nearly 400 pages of small text and produced the photographically derived illustrations. In scope it is a general guide to the natural history of Chile, something along the lines of the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series but, to my taste, better put together. After an overview of Chile's natural environments and ecology, subsequent chapters tackle marine organisms, flora, lepidoptera, reptiles and amphibians, birds (by far the largest section, though it does not replace Jaramillo's excellent Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guides)) and mammals, after which there is a short gazetteer on wildlife viewing sites. The text is concise and informative and the illustrations very lifelike. The book would fit easily into a coat pocket, so it could be used as a true field guide, but is more likely to be used to plan trip or as reference back at base camp.

Should the potential visitor to Chile, the Chilean Antarctic or any other territories buy this book? Definitely! The book will certainly make a Chilean trip more enjoyable for the birder and general naturalist - there is nothing else comparable. And if you need further convincing, at under $14, it has to be one of the bargain nature books of 2008.

Highly recommended!

Chris Sharpe, 17 September 2008. ISBN: 0691129762

A global trek seeking survivors, 03 Aug 2005
Over a couple of cold ones at the local pub, the good doctor and i burst out simultaneously: "I found this incredible book! You've got to read it!" It was, of course, Quammen. That's the kind of reaction this writer generates. His prose seizes your attention as he gently leads you into deserts, mountainous jungles, riverside woodlands and isolated islands in the Pacific. His quiet courage forces you to remind yourself that he's not gleaning his information from the vast list of sources in the back of this book, but from the researchers in the field. And he's right there with them as he relates their stories to him for you. Quammen writes books you want to carry around, waving at people, urging them to enjoy the superior writing and the critical message. It's all about our survival.

Quammen's resurrection of Alfred Russell Wallace was long overdue. Others have tried to bring this figure back into common knowledge, but the revival was either to accuse Darwin of plagiarism or taint Wallace's accomplishments with the flaws of penury and spiritualism. Quammen handles him as a total human being who achieved through inspiration in a delirium, what Darwin took two decades to accomplish. Quammen doesn't need to balance the two, he's more concerned with explaining the concepts in ways we can understand.

It's Quammen's ability to make you feel you are accompanying him on his quest to see how Nature that places him far above other science writers. He understands the issues, recognizes the value of the research being done and presents the methods and events alike with unblemished clarity. As a writer concerned with the impact of humanity on the world's environment, Quammen exhibits a unique talent. While the ongoing extinction of species remains the central issue of this book, Quammen is able to show how dedicated researchers given support from concerned and caring people can begin to slow that eradication of our fellow species. Quammen's concern doesn't translate into alarmist rhetoric. He calls to us softly but urgently: "There's work to be done. There's people out there doing it. Help them how you can. They're our symbol of hope." [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Island species are more vulnerable to extinction, 17 May 2005
David Quammen can't tell us about the song of the dodo because it's a too late. The bird is extinct - they were all exterminated by 1690. Dodos were an island species - a big, flightless sort of pigeon. Sailors despised their apparent 'stupidity'. This stupidity or 'tameness', as we might also mistakenly think of it, is now recognised by modern naturalists as the naivety of animals that live on islands, which results from having no previous experience of predators. They didn't know they should avoid people or run away when approached, so it didn't take long to kill enough of them to ensure their extinction. Introduced species helped to bang the last few nails into the dodos' coffin lid. David Quammen could hardly have chosen a more symbolic creature than the dodo, for the title of his book on "island biogeography in an age of extinctions".

The author has a nice, laid-back writing style and has arranged some uncomfortable facts into an easy read. Here's an example. The voracious appetites of growing populations and industry put our natural environment under enormous pressure and cause habitats to be destroyed or divided into smaller and smaller pieces. So he asks us to imagine a fine Persian carpet - then to imagine it being chopped into pieces. What would happen? The edges would unravel and the bits that were left wouldn't be nearly so useful or so beautiful as the whole carpet had been. That's what happens to ecosystems when they're chopped into small pieces, like 'islands'. They unravel and decay. Island biogeography used to be just about proper islands - the sort that are surrounded by water - but it's now applicable to the islands scattered within continents. Continents have been criss-crossed by roads and rails, buried under cities, industrial estates, farms, quarries and so on, leaving tiny pockets of natural habitat isolated from other natural areas, like islands in a sea of agriculture or urban sprawl. From the point of view of the animals and vegetation that still manage to exist in these 'island' patches, the surrounding areas amount to a barren waste that cannot be crossed.

Quammen is understandably critical of the destructiveness of our species. He refers to the 'background' rate of extinction and the 'normal' rate of extinction, meaning: what the rate of extinction would be if it were not being driven by Homo sapiens. He says, for instance, it's estimated that the rate of extinction of birds and mammals alone, is about one hundred times the background level. And if that figure isn't staggering enough, he points out that Edward O Wilson's studies suggest the current loss of rainforest species, particularly invertebrates, is "at least a thousand times above normal". Quammen believes it would take this planet's ecosystems ten or perhaps even twenty million years to recover to previous high levels of diversity, if our species were to stop driving up extinction. He says that the difference between a normal extinction rate and the present human driven extinction rate is like the difference between having a pilot light permanently burning in the basement furnace and the house being on fire.

It's a big book (almost 700 pages), packed with interesting stories and information. There are ripping yarns (all true and documented!) about the intrepid chaps who started it all: Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. And there are stories of the scientists who are working on island biogeography today, that are just as hair raising. I recommend this book to everyone who's interested in natural history and the environment.

Thoughtful, sincere and adventurous, 26 Nov 2004
David Quammen has produced a book reminding us that biology, history and science are life's enjoyments. Not some abstract or sometimes notion. He brings a real sense that your surroundings are rich and potent. Song of the Dodo brings together travel and science, using humanity as its foil; rarely becoming 'liberal' or 'tree-hugging'. If you enjoy reasoned argument and wit, take the time to enjoy one of the most enjoyable books on offer. Always rewarding, and with the exceptional ability to make you feel smarter (the sign of a truly gifted science writer) Mr. Quammen brings a great voice to writing, biology and humanity.

A beautiful and complex song, 16 Sep 2004
I read this book whilst on holiday in western France in 1992. It completely blew me away. Up until that point I never imagined that a book dealing with very complex scientific ideas could be so entertaining. The story is beautiful but heartbreaking, according to Quammen natural habitats have been so fractured and reduced on the mainlands of the world that new species of large land mammals will never again emerge. The story of evolution on island habitats is fascinating and large chunks of travel writing nicley break up the scientific discourse. All in all a remarkable book.

Re-read with passion, 11 May 2004
This is one of those books for "have a go" scientists ie those of us who would like to be cleverer or better educated than we are. It's readable, facinating & for such a long book surprising in that it captures you & keeps you hooked without repeating itself.

A must buy for any botanist, 13 Oct 2004
This is the standard text for any botanist whether amateur or professional. I reach for it every day and every day I learn something new. I would recommend that you also buy Stace's Field Flora of the British Isles which is a condensed form (subspecies?) of this book so is much smaller and easier to carry in the field. But don't buy just the Field Flora as the text and hence the information contained therein is also condensed. A word of warning: The New Flora is a technical book written by an acomplished professional taxonomist/botanist for professionals but don't let this deter any new comers to botany it is still good to have along with the more basic guides such as the Collins Guide to the Wildflowers of Britain and Ireland by Fitter et al. As you begin to identify plants using the basic guides you can also refer to Stace and you will eventually get used to the technical language of Stace. I use Stace as my primary text for identifying plants but still refer to the basic texts for pictures just to be absolutley certain. All in all buy it along with the Field Flora but have at least one of the basic texts also.

Very useful but definately not for the beginner, 06 Jun 2000
Stace's Flora lists virtually all the species likely to be found growing wild (including established introductions) within the British Isles but it is rather too large and heavy to be used in the field-his Field Flora is much more suitable for that purpose. It is very technical and, although the keys work, a fair amount of experience is required before they are of much use. I find his omission of any indication of flowering times particularly annoying. I realise these vary depending upon where the plant is growing, but most flora's give at least a rough indication and it certainly aids identification. There are a number of very useful illustration showing the differences between the more critical genera (e.g.Alchemilla) and these are very useful. An essential book for the serious (amateur or professional) botanist but I still find the earlier Flora's (by CTW and CTM) easier to use even though the nomenclature is a bit outdated, they also give a lot of additional useful information (e.g.pollinating agents) which Stace generally omits.

It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

A beautiful and important book, 22 Nov 2007
This book and its stunning photographs show us a beautiful world that is rapidly changing. "Vanishing World" is not only a tribute to the Arctic wildlife - we meet polar bears, foxes, seals, walrus, birds and whales - but also a fascinating tale of global warming. Words can not describe this extraordinary book. It is clearly the result of enormous patience and commitment, and deserves all the praise it is getting in the press. At a first glance, it is a magnificent coffee table book, but what this is more than anything else, is an urgent appeal to engage. "Vanishing World" is an impressive achievement, and probably the most beautiful nature book in years. Nearly unreal.

A welcome addition to the South American naturalist's library, 17 Sep 2008
The South American countries are characterised by a very high natural diversity coupled with a relative scarcity of biologists and field naturalists, the result of which is a paucity of popular literature which would enable the curious resident or visitor to easily identify what he/she encounters. Admittedly, in recent years, the lack of reliable field guides is being successfully addressed for at least one group, and there are now excellent - if heavy! - guides to the birds of almost all of the countries of highest diversity. Even so, field guides to any other groups remain a rarity. So it was a very pleasant surprise to come across Sharon Chester's new book, particularly because it aims not just to identify the butterflies or the reptiles, but to provide a broad overview of the entire natural history of Chile and its territories. As far as I know, there is nothing similar available for mainland Chile and since this guide also covers the all Chilean territories, it will be of interest for visitors to the Antarctic too.

The book is very well organised and carefully laid out: it must have been a real labour of love for its creator, who wrote the nearly 400 pages of small text and produced the photographically derived illustrations. In scope it is a general guide to the natural history of Chile, something along the lines of the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series but, to my taste, better put together. After an overview of Chile's natural environments and ecology, subsequent chapters tackle marine organisms, flora, lepidoptera, reptiles and amphibians, birds (by far the largest section, though it does not replace Jaramillo's excellent Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guides)) and mammals, after which there is a short gazetteer on wildlife viewing sites. The text is concise and informative and the illustrations very lifelike. The book would fit easily into a coat pocket, so it could be used as a true field guide, but is more likely to be used to plan trip or as reference back at base camp.

Should the potential visitor to Chile, the Chilean Antarctic or any other territories buy this book? Definitely! The book will certainly make a Chilean trip more enjoyable for the birder and general naturalist - there is nothing else comparable. And if you need further convincing, at under $14, it has to be one of the bargain nature books of 2008.

Highly recommended!

Chris Sharpe, 17 September 2008. ISBN: 0691129762

A global trek seeking survivors, 03 Aug 2005
Over a couple of cold ones at the local pub, the good doctor and i burst out simultaneously: "I found this incredible book! You've got to read it!" It was, of course, Quammen. That's the kind of reaction this writer generates. His prose seizes your attention as he gently leads you into deserts, mountainous jungles, riverside woodlands and isolated islands in the Pacific. His quiet courage forces you to remind yourself that he's not gleaning his information from the vast list of sources in the back of this book, but from the researchers in the field. And he's right there with them as he relates their stories to him for you. Quammen writes books you want to carry around, waving at people, urging them to enjoy the superior writing and the critical message. It's all about our survival.

Quammen's resurrection of Alfred Russell Wallace was long overdue. Others have tried to bring this figure back into common knowledge, but the revival was either to accuse Darwin of plagiarism or taint Wallace's accomplishments with the flaws of penury and spiritualism. Quammen handles him as a total human being who achieved through inspiration in a delirium, what Darwin took two decades to accomplish. Quammen doesn't need to balance the two, he's more concerned with explaining the concepts in ways we can understand.

It's Quammen's ability to make you feel you are accompanying him on his quest to see how Nature that places him far above other science writers. He understands the issues, recognizes the value of the research being done and presents the methods and events alike with unblemished clarity. As a writer concerned with the impact of humanity on the world's environment, Quammen exhibits a unique talent. While the ongoing extinction of species remains the central issue of this book, Quammen is able to show how dedicated researchers given support from concerned and caring people can begin to slow that eradication of our fellow species. Quammen's concern doesn't translate into alarmist rhetoric. He calls to us softly but urgently: "There's work to be done. There's people out there doing it. Help them how you can. They're our symbol of hope." [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Island species are more vulnerable to extinction, 17 May 2005
David Quammen can't tell us about the song of the dodo because it's a too late. The bird is extinct - they were all exterminated by 1690. Dodos were an island species - a big, flightless sort of pigeon. Sailors despised their apparent 'stupidity'. This stupidity or 'tameness', as we might also mistakenly think of it, is now recognised by modern naturalists as the naivety of animals that live on islands, which results from having no previous experience of predators. They didn't know they should avoid people or run away when approached, so it didn't take long to kill enough of them to ensure their extinction. Introduced species helped to bang the last few nails into the dodos' coffin lid. David Quammen could hardly have chosen a more symbolic creature than the dodo, for the title of his book on "island biogeography in an age of extinctions".

The author has a nice, laid-back writing style and has arranged some uncomfortable facts into an easy read. Here's an example. The voracious appetites of growing populations and industry put our natural environment under enormous pressure and cause habitats to be destroyed or divided into smaller and smaller pieces. So he asks us to imagine a fine Persian carpet - then to imagine it being chopped into pieces. What would happen? The edges would unravel and the bits that were left wouldn't be nearly so useful or so beautiful as the whole carpet had been. That's what happens to ecosystems when they're chopped into small pieces, like 'islands'. They unravel and decay. Island biogeography used to be just about proper islands - the sort that are surrounded by water - but it's now applicable to the islands scattered within continents. Continents have been criss-crossed by roads and rails, buried under cities, industrial estates, farms, quarries and so on, leaving tiny pockets of natural habitat isolated from other natural areas, like islands in a sea of agriculture or urban sprawl. From the point of view of the animals and vegetation that still manage to exist in these 'island' patches, the surrounding areas amount to a barren waste that cannot be crossed.

Quammen is understandably critical of the destructiveness of our species. He refers to the 'background' rate of extinction and the 'normal' rate of extinction, meaning: what the rate of extinction would be if it were not being driven by Homo sapiens. He says, for instance, it's estimated that the rate of extinction of birds and mammals alone, is about one hundred times the background level. And if that figure isn't staggering enough, he points out that Edward O Wilson's studies suggest the current loss of rainforest species, particularly invertebrates, is "at least a thousand times above normal". Quammen believes it would take this planet's ecosystems ten or perhaps even twenty million years to recover to previous high levels of diversity, if our species were to stop driving up extinction. He says that the difference between a normal extinction rate and the present human driven extinction rate is like the difference between having a pilot light permanently burning in the basement furnace and the house being on fire.

It's a big book (almost 700 pages), packed with interesting stories and information. There are ripping yarns (all true and documented!) about the intrepid chaps who started it all: Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. And there are stories of the scientists who are working on island biogeography today, that are just as hair raising. I recommend this book to everyone who's interested in natural history and the environment.

Thoughtful, sincere and adventurous, 26 Nov 2004
David Quammen has produced a book reminding us that biology, history and science are life's enjoyments. Not some abstract or sometimes notion. He brings a real sense that your surroundings are rich and potent. Song of the Dodo brings together travel and science, using humanity as its foil; rarely becoming 'liberal' or 'tree-hugging'. If you enjoy reasoned argument and wit, take the time to enjoy one of the most enjoyable books on offer. Always rewarding, and with the exceptional ability to make you feel smarter (the sign of a truly gifted science writer) Mr. Quammen brings a great voice to writing, biology and humanity.

A beautiful and complex song, 16 Sep 2004
I read this book whilst on holiday in western France in 1992. It completely blew me away. Up until that point I never imagined that a book dealing with very complex scientific ideas could be so entertaining. The story is beautiful but heartbreaking, according to Quammen natural habitats have been so fractured and reduced on the mainlands of the world that new species of large land mammals will never again emerge. The story of evolution on island habitats is fascinating and large chunks of travel writing nicley break up the scientific discourse. All in all a remarkable book.

Re-read with passion, 11 May 2004
This is one of those books for "have a go" scientists ie those of us who would like to be cleverer or better educated than we are. It's readable, facinating & for such a long book surprising in that it captures you & keeps you hooked without repeating itself.

A must buy for any botanist, 13 Oct 2004
This is the standard text for any botanist whether amateur or professional. I reach for it every day and every day I learn something new. I would recommend that you also buy Stace's Field Flora of the British Isles which is a condensed form (subspecies?) of this book so is much smaller and easier to carry in the field. But don't buy just the Field Flora as the text and hence the information contained therein is also condensed. A word of warning: The New Flora is a technical book written by an acomplished professional taxonomist/botanist for professionals but don't let this deter any new comers to botany it is still good to have along with the more basic guides such as the Collins Guide to the Wildflowers of Britain and Ireland by Fitter et al. As you begin to identify plants using the basic guides you can also refer to Stace and you will eventually get used to the technical language of Stace. I use Stace as my primary text for identifying plants but still refer to the basic texts for pictures just to be absolutley certain. All in all buy it along with the Field Flora but have at least one of the basic texts also.

Very useful but definately not for the beginner, 06 Jun 2000
Stace's Flora lists virtually all the species likely to be found growing wild (including established introductions) within the British Isles but it is rather too large and heavy to be used in the field-his Field Flora is much more suitable for that purpose. It is very technical and, although the keys work, a fair amount of experience is required before they are of much use. I find his omission of any indication of flowering times particularly annoying. I realise these vary depending upon where the plant is growing, but most flora's give at least a rough indication and it certainly aids identification. There are a number of very useful illustration showing the differences between the more critical genera (e.g.Alchemilla) and these are very useful. An essential book for the serious (amateur or professional) botanist but I still find the earlier Flora's (by CTW and CTM) easier to use even though the nomenclature is a bit outdated, they also give a lot of additional useful information (e.g.pollinating agents) which Stace generally omits.

What is YOUR view of nature?, 04 Sep 2005
David Quammen's Song of the Dodo led me in search of his other writings. The first reward of that quest was this book. A collection of essays from an illustrious writer with keen perception, Quammen casts his perceptive eye on a range of topics from arachnids to zoology. While an anthology lacks Song's comprehensive view, these articles are timeless. Quammen's writing evokes many levels of emotional and intellectual response.

The Introduction sets the tone: "A Mouse Is Miracle Enough". From this opening we tour the wonders of nature, with a couple of side trips to observe that strangest of animals, Homo sapiens. Quammen's gaze never ceases surveying the landscape in presenting us with things we didn't know or aspects of viewing we've not considered. While the very squeamish may balk at close examination of black widow spiders, spoon worms or scorpions, Quammen is adept at taking us gently to these confrontations. As he does, he asks us to reconsider our viewpoint of these and other creatures. We must learn to deal with "faces unlike ours" and shed prejudices even if shedding the fears is more difficult. Changing fear into respect is the first step in acknowledging our sharing this planet with other creatures and stepping back from the destructive role we've adopted.

Respect for life is the underlying theme of all Quammen's nature writings. His "sidelong view of nature" takes us along remote jungle and desert paths to watch and record life's activities. While we like to set ourselves apart from the rest of life, Quammen, with facile pressure, pulls us along with him to observe our cousins. And ourselves. Deserts, it seems, are a haven for more than scorpions and Beaded Lizards. Among the many nocturnal animals hiding from the desert sun is a bipedal hominid. In this instance, the animals are groups of refugees seeking sanctuary in a hostile environment. Quammen's account of Guatemalan refugees and their mentors, also intelligent chimpanzees risk much to support and succor them. It's not a pleasant story, nor one any American can read without remorse. Quammen has made a sharp turn here from his usual investigations of nature's secrets. Refugee running is every bit as much a secret as nature offers, but with what humans are pleased to call a "moral issue". Quammen relates how well we've addressed that issue. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Be spooked and surprised; educated and entertained., 08 Apr 2001
I admit...I am a fan of David Quammen. His subjects, style and ability to surprise have kept me entertained through several of his books.

Flight of the Iguana is no exception.

Quammen take us on an ever-increasingly fascinating journey through the world of bedbugs and giant starfish. We walk through deserts and listen to the romance of geese. Amongst many other things.

One of Quammen's greatest talents is being able to bring complicated biological facts into the realm of understanding of the common man. Or woman. This is no mean feat. But to do it with humour and thought-provoking perspective are what make this such an exceptional read.

As this is a collection of essays, this is a book that can be dipped into on the train on the way to work or read front to back (or back to front) by a crackling log fire on a winter's afternoon. It works equally well stuffed in a rucsack to be read on a mountainside or surf-struck beach.

It's Real Alright, 21 Jun 2008
Colin has captured the genuine feel of what may have been a physically run-down area but what the people turned into a tightly-knit community. To anyone growing up in 1950's or early 1960's Glasgow the Gorbals was an area to be avoided. These infamous slums however had a heart - the people of The Gorbals. Colin gives voice to how people had a strong community spirit that survived the 1960's redevelopment of the area and why even today people will be proud to say "Ah'm fae the Gorbals". I understand he is producing a follow-up to come out in late 2008 recounting his own change from a Gorbals Boy to a cosmopolitan man. I look forward to reading it knowing that you cannot take the Gorbals out of the boy (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Magnificent amusing stupendous book, 08 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is quite simply a magnificently funny. moving, sometimes brutally candid account of being brought up in the old Gorbals of the 1960s. It's a book that will uplift your mood and make you think about how people had to cope with those times on the meanest of Glasgow streets. Macfarlane has done himself and the Gorbals people proud. I defy anyone from the old Gorbals to write a better book.


YOU WOULD BE A MUG NOT TO BUY THIS!, 04 Jan 2008
The Real Gorbals Story is the best book ever written about the place. Unlike all the other Gorbals tomes Macfarlane captures the humour and all the characters perfectly. This really would make a great movie as it is full of little unexpected endings and humorous events that continually takes the reader by surprise.

GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT TIME A MUST READ FOR ALL, 03 Jan 2008
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FULL OF ANECDOTES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT THE OLD GORBALS. I DEFY ANYONE TO BRING OUT A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE GORBALS THAN THIS. THE REAL GORBALS STORY IS QUITE SIMPLY A BRILLIANT TRUE LIFE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE ON GLASGOW'S MEANEST STREETS. THE DAILY RECORD EVEN HAILED IT AS BRILLIANT AND I CAN'T DISAGREE!

This is a very good read full of true life stories from the gorbals, 03 Jan 2008
I was born in Thistle Street in 1953 and The Real Gorbals Story has got the feel of the place and the characters spot on. The last reviewer says he can only remember three characters well perhaps unlike like the rest of us he did not venture out enough to experience what was going on the the magical old gorbals. I know I was there and I can remember Macfarlane and his pals...this book is a must for all those interested in the old place. I still live in the Gorbals and all the boys agree that this book has got to be one of the best ever. Buy it and see!

A beautiful and important book, 22 Nov 2007
This book and its stunning photographs show us a beautiful world that is rapidly changing. "Vanishing World" is not only a tribute to the Arctic wildlife - we meet polar bears, foxes, seals, walrus, birds and whales - but also a fascinating tale of global warming. Words can not describe this extraordinary book. It is clearly the result of enormous patience and commitment, and deserves all the praise it is getting in the press. At a first glance, it is a magnificent coffee table book, but what this is more than anything else, is an urgent appeal to engage. "Vanishing World" is an impressive achievement, and probably the most beautiful nature book in years. Nearly unreal.

A welcome addition to the South American naturalist's library, 17 Sep 2008
The South American countries are characterised by a very high natural diversity coupled with a relative scarcity of biologists and field naturalists, the result of which is a paucity of popular literature which would enable the curious resident or visitor to easily identify what he/she encounters. Admittedly, in recent years, the lack of reliable field guides is being successfully addressed for at least one group, and there are now excellent - if heavy! - guides to the birds of almost all of the countries of highest diversity. Even so, field guides to any other groups remain a rarity. So it was a very pleasant surprise to come across Sharon Chester's new book, particularly because it aims not just to identify the butterflies or the reptiles, but to provide a broad overview of the entire natural history of Chile and its territories. As far as I know, there is nothing similar available for mainland Chile and since this guide also covers the all Chilean territories, it will be of interest for visitors to the Antarctic too.

The book is very well organised and carefully laid out: it must have been a real labour of love for its creator, who wrote the nearly 400 pages of small text and produced the photographically derived illustrations. In scope it is a general guide to the natural history of Chile, something along the lines of the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series but, to my taste, better put together. After an overview of Chile's natural environments and ecology, subsequent chapters tackle marine organisms, flora, lepidoptera, reptiles and amphibians, birds (by far the largest section, though it does not replace Jaramillo's excellent Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guides)) and mammals, after which there is a short gazetteer on wildlife viewing sites. The text is concise and informative and the illustrations very lifelike. The book would fit easily into a coat pocket, so it could be used as a true field guide, but is more likely to be used to plan trip or as reference back at base camp.

Should the potential visitor to Chile, the Chilean Antarctic or any other territories buy this book? Definitely! The book will certainly make a Chilean trip more enjoyable for the birder and general naturalist - there is nothing else comparable. And if you need further convincing, at under $14, it has to be one of the bargain nature books of 2008.

Highly recommended!

Chris Sharpe, 17 September 2008. ISBN: 0691129762

A global trek seeking survivors, 03 Aug 2005
Over a couple of cold ones at the local pub, the good doctor and i burst out simultaneously: "I found this incredible book! You've got to read it!" It was, of course, Quammen. That's the kind of reaction this writer generates. His prose seizes your attention as he gently leads you into deserts, mountainous jungles, riverside woodlands and isolated islands in the Pacific. His quiet courage forces you to remind yourself that he's not gleaning his information from the vast list of sources in the back of this book, but from the researchers in the field. And he's right there with them as he relates their stories to him for you. Quammen writes books you want to carry around, waving at people, urging them to enjoy the superior writing and the critical message. It's all about our survival.

Quammen's resurrection of Alfred Russell Wallace was long overdue. Others have tried to bring this figure back into common knowledge, but the revival was either to accuse Darwin of plagiarism or taint Wallace's accomplishments with the flaws of penury and spiritualism. Quammen handles him as a total human being who achieved through inspiration in a delirium, what Darwin took two decades to accomplish. Quammen doesn't need to balance the two, he's more concerned with explaining the concepts in ways we can understand.

It's Quammen's ability to make you feel you are accompanying him on his quest to see how Nature that places him far above other science writers. He understands the issues, recognizes the value of the research being done and presents the methods and events alike with unblemished clarity. As a writer concerned with the impact of humanity on the world's environment, Quammen exhibits a unique talent. While the ongoing extinction of species remains the central issue of this book, Quammen is able to show how dedicated researchers given support from concerned and caring people can begin to slow that eradication of our fellow species. Quammen's concern doesn't translate into alarmist rhetoric. He calls to us softly but urgently: "There's work to be done. There's people out there doing it. Help them how you can. They're our symbol of hope." [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Island species are more vulnerable to extinction, 17 May 2005
David Quammen can't tell us about the song of the dodo because it's a too late. The bird is extinct - they were all exterminated by 1690. Dodos were an island species - a big, flightless sort of pigeon. Sailors despised their apparent 'stupidity'. This stupidity or 'tameness', as we might also mistakenly think of it, is now recognised by modern naturalists as the naivety of animals that live on islands, which results from having no previous experience of predators. They didn't know they should avoid people or run away when approached, so it didn't take long to kill enough of them to ensure their extinction. Introduced species helped to bang the last few nails into the dodos' coffin lid. David Quammen could hardly have chosen a more symbolic creature than the dodo, for the title of his book on "island biogeography in an age of extinctions".

The author has a nice, laid-back writing style and has arranged some uncomfortable facts into an easy read. Here's an example. The voracious appetites of growing populations and industry put our natural environment under enormous pressure and cause habitats to be destroyed or divided into smaller and smaller pieces. So he asks us to imagine a fine Persian carpet - then to imagine it being chopped into pieces. What would happen? The edges would unravel and the bits that were left wouldn't be nearly so useful or so beautiful as the whole carpet had been. That's what happens to ecosystems when they're chopped into small pieces, like 'islands'. They unravel and decay. Island biogeography used to be just about proper islands - the sort that are surrounded by water - but it's now applicable to the islands scattered within continents. Continents have been criss-crossed by roads and rails, buried under cities, industrial estates, farms, quarries and so on, leaving tiny pockets of natural habitat isolated from other natural areas, like islands in a sea of agriculture or urban sprawl. From the point of view of the animals and vegetation that still manage to exist in these 'island' patches, the surrounding areas amount to a barren waste that cannot be crossed.

Quammen is understandably critical of the destructiveness of our species. He refers to the 'background' rate of extinction and the 'normal' rate of extinction, meaning: what the rate of extinction would be if it were not being driven by Homo sapiens. He says, for instance, it's estimated that the rate of extinction of birds and mammals alone, is about one hundred times the background level. And if that figure isn't staggering enough, he points out that Edward O Wilson's studies suggest the current loss of rainforest species, particularly invertebrates, is "at least a thousand times above normal". Quammen believes it would take this planet's ecosystems ten or perhaps even twenty million years to recover to previous high levels of diversity, if our species were to stop driving up extinction. He says that the difference between a normal extinction rate and the present human driven extinction rate is like the difference between having a pilot light permanently burning in the basement furnace and the house being on fire.

It's a big book (almost 700 pages), packed with interesting stories and information. There are ripping yarns (all true and documented!) about the intrepid chaps who started it all: Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. And there are stories of the scientists who are working on island biogeography today, that are just as hair raising. I recommend this book to everyone who's interested in natural history and the environment.

Thoughtful, sincere and adventurous, 26 Nov 2004
David Quammen has produced a book reminding us that biology, history and science are life's enjoyments. Not some abstract or sometimes notion. He brings a real sense that your surroundings are rich and potent. Song of the Dodo brings together travel and science, using humanity as its foil; rarely becoming 'liberal' or 'tree-hugging'. If you enjoy reasoned argument and wit, take the time to enjoy one of the most enjoyable books on offer. Always rewarding, and with the exceptional ability to make you feel smarter (the sign of a truly gifted science writer) Mr. Quammen brings a great voice to writing, biology and humanity.

A beautiful and complex song, 16 Sep 2004
I read this book whilst on holiday in western France in 1992. It completely blew me away. Up until that point I never imagined that a book dealing with very complex scientific ideas could be so entertaining. The story is beautiful but heartbreaking, according to Quammen natural habitats have been so fractured and reduced on the mainlands of the world that new species of large land mammals will never again emerge. The story of evolution on island habitats is fascinating and large chunks of travel writing nicley break up the scientific discourse. All in all a remarkable book.

Re-read with passion, 11 May 2004
This is one of those books for "have a go" scientists ie those of us who would like to be cleverer or better educated than we are. It's readable, facinating & for such a long book surprising in that it captures you & keeps you hooked without repeating itself.

A must buy for any botanist, 13 Oct 2004
This is the standard text for any botanist whether amateur or professional. I reach for it every day and every day I learn something new. I would recommend that you also buy Stace's Field Flora of the British Isles which is a condensed form (subspecies?) of this book so is much smaller and easier to carry in the field. But don't buy just the Field Flora as the text and hence the information contained therein is also condensed. A word of warning: The New Flora is a technical book written by an acomplished professional taxonomist/botanist for professionals but don't let this deter any new comers to botany it is still good to have along with the more basic guides such as the Collins Guide to the Wildflowers of Britain and Ireland by Fitter et al. As you begin to identify plants using the basic guides you can also refer to Stace and you will eventually get used to the technical language of Stace. I use Stace as my primary text for identifying plants but still refer to the basic texts for pictures just to be absolutley certain. All in all buy it along with the Field Flora but have at least one of the basic texts also.