An exhilarating and informative look at the world’s forests and how we can help them thrive.
Environmental journalist Pearce returns with an exploration of what trees and forests do, how humans have used them, and what must be done to maintain them.
This book, writes Pearce—an environmental consultant for the New Statesman and author of The Land Grabbers and The New Wild, among other ecology-focused books—“is about the magic and mystery of trees and forests, about their defenders and plunderers, and why they matter for the planet and for all of us.” Across 20 chapters, the author, who has reported from more than 60 countries for the Guardian, Washington Post, and other publications, demonstrates the significance of forests and reports on their historical and current health, how nature has been slowly rewilding forests throughout the world, the devastating effects of wildfires, and the concrete steps we must take to ensure forests’ vitality. Pearce takes us across the world, from “the cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Andes” to “the radioactive (but otherwise healthy) forests around Chernobyl in Ukraine; to the swamp forests of Indonesia and the community forests of the Himalayas; to the acid-rain-ravaged forests of central Europe and the pine forests in the American Deep South being cut to keep the lights on in Britain.” The author showcases countless natural wonderlands, all the while educating readers on the effects of our lifestyles on their health, and he investigates many long-held beliefs that may require deeper study—e.g., the idea that we can solve our climate crisis simply by planting trees. Though Pearce tempers his optimism with hard science, his enthusiasm is infectious, whether he’s reporting on acid rain in central Europe, surveying rampant devastation throughout the Amazon, celebrating the “multicolored magnificence of New England in the autumn,” or exploring “the remains of a largely unknown ancient forest civilization in Nigeria.”
An exhilarating and informative look at the world’s forests and how we can help them thrive.Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-77164-940-7
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Greystone Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
Gibbins combines historical knowledge with a sense of adventure, making this book a highly enjoyable package.
A popular novelist turns his hand to historical writing, focusing on what shipwrecks can tell us.
There’s something inherently romantic about shipwrecks: the mystery, the drama of disaster, the prospect of lost treasure. Gibbins, who’s found acclaim as an author of historical fiction, has long been fascinated with them, and his expertise in both archaeology and diving provides a tone of solid authority to his latest book. The author has personally dived on more than half the wrecks discussed in the book; for the other cases, he draws on historical records and accounts. “Wrecks offer special access to history at all…levels,” he writes. “Unlike many archaeological sites, a wreck represents a single event in which most of the objects were in use at that time and can often be closely dated. What might seem hazy in other evidence can be sharply defined, pointing the way to fresh insights.” Gibbins covers a wide variety of cases, including wrecks dating from classical times; a ship torpedoed during World War II; a Viking longship; a ship of Arab origin that foundered in Indonesian waters in the ninth century; the Mary Rose, the flagship of the navy of Henry VIII; and an Arctic exploring vessel, the Terror (for more on that ship, read Paul Watson’s Ice Ghost). Underwater excavation often produces valuable artifacts, but Gibbins is equally interested in the material that reveals the society of the time. He does an excellent job of placing each wreck within a broader context, as well as examining the human elements of the story. The result is a book that will appeal to readers with an interest in maritime history and who would enjoy a different, and enlightening, perspective.
Gibbins combines historical knowledge with a sense of adventure, making this book a highly enjoyable package.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781250325372
Page Count: 304
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming and inspiring story for animal lovers.
The third volume in the Elephant Whisperer series.
In this follow-up to An Elephant in My Kitchen, Malby-Anthony continues her loving portrait of the Thula Thula wildlife reserve, which she co-founded in 1998 with her late husband, South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony, who published the first book in the series, The Elephant Whisperer, in 2009. Following his death in 2012, Malby-Anthony sought to honor his legacy by continuing his vision “to create a massive conservancy in Zululand, incorporating our land and other small farms and community land into one great big game park.” At the same time, the elephants gave her “a sense of purpose and direction.” In the Zulu language, thula means quiet, and though the author consistently seeks to provide that calm to her charges, peace and tranquility are not always easy to come by at Thula Thula. In this installment, Malby-Anthony discusses many of the challenges faced by her and her staff, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. These included an aggressive, 2-ton rhino named Thabo; the profound loss felt by all upon the death of their elephant matriarch, Frankie; difficulty obtaining permits and the related risk of having to relocate or cull some of their animals; the fear of looting and fire due to civil unrest in the region; and the ongoing and potentially deadly struggles with poachers. Throughout, the author also shares many warm, lighthearted moments, demonstrating the deep bond felt among the humans and animals at the reserve and the powerful effects of the kindness of strangers. “We are all working in unity for the greater good, for the betterment of Thula Thula and all our wildlife….We are humbled by the generosity and love, both from our guests and friends, and from strangers all around the world,” writes the author. “People’s open-hearted support kept us alive in the darkest times.”
A heartwarming and inspiring story for animal lovers.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781250284259
Page Count: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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