The Galapagos - Softcover

Nicholls, Henry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1781250545 ISBN 13: 9781781250549

Publisher: Profile Books, 2015

Synopsis

Formed of dramatic volcanic scenery and home to marvellous beasts, it is little wonder that the first name for the Galįpagos archipelago was Las Encantadas: the enchanted islands. In this captivating natural history, Henry Nicholls builds up the ecology of these famous islands, from their explosive origins to the arrival of the archipelago's celebrated reptiles and ultimately humans. It's a story of change, as the islands are transformed from lava-strewn wilderness into a vital scientific resource and a sought-after destination for eco-enthusiasts.

Charles Darwin's five-week visit to the Galįpagos in 1835 played a pivotal role in this transformation. At the time, he was more interested in rocks than finches, took the opportunity to ride on the backs of tortoises and fling iguanas into the sea. Yet the Galįpagos experience can be an inspiration and it certainly was for Darwin, pointing him towards one of the most important and influential ideas in the history of humankind: evolution by natural selection. And with the Darwin connection, the Galįpagos found itself propelled onto a global stage.

But worldwide fame has brought with it nearly 200,000 tourists a year and a human population now estimated at around 30,000. If Darwin learned from the Galįpagos, so we must too. For what happens here in years to come foreshadows the fate of threatened ecosystems everywhere on earth.

About this title

Product Description:

Galapagos

Review:

This is the perfect book to take with you if you are planning a trip to the Galapagos. Even if you are not, this is an enchanting and enlightening account of the most scientifically significant islands in the world. (Tim Birkhead)

The tale of the Galapagos's solitary giant tortoise and conservation icon was told to great effect by Henry Nicholls in Lonesome George. Sadly, George died in 2012, but happily Nicholls is back with an account that shows why the archipelago that shaped Darwin's ideas still matters to us. (New Scientist)

If you read one book about the Galapagos, make sure it is this. Thoroughly researched, highly informative, lively and enjoyable, each page is a real pleasure to read. Whether a first time visitor or an old Galapagos 'hand' Henry Nicholls' The Galapagos should accompany you on any physical or virtual trip to these Enchanted Islands (Ian Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, Galapagos Conservation Trust)

The Galįpagos is an engaging, informative introduction to the natural history of the archipelago. Charles Darwin's observations and insights on the Galįpagos are effectively used to highlight key aspects of the archipelago's terrestrial and marine environments, the unique plants and animals they support, and how our understanding of them has evolved since his historic visit. The book also gives an accurate account of the current challenges facing Galįpagos, and how they are being addressed. A surprising amount of information is packed into this concise and entertaining overview. An inspiring pre-travel read for anyone considering a visit to 'Darwin's Islands'. (K. Thalia Grant and Gregory B. Estes Darwin in Galapagos)

Henry Nicholls has turned his most observant eye on the remarkable, but less often described human history of Galįpagos. The future of the islands and their distinctive biota will be in the hands of the national lawmakers and growing number of Galįpagos residents as the isolation enjoyed by Galįpagos becomes a distant memory. In his lively prose, Henry lauds the unsung scientists and conservation managers who work doggedly and successfully on persistent wildlife management challenges wrought by human accident or design. His persistent focus on stewardship-man's absolute responsibility to nature-is refreshing and important in the world of natural history literature. A thoughtfully executed and excellent read. (Johannah Barry, president of the Galapagos Conservancy)

Tourists should read this book before they visit the Galįpagos. In a relaxed and conversational style, Henry Nicholls introduces many of the animals and plants that live there, explains why so many are strange and unusual, and shows how natural history has been first shaped by geological history and then influenced by human history. The book is an inspiring call to visit the islands, to experience the animals and plants in the sea and on land, and to join in conserving them. (Peter Grant, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, and coauthor of 40 Years of Evolution: Darwin's Finches on Daphne Major Island)

From the fiery volcanoes that forged the islands to the invasive species that threaten them, this is a brilliantly clear and enthusiastic guide to all that matters about the Galapagos. Henry Nicholls manages to combine detail with passion as he takes the reader through everything from Charles Darwin's inspiration for evolution to the sad demise of the last giant tortoise of his kind, Lonesome George. I only wish the book had been written in time for my visit to the islands five years ago. (David Shukman)

In his new natural history, Henry Nicholls transforms the Galįpagos archipelago from perennial example to subject. Chapters devoted to geology, plants, animals, and insects finally provide a landscape framework for some of biology's most famous stories-from Darwin's finches to the giant tortoises that give the islands their name. Nicholls also includes a welcome and thoughtful discussion of the archipelago's most recent and transformative arrivals, its people (Thor Hanson, author of Feathers and The Impenetrable Forest)

I have been to the Galįpagos five times, including an extended private expedition retracing Darwin's footsteps in these magnificent islands that so inspired his insights into the evolutionary process. I thought I knew everything about the islands until I read Henry Nicholls's The Galįpagos, the best single-volume work I've found and the perfect guide for travelers. Every visitor to the islands should be given a copy of this marvelous natural history to read in order to fully appreciate the richness of one of the most important pieces of real estate on the planet. A captivating book. (Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of Why Darwin Matters)

Henry Nicholls has added an informative, fun and up-to-date read to the Galapagos literature. By sprinkling his discussion of the geology, biology and history of the islands with quotes from historical figures, including Darwin, the Bishop of Panama, Herman Melville, and many others, he takes the reader on a unique journey of discovery of the wonders of Galapagos. He merges historical information with up-to-date science and conservation, then brings the reader back to the sites and species they will see when visiting the islands. Most importantly he discusses why Galapagos matters and the challenge to all of us to ensure its long-term protection. (Linda J. Cayot, Science Advisor, Galapagos Conservancy)

About this edition

• Publisher: Profile Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1781250545
• ISBN 13: 9781781250549
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 215