Average customer rating:
- Got a good review in _Nature_
|
Patagonia: Natural History, Prehistory and Ethnography at the Uttermost End of the Earth (Princeton Paperbacks)
Manufacturer: Princeton Univ Pr
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0691058490 |
Book Description
Some fourteen to ten thousand years ago, as ice-caps shrank and glaciers retreated, the first bands of hunter- gatherers began to colonize the continental extremity of South America--"the uttermost end of the earth." Their arrival marked the culmination of humankind's epic journey to people the globe. Now they are extinct. This book tells their story. The book describes how these intrepid nomads confronted a hostile climate every bit as forbidding as ice-age Europe as they penetrated and settled the wilds of Fuego-Patagonia. Much later, sixteenth-century European voyagers encountered their descendants: the At0nikenk (southern Tehuelche), Selk'nam (Ona), Yt.mana (Yahgan), and Kawashekar (Alacaluf), living, as the Europeans saw it, in a state of savagery. The first contacts led to tales of a race of giants and, ever since, Patagonia has exerted a special hold on the European imagination. Tragically, by the mid-twentieth century, the last remnants of the indigenous way of life had disappeared for ever. The essays in this volume trace a largely unwritten history of human adaptation, survival, and eventual extinction. Accompanied by 110 striking photographs, they are published to accompany a major exhibition on Fuego-Patagonia at the Museum of Mankind, London. The contributors are Gillian Beer, Luis Alberto Borrero, Anne Chapman, Chalmers M. Clapperton, Andrew P. Currant, Jean-Paul Duviols, Mateo Martinic B., Robert D. McCulloch, Colin McEwan, Francisco Mena L., Alfredo Prieto, Jorge Rabassa, and Michael Taussig.
Customer Reviews:
Got a good review in _Nature_.......1997-10-25
A short review in the magazine _Nature_ (9 Oct 97, p 557) has a cool picture and says "gripping read and lavishly illustrated." END
Book Description
Legendary Patagonia, the southernmost region of the Americas, is shown in rich photographs by Argentine naturalist Marcelo Beccaceci. Written in Spanish and English throughout, the book takes readers on a panoramic journey through one of the world's most magnificent and varied landscapes, explaining its formation and the remarkable animals and flora that thrive in the rugged reaches of Argentina and Chile. From the snow-crested peaks of the Andes through arid Argentine steppe lands, deep into the Chilean fjords, the imagery astounds. Beccaceci's reverence for the native wildlife, the focus of his life's work as a conservationist, brings the intimate details of NATURAL PATAGONIA to an international audience. Written in Spanish-English bilingual parallel text and illustrated with 120 color photographs and two maps, the book is fully indexed and includes scientific names.
En español - Legendaria Patagonia, la región más austral de América, es desplegada en hermosas imágenes por el naturalista argentino Marcelo Beccaceci. Escrito en Español e Inglés, el libro lleva a los lectores a un viaje panorámico a través de uno de los paisajes más magnficos y variados del mundo, explicando su formación, y la notable fauna y flora que prospera en la agreste vastedad de Argentina y Chile. Desde los picos nevados de los Andes, a lo largo de la árida estepa y hasta los océanos Atlántico y Pacífico, la visión asombra. La veneración de Beccaceci por la vida silvestre nativa, esencia de su trabajo como conservacionista, pone al alcance de un público internacional detalles ntimos de la Patagonia. Incluida 120 fotgrafías a color, 2 mapas, nombres científicos, y índice.
Customer Reviews:
Photos are..........2004-01-20
Photos are so, so... after visiting Patagonia live, just awesome, its people and gastronomy superb, definitely recommended, book and visit!!
Magnificent Pictures and good text about Natural Wonders.......1998-09-24
When I think of Patagonia, I think of the Natural Wonders of a place that has seen little human intervention. This book has magnificent pictures and in interesting text about the geography and wildlife of Patagonia.
Book Description
Patagonia. The name connotes the exotic and a distance that seems nearly mythical. Tucked toward the toe of South America, this largely unsettled landscape is among the most varied and breathtaking in the world-aching in its beauty as it sweeps from the Andes through broad, arid steppes to pristine beaches and down to a famously violent sea. It is also home to a vast array of rare wildlife as diverse and fascinating as the region itself.
Act III in Patagonia is the first book to take an in-depth look at wildlife and human interaction in this spectacular area of the world. Written by William Conway, former president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the book is unique in its concentration on the long Patagonian shoreline--populated by colorful cormorants, penguins, elephant seals, dolphins, sea lions, and numerous species of whale--and an increasing number of human beings.
Threatened by overfishing, invasive species, artificially abundant predators, and overgrazing, the Southern Cone of Patagonia is now the scene of a little-known conservation drama distinguished by the efforts of a dedicated group of local and foreign scientists determined to save one of the Earth's least-inhabited places. From tracking elephant seals in the Atlantic to following flamingos in the Andes, Act III in Patagonia takes readers to the sites where real-life field science is taking place. It further illuminates the ecology of the region through a history that reaches from the time of the Tehuelche Indians known by Magellan, Drake, and Darwin to the present.
Book Description
PATAGONIA is a thoroughly researched description of this region at the southern tip of South America. The book begins with a narrative account of a trip to the area and then continues with much more information. Included is a chapter on the environment, incorporating many facts about the interesting wildlife as well as the weather and the terrain. Next comes a chapter on the history of Patagonia, including the fascinating experiences of the early explorers. The fourth chpater is an excellent review of the now-extinct Indian tribes. The final chapter deals wth the present situation in Patagonia--the politics, the investment climate, and some of the controversies sparked by U.S. timber companies moving into this pristine land. With four pages of color pictures, numerous black and white photos, and graphics, including maps of the area. Extensive index and bibliography.
Customer Reviews:
A Fascinating Book.......2006-05-17
This book is absolutely fascinating from start to finish! It's extremely well-written, and the author shows great insight, perspective, and knowledge. It's simply eloquent. I bought it for myself, and also as a gift book for two friends. It will enchant anyone.
Try again.......2006-01-10
How often do you come across a book that is really disappointing? And when it is was it your fault because you chose it because of its misleading cover picture or its contents page? Dick Lutz, asserted writer of several books on animals and out-of-the-way geographical regions has provided us with some reading which must be below the expectation of even an average book consumer. His personal account of a trip to Patagonia with a certain tour operator might well have paid for his fare, however, it leaves much to be desired in the way of writing. Simplistic, badly-put together sentences many of which are semantically ill-formed make reading a continuous strain. "We then got into the zodiacs for a ride around Tucker Island. This is a bird paradise so we refrained from landing in order not to disturb them." (p.14)
What is meant to be helpful advice for a future would-be traveller to the place unfortunately does not go beyond a rudimentary enumeration of lengthy bus rides between unnamed destinations and occasional lunch menus. "We took the small boats to shore where we were met by buses and vans that took our group through the town of Porvenir and also to an estancia (ranch)." (p.15) Sentences like the following would not go uncorrected by any editor with a minimum of pride in their occupation and one must wonder if this book received a second reading by anyone at all before going into print. "The drive through the countryside was different from what we had seen until now." (p.15) and "After driving awhile and seeing some more astounding vistas we next visited another spectacular locale." (p.17) At some stage the reader must ask themselves if the book was intended for children and incredulously reads on page 79: "Since there is a Lesser rhea, it follows that there is also a greater rhea."
The chapters on the land, its history and its people certainly provide the unitiated reader with much new and useful background information although also here textual continuity is sporadic and superficial. Quotes are not always sourced and the few photographs receive no comments. The book does, however, have a good word index and provides an extensive bibliography.
Should you buy this book? Only if you really need to.
Especially good for info on Charles Darwin's Journey.......2003-10-24
Fabulous non-fiction Adventure. Lutz combines historical and geographic reference with his own personal tales of trekking to Tierra del Fuego. Especially good information on Charles Darwin's voyage of the Beagle, the animal life and fauna, and the native cultures.
Particularly interesting is the information on the now extinct native Fuegian tribes that once roamed the area who some believed to be a near sub-species of Homo Sapiens, perhaps Late Cro-Magnom or even Neandertal. Actually, I would have liked to see even more in-depth info on this badly neglected topic.
Also, good info on the Argentinian and Chilean villages that dot the region which could prove very helpful to travelers. Great photos. Fantastic cover art. Though, there are a few typographical errors here and there. Could be cleaned up a bit for a second edition.
Eric Dondero, Author, Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book
Slip This One Into Your Carryon.......2003-10-02
In "Patagonia: At the Bottom of the World" Dick Lutz reminds us that to the European navigators who first discovered it, Patagonia was a strange region inhabited by giants, cannibals, and mysterious beasts. Occupying the tail of South America that stretches southward toward Antarctica, it remains even to the modern world a, little-known, off-the-beaten-path, sparsely inhabited region. Although politically divided between Chile and Argentina, Patagonia has a special climate, unique wildlife, and strange, and sometimes violent, history all its own. In this highly portable 206-page guidebook Lutz covers just about every aspect of this peculiar region including its history from the days of explorers and adventurers like Ferdinand Magellan and Sir Francis Drake to the Patagonia of today. An appendix includes Charles Darwinýs account of his 1834 trip to the region later published in The Voyage of the Beagle.
The book opens with Lutzýs own account of his experiences as part of a tour to the region. You might want to read this chapter last, since the body of the text is broken up by notes that refer you to later sections of the book, and they can be intrusive. They occur only in the first chapter, so if you read this chapter last, you won't have to spend your time flipping back and forth. Still, leading the book off with this chapter is an excellent idea since most visitors to Patagonia will probably travel there as part of a similar tour group, and this lets them know exactly what to expect.
The remaining chapters in the book cover the region's environment, history, people, wildlife, and just about everything a traveler might want to know. One other bit of information is not confined to a single chapter but permeates the whole of the book and that is the author's own love of the area. There is no question that Dick Lutz considers Patagonia one of the most beautiful places on Earth. He enthusiastically describes mountains, the towering glaciers that tumble into the Strait of Magellan, and the region's interesting and diverse animal life.
He doesn't, however, gloss over the hardships the region endured throughout its early history: acts of genocide carried out against its native population, the ruthless exploitation of its forests and mineral wealth, its dubious record as a popular spot for penal colonies. As recently as the early 1970s, the political enemies of the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet were confined to a prison in the area.
In short, Patagonia is a place like no other on Earth, and to take you there, youýll find no better guide than this author. Dick Lutz has four previous books to his credit and writes skillfully and well. The book, quite honestly, could have benefited form a better proofreader, but most of the errors are typographical rather than textual. Despite this minor annoyance, Patagonia: At the Bottom of the World contains much solid information, and you would have to search far to find a more compact and useful guidebook. If travel to Patagonia is on your agenda, this is a good one to slip into your carryon.
Cut and Paste.......2003-09-16
I bought this book hoping it would help me in planning my upcoming trip to Patagonia - no such luck. Basically, Chapter One contains the author's dryly written noodlings from his trip diary - which, by the way, follows the typical tourist trail itinerary that your local travel agent could beat after putting in 45 minutes of research. The rest of the book has the quality of downloads from the web and excerpts from pamphlets left over from museum visits. Maybe the book was just the author's half-hearted attempt to recoup some of the cost of his trip (good for him, bad for me). Wow! What a waste of time.
Book Description
With illustrations by Alfred Hartley and J. Smit.
Customer Reviews:
Very beautiful rather than profound.......2001-02-23
This is a tranquil, contemplative work of reflection on the varieties of nature. Like the amazing bird that changes its song regularly when one of its species, for reasons unkown, 'decides' to create a new melody which the others then follow. Another thing to look out for is the sensation that Hudson's glasses has on the local indigenous population - mocking laughter turns to incredulous amazement. This book brought peace to my life, and hopefully increased my sensitivity to natural wonders all around me - everyday ones as well as the extraordinary.
Average customer rating:
- Review of "Attending Marvels: A Patagonian Journal"
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Attending Marvels (Phoenix Series)
George Gaylord Simpson
Manufacturer: Univ of Chicago Pr (T)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0226759350 |
Customer Reviews:
Review of "Attending Marvels: A Patagonian Journal".......2000-07-16
A quick summary of this book would describe it as a fossil hunter's journal from the 1930s. However, humorous, matter-of-fact descriptions of people, politics and the unexpected make this book an excellent choice for any reader.
Average customer rating:
- Marvels - Marvelous!
- Attending Marvels, a real life adventure.
- PATAGONIA THROUGH AMERICAN/EUROPEAN GLASSES
- A funny and educational trip into several lost worlds.
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Attending Marvels: A Patagonian Journal
George Gaylord Simpson
Manufacturer: Time Life Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0809437279 |
Customer Reviews:
Marvels - Marvelous!.......2004-05-14
I bought this books years ago at an estate sale of a anthro. prof. at a local college. Estate and garage sales are a fantastic source of cheap books.
I agree with the criticism of the Eurocentric attitudes, but hey Bernal Diaz had even harsher attitudes in his Conquest of New Spain - and that book is still worth reading.
I often recommend this book to friends . If I had only been aware that it was out of print I would have held on to it.
Time to look for another copy...........
Attending Marvels, a real life adventure........2002-01-02
I first read this book many years ago, and it is one of the best books I have ever read. I started reading not knowing anything about Patagonia, or the subject of the book, but was quickly swept into a real life adventure. I have taken several trips with a vague destination and purpose in mind, but found the journey was far more interesting than the goal. This is one of those adventures. The book is about a constant unfolding landscape of people, places, and things, where each new discovery is a suprise to the reader. Too bad it is out of print, but my copy is not for sale.
PATAGONIA THROUGH AMERICAN/EUROPEAN GLASSES.......1999-11-25
The book is well done overall. But I thought Dr. Simpsons attitudes toward Patagonian poeple and culture were through a myoptic pair of American/European glasses.
It is fun to read this book as the second in a trilogy. The first is Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle", the third is Bruce Chatwin's "In Patagonia". Chatwin's appreciation of Patagonian people and culture is much more to my liking.
Don Bailey jeep1104@yahoo.com
A funny and educational trip into several lost worlds........1996-10-07
This is an odd book. It is hard to find, even for an experienced
haunter of used book stores, and not many people have read it. But
once you vicariously join the Scarrit Expedition
hunting fossils in the Patagonian wilderness in the early
1930s, you may never completely recover. "Attending Marvels"
is a trip into several lost worlds at once: most obviously
that of the "whole lot of other ---ontotheres" that
dominated South American fauna before the Isthmus of Panama
rose, but also into the almost incredibly isolated and harsh
lives of the Patagonians. But the trip that takes the reader
furthest is into Simpson's outlook. He is endlessly curious,
delighted with everything in the natural world, and able
to appreciate and communicate with people who are as culturally
different from him as a fellow human could be. This wide-eyed
gusto for the world shows in his lyrical descriptions of such
unpromising subjects as hedgehogs, yerba mate, and
of course, bits of fossilised bone. True, there are also
national politics, academic politics, martial law and a
homicidal maniac but none of these are as important to
Simpson or as vivid to the reader as the fossil snake. It is
a prime example of the scientist/naturalist world view at its best.
"Atending Marvels" is also great fun to read. It
is full of wonderful anecdotes and some very funny passages;
some lines ("You can't possibly kill anyone before the 15th
of the month"; "This is your Patagonia--keep it beautiful",
"Es triste, non?") have become code phrases among my
friends and family. So take the effort to find this book;
the trip is worth the trouble.
Average customer rating:
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Patagonia Wilderness
Marcelo D. Beccaceci , and
Bonnie J. Hayskar
Manufacturer: Pangaea
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0963018019 |
Average customer rating:
- With an excellent history & commentary by Alejandro Winograd
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Patagonia: Land Of Giants
Alejandro Winograd , and
Dan Newland
Manufacturer: Terra Australis Editorial
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ASIN: 987204421X |
Book Description
Throughout the early age of discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, Patagonia, the southernmost region of South America, held a special place in explorers' imaginations. Named "Terra Australis quae incognita est" on maps, this "unknown land" was believed to host landscapes, peoples, and wildlife unlike anything else on Earth.
Today, the real Patagonia -- encompassing a million square kilometers of Argentina and Chile from the Colorado River in the north to Cape Horn in the south -- still embraces a landscape largely unspoiled by development and filled with diverse wildlife and natural beauty.
Patagonia: Land of Giants captures the wonders of the Patagonian landscape in hundreds of stunning color photographs by famed Argentine nature photographer Daniel Rivademar. The accompanying text by biologist Alejandro Winograd vividly portrays the unrivalled features of this still-wild land -- its unique animals, stunning vistas, and local culture.
Customer Reviews:
With an excellent history & commentary by Alejandro Winograd.......2004-07-09
Take a range of coffee-table-quality, vivid color photos (ala Daniel Rivademar), add an excellent history and commentary by Alejandro Winograd, and package it in a lively overview of its history and people and you have the compelling Patagonia: Land Of Giants. Few titles have referred to this remote land in depth, much less focused on the ongoing ecological and environmental issues affecting the region. A generous display of color illustration and coverage of indigenous plants, birds, mammals and so much more make Patagonia: Land Of Giants far more than just another pretty coffee table overview title.
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