ECUADOR & THE GALAPAGOS More Books About This Life, Journeys on the Threshold of Memory  •  Barry Lopez ANTHOLOGY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 273 PAGES A collection of essays on far-flung travels -- both actual and internal -- by the wonderful writer and traveler. Lopez includes Galapagos, Hokkaido, Bonaire and Antarctica among the thoughtful essays. As in all his work, the book is a rare combination of fine writing, adventure, insight and personal reflection. (GEN42, $15.00)   Amazon Stranger, A Rainforest Chief Battles Big Oil  •  Mike Tidwell CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2000 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES • COMING IN Here's an unlikely story, well told. Journalist Tidwell journeyed to the Ecuadorian Amazon, where the local people have successfully battled against Big Oil. The integrity of the Cuyabeno forest and the way of life of the Cofan people have been preserved -- mostly thanks to the savvy of their leader Randy Borman, a white man raised in the jungle by missionaries. Although he ventured to college in the United States, Borman returned to his roots, married a local woman and has raised a family as the chief of this small band of indigenous people. More or less against his better judgement, Tidwell has immersed himself in customs and traditions of the Cofan. His book is a detailed, entertaining portrait of them, the Ecuadorian Amazon, and the Cofan way of life. (AMZ01, $16.95)   Andes  •  Mario Vargas Llosa  •  Pablo Corral Vega CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 160 PAGES • COMING IN Published by National Geographic, this oversize book is a photographic celebration of the Andes, and especially its people, featuring 90 full-page color photographs by the Ecuadorian photographer Pablo Corral Vega and accompanying essays (Llosa calls them fantasies) by novelist Mario Vargas-Llosa. Vega traversed the entire 5,000-mile spine of the mountains from the Caribbean to Patagonia, documenting the land and people of South America in beautiful, crisp photographs. (AND29, $50.00)   Billy Budd, Sailor and Other Stories  •  Herman Melville LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 385 PAGES A collection of short fiction including "Las Encantadas," ten sketches firmly set in a highly stylized Galapagos Islands (which Melville visited during his whaling days). In his vision, the islands are a kind of hell, a wasteland. (GPS37, $10.00)   Birds of Ecuador, Vol. 1: Status, Distribution and Taxonomy  •  Paul Greenfield  •  Robert Ridgely FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 848 PAGES An exhaustively researched, comprehensive reference with detailed species accounts covering distribution and abundance, conservation, taxonomy, and range. Interesting or important species often get a full page. While intended as a reference, serious birders will devour the detailed information on individual species, along with the introductory chapters on habitats and centers of endemism in Ecuador. The 30-page gazetteer covers localities, geographic areas and towns mentioned in the text serves as a guide to where to see birds in Ecuador. Also available as a two-volume set (EDR14) with the gorgeously illustrated Field Guide (EDR08). (EDR07, $89.95)   The Birds of Ecuador, Vol. I and II  •  Robert Ridgely  •  Paul Greenfield FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 1632 PAGES The two-volume set with slipcase. (EDR14, $130.00)   Charles Darwin: Voyaging, A Biography  •  Janet Browne BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1996 •  PAPER  • 605 PAGES This first volume of the acclaimed biography of Darwin covers the first part of his life as he develops the earth-shattering ideas that culminate in the publication of On the Origin of Species. (GPS29, $27.95)   Conquistadors  •  Michael Wood HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A lively, illustrated account of the Spanish conquest of the New World by the intrepid writer-filmmaker Michael Wood, who traveled in the footsteps of Hernan Cortes, Pizarro and others, often by horse, raft or other original means. It's an excellent introduction to the overwhelming impact of the Spanish in the Americas, wonderfully illustrated with maps, drawings and full color paintings. (SAM48, $27.95)   Darwin and the Science of Evolution  •  Patrick Tort BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES • FAMILY A pocket biography and social history of Darwin in the excellent "Discoveries" series featuring hundreds of archival photographs and a synopsis of his life and ideas by the French editor of the three-volume, 5,000 page dictionary of Darwin and evolution. It includes chapters on Darwin's early life, his five-year voyage aboard the Beagkle, and the developemnt of the theory of natural selection. (GPS54, $12.95)   Darwin, The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist  •  Adrian Desmond  •  James Moore BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1994 •  PAPER  • 808 PAGES An influential, vividly written biography of Darwin. (GEN13, $23.95)   The Diversity of Life  •  E.O. Wilson NATURAL HISTORY •  2010 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES This world tour by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist and author E.O. Wilson is wonderfully readable: an insightful, candid and elegant story of the evolution of life on our planet. With a focus on ecosystems, the book chronicles the rich diversity of species and how they came about. It catalogs the history of mass extinctions -- and presents a forceful argument that, unless we take care, our species may precipitate the greatest single episode of extinctions. Beautifully illustrated, this lyrical book is a celebration of life. Ed Wilson is a member of WWF's Board of Directors. (CON02, $21.95)   Ever Since Darwin, Reflections in Natural History  •  Stephen Jay Gould NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES In these delightful essays, enormously well infomed, thoughtful and a joy to read, Gould effortlessly explicates the wonders of evolution. His essay on Darwin's theory of evolution is utterly dead-on. (NAT15, $15.95)   Evolution, The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory  •  Edward Larson NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and historian Edward Larson examines the multifaceted history of the scientific theory which has had such an impact on twentieth century thought. Larson begins his study before Darwin, with the scientific breakthroughs of the French Revolution, and then examines Darwin's work and its effects, from the age of Social Darwinism up to present day genetics and evolutionary studies. He focuses on the social and political controversies that have surrounded evolutionary theory, particularly in the United States. (NAT64, $14.95)   Fire from the Andes, Short Fiction by Women from Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru  •  Susan E. Benner ANTHOLOGY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES An anthology of contemporary stories from the Andes, this book includes contributions by 24 women from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Mostly personal, many of the stories revolve around peasants, the urban poor and other marginalized members of society. With a biography of each contributor. (AND17, $29.95)   The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands  •  Jack Grove  •  Robert Lavenberg FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 936 PAGES An essential reference with hundreds of color photographs and detailed information on range, distribution and natural history for 437 species. (GPS32, $145.00)   The Flight of the Iguana: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature  •  David Quammen NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A marvelous, witty collection of essays. Even keen naturalists will be thrilled that Quammen gets his facts straight. His essay on a visit to the Galapagos is terrific, and the whole book sheds light on how evolution works. (NAT16, $16.00)   Flora of the Galapagos Islands  •  Ira Wiggins  •  Duncan Porter FIELD GUIDE •  1971 •  HARD COVER  • 988 PAGES The standard reference for the flora of the Galapagos, compiled in the 1960s by Ira Wiggins and Duncan Porter. (GPS43, $150.00)   Footprint Ecuador & Galapagos Handbook  •  Robert & Daisy Kunstaetter GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  HARD COVER  • 500 PAGES By the venerable British publishers of the "South American Handbook," this guide is built for the road with sturdy covers and a sewn binding. It's nicely divided between a general overview of Ecuador, and exhaustive detail on where to go and what to do. Essential for the independent traveler or anyone interested in getting off the beaten track. (EDR05, $25.95)   Latin American Art  •  John F. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A popular survey for undergraduate art students, this general history of the arts in Latin America ranges from pre-history to the present. Includes illustrations, maps and a chronology. (SAM33, $29.95)   Living Poor  •  Moritz Thomsen BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 280 PAGES Moritz's heartfelt account of small triumphs and tragedies as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small village on the coast of Ecuador. Moritz, who joined the Peace Corps at age 46, was an exquisitely talented writer and a complex and melancholy personality. He went on to write two more books. (EDR13, $26.95)   Lonely Planet Ecuador & Galapagos Islands  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES If you're an independent traveler, there's no better guidebook for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. It's packed with maps, short essays on diverse topics and basic information for the traveler. A separate section at the end provides an overview of the natural history of Galapagos. (GPS04, $23.99)   Mammals of the Neotropics, The Central Neotropics: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Vol. 3  •  John F. Eisenberg  •  Kent H. Redford NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 610 PAGES A comprehensive survey of mammals of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil -- covering, in detail 650 species occurring in the region from Pacific coast to the Amazon. With introductory chapters on biogeography and habitat and authoritative information on each species, including natural history, description, range and habitat. The text is much enhanced by large scale range maps and superb color plates by Fiona Reid. Aimed at the professional, this sourcebook will also appeal to anyone with a serious interest in the mammals of the region. This completes a three-volume survey of the mammals of Central and South America. (SAM30, $62.50)   Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World  •  Peter Weir LITERATURE •  2003 •  DVD Peter Weir's exciting adaptation of two of Patrick O'Brian's popular novels, "Master and Commander" and "The Far Side of the World," starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. Crowe is Captain Jack Aubrey, whose British ship, the HMS Surprise, is battling a mysterious French ship off the coast of Cape Horn during the Napoleonic Wars of 1805. An extended sequenced filmed on the Galapagos marks one of the first times the islands have been depicted in a feature film. (GPS66, $14.98)   A Naturalist's Guide to the Tropics  •  Marco Lambertini  •  John Venerella NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 338 PAGES A compact guide to the world's tropical zone, organized by biome. It's a good overview of the ecology of forests, mangroves, coral reefs, deserts, and grasslands found between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. A useful companion for travelers to tropical latitudes. With color photographs and color plates illustrating a sampling of the most conspicuous birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and fish. (CON17, $30.00)   Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide  •  L.H. Emmons FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES An illustrated guide to the mammals of the New World tropics, compact enough to slip into your daypack, with 29 color plates illustrating more than 200 species. It covers most Central and South American mammals. Even the author concedes that it's difficult to see many of the more elusive rain forest mammals but keep a close watch for the sloths -- they're marvelous, and not likely to escape in a hurry. (GPS12, $42.50)   Odyssey Guide Galapagos  •  Pierre Constant GUIDEBOOK •  2010 •  PAPER  • 316 PAGES Subtitled "A Natural History Guide," this compact book is an illustrated overview of the islands -- and especially the wildlife -- with 70 sketch maps, 180 color photographs and island-by-island descriptions. (GPS20, $24.95)   Penguin Planet: Their World, Our World  •  Kevin Schafer NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES A collection of 112 stunning color photographs of penguins around the world. Schafer, a veteran naturalist and expedition leader, has photographed these much-loved birds on voyages to the Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic islands, Galapagos, and South Africa. Schafer also wrote the accompanying text. Winner of the 2000 National Outdoor Book Award. (ANT131, $49.95)   Pimsleur Quick & Simple Spanish  •  Pimsleur Language Method LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2005 •  AUDIO CD Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Spanish, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. The Pimsleur method emphasizes the use of listening skills without reading materials (so there isn't a book to follow along). It's advertised as "Totally audio: hear it, learn it, speak it." (SPN257, $19.95)   Quito and Northern Ecuador  •  ITMB 2009 •  MAP A full color map of Quito and surroundings for the traveler, at a scale of 1:12,500. With a regional map goes from the northern border with Colombia to Guayaquil and from the ocean to the vast Yasuni National Park on the Peruvian border on the reverse at 1:650,000. One Side. 27x39 inches. (EDR10, $10.95)   The Saddest Pleasure, A Journey on Two Rivers  •  Moritz Thomsen  •  Paul Theroux BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1990 •  PAPER  • 276 PAGES • COMING IN An introspective tale of travels on the Amazon in Ecuador and Brazil by the author of "Living Poor," "Farm on the River of Emeralds" and "Journey of Two Rivers." With an introduction by Paul Theroux. (EDR12, $12.95)   Seabirds, An Identification Guide  •  Peter Harrison FIELD GUIDE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES • COMING IN Much more than a field guide, this essential reference includes detailed descriptions of all the world's seabirds, full-color paintings of adult and juvenile birds and keys to identification. It's definitive, authoritative and weighs in at over a pound. The late Roger Tory Peterson called its publication "a red letter day for the field glass fraternity." Also recommended is Harrison's Field Guide to Seabirds of the World. (FG01, $32.00)   Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest  •  Matthew Restall HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES In this provocative book, Restall tackles Columbus, Cortes, Pizarro and the misconceptions surrounding them. The conquisadores most certainly did not conquer the Americas with a handful of men, nor were they received as gods. (SAM52, $19.99)   The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle  •  Phillipe Descola CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 458 PAGES Three years among the Jivaro (Achaur) of the Upper Amazon. A student of Claude Levi-Strauss, Descola proves himself to be an intelligent observer and born storyteller in this ethnographic account. (AMZ25, $25.95)   Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas  •  Ronald Wright HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A powerful history of imperialism and resistance in the Americas, with a focus on the Aztec, Maya, Inca, Cherokee and Iroquois. Wright's illuminating account, told largely from the point of view of the losers, details the rapid collapse of cultures and societies in the Americas following the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. Wright draws on an impressive range of archival material in reconstructing this classic account, originally published in 1993. Wright is also the author of Time Among the Maya. (NAM20, $24.95)   Traveling with Che Guevara, The Making of a Revolutionary  •  Alberto Granado  •  Lucia Alvarez de Toledo TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This is Alberto Granado's companion book to Che Guevara's well-known Motorcycle Diaries (and one of the sources for the movie). It's Granado's own account of travels with Che via motorbike through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. (SAM68, $14.95)   Treasure Island  •  Robert Louis Stevenson LITERATURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 298 PAGES The famous and fabulous adventure story of a boy who finds himself among pirates while searching for buried treasure. Inspired by the Isla de Coco. (PAC25, $19.99)   Twentieth-Century Latin American Poetry, A Bilingual Anthology  •  Stephen Tapscott LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 418 PAGES A scholarly anthology of 400 poems, presented in the original language (Spanish or Portuguese) and English. Selections include poems from Octavio Paz, Pablo Neruda, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriela Mistral, Julio Cortazar and Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Eighty-five poets are represented in all. With an introduction to the many traditions of 20th-century poety in Latin America, and biographical notes on each poet. (SAM28, $29.95)   Volcanoes  •  Robert Decker NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES • COMING IN A popular introduction to volcanology, first published in 1979 and recently revised, this book is much enhanced by hundreds of photographs, charts, maps and diagrams. With a chapter on mid-ocean ridges. Famous volcanoes like Surtesy in Iceland, Krakatoa and Mt. St. Helens are given their own chapters. It's a comprehensive overview for the curious general reader with extensive sources for further reading, glossary, and list of popular web sites on the subject. (GEO08, $27.75)   Vulcan's Fury, Man Against the Volcano  •  Alwyn Scarth NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 299 PAGES In the contest of "Man against the Volcano," nature always wins. The author draws together eyewitness accounts, science, sociology and folklore in this page-turning account of 15 dramatic volcanic events from Vesuvius to Krakatau, Mt. St. Helens and Pinatubo. (GEO10, $29.00)   Where to Watch Birds in South America  •  Nigel Wheatley NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 431 PAGES A compact practical guide to 206 recommended birdwatching sites throughout South America. Organized by country, each site guide includes an introduction, noteworthy species, maps, and directions, checklists. An invaluable handbook for birders. (SAM40, $30.95)   The World as You Dream It, Shamanistic Teachings from the Amazon and Andes  •  John M. Perkins RELIGION •  1994 •  PAPER  • 139 PAGES An activist on behalf of indigenous cultures and founder of the "Earth Dream Alliance", the author provides a personal account of his sometimes hard-to-believe experiences with curanderos (or shamans) in the highlands and Amazon of Ecuador. Whatever your thoughts on the concept a vision quest, the book includes an fascinating account of the author's time with the Shuar people, their rituals and religious ideas. (AMZ46, $14.95)   Yanomami, The Fierce Controversy and What We Might Learn from It  •  Robert Borofsky CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2005 •  PAPER  • 397 PAGES A scholarly reader and study of the controversy surrounding anthropological studies of the Yanomami of northern Brazil and neighboring Venezuela. It follows in the wake of Patrick Tierney's best-selling book, Darkness in El Dorado. With Bruce Albert, Ray Hames, Kim Hill, Leda Leitao Martins, John Peters, and Terence Turner. (SAM67, $25.95)
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