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1491, New Revelations of Americas Before Columbus

1491, New Revelations of Americas Before Columbus


by Charles C. Mann

  • HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 560 PAGES

Mann portrays the successes and failures of the complex societies of the Mississippi River, central Mexico, the Andes and the Amazon in this thought-provoking speculative history of the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. (WLD61, $16.95)

Amazon Insects - A Photo Guide

Amazon Insects - A Photo Guide


by James L. Castner

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 160 PAGES

Spectacular, weird and commonly encountered bugs, butterflies, katydids, leafhoppers, ants, bees, spiders and other insects of the Amazon basin. Geared for the traveler, with 200 color photographs. (AMZ63, $20.00)

Amazon Stranger, A Rainforest Chief Battles Big Oil

Amazon Stranger, A Rainforest Chief Battles Big Oil


by Mike Tidwell

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A detailed, entertaining portrait of the Ecuadorian Amazon and its people, including the Cuyabeno forest and the way of life of the Cofan people. (AMZ01, $16.95)

Birds of Ecuador, Vol. 1: Status, Distribution and Taxonomy

Birds of Ecuador, Vol. 1: Status, Distribution and Taxonomy


by Paul Greenfield | Robert Ridgely

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 848 PAGES

An comprehensive account of the conservation, ecology and taxonomy of birds in Ecuador. (EDR07, $89.95)

Cloud Forest, A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness

Cloud Forest, A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness


by Peter Matthiessen

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1987
  • PAPER
  • 280 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Matthiessen recounts with wit, insight and style his odyssey to the Amazon and Andes, including Machu Picchu and Tierra del Fuego. (SAM02, $17.00)

Conquistadors

Conquistadors


by 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, (SAM48, $27.95)

Darwin and the Barnacle, the Story of One Tiny Creature and History's Most Spectacular Scientific Breakthrough

Darwin and the Barnacle, the Story of One Tiny Creature and History's Most Spectacular Scientific Breakthrough


by Rebecca Stott

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

Darwin devoted eight years to the perplexing pedunculated cirripedes, setting the groundwork for his ideas about evolution through natural selection. (NAT65, $14.95)

Edge of the Jungle

Edge of the Jungle


by William Beebe

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 303 PAGES

A collection of 12 essays on the Amazon and its ecology and wildlife. A scientist-explorer with the soul of a poet, Beebe wrote dozens of books about his adventures in tropical America and Guyana. (AMZ75, $17.95)

The Enchanted Amazon Rain Forest, Stories from a Vanishing World

The Enchanted Amazon Rain Forest, Stories from a Vanishing World


by Nigel J.H. Smith

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • HARD COVER
  • 208 PAGES

A wonderfully presented collection of observations from the Amazon, this is a good introduction to the people, culture and geography of the rain forest. (AMZ26, $29.95)

Evolution, The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory

Evolution, The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory


by Edward Larson

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

A clearheaded, engrossing brief history of ideas about evolution from the 18th century to the present by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. (NAT64, $14.95)

Evolution, The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory

Evolution, The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory


by Edward Larson

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

A clearheaded, engrossing brief history of ideas about evolution from the 18th century to the present by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. (NAT64, $14.95)

Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon

Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon


by William Herndon | Gary Kinder

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 343 PAGES

An original account of 19th-century exploration of the Amazon by Captain Herndon, who traveled from Lima to the Pacific coast of Brazil. (AMZ67, $14.00)

Explorers of the Amazon

Explorers of the Amazon


by Anthony Smith

  • EXPLORATION
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 344 PAGES

In this well told overview of the region, Anthony Smith presents a history of exploration of the Amazon, scientific and otherwise. (AMZ31, $37.50)

A Field Guide to Medicinal and Useful Plants of the Upper Amazon

A Field Guide to Medicinal and Useful Plants of the Upper Amazon


by James L. Castner | Stephen L. Timme | James A. Duke

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 154 PAGES

A photographic identification guide focusing on the practical uses of common plants of the tropical forest. (AMZ39, $38.00)

Galapagos at the Crossroads: Pirates, Biologists, Tourists, and Creationists Battle for Darwin's Cradle of Evolution

Galapagos at the Crossroads: Pirates, Biologists, Tourists, and Creationists Battle for Darwin's Cradle of Evolution


by Carol Ann Bassett

  • SCIENCE
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 304 PAGES

Bassett focuses on not only the threats to the Galapagos but also the dedicated and often colorful biologists, conservationists and others working to protect the archipelago in this eloquent, accessible field report. (GPS86, $26.00)

Galapagos Islands Coloring Book

Galapagos Islands Coloring Book


by Jan Sovak

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 32 PAGES
  • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8)

Featuring 32 illustrations of the plants and animals of the Galapagos, Charles Darwin and a map of the archipelago. (GPS74, $3.95)

Galapagos, Discovery on Darwin's Islands

Galapagos, Discovery on Darwin's Islands


by David Steadman

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 208 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

All the birds, mammals, reptiles and other vertebrates of the Galapagos are beautifully illustrated in this insightful overview. (GPS05, $24.95)

Galapagos, Discovery on Darwin's Islands

Galapagos, Discovery on Darwin's Islands


by David Steadman

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 208 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

All the birds, mammals, reptiles and other vertebrates of the Galapagos are beautifully illustrated in this insightful overview. (GPS05, $24.95)

The Green Pharmacy

The Green Pharmacy


by James A. Duke

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 507 PAGES

An A-Z catalog of ailments and the herbal remedies that heal them. (AMZ40, $21.95)

A Guide to the Birds of Colombia

A Guide to the Birds of Colombia


by Steven Hilty | William Brown

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1986
  • PAPER
  • 836 PAGES

This classic South American bird guide gives good coverage of the upper Amazon basin, illustrating 1,700 species -- nearly half of all the species of South America. (FG14, $78.50)

In Amazonia, A Natural History

In Amazonia, A Natural History


by Hugh Raffles

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 302 PAGES

An intriguing look at the intertwined history of people and nature in the Amazon. Academic yet still artful, Raffles focuses on a small Brazilian riverine community and the transformation of their river over the last 50 years. (AMZ85, $33.95)

In Search of the Golden Frog

In Search of the Golden Frog


by Marty Crump

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 312 PAGES

A memoir of a field biologist. (CON18, $27.00)

The Incas and their Ancestors, The Archaeology of Peru

The Incas and their Ancestors, The Archaeology of Peru


by Michael Moseley

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An outstanding illustrated survey of the archaeology of the Inca, Moche and Nasca civilizations. With hundreds of color illustrations and line drawings, it's an in-depth look at the ancient cultures and history of Peru. A great general introduction. (AND06, $34.95)

Jungle Travel and Survival

Jungle Travel and Survival


by John Walden, M.D.

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 198 PAGES

Medical doctor and frequent Amazon-traveler Walden provides useful advice on avoiding malaria, parasites, poisonous and dangerous animals, dehydration and much more in this compact guide. (AMZ73, $18.95)

A Land of Ghosts, The Braided Lives of People and the Forest in Far Western Amazonia

A Land of Ghosts, The Braided Lives of People and the Forest in Far Western Amazonia


by David Campbell

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 260 PAGES

Campbell writes with flair and insight of the people, history and ecological discoveries in the far western reaches of the Amazon Basin, a place where he has focused much of his work. (AMZ90, $18.95)

Life in the Treetops, Adventures of a Woman in Field Biology

Life in the Treetops, Adventures of a Woman in Field Biology


by Margaret Lowman

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 219 PAGES

The sprightly memoir of an ecologist who climbs, studies and sleeps in trees for a living, balancing multiple roles of scientist, wife and mom. Margaret Lowman, a pioneer in the ecology of forest tree canopies, continues her story in a second memoir (written with her now-grown sons). (AMZ57, $13.95)

The Mapmaker's Wife

The Mapmaker's Wife


by Robert Whitaker

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 353 PAGES

Colonial politics, the travails of the cartographer, and good old-fashioned murder all add intrigue to this absorbing tale of 18th-century European exploration of the Amazon -- and one woman's quest to find her husband deep in the jungle. (AMZ97, $13.00)

Margaret Mee's Amazon, Diaries of an Artist Explorer

Margaret Mee's Amazon, Diaries of an Artist Explorer


by Margaret Mee

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2004
  • HARD COVER
  • 300 PAGES

A handsome edition of the diaries, paintings and sketchbooks of Margaret Mee (1909-1988), an intrepid traveler and collector. With 250 stunning botanical and other illustrations. (AMZ86, $59.50)

Marine Life of the Galapagos

Marine Life of the Galapagos


by Pierre Constant

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 307 PAGES

Subtitled "A Diver's Guide to the Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and Other Marine Animals," this compact Odyssey Guide features 288 color photographs of fish and invertebrates, maps, plans and dive information. (GPS56, $24.95)

Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World


by Peter Weir

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • DVD

Russell Crowe stars in this adaptation of two Patrick O'Brian novels, a swashbuckling adventure set off the coast of Cape Horn in 1805. (GPS66, $14.98)

The Naturalist on the River Amazons

The Naturalist on the River Amazons


by Henry Walter Bates

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 409 PAGES

A spell-binding early account of the river and its environs, first published in 1863. This classic chronicle of Bates's scientific adventures, part natural history and part travelogue, has inspired generations of tropical biologists. (AMZ07, $17.95)

One River, Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon

One River, Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon


by Wade Davis

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 537 PAGES

A spellbinding, sprawling tale of explorers, botanical secrets, and larger-than-life personalities in northwest South America. (AMZ22, $18.00)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Spanish

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Spanish


by 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. (SPN257, $19.95)

Plant Diversity of an Andean Cloud Forest, Inventory of the Vascular Flora of Maquipucuna Ecuador


by Robert Rhode | Grady Webster

  • REFERENCE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 228 PAGES

A checklist of the flora of Maquipucana reserve on the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador. (EDR11, $40.00)

Quito and Northern Ecuador

Quito and Northern Ecuador


by ITMB

  • 2009
  • MAP

A full color map of Quito and surroundings for the traveler, at a scale of 1:12,500. (EDR10, $10.95)

Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon

Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon


by R.D. Bartlett | Patricia Bartlett

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

A convenient guide to 250 colorful and commonly encountered snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and salamanders of the Amazon. (AMZ84, $29.95)

Requiem for Nature

Requiem for Nature


by John Terborgh

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 248 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

A passionate and thoughtful plea for conservation of the rain forest from a noted biologist. (FST07, $29.50)

Rough Guide Ecuador

Rough Guide Ecuador


by Harry Ades | Melissa Graham

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 524 PAGES

A compact comprehensive guide to travel in Ecuador, including Quito, the Oriente and Galapagos with extensive listings, dozens of sketch maps, and a brief overview of culture, nature and history. (EDR06, $24.99)

Running the Amazon

Running the Amazon


by Joe Kane

  • EXPLORATION
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

A best-selling account of a 4,000-mile expedition from the high Andes to the Atlantic by foot, raft and kayak -- an expedition only four of the ten participants finished. (AMZ13, $14.95)

The Saddest Pleasure, A Journey on Two Rivers

The Saddest Pleasure, A Journey on Two Rivers


by Moritz Thomsen | Paul Theroux

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 276 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

An introspective tale of travels on the Amazon in Ecuador and Brazil. (EDR12, $12.95)

Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest


by 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 Smithsonian Atlas of the Amazon

The Smithsonian Atlas of the Amazon


by Michael Goulding | Ronaldo Barthem | Efrem Ferreira

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 254 PAGES

This beautiful, profusely illustrated atlas of the river includes its major tributaries and 150 full-color maps. Goulding (Floods of Fortune) and Brazilian biologists Barthem and Ferreira provide the accompanying text. (AMZ82, $39.95)

The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle

The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle


by 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, $24.95)

Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas

Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas


by 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 draws on an impressive range of archival material in reconstructing this classic account. (NAM20, $24.95)

Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice

Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice


by Mark Plotkin

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 328 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

In this marvelous book, Plotkin recounts his work documenting the use of medicinal plants among remote tribes in the Northwest Amazon of Suriname, Venezuela, Guyana and French Guiana. A portrait of people and their environment, a tale of adventure and, most of all, a moving example of science in the service of preservation. (AMZ15, $16.00)

Traveling with Che Guevara, The Making of a Revolutionary

Traveling with Che Guevara, The Making of a Revolutionary


by Alberto Granado | Lucia Alvarez de Toledo

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

Granado's classic account of his travels with Che Guevara via motorbike through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. (SAM68, $14.95)

Trekking and Climbing in the Andes

Trekking and Climbing in the Andes


by Val Pitkethly | Kate Harper

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 192 PAGES

A compact guide to treks and climbs in the Andes, including Torres del Paine, Fitzroy, The Inca Trail, Cordillera Huayhuash and Cotopaxi. (AND34, $20.00)

Vine of the Soul, Medicine Men, Their Plants, and Rituals in the Colombian Amazon

Vine of the Soul, Medicine Men, Their Plants, and Rituals in the Colombian Amazon


by Richard Evans Schultes | Robert F. Raffauf

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 282 PAGES

Written by Schultes, the father of ethnobotany, with a colleague, this book features 150 photographs along with a detailed and authoritative text describing the many uses of plant substances. (AMZ59, $29.95)

Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change

Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change


by Richard Fisher

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 344 PAGES

A complete primer for the volcano lover, this heavily illustrated book covers types of volcanoes and eruptions, worldwide distribution and the physics of their formation. (GEO02, $29.95)

Where to Watch Birds in South America


by Nigel Wheatley

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 431 PAGES

A compact practical guide to birdwatching sites throughout South America, including checklists. (SAM40, $30.95)

White Waters and Black

White Waters and Black


by Gordon McCreagh | George Schaller

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

A classic account of a two-year-long scientific expedition to the Bolivian Amazon, funny, sweet and thrilling. Originally published in 1923. (AMZ70, $17.50)

The World as You Dream It, Shamanistic Teachings from the Amazon and Andes


by John M. Perkins

  • RELIGION
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 139 PAGES

A personal account of sometimes hard-to-believe experiences with curanderos (or shamans) in the highlands and Amazon of Ecuador. (AMZ46, $14.95)

Yanomami, The Fierce Controversy and What We Might Learn from It


by Robert Borofsky

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 397 PAGES

A study of the controversy surrounding anthropological studies of the Yanomami. (SAM67, $25.95)

 

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.