An overview of the people, history and wildlife of Berenty, a reserve on the Mandrare river in Madagascar's thorny south, by a favorite author. This wonderful, personal book is subtitled "Mad Scientists, Kings With Spears, and the Survival of Diversity in Madagascar." Lemurologist Alison Jolly looks back on a lifetime of research and friendship among the Malagasy in this surprisingly personal account of her field work. She weaves tales of sifakas, lepilemurs and their kind with stories of the neighboring Tandroy people, and the formidable Monsieur de Heaulme, who had the foresight to set aside the land as a reserve.  (MAD37, $25.00)

Best of 2004