Customer Reviews (38)

On the spirit world and reality
This story present questions that the reader is confronted to answer, like, "Is there a spirit world? If so what does it look like? How do (or might) spirits interact with people? Is there a hierarchy of spiritual power? If not, how does one explain the experiences of the people in this book?" etc. A brutal book, but recommended, and real.

Blatant exploitation of the Yanamamo for religious propaganda
The book is a cheat. It appears to be a true story until the middle of the book where the Christian claptrap becomes obvious. The author simply uses the Yanomamo as a shill to promote his own religious beliefs with a story that is clearly fictional.

A seminal book that will shake your worldview
This is one of the books I can never forget.
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Spirit of the Rainforest: A Yanomamo Shaman's Story
This seminal book may turn your worldview upside down!

The Spirit of the Rainforest is the controversial life story of Jungleman, a Yanamamö shaman whose tribe's ancient way of life deep in the Amazon jungle of Venezuela is dramatically altered by increased contact with the `nabas,' the white Westerners, adventurers, doctors, anthropologists and missionaries, whose spirits they encounter. According to Mark Andrew Ritchie, a commodities trader from Illinois and author of God in the Pits (Macmillan, 1989), it is not a work of fiction. Ritchie personally gathered the stories during six visits over a period of thirteen years before Jungleman's death in 1994 and painstakingly sought witnesses to assure their veracity in the details. The result is an extraordinary document that unfolds the psyche of the Yanamamö ("Tree People") through the vivid first-person account of one Yanamamö shaman's self-understanding and of their spirit world. The tone is frank, the pictures are graphic. It neither discounts the deceitful or brutal aspects of human nature, nor does it fail to inject moments of Yanamamö humor. The language is primarily that of spiritual powers and warfare between different worldviews in conflict. On one hand, it corroborates the reality of the spirit world. On the other, it enables us to identify with persons from both sides of the cultural divide experimenting with the spiritual categories of the other. Most notably, it invites us, as Western readers, to observe ourselves through the eyes of the very ones we come to observe, and the result is stunning, or at the very least, challenging.

In the first part of the book "Split truth," Jungleman describes the generational cycle of violence engendered by the ancient beliefs of shamans as dictated by the vengeful spirits of the rainforest. The spirits who make them powerful and protect them from the enemy also lead their villages into murderous internecine warfare. By snorting a mind-bending powder called ebene, the cause for each death in a village is traced to the work of spirits in a different `responsible' village. The relatives grind the dead person's bones and the cycle of raids and counter-raids begins, developing into full-scale war. The toll is great suffering, poverty and death, with wholesale slaughter, rape and torture of women and children. But the Yanamamö do not see the source of their pain as their spirits' fault. In the middle of the book, the Yanamamö hunger for the more powerful weapons and spirits of the nabas (foreign missionaries) drives the shamans and their flock closer to the nabas' Unfriendly Spirit. But their own familiar spirits shudder with fear, claiming this Great Spirit is the Creator of spirits who will demand the shaman "throw them away," causing the shaman's death. However, a striking paradox emerges. Not all nabas are the same. Those who encourage them to give up warfare care for their suffering, while those who encourage warfare, do nothing to alleviate it, adding rather more misery. Some even caution them against the Unfriendly Spirit but are themselves more depraved than the Yanamamö. The shaman's response at this point is to compromise and still have both ways. But in the final part entitled "Nobody's that Stupid," the double lie is revealed as several shamans realize their spirits deceived them and decide, one by one, to "throw them away." By embracing the Creator of Spirits, they find they do not die and the Spirit of the caring nabas - the missionaries that are not hypocrites - is not unfriendly after all, but teaches the way of reconciliation. Their villages become havens of peace, health and prosperity as they learn the new ways of forgiveness. At the same time the shamans become increasingly resentful of the secular anthropologists who try to return them to their old vengeful ways, and whose corrupt agendas glamorize their savage way of life as a utopia of `crime unimpeded by conscience' to the outside world (Chagnon, Napoleon. The Last Days of Eden, 1992). "They must hate us. They think we're animals," says Shoefoot, a fellow redeemed shaman. Ritchie asks us to consider that even aboriginal murderers may seek a better way.

This indigenous self-portrayal of a primitive tribe confronts not just the motives, but also the spiritual agendas behind the way some anthropologists, and even missionaries approach their fieldwork and conduct themselves. We, who come to judge their spirits, what spirit are we of? The message of Jungleman pierces us with conviction, and confronts our hypocrisy. It has already created a stir, causing us to rethink the way we do anthropology or missions, by compelling us to wonder about the link between our fallen human nature and the spirits that bind us, regardless of how "civilized" or "uncivilized" we may be. As readers come to recognize the universal nature of the lies of the spirits of darkness, so also, they will not be surprised by the discernment of the shamans once they switch their allegiance to the Creator of spirits. Jungleman, as a redeemed shaman, chronicles the victory over darkness as a gradual truth encounter that brings the light of salvation to his people, not as a showdown of spiritual powers in a cataclysmic battle. His astounding clarity of vision of the spirit world reveals our Western civilization's search for libidinal freedom among "primitive" lifestyles to be a pact with greater evil, an evil that may rival even that of the fierce Yanamamö.

Good but violent.
From the anthropological perspective, this is an interesting look into the culture and values and spirituality of the Yanomamo people in South America. From the Christian perspective, it is a book that shows the power of Christ to save His own in a very unique way--that is, it is uniquely written and salvation is shown in a very un-Western (but not un-Bibical) format.
The only issue I had with this book is the violence. The Yanomamo people are very violent, very cruel, and very merciless to their own and other tribes. This is shown clearly and graphically throughout the book. I think in many ways the violence is necessary if the readers really want to know how this people group lives, but at the same time: read with care. This book is not easy on your heart or the eyes of your mind.

Not for the Faint of Heart - But Life Changing!

Spirit of the Rainforest is not told from Ritchie's(the author) point of view. Rather, he has told the majority of the story through the eyes of Jungleman, a Yanomamö shaman, and a great leader of their people. Ritchie researched this project over thirteen years and six visits to the Amazonas. As often as possible, he conducted multiple interviews in order to corroborate the information he was receiving from Jungleman.

The narrative of this account is told largely as a flashback from the perspective of a shaman who has many spirits living within him. The detail given of how the Shaman of the various villages communicate with, acquire and struggle with their spirits is quite vivid and descriptive. We see a tribal people caught up in a spirit ruled shamanistic society with a moral compass that is beyond our understanding.

There are many graphic accounts of battles between villages, the murdering of infants, raping of women and spiritual warfare that redefines our perceptions of that realm. The battles waged with clubs and arrows are only a small part of the warfare between these villages. The shaman of one village will send out murdering spirits to kill children in neighboring villages. This supernatural assassination will often serve as the impetuous for the other village to physically attack the other.

After this framework has been set, we are introduced, along with the Yanomamö to the Naba - white people - who enter in their villages. Some are missionaries, others are cultural anthropologists, and others are simply looking for cheap labor or a new experience. Through this introduction of the Naba, the Yanomamö are exposed for the first time to the realities of sexual disease, profiteering, homosexuality, and Christianity.

Ritchie tells the story of one particular tribe, Honey, that embraces peace and the message of these Christian missionaries. When a shaman surrendered himself to the Great Spirit, all of the spirits that had been living within him would depart. This was visible and troubling to the other visiting shaman. In time, many of the Yanomamö come to faith in Christ, including Jungleman, the greatest of the Yanomamö shaman.

This book is graphic in nature. The author very capably delivers the horrors of this spirit-driven people through his retelling of battles, both spiritual and physical. In fact, Spirit of the Rainforest may be too much for some of a more sensitive nature to bear. It may also be difficult for those who have experienced a reality similar to what is being told in the book.

That said, this graphic portrayal of reality serves the author well in drawing in the reader to a context outside of their experience. We are given the opportunity to see a fierce people without any distorting lens. We are also given the unique perspective to see what the introduction of the Naba do to their society, both good and bad.

The Yanomamö are a society that is attenuated to the intense reality of spiritual warfare. A shaman who has been given the gift of relationship with many spirits leads them. A good shaman, like Jungleman or Shoefoot will possess several of the strong spirits, and have discernment to recognize a spirit of power (like the jaguar) versus a spirit of weakness (like the deer). These shaman will intercede on behalf of their people through the power of these spirits, and conduct great battles with other villages and individuals nearly entirely in the spiritual realm.

In Western Christianity, we often pay lip-service to the concept of spiritual warfare. We have allowed ourselves to live in an intellectual and rational bubble where the events described in this book are fanciful and impossible.But the stark reality is that there is a very real spiritual warfare going on around us, both seen and unseen.
Scripture shows us example after example of men and women under the influence of demons. Some of these demons cause illness, as in Matthew 4:24 and 8:16. Some of these demons cause insanity and grant supernatural abilities as in the spirits named Legion in Mark 5. Others grant the ability to see things that no one else can see as in the slave girl in Acts 16. We know this warfare is a reality. We just often choose to look the other way.

Although the Yanomamö have an intense familiarity with the spiritual realm, they also have an innocence and purity due to their being isolated from the mainstream of society. They are unfamiliar with many of the perversions and vices that is just taken for granted in mainstream America. Also as a result of their immediate acceptance of the spiritual, they are very receptive to conversations concerning the supernatural and the spiritual. In the worldview of many in America, there is an intellectual and experiential hurdle that must be overcome before the conversation can turn seriously to issues of eternal and spiritual significance.

On one hand, it appears as though the intensity of spiritual activity in the United States is nothing like what we read in Spirit of the Rainforest. The idea of a shaman sending out a spirit to kill a child doesn't fit into our grid. It would appear as though Satan would rather use an intellectual and rational attack on the people in this country. On the other hand, there has been a growing fascination with the occult. All we need to do is read popular fiction, turn on the TV or attend a movie to see a terrifying spiritual reality.

Although most would say that "civilized" society has much to offer a tribal people like the Yanomamö, I would argue that they have much to offer us. With their help, the scales may fall from our eyes, and we would be able to see the very real threat being waged against us each day by the powers and principalities of this world!

In the book Spirit of the Rainforest, it is interesting to see how the Yanomamö viewed the different Christian missionaries with which they came in to contact. It is clear that in order to effectively communicate the truth of the gospel to the people in this tribal context we are going to have to stretch ourselves, and change our way of thinking.
One realization was the hurt that was felt by the Yanomamö when Granny Troxel and Padre Coco left their village to return home. They felt betrayed and confused. There is great value in short term missions for both the individual on the missions trip, and those to whom the individual is ministering. However, there needs to be a strong missions base where they are serving. Relationship and familial loyalty is a large part of the Yanomamö culture. Intermittent missions may have some value, but there is far greater value in establishing long-term relationship.

Another aspect that would be key in relationship and witness with the Yanomamö culture would be to truly live among them. If a missionary comes down with a desire to hang on to his modern conveniences and culture, he will separate himself from the people and make it difficult, if not impossible to engage with them in a significant way. Many mission organizations have overcome this challenge by only sending trained indigenous missionaries into the field. That way they are able to understand those to whom they are ministering, and they wouldn't possess a desire for a lifestyle that would separate them from those they are trying to reach for Christ.

As was discussed earlier, the Yanomamö are very comfortable with the reality of spirits all around them. As a result, it is easier to talk to them about Yai Pada as the creator of us all, even the other spirits. By sharing with them the truth of the love of God, they will learn that their picture of Yai Wana Naba Laywa is incorrect. The key would be to speak to them of Yai Pada not simply as another spirit - a spirit of love, but to speak to them of the Creator Spirit.

If he is simply a god of love, they would place him in their minds along side of all the other spirits they know and acknowledge. But if Yai Pada is the great creator spirit, He must be greater than all the other spirits! Once they understand that, we can then show them that he is not the enemy spirit who hates, but he is the Creator God who loves. That truth is what brought Shoefoot, and eventually Jungleman to a saving knowledge of Christ!

One of the most impressive things about Ritchie's Spirit of the Rainforest is that he painted a picture of a violent, brutal and demonized people - yet he endeared them to us. All mankind is created in the Image of God. All people of every tribe, tongue and nation are precious to Him. It is easy for us to be disgusted with an individual for what they have they have done, or repulsed by a people group because their "societal norm" is so drastically different from ours. But we need to remember that the Imago Dei resides within all of us, and we have been called to share the message of Christ with the world. Not just those parts of the world where we are comfortable, but to every corner of this earth.

I am thankful for the missionaries that have made an eternal difference in the lives of the Yanomamö people, and to Mark Ritchie for taking us on a journey of understanding and hope. The message of the cross shines brightest where the darkness is the most deep.
Soli Deo Gloria ... Read more

Product Description
This important book addresses several misconceptions about war, youth, and resources in Sierra Leone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fighting for Comprehension
Paul Richards writes this book from a controversial -- and certainly not typical -- perspective. While refreshing in this innovation, the argument is poorly structured, and Richards' writing nearly impossible to follow. I found reading this work unbelievably frustrating, and the convoluted presentation of both fact and theory inappropriate to a work of social science. Where were the editors?!?

Worth the reading time if you are a lover of African studies
Richards translates sucessfully the complex background history of the current Sierra Leonean crisis into a quantified language suitable for further policy research and study on similar models. His threading ofSierra Leonean nation state history with the ongoing conflict makes hiswork more active.It is a great upgraded handbook for readers who seek tode-mystify the African learning experience. In that same light Richards'book lacks emotional connection with pan-African political ideology.

Read it.

I enjoyed this book, but had problems with certain analyses.
I feel that Richards' focus is to dispute Kaplan's New Barbarism theory, and for the most part is successful.He contends that the youth involved in the war point to political causes as their reason for fighting.This isthe crux of his argument, yet I feel his evidence is not necessarily inline with such a bold statement.Chapter Four outlines his findingsregarding how young people experience and react to war in contemporaryAfrica.While I agree that the New Barbarism theory does not consider thisaspect, I do not agree with Richards' argument that these young people whoare fighting the power are fully conscious of the political ramifications. My interpretations of Richards' interviews form my opinion, as I understoodmany of the young soldiers (particularly one named "Charlie") tohave joined based on sheer survival, not due to political loyalties.WhileRichards tediously delineates the conflict in Sierra Leone from any inklingof the New Barbarism theory, I find it difficult to follow his argumentfrom the angle of what is and what is not political.Part of providing acounterattack on a theory or supplying fodder for an original theory is todisprove the argument and then build yours.I feel Richards has dismantledNew Barbarism, but does not necessarily provide the reader with the propertools and equipment to rebuild it. ... Read more

Product Description
Follow the story and live the experience of one man's photographic journey through the rainforests of the world. 16+ years in the making, packed with spectacular photographs from Thomas Marent, a self-taught photographer who has dedicated half his life to capturing images of rainforest life, and including captions that present the stories behind the photographs, Rainforest is an extraordinary photographic biography of our planet's most beautiful yet fragile environment. Now in paperback!Amazon.com Review
Over the past 16 years Swiss photographer Thomas Marent has traveled all over the world photographing rainforests, from Peru and Ecuador to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Usually traveling alone, Marent has been known to spend extraordinary lengths of time to get the perfect shot--sometimes 12 days. You can see the results in his first book, Rainforest. The book is his testament--an intimate collection of more than 500 breathtaking animal and plant portraits, and the fascinating stories behind them.

Questions for Thomas Marent

Amazon.com: What inspired you to start taking pictures?

Marent: I used to be a birdwatcher in Switzerland--and soon I was also interested in amphibians, insects, and plants. After a while I thought it would be nice to have pictures of all these beautiful animals.

Amazon.com: Waiting for the perfect shot takes patience and time. How do you decide what images are worth waiting for?

Marent: I mostly focus on the colorful and spectacularly shaped creatures. Sometimes it is a matter of luck to find them, but sometimes I have to know where and when to look for them.

Amazon.com: What photo in Rainforest is your favorite?

Marent: I don't have one favorite--there are many favorites! I especially like the photos of frogs, butterflies, fungi, birds and weird insects.

Amazon.com: What would people find most surprising about the world's rainforests?

Marent: When people think of the rainforest, it's the monkeys, birds, and wild cats that first come to mind. But there are so many small and beautiful creatures. We need to see and appreciate them too--they're just a little harder to find! Many of these smaller creatures have never been seen by most people.

Amazon.com: Do you consider yourself a rainforest activist?

Marent: With the book I want to show to the people the endless beauty of the rainforests. I do hope that it might open the eyes of some people, so that they'll agree that it's worth protecting this fantastic environment.

Amazon.com: Some of the photos in the book, especially some of the insect photos, are really strange and otherworldly. What's your favorite exotic rainforest animal?

Marent: Some of my favorites always were frogs and butterflies, but birds and monkeys as well. And of course the weird-looking insects.

Amazon.com: What's your favorite rainforest?

Marent: In Asia it is Borneo. In Africa it is Madagascar. In Latin America it is Costa Rica and Peru/Colombia. But I also like the Australian and New Zealand rainforests.

Amazon.com: Do you have any advice for amateur nature photographers?

Marent: A tripod is an absolutely must. Try to move to the animals slowly and quietly--it takes some patience. Whenever possible try taking your pictures at the animal's eye level. And it's always important to think about the background when you compose the picture.

Customer Reviews (39)

Needed pics for rainforest mural
I needed some reference material for a mural that I am doing for my sons nursery.I came across this book on Amazon and figured I'd give it a shot, after reading the reviews.The pics are wonderful and simply beautiful.It's amazing to get to see some of the animals, plants and insects that we would otherwise never get the opportunity to see.
My only complaint, if you want to call it that, was that my book did not come w/ a cd that the other reviews talk about.I don't know if it's because I bought the soft cover?? but none the less, I was dissapointed about that.I was looking forward to listening to it, while painting and then playing it for my son once he's in his room.I guess I can't complain too much, since it wasn't in the official description on the site.

Amazing book!
It is true that you cannot convert the experience of being in a rain forest to a book, and this is a wonderful book. If you already visited some rain forests, this book will remind you some beautiful moments. There is a CD attached to this book with sounds recorded in rain forests, mostly insects and birds.

nature photography,wow.i'm inspired.
have you ever been to a tropical rainforest.if you haven't thomas marent will guide you to the damp,evergreen hot houses of the world with stunning photography & fascinating stories.you just have to spend extremely small amount of money to get wowed & be amazed.this wonderous tome help me immensely to relax my mind & soul.amazon.com selling this book for a bargain price.(their delivery is quick & safe).highly recommended.

A book of art
This is a book of fabulous pictures.We bought it to inspire paintings and other artwork for my brother.He absolutely loved it.You will look at it over and over.It's big, heavy, so colorful, and great for all ages.A good book to leave sitting out to inspire conversation, fill time, or appreciate the world around you.

Breathtaking
Even people who aren't as avid about nature as I am have found this book to be simply spectacular. It was given to me as a Christmas present and promptly got passed around the room. People who only take a glance have bought their own copy! The large, professionally printed photographs will take your breath away, and the captions and stories are just as entertaining. This book is organized neatly into chapters, and its layout is stylish and modern. ... Read more

Product Description
Rain forests represent the world's richest repository of terrestrial biodiversity, and play a major role in regulating the global climate. They support the livelihoods of a substantial proportion of the world's population and are the source of many internationally traded commodities. They remain (despite decades of conservation attention) increasingly vulnerable to degradation and clearance, with profound though often uncertain future costs to global society. Understanding the ecology of these diverse biomes, and peoples' dependencies on them, is fundamental to their future management and conservation.

Tropical Rain Forest Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation introduces and explores what rain forests are, how they arose, what they contain, how they function, and how humans use and impact them. The book starts by introducing the variety of rain forest plants, fungi, microorganisms, and animals, emphasising the spectacular diversity that is the motivation for their conservation. The central chapters describe the origins of rain forest communities, the variety of rain forest formations, and their ecology and dynamics. The challenge of explaining the species richness of rain forest communities lies at the heart of ecological theory, and forms a common theme throughout. The book's final section considers historical and current interactions of humans and rain forests. It explores biodiversity conservation as well as livelihood security for the many communities that are dependent on rain forests - inextricable issues that represent urgent priorities for scientists, conservationists, and policy makers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Fascinating book
This is an amazing book for any one to read but if you spend time in the rain forest or tropics, or you are interested in envionmental issues you will be amazed.It gives you an understanding of how everything is dependent on everything else, and how one change in the environment can result in catastropic results.It's a good read, too.
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Fantastic!
I first read this book before I went on a research trip in the tropics. Teachers and students all love this book! It's a great primer before a trip, or a great inspiration to go in the first place. Smooth and easy language from knowledgeable authors that you don't have to be a science graduate to understand. I recommend this to anyone and everyone who ever thought about visiting tropical rain forest.

Decent book, a little underwhelming
We used this book for a course I taught in Costa Rica, essentially doing a chapter a day.It was informative for the class and work well in that capacity, but it isn't what I would call an especially good or deep read.It's interesting, but not transformative, I suppose.

Tropical Nature: An Easy and Fun Read for the Science 101 Student
I recently was required to read a book not specifically assigned by our professor but of something that sparks our interest and write a review on that book.I chose this book and found it to be a great choice.The class that this assignment was for was Physical Geography, which is a 100 level class.As a rookie in this area, I found my choice to be very informative and easy to understand.The authors clearly do a great job of writing this book for people of all degrees of knowledge in this area.They are able to mix some humor into the book that adds life to it rather than the boring, dry, text books we are all used to reading.For someone who hasn't read this book yet, you will find out what I mean by humor early on in the book when the author talks about dung scarab beetles.The authors cover a large portion of material in a laid back way that makes this read enjoyable even for financial economics majors who are required to take a lab class (like myself).It also provides you with enough knowledge and facts where one could keep a conversation going with a Bio major and not sound like an idiot. Overall a great read.

A must read
If you are visiting the rain forest, you absolutely must read this books first! It is well written and has a very broad scope.A good starting place to guide your own experiments and explorations in this wonderful part of the world. ... Read more

Product Description
This definitive book represents the life's work of the late Richard Evans Schultes, one of the fathers of modern ethnobotany and the greatest plant explorer of our age, including nearly 50 years of field research in the Northwest Amazon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Entheogens: Professional Listing
"The Healing Forest" has been selected for listing in "Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy." http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy

Excellent
Technical, but excellent. Photos are stunning ... Read more

Product Description
The popular view of the tropical rainforest as a monolithic tangle of rain-soaked trees, vines, birds, monkeys and big cats is a widespread myth.Tropical Rain Forests: An Ecological and Biogeographical Comparison explodes that myth by showing that rain forests in different tropical regions are unique despite superficial similarities.

Throughout the book the distinctive characteristics of rain forests in tropical Asia, tropical America, Africa, Madagascar, New Guinea, and Australia are emphasized.After an introduction to the climate, biogeographic history and environment of tropical rain forests, successive chapters are devoted to plants, primates, other mammals, birds, canopy animals and insects.The final chapter considers the impact of people on tropical forests and discusses conservation strategies that, based upon the characteristics of particular regions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, may prove more effective in preserving different forest ecosystems.

This exciting new book, filled with natural history examples, figures and stunning photographs, will be invaluable reading for undergraduate students in a wide range of courses.The book’s comparative approach also poses many questions that will be of special interest to researchers and advanced students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For college
I had to get this book for one of my classes. We have yet to use it and the semester is half over. I have tried to read it several times... It is difficult to keep my attention on this book. It would be much easier to read it there were not text citations behind every sentence. Also, I believe that it is much easier to understand what the writer is describing when there are full color pitures, especially with any type of Biology book.

Excellent review of the rainforests of the world
This is a brilliant comparative overview of the tropical rainforests of the world. If you have a keen interest in travel and natural history you may enjoy this. It lacks many images, and it might be a little dense and technical for general readers, but if you any biological training you will find it a great read. It is an expensive book, but I bought it twice (I lost the first one in the Daintree - I hope whoever ended up with it, enjoys it!). As the author of a book on the tropical rainforest of Australia, which gets ignored quite a bit on an international scale, it was great to see 'our' forest (along with New Guinea), get a many mentions.
Damon Ramsey, Author, "Ecosystem Guides Rainforest of tropical Australia" ... Read more

Product Description
Ages 4 to 8 years. Children are introduced to the huge trees, colourful flowers, and other plants in South American tropical rain forests, as well as the insects, amphibians, mammals, and other animals that live there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Rainforst Habitat
This is a really understandable book for 2nd and 3rd gradeI cannot wait to cover the material!

Wonderful science reader for little ones
This is a wonderful first or second grade science book reader with great pictures and easy to read words. ... Read more

Product Description

Hundreds of buildings, thousands of people, countless stories--there's always more to learn about Penn State, no matter how much time you've spent there. This Is Penn State: An Insider's Guide to the University Park Campus will enlighten anyone with an interest in the University, from visiting parents to lifelong State College residents.

This Is Penn State documents the rich history beneath the surface of the Penn State experience, offering facts and figures, essays and anecdotes, obscure trivia, notable quotations, and a wealth of other information about Penn State's past, present, and future. Forty of the University's most prominent buildings and areas are highlighted, accompanied by more than 120 illustrations, ranging from historical photographs to architectural sketches of buildings not yet completed. Essays by veteran Penn Staters Leon Stout, Craig Zabel, and Gabriel Welsch cover Penn State's history, architecture, and changing physical landscape. And when you want to get outside and see the campus firsthand, This Is Penn State is your guidebook to University Park. The four detailed maps take you on a west-to-east walking tour of Penn State's buildings, allowing you to understand the development of each area of campus.

Over the last 150 years, Penn State has been devoted to scholarship, research, and community service. In honor of the University's sesquicentennial and in celebration of the Press's fiftieth anniversary, the Penn State Press is proud to offer This Is Penn State as its gift to everyone who feels a connection with "dear old State." ... Read more

Product Description
This new edition of Whitmore's classic introduction to tropical rain forests has been comprehensively revised and updated, reflecting the changes which have taken place since it was first published in 1990. The sections on human impact have been extended to include a new global assessment of deforestation as well as details of new research on biodiversity and conservation. Discussion of the future of the rain forests and priorities for action is incorporated. The book remains unique in linking rain forest biology and ecology with silviculture, and with concerns over sustainable resource utilization and the future of the tropical rain forests. It includes sections on the diverse animal and plant life forms which are found in the rain forest, and the interconnections between them. Nutrient cycles and forest dynamics are fully explained, with new data on ecophysiology and forest microclimates. The geologic and climatic history of rain forests, and the wide-spread canopy disturbances now understood to have occurred in the past, are explored. Accessibly written, and illustrated throughout with line-drawings and photographs, this is a must for biology and geography students, and anyone else who seeks to know more about the nature and importance of the world's tropical rain forests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good introduction to tropical rainforest
This book is a good general introduction to the tropical rainforest of the world. It includes sections on plants, ecology, convergent evolution, and human use. It has some black and white photographs and 'classic' diagrams and graphs. It's technical level is probably that of early university ecology. (It is obviously good, as someone has knocked my copy off!)
Damon Ramsey, author of "Rainforest of tropical Australia"

this book was very enriching and enlightening, spiritual
It was a book that helped me gain knowledge but it also made me want to go out and explore it, it was fabulousIcould hardly put it down and it helped a lot with my research paper. Thanks ... Read more

Product Description
Forest biodiversity monitoring programs, by evaluating the performance of existing management regimes and helping to identify opportunities for improved practice, represent an essential ingredient in the development of more sustainable management systems. Nevertheless many costly monitoring efforts are often little more than "tick the box" exercises that do little more than erode the credibility of science. The purpose of this book is to identify the key elements of a robust and pragmatic framework for how monitoring and evaluation programs can make a more meaningful contribution to the development of an ecologically sustainable system of forest use. To be meaningful monitoring programs need to be purposeful and grounded in clear objectives, effective in providing reliable assessments of the links between management activities and changes in forest biodiversity, and realistic in light of real-world financial, logistical and social constraints. Science can make a substantial contribution to achieving these aims but a key component of success lies in overcoming the organizational insularity that currently exists between researchers, managers and bureaucrats.

The first part of the book lays out the importance of biodiversity monitoring in achieving responsible management, and sheds light on the key obstacles and challenges that have thus far confounded attempts to integrate meaningful monitoring programs into forest management systems. The second part presents an operational framework for developing improved forest biodiversity monitoring systems. These proposals address the challenges central to the scoping, design and implementation stages of a forest biodiversity monitoring program, including the definition of program goals and objectives, the indicator selection process, and data collection, analysis and interpretation. The book is not intended to provide a "how-to manual" of technical issues but rather to encourage a broader appreciation of the purpose and overall design of an effective monitoring program, with a particular emphasis on designing monitoring programs that are successful in the context of real-world challenges and constraints. The book ends with a section on integrating biodiversity information into the bigger picture and how to frame and evaluate trade-offs in multiple use forests.
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Ages 5 to 9 years. This book examines the delicate balance of life maintained in lush Southeast Asian tropical rain forests, and teaches children how the plants and animals in a rain forest rely on one another to survive. ... Read more

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Yay!
This is a great informational book for children and everybody (really) for learning about the Rainforest! ... Read more

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An introduction to rivers as a source of life for people, plants and animals which introduces the water cycle; the importance of rain to the life cycle of plants; the use of rivers through their resources (fish and gold); and as transport routes. The book also investigates the environmental threats from mining and gives step-by-step illustrations and instructions to show how to make a miniature canoe. Each title in this series can be used to teach a number of topics across the geography and science curriculum. A topic web and extension section at the back of the book suggests other areas of the curriculum that could be introduced. The activity at the end of each title introduces design and technology skills and engages children directly in the book. ... Read more

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Like no other book currently available, The Forests of Michigan explores the natural history, ecology, and economic importance of the rich and varied forests that cover over half of the state's 37.3 million acres.
The Forests of Michigan tells how the forests returned after the Wisconsin glacier retreated, and how they recovered from the onslaught of unrestrained logging and wildfire that virtually wiped them out. The emphasis of the book is a view of sustainability that builds not only upon the lessons learned from native peoples' attitude and use of trees but also on the latest scientific principles of forest ecology and management.
Written in an engaging style, The Forests of Michigan sees the forest and the trees, offering a hearty serving of information as well as many anecdoctal delights.
Donald I. Dickmann is Professor of Forestry at Michigan State University and holds a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of The Culture of Poplars and Poplar Culture in North America.
Larry A. Leefers is Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University. He holds a doctorate in forest economics from Michigan State University.
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Wonderful MI Forest Resource
There are few books that offer so much information in such a readable a format. I picked it up thinking that it was mostly a reference book but as I read, I found I was wrong. It is a wonderfully readable blend of history, science and folklore, perfect for preparing to discuss or explain forest issues to others. The authors are not shy about exposing scams and consequences. It is a great book that adds depth for both the recreational reader and the forestry expert. Well researched and thoughtfully assembled. ... Read more

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A complex mosaic of post oak and blackjack oak forests interspersed with prairies, the Cross Timbers cover large portions of southeastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, and north central Texas. Home to Native Americans over several thousand years, the Cross Timbers were considered a barrier to westward expansion in the nineteenth century, until roads and railroads opened up the region to farmers, ranchers, coal miners, and modern city developers, all of whom changed its character in far-reaching ways. This landmark book describes the natural environment of the Cross Timbers and interprets the role that people have played in transforming the region. Richard Francaviglia opens with a natural history that discusses the region's geography, geology, vegetation, and climate. He then traces the interaction of people and the landscape, from the earliest Native American inhabitants and European explorers to the developers and residents of today's ever-expanding cities and suburbs. Many historical and contemporary maps and photographs illustrate the text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Everything You Wanted To Know...
I am not a native Texan, but I love the place and so eagerly read anything to do with the state. While reading, I have often encountered references to the Cross Timbers region and the difficulties of traversing it in the 19th century and before.
In the past 20 years, I have had the good fortune to travel almost everywhere in the state and have seen the Cross Timbers close up, hiking in state parks or just passing through on back roads. I saw close up the thick gnarled forests interspersed with glades and prairie, but still wondered why the Cross Timbers were anticipated with a greater sense of dread than were other large forests in the country.
Enter "The Cast Iron Forest". In this informative tome, Richard Francaviglia will tell you everything you wanted to know about the Cross Timbers and more. In a very readable way, Francaviglia lays out just what the Cross Timbers are and proceeds through the history of the area right up to the present. The book not only gives the reader a great overview of the area, but also imparts understanding of patterns of settlement and the waxing and waning of both man and nature in this dynamic area.
I also learned that the Cross Timbers extend far beyond the borders of Texas into Oklahoma and Kansas. The author concentrates on the Texas portion, but gives some insight into the development and decay of Cross Timbers settlement in Oklahoma. However, very little is said about the small portion of Kansas that is a natural continuation of Cross Timbers geological and biological features.
I would have been happier had the book contained more detailed maps and charts, but overall I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the land and people of Texas.

A Unique Eco-Adventure Through Texas and Indian Territory
I was intrigued to learn recently that the general area of Texas in which I reside had (and still has to some degree) an eco-history all its own, which impacted both Native American tribes and the White settlers who were determined to "tame" the wilderness of the Lone Star State.This was not easy to accomplish, because of the two formidable belts of cross timber forest, which Washington Irving referred to in his writings as the "cast iron forest."These thick belts ran from a small corner of Kansas down through Indian Territory (now called Oklahoma), and continues to approximately where Waco, TX is located today.

Author Richard V. Francaviglia brings the reader on a journey through the cross timber regions, with a brilliant blend of natural history and Old West adventure-telling.The book features many old maps, which in their own fascinating way, also tell the history of the cross timbers visually.The author takes the reader on a journey from the opening of the West to the cross timbers - or what's left of it - in modern times.

One need not be scientifically inclined to read and enjoy this book, as Francaviglia explains all in a way which is easy to understand.Anyone with an interest in Texas history and/or ecology will find this a fascinating read! ... Read more

Product Description
Unplanned deforestation, which is occurring at unsustainable rates in many parts of the world, can cause significant hardships for rural communities by destroying critical stocks of fuel, fodder, food, and building materials. It can also have profound regional and global consequences by contributing to biodiversity loss, erosion, floods, lowered water tables, and climate change.People and Forests explores the complex interactions between local communities and their forests. It focuses on the rules by which communities govern and manage their forest resources. As part of the International Forestry Resources and Institutions research program, each of the contributors employs the same systematic, comparative, and interdisciplinary methods to examine why some people use their forests sustainably while others do not. The case studies come from fieldwork in Bolivia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, and Uganda.People and Forests offers policymakers a sophisticated view of local forest management from which to develop policy options and offers biophysical and social scientists a better understanding of the linkages between residents, local institutions, and forests.Contributors: Arun Agrawal, Abwoli Y. Banana, C. Dustin Becker, Clark C. Gibson, William Gombya-Ssembajjwe, Rosario Leon, Margaret A. McKean, Elinor Ostrom, Charles M. Schweik, George Varughese, Mary Beth Wertime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good editors, frustrating contributors
Like most edited books, this one shows every sign of editors valiantly trying to get the authors onto the same page, while the authors ignore (or actively resist) their suggestions.Having edited a book myself, I'm all too familiar with the pattern - - and I side with the editors.

The editors present a common framework focusing on the importance of (mostly local) institutions in explaining successful and unsuccessful forest management in developing countries.It's not as strong as a real theory would be, but it's useful enough as a unifier for a collection of hypotheses that Ostrom draws out in her conclusion.About half of the chapters - - those written by one of the editors - - use the framework in a serious way, while the other half don't.The editors' chapters address larger issues about local management of common pool resources, while the other chapters tend to be largely descriptive case studies of local problems.

Both editors and contributors are part of an intellectual community that's interested in successful management of environmental problems (such as common pool resources) at the local level.It's an important topic, but it encourages the worst kind of case study research.All too often, research involves going off to a study site chosen for practical reasons such as language skills, local contacts, or government permission.Analytical questions get pushed off to the side, and I'm afraid that's true of many chapters here too.

In short: read it for the editors, whose chapters provide interesting analyses of local solutions to forest management problems.
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"The words 'tropical rainforest' may conjure up vistas populated by jaguars, brilliant macaws, and flowers amid the grandeur of towering buttressed trees. But the eager, expectant visitor is not regaled with the sight of charismatic vertebrates, gaudy birds, and luminous orchids. In the rainforest, close encounters with life that moves are usually rare but brilliant episodes; one is bedazzled for an instant and then left alone in the quiet greenery. Under such conditions, one must see the episode as part of a process; tracing the connections between organisms is the essence of rainforest appreciation."-Nature of the Rainforest

Nature of the Rainforest is a breathtaking tour of an environment that is the pinnacle of biodiversity and evolutionary sophistication by anaward-winning author and two photographers who love the rainforest, understand its intricacies, and have spent considerable time there documenting its wildlife and complexity. Adrian Forsyth draws on four decades of personal encounters with the animals of the rainforest-including poison-dart frogs, three-toed sloths, bushmasters, and umbrellabirds-as a starting point to communicate key ecological topics such as biodiversity, coevolution, rarity, chemical defense, nutrient cycling, and camouflage.

The luminous photographs capture stunning and rare creatures in action, including the now- extinct golden toad mating, a jaguar on the prowl, and the hermit hummingbird feeding. The behaviors and characteristics of the rainforest inhabitants featured here not only illustrate the text but also advance the scientific narrative and exemplify the critical importance of conservation. Thematic chapters are interspersed with four chapters devoted to specific habitats and regions of Costa Rica and Peru, areas with some of the most diverse arrays of plant and animal species in the world. The result is an exuberant celebration of the rainforest in text and images. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent introduction for the tourist as well as the armchair traveler.
If you are going to travel to the tropical rainforests in Mexico, Central America,or Amazonia-you will benefit from reading the text.Forsyth has fashioned a great blend of scientific fact and personal anecdote.The photographs are also stunning.This is not a book you will pack along on your trek-too large.But it will prepare you for looking, understanding, and crying for what the world is losing in the depredations being made to these neotropical rainforests.

Excellent book for those going to Costa Rica
I have been to Costa Rica twice in the last couple years to see the rain forest and have found this book to be an invaluable resource. The author has written detailed chapters that really give wonderful details ...easy to read and enough info to learn quite a lot, no matter how much you think you already know. And the pictures on glossy paper are just a treat to see ... When you first see the book, you'll likely just flip through the pages and wonder at the majesty of rain forest life ...This is highly recommended for anybody going to Costa Rica!

Outstanding Gift!
I purchased this book as a gift for a friend who had recently been to Costa Rica on an 'eco-tourism' trip. The feedback ( from my friend) about the book was absolutely glowing! She raved about it! If you're looking for a good gift for someone who has been to Costa Rica, give this book serious consideration.

Wonderful book
The book contains a lot of excellent pictures. Each chapter explores different topic. My favorite chapters:

"Frogs." Describes a great diversity of rain forest frogs and their strategies for surviving.
"The essence of snake." Why the snakes are the way they are.
"Fruit of reason." Purpose, variety and importance of tropical fruits.
"The hidden." Camouflage of tropical animals. The chapter contains probably the most impressive photographs of the whole book. It is unbelievable how evolution molded animals in their environment.
"The virtues of sloth." Who has not heard about a sloth? It turns out I knew very little about this animal.
"Beetlejuice." Chemical defenses used by tropical animals. The most innocently-looking animals can be armed to teeth (even if they have don't have any :-) ).

Through the whole book one feels the author's pain for rain forest destruction, disappearance of tropical species, many of which are not even discovered yet. The book made me want to visit tropical forests of Costa Rica.

Fantastic Photo book
I did not expect this book this book to be great and it isn't. It is Wonderful. Beyond my expectations. It is a beautifully made photo book on high gloss paper with detailed writing about the rainforest. ... Read more

Product Description
Green Ridge State Forest is a haven of calm and natural beauty among the Appalachians of western Maryland. This land was once the frontier of the nation, and trailblazers such as Thomas Cresap and George Washington were among the first Europeans to discover its wonders: the swift Potomac, flowering dogwood and pine in the mountain reaches and the nighttime calls of the bobcat and the barred owl. The vision and stewardship of people like forester Fred W. Besley preserved the forest for future generations of hikers, explorers and families. Join former forest manager Champ Zumbrun as he traverses hidden trails to tell the remarkable story of Green Ridge State Forest. ... Read more