The Adventures and Misadventures of Peter Beard in Africa [Hardcover]

Jon Bowermaster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1993

The extraordinary story of photographer Peter Beard's life in Africa--the remarkable saga of a lone artist's audacious and fiercely idiosyncratic response to the devastation of African wildlife. 170 photos, 20 in color.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Beard is a self-described "remittance chum," a fellow who lives on trust fund income. He is also a respected photographer, both of African wildlife ( End of the Game , LJ 2/15/89) and beautiful models (he is the ex-husband of Cheryl Tiegs). Bowermaster describes Beard's experiences during 30 years in Africa, including times spent as a paid hunter, artist, Karen Blixen fan, eccentric, landowner, playboy, brief prison inmate, and, most recently, father. Though schooled in art, Beard would also like to be known as a person who understands wildlife management. Opposing the strict preservationists, he supports the "cull the herd" viewpoint, but he is also convinced that the real problem is human population growth and the resulting inevitable wildlife/human competition for resources. The photos were not seen, but given beard's reputation, they should be impressive. An interesting addition to biography or Africa collections.
- Nancy Moeckel, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch Pr; 1st edition (November 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821219073
• ISBN-13: 978-0821219072
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #633,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Travel > Africa > Kenya

More About the Author

A six-time grantee of the National Geographic Expeditions Council and award-winning writer and filmmaker Bowermaster's recently concluded OCEANS 8 project took him and his teams around the world by sea kayak during the past ten years, on expeditions ranging from the Aleutian Islands to Vietnam, French Polynesia to Chile/Argentina/Bolivia, Gabon to Croatia and Tasmania to Antarctica. Seeing the world from the seat of a sea kayak has given Bowermaster a one-of-a-kind look at both the health of the planet's ocean and the lives of the nearly 3 billion people around the globe who depend on them.

His website and blog (Notes from Sea Level, www.jonbowermaster.com) continues his reporting on the world's coastlines, the people who live along them and issues of importance to anyone interested in and concerned about the planet's ocean. His companion book to the brand new DisneyNature film "Oceans" will be published alongside premiere of the film on Earth Day, April 2010.

Author of eleven books, his most recent are "Descending the Dragon" about his travels in Vietnam published by National Geographic Books, "Wildebeest in a Rainstorm," a collection of profiles of our most intriguing conservationists and explorers and "Crossing Antarctica," the latter two just-published by Menasha Ridge Press. When not traveling Bowermaster lives in Stone Ridge, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous biography on Peter Beard, February 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Adventures and Misadventures of Peter Beard in Africa (Hardcover)

"The Adventures and Misadventures of Peter Beard in Africa" is a spectacular look at the life of this well-known photagrapher and author. The writing is vivid and fascinating. The book is also illustrated throughout with Mr.Beard's excellent photographs. This book is a history lesson, ecology lesson, and art lesson all rolled up in one book, and is well worth reading. A real gem, about an amazing personality!

4 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Deeply fascinating or just Deeply disturbed?, October 4, 2005

By 

young female reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures and Misadventures of Peter Beard in Africa (Hardcover)

Peter Beard has not gotten wiser in his old age. He has given into his vices and chosen the superficial payoffs over any morals. He has found no escape from his aimlessness, no direction from his chaotic meanderings. Where has this man ever really gone? Why has he become so tragic? This book reveals the illusion of greatness, the anticipation of accomplishment. But sadly, decades later, we see how withered and little this man has become. One wonders, was he ever even exceptional? He seemed fearless and passionate. Now, he just seems fatally emphatic and senseless. He is like a machine grinding to a halt.