Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya: A Guide [Hardcover]

Victoria Schlesinger (Author), Juan C. Chab Medina (Illustrator), Carlos Galindo-Leal (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2002

A growing interest in all things Maya brings an increasing number of visitors to prehistoric Maya ruins and contemporary Maya communities in Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, western Honduras, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the southern areas of Chiapas and Tabasco, Mexico. For these visitors and indeed everyone with an interest in the Maya, this field guide highlights nearly 100 species of plants and animals that were significant to the ancient Maya and that continue to inhabit the Maya region today. Drawing from the disciplines of biology, ecology, and anthropology, Victoria Schlesinger describes each plant or animal's habitat and natural history, identifying characteristics (also shown in a black-and-white drawing), and cultural significance to the ancient and contemporary Maya. An introductory section explains how to use the book and offers a concise overview of the history, lifeways, and cosmology of the ancient Maya. The concluding section describes the collapse of ancient Maya society and briefly traces the history of the Maya region from colonial times to the present. Based in the San Francisco area, Victoria Schlesinger is a writer, conservationist, and outdoor educator who has lived and conducted research throughout the Maya region with the guidance of Stanford University's Tropical Research Program.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Part field guide, part book of vignettes discussing the animals and plants most commonly seen in the Maya area, this fine guide provides a fresh synthesis of anthropological and biological research that will serve as an engaging and practical resource for visitors, students, and burgeoning naturalists." Paul R. Ehrlich, President, Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University

Review

Part field guide, part book of vignettes discussing the animals and plants most commonly seen in the Maya area, this fine guide provides a fresh synthesis of anthropological and biological research that will serve as an engaging and practical resource for visitors, students, and burgeoning naturalists. (Paul R. Ehrlich, President, Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 373 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292777590
• ISBN-13: 978-0292777590
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,043,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mayan Natural World Revealed, February 12, 2002

By 

Simon N. Worrall (NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya: A Guide (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide for anyone interested in the Mayan world, both past and present. It is also a useful travel companion to take on a trip to Central America. The illustrations are excellent, and Ms Schlesinger writes ina clear, uncluttered style that is a real pleasure to read. A magical book about a people who saw the world through other eyes than our own.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional!, September 6, 2002

By 

Ron Mader "Planeta.com Founder" (Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya: A Guide (Paperback)

(Planeta.com Journal) - One of the best books of the past year, this work combines the details of a scientific field guide with anthropological research. The result is outstanding.

Author Victoria Schlesinger tells the story about the animals and plants most commonly seen in Mundo Maya -- Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. The book provides a synthesis of current research and will delight specialists and travelers alike. Chapters focus on Pine-Oak, Cloud and Tropical Forests, Savannas, Mangroves and Coral Reefs.

The book is well illustrated with line drawings by Juan C. Chab-Medina. This is a beautiful book which would make an excellent holiday gift. I'm trying to think of a book that has piqued my interest as much as Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya, and I'd have to put this a category with Lane Simonian's Defending the Land of the Jaguar. Excellent!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunningly imaginative guide to the past, June 18, 2002

By 

Cass Aldridge (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya: A Guide (Paperback)

This is one of those incredibly rare guidebooks that pushes past the confines of the genre and brings something totally fresh to the endeavor. I am not a Maya scholar, but Schlesinger's writing is so evocative that I couldn't help but be totally pulled in by her descriptions of the plants and animals that inhabited the Maya world.