Deep Jungle [Hardcover]

Fred Pearce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2005

Deep Jungle is an exploration of the most alien and feared habitat on earth. Beginning with man’s earliest recorded adventures, Fred Pearce takes us high into the canopy—home to two-thirds of all the creatures on our planet. Pearce also uncovers secrets about how evolution works, the intricate links that connect us all, and possible new clues to human origins. The jungle holds the key to our future foods and medicines, our climate, and our understanding of how life works; yet, environmentalists say we are on the verge of destroying the last rainforests, and with them, the planet’s evolutionary crucible—maybe even its ability to sustain life. But nature has a way of reclaiming itself, at the ultimate cost to man, and it may do so again. Fred Pearce, former news editor at New Scientist, is currently the magazine’s environment and development consultant. An award-winning journalist, he also writes regularly for the Independent and The Times Higher Education Supplement and, in the US, for The Boston Globe and Foreign Policy.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The jungle is one of the most complex places on our planet and a habitat for which humans have always had a love-hate relationship. The very word jungle comes from the Hindi word for "waste ground," yet these jungles, the world's rain forests, are among the most productive habitats on earth. Written as a companion volume to a PBS series, this look at what the author describes as the romance and the reality of rain forests explores their wonders. Rain forests are among the final frontiers of biological science, and new discoveries occur daily. But, before Western scientists began their exploration of the jungle, Western explorers had to overcome their fear of the deep, dark forests and, following tales of gold and hidden civilizations, begin to penetrate to the interior. Full of interesting biological tidbits and stories of scientists, explorers, capitalists, and indigenous peoples--and beautifully illustrated with photos--Deep Jungle is an excellent primer on rain forests and a worthy purchase for all libraries. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Publisher

Deep Jungle is an exploration of the most alien and feared habitat on earth. Beginning with man's earliest recorded adventures, Fred Pearce takes us high into the canopy—home to two-thirds of all the creatures on our planet. Pearce also uncovers secrets about how evolution works, the intricate links that connect us all, and possible new clues to human origins. The jungle holds the key to our future foods and medicines, our climate, and our understanding of how life works; yet, environmentalists say we are on the verge of destroying the last rainforests, and with them, the planet's evolutionary crucible—maybe even its ability to sustain life. But nature has a way of reclaiming itself, at the ultimate cost to man, and it may do so again...

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 289 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190391955X
• ISBN-13: 978-1903919552
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,342,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Ecosystems > Tropical

More About the Author

Fred Pearce is a former news editor at New Scientist. Currently that magazine's environment and development consultant, he has also written for Audubon, Popular Science, Time, the Boston Globe, and Natural History. His books include With Speed and Violence, When the Rivers Run Dry, Keepers of the Spring, Turning Up the Heat, and Deep Jungle. He lives in England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth purchasing, December 20, 2008

By 

Scott J. Tilden (Washington, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deep Jungle (Hardcover)

The author relates fascinating stories about the life of the jungle. The book is grounded in recent research by biological, sociological, and anthropological scientists. Numerous myths are exposed. I personally found the chapter on ancient cities in the jungle of greatest interest.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than for just a coffee table!, January 16, 2007

By 

Meghan L. Wyant "canadeeio" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deep Jungle (Hardcover)

I watched the PBS program on television and bought this book for my environmental scientist fiance. We both love this book and find it very interesting to flip through. The pictures are marvelous and the content is an easy, yet very informative read.