Disappearing World: 101 of the Earth's Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places [Hardcover]

Alonzo C. Addison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2008

Discover the earth's most amazing places before they disappear completely.

Disappearing World will take readers on a remarkable journey to the world's most extraordinary and endangered locations. Since 1972, sites of natural, historic, and cultural significance have been designated as World Heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Although World Heritage designation offers some protection, these sites are still at risk today from both natural and man-made causes, such as earthquakes in Peru, civil strife in the Congo, and unsustainable tourism in Cambodia. Disappearing World uncovers the dramatic stories behind 101 of the most remarkable and endangered sites from every corner of the world, including:

The Great Wall of China | Serengeti | London | Kathmandu Valley | Machu Picchu | Iguaçu National Park | Petra | Angkor | Ngorongoro | Everglades | Bam | Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra | Prague | Minaret of Jam | Historic Istanbul | Galápagos Islands | Kilimanjaro | Venice | Great Barrier Reef . . . and many more.

A portion of all proceeds will go to support the conservation of World Heritage sites.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alonzo C. Addison currently serves as Special Advisor to the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. He is also President of the Virtual Heritage Network and Vice President of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage. He is on the boards of the European Heritage Network, the ICOMOS Heritage Documentation Committee, and numerous other organizations.

Addison has led field projects at heritage sites from Angkor (Cambodia) to Bagan (Myanmar), Peru to Egypt, and Belize to Bhutan. He holds degrees in engineering, architecture, and computing from Princeton and the University of California at Berkeley and founded Berkeley's Center for Design Visualization. He divides his time between San Francisco and Paris with his wife and two children.

UNESCO's World Heritage mission seeks to identify, protect, and preserve cultural and natural heritage around the world that is considered to be of outstanding universal value.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harper (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061434442
• ISBN-13: 978-0061434440
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 10 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #919,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alonzo C. Addison serves as Special Advisor to the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and as a consultant to numerous organizations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Friends of Humanity, and others. He is President of the Virtual Systems and Multimedia Society (VSMM), Vice President of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage (ICIP) and serves on the boards of the ACM Journal of Computing in Cultural Heritage (JOCCH), European Heritage Network (EPOCH), the ICOMOS Heritage Documentation Committee, and numerous other organizations.

He has led field projects at heritage sites from Angkor (Cambodia) to Bagan (Myanmar), Peru to Egypt, and Belize to Bhutan. He holds degrees in engineering, architecture, and computing from Princeton and the University of California at Berkeley and founded Berkeley's Center for Design Visualization. He divides his time between San Francisco and Paris.

UNESCO's World Heritage mission seeks to identify, protect, and preserve cultural and natural heritage around the world that is considered to be of outstanding universal value.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee table book - with substance, April 13, 2008

By 

Charlotte Web (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disappearing World: 101 of the Earth's Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places (Hardcover)

I found this to be a really interesting book about an important, and I think, little known subject. I had heard a bit about world heritage sites but I wasn't really sure what they were. The book is very well-organized and easy to read. For each of the 100 sites presented, there is a small map to show us where it is located, as well as several photographs that both give a sense of the value of the location, as well as the threats it is facing. Because of all of the photos, it is a wonderful coffee table book that is not only interesting to look at but also has some substance. I received it as a gift and am planning to buy copies for friends. People who care about preserving places of cultural/historic importance or who simply love natural beauty are bound to appreciate the chance to learn more.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The World We Have Inherited, April 8, 2008

By 

Emily Dickinson (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disappearing World: 101 of the Earth's Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places (Hardcover)

This collection of pictures of 101 World Heritage sites opened my eyes to many sites, both known to me and new to me. It's inspiring and awe-producing, a splendid graduation gift for someone about to enter the world we want to save.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Generally a good book, some strange inclusions, January 21, 2010

By 

S. Ibrahim (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Disappearing World: 101 of the Earth's Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places (Hardcover)

The book and concept are generally strong. Photos are great, and copy well written. What is strange is some of the inclusions. While one would expect them to include sights that are in trouble from erosion, pollution, flooding, population, etc., there are also a few sights mentioned that are basically already 'lost'. Examples include a museum that has already burned down, and works not preserved. These occasional inclusions are depressing, since they are not in danger of being lost, but already lost. With the other sights in the book, at least you can be hopeful they'll be preserved!