Customer Reviews

Galapagos: A Natural History

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a biologist that has been working in the Galapagos as a Naturalist leading tours there for the last 6 years. Michael Jackson's book is the "Bible" for the beginning naturalist and certainly more than adequate for the casual "ecotourist". Jackson covers all major aspects of the history, geology, ecology, and biology of the islands. In the "biology" section, he gives a clear, concise, but thorough group-by-group treatment of all major taxa including plants, reptiles, land and sea birds, mammals, and a brief section covering marine life. While there are other guidebooks available, none come close to the accuracy, clarity of presentation, and logical format of this book. Of particular usefulness are the many photos, tables, and graphs which provide a visual representation of many of the topics discussed and a synthesis of large amounts of data.

I just recently returned from the Galapagos Islands, and the book that guided me throughout my journey was this book by M.H. Jackson. Very easy to find the animal you are looking, and also helps to discover more creatures to look for. Helped explain things further from what the guides had said. Also helped me in answering many people's questions about different creatures. A Great book! A must for all travelers to the galapagos in search of unique wildlife.

My wife and I bought Jackson's book in preparation for a trip to the Galapagos. The book served us well; when we arrived at the islands we felt that we were almost on a first-name basis with all the fantastic creatures and plants that make the Galapagos such a fascinating place. The book is considerably more than just a field guide; it includes information on the islands' history, their environmental and ecological setting, and the conservation efforts being made to preserve this truly unique place. And, as the title indicates, the book provides a lot of natural history, not just a brief summary of bare facts about each animal or plant. Not only is it a fine guide, it is a most enjoyable read.

Every naturalist guide in the Galapagos has this book. They also sell this book at the Charles Darwin Center in Santa Cruz, and it is a must read. It explains how the islands came about and what makes them so unique. I highly recommend this book!

I would imagine that most visitors to the Galapaos are not naturalists. For those without a strong background in natural sciences, I would highly recommend this book. The book is easy and fun to read, detailed without being tedious. The photos are amazing and the author's passion for the islands is evident. If you only have time to read one book, this is one I would advise a Galapagos visitor to read in advance of their trip.

This is the perfect book to purchase before visiting the Galapagos Islands! In fact our travel company had recommended the book. Both colored and black and white pictures are interspered between sections of text, making the book easy to read.

All trips to the Galapagos are with trained guides, and if you are lucky you'll go with one of the really experienced ones. No matter who you are with, this is a great book to look through before going and to take with you. The text reinforces the amazing stories you'll hear about the landscapes, plants and animals you'll see and the photos and other illustrations are good. The checklist in the back of the book is fun to use as well.

The other books I enjoyed were Terrestrial Life of Galapagos and Marine Life of Galapagos (available in Ecuador/at the National Park store in Puerto Ayora) and The Beak of the Finch. The wildlife of the Galapagos book wasn't used.

This is the best single vade mecum for a trip to the Galapagos. It provides a geographic, historical, scientific overview, along with chapter-by-chapter descriptions of plant and animal life. It includes some excellent illustrations, though it is not a substitute for a field guide. On the other hand, a field guide does not provide the clear, concise ethological descriptions found in this book. The book also includes some helpful charts on species origins, adaptive radiations, and species distributions, among other things, and has some lovely photos (though for Galapagos photography, the work of Tui de Roy is the gold standard and a must).
Jackson was my first book on the Galapagos (aside from the chapter in Voyage of the Beagle) and it led me into a sense of wonder, gratitude, and responsibility for a unique place that our species must work hard to deserve and preserve, given how we have treated it in the past.

This was recommended by National Geographic as a "must read" before my trip to the Galapagos. It prepared me to take advantage of NatGeo Naturalists' extensive knowledge of the islands.

An easy read for anyone that really enhances your Galapagos experience. It was great to have a base of knowledge when listening to the naturalist guides and read more details after the day's excursions. Loved it.