The Nature of the Islands: Plants & Animals of the Eastern Caribbean (Chris Doyle Guide) [Folded Map] [Paperback]

Virginia Barlow (Author), Chris Doyle (Author), Katie Shears (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993 | Series: Chris Doyle Guide

Lavishly illustrated in color, with typical nature scenes of the Caribbean and color photographs, this book provides the reader with an identification guide to the flora, fauna and sea life of the islands. Its vivid descriptions of local flowers, trees, desert landscapes, rain forests, undersea gardens and common island fauna reflect Barlow's love of nature.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Virginia Barlow is a consulting forester in Vermont and her love of nature shines through the pages of this intriguing book. She has explored many small Caribbean islands and the result is a lively entertaining look at tropical nature. Barlow travels throughout the Caribbean with guide author Chris Doyle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: Cruising Guide Publications (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944428134
• ISBN-13: 978-0944428139
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #560,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the type of book I was looking for for an easy summary, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Nature of the Islands: Plants & Animals of the Eastern Caribbean (Chris Doyle Guide) (Paperback)

I wasn't looking to study a huge encyclopedia type book, but I did want to know more about the plants I encounter on St. Thomas. This book was the perfect introduction providing not only visual references, but also practical information on where certain species are likely to be found, i.e. road sides, beaches, etc. Now that I have read through it, I find the need for a more thorough book, however this was the perfect start - just what I was hoping for.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just a Field Guide, Surprisingly Interesting Reading, January 19, 2005

By 

Kathryn L. Evans (Caroga Lake, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nature of the Islands: Plants & Animals of the Eastern Caribbean (Chris Doyle Guide) (Paperback)

This short (150 page)book gives the reader an excellent introduction to the animal, plant and bird life of eight different types of habitats found on the islands of the Eastern Caribbean. The photos and illustrations are very good, but the text is what surprised me the most. Rather than simply providing a dry list of data points usually found in field guide species accounts, just about every species description is remarkably fascinating reading. The book's extensive bibliography shows that the naturalist author drew from a wide range of primary scientific sources to weave together uniquely interesting information regarding the inter-relationships of organisms in these neo-tropical environments. Most readers will welcome these brief but intriguing natural history accounts, and will be pleased that the author selected to describe only the most abundantly observed species. Personally, my only regret was that the book wasn't considerably longer. I have tried hard to find other, more in-depth, guides to the natural history of this region, but there simply don't seem to be any. To learn more about the region, one would have to research primary scientific sources, as this author has (thankfully) done for us, and beautifully synthesized her findings.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nature's Passport to the East Caribbean, May 2, 2005

By 

Noah Count (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nature of the Islands: Plants & Animals of the Eastern Caribbean (Chris Doyle Guide) (Paperback)

I've been meaning to review this book for some time now. I've been travelling to the Eastern Caribbean for over twenty years; for the past few, it's been yearly. This book is one of the essentials for my journeys, like sun lotion and a passport. I swore at myself last year when I forgot it.

I travel for the sun and heat, of course, but rather than see the sites and take part in all the activities, I am happy just to be in the place, to see the islands, the people and their environment. Virginia Barlow's sweet book helps me ground myself every time I return. It's small and easy to carry and is one of the first books I turn to when I arrive.