A Neotropical Companion (Hardcover)

by John C. Kricher (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
A second revised edition of John Kricher's well-received 1989 text, A Neotropical Companion distills whole libraries of information on the Americas' tropics. Kricher explores the workings of a rainforest with admirable clarity, discussing matters such as regeneration pathways and ecological succession. He also takes a sidelong glance at current issues in evolutionary theory, using his deep knowledge of the tropics to add to the literature on speciation and various hypotheses surrounding it. Ethnobotanists in particular will want to have a look at Kricher's catalog of tropical medicinal plants, in which lie the promise of cures and reliefs for a host of modern illnesses.

Review
"An intense and lively field guide ... compact and richly substantive." -- Scientific American,

"The book is exactly what it says it is, a companion to take with you on your travels in the New World tropics.... The author has written ... with just the right amount of informality and humor." -- Journal of Natural History

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 451 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; 2 Rev Sub edition (September 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691044333
• ISBN-13: 978-0691044330
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #893,200 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful companion for rainforest trekking, December 21, 1998

By A Customer

We have just returned (Dec. 1998) from an eight day trip on the Rio Negro and Amazon Rivers. Kricher's book is the perfect companion. Can be read in advance to prepare yourself for the astounding diversity of species and environments or consulted for immediate information through an excellent index. The well written and thorough text is a joy to read. Be warned the variety of animal, plant and insect species is unbelievable and Kricher's book is not a field guide. He does cover many of the common species, but if you are a bird, plant, reptile or insect nut, then bring appropriate field guides.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are travelling to the American tropics buy this book, November 15, 2005

By	Christopher J. Sharpe "Chris Sharpe" (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Neotropical Companion (Paperback)

This is just about the best introduction to the natural history of the New World tropics available and is a real bargain at this price. Another good alternative is "Tropical Nature" by Forsyth and Miyata.

I have been using this book since the first edition came out and now have both. It's also one of the books I try to pick up used to give to budding tropical naturalists. And to judge by the number of first-time visitors who carry this book, it is still proving extremely popular. I like the way the author has tried to give a broad overview of the important themes without compromising accuracy. Besides explanations of ecological processes and descriptions of wildlife, there is a strong emphasis on conservation with the final chapter devoted to "Deforestation and Conservation of Diversity". As a companion to the tropical naturalist this will be hard to beat.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introductory Text, May 19, 2004

By	J. Hanna "brassslinky" (Stratford, NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Neotropical Companion (Paperback)

I found Kricher's text to be an enlightening, easy read for those interested in learning a subject they're not too familiar with. His explanations are satisfactory and he provides a broad, encyclopedic insight into the Neotropics as well as references for further reading. I also found his quips to be a nice break from the dry and tiresome technicalities that the topic often entails. Overall I think his book provides exactly what it he intended: an introductory text into Neotropical ecology.