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The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth Paperback – April 1, 1986

by David Attenborough (Author)

8 customer reviews

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Paperback, April 1, 1986

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Attenborough looks here at continuing evolution and the adaptation of plants and animals to specific and differing environments. For example, he finds that the coral reef is the marine equivalent of the tropical rain forest, that modern cities, with their masonry and concrete, are the counterparts of the ash fields and lava flows of volcanoes. PW lauded this book, maintaining that it deserves as much attention as its predecessor, Life on Earth.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Little Brown & Co (April 1, 1986)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316057495
ISBN-13: 978-0316057493
Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.8 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 8 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,972,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #534751 in Books > Science & Math

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Very Intersting!

February 12, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

For a book written in the 80s it is still one of the most valid scientific books about our wonderful planet. I will continue to read this book and will keep it for future reference!

One person found this helpful

Comment

July 26, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

the book came in on time and is in decent condition. It is an older version of what I was looking for. It did not have a cover which was stated. Some chapters were not updated because it was an older version. For the price, it was not a bad deal.

Comment

March 27, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Fast shipping! Exactly as stated.

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J C E Hitchcock

Authoritative but accessible

October 10, 2013

Format: Hardcover

"The Living Planet" was the second in David Attenborough's "Life" trilogy of documentary series. The first, "Life on Earth", told the story of the evolution of the various major taxa- insects, fish, reptiles, etc. "The Living Planet" looks at the Earth's major habitats and the animals and plants that inhabit them. The third series, "The Trials of Life", was to look at animal behaviour.

"The Living Planet" (the book) consists of twelve essays, mostly dealing with a particular type of environment- rainforests, deserts, grasslands, etc. The final chapter, "New Worlds", deals with how human activities have affected the natural environment and how certain species have begun to adapt to man-made habitats. As each essay is only around 20-30 pages long, and much of that is taken up by photographs, the book can only begin the scratch the surface of the topics covered, but there is plenty of solid information contained within its covers. Attenborough has the ability to explain scientific topics concisely and without resorting to technical jargon, and not only in the field of zoology. Anyone, for example, baffled by the apparent paradox of why, if hot air rises, it is always cold on top of high mountains should read the very lucid explanation given here.

My one complaint would be to do with the photographs- there are not enough of them! To have increased their number significantly, however, would have meant making the book much bulkier, and probably more expensive as well. There are, moreover, some memorable ones- that two-toed sloth hanging upside down, those bison in a snowy Yellowstone, that stunning shot of the "Twelve Apostles" rock formations on Australia's Great Ocean Road (an area I was lucky enough to visit on a recent holiday in that country).

Like most "coffee table books" of this type, this one is no substitute for watching the original television programmes, with their dazzling wildlife photography, but it does at least capture something of the spirit of the series. The last TV spinoff book I reviewed, "Planet Word", suffered in that it was not actually authored by the presenter, Stephen Fry, whose rather eccentric enthusiasm for his subject was the main reason for watching that particular series. In the case of "The Living Planet", however, it helps that the book was indeed written by Attenborough himself, who also wrote as well as presented the series, and his authoritative but accessible tone is unmistakeable. It is hard to believe that the TV series was made nearly thirty years ago, and it still stands as a major television landmark. The book does not have quite the same status, but still makes enjoyable reading for anyone with an interest in natural history.

5 people found this helpful

Comment

John Fitzpatrick

Better on the screen than on the page

July 30, 2014

Format: Hardcover

This probably made a cracking television series, going by the pictures and detailed descriptions of what I imagine is being presented.

However, it does not make a particularly good read for leisure and, at times, almost verges on being a text book.

I also have the feeling that much of it has just been taken from reference books.

One way of making it more palatable is to read it in short takes rather than large gulps, as if you were watching the television series.

Comment

Give this book to your kid...

July 9, 2007

Format: Hardcover

David Attenborough is a global treasure. This exceedingly well-written and edited book (not one typo) is a perfect way to introduce young people to a more mature analysis of the natural world. The prose is precise and clear, the topics wide-ranging and detailed, and all the while, you hear Attenborough's voice narrating in your head. There are also pictures! Plenty of pictures! Pictures of crystalline angler-fish, and enormous whale sharks, and penguins, guanays, deserts, forests, insects, the Sears Tower, etc. They serve as a visual feast to accompany the text.

A book like this cannot help but to instill knowledge and appreciation into the reader for the vast habitation we call Planet Earth.

3 people found this helpful

Comment

Delania Collins

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS! INTERESTING READ!

August 6, 2000

Format: Hardcover

This book reads just like a conversation and the photography is out of this world! I wish they would make some of the photos into poster form, they are so lovely. Of course, there are also the wierd looking animals and the ugly ones. All are so interesting. While you would think that it would be like reading a text-book, it is NOT! It's highly entertaining and immensely informative. I use mine as a coffee table book and I get so many comments on it!

11 people found this helpful

Comment

Awesome photography

August 10, 2013

Format: Hardcover

I have spent hours reading and rereading the awesome splendor of our planet explained in everyday language and stunning pictures. Highly recommend this book to anyone seeking everyday answers to how our planet and it's inhabitants thrive.

One person found this helpful

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