Friday, September 07, 2018

Book Review - Galápagos, Life in Motion - Princeton University Press

The natural history of this archipelago is very remarkable: it seems to be a little world within itself; the greater number of its inhabitants, both vegetable and animal, being found nowhere else.

Journal of Researches, 1839, 454-55

     No name is more associated with The Galápagos than Charles Darwin, and with these immortal words he encapsulated the mystique of these isolated islands, cast adrift it seems by the vagaries of fate. Mere dots in ocean currents, they have become emblematic of modern science for naturalists the world over.
     How ironic that Darwin's brief visit to the archipelago laid the foundation for a revolution in our understanding of the very origins of life on earth.
     It is with a good deal of pleasure that I review this opus from Princeton University Press, and an opus it is.



     The photography is nothing short of astounding. Walter Perez has spent most of his adult life studying and recording the wildlife of the Galápagos, and his intimacy with his subjects leaps out from every page. These are not casual snapshots, they are a record of the drama played out every day on these sun-drenched, drought-prone isles where daily existence is a struggle. As Darwin might have said, it really is the survival of the fittest.




     This book is ostensibly a coffee table book, but it is in fact far more than that. The text is crisp and sharp and relevant. Coffee table books provoke a quick look at attractive images and not much more. Accompanying text is brief, if at all, and sometimes facile. In total contrast the narrative in Galápagos, Life in Motion, really complements the images and permits the reader to understand the drama revealed in the photographs.
     The average visitor to The Galápagos points his camera at anything that moves (and much that doesn't) hoping perhaps for a few decent pictures of the birds, reptiles and mammals for which the islands are renowned. Perez's pictures take us much deeper into the life of the creatures of this fabled place. 
      We get front row seat to courtship behaviours and adults feeding young.





     In many instances we are able to see the prey species, and in that eternal drama of life on earth we see how species that prey on one organism become prey themselves for another.
     We make the acquaintance of the behemoths of the islands.....


     ......and the finches that first triggered ideas about speciation and evolution in Darwin's mind.



     The book is nicely divided into sections: The Galápagos Environments, Finding Food, Icons of the Galápagos, Courtship, Mating and Birth, and Galápagos Animals Interacting. There is cohesion between the sections, one flowing seamlessly into the next.
      Most of us will never visit The Galápagos; indeed restrictions on the numbers of tourists permitted to visit are now in place, and some of the islands are off limits, but this book will permit you to enjoy, understand and appreciate this enchanted place from the comfort of your home. Rush out and buy a copy, pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back and enjoy!

Galápagos: Life in Motion
Walter Perez and Michael Weisberg
Hardcover - $35.00 - 9780691174136 - 208 pages - 12" x 9"
Publication date: 22 August 2018
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

31 comments:

  1. Hi David - thanks for letting us know about this amazing book - gosh it looks 'delicious' ... I shall remember it. Excellent review for an obviously incredible book ... yes I can see your suggestion buy it, sit back with a glass of wine and read ... enjoy looking at it. Cheers Hilary

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  2. No me cabe la menor duda que tiene que ser una obra fascinante amigo David. Voy a indagar por si hubiese sido publicada en español, creo que bien merece la pena su lectura.
    Gracias por tu buena y relevante información, estos libros bien merecen la pena ser leídos y ocupar un privilegiado sitio en la biblioteca.
    Un fuerte abrazo amigo

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  3. It sounds, and looks, like a feast for the eyes and mind.

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  4. Wow. That book looks amazing. The Galapagos is on my bucket list. Maybe one of these days I will get there. happy weekend.

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  5. You got a fantastic book, David. To spend most of your adult life studying and recording the wildlife of the Galápagos says a lot of this remarkable man. Yes, the photographs in his book are not casual snapshots of birds.
    I checked this book on Amazon and put it on my wish list. Incredible book! Thank you for writing about this book!


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  6. It looks like a beautiful book, David. Charles Darwin made a great revolution with his book in 1859. He is one of my favorite persons who have lived. He have changed our way of thinking.

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  7. What a wonderful book that David is.
    So varied all those animals, what is nature beautiful.
    Nice weekend, greetings Tinie

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  8. Vad vore världen utan böcker! Jag är en bokälskare och jag har förstått att du också uppskattar denna outsinliga källa till upplevelser och kunskap. Gissar att du får samma problem som jag, bokhyllorna blir överfulla eftersom böcker är en prydnad och skall inte ställas undan i något skåp.

    Bilderna ser ut att vara något utöver det vanliga i en unik natur.

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    Replies
    1. I have so many books, Gunilla, and I use them every day. I would not want to live without books.

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  9. Thanks for sharing this beautiful and interesting book.
    We have so much to see and learn from nature.
    Have a nice weekend
    Maria
    Divagar Sobre Tudo um Pouco

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  10. Excellent book and photos in it.

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  11. Het ziet er uit als een prachtig boek en met diverse unieke invalshoeken. Het is een goede voor op mijn cadeaulijst want ik zal inderdaad nooit zelf op de Galápagos eilanden komen. In de voetsporen van Darwin, erg gaaf!

    Groetjes,
    Marianne

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  12. A beautiful book with lots of information and photos to learn and see.

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  13. This looks like a very nice high quality book. My wife is from Ecuador and she's never been to Galapagos and has no interest in ever going. I'd like to go but it's not likely to happen.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  14. Hello David,
    Omission rectified ;-)
    That book looks wonderful, how I wish I could spend a few weeks there!!
    Maybe one day....
    Thanks for sharing it here
    Warm hugs to you and Miriam

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    Replies
    1. If ever you do go there I can only 1magine the images!

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  15. Evolution, Galapagos and Darwin are such intertwined and vast subjects that, as you suggest David, it is impossible to produce an overarching book for all three or indeed the many related but essential topics. Darwin and his contemporaries were the real revolutionaries of almost our modern times. But it seems strange and perverse that some present day ideologies, religions and political ideas would take us back to pre-Darwin times.

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    Replies
    1. This is especially true south of the border. There is such a push in many jurisdictions down there to ban Darwinian teaching altogether it is scary. What's next? The Flat Earth Society?

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  16. Very beautiful photo book, a place that I have planned to visit although with the issue of how bad the economy is here and the devaluation will complicate me unless it rallies in the future, added to that there will be visitors restrictions I think we are going to have to see in photo and movies. I was surprised by several photos, especially that crab eating birds and lizards.
    I saw that you commented shortly after uploading my review about the Rioplatense bird book, I just uploaded one immediately after, it's a book in which I posted several photos
    A big hug
    Hernan

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  17. Hello David!
    A very beautiful book and lovely information and beautiful photos!
    Thank you for sharing! Wishing you a lovely day and a happy September!
    Dimi...

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  18. Hi David,
    What a beautiful book with what appears to be top class illustrations.
    What an amazing place to visit, how many images would you take in two weeks???
    All the best to you both,
    John

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    Replies
    1. I would take snapshots, John, and you would take photographs, John. Your camera would be smoking!

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  19. Hello David,
    A fabulous beautiful book!
    Wow, I hope that Marianne gets it!
    Then I can see it at her home;-))
    Best regards, Maria

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  20. I'm sure that it is à very interessant book !

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  21. Muy interesante David, se ve maravilloso. Feliz semana. Abrazos.

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  22. The book looks lovely --but I'm really waiting for one by you and Franc.

    Oh, and on the previous Gaspe post, I meant to say Miriam looked divinely happy on that swing. I don't blame here -- I would be, too!

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  23. The pictures in the book are well
    clear and colorful.
    Liked it.
    Good week's continuation.

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  24. What a fantastic book …

    All the best Jan

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