From the leftovers after last weekend's Friends of the Library book sale at the Central Branch of the Arlington County Library. To be released.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to categorize this book. It combines an extensive natural history of Australia's kangaroos (and other marsupials) with a memoir of the author's work in trying to piece together a picture of their evolution, and ends with a synopsis of the ecological changes that have occurred since the arrival of the European settlers and the devastating impact it has had on the biodiversity of this unique ecosystem. The end result is a bit of a hodgepodge, with interesting (and sometimes amusing) stories about the author's adventures as he explored his native country trying to find clues as to its evolutionary history mixed together with a summary of the resulting scientific understandings. While it does all somehow come together as a coherent work, it is likely to confuse readers that come to it with certain expectations. If you are looking for a travel memoir of Australia, you are likely to be somewhat disappointed with all the natural history details, while those looking to understand Australia's fauna are going to find the memoir bits distracting. Both parts are well done, and together they provide an interesting glimpse behind the curtains of the scientific community and we can see how the natural sciences go about doing their research and how we come to understand what we do about the history of our world and the life on it. The author is quite candid about the limitations of our knowledge and points out how little we really understand, pointing to areas where we simply don't have enough information to reach sound conclusions. An excellent book for anyone who finds Australia's unique fauna intersting or who wants an insight into how natural scientists do what they do.

On one of the book buffets at the Convention celebrating BookCrossing's 10th anniversary!

Taking this book out of Bookstogive's Wrap It Up Bookbox.

This looks like an interesting read! I plan to read it and pass it on.

First line: "When I was young I met a man whose arse bore the bite-mark of a Tasmanian tiger."

I gave this book a shot, but couldn't get into it. I'm going to save this for a bookbox.

Putting into my bookbox: Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox, for Round #3.

This book wasn't chosen in Round #3 of the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox so it's available.

Putting into Debbie4OSU's Non-Fiction VBB.

Received from debbie4osu's nonfiction VBB. Thanks for sending it, JennyC1230!

I pretty much agree with ResQgeek's very comprehensive review. Overall I really enjoyed the book but will admit, it was my third attempt at reading it. (Hence its 12-year residence at my place....AARGH!). It just clicked this time.

I'm woefully uneducated about Australia. I had no idea there were so many species of kangaroos, both past and present. The detailed work paleontologists do amazes me. My most important takeaway from this book is just how fragile ecosystems can be, and how easily animals can go extinct. The work being done to re-introduce animals to their original environment and habitat is laudable.

I would like to know what has happened since the book was published. Some projects were just getting started at the time of publication.

Hope it finds a new reader!

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Released for You're such an Animal challenge.
Released for September Sapphire challenge.