Journal Entry 1 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Saturday, June 12, 2010

In No Way Home, David Wilcove lucidly describes the journeys of some familiar migratory superstars: monarch butterflies making their generational round trip between the northern United States and the mountains of Mexico, right whales dodging boats and fishing nets as they navigate the shipping lanes off our Northeast coast, already over-fished salmon blocked by dams, and wildebeests whose wild African territory has become no more than an oversized zoo.

Wilcove, a professor of evolutionary biology and ecology at Princeton, has the science cred, but his book is clearly written for the non-scientist, and the sentences are brisk and no-nonsense. He's not after lyricism; he does well simply to present the facts and stay out of the way.

With one eye on the perils migrating creatures face and his other eye on the wonders of their journeys, the author both informs and entertains us. He sits front seat on a white-knuckle, high speed car chase after tagged dragonflies, wanders African plains in search of a million of wildebeests, and more. This book is as important as it is readable--a call to save not only breeding habitat for animals as diverse as butterflies and wildebeasts, but also to protect their winter homes and stopover sites between.

No Way Home is a fine read for outdoor enthusiasts, armchair tourists, and professional scientists alike. It is suitable for virtually all ages and political philosophies. The only drawback to the book is its lack of glossy photographs. For that, you'll need to renew the National Geographic subscription.

 

Journal Entry 2 by azuki at Miami, Florida USA on Thursday, July 01, 2010

It's quite a fascinating look at the migration habits of animals. At times it's also depressing because it appears that unless we humans no longer roams the world, there seems little hope for the animals. Sad also that while species after species extinct, nothing much is done to save them, or the next endangered species. Whatever effort seems so small, and in general there's not much care or concern to be kinder to other animals who share the earth.

This is a nice introduction to problems faced by several endangered species, such as whale, sea turtle and bison. However, sometimes I wish there is more depth in each chapter.

I am sending this to Potok-fan who won it in the Travel Swap. As the author suggested, these animals are maybe the bravest of travellers. They go hundreds of miles, without knowing for sure whether the next rest stop will offer food or shelter, heading to somewhere they may have never been to, or have left since they were babies. Considering our GPS's, our guidebooks, our checked baggages and carry-ons, we human travelers are such wuss.  

Journal Entry 3 by potok-fan at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Thursday, October 21, 2010

This was the first time I've seen one of the velcro-closing Tyvek mailer bags! Is it wrong of me to be even more excited about that than I am about the book? ;) 

Journal Entry 4 by potok-fan at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Saturday, January 22, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (1/22/2011 UTC) at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sorry to report that I'm finding the thought of reading this book just too depressing. I hate to bury my head in the sand, but I just cannot get into this - I'm at a season in my life where I need uplifting reading, and this doesn't sound like that.

Instead I'm going to take it along to a BC party today and find it a new reader.