Sahara: A Natural History (HC)
3 journalers for this copy...
From Publishers Weekly
After navigating the physical and political properties of the world's oceans, lakes, rivers and aquifers in his last book, Water, Canadian journalist de Villiers is back on (very) dry land in this new volume but his writing is every bit as fertile. Co-written with Hirtle (with whom he also wrote Into Africa), the book is part travel memoir, part history lesson and part archeological dig, bringing to life the stark landscape of the earth's largest desert. The first half describes how sand dunes take shape so suddenly and travel, wavelike, so quickly; why stands of petrified forests developed; and how relatively mild shifts in the earth's ecosystem and weather patterns transformed the once-verdant grasslands of a mere 10 centuries ago into today's austere environment. The book's second half discusses the ebb and flow of great cities and civilizations along both the northern (Berber and Arab) and southern (black African) edges of the desert, as well as the Moor, Tuareg and Tubu nomads who roamed between them. It also details trade patterns and tribal groupings that have existed over many centuries and takes the reader on a contemporary camel-powered salt-trade caravan. Though this book doesn't have the political urgency or current-events hook of Water, the authors' evocative blend of reportage and concise historical overview makes it a fine read for both armchair travelers and those interested in natural history.
After navigating the physical and political properties of the world's oceans, lakes, rivers and aquifers in his last book, Water, Canadian journalist de Villiers is back on (very) dry land in this new volume but his writing is every bit as fertile. Co-written with Hirtle (with whom he also wrote Into Africa), the book is part travel memoir, part history lesson and part archeological dig, bringing to life the stark landscape of the earth's largest desert. The first half describes how sand dunes take shape so suddenly and travel, wavelike, so quickly; why stands of petrified forests developed; and how relatively mild shifts in the earth's ecosystem and weather patterns transformed the once-verdant grasslands of a mere 10 centuries ago into today's austere environment. The book's second half discusses the ebb and flow of great cities and civilizations along both the northern (Berber and Arab) and southern (black African) edges of the desert, as well as the Moor, Tuareg and Tubu nomads who roamed between them. It also details trade patterns and tribal groupings that have existed over many centuries and takes the reader on a contemporary camel-powered salt-trade caravan. Though this book doesn't have the political urgency or current-events hook of Water, the authors' evocative blend of reportage and concise historical overview makes it a fine read for both armchair travelers and those interested in natural history.
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This was chosen by Sudokugirl and will be headed out to her soon.
Sorry for the LOOOONG delay on actually mailing this one, but it is going out today... 7/24/08
Sorry for the LOOOONG delay on actually mailing this one, but it is going out today... 7/24/08
Journal Entry 4 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Arrived safely today. Thank you, redhot-brat.
Received this book from sudokugirl.
Book touches on almost every topic relating to Sahara, but only lightly. This makes for a very nice prose and easy read, but anyone wishing for some additional information is obliged to seek it elsewhere. It is a great book for someone who has little or no knowledge of this region (such as myself, actually), since it will whet your appetite and make you hungry for more. I had to use Google heavily while reading this book and I will surely be on the lookout for some other books which explore these topics in more depth. Still, great introduction into this incredible region.
Book touches on almost every topic relating to Sahara, but only lightly. This makes for a very nice prose and easy read, but anyone wishing for some additional information is obliged to seek it elsewhere. It is a great book for someone who has little or no knowledge of this region (such as myself, actually), since it will whet your appetite and make you hungry for more. I had to use Google heavily while reading this book and I will surely be on the lookout for some other books which explore these topics in more depth. Still, great introduction into this incredible region.
