Living on the Edge : Amazing Relationships in the Natural World

From Publishers Weekly
Corwin, host of numerous television specials about wildlife, offers commentary on some of his favorite regions and animal inhabitants. He begins with his last bachelor's outing, spending several weeks in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, before his wedding. Corwin planned poorly and didn't think he would need equipment or supplies in this domestic wilderness. However, after one night of nearly freezing to death, he sought shelter in his car and then went to buy a tent. After this inauspicious start, Corwin spent nearly two weeks searching for snakes and reptiles, with only limited success. In his words, "There would be no Gila monsters flowing from their subterranean dens, and the eerie rasping shudder of a rattlesnake's rattle kept silent wherever I searched. Tortoises never ventured from their lairs into the light for me, and tricolor king snakes remained shadowed beyond my reach." Corwin's adventures in other parts of the world, like Tanzania, Costa Rica and Venezuela, are much livelier and more rewarding. Corwin enthusiastically describes the animals, the land and his concerns about protecting natural habitats in various countries. His passion for the wildlife he's studying is so strong that even readers not particularly fond of crocodiles, snakes and other scary creatures will find Corwin's writing captivating. He discusses the sloth-"At just under three feet in body length, and a total weight of around 10 pounds, the three-toed sloth is not very large, but if you're looking for the cutest mammal living in the Neotropics, this guy comes in a close second to the silky anteater." People familiar with Corwin's television specials will savor this book, and other armchair travelers will also find it an enjoyable voyage into exotic locales.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Mark J. Plotkin, Ph.D., president, Amazon Conservation Team
A fun and educational visit to some of the world's most intriguing ecosystems.


Review
A fun and educational visit to some of the world's most intriguing ecosystems.


Book Description
Now Available in Paperback!

No one engages the natural world the way Jeff Corwin does. One of America's favorite nature-show hosts, Corwin demonstrates awe and respect for nature in a way that is both wildly funny and educational. In this beautiful book, illustrated with his own photographs, he reminisces about his at-times-perilous and often hilarious journeys as he explores the fantastic relationships among the diverse flora and fauna in four exotic ecosystems: the Sonoran Desert of Arizona; the Savannah of southeastern Africa; the Costa Rican rainforest; and the Llanos grassland in Venezuela. From a lizard that ejects a blood-like squirt from its eyes when in danger to perhaps the most bizarre turtle on the planet-we meet some wonderfully unique creatures and learn about their interdependence and competition in their natural habitats.



Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

No one engages the natural world the way Jeff Corwin does. One of America's favorite nature-show hosts, Corwin demonstrates awe and respect for nature in a way that is both wildly funny and educational. In this beautiful book, illustrated with his own photographs, he reminisces about his at-times-perilous and often hilarious journeys as he explores the fantastic relationships among the diverse flora and fauna in four exotic ecosystems: the Sonoran Desert of Arizona; the Savannah of southeastern Africa; the Costa Rican rainforest; and the Llanos grassland in Venezuela. From a lizard that ejects a blood-like squirt from its eyes when in danger to perhaps the most bizarre turtle on the planet-we meet some wonderfully unique creatures and learn about their interdependence and competition in their natural habitats.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices