Product Description
This authoritative volume starts with a clear introduction to the animal world, examining the reasons for the apparently infinite variety of animal forms and the major evolutionary developments. Animal anatomy, life-cycles and the principles of classification are also explored. This is followed by a superbly illustrated survey of world habitats, showing how animals have adapted to each environment and the threats that face both wildlife and plants today. The main pa… More >>
8:02 pm on September 18th, 2009 1
Lots of reading and small pics throughout. Interesting but wish was more like Rainforest.
Rating: 2 / 5
8:04 pm on September 18th, 2009 2
I ordered this book after reading the other comments about it. After I received the book I was not satisfied with the purchase. It has a lot of beautiful pictures, but it does not give enough information about each animal. Therefore I have returned the book. If you are wanting to know what different animals look like, then this is the book for you.
Rating: 3 / 5
10:54 pm on September 18th, 2009 3
I heartily endorse all the glowing praise of other reviewers for the layout and the fine grain of the spectacular photographs. Design excellence.
I know personally one of the editorial panel and, yes, he is among the world’s leading authority in his field. From that I assume the others are, too.
BUT, for all the science and thought that has gone into the book it has two critical flaws.
(1) it suffers from “vertebrate chauvinism”. Most of the world’s animals are not vertebrates, but most of this book is devoted to vertebrates. Biodiversity depends on far, far more than the vertebrates.
(2) it omits one of the planet’s most populous species, a species which, by its spread, has changed the lives of most other species and is causing many of them to become extinct. I refer to the human species. Can you believe it is not listed!
How can a book which appears to be otherwise so scientifically sound, in the twenty-first century, get these two things so wrong?
Despite these fundamental flaws, the book is a gem. My copy is prominent in our house and everyone dips into it almost daily. A feast!
Rating: 4 / 5
11:31 pm on September 18th, 2009 4
Awesome, easy to use, complete book on every animal on the planet. Beautiful photographs!
Rating: 4 / 5
1:00 am on September 19th, 2009 5
This book is GREAT!It has lots of beautiful pictures.Many animals that are in here I’ve neve even heard of!The animals are not in detail though and don’t expect to see any regular animals,like just a plain stingray.Very good information about habitats and endangered species.If you love animals, BUY THIS BOOK!!!
Rating: 4 / 5