The Amazon: Past, Present, and Future
by Alain Gheerbrant
List Price:
Our Price: $5.50
You Save: $7.45 (58%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Alain GheerbrantEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1992-03-30
ISBN: 0810928604
Number of pages: 191
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Book Reviews of The Amazon: Past, Present, and Future
Book Review: A sweeping historical vista
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is an excellent introduction to the Amazon's tortured past and offers some insight into the region's prospects. What really sets it apart are the illustrations, many from early manuscripts. Reproduced woodcuts and watercolors give the reader a genuine feel for how the conquistadors and early explorers perceived the Amazon's people and wildlife. The book progresses logically, from initial forays looking for El Dorado and cinnamon forests to the explorer-scientists, in a sweeping historical vista. Gheerbrant's account of the rubber boom is especially poignant, and the reader becomes utterly outraged at the shamelessly inhumane treatment of local tribes by greedy industrialists. The book's reproduced photographs from this era drive home the untrammeled brutality of the rubber barons in their urge to acquire riches at any cost to the indigenous people. The author's observations of the Amazon's current status (the "Present") seem somewhat outdated, as the area is changing fast and there is not much on conservation efforts or scientific research (although other books cater). The "Documents" section added as a sort of appendix offer some interesting facts, but seem collected together on a rather ad-hoc basis. However, the chronology and bibliography are commendable. Generally well-written, in places the text seems a bit convoluted and may frustrate readers used to a snappier style. Perhaps something happened in the translation. In summary, I recommend this book for its illustrations, and overall historical perspective.
Children's Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Rainforests 2
The Biogeochemistry of the Amazon BasinOxford University Press, USA; Published: 2001-11-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $74.59
Price in other shops:
Amazon: A Young Reader's Look at the Last Frontier (River)by Peter Lourie
Boyds Mills Press; Published: 1998-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
The Amazon: Past, Present, and Futureby Alain Gheerbrant
Harry N. Abrams; Published: 1992-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.48
Price in other shops:
Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazonby Sy Montgomery
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; Published: 2002-03-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.07
Price in other shops:
Entangled Edens: Visions of the Amazonby Candace Slater
University of California Press; Published: 2001-06-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.95
Price in other shops:
Guide to the Amazon (1st ed)by Roger Harris, Peter Hutchison
Bradt Travel Guides; Published: 1998-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
Insight Guide Amazon Wildlife (Insight Guides Amazon Wildlife)by Hans-Ulrich Bernard
Insight Guides; Published: 2002-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
The Hidden Amazon: The Greatest Voyage in Natural Historyby Richard L. Lutz
DIMI Press; Published: 1998-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.48
Price in other shops:
The Amazon River Forest: A Natural History of Plants, Animals, and Peopleby Nigel J. H. Smith
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1999-01-28; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
The Pantanal: Understanding and Preserving the World's Largest Wetlandby Frederick A. Swarts
Paragon House Publishers; Published: 2000-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Discoveries: Megaliths (Discoveries (Abrams))by Jean-Pierre Mohen
Published: 1999-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.82
Price in other shops:
Discoveries: Crusaders (Discoveries (Abrams))by Georges Tate
Harry N. Abrams; Published: 1996-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.95
Exploration of Africa (Abrams Discoveries)by Anne Hugon
Harry N. Abrams; Published: 1993-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.10
Price in other shops: