Wild Caribbean

by Michael Bright

In our minds the Caribbean is the embodiment of paradise - crystal blue waters, magical coral reefs and lush tropical forests. Yet behind its tranquil beauty, the Caribbean conceals many dark and mysterious secrets. Its volcanic nature - both destructive and creative, powerful hurricanes and tidal waves, and its rich cultural past have all left their marks, carved into the character of the individual islands.Beautiful photography brings the islands to life in this fluorescent hummingbirds buzz past, scarlet ibis fill the sky, fearsome Cuban crocodiles patrol the waters and 70,000 flamingos dance in an unrivalled wildlife spectacle.The Caribbean is an area we may feel we know, but even today it is still a place of wonder and discovery, with new locations and remarkable stories to explore.

Genres: Natural History, Travel, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2007

Reviews

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book giving interesting factual information about the flora and fauna of the Caribbean Islands.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, highlights the Caribbean's natural environment, I'll recommend it to anyone wishing to increase thier knowledge of the Caribbean islands...

[Shu Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book of any significance focused on the Caribbean, and as such, I would not say that I can speak well to the detail and the facts. I'm reading to learn about something I know very little. That said, the photography was beautifully presented, the notes under the images helpful, and the organization of the entire book so well laid out that I can walk through it in my head after having finished the last page. There are additional resources for both travel exploration and visual mediums to pursue for those interested in going forward in their exploration of the Caribbean once they have finished reading.

The text keeps politics to a minimum and pays respect to the pre-European invasion human populations. I learned names for people groups who lived in this region that I had not previously learned about and I hope to explore deeper in the future, now that I have language with which to to seek them out.

The Caribbean is such a large topic, that no book can be exhaustive, but this one has been helpful as an introduction primary, and I do recommend it. The language level is high, roughly college level at points. I read with my phone or computer at hand to look words up. However, this is because the subject matter comes with its own lexicon that is lesser used in daily conversation for the average land dweller in say, the U.S. or the UK. The sentence level is accessible to mildly advanced, in my opinion. For reference, I have a B.A. in a literature heavy major.

[Lynn Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've lived in Jamaica as a child and have visited Trinidad and Tobago for birdwatching. For me this was a good introduction to the other islands, their geology, a tiny bit of their human history and then of course a lot about the wildlife. It's very informative about what is on each island, but not enough pictures for me. but there would never have been enough space to include them all!
The gazetteer at the back is very helpful, with suggestions of where to go diving, birdwatching, caving, places to stay etc. to experience it for yourself.