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The Spirit of the Rainforest: How indigenous wisdom and scientific curiosity reconnects us to the natural world
'Every page feels alive with passion' - Sophie Pavelle, author of 'Forget Me Not'
'A beautiful book' - Levison Wood, author of 'Walking the Himalayas'
'A heartfelt account of exploration and discovery' - Liz Bonnin, broadcaster
Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet.
Dr Rosa is no stranger to the Amazon. Growing up with the rainforest as her back garden, she learnt the lessons of the rainforest from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. She went on to pursue a classical education in science, gaining a PhD in the US, but has always been pulled back to the heart of the Amazon. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight.
In this debut, you'll learn about Dr Rosa's journeys in the her treacherous encounters with a boiling river, her conservation work with stingless bees, her experience of taking ayahuasca as a natural psychedelic - and all the amazing biodiversity of the rainforest.
At the heart of Rosa's expedition is her passion to combine science with the indigenous knowledge of the Amazon. She shares her experience of learning from the indigenous communities that she visits, and shows what they have to teach us - stretching beyond the realm scientific knowledge. Here Rosa learns the most important lessons in how to reconnect to the natural world - and, in turn, will teach us to do the same.
In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.
Before you step into the jungle, there's a few things you need to know.
'A beautiful book' - Levison Wood, author of 'Walking the Himalayas'
'A heartfelt account of exploration and discovery' - Liz Bonnin, broadcaster
Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet.
Dr Rosa is no stranger to the Amazon. Growing up with the rainforest as her back garden, she learnt the lessons of the rainforest from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. She went on to pursue a classical education in science, gaining a PhD in the US, but has always been pulled back to the heart of the Amazon. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight.
In this debut, you'll learn about Dr Rosa's journeys in the her treacherous encounters with a boiling river, her conservation work with stingless bees, her experience of taking ayahuasca as a natural psychedelic - and all the amazing biodiversity of the rainforest.
At the heart of Rosa's expedition is her passion to combine science with the indigenous knowledge of the Amazon. She shares her experience of learning from the indigenous communities that she visits, and shows what they have to teach us - stretching beyond the realm scientific knowledge. Here Rosa learns the most important lessons in how to reconnect to the natural world - and, in turn, will teach us to do the same.
In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.
Before you step into the jungle, there's a few things you need to know.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2025
8 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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June 1, 2025This is a fascinating book that blends indigenous and science to show us the beauty of the Rainforest. Dr Rosa takes us through her expeditions and imparts her knowledge of how we can harmoniously with nature. This was a great book that has scientific information in an easy to digest, understandable way. I loved hearing about all the Andean and Amazonian villages and how they work with nature. My favourite part was getting to hear stories about the spirits that inhabit the forest and how to pay respect to them. This was just a joy to read and really opened my eyes to the wonders that are in the Amazon.
Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2025
This is a debut novel by Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza. She writes about her journeys in the Amazon, an area that has long fascinated many people around the world, including me. She focuses on the important messages of human co-existence, respect and reciprocity and listening to Pachamama (Mother Earth). I was fascinated by the medicinal properties of some of the plants and trees and loved the pharmacopeia notes at the beginning of each chapter. From the boiling river, the giant tarantulas, the stingless bees to the pink dolphins, green anacondas and bioluminescent beetles that glow like light bulbs. The Amazon is a unique, diverse ecosystem and this is a unique, diverse book with a beautiful cover and an important message, to protect Pachamama, “the everlasting hug that keeps on hugging.”
June 5, 2025
BOOK REVIEW & BOOK TOUR
Nature & Science | Hardback
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The thing that stands out most from this book is the sheer joy and wonder Dr Vasquez Espinoza experiences when she is in the rainforest, on expedition, interacting with locals and speaking to experts. Her love for her work, her family and the places she’s visits is palpable. In fact, her joy is infectious and whilst I was reading I kept looking up plants, animals and different regions of the Amazon so it took me longer than normal to finish it! I feel like I learned a lot about a region I knew very little about and I’m already on the look out for similar books on the history and anthropology of the region.
Dr Vasquez Espinoza’s book is not just an exploration of the wonderful flora and fauna of the Amazon but a quest to convey to the west that we can learn from the indigenous cultures that have lived and worked there for millennia. We can learn how to steward the land, to work in harmony with nature and how we can learn profound spirituality from tribal stories and beliefs.
She visits remarkable places such as a boiling river, waters full of piranha, cloud forests and at one point is covered in huge stingless bees. She has the utmost respect for local guides and many of them are so well know to her that she considers them family. She comes from Peru so has intimate connections with South America and this expertise shines through.
The book tries to cover a lot and the first third felt a bit slow but by half way through I was utterly hooked and mesmerised by her candid way of writing.
I think the scientific world needs many more Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinozas!
Thanks to @randomthingstours for inviting me to take part on this book tour. All opinions are my own.
Nature & Science | Hardback
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The thing that stands out most from this book is the sheer joy and wonder Dr Vasquez Espinoza experiences when she is in the rainforest, on expedition, interacting with locals and speaking to experts. Her love for her work, her family and the places she’s visits is palpable. In fact, her joy is infectious and whilst I was reading I kept looking up plants, animals and different regions of the Amazon so it took me longer than normal to finish it! I feel like I learned a lot about a region I knew very little about and I’m already on the look out for similar books on the history and anthropology of the region.
Dr Vasquez Espinoza’s book is not just an exploration of the wonderful flora and fauna of the Amazon but a quest to convey to the west that we can learn from the indigenous cultures that have lived and worked there for millennia. We can learn how to steward the land, to work in harmony with nature and how we can learn profound spirituality from tribal stories and beliefs.
She visits remarkable places such as a boiling river, waters full of piranha, cloud forests and at one point is covered in huge stingless bees. She has the utmost respect for local guides and many of them are so well know to her that she considers them family. She comes from Peru so has intimate connections with South America and this expertise shines through.
The book tries to cover a lot and the first third felt a bit slow but by half way through I was utterly hooked and mesmerised by her candid way of writing.
I think the scientific world needs many more Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinozas!
Thanks to @randomthingstours for inviting me to take part on this book tour. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2025
“the more I realized that science orginates from nature, and that indigenous wisdom holds and unparalleled connection to plants and animals that modern science does not typically consider.”
Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza is a Peruvian and Amazonian-Andean scientist, conservationist, award winning artist, and National Geographic Explorer. She travels to some of the most extreme environments on the planet. She is the founder and exectutive director of Amazon Research Internacional, a foundation in Peru dedicated to advancing conservation and knowledge of Amazonian biodiversity and culture.
Dr Rosa sets the scene for this fascinating book, which describes her journeys, dangerous encounters and her conservation work, in the introduction when a journalist asks her the question, “What are you most afraid of in the jungle?” Her response, “Well the evil spirits of the jungle.” Educated to the highest degree, Dr Rosa’s first chemistry classes were from the ‘wisest woman I know’ - her grandmother.
Each chapter begins by introducing a plant -
Scientific Name; Traditional Name; Origin; Traditional Uses and Scientific Information. So for example we have Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa). Highly regarded for its therapeutic benefits and considered a sacred plant, this traditional plant is being studied as a potential treatment for arthritis, cancer and HIV. In one chapter she explores the incredible science of luminescence; in other chapters she describes various sightings of an incredibly large snake and taking part of a spiritual ceremony as she blends in science and indigenous wisdom, always with an eye on the impact of climate change..I particularly loved a chapter when she describes an early school science trip, and another snake!
Dr Rosa is an engaging writer who writes passionately and lovingly about the Amazon. This is a book which is profoundly hopeful, which encourages us to reconnect with nature. “The ancient wisdom of our ancestors teachers us that nature and people are a singular, intertwined entity, and through reconnection there is restored joy and balance.”
Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza is a Peruvian and Amazonian-Andean scientist, conservationist, award winning artist, and National Geographic Explorer. She travels to some of the most extreme environments on the planet. She is the founder and exectutive director of Amazon Research Internacional, a foundation in Peru dedicated to advancing conservation and knowledge of Amazonian biodiversity and culture.
Dr Rosa sets the scene for this fascinating book, which describes her journeys, dangerous encounters and her conservation work, in the introduction when a journalist asks her the question, “What are you most afraid of in the jungle?” Her response, “Well the evil spirits of the jungle.” Educated to the highest degree, Dr Rosa’s first chemistry classes were from the ‘wisest woman I know’ - her grandmother.
Each chapter begins by introducing a plant -
Scientific Name; Traditional Name; Origin; Traditional Uses and Scientific Information. So for example we have Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa). Highly regarded for its therapeutic benefits and considered a sacred plant, this traditional plant is being studied as a potential treatment for arthritis, cancer and HIV. In one chapter she explores the incredible science of luminescence; in other chapters she describes various sightings of an incredibly large snake and taking part of a spiritual ceremony as she blends in science and indigenous wisdom, always with an eye on the impact of climate change..I particularly loved a chapter when she describes an early school science trip, and another snake!
Dr Rosa is an engaging writer who writes passionately and lovingly about the Amazon. This is a book which is profoundly hopeful, which encourages us to reconnect with nature. “The ancient wisdom of our ancestors teachers us that nature and people are a singular, intertwined entity, and through reconnection there is restored joy and balance.”
August 23, 2025
An inspiring read that I could not put down. Gracias Rosa por llevarnos contigo en este viaje por el Amazonas!
June 10, 2025
The Spirit of the Rainforest is a beautiful nonfiction book full of fascinating stories from Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza’s expeditions in the Amazon. I found the physical book to be set out in a very accessible format. The chapters are short and open with very easy to follow scientific information including a little diagram. This information includes where this plant/vegetation can be found, its uses, purposes and in which region of the Amazon Rainforest. I felt this is a book you can dip in and out of and easy to remember your place. There are colour photos too which is a really lovely addition. I spent a while studying these. I love how Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza takes the reader on a journey through her own experiences and expeditions with her team. The book feels like a friend telling you all about their amazing adventures. I am a nature lover and due to health and other factors I will never be able to visit the Amazon, therefore I love how the Amazon has been brought to me. This is one of those armchair travel books, that offers so much to the reader. I found myself fascinated by things I’d never really thought about and as an AuDHD I think about a lot of things! I would consider this a thought provoking read, and a really accessible read. Nature lovers, science lovers will not want to miss The Spirit of the Rainforest. Thank you to Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza for sharing your knowledge and experience. Full review on my blog page / Wordpress
June 12, 2025
The Spirit of the Rainforest is a wonderful, intricate, fascinating non-fiction collection of stories from the author’s experiences on various expeditions in the Amazon.
The chapters are relatively short, and cover easy to understand scientific aspects, accompanied by interesting colours photos at the centre of the book.
It tells of the author's deeply profound connection to nature, and her love of being in touch with the earth.
I found it to be such as easy read, that I flew through in two sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
The chapters are relatively short, and cover easy to understand scientific aspects, accompanied by interesting colours photos at the centre of the book.
It tells of the author's deeply profound connection to nature, and her love of being in touch with the earth.
I found it to be such as easy read, that I flew through in two sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
July 6, 2025
This is a beautiful and informative book from the stunning book cover right through to the last words of the end notes. I love books about trees and the value of nature and this delivers on every page. As well as following Dr Rosa on her incredible, and sometimes scary, journey through the Amazon we learn so much about some of the incredible trees and their medicinal uses as Dr Rosa starts each new chapter with a description of a new tree and it’s benefits and uses.
One aspect it really makes you aware of is that for all our so called modern advances in medicine and healing, nature and its benefits along with ancient healing rituals passed down through the generations should not be ignored and should be part of our lives, an aspect we are in danger of losing if we keep removing and destroying it.
Dr Rosa’s narrative is compelling and very easy to read, taking you on her journeys and discoveries through The Rainforest including, among many others, stingless bee honey and Dragons Blood.
This is a book to cherish and keep on your book shelf to expand your knowledge and understanding of this incredible gift that nature has given us.
One aspect it really makes you aware of is that for all our so called modern advances in medicine and healing, nature and its benefits along with ancient healing rituals passed down through the generations should not be ignored and should be part of our lives, an aspect we are in danger of losing if we keep removing and destroying it.
Dr Rosa’s narrative is compelling and very easy to read, taking you on her journeys and discoveries through The Rainforest including, among many others, stingless bee honey and Dragons Blood.
This is a book to cherish and keep on your book shelf to expand your knowledge and understanding of this incredible gift that nature has given us.
June 10, 2025
I absolutely fell in love with this book. I don't know what part of my loved it more, the part that is very interesting tune with nature and believes in connecting with it and treating it with respect, or the scientific part of me that adored every piece of data found, species looked our lovely new finding.
I was so caught up in this book that I could not put it down, and really struggled after some extremely late nights reading away. Something about the storytelling a d the connection you feel with the author and her link to nature and the indigenous ways just really makes this read so special.
I love how we get to see the adventure through her eyes and really like the level of detail we got with each outing. I enjoyed the little details at the start each chapter as well. Who doesn't like wee nuggets of fun info. I loved this book so much.
I was so caught up in this book that I could not put it down, and really struggled after some extremely late nights reading away. Something about the storytelling a d the connection you feel with the author and her link to nature and the indigenous ways just really makes this read so special.
I love how we get to see the adventure through her eyes and really like the level of detail we got with each outing. I enjoyed the little details at the start each chapter as well. Who doesn't like wee nuggets of fun info. I loved this book so much.
June 6, 2025
💜 Blurb -
Before you step into the jungle, there are a few things you need to know...
Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet.
Dr Rosa is no stranger to the Amazon. Growing up with the rainforest as her back garden, she learnt the lessons of the rainforest from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. She went on to pursue a classical education in science, gaining a PhD in the US, but has always been pulled back to the heart of the Amazon. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight.
In this debut, you'll learn about Dr Rosa's journeys in the her treacherous encounters with a boiling river, her conservation work with stingless bees, her experience of taking ayahuasca as a natural psychedelic - and all the amazing biodiversity of the rainforest.
At the heart of Rosa's expedition is her passion to combine science with the indigenous knowledge of the Amazon. She shares her experience of learning from the indigenous communities that she visits, and shows what they have to teach us - stretching beyond the realm scientific knowledge. Here Rosa learns the most important lessons in how to reconnect to the natural world - and, in turn, will teach us to do the same.
In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.
🩵 Review -
I enjoyed this book and found it interesting and enjoyed following Dr Rosa's journey through the book and learning about the RainForest. It's the perfect book to have on your book shelf to go back to time and time again. I was hooked from the very first page and kept reading until the end. I highly recommend it.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Before you step into the jungle, there are a few things you need to know...
Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet.
Dr Rosa is no stranger to the Amazon. Growing up with the rainforest as her back garden, she learnt the lessons of the rainforest from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. She went on to pursue a classical education in science, gaining a PhD in the US, but has always been pulled back to the heart of the Amazon. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight.
In this debut, you'll learn about Dr Rosa's journeys in the her treacherous encounters with a boiling river, her conservation work with stingless bees, her experience of taking ayahuasca as a natural psychedelic - and all the amazing biodiversity of the rainforest.
At the heart of Rosa's expedition is her passion to combine science with the indigenous knowledge of the Amazon. She shares her experience of learning from the indigenous communities that she visits, and shows what they have to teach us - stretching beyond the realm scientific knowledge. Here Rosa learns the most important lessons in how to reconnect to the natural world - and, in turn, will teach us to do the same.
In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.
🩵 Review -
I enjoyed this book and found it interesting and enjoyed following Dr Rosa's journey through the book and learning about the RainForest. It's the perfect book to have on your book shelf to go back to time and time again. I was hooked from the very first page and kept reading until the end. I highly recommend it.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2025
I loved this book! The perfect blend of indigenous wisdom , science and adventure writing. I have a strong interest in animals, plants and the Amazonian rainforest, if you do too you will enjoy this book.
The author writes with such heart for the planet and her home, this is what makes this book so special the true love for the topic she is writing about.
The author writes with such heart for the planet and her home, this is what makes this book so special the true love for the topic she is writing about.
October 9, 2025
Each chapter felt like an escape to a different corner of the Amazon. Dr Rosa blends storytelling, indigenous wisdom and science. It really is a must read for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the Amazon and learn about its legends and mysteries. I feel like I have so many things that I want to look up after reading!
August 9, 2025
I adored this book, filled with great science that is easy to read, and filled with beautiful spiritual stories that I and my family could connect to. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews