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A Perfect Planet
Accompanying a major 5-part BBC series presented by David Attenborough and produced by the team behind Planet Earth and Blue Planet , Perfect Planet is an exploration of the unique conditions that make life on earth possible, and how our wildlife is perfectly adapted to its environment.
There is no place like home. The conditions of Earth are not just good for life, they are perfect. Everything about our planet – its size, its distance from the Sun, its spin and tilt, its moon – is perfectly suited to our existence, and our planet’s forces serve to nurture its spectacular biodiversity. Perfect Planet shows in stunning detail how Earth has always been more than the sum of its parts. Unlike any other astronomical body, it is a living world. Focusing on four key natural forces – global weather systems distributing fresh water to all corners; marine currents delivering nutrients to the deepest reaches of the ocean; solar energy warming and electrifying everything it touches; and volcanic activity fertilizing the earth’s surface – Huw Cordrey reveals to us new levels of this living world, a place populated with astonishing characters living remarkable lives. From Arctic wolves prowling moonlit landscapes or wood frogs, frozen in winter and magically thawing back to life, to flamingos flying thousands of miles to a vast volcanic lake in Africa to breed, we see time and again how animals are perfectly adapted to whatever the environment throws at them. Packed with over 250 full-color images, and including a foreword by David Attenborough and stills from the BBC series' spectacular footage, Perfect Planet is a stunning exploration of life on Earth – life that is increasingly precious and rare.
There is no place like home. The conditions of Earth are not just good for life, they are perfect. Everything about our planet – its size, its distance from the Sun, its spin and tilt, its moon – is perfectly suited to our existence, and our planet’s forces serve to nurture its spectacular biodiversity. Perfect Planet shows in stunning detail how Earth has always been more than the sum of its parts. Unlike any other astronomical body, it is a living world. Focusing on four key natural forces – global weather systems distributing fresh water to all corners; marine currents delivering nutrients to the deepest reaches of the ocean; solar energy warming and electrifying everything it touches; and volcanic activity fertilizing the earth’s surface – Huw Cordrey reveals to us new levels of this living world, a place populated with astonishing characters living remarkable lives. From Arctic wolves prowling moonlit landscapes or wood frogs, frozen in winter and magically thawing back to life, to flamingos flying thousands of miles to a vast volcanic lake in Africa to breed, we see time and again how animals are perfectly adapted to whatever the environment throws at them. Packed with over 250 full-color images, and including a foreword by David Attenborough and stills from the BBC series' spectacular footage, Perfect Planet is a stunning exploration of life on Earth – life that is increasingly precious and rare.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 14, 2021
This book, a physical reminder of the excellent BBC TV series of the same name, was written by the Series Producer. Subtitled ‘Our One in a Billion World Revealed’, it is an account of the journeys made by the team of camera operators, production staff and other essential crew during the making of the programmes. More importantly, it is also a wonderful introduction to life on our unique planet, and a gentle but insistent wake-up call to all who have yet to understand how delicate and vulnerable that small blue marble spinning crazily through the vastness of space actually is.
The many colour photographs are stunning, and the tales of how they were made are full of humour about the often dangerous situations involved. The dedication and tenacity of the skilled technicians and associated crew cannot be doubted. The dedication these specialists applied to their task is a source of genuine admiration. They deserve proper recognition for their sacrifices made in order to bring the realities to viewers all over the world.
The book is divided into five sections; The Sun, Weather, Oceans, Volcanoes, and Humans, and examines the effects each of these influences have had on the evolution and development of our amazing world. The balanced view of these influences puts into perspective the relative ‘good’ and ‘bad’ effects each has imposed on the Earth. Sadly, it’s becoming ever clearer that humanity’s influence is increasingly destructive of both the climate and the general environment. We, as a single species, have displaced, damaged, and destroyed, very many species that would have managed perfectly well without our malign impact. That there are too many of us, that our success as a species, continues to work toward the destruction of the place we all call home can no longer be disputed. We need, as a whole, a community, to unite in our greatest challenge to date: the challenge to face up to the reality of our overbearing species numbers and our wasteful, careless way of life that is the root caused of both the rapidly approaching climate emergency and the growing likelihood of a mass extinction.
The book celebrates the huge variety of life, the sublime coincidences of nature and the development of the universe, that created the world we inhabit against all the odds. There’s a reason the subtitle refers to the Earth as a ‘One in a Billion World’; because it is. Unique coincidences occurring during the evolution of the universe, our solar system, and our companion satellite, the Moon, are responsible for life on Earth. But for these accidents of fate, no life would have emerged here. It took billions of years for us to develop into what we so flippantly describe as the superior, dominant life form. And yet, brilliant, creative, adaptable as we are as a species, we’re in imminent danger of destroying all that history in a matter of a couple of centuries that started with our industrialisation and will shortly end with our self-designed obliteration within a few decades.
This beautifully presented volume explains the dangers we face and gives the reasons for these threats in plain language everyone can understand. The gorgeous illustrations that accompany the text are inspirational and often spectacular.
I urge everyone, everywhere, who is still unconvinced or uncertain about the dangers posed by climate change to read this book. It may well prove to be the route to our salvation.
The many colour photographs are stunning, and the tales of how they were made are full of humour about the often dangerous situations involved. The dedication and tenacity of the skilled technicians and associated crew cannot be doubted. The dedication these specialists applied to their task is a source of genuine admiration. They deserve proper recognition for their sacrifices made in order to bring the realities to viewers all over the world.
The book is divided into five sections; The Sun, Weather, Oceans, Volcanoes, and Humans, and examines the effects each of these influences have had on the evolution and development of our amazing world. The balanced view of these influences puts into perspective the relative ‘good’ and ‘bad’ effects each has imposed on the Earth. Sadly, it’s becoming ever clearer that humanity’s influence is increasingly destructive of both the climate and the general environment. We, as a single species, have displaced, damaged, and destroyed, very many species that would have managed perfectly well without our malign impact. That there are too many of us, that our success as a species, continues to work toward the destruction of the place we all call home can no longer be disputed. We need, as a whole, a community, to unite in our greatest challenge to date: the challenge to face up to the reality of our overbearing species numbers and our wasteful, careless way of life that is the root caused of both the rapidly approaching climate emergency and the growing likelihood of a mass extinction.
The book celebrates the huge variety of life, the sublime coincidences of nature and the development of the universe, that created the world we inhabit against all the odds. There’s a reason the subtitle refers to the Earth as a ‘One in a Billion World’; because it is. Unique coincidences occurring during the evolution of the universe, our solar system, and our companion satellite, the Moon, are responsible for life on Earth. But for these accidents of fate, no life would have emerged here. It took billions of years for us to develop into what we so flippantly describe as the superior, dominant life form. And yet, brilliant, creative, adaptable as we are as a species, we’re in imminent danger of destroying all that history in a matter of a couple of centuries that started with our industrialisation and will shortly end with our self-designed obliteration within a few decades.
This beautifully presented volume explains the dangers we face and gives the reasons for these threats in plain language everyone can understand. The gorgeous illustrations that accompany the text are inspirational and often spectacular.
I urge everyone, everywhere, who is still unconvinced or uncertain about the dangers posed by climate change to read this book. It may well prove to be the route to our salvation.
November 19, 2021
This was just nice bite size info about all sorts of things on and about our planet. Fascinating!
August 25, 2021
A stunning book on why the planet we live on is such a remarkable place. I was constantly amazed by the number of apparent coincidences that have occurred to make the planet such a livable place - the Goldilocks theory, not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
Who would have imagined that an asteroid impact could tilt the planet to just the right angle to sustain life and create a moon from a large chunk of earth. Who would have imagined this moon would have an impact on the rise and fall of the ocean tides as a result of gravity.
And what about volcanos spewing toxins into the air in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) which plants use to survive and expel waste as oxygen, which then provides for our own survival.
In addition, the planet orbits the sun at just the right distance to sustain human life.
Incredible!
A must read so that people understand why our planet is so precious and why urgent action on climate change is so important.
Who would have imagined that an asteroid impact could tilt the planet to just the right angle to sustain life and create a moon from a large chunk of earth. Who would have imagined this moon would have an impact on the rise and fall of the ocean tides as a result of gravity.
And what about volcanos spewing toxins into the air in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) which plants use to survive and expel waste as oxygen, which then provides for our own survival.
In addition, the planet orbits the sun at just the right distance to sustain human life.
Incredible!
A must read so that people understand why our planet is so precious and why urgent action on climate change is so important.
January 21, 2022
The perfect book. As a photographer I appreciate the visual quality of the work. What is also enlightening is the text. Written inclusively, never too highbrow or preachy. The purpose of this work must be to engage you with the incredible stories of the natural world and it does this effortlessly.
You don't need to have seen the tv programmes to enjoy the experience of learning and marvelling. If more people focused on things like this the world would become a better place. Now that's me throwing out an opinion but it is my world as much as anyone's and I want to see it looked after.
You don't need to have seen the tv programmes to enjoy the experience of learning and marvelling. If more people focused on things like this the world would become a better place. Now that's me throwing out an opinion but it is my world as much as anyone's and I want to see it looked after.
March 4, 2024
An incredible book supporting a fascinating and informative television series. The book is filled with really interesting wildlife stories and information and has a deeply important message throughout. A must read for all wildlife fans.
June 18, 2021
Absolutely first class nature photography. A great book for nature lovers and those who just like to cosy up with a book and drink in visual images with a cup of something warm.
June 23, 2021
The book of the BBC series of the same name, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. The photography is superb, the narrative brilliant! What a truly beautiful world we live in.
January 7, 2023
I give this actually a 3.5. I would have given this book more but I found some of the comments made by the various film crew to be somewhat annoying.
March 5, 2025
Beautiful photography and inspiring text about our planet and its fantastic diversity, giving rise to the important environmentalism movement to enable the success of our planet in the future :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews