Enthralling TV Series Translated to a Handsome Coffee-Table Book

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	• Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before Alastair Fothergill University of California Press, 2007 - 312 pages average customer review:based on 38 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Excellent Photographs and Background Information!

Interesting information abounds between the outstanding photographs. The "Overview" section tells readers that the four planets nearest the Sun are made up largely of solid material with high melting points; further away are the gas giants. Mercury, closest to the Sun has an average daily temperature varying from a daytime +806 F. to -292 F at night. Venus has an atmosphere rich in CO2, resulting in an average surface temperature of 896 F. Reading on, is see that the moon was created when a planet about the size of Mars hit the Earth, with pieces flying off that coalesced to become our moon.

The South Pole has the same number of hours of daylight over a year's time as the Equator - it's just more seasonally concentrated and weaker because of the oblique angle involved. However, it is far colder at the South Pole and the North, primarily due to its 9,515 ft. altitude vs. 0 at the North Pole.

"Planet Earth" then goes on to provide greater detail on each major region as one moves to higher latitudes.

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Enthralling TV Series Translated to a Handsome Coffee-Table Book

First things first, there is no way the spectacular Discovery Channel/BBC series Planet Earth could be captured in its sensory overload glory in printed form. However, series producer Alastair Fothergill has done a fine job capturing the highlights while summarizing the key facts shared in the series in an eminently readable fashion. In an inevitable coffee-table book format, the impressive result is still so far above any other book in its category that a purchase is most worthwhile.

The book divides neatly into eleven chapters which approximate the eleven parts of the series beginning with a more holistic view of the planet and then tackling the major ecological biomes - mountains, deserts, plains, oceans, shallow seas, fresh water, rainforests, jungles, the polar caps, and most intriguingly, the underworld of mostly unexplored caves. Made up of what looks to be screen captures of the vivid images that startled onscreen, the chapters bring each biome to life mainly through the flora and fauna that inhabit them uniquely (with the exception being the crossover intrusion of man). The book's subtitle - "as you've never seen it before" - is no misnomer, as you will likely be as floored as I was in seeing images both intimate and majestic in scope. Although secondary to the photos, the text is genuinely educational without the intellectual tone that alienates the layman with an excess of scientific names and facts.

Even if you have seen Luc Jacquet's documentary, March of the Penguins, the chapter on the polar caps will strike you with another fresh perspective on Antarctica, for example, the rare sight of a mother polar bear and her cub emerging from their den. Fans of Jacques Cousteau's early 1970's TV documentaries will be regaled by the three chapters devoted to varying marine life. The most fascinating chapter is focused on the so-called underworld where we learn over 90% of the world's limestone caves have yet to be explored. Here you will see amazing images of the variety of depths and textures these caves have, as well as the nocturnal wildlife. Mexico's Cave of Swallows can hold the Empire State Building, and the Lechuguilla Caves in New Mexico have recently been discovered as a marvel of intricate gypsum crystal formations. You need not have been enthralled by the TV series to buy the book. It stands on its own.

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Spectacular photos

The first thing that a reader notes, as he or she leafs through the pages of this volume, is the spectacular color photos. This work is a companion to a series on Discovery Channel and BBC. The goal of the series and the book is described by David Attenborough in the Foreword: "So this remarkable and beautiful book should stand not just as a revelation and celebration of the wonders that our planet still retains at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It must surely also be seen as an eloquent rallying call to all of us who care for the Earth's welfare to redouble our efforts to protect those wonders that still survive."

The "chapters" of this work include the following: The Whole Earth, Frozen Poles, The Great Forests, The Great Plains, The Great Sands, Mountain Heights, The Underworld, Fresh Water, Rainforests, Shallow Seas, and Open Ocean Depths.

Some wonderful photos. . . . In "Frozen Poles," we see some of those great photos of Emperor Penguins huddled together to protect themselves against the cold, we see the marches from the sea after having filled their bellies with food, and so on. The photos remind us of that great recent movie on the lives of Emperor penguins. On pages 44-45, there are three wonderful photos of a polar bear family.

Some stunning satellite photos are included. On pages 160-161, there is a satellite view of rain clouds being pushed across India by monsoon winds. On pages 222-223, there is another wonderful satellite photo of the world's largest river delta.

The chapter on rainforests (Chapter 9) is also beautiful. Whether satellite photos or more "up close" pictures, this chapter shows us the lustrous appearance of rainforests. We also see the animals living in the rainforests.

And so on.

And though the photos are breathtaking, the text itself speaks to the issues raised in each of the chapters. Pages 188-193 combine text of a recent cave discovery (in New Mexico) with some neat pictures of those same caves. The combination of text and photos is compelling.

I must confess that this review does not contain much analysis or critique, but this is one of those books where I choose simply to appreciate the artistry of the photos and go from there.

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Erica Asahan's Review

Erica Asahan wrote:

There are several segments from show that were captured beautifully and are included in this book. By far, one of the best books of my generation. I am greatful to have this in my collection and I would recommend it to all!

Erica Asahan

Incredible!

Incredible photos and information. This was my son's favorite gift for holidays, and Amazon's pricing was the best, and of course the amazing quick delivery in perfect condition. Couldn't have been better!

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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