BOOK LIST

The following is a short list of useful books related to the Galapagos Islands, all of which can be bought from Amazon. If you visit the Amazon website by clicking on the images below, or alternatively visit our GCT Amazon Store, the Galapagos Conservation Trust will receive a donation for every purchase you make. You can also hover your mouse over the images below and a small window will appear, giving you further details about each book.

For details of books and maps that GCT have available in our Gift catalogue, please visit Galapagos Books and Galapagos Maps.

A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise by Paul Chambers For millennia these mighty beasts lived in isolation on remote oceanic islands such as the Galapagos, Seychelles and Mauritius. The twentieth century saw the establishment of wildlife reserves in the Galapagos and elsewhere but it was too late for many species. Paul Chambers shows how modern genetics has been able to track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations of these magnificent creatures.

Annie's Box: Charles Darwin, his Daughter and Human Evolution by Randal Keynes Recounts the personal tragedy that lay behind Darwin's revolutionary understanding of man's place in nature. Taking the story of Darwin's daughter as his starting point, Randal Keynes brings together science and humanity in a ground-breaking book that makes a major contribution to our understanding of Charles Darwin.

Birds, Mammals and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands by Rob Still and Andy Swash The innovative, simple-to-use format of this new publication will help visitors to Galapagos to identify any bird, mammal or reptile they encounter. The text covers key identification features of each species, and the 53 remarkable colour plates have been produced using the latest digital image technology. A full species checklist by island and habitat is included. A donation is being made to the Charles Darwin Research Station via the GCT for each copy sold.

Flowering Plants of Galapagos by Conley K McMullen This splendid book provides the visitor to Galapagos with a compact plant guide. Fully illustrated in colour and covering 390 species, the book will be invaluable to both the non-specialist and the expert.

Galapagos A Natural History by Michael Jackson This book has been extensively revised and updated by the author. The easy-to-use text details the natural history of the plants and animals found in the Galapagos Islands. A well-illustrated and annotated list of the dominant plants according to vegetation zone is included, as are sections on management and conservation, and information about the tourist sites in the islands.

Galapagos Diary by Herman Heinzel and Barnaby Hall Collaboration between renowed illustrator Heinzel and photographer Hall has resulted in a fresh and engaging guide to the archipelago's bird life. Colour photographs, illustrations, maps and an insightful text.

Galapagos: Islands Born of Fire by Tui De Roy Ever since the days of Darwin, the Galapagos Islands have captured the imagination of the world. This book captures the ethereal - even haunting - quality of these islands, in words and in pictures, like none ever before. Limited availability.

Galapagos Wildlife - a Visitors Guide by David Horwell and Pete Oxford The authors of this guide were both naturalist guides in Galapagos. Their knowledge and insight have enabled them to produce a lively and informative book, illustrated with full colour plates and with detailed maps describing all the main visitor sites. Paperback Also available from Select Latin America

Lonesome George: The life and loves of a conservation icon by Henry Nicholls Henry Nicholls details the efforts of conservationists to preserve the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands and illustrates how their experiences and discoveries are echoed worldwide. He explores the controversies raging over which mates are most appropriate for Lonesome George, a 5ft long, 90kg tortoise and the last of his species, and the risks of releasing crossbreed offspring into the wild. His story draws together the islands' geology, evolution and history of human exploitation.

Wildlife of Galapagos (Collins Traveller's Guide) by Julian Fitter, Daniel Fitter and David Hosking This guide covers over 350 commonly-seen species including birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, plants, and coastal and marine life, and is illustrated with over 550 colour photographs, maps and drawings. Includes information on the history, climate, geology and conservation of the islands, and a visitor site section with maps of 24 of the most frequently visited sites and an indication of the species you are most likely to see there.

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