Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Jungle

How Tropical Forests Shaped World History – and Us

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

'A bold, ambitious and truly wonderful history of the world' Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees
'A fascinating story and a crucial revision of the momentous importance of tropical forests to human history' Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins
_________________________
Jungle tells the remarkable story of the world's tropical forests, from the arrival of the first plants millions of years ago to the role of tropical forests in the evolution of the world's atmosphere, the dinosaurs, the first mammals and even our own species and ancestors.
Highlighting provocative new evidence garnered from cutting-edge research, Dr Roberts shows, for example, that our view of humans as 'savannah specialists' is wildly wrong, and that the 'Anthropocene' began not with the Industrial Revolution, but potentially as early as 6,000 years ago in the tropics.
We see that the relationship between humankind and 'jungles' is deep-rooted, that we are all connected to their destruction, and that we must all act to save them. Urgent, clear-sighted and original, Jungle challenges the way we think about the world - and ourselves.
_________________________
'Welcome to the "Jungle" - a breathtaking book' Mark Maslin, author of How to Save Our Planet
'Timely, readable and highly relevant' Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
'Its revelations and stories will stir, rearrange and populate your mind for years to come' Paul Hawken, editor of Drawdown
'Brilliant ... it delivers a timely warning about our abuse of the environment' David Abulafia, author of The Great Sea
'Finally, a book on rainforests that does justice to their majesty and importance' Simon Lewis, co-author of The Human Planet

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 26, 2021
      National Geographic explorer Roberts traces in his comprehensive if cumbersome debut the evolution of the world’s forest ecosystems. “Tropical forests are often ignored in discussions of our human story and the history of life on Earth,” writes Roberts, and to that end, offers a detailed explanation of how trees altered Earth’s environment as the first ones emerged during the Devonian period, increasing the amount of oxygen in the air and creating life-nurturing soil. Roberts covers the seasonally dry jungles of the southern lowlands, where urban forms “took off” during the Classic period; the “frosty forests” of New Guinea, which housed early groups of humans; the isolated forests of the Pacific Islands where humans migrated 4,000 years ago; and considers how tropical forests impacted the life forms that lived within them (including dinosaurs). Taking issue with the theory that savannahs nurtured human evolution, Roberts provides evidence—including his work in Sri Lankan forests studying fossils of human teeth—that jungles were “the vibrant cradle” for the earliest apes and hominins. Unfortunately, many of Roberts’s points (such as discussions of tropical forest farming) can get buried in academic nitpicking. Fans of anthropology will have their work cut out, and those hoping for a lush tropical adventure will be disappointed.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading