Rating: 
Summary: Heights of discovery
Review: If Tim Flannery isn't the luckiest biologist in the world, then perhaps he's the hardest working. He possesses a spirit of adventure that may exceed both. His twenty years of exploring the mysteries of New Guinea are superbly outlined and related in this engaging account. Although a mammalogist by profession, his interests range far beyond any academic discipline. We follow his efforts to meet and gain acceptance by the remote peoples of the New Guinea highlands. They are a diverse lot, and every new contact is fraught with uncertainty. He introduces us to the teasing pleasures of New Guinea pidgin, a language adopted by indigineous peoples to cross the nearly 1 000 languages that exist on the island.Throwim' Away Leg, New Guinean pidgin for a journey, is an appropriate title for this book. Flannery's 15 long-term expeditions took him over most of the island, meeting the people, tracking animals and assessing the changes in the ecology. It is difficult, in this jet travel age to comprehend the impact of "remote people," but Flannery has done it. He's adept at sharing the wonder he felt in his travels. We feel his fears, his joys of discovery, his sadness at the incursion of industrial civilization in an unprepared land. Flannery's account is given with an astonishing detachment. He recognizes the needs of both the indigenous people and the invaders. Cannibalism, so abhorrent to "civilized" readers, is placed in its true framework as viewed by the New Guinean mountain peoples. He's aware of the population pressures on local resources among the tribes, not excusing, but imparting rare understanding of the reality of life in wilderness. The author's love of wildlife is made clear throughout the book. An encounter with three-metre-long python that tried desperately to throttle him is related with incredible compassion. One can only sympathize with the pilot and passengers who shared the cockpit of a small aircraft with it on its journey to Port Moresby. Flannery's real feelings, however, are for the varieties of tree kangaroos living on the island. He asserts the high point of his travels was the classification of a rare black and white species of this creature. High point, indeed! Three
thousand metres up in the New Guinean highlands, local hunters brought him the chewed remains of two "Dingisios" - enough to identify and describe this rare animal. Flannery's enthusiasms and vivid desriptive powers make this book an unforgettable read. His descriptions of the impact of outsiders, from both East and West, portray a land under immense stress. Not only Western mining and lumber companies, who have seared the landscape with roads, mines and felling, but Indonesia's settlement programmes come under his penetrating gaze. He recognizes their needs, but urges better forms of accomodation are required. The biological story is conveyed well integrated with social, political and environmental issues. An all-encompassing study, this book will give the reader many fresh insights and topics for further reflection.
Rating:
Summary: Heights of discovery
Review: If Tim Flannery isn't the luckiest biologist in the world, then perhaps he's the hardest working. He possesses a spirit of adventure that may exceed both. His twenty years of exploring the mysteries of New Guinea are superbly outlined and related in this engaging account. Although a mammalogist by profession, his interests range far beyond any academic discipline. We follow his efforts to meet and gain acceptance by the remote peoples of the New Guinea highlands. They are a diverse lot, and every new contact is fraught with uncertainty. He introduces us to the teasing pleasures of New Guinea pidgin, a language adopted by indigineous peoples to cross the nearly 1 000 languages that exist on the island. Throwim' Away Leg, New Guinean pidgin for a journey, is an appropriate title for this book. Flannery's 15 long-term expeditions took him over most of the island, meeting the people, tracking animals and assessing the changes in the ecology. It is difficult, in this jet travel age to comprehend the impact of "remote people," but Flannery has done it. He's adept at sharing the wonder he felt in his travels. We feel his fears, his joys of discovery, his sadness at the incursion of industrial civilization in an unprepared land. Flannery's account is given with an astonishing detachment. He recognizes the needs of both the indigenous people and the invaders. Cannibalism, so abhorrent to "civilized" readers, is placed in its true framework as viewed by the New Guinean mountain peoples. He's aware of the population pressures on local resources among the tribes, not excusing, but imparting rare understanding of the reality of life in wilderness. The author's love of wildlife is made clear throughout the book. An encounter with three-metre-long python that tried desperately to throttle him is related with incredible compassion. One can only sympathize with the pilot and passengers who shared the cockpit of a small aircraft with it on its journey to Port Moresby. Flannery's real feelings, however, are for the varieties of tree kangaroos living on the island. He asserts the high point of his travels was the classification of a rare black and white species of this creature. High point, indeed! Three
thousand metres up in the New Guinean highlands, local hunters brought him the chewed remains of two "Dingisios" - enough to identify and describe this rare animal. Flannery's enthusiasms and vivid desriptive powers make this book an unforgettable read. His descriptions of the impact of outsiders, from both East and West, portray a land under immense stress. Not only Western mining and lumber companies, who have seared the landscape with roads, mines and felling, but Indonesia's settlement programmes come under his penetrating gaze. He recognizes their needs, but urges better forms of accomodation are required. The biological story is conveyed well integrated with social, political and environmental issues. An all-encompassing study, this book will give the reader many fresh insights and topics for further reflection.
Rating: 
Summary: LOoved it, but watch the price you pay for it!
Review: It;s simple; this book is great no matter who you are. And if you are interested in Biology, culture and landscape, all the better.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: It«s well written, and describes less visited areas of Papua (Irian Jaya) and P.N.G.. Specially the area around Tembagapura, Bewani and Torricelli Mountain Range. It«s a fascinating account of newly discovered tree-kangaroos and other mammals. I would prefer a more detailed look at the tribal life, but the mission of the author was to collect animals. It«s also a good description of the difference between the two New Guinea countrys.
Rating:
Summary: This book is an absolute page-turner!
Review: Like one of Dr. Flannery's fabulous discoveries, I stumbled upon this jewel of a book quite by accident while I was searching for books in other categories. Or rather, I should say the book found me. This is not a book I would ordinarily buy, but the reviews were quite compelling. After receiving it, I found my self immersed quickly into the book and not wanting to let go. I was transported into a world I thought I knew of from magazines and documentaries. However, I now realize I had much to learn. This book at times had me thoroughly disgusted and appauled, and at other times clutching my heart at the purity of a solitary moment. And reading through the eyes of this magnificent storyteller, I found it impossible to judge even the most bizarre of social practices because Dr. Flannery goes to such lengths to provide a fair and accurate story; I would wince, and then nod my head in educated understanding. Thank you, Tim Flannery, for the gifts you've given the world!
Rating:
Summary: A facinating journey through a facinating land!
Review: One of my equally mad friends gave me this book and KNEW that I was going to love it. Well, he was right on target. This book is an anthropological delight! I prided myself in my knowledge of the animal kingdom...till I read this book. Tim Flannery has a humble way about him and it reflects in this book for sure. The journeys and adventures that he undertook are not for the faint of heart. He is a true scientist that earns my kudos! Anyone interested in broadening their horizons and is open to concepts that would shake your core beliefs (unless you have already read Dr. Flannery's books) should read it.
Rating:
Summary: A facinating journey through a facinating land!
Review: One of my friends gave me this book and KNEW that I was going to love it. Well, he was right on target. This book is an anthropological delight! I prided myself in my knowledge of the animal kingdom...till I read this book. Tim Flannery has a humble way about him and it reflects in this book for sure. The journeys and adventures that he undertook are not for the faint of heart. He is a true scientist that earns my kudos! Anyone interested in broadening their horizons and is open to concepts that would shake your core beliefs (unless you have already read Dr. Flannery's books) should read it.
Rating:
Summary: Man and fellow mammals in a rugged land
Review: This is a fascinating look at the mammals (most poignantly,humans) in the forests and caves of New Guinea. Flannery takes usalong on 15 years of searching for both living and fossil traces of everything from tree kangaroos to bats. But the compelling feature of the book is his contact with the isolated villagers, whose ways are as interesting--and imperilled--as the rarer wildlife that Flannery seeks. New Guinea is near the equator, but its highest peaks are in the 14,000 to 16,000 foot range. It is rugged. The island is filled with caves, dense life-filled forests, swamps, and a daunting array of diseases and pests. Peter Matthiessen took us there years ago in his Under the Mountain Wall. Some old ways prevail, but the gun, roads, mines, politics, and exposure to western ways are taking their toll on both man and wildlife. Flannery has a self-depricating manner that reminds of the Canadian naturalist-author Farley Mowat. What next? you think as you read from low-key adventure to low-key adventure. Along the way he teaches you too about those tree kangaroos, rats, bats, bandicoots, wallabies, etc.
Rating:
Summary: a great portrait of a fascinating place
Review: This is really good. Papua New Guinea is such an amazing place, culturally, biologically, and geographically, and Flannery tells us about his experiences there in a straightforward manner that really gives you a feeling for it. My advice is to read it right away.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoy your trip
Review: Tim Flannery takes us with him on travels throughout New Guinea. His personable writing style brings the experiences to life. He conveys technical zoological and anthropological information in a casual manner. Extremely entertaining and informative. A great guilt-free diversion.
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