Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon (Hardcover)

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• This item: Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon by Henry Nicholls

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• Galapagos [DVD] [2006]

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• Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World by Paul D. Stewart

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Galapagos [DVD] [2006] 4.8 out of 5 stars (4)  £7.98

Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World by Paul D. Stewart 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £13.29

Timothy's Book: Notes of an English Country Tortoise by Verlyn Klinkenborg 3.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £7.19

Timothy the Tortoise: The Remarkable Story of the Nation's Oldest Pet by Rory Knight Bruce 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)

Wildlife of the Galapagos (Traveller's Guide) by Julian Fitter 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £11.89

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Review
"Like the best human-focused biographers, Nicholls uses his unusual subject as a springboard into more universal territory. He aptly portrays Lonesome George as a sort of reptilian Forrest Gump, an unwitting bystander continually thrust to the forefront as society's defining crises play themselves out around him."--"Wired""This marvellous look at the conservation of nature, as embodied in one enormous reptile, is highly recommended."--Nancy Bent, "Booklist""Is he gay, impotent or just bored? Read this fascinating book for the full story. It skilfully blends historical derring-do with cutting-edge conservation biology."--"NewScientist""Told with real affection and humour...a fitting tribute to one of the voiceless victims of human progress."--"Guardian ""A warmly enjoyable book...a pleasure to read."--www.popularscience.co.uk "Nicholls' lively tale takes the reader on a journey through the Galapagos - and how much there is to lose."--BBC Focus Magazine"This is a wonderful tale of an almost mythical beast. Rich in historical detail George's story is one of pathos, despair and hope with some quirky reproductive biology thrown in for good measure. Nicholls has done us all a service, reminding us of the fragility of life in general and of one very special chelonian in particular." -- Tim Birkhead, author of "Promiscuity "and "The Red Canary"
"""Not simply the story of a tortoise but the tale of that icon of evolution, the Galapagos archipelago, and of the heroics and (sometimes) seeming futility of the conservation movement. The science is compelling, the tone is light - highly recommended."--Olivia Judson, "Seed Magazine"
"It is a cracking tale - and crackingly well told. It is alsosalutary. Giant tortoises are indeed extraordinary - but not as strange as human beings."--Colin Tudge, author of "The Secret Life of Trees"
"If Darwin were alive today he would be fascinated by Henry Nicholls' splendid account of this solitary survivor from Pinta Island. A must for anyone who cares about extinction or has a soft spot for the remarkable history of a very singular animal."--Janet Browne, author of "Charles Darwin: A Biography""The literary device of placing a reptilian icon at the centre of a dynamic play about science, conservation and our attitudes to nature results in a highly readable book that has much to say about the ways we flounder around in our attempts to protect things that seem important to us." --"Nature "
"Lonesome George will do for the cause of science and preservation in the Galapagos what Jonathan Weiner's The Beak of the Finch did a decade before--entertain, enlighten and encourage us all to do our part to preserve not just these islands, but Earth itself." --Michael Shermer, author of" In Darwin's Shadow, in THES""""Nicholls is a brilliant storyteller and narrative stylist in the finest tradition--an emotional but fact-filled call for action." --"The Skeptic""Conciencious, comprehensive and balanced. Everyone with an interest in conservation should read this account and consider its implications." --"Trends in Evolution and Ecology ""Well written and fascinating--Nicholls' passion for his subject and sense of humour are always evident."" --Times Literary Supplement ""Manages to package human drama, reproductive biology and a conservation message with humour and exemplary clarity." --"Folha de S.Paulo""Highly readable. I encourage you to readthis succinct book and pass it on to your colleagues, even children." --"EMBO Reports, "Professor Jeffrey Powell, Yale

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Olivia Judson, author of 'Dr Titania's Sex Advice to all Creation'
'Not simply the story of a tortoise but the tale of that icon of evolution...highly recommended'

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10 Reviews 5 star:  (9) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.9 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Lonesome George, 4 Jun 2006 By  S. J. Berry "www.learningaboutanimals.co.uk" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Lonesome George is a giant tortoise. Not just any giant tortoise but possibly the last of his kind. He was discovered in 1971 on one of the Galapagos Islands, Pinta, where tortoises had been thought to be extinct. This is his story. Henry Nicholls' account of the George and the plight of giant tortoises in the Galapagos is rich in detail but at the same time light-hearted and compelling. The book not only chronicles George's capture, the efforts to find him a mate and the difficulty of obtaining sperm samples from a reluctant tortoise but also includes a fascinating introduction to the many issues that surround the science of conservation. It also provides insight into how scientists try to solve puzzles such as how tortoises got to the Galapagos islands in the first place and how to assess the potential risks of releasing cross-breed offspring into the wild. The way that the author can put forward many different theories without disrupting the flow is impressive. As a reader you will gladly follow a diversion to a discussion about a different species or how specimens are catalogued in the Natural History Museum and as such this book is much more than just a story about a tortoise. It manages to weave many major concepts of biology into the tale without feeling like a textbook: from Darwin, to DNA analysis, to cloning. George is not just a tortoise but also a conservation icon and this message is loud and clear throughout the book. He is an ambassador to remind us to think about what we are doing to the world, and does a very good job. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The case of a vanishing tortoise, 16 May 2006 By  M. Fowlie "mf322" (Cambridge) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Lonesome George is a somewhat sad figure, spending his days in a research station, the last of his kind left on earth. Henry Nicholls tells us his story and his rise to 'poster boy' for the conservation movement. Written in such a way as to draw you in to the history behind the current events, Nicholls uses George to address the more general problems that conservationists face all over the planet. Never judgemental and never preaching, Nicholls tells us how it is, the problems we face and the possibilities available for the continuation of animals such as Lonesome George. Written in a highly readable style and often amusing, I found this book extremly informative and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone with an interest in history, conservation or just those that like a jolly good read. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A bittersweet delight, 11 Jun 2006 By  J. P. Duffy (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I bought this after being recommeded it by a friend who'd been to the Galapagos and seen the subject of this book with his own eyes. It's a story which will interest anyone interested in conservation, the animal kingdom, our species' increasingly complex relationship with animals (and very importantly the 'idea' of animals). Oh, and of course tortoises. If you've ever enjoyed the essays of Stephen J Gould, the technique of taking a small detail and using it to expound a far bigger story with anecdotes and diversions along the way, this is for you. Nicholls takes us on a steady journey, never losing sight of his protagonist, but not shying from illuminating some of the more obscure (even obscene) corners of naturalism and conservation. all one can say is that there are some VERY passionate people out there protecting Earth's species! Never overly worthy, but thought-provoking, 'Lonesome George' leaves a slightly wistful, sad feeling of impending loss. Nicholls never resorts to easy solutions or black and white arguments about the future of this particular area of conservation. The style is supremely readable, and the all important science never over complicated, but equally never patronising. I had stopped reading books like this just when 'popular science' became ubiquitous. Works like this restore my faith in the genre, and I shall be looking for this author again. One suggestion: Make a TV series! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 10 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Travel Companion I started reading this book whilst on a longish train journey. It took me a chapter or two to get used to the style, but after that, I was unable to put the text down, until I... Read more Published on 23 May 2007 by Melvin Carvalho 5.0 out of 5 stars lonesome george This is a marvellous account of the life of Lonesome George {LG] the last tortoise of the species Geochelone nigra abingdoni found on the remote Pinta island in the Galapagos... Read more Published on 13 May 2007 by G. I. Forbes 5.0 out of 5 stars Stick this on your Christmas list! This is the perfect present for anyone interested in wildlife, ecology, the environment, evolution, history, genetics, herpetology, travel, economics, politics, anthropology,... Read more Published on 3 Nov 2006 by Bea Perks 4.0 out of 5 stars tale of the greater floating tortoises One of the ten titles on this year's Guardian First Book Award, this is the story of Lonesome George, the last surviving giant tortoise from the island of Pinta in the Galįpagos... Read more Published on 28 Aug 2006 by Madly Bobbington-Blythe 5.0 out of 5 stars Longlisted for the Guardian First Book prize I find it truly amazing that the life story of a tortoise ends up being the catalyst for such a fascinating story about nature. Read more Published on 24 Aug 2006 by Mr. Zaid Al-zaidy 5.0 out of 5 stars Not what you would imagine Henry Nicholls has pulled off the trick of writing about a scientific subject for the lay person that is as good as reading a novel. Read more Published on 10 Jul 2006 by Leonor Stjepic 5.0 out of 5 stars shaggy dog ecology Ecology and wildlife preservation have an aura of worthiness about them. Good people doing battle to save the planet and its inhabitants, both human and non-human, plant and... Read more Published on 4 May 2006 by Dr. K. Sanderson Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 10 customer reviews...

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