The Song of the Dodo
Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction
by David Quammen · first published 1996
67% recommend33% neutral
David Quammen's book, The Song of the Dodo, is a brilliant, stirring work, breathtaking in its scope, far-reaching in its message -- a crucial book in precarious times, which radically alters the way in which we understand the natural world and our place in that world. It's also a book full of entertainment and wonders. In The Song of the Dodo, we follow Quammen's keen intellect through the ideas, theories, and experiments of prominent naturalists of the last two centuries. We trail after him as he travels the world, tracking the subject of island biogeography, which encompasses nothing les
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
David Quammen is a treasure. The Song of the Dodo is one of my all time favorites.
on “The Jaguar Is Made for the Age of Humans” ↗The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen
on “Ask HN: Read any good books lately?” ↗…along ocean currents Oh interesting! I just started reading The Monkey's Voyage: How Improbable Journeys Shaped the History of Life by Alan de Queiroz and I think I'm going to enjoy it as much as The Song of the Dodo many years prior. Historical biogeography is very fascinating!
on “Scientists uncover the ancient origins of baobab trees” ↗Anything placed in the same realm as Song of the Dodo is a recommendation I take to heart. Thanks!
on “Scientists uncover the ancient origins of baobab trees” ↗There was a popular book about this written over 20 years ago, The Song of the Dodo. https://www.amazon.com/Song-Dodo-Island-Biogeography-Extinct...
on “Fractured Forests Are Endangering Wildlife, Scientists Find” ↗…can, thus, recommend journalistic potboilers such as “Rats, Lice, and Men” and “Plagues and Peoples”. More seriously, David Quammen, given the background he gained in evolutionary biology from writing “Song of the Dodo”, in “Spillover” gives what’s probably the best elucidation of zoonotic pathogens. Previous zoonotic pathogenic outbreaks have killed more than probably all wars combined. Disruption of habitat by human…
on “Mass hysteria is making coronavirus worse than it is” ↗