Deserts: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Deserts make up a third of the planet's land surface, but if you picture a desert, what comes to mind? A sandy wasteland? A drought-parched dust bowl? An alien landscape devoid of all life forms? In this marvelous Very Short Introduction, geographer and popular science writer Nick Middleton reveals that deserts are places of immense natural charm and rich biodiversity. Typified by drought and extremes of temperature, they can be harsh and hostile, but Middleton shows that many deserts are also spectacularly beautiful, and on occasion they can teem with life. The author highlights how each desert is unique, describing their frequently fantastic life forms, extraordinary scenery, and long history of ingenious human habitation. Written by a respected scientist who enjoys a wide following for his Going to Extremes television series on National Geographic, Deserts tells you everything you ever wanted to know about these extraordinary places and captures their importance in the working of our planet.
Series: Very Short Introductions
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (December 20, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0199564302
ISBN-13: 978-0199564309
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.4 x 4.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: Be the first to review this item
Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #56 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Ecosystems > Deserts #526 in Books > History > Historical Study & Educational Resources > Historical Geography #2590 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Earth Sciences
Deserts: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Ethnomusicology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) African Religions: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) The Hebrew Bible as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Kafka: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Comedy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Borders: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Exploration: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) The Buddha: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Medieval Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Nuclear Weapons: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Free Speech: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Judaism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Coral Reefs: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Mountains: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
