APtravelnews-Book Reviews—November 20th, Port St Lucie, FL.—From Correspondent Bob Epstein, Book Reviews—When I received the following two books from the Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford, I knew just from the cover on in, they would make fine educational and enjoyable reads!
“The Amazing World of Flyingfish” by Steve N.G. Howell was an edifying and exciting read. Having an extensive knowledge of offshore fishing myself, and always amazed when a school of flyingfish took off spooked by my moving boat, or by predators such as billfish, dolphin fish and raiding tuna, this fine, 45-page book describes in photography and true researched words of knowledge, by someone even more detailed and excited by these marvels of nature, only enhanced my enthusiasm more when before reading this book, the little bit I did know, blended with my new education of just how incredible these small fish are. In all the oceans, seas and waterways of the world, only Exocoetus volitans named by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758, truly fly, well actually glide, and truly zoom over the waves and ocean swells to escape from being eaten.
Early Mediterranean sailors actually thought that “Exocoetus” meaning; “sleeping outside” in Greek, from the belief that these flyingfish left the oceans to sleep on shore at night. The amazing facts about these fish are embodied in this “little big book of knowledge” about them, and the fascination they have been for airplane designers, to cooks in Barbados that serve them up as the specialty of the Island Nation. There are 90 images, all interesting in their depictions of this, and a few other images of amazing sea creatures.
The second book is about The Bee; A Natural History by Noah Wilson-Rich. “To be or not to be, that is the question” and when Shakespeare penned that question in centuries past, I know he did not have the honey bee in mind, but today because of the terrific threat to the Bee’s existence all over the world, this eminently important insect, that gives you the very fruits of the vine and tree, (BIBLICAL: “THE LAND OF MILK & HONEY”), the flowers of the field and forest and so much more is in great danger of disappearing altogether.
“Earth is home to 20,000 bee species, ranging from flourescent-colored orchid bees and sweat bees, to flower-nesting squash bees and leaf-cutter bees. This book is the most accessible source of information about bee species, written for non-scientists by some of the world’s leading bee experts and researchers. Beautiful art- work compliments and clarifies the text, which is kept brief enough to cover as much information as possible, while keeping general readers engaged. If you eat food (ha) you need to know about bees. This little critter pollinates fruit, veggies and seed crops that we humans need and rely on to survive. Bees are dying at an alarming rate. Understanding the complex interactions between bees and agriculture, environment, and humans influences how we address food supply questions, agricultural economics, and development in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world!” Just remember too, no bees, no flowers! The book has 224 pages, in hardcover it is 8 x 9, and costs $27.95. Check out Google with The Bee A Natural History by Noah Wilson-Rich, with contributions from Kelly Allin, Norman Carreck & Andrea Quigley.