Cassell New Titles catalogue: Environment & popular science

February 1997

A clear, authoritative and visually delightful book which describes how quickly our planet is undergoing changes which constitute the start of a massive extinction crisis. With the author's own superb photographs, the book celebrates biodiversity, its process and threats to it, and explains the vital need to initiate protection programmes to stop the errors of destruction and halt the pace of species extinction. Whilst celebrating the richness of life, it also warns of our fate if we do not recognise the ever growing risks to the very spice of life.

• The best popular account yet of just what biodiversity is all about
• Clear explanation of the importance of the need to protect species as integral to our world's survival
• A book to enthrall those who love nature as well as one to inspire concern and action

Olympuser

Winter 1997

In complete contrast to his photography book [Images Below], Chris has written, under his other hat, a very absorbing book about natural life and the crisis we all face through species extinction and the pollution we have inflicted upon our world.

As we would expect the photography is excellent, and the text is based upon his background experience from a zoology degree and many years of travelling around the world. We are constantly reminded of the perils we may face from abusing our world, but the warnings seem somehow distant, with no immediate effect upon our daily lives. This book brings alive what is really happening, suggests what we might do about it, and shows, through historical experience, what will happen if we just sit back and do nothing.

It really is a must for every family as a Christmas present. There's something in it for every age, and at the price it's very affordable. It is available from your local bookshop, or contact the publisher Cassell/Blandford in case of difficulty. The ISBN is 0713723904.

Booklist

1 January 1998

Howes, a fellow of Britain's Royal Photographic Society, blends his love of wilderness, his biological training, and his photographic skill (previously displayed, for example, in To Photograph Darkness: The History of Underground and Flash Photography, 1990) in a lavishly illustrated, wide-ranging survey of 'biodiversity and the extinction crisis'. Ad Howes acknowledges, 'Complete volumes have been written on the theories which appear as the minutia of Spice'; therefore, his goal is to offer an overview for the nonspecialist reader of current notions on 'how life began, what affects its species, and where it is heading.' That overview includes genetics and geology, geography and ecology, the chemistry of pollution, and the agricultural impact of a diminishing gene pool. Spice contains dozens of illustrations (Howes' photos and historical photos, maps, charts etc.); the text constitutes two-thirds of its contents.

Non-UK orders

If stock is available for all post destinations, selecting any set of options will allow you to place your order immediately.

If stock is limited, for example with a single copy of a second-hand book, it will be assigned to UK stock. If you require posting to an address outside the UK, selecting your options may not allow an order to be placed, even though stock is available. If this is the case, please contact us to enable the options you require.

Please see our FAQs relating to deliveries, and the Delivery page linked from the bottom of each page, before placing your order if time is an important element for your order.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL DESCENT SUBSCRIBERS OUTSIDE THE UK

We regret that due to the volatility of Royal Mail postage charges, we have been forced to remove the option for two-year subscriptions. We have also been forced to remove the option for economy mail to the EU, given indications that Royal Mail intends to remove this service.

All international mail is now being despatched in paper wrapping using Royal Mail customs and address labels mandated by them. We also regret this means we can no longer indicate the last issue of your subscription on the mailing sheet or supply a reminder to renew with the final edition. Please track your own subscription ending or check with us at any time. Subscriptions begun since September 2021 have a comment added in your account (under the tab for the order) which records the final issue to be supplied.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EU CUSTOMERS

On 1 July 2021 the EU removed all exemptions for tax and customs duty on low value items posted from the UK to the EU, meaning that although VAT is 0% on books and magazines in the UK, it is charged within the EU and the VAT (potentially plus a handling fee) now apply to all orders to the EU.

Ideally, the VAT should be paid at the point of posting, but doing so requires registration with an agent to handle the payments, and this is incredibly expensive and not financially viable. To be clear, all small publishers in the UK are in the same position and we are unable to post any items to the EU with VAT or other duties paid.

Ordering any item from Wild Places, including a Descent subscription, requires that you accept responsibility of paying the VAT and any other local charges on delivery.

To be clear: Wild Places will NOT cover any charges levied by your country; it is your responsibility to accept these when placing an order.

We apologise for the situation, but it is outside our control. We will maintain a link from the left-hand column on the home page with the latest updates. If you are an existing subscriber to Descent and have not replied yet to our enquiries concerning your deliveries, please make contact.

NOTE: Subscribers in Norway or Switzerland (which are outside the EU) should place your order on the Subscription International page or contact us first.