Australia Books

Riversleigh is a major World Heritage listed fossil site, primarily discovered in the late 1970s in Queensland, Australia. Since the first discoveries an abundance of prehistoric Australian fauna dating from 25 million years ago to the present has been recovered, preserved in limestone sediments and ancient caves, which testify to a formerly lush rainforest climate prevalent as Australia drifted north from Antarctica. It is unfortunate that most of Australia's present day, rather unique animals are in fact, just a remnant of what once was, when formerly higher rainfall spanned much of the continent. Many lineages and individual species, represented by the abundance recovered at Riversleigh, are now extinct and forgotten, except of course by a few enthusiastic palaeontologists, as described in this book. Readers will be surprised and delighted at the peculiar forms and fantastic colour illustrations and reconstructions presented in this book, and what things can be learnt of their extinction over time, as Australia drifted north.

Exquisitely illustrated, with on-site field notes and diagrams should keep the enthusiastic amateur fossil hunter entertained. An abundance of technical notes, photographs of real specimens and colour reconstructions, many of which uphold Australia's reputation for the unusual and/or the alternative, in terms of evolutionary development. Evolutionary experiments abound with examples which include 'thingadonta' (nobody really knows what it is), several species of marsupial lion, Tasmanian 'wolf' (thylacine) ancestors, flesh-eating kangaroos, several failed lines of kangaroos, several platypus ancestors, giant marsupials such as Diprotodon-the world's largest, a giant wombat, koala ancestors, numerous bats, possums, and creepy critters of all types, are presented. No primates unfortunately, and no bears or dogs, but it is interesting how some of these vacant evolutionary niches were filled by marsupial alternatives-especially in the case of the 'Tasmanian wolf', and the carnivorous marsupial 'lion'. And it is interesting to speculate what kind of alternative type of 'marsupial primate' may have (could still!) have arisen. An upright 'hominid'-like marsupial, wandering the Australian plains-who knows if Australian rainforests hadn't have all but disappeared.

The book puts the various animals and lineages into perspective, describing the changes of climate and habitat loss over the last 25 million years as Australia's climate became drier as the continent drifted north. Many lineages were/are in slow decline before the arrival of the aborigines and Europeans, as Australia's rainforests progressively shrank.

The colour illustrations and landscape reconstructions are a major feature, and they are outstanding. This book is highly recommended for the enthusiastic fossil hunter, or for those just curious in Australian animals and palaeontology in general.

An excellent book, full of facts and historical items. Excellent photos of the ships of the RAN.

This book is nothing short of spectacular! I am fully impressed by the photography, the artistic layouts, color schemes, map layouts, attention to detail and overall balance betweena art and science. Notwithstanding, the scientific text and information presented in this beautiful monograph is cutting edge, but the overall impression given to the reader is that you're looking at the finest work ever published and dedicated to this paricular subject. Shell collecting, in and of itself, represents a very small microcosm in zoology, but Australia's Spectacular Cowries has elevated this science to a great new and higher level. Mr. Jackson should be commended for an excellent job, and I believe that this work has raised the bar for all other publishers attempting to capture the essence and soul of shell collecting. This book is truly a piece of art! I have never seen any work on the subject that even compares to this effort. Many others I know will want to share and appreciate the pleasure of owning this top of the line jewel for decades to come.

This is a fantastic book. It's very informative and has great photos of harness horses from our past. Recommended reading.

This immense coffee-table style book has long been popular in Australia. With incredible photographs by Australia's most renowned photographer Reg Morrison, the viewer is taken to every part of this giant country. The shots are aerial as well as macro, giving a true feeling to what most people never see about this grand country.

Writer/Editor Helen Grasswill comprises the narrative which includes detailed descriptions of the countryside, it's geological make-up and the country's landscape heritage. The writer and photographer compiment each other's work immensely. This has to still be the most comprehensive book on the natural landsape of Australia.

This is a great resource for children and adults. The author covers different Pacific cultures (New Guinea, Hawaii, etc) and describes their unique contributions to world music. The text and book design (an ocean-blue motif that perfectly complements the subject) are both outstanding.

I used the 86 edition as the basis for designing a 2500 day Grand Tour of Oz. It gave me detailed info on not only the major cities, but the minor ones as well. I really liked the set up where the places described were in the order you you reached them as you drove along. I intend to get the lastest edition to take with me on my mini-GTO of Oz later this year. The book is well worth the money spent!

Beautiful photographs, poetry, and a stunning original orchestral soundtrack that just makes you want to fly to Australia. The CD also incorporates soundscapes from where the photographs were taken that truly immerse you in the images with the live orchestral music. The music expresses the grand expanse of Australia's landscape, and captures the emerald rainforests in track 3. The sounds immerse you in rain storms, gentle thunder, night time in the outback and pristine rainforest streams. It is a hardcover coffee table book with the CD inside the front cover.

I only have one 'coffee table' book, and this is it.

This inspiring and moving book, beautifully captures in words and over 120 full-colour photographs the essence of the isolated continent that is Australia. The author, Darren Jew, was inspired by his father's travels in Antarctica to pursue a career in nature photography, and has photographed much of the world's wildlife and landscapes. However, it is his native Australia, where he grew up and lives, and where he spent 8 years as photographer for the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service which is his greatest inspiration.

In this book he takes the reader on a journey from the abundant life of the great barrier reef and tropical rainforests, to the stark beauty of the red centre. Along the way he shares with us his understanding of and love for the unique plants and animals that make this isolated continent their home.

Why do I love this book? I have travelled in Australia many times, and it is a truly magnificent and fascinating place to which I will return again and again. The author has captured this magic with breathtaking images and lyrical yet factual prose. It's clear he knows and understands the land, its plants and animals. The breadth of material is outstanding. You can dive down to the depths of the great barrier reef and swim amongst the beautiful corals and cruising barracuda; sit on a sandy athol watching the sun go down or catch crabs scuttling to their holes; climb the misty ranges of the blue mountains or gaze in awe at the majesty that is Ayers Rock.

Darren's range as a photographer is as wide as his knowledge of the land. His portaits of wildlife are superb - some burstling with action such as courting terns and diving whales, others graphic still lifes -the brilliance of the the colourful cup moth on a palm leaf, the beady eye of the watchful yellow python. They're all here: kookaburras and koalas, possums and platypus, cassowarys and crocodiles. There are over around 60 colour plates of all the well known Australian fauna and a few you won't have even thought of.

And the landscape photographs match the wildlife ones in both quantity and quality. Darren really does 'write with light' and captures the spirit of a place perfectly. You can almost feel the water dripping from the tree ferns in the rainforests, imagine the scent of silver barked eucalypts against the deepest blue sky and feel the parched red desert and sacred rocks.

Just as he captures the spirit of the creatures and landscapes, he too captures the moment. One of my favourite pictures is a glassy wave breaking onto the reef, every drop of water frozen at that moment in time - now where's my surf board?

Whilst many of Darren's pictures are spectacular panoramas, he is also adept at capturing the more intimate scenes: a close up of delicate forest fungi dripping with dew; a tiny turtle hatchling making its dangerous trip back to the ocean.

The words which accompany the images are both inspiring and illuminating - simply but engagingly written, with a vast store of first hand knowledge to draw upon. You can tell that the author loves his home and wants to protect and nuture it.

Whenever anyone asks me what Australia is like, I show them this book. Then they book their Qantas ticket. Really, it's that good.

This is a sensational collection of breathtaking photographs of natural wonders and major cities of Australia. This is the best collection of photographs of Australia I've ever seen and I live here. There is a small amount of information on each place but not sufficient that you could plan your entire journey or use it as a travelling guide companion. Buy this for the photographs. This would make an excellent present for either Australians to give friends, host families, relatives and so on in other countries or for people outside of Australia to buy just to have sensational photographs to look at. All the major cities and natural wonders are in here. This would also make an excellent book to use for school projects and the like. If you are interested in Australia you have to own this book.