Man and Microbes: Disease and Plagues in History and Modern Times

Amazon.com

Whereas many popular books on microbes focus on contemporary pathogens and emerging epidemics, Arno Karlen's Man and Microbes provides a historical look at the coevolution of humans and microorganisms. Karlen speculates that infections are integral to the process of life itself, that the mitochondria in every animal cell, for instance, are likely descendants of infectious agents. He then traces the development of man from primitive hunter-gatherer to urban dweller to world traveler, pointedly analyzing how socio-ecological changes have contributed to the changing incidence of disease. With amazing detail, Karlen describes the origins of historical plagues (smallpox, cholera, influenza, polio, and others) as well as the emergence of scourges such as hemorrhagic fever (Ebola and its cousins), Lyme disease, Legionnaires' disease, and even the deep mysteries of retroviruses such as HIV.

Customer Reviews:

Recommended Read.......2007-05-12

Karlen's "Man and Microbes" is a good read, especially for the novice biology reader. I think everyone interested in the subjects of microbiology, medical history, and evolutionary history would enjoy this book but be aware that you will not get very specific scientific detail, rather a broad overview of history. All around worth the time though.

fascinating, educational, and alarming.......2006-06-15

"Man and Microbes" is a good title for this book. Over time, man's relationship with microbes has changed as human populations have grown, moved, changed from hunter-gatherer to agricultural life and then city life, and exploration and colonization exposed groups of humans to new environments. As new land is cleared for farming, humans stir up microbes that had previously interacted with other species, such as mice or monkeys. Having never been exposed to a given microbe before, man has not developed any tolerance and the severity of the disease is harsh. Every new human population a disease encounters has to go though this introduction, before the effects become less severe. This is why native American populations were decimated when Europeans came to their continents. The microbes themselves also change over time, becoming more powerful, less powerful, or retreating to their original animal hosts. Since this book attempts to span the history of mankind and our interaction with microbes, there is less detail about specific diseases or time periods than a reader might like. I know I was still left wondering about the specifics of polio after reading the book. But I do feel that I have gained much more insight into disease and how it has affected our history. When we developed vaccines and antibiotics we thought that we had defeated the diseases which had killed so many humans, but the microbes continued to change, just as always, adapting to our new defenses. Human populations continued to grow, expanding to previously unpopulated territory, exposing people already vulnerable though poor diet and hygene to unfamiliar microbes. My view of our war against disease has definitely changed through reading this book.

Great Intro, But Lacking in the Details -.......2005-01-28

First and foremost, this book is an oustanding, fantastic introduction to the world of infectious diseases. Because of two factors, however, much informatoin is lost. Firstly, the book is rather short - hardly three hundred pages. Secondly, there are thousands of years to cover in such a volume. As a result, the reader is left with a superficial - albeit insightful - look at the history of diseases throughout history.

Karlen attempts - and succeeds, as best as expected - to do three things in this book. He begins by discussing the disease, or outbreak, at hand. Syphilis, tuberculosis, legionnaire's, marberg, ebola are all covered - en brief. Then, he goes on to elaborate on the social climate of the time, to set a context for the reader. He then discusses the impact that these diseases had on thepopulace.

As a personal fiend of specific, explicit writings on the physiological results of diseases, I was somewhat disappointed: AIDs is hardly discussed, and the physical descriptions and onsets are scant, if existant. However, Karlen's adept critical thinking - he analyzes the social impact, etc of each outbreak - makes this book worthwhile.

Overall, a good introduction. I kept notes through this book on topics that I was interested in exploring further, and was not disappointed.

The Medical History of Mankind.......2004-12-01

This book is about the new diseases that plague mankind, an epidemic of epidemics. There was a faith in social, scientific, and technological progress dating from the 19th century (p.3). For millennia, diseases killed more people than war and famine. Since the 1960s new diseases appeared, and old ones reappeared as resistant to drugs. One cause was the high-speed travel from airplanes. This is similar to the 19th century spread of cholera by trains and steamboats. Infection and disease are as old as life. Man's modification of his environment affects other life, and his own. Germs and microbes also change. The tsetse fly's presence in ancient North America corresponds roughly with the extinction of horses (p.19).

Karlen suggests that hunting and meat eating allowed humans to progress (p.22). Leaving the tropics for temperated climates avoided the parasites that still hinder development. But eating wild game can cause problems (p.24). Pages 26-28 tell of Neanderthal man, more advanced than cartoon drawings. The Agricultural Revolution produced greater plenty and more infections; these changes are inseparable and still occur together (p.29). Plant and animal foods leave distinctive chemical signatures in human bones, as do proteins from marine and land animals (pp.32-33). Going from hunting to farming brought declining health and increasing diseases (p.34). New diseases arose: occupational, nutritional, and infectious (p.35). Intestinal helminths may have caused more damage than the more dramatic viral and bacterial plagues (p.37). Domesticated animal brought new diseases (p.39). Farming created new breeding grounds for malaria, organic fertilizers spread both old and new diseases (p.41). Helminth diseases and intestinal infections create a population sapped of energy and disease resistance (p.42). [Recall Richard Henry Dana's comments on New Englanders who settled in Spanish California; "laid back" could be a medical condition.] The Mystery Disease of Pudoc should be a warning against food imported from Third World countries like Asia (p.44-45). We already know about Mad Cow Disease in Great Britain. This is another warning against "raw fish" or raw meat. Once one person has this disease, it can be spread by the local fish!

Reading this book will provide a short history of how diseases affected human history. Some of it may be known to you, but the book has it all in 230 pages. The Bibliography has extensive references for each chapter. The Index allows a quick reference to the many topics in this interesting book. Page 140 tells how more abundant proteins from meat and dairy products reduced infections and mortality. [Remember this the next time you read vegetarian propaganda in a newspaper or magazine. They have a hidden agenda for their advertisers.] Measles and smallpox were biological weapons of colonialism (p.59). The Imperialism (or Globalism) of the Roman Empire was followed by new epidemics from the disease pools of Europe, Africa, India, and China (p.65). Will we see this repeated in the 21st century, and be followed by a new Dark Age?

A Fascinating and Frightening History of Disease.......2004-06-15

Arno Karlen's "Man and Microbes" is an informative and well-written account of the history of disease that is accessible to specialists and non-specialists alike. It is well-researched and it is written in the natural style of a storyteller. Karlen covers a wide span of time, starting off about five million years ago when our ancestors descended from the trees to the ground and finishing in the 1990s. He looks at a range of diseases, including the Mystery Disase of Pudoc, influenza, Lyme Disease, and AIDS, and looks at them through the themes of change (changes in environment, technology, interaction/behavior, lifestyle) and adaptation (human adaptation to disease and vice versa). Karlen ends the book on a hopeful note, and reminds the reader that while history shows so many instances of disease it also shows many instances of humans adapting to and dealing with disease.

Book Description

Microbes are everywhere. Normally invisible, they are abundant in the air we breathe, in soil, in water, on our skin and hair, in our mouths and intestines, and on and in the food we eat. They make the soil fertile; they clean up the environment; they change, often improve, our food; some protect us from less desirable microbes. Yet most people are scarcely aware that they exist--except when they become ill. Microbes, as "germs", are widely regarded as nasty--unpopular because a few can cause disease and a few can spoil food. Yet collectively microbes present a fascinating world of miniscule creatures, who together encompass all the processes of which terrestrial life is capable: creatures who have profound effects on our lives and surroundings. Extensively updated to include such topics as CJD, genetic manipulation, and gene therapy, this edition describes the extraordinary impact that the microbial community has on our everyday lives in an accessible and easy to read style.

Customer Reviews:

a real classic.......2005-11-18

I agree with the previous reviewer who calls this book comprehensive and readable. Postgate makes learning microbiology fun and accessible, without "dumbing it down" or coming off in a condescending manner. While updates to the 4th edition include (among other things) genetic engineering and gene therapy, the book has thankfully not become just another gee-whiz molecular biology book. While biochemistry and genetics play an important role in differentiating microbes from each other and making them much more functionally diverse than us "higher organisms" are, there is a lot more to learn about microbiology than just molecular structures and mechanisms. Postgate maintains his focus on the microorganisms and their impacts upon society. The result is an admirably small and inexpensive book, with far more balance and clarity than I've found in any of the fat and pricey "fundamental" microbiology textbooks.

Comprehensive, Fascinating & Very Readable.......2000-11-24

I haven't had a chance to read the new up-dated edition, but have an older edition. I enjoyed very much the edition I have & can't imagine that new information that's been added would do anything but improve it.

Dr. Postgate is a professor of microbiology at Sussex University & not only knows his field extensively, but has made a vast & difficult subject [for many] very understandable & interesting. He's not only a scientist but an excellent writer.

If anyone wishes to demystify microbes & learn how they affect us in everyday ways, & the impact they have on our planet, I highly recommend this book.

Average customer rating:
From Microbe to Man
J. V. Wells
Manufacturer: Publications Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MRDN28

Average customer rating:
Invisible allies: Microbes and man's future
Bernard Dixon
Manufacturer: Temple Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Microbiology | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Microbiology | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0851170900

Average customer rating:
Magic bullets: The story of man's valiant struggle against enemy microbes
Louis Sutherland
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Diseases | Medicine | Subjects | Books | AIDS & HIV | Brain | Cancer | Cardiovascular | Communicable | Diabetes | Digestive Organs | Extremities | General | Psoriasis | Viral
ASIN: B0007E1G0M

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Man Against Microbe.
Joseph Bigger
Manufacturer: The English Universities Press 1939.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L5GVAC

Average customer rating:
Man and microbes, (A century of progress series)
Stanhope Bayne-Jones
Manufacturer: The Williams & Wilkins Company and Associates in cooperation with the Century of Progress Exposition
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Microbiology | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006ALP8A

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Man Medicine and Microbe: The Science of AIDS and Long Term Survival
Neal Dickerson
Manufacturer: Monument Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RU04H2

Average customer rating:
Man Versus Microbes
Nicholas Kopeloff
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BQV43A

Average customer rating:
Man vs. microbes,
Nicholas Kopeloff
Manufacturer: A.A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Bacteriology | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000858EK0

Average customer rating:

"Sign me up"

Belize to Guatemala and Tikal: a nine-day adventure guide

Manufacturer: The Artful Nomad Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

Guatemala | Central America | Latin America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0978817303
Release Date: 2006-08-25

Product Description

Designed for travelers interested in an off-the-beaten-path trip, have limited time to plan and travel and don't want an organized tour, this Artful Nomad travelers' guidebook pops a jalapeno in the present-day notions of travel guidebook writing. Nomad author Steve Stratman narrates a 9-day route between Caye Caulker and San Ignacio Belize; Flores, Guatemala; and the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala. He provides a day-to-day schedule with travel connections, activity and outfitter information, hotel and restaurant recommendations. He provides cultural insights and generally spouts a small, witty fountain of peculiar facts and travel-wizened observations. The artfully designed book complements his narrative with vivid photos, illustrations and city and country maps, and website links as well as a having a user-friendly layout to help you navigate the countryside on your own.

Customer Reviews:

"Sign me up".......2007-05-03

I have been a bit hesitant to travel to Central America, though I would like to do so. With this book I feel confident that my travel will be fun and full of adventure but the headaches of planning are taken care of. I am not looking for an ordinary "group tour" type of vacation and I am excited to try travel according to The Artful Nomad! In addition to the practical info, Steve Stratman's humor, storytelling and graphics are a real bonus over other travel books.

Average customer rating:

okay
Great Expectations
Superb guide for nature lovers
Excellent guide to Belize with a valuable eco emphasis
Fully updated and revised in 1999

Adventures in Nature Belize
Richard Mahler
Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Travel with Pets | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1562614312

Customer Reviews:

okay.......2004-03-09

Lots of useful information, but should by no means be the only book you take with you. Entries are sparse and there's really nothing in it that you can't find on a Belize travel website.

Great Expectations.......2001-04-10

We just returned from a 3 week trip to Belize. It was our first trip to Belize, or even any where south of the border. We planned the trip with the help of this book and one other. We found the reccommendations, suggestions, and other helpful info to be right on the mark. We're only slightly adventurous but with the help of this book, felt confident enough to use the local buses, make and change plans as needed mid-stream, and immerse ourseves in the local culture. Our trip was great.

Superb guide for nature lovers.......1999-11-10

If you're looking for more than a lazy week on the beach, this guide is an excellent resource. I just spent a week in Belize and found it very helpful in deciding how to best spend my time and what to see in each place.

In addition to standard guidebook material, it has a chapter on Belize's animal and plant life, which I found to be a great resource while visiting the Cockscomb jaguar preserve. And there's a long section on various outdoor activities (snorkeling, caving, etc.), in addition to more standard guidebook content (regional info, history, etc.)

You always wonder if a guidebook writer really knows what he's talking about, but after using this guide to get around Belize, I can say that Richard Mahler really knows this little gem of a country.

Excellent guide to Belize with a valuable eco emphasis.......1999-11-02

I'm the editor and publisher of Belize First Magazine (Webedition available) the Belize guidebooks on the market. This is one of the best, with good basic coverage of hotels, restaurants, sightseeing, tours, dive and snorkel options, etc. plus refreshingly different coverage of the natural side of Belize, both on the mainland and on the cayes. Richard Mahler knows his stuff.

--Lan Sluder Editor & Publisher Belize First Magazine

Fully updated and revised in 1999.......1999-06-05

I am now the sole author of this book (my friend Steele Wotkyns has moved on to other projects) and spent several months in early 1999 revising the text, photos, maps, and all hotel, restaurant, transportation, and outfitter listings. I've been traveling regularly to Belize since 1986 and have been particulary fascinated by its natural beauty, Maya ruins, diverse cultures, and national parks. If you have a spirit of adventure and a desire to experience everything this delightful country has to offer, I think you'll find this book the most useful among all the available guides to Belize. It's chock full of practical information (from on-line addresses and websites to hotel recommendations and adventure travel specialists) as well as some gorgeous photos by the country's best nature photographers: Tony Rath and Kevin Schafer. Obviously, I'm biased, but I hope you'll check out this new edition if you or a friend are considering a trip to Belize.

Michelin NEOS Guide Guatemala Belize, 1e

Average customer rating:

Great even for a Guatemalan Expat!

Michelin NEOS Guide Guatemala Belize, 1e
Michelin Travel Publications
Manufacturer: Michelin Travel Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 206850801X

Book Description

Entre les plus hauts volcans d'Amérique centrale et des fonds marins spectaculaires, ces deux petits pays révèlent une palette infinie de couleurs, de climats et de reliefs. À travers d'anciennes cités perdues dans la jungle, des fêtes locales et des coutumes ancestrales fascinantes, vous découvrirez le monde maya d'hier et d'aujourd'hui.Itinéraires et cartes vous mèneront des marchés bigarrés de l'Altiplano aux ruelles coloniales d'Antigua, du c¦ur de la forêt tropicale aux cimes des temples de Tikal, du lac Atitlán aux îlots de la mer des Caraïbes. Grâce à une large sélection d'adresses commentées, vous pourrez loger dans un ancien couvent colonial ou dans une maison sur pilotis face à l'Océan, déguster le meilleur tapado, assister à un concert de marimba ou de punta, partir en quête de tissages traditionnels ou faire de la plongée dans les atolls.

Customer Reviews:

Great even for a Guatemalan Expat!.......2000-10-13

Although I have not lived continuously in Guate since '87, I travel back home once a year so for the holiday season (my parents still live back there). You would think that I know all the ins and out of my country, but things keep changing...even some of my old pals and relatives can't keep up. In addition, I now have the monumental task of showing off my country to my American husband. I found this guide to be extremely comprehensive, well structured, well informed, up to date and beautifully presented. There are a lot of guides that don't do justice on the beauty and spectacular color of Guatemala and this one pulls it off! A must for any future or armchair traveller to Guatemala...el pais de la eterna primavera.

Adventure Guide to Belize (Adventure Guide to Belize) (Adventure Guide to Belize)

Average customer rating:

Fake reviewers?
"Adventure" Guide for Tourists
Not the same book!
A must
Helping the adventure-oriented traveler

Adventure Guide to Belize (Adventure Guide to Belize) (Adventure Guide to Belize)
Vivien Lougheed
Manufacturer: Hunter Publishing (NJ)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Adventure Guides | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1588432890

Product Description

The only English-speaking country in Central America, Belize is home to 500 species of birds, innumerable Maya ruins, as well as the world's second largest barrier reef. Over 80% of the land remains covered with primeval forest and 30% has been set aside as national parks/preserves. Completely rewritten, the 5th edition has a new layout for easy navigation and abundant new information. All manner of tips and recommendations for the first-time or veteran Belize traveler. Encouraging eco-travel, Vivien Lougheed profiles many of the unique archeological sites, wildlife preserves, marine sanctuaries and conservation areas. Explore firsthand Belize's myriad attractions. Visit Belize City, the Turneffe Islands, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Corozal, Punta Gorda and more! Photos & over 40 maps.

Customer Reviews:

Fake reviewers?.......2005-03-12

I havent read the guide myself but as I often use the recommendations here on Amazon it seems worth pointing out the 2 highly dubious almost identical 5-star reviews by Midwest Bookreview and Library Bookwatch who have obviously never actually used this guide and probably havent even opened the cover either. Shame on you

"Adventure" Guide for Tourists.......2004-01-23

Before my first trip to Belize, I bought several travel guides. The title of this book suggested an orientation toward the more active, adventurous traveler. From the way the author wrote, I don't think that she could have kept up with my 8-year-old.

She seemed to value places that were quiet and comfortable. She seemed a bit intimidated or uninformed about some of the more active jungle type adventures.

Belize is a great country to visit, both for the adventurous and for those who like to lie around on the beach. However, I bought this book expecting information about the more challenging types of vacation. Next time you write an "adventure" guide, send someone who likes to crawl through narrow cave entraces, hike through the jungle at night, and get wet and muddy.

Not the same book!.......2003-10-01

We used Explore Belize, which was the guide written by Harry S. Pariser, when we last went to Belize. It was a new edition o Adventure Guide to Belize. It was a big improvement in style. Unfortunately, this guide is a step back. It's clunky, with poorly-drawn maps, and so so background information. We really feel deceived that this is being called a "new edition." !

A must.......2003-06-18

Belize holds three of the four coral atolls in the Caribbean, hosts the world's only jaguar reserve, and has the highest waterfall in Central America. The author's updated book is a tour guide helping the adventure-oriented traveler take advantage of these rare visions as she tells how to make the most of Belize, from locating a local tour to visiting backroads and less traveled areas of the country. A must for any traveler who wants to experience the outdoors of the country.
Library Bookwatch

Helping the adventure-oriented traveler.......2003-05-17

Belize holds three of the four coral atolls in the Caribbean, hosts the world's only jaguar reserve, and has the highest waterfall in Central America. The author's updated Adventure Guide To Belize is a tour guide helping the adventure-oriented traveler take advantage of these rare visions as she tells how to make the most of Belize, from locating a local tour to visiting backroads and less traveled areas of the country. A 'must' for any destination traveler who wants to experience the outdoors of the country.

Adventure Guide to Belize (Adventure Guide to Explore Belize)

Average customer rating:

All we needed!
improved new edition of a solid guidebook
A fine guide

Adventure Guide to Belize (Adventure Guide to Explore Belize)
Harry S. Pariser
Manufacturer: Hunter Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adventure Guides | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

Belize: And Northern Guatemala (Travellers' Wildlife Guides)

ASIN: 1556505574

Customer Reviews:

All we needed!.......2001-04-30

This excellent guide got us there and back in one piece, with all the travel and cultural information we needed to have a rewarding trip. It is easy to read, adequately covers the region, and includes various budget options. More importantly, it guided us off the beaten track for diving, birdwatching, caving, and jungle-trekking (as well as for a ruins romp). While some of the prices and accomodations may now be dated, the book is still a gem for its coverage of the national parks and Belize's wide variety of natural treasures.

improved new edition of a solid guidebook.......1999-02-10

The new edition of Harry Pariser's Belize guide (formerly called Adventure Guide to Belize) is a considerable improvement over past editions. The design, incorporating a two-column format, cleaner typography, and more boxes and breakouts, is vastly improved; it's far more readable than previous editions.

Harry Pariser is a seasoned travel writer, author of guidebooks to Costa Rica, Barbados, Jamaica and other destinations. He's done a professional job in updating his very detailed material in the Belize guide, although I'm hoping the next edition will have more on-the-ground revisions, especially on the remote cayes, Caye Caulker, and Placencia. Still, this edition is packed with information, with details not available in other guides.

--Lan Sluder

Editor & Publisher

Belize First Magazine

A fine guide.......1998-08-15

Explore Belize is packed full of helpful tips on planning a trip to and touring Belize and the outlying cayes. Extremely useful for finding off the beaten track spots.

Belize Pocket Adventures (New Pocket Adventure) (New Pocket Adventure)

Average customer rating:

Belize Pocket Adventures (New Pocket Adventure) (New Pocket Adventure)
Vivien Lougheed
Manufacturer: Hunter Publishing (NJ)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Ecotourism | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1588435083

Average customer rating:

Fantastically detailed guide on a beautiful country!
Hidden Belize Review

Hidden Belize (The Hidden Series)
Stacy Ritz
Manufacturer: Ulysses Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1569751986

Book Description

At the heart of this enchanting guidebook are several little-known facts: more of Belize lies inside the boundaries of a reserve than outside; an astonishing 80 percent of the country's original rainforest still stands; the world's second-longest reef lies just offshore; and this tiny country boasts more than 25 parks, refuges, and archaeological preserves. It is in this sun-drenched wilderness that Lowell Thomas Award- winning travel writer Stacy Ritz uncovers a path to adventure. She details how to hike through primeval rainforest, scuba-dive deliriously beautiful reefs, canoe down rivers edged in jungle, bicycle to secret coves on hidden islands, and explore 3000-year-old cities of towering stone. She also recommends her favorite accommodations, including island retreats like Lighthouse Reef Resort, where lovely cabanas are strung along a powdery white beach; and jungle lodges like Chaa Creek, where dazzling butterflies drift in and out of open windows.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastically detailed guide on a beautiful country!.......2001-08-30

There are honest reviews/comments about the hotels and restaurants. And out of all the Belize guidebooks I purchased, this one had the most info. on the outer islands and atolls. A definite must!!! :)

Hidden Belize Review.......2000-06-29

This book was terrific! I read it immediately. It gave me that extra information to finish planning my trip. With little extra's that I haven't seen in other books, I would reccommend this book in planning a trip to Belize, even researching the country. It has so much to offer!

I was interested in the Ambergris Caye part of the country and this book had extensive info on the island as well and other "hidden" islands and treasures to see.

Book Description

The world's second-longest barrier reef, three of the Western Hemisphere's four coral atolls, more than 400 fish species and a host of invertebrates sheltering in warm Caribbean waters make Belize an irresistable destination for divers and snorkelers alike. This guide will introduce you to the wonders both underwater and topside that have earnt the country its reputation as an ecotourism hotspot.

In This Guide:

Detailed dive information to 82 sites
Full-color photos throughout
Easy-to-read maps of dive regions
Guide to marine life
Travel logistics and topside attractions

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