On the Backs of Tortoises

Darwin, the Galapagos, and the Fate of an Evolutionary Eden

De: Elizabeth Hennessy

Narrado por: Donna Postel

An insightful exploration of the iconic Galápagos tortoises, and how their fate is inextricably linked to our own in a rapidly changing world.

The Galápagos archipelago is often viewed as a last foothold of pristine nature. For 60 years, conservationists have worked to restore this evolutionary Eden after centuries of exploitation at the hands of pirates, whalers, and island settlers. This book tells the story of the islands' namesakes - the giant tortoises - as coveted food sources, objects of natural history, and famous icons of conservation and tourism. By doing so, it brings into stark relief the paradoxical, and impossible, goal of conserving species by trying to restore a past state of prehistoric evolution. The tortoises, Elizabeth Hennessy demonstrates, are not prehistoric, but rather microcosms whose stories show how deeply human and nonhuman life are entangled. In a world where evolution is thoroughly shaped by global history, Hennessy puts forward a vision for conservation based on reckoning with the past, rather than trying to erase it.

©2019 Elizabeth Hennessey (P)2020 Tantor

Listening in prep for a trip

I liked this book bc it was about conservation without being too preachy. Author also looks at the inevitable human side of native peoples living and dealing with the goal of restoring the turtle populations. She does this by examining not by wagging her finger and not addressing very real economic issues of the native people when “science” moves in.

Galápagos

Excellent review. As July 2023 Galápagos continue to have significant poverty and a poor water system. It is important to have a good eco system but it is not correct to have at the cost of a poor health system for the humans that take care of it on the Archipelago’s.

interesting subject, lackluster presentation

Despite my innate interest in the subject, this book just didn't hold my attention very well