Superb.

I had already been impressed by Monbiot’s style of journalism / investigating from what I’d read before of his travels in ‘No Man’s Land’ and ‘Poisoned Arrows’.

I enjoy greatly the way he writes, with clear concern, but at the same time clearly articulating a very concise and accurate picture of what he believes needs to be done to solve the problems raised. He’s realistic in acknowledging what’s feasible and what’s impossible, and states very simple common-sense solutions that could be implemented easily if the people who have a say were prepared to look the other way.

Out of the three travel books of his that I’ve read (this, ‘Poisoned Arrows’, and ‘No Man’s Land’), I would say this is a good place to start with what he’s setting out to do, although I would recommend buying the most recent prints of it – the copy I read was an early one, so the only ‘status update’ of the current situations was from 1991. From reading the other two titles from a more recent print, these more recent progressions and updates are much more accurate.

For people interested in such matters as the state of the Amazonian Rainforest (of which I personally know very little) I would think this has established itself as necessary reading. Monbiot’s thoughts and questions probe deeply for important and sometimes glaringly obvious answers which appear to not be answered.