D'Orso's ethnography of the people who live on the Galápagos Islands is at times interesting and other times, very confusing.

Overall, the picture is pretty bleak. The Galápagos face pressures both external and internal from humans, and D'Orso does a fair job detailing both. However, his whirlwind tour of the Islands and its people left me confused as to just who was who, and their relation to one another. A glossary of names, places, and the Spanish terms he uses throughout would have gone a long way towards relieving some of that.

The organization of the book also contributed to my confusion. There was a vague chronological order of book based on when the author met the people he was describing, but he would also go back into the Islands' history to detail events specific to those people at that point, which muddled things. ( )

For anyone who has been to or is considering visiting the Galapagos Islands, this book is a must read. It's also an interesting read for anyone interested in preserving the environment and learning how government impacts the work of ecologists and scientists. The author interviews many different inhabitants of the Galapagos and those associated with the area. The book delves into topics as diverse as the island folklore, Ecuador's policies towards the islands, and fishing practices around the islands. It is an eye-opening view of how a corrupt and unstable government is affecting one of our most precious and interesting environments. I had the opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands last year, and this book enhanced my travel experience. ( )