Jack London travelled extensively through the Southern Seas, living exciting but often frightening adventures that he later reflected on his short stories. London, a troubled adventurer who committed suicide, had a special sensibility to perceive, mix and express the juxtaposure of beauty and horror which reigned in non- or semi-civilized islands of the South Pacific. Frequently, his tales talk about the brutal confrontation between the white people and the aborigines, sometimes taking one side, sometimes the other, but most often simply depicting the sad consequences of the relationship. One exception to this is the tale that gives its name to this collection: "On the Makaloa Mat" is an extremely beautiful story about two Hawaiian sisters of mixed descent (3/4 white, 1/4 indigenous), from a very wealthy and noble family. Bella, the elder sister, tells the story of her one and only love, of course an unfortunate one. The story abounds in depictions of the lush landscapes of the Hawaiian islands, and of the strange social life of mid-XIX century. It is tragic but sweet, and I'd be surprised if someone hated it. Other tales are not sweet at all, like "The Chinago", about the absurd execution of a Chinese laborer; "The Terrible Solomon Islands", about a cruel joke played on a naïve Englishman by brutal colonists; "Koolua the leper", a short but epic story about man's indomitable lust for freedom, even in the most adverse and tragic circumstances; and "The inevitable white man", a bloody, horrific and dark tale of adventures.

The stories abound with murders, blood and cruelness, but they're never cheap or vulgar. In fact, I give them five stars because I consider them to be masterpieces of storytelling. London has no mercy, but beneath the surface his characters are full of life, that plenty, wild life embedded in the white men who conquered the world, and the aborigines which suffered the conquest. Extremely recommended.

At last the Pacific islands are beginning to take their rightful place in the annals of world history. It is this book that takes a major step to establish that historical perspective.

The Pacific islands are dispersed across one-third of the Earth's surface. All the major island groups have been inhabited for the last two thousand years, some for more than six thousand years, yet a detailed prehistory of the region has been lacking until now. This book, written by a noted Pacific anthropologist and archaeologist who has studied the area for more than thirty years, takes a tour of the diverse islands of the Pacific, beginning in the west in Melanesia, then across the many small islands of Micronesia. The tour concludes in the sprawling area covered by the islands of Polynesia, which extend from New Zealand to Hawai'i and eastward as far as Easter Island. Along the way, the author conveys the personal drama that he experienced in uncovering artifacts that reach back into a deep time. At one place he unearthed a small piece of carved white bone. When he turned it over, he saw the two eyes and the subtle nose of a stylized human face. On another island, while enjoying a beach picnic with his host family, spearing octopus and gathering mollusks, the author took a walk along the beach and discovered, a short distance from where they were camped, a distinct rock layer filled with pottery fragments. Those fragments would prove to be a record of people who had lived on the island more than two thousand years earlier. This book is both a personal narrative of modern-day exploration of the Pacific and an account of the rich prehistory of the region.

The book draws generously from the detailed archaeological work conducted by the author and by others in the Pacific region--most of it done since the Second World War--as well as from studies of language and biology that answer such fundamental questions as where did the Pacific islanders come from and when and how did they settle the thousands of islands at least two millenia before any Europeans entered the Pacific? To most people, the Pacific islands are no more than a place of idyllic scenery and the people of the Pacific are the willing subjects of fanciful tales. Now, through the enlightening text of this book and the many striking photographs that it contains, the Pacific islands take on a fuller meaning. And the many cultures of the Pacific take their proper place in the remarkable story of the development of civilization.

Any one interested in creating an education system that is child centered, flexible and interesting should read this book.
The Met, a public highschool in Providence, RI., is the focus of a 2 year study by the author that culminated in this book. This is a special place where real learning takes place and children are valued for their interests and their individualism.
It almost makes me want to go back to highschool or atleast move to Providence so that my children can go there. Thank you to the author, eliot Levine, and to everyone associated at the Met for being brave enough to go against the tide and create a school that will hopefully be the model for all schools in the future.

This book, along with Keith Brockie's Wildlife Sketchbook, have been a great influence on my life. The drawings and text obviously reveal a deep love and knowledge of Scotland's flora and fauna. I began doing art again after reading these books. Anybody with a love for Nature-as it really is and not some romantisized version-will love these books too.

A ground-level look at baseball and life in the Dominican Republic's underclass, this book looks at a former major league MVP (George Bell), a hyped but failed prospect (Silvestre Campusano, who was supposed to be better than Jose Canseco coming up), a scout who pioneered recruiting Domincian players (Epy Guerrero) and organizations that harvested the best players from the country (Toronto and LA). Many of the players in the book have moved on or retired since 1990, when the book was written. but its stories are well-told, by turns dramatic and funny. A classic that deserves a cult. Collected by some. The writer never wrote a follow-up. Too bad.

A beautifully organized guide, "The Orchids of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands / Las Orquideas De Puerto Rico y Las Islas Virgenes" by James D. Ackerman and Maria Del Castillo is a botanist's delight when it comes to identifying orchids commonly found in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Published by the University of Puerto Rico Press, this hardbound, bilingual book allows readers who are admirers of the islands' ecological systems or anything else related to them, to clearly identify the many forms of orchids found on the Eastern Caribbean islands.

The book, which only can be obtained via special order, is beautifully designed and features paintings of many orchids, which I found unique, because it definitely captures the essence of flora more so than a photograph. The book will make an excellent gift to anyone who is fascinated by the island's and their contents. Overall, this is a beautiful, informative book for botanists or botany lovers out there.

This book has such an interesting number of characters and places that it is hard not to love it. I loved tring to solve Trevor's mystery before he could. I didnt manage it. I got to the very last chapter and still hadnt figured it out. Everyone should read this book.

Richard Haddaway mixes humor and pathos in true Texas fashion leaving the reader captivated, laughing and crying all the way to the end. It is a shame this novel was not published by a larger company. I think it is something many people could enjoy from all parts of the nation. I hope he writes another.

Dorothy Sterling describes the Outer Lands (The Cape, Long Island, Nantucket, etc.) very eloquently, using understandable, interesting language. She adds charming local folklore and local sights, as well as maps and drawings that contribute so much to the book. This book is great for leasure reading as well as a textbook for a marine biology class.

The legends and folk lore embodied in the culture and values of Pacific island peoples are showcased in Pacific Island Legends, a single, easy to read volume that is beautifully illustrated with the woodcut images of Connie J. Adams. Educators Bo Flood, Beret Strong, and William Flood have successfully collaborated to present forty-four legends from all over the Pacific, serving to provide cultural access that will be appreciated by scholars and non-specialist general readers alike. Pacific Island Legends is a highly recommended addition to any personal, academic, or public library multicultural myth, legend and folklore reference collection.