The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 6 February 1999
by Wade Davis
The subtitle of this book could almost read Travels to Landscapes about to Vanish from the Face of the Earth. Wade Davis, anthropologist and ethnobotanist, presents these essays of his travels to such exotic extremes as the far northern Canadian shield and the rainforests of Borneo. Though the cover of this book sports an image from Tibet, the majority of these essays are about Latin American travels and searches for exotic medicinal plants. His approach to the often controversial topic of natural hallucinogens and shamanism is very even handed and gentle (contrast with the logical leaps of Terence McKenna). The most entertaining essay describes the Toad-Licking phenomenon of the 80s. The common theme throughout the book is the tragic threat that all these various cultures are experiencing from modern development. All the essays are informative and intriguing. Davis' writing is explicit and clear. The adventures exotic and often disturbing, particularly considering the pressures on the landscape. There is also a common theme of the connection between culture and the landscape it inhabits. This subtle insight can leave the reader with a faraway wondering about life and history.