Walking the Jungle

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 1 JUL 2003

This information-packed guidebook isn't for armchair travelers: although Coningham includes brief anecdotes of things he's seen and done in the jungle, this is more reference volume than page-turning travelogue. The author offers readers firsthand, practical knowledge of how to prepare for a trip to the Amazon and what to look for and do once they're there; as someone who's been living, teaching, exploring and guiding in the region for decades, Coningham knows his material. The book's organization can be odd in places: an entire section on bird species (including all their Latin names) comes just a few pages in, while key data on dangerous species and necessary gear are found in the book's midsection. Readers should probably consult the table of contents to locate whatever facts they need--from how to prevent disease to what food and drink to pack--and then add the book to their pack, since Coningham's extremely detailed advice (such as a step-by-step description of how to remove Dermatobia hominis from beneath the skin) would be tough to commit to memory.