The Inner Islands

Blending history, oral history, autobiography, and travel narrative, Bland Simpson explores the islands that lie in the sounds, rivers, and swamps of North Carolina's inner coast. In each of the fifteen chapters in the book, Simpson covers a single island or group of islands, many of which, were it not for the buffering Outer Banks, would be lost to the ebbs and flows of the Atlantic. Instead they are home to unique plant and animal species and well-established hardwood forests, and many retain vestiges of an earlier human history.

Seychelles is a small island nation located off the east coast of Africa. The country consists of 115 islands in total, with the three largest being Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue. Seychelles is known for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and abundant marine life. The nation has a diverse population, with its native Seychellois people and various ethnic groups from India, China, and Africa. Seychelles has a vibrant culture, influenced by its varied history and cultural heritage. The country was a French colony for nearly 150 years before becoming a British colony in the 19th century. Seychelles became an independent nation in 1976, but its culture still bears traces of its colonial past. The nation's official languages are Seychellois Creole, English, and French, reflecting its diverse history. Today, Seychelles is a popular tourist destination, offering a unique blend of culture, natural beauty, and outdoor adventure.

The second largest order of mammals, Chiroptera comprises more than one thousand species of bats. Because of their mobility, bats are often the only native mammals on isolated oceanic islands, where more than half of all bat species live. These island bats represent an evolutionarily distinctive and ecologically significant part of the earth’s biological diversity. Island Bats is the first book to focus solely on the evolution, ecology, and conservation of bats living in the world’s island ecosystems. Among other topics, the contributors to this volume examine how the earth’s history has affected the evolution of island bats, investigate how bat populations are affected by volcanic eruptions and hurricanes, and explore the threat of extinction from human disturbance. Geographically diverse, the volume includes studies of the islands of the Caribbean, the Western Indian Ocean, Micronesia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Zealand. With its wealth of information from long-term studies, Island Bats provides timely and valuable information about how this fauna has evolved and how it can be conserved.

Most yachtsmen dream about cruising to an exotic destination; this is the book that will turn dreamers into planners. 24 classic cruises are fully mapped, measured and costed, showing how they are perfectly possible whatever your skill level. From weekend cruises around the British Isles to a voyage to Antarctica, and from Greek island cruises to an escape to the Virgin Islands, this book explores where to go, why, how to get there and what to expect en route. The book breaks down each cruise into important considerations, such as what type of boat is needed, what level of skill or qualifications are required, whether it is a suitable journey to undertake with a young family, what possible dangers might influence any decision (from extreme weather to the threat of piracy), and most obviously, cost. Covering popular, exotic cruising destinations such as Thailand and the Virgin Islands, as well as unexpected, almost secret routes along the US Intracoastal Waterway and French canals, as well as proper adventures (including both Atlantic and Pacific crossings), this inspirational may be the starting point for the voyage of a lifetime.

Incorporating systems theory, teachings from mythology and religions, and the human sciences, The World Peace Diet presents the outlines of a more empowering understanding of our world, based on a comprehension of the far-reaching implications of our food choices and the worldview those choices reflect and mandate. The author offers a set of universal principles for all people of conscience, from any religious tradition, that they can follow to reconnect with what we are eating, what was required to get it on our plate, and what happens after it leaves our plates.