The Forest and the Sea: A Look at the Economy of Nature and the Ecology of Man [B1619]

1980 PB reprint of the 1960 landmark study, in excellent condition. Winner of the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science in 1960. From cultural biologist Marston Bates (1906-1974), a classic work of natural history that explores the principles of ecology by comparing tropical rainforests and tropical seas, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life. The book examines how different ecosystems function, showing that boundaries between them are artificial and that all life forms are interdependent. Bates uses vivid descriptions of various environments, from forests and oceans to deserts and grasslands, to illustrate the 'economy of nature' and humanity's place within it. In the final chapter, 'Man's Place in Nature', Marson urges humanity to protect diversity and ominously asserts: "We have become a disease of nature - perhaps a fatal disease. And when the host dies, so does the pathogen."

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Amazingly, for a book on ecology, well worth reading 64 years after publication, especially the last chapter."; "One of two books that made me want to become a biologist and, eventually, a biology teacher and historian of biology. I read it while taking a course on the Ecology of the Everglades in Jan. 1976."; "This book holds up. It's still both interesting and enjoyable, even though (of course) some bits are a little dated. I love how the author takes the broad, holistic view, including brief explorations even of philosophy, religion, history, and geology. And I managed to learn a lot, too. If only more people took it to heart that man is truly part of nature, that we're all integral to one another."; "Surprising this isn't more widely read. Came upon it by accident and it's a nice little gem. Highly prescient."; "Marston Bates obviously loved biology; reading this book I could feel the passion of a man who believed that his work was worth spending his life on, and that his life's work was worth recording carefully for other people. He must have been as passionate about writing as he was about biology: this is a well-written book. The rhythms of the prose echo those of the sea; the expertly-balanced sentences support his comparisons of seemingly disparate communities. This book is a treat for literate people, the kind of find that makes scouring the shelves of used-book stores seem like a sensible pursuit. Unfortunately, you may have to scour the shelves of several bookstores to find it, but if you can, get a copy of this jewel."