Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate: Exotic and Unseen Costa Rica

How many times do we look in the mail and see a letter from the same nonprofit organization looking for money, even after we've sent the check? The key to marketing is brand recognition and message repitition. How many times did Jack Ewing mention Hacienda Baru in his book? I'm not sure. All I know is I want to visit. This book has all of the basic conservation messages in it, packaged in stories starring the flora and fauna of the Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge. Its messages can easily be shared with young adults, as the book is written simply enough, and arranged in a manner that each chapter can stand alone as a lesson. Some stories seem incredible: snakes striking after being beheaded, toucans savaging other bird species, etc., but the author has not spoken from anything but what he and others around him have experienced. This is a great book to read either for literary enjoyment or as a primer before a trip to Central America.

I have to tell you that this was one of the very best nature books I have read in a long time. It has great stories, it is super-engaging, and it has a wonderful yet not overpowering environmental message.

Most books on Costa Rica focus on travel tips, but MONKEYS ARE MADE OF CHOCOLATE: EXOTIC AND UNSEEN COSTA RICA takes a different turn, examine how animals, plants and people interact in that country and providing over thirty essays which come from a conversion of a cattle ranch into a popular eco-tourism destination. Stories and essays provide literally decades of observation of the Costa Rican natural environment and its management. A 'must' for any who plan on seeing the country and who want to know more of its wildlife and habitats. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

All I can say is: read it, you'll love it! (as well as learn more than you probably learn in a year of science class, change the way you think about the world, have a better understanding of what nature really is, be highly entertained, want to gather everyone you know and read them entire chapters [or the whole book!] be recomending this book like crazy...you get the idea)

As the author of Explore Costa Rica, a travel guide to Costa Rica, I've known Jack Ewing for more than ten years. Jack owns and runs Finca Hacienda Baru, one of Costa Rica's oldest eco-lodges. Jack has had many fascinating experiences during his years of residence, and he tells about them in this book. I learned a lot, and you will too! I recommend this book to anyone interested in tropical rainforests, ecology, Costa Rica, and animals.