Priceless: The Vanishing Beauty of a Fragile Planet

This is a beautifully photographed book and the language that accompanies these images is heartfelt. This is a must have book in every home and classroom.

The combination of breath-taking photography, and insightful and inspiring prose create an awesome yet humbling book. Its appeal is universal--everyone can learn, if we listen to its message.

This book is one of the simplest, yet one of the most inspiring and enjoyable books I have ever read. The photography in it is amazing and Greive deffinately has a way with his words. In addition to this intriging visiual presentation, there is much to learn in this book as well. Learn about endangered and threatened animals thoughout the world while looking at unique images of them. This is a must read for everyone and it should be a required book for schools throughout the world to read instead of many other required books that have no appeal to students. In addition, on the inside cover it reads, "BTG (author) is donating all his author royalties from the worldwide sales of Priceless to his principal wildlife conservation charity, the Taronga Foundation." Thats gotta say something about the book in itself!!!

Reading through Priceless is a bittersweet experience. It is a joy to look at the wonderful photography of Mitsuaki Iwago, and also a joy to learn amazing facts about some of these animals and to detect the passion for conservation and wildlife protection in author Bradley Trevor Greive's text. But there is a sadness: we learn how difficult it is for most species to adapt to the vast changes made by humans to this planet, so difficult that many of them could not do it, and no longer exist.We learn that "even polar bears from the Arctic Circle and penguins from Antarctica, creatures from the two most isolated and pure economic systems on earth, have a substantial build-up of toxic industrial chemicals stored in their fat deposits"; we learn that the first bomb dropped on Berlin during the Second World War killed the only elephant in the Berlin zoo; that the last passenger pigeon in existence died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. The most important lesson from the book, however, is that if we don't do something soon to stop poisoning our world, ultimately us humans will be the ones suffering.But the book ends with a message of hope, telling us that there are ways we can make a difference and giving suggestions of things we can do. Greive finally pays tribute to Gerald Durrell, celebrated zoologist, conservationist and author. The last 25 pages give information and facts about all the animals featured in the photographs throughout the book.I strongly feel that if everyone read through this book, they would appreciate their planet a little more and want to help things change for the better. If I could afford to do so I would give it to everyone I know. It is very easy to read, the text on each page limited to a few sentences which apply to the photographs. The photos range from light-hearted and whimsical to completely awe-inspiring. The perfect gift for animal lovers and environmentalists, but I urge everyone to take a look. It is an inspiring experience.

every person should read this book, especially those who have no interest in saving our planet's creatures. after reading and SEEING this book they will!