Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo
Herpetologist Jackson is candid, funny, and precise as she chronicles her demanding and illuminating experiences collecting snakes, frogs, and toads in the flooded forests of the Congo. A Canadian in love with snakes practically since birth, Jackson wanted to do her part in extending our knowledge of the planet’s precious and endangered biodiversity and had no idea of just how grueling fieldwork would be in the Republic of Congo. Sharply observant, disciplined, considerate, and tough, Jackson is immensely entertaining in her exuberantly detailed descriptions of swarms of termites, ants, and mosquitoes; unpalatable food; and painfully rugged campsites. Add to that nearly surreal negotiations with officials, confounding and emotional relationships with guides and assistants, medical misadventures, and moments ludicrous and dramatic as she chases down poisonous snakes, handles motley animal remains, and struggles to preserve and identify priceless specimens and forge cross-cultural scientific partnerships. Jackson is a dynamo, and her riveting, amusing, and revealing tales from the biodiversity front line awaken fresh appreciation for hands-on scientific inquiry and the wonders of nature. --Donna Seaman