Drawing on extensive ethnographic research, Anita Carrasco examines the socio-environmental impacts of contemporary mining on the Atacameños, an indigenous community in northern Chile, and their home in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions in the world. Carrasco describes the impacts of short-term mining corporations like Anaconda Copper that arrived, destroyed, and departed, and explains the positive and negative memories of those left behind. Embracing the Anaconda: A Chronicle of Atacameño Life and Mining in the Andes is recommended for students and scholars of anthropology, sociology, environmental studies, race and ethnic studies, and Latin American studies.

In the spring of her thirty-third year, Maggie O'Toole Loveless's staid life swings into a wild new rhythm when her philandering husband leaves her and her beloved Great-Aunt Emily, an international courtesan, dies from injuries received in a car crash. To fulfill her aunt's last wish, Maggie takes Emily's ashes to the Yucatan and the famed ruins of Chichen Itza. There she encounters IxChel, the Moon Goddess, who claims her as a daughter. Maggie calls on IxChel and her great-aunt's spirit to help her meet the challenges of this strange journey: a search for Emily's abandoned lover, an encounter with a prowling jaguar, and a near-rape by a corrupt customs officer. In the midst of her struggles, Maggie meets the lover of her dreams, promised to her long ago by the same Moon Goddess who now initiates her into ancient Mayan ways and helps her find a new and empowering sense of self.

Anaconda tells the unexpected story of the world's largest snake. Written by Jes�s Rivas, the undisputed expert on the biology of anacondas, this is the first authoritative book on the biology of the green anaconda. In this book, Rivas describes his experiences over a quarter of a century, exploring the secret life of these fantastic snakes, including: their diet, movement patterns, life and tribulations, survival, behavior, and fascinating reproductive life. More than just presenting facts about anacondas, Rivas tells his story about studying them in the field. Anaconda presents a comprehensive treatment of the natural history of the elusive green anacondas. Drawing on twenty-five years of research on this reptile in the wild and in captivity, Rivas delves into the biology, behavior, demography, reproductive habits, and diet of the anaconda, as well as issues relating to its conservation. Rivas uses an ecological and evolutionary framework to present his research and supplements hard data with descriptions of his research methods, including how he tracked down the anaconda for observation and study in wild. The resulting book is a complete and engaging examination of the world's largest snake. The rich photographs provided, paired with Rivas' storytelling, makes this the perfect book for anyone looking to learn (or even learn more!) about this mysterious snake.