730 million people—almost 10% of the world’s population—inhabit islands. One quarter of the states represented at the United Nations are islands. Islands constitute almost twenty percent of the total land area of Greece, and exhibit more significant aspects of biodiversity than other global contexts. They are both occasions of triumph and occurrences of catastrophe. Islands are both open and enclosed communities, points of arrival and departure. Islands exert a fascination for the visitor and generate, in the islander, both positive and negative mindsets. The romantic fallacies about self-sufficiency and insularity of islands are constantly challenged. This collection of essays by scholars from some of the world’s most compelling islands—Jersey, Ireland, Tasmania, Corfu, Ereikousa, Prince Edward Island, Malta—explores the psychology of islands, islanders and their visitors, the literatures they stimulate, and the scientific, ethical and biogeographical issues they present in an increasingly globalised world. Corfu, the home of Lawrence and Gerald Durrell in the 1930s, and host to literary and scientific enquiry, is the place where this collection was conceived, and occupies a central place in its discussions.

In this fascinating book, Dr. Treffert looks at what we know about savant syndrome, and at new discoveries that raise interesting questions about the hidden brain potential within us all. He looks both at how savant skills can be nurtured, and how they can help the person who has them, particularly if that person is on the autism spectrum.

This seminal work in several fields—person-centered anthropology, comparative psychology, and social history—documents the inner life of the Tahitians with sensitivity and insight. At the same time Levy reveals the ways in which private and public worlds interact. Tahitians is an ethnography focused on private but culturally organized behavior resulting in a wealth of material for the understanding of the interaction among historical, cultural, and personal spheres. "This is a unique addition to anthropological literature. . . . No review could substitute for reading it."—Margaret Mead, American Anthropologist

An exploration of the human drive to understand and chart the world's islands describes how islands represent spiritual refuge, tranquility, and mystery to people; explores western culture's relationship with islands throughout history, and shares the adventures of explorers and adventurers who contributed to today's Atlantic society. 20,000 first printing.

When twelve-year-old Rixon's great-uncle leaves him an island in his will, Rixon can't quite believe it. Things get even more confusing when the mysterious island can only be located on a very ancient map, and only then by using a big magnifying glass. Does the island actually exist? And if so, does it really belong to him? There's only one thing for it. Rixon is going to have to go there and find it for himself. And what he finds when he gets there might just hold the key to the future of the planet: four children hidden away from society with an altogether different set of values. But soon Rixon is fighting for his own life, left in a cave with a rising tide, floating out to sea on a leaky inflatable and fending off the attacks of a multimillionaire tech giant and his super yacht. Can Rixon keep the island's secrets? And will he even want to. . .?

A fact-filled, colourful celebration of island life, achievements and diversity Discover 100 of the planet's most magical islands - their wildlife, trees, diversity, people, treasures and more - in this beautifully illustrated book. Islands are amazing. On the Galapagos islands, Charles Darwin learnt how bird species evolved over time. In China, there is a natural island that is home to an incredible giant bookshop. On the Norwegian island of Svalbard, there is a vault built into the mountainside that contains seeds of the world's food plants to protect them in the event of a global crisis. South Georgia Island in the Atlantic Ocean has seen many scientific expeditions, including the journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton... There is lots more to discover in this stunning book that celebrates island life, achievements and diversity.

With contributions from an international range of leading authorities on literature, history, art and geography, this book discusses the cultural significance of islands.