if you believe in God or not, i dare you to look at this book and not be in awe of nature. my husband and i enjoy looking at this book any seeing God's wonderous creation. anyone who has children should get this book. they probably won't read every word, but they will learn a lot from the pictures.

Breathtaking! What an incredible collection of photographs of our amazing planet. A great addition to the dvd collection.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK TO HAVE. NOT ONLY IS IT INFORMATIVE, BUT THE PICTURES ARE TRULY A PIECE OF ARTWORK.

I have not had the chance yet to review this product. I'd thought I'd purchased the dvd set for this same title, so was surprised to receive a book. I decided not to return it, but I know I will enjoy it.

It does have various bits of info that arent included in the videos (probably due to time constraints). The pictures are very nice but a couple do have a tiny bit of graininess to them. All in all a very good purchase and companion to the Planet Earth video.

I heard about the Planet Earth DVD set on Oprah. She said "I just love this, it is my favorite gift to give", so I felt complied to check it out. $60+, way to much for my income, so I was bummed until I saw it also came in a book. WOW, so worth the money. The photography is simply spectacular. If you are interested in seeing the many different aspects of our planet earth, or have a desire to travel and see the world, as I do, this book is for you. You will not be dissapointed. Makes a great gift for anyone into travel, or who likes the Discovery Channel. People of all ages are gauranteed to take something away from this. Check out this world's greatest rivers, mountains, caves, and vast deserts, all from the comfort of your home. My mother-in-law was over last week, and even though we were supposed to be having my son's b-day party, she couldn't put the book down.

Planet Earth would make a great present for a young person who is interested in the natural world. It opens up views from the microscopic level up to the perspectives from the moon that unveil the Earth and its animals and plants in new ways. It's almost as though you have just arrived on a spaceship to an unknown world. Most of the book will seem unfamiliar to you.

Where many books about the natural world are filled with seeming hyperbole ("you can see this feature from space"), Planet Earth does its best to display the basis for those references by making the statement and showing the photographic evidence. As a result, this book makes a serious impression on the range of challenging environments on Earth, the reasons for each challenge, and examples of how animals and plants have successfully adapted to those challenges. Darwin would be envious that you can see more in one book than he could in a lifetime of study.

If you didn't see the television series or the DVD, here's the structure:

Whole Earth (overview of how the various regions differ and why)
Frozen Poles (the Arctic and the Antarctic and why they differ)
Great Forests (huge bands of trees in temperate climes)
Great Plains (the semi-arid regions)
Grand Sands (extended deserts both hot and cold)
Mountain Heights (the highest peaks and their environments)
Underworld (caves)
Fresh Water (lakes and rivers)
Rainforests (tropical jungles)
Shallow Seas (Coral-inhabited areas)
Open Ocean Depths (the bulk of the seas)

Each section contains information about the geology, physics, and chemistry of the region's character and origins. A number of stories about the plants and animals that inhabit the areas are included. The section also displays some of the most magnificent views. The book is generously illustrated with the text being less than half of the pages printed.

The book's main drawback is that the photographs are often not reproduced very well. As a result, views may be muddy, indistinct, and hard to interpret. Take a few extra seconds and stare closely, and you'll usually see something remarkable. The book was obviously edited to provide the most unusual views, even where reproduction would suffer some. I think the decisions were usually pretty wise.

I cannot emphasize enough how fascinating I found the book. By taking me to so many places I will never see (restricted caves, unusual mountainsides, rare tropical locales, and Antarctica), I was able to extend my understanding of life on Earth in important new ways. I'm sure I'll be integrating the views for years to come.

I especially commend the sections about the whole Earth, Antarctica, untouched forests, limitless deserts, and caves as showing me new dimensions of why wilderness is important to us. Ansel Adams would have liked to see and photograph these sites.

Take a good look!

An absolutely astonishing book. There is no need to go into depth in a review because this is a must have. The picture quality is amazing and the content of this book is simply breathtaking. These are images you will remember for the rest of your life.

Even after seeing the entire series in HD on a beautiful television there is nothing that can compare to these unbelievable printed images with full story included.

This is the best for a coffee table book or perfect for your den. Your visitors will thank you!

Copy is interesting; photography is terrible. A disappointment as a companion piece to the excellent DVD series.

Amazing accomplishment; it outdoes anything of its ilk I have seen before. Breathtaking photography and a narrative that addresses complex issues in a common sense format. The rigors they had to go through to make this stunning photography happen were arduous. Living for months in Antartica and swimming repeatedly with sharks with no protection from them are but two examples. The result is a series rich in its detail and far surpassing similar efforts.

Incredible photos and information. This was my son's favorite gift for holidays, and Amazon's pricing was the best, and of course the amazing quick delivery in perfect condition. Couldn't have been better!

First things first, there is no way the spectacular Discovery Channel/BBC series Planet Earth could be captured in its sensory overload glory in printed form. However, series producer Alastair Fothergill has done a fine job capturing the highlights while summarizing the key facts shared in the series in an eminently readable fashion. In an inevitable coffee-table book format, the impressive result is still so far above any other book in its category that a purchase is most worthwhile.

The book divides neatly into eleven chapters which approximate the eleven parts of the series beginning with a more holistic view of the planet and then tackling the major ecological biomes - mountains, deserts, plains, oceans, shallow seas, fresh water, rainforests, jungles, the polar caps, and most intriguingly, the underworld of mostly unexplored caves. Made up of what looks to be screen captures of the vivid images that startled onscreen, the chapters bring each biome to life mainly through the flora and fauna that inhabit them uniquely (with the exception being the crossover intrusion of man). The book's subtitle - "as you've never seen it before" - is no misnomer, as you will likely be as floored as I was in seeing images both intimate and majestic in scope. Although secondary to the photos, the text is genuinely educational without the intellectual tone that alienates the layman with an excess of scientific names and facts.

Even if you have seen Luc Jacquet's documentary, March of the Penguins, the chapter on the polar caps will strike you with another fresh perspective on Antarctica, for example, the rare sight of a mother polar bear and her cub emerging from their den. Fans of Jacques Cousteau's early 1970's TV documentaries will be regaled by the three chapters devoted to varying marine life. The most fascinating chapter is focused on the so-called underworld where we learn over 90% of the world's limestone caves have yet to be explored. Here you will see amazing images of the variety of depths and textures these caves have, as well as the nocturnal wildlife. Mexico's Cave of Swallows can hold the Empire State Building, and the Lechuguilla Caves in New Mexico have recently been discovered as a marvel of intricate gypsum crystal formations. You need not have been enthralled by the TV series to buy the book. It stands on its own.

First things first, there is no way the spectacular Discovery Channel/BBC series Planet Earth could be captured in its sensory overload glory in printed form. However, series producer Alastair Fothergill has done a fine job capturing the highlights while summarizing the key facts shared in the series in an eminently readable fashion. In an inevitable coffee-table book format, the impressive result is still so far above any other book in its category that a purchase is most worthwhile.

The book divides neatly into eleven chapters which approximate the eleven parts of the series beginning with a more holistic view of the planet and then tackling the major ecological biomes - mountains, deserts, plains, oceans, shallow seas, fresh water, rainforests, jungles, the polar caps, and most intriguingly, the underworld of mostly unexplored caves. Made up of what looks to be screen captures of the vivid images that startled onscreen, the chapters bring each biome to life mainly through the flora and fauna that inhabit them uniquely (with the exception being the crossover intrusion of man). The book's subtitle - "as you've never seen it before" - is no misnomer, as you will likely be as floored as I was in seeing images both intimate and majestic in scope. Although secondary to the photos, the text is genuinely educational without the intellectual tone that alienates the layman with an excess of scientific names and facts.

Even if you have seen Luc Jacquet's documentary, March of the Penguins, the chapter on the polar caps will strike you with another fresh perspective on Antarctica, for example, the rare sight of a mother polar bear and her cub emerging from their den. Fans of Jacques Cousteau's early 1970's TV documentaries will be regaled by the three chapters devoted to varying marine life. The most fascinating chapter is focused on the so-called underworld where we learn over 90% of the world's limestone caves have yet to be explored. Here you will see amazing images of the variety of depths and textures these caves have, as well as the nocturnal wildlife. Mexico's Cave of Swallows can hold the Empire Stet Building, and the recently discovered Lechuguilla Caves in New Mexico is a marvel of intricate gypsum crystal formations. You need not have been enthralled by the TV series to buy the book. It stands on its own.

The first thing that a reader notes, as he or she leafs through the pages of this volume, is the spectacular color photos. This work is a companion to a series on Discovery Channel and BBC. The goal of the series and the book is described by David Attenborough in the Foreword: "So this remarkable and beautiful book should stand not just as a revelation and celebration of the wonders that our planet still retains at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It must surely also be seen as an eloquent rallying call to all of us who care for the Earth's welfare to redouble our efforts to protect those wonders that still survive."

The "chapters" of this work include the following: The Whole Earth, Frozen Poles, The Great Forests, The Great Plains, The Great Sands, Mountain Heights, The Underworld, Fresh Water, Rainforests, Shallow Seas, and Open Ocean Depths.

Some wonderful photos. . . . In "Frozen Poles," we see some of those great photos of Emperor Penguins huddled together to protect themselves against the cold, we see the marches from the sea after having filled their bellies with food, and so on. The photos remind us of that great recent movie on the lives of Emperor penguins. On pages 44-45, there are three wonderful photos of a polar bear family.

Some stunning satellite photos are included. On pages 160-161, there is a satellite view of rain clouds being pushed across India by monsoon winds. On pages 222-223, there is another wonderful satellite photo of the world's largest river delta.

The chapter on rainforests (Chapter 9) is also beautiful. Whether satellite photos or more "up close" pictures, this chapter shows us the lustrous appearance of rainforests. We also see the animals living in the rainforests.

And so on.

And though the photos are breathtaking, the text itself speaks to the issues raised in each of the chapters. Pages 188-193 combine text of a recent cave discovery (in New Mexico) with some neat pictures of those same caves. The combination of text and photos is compelling.

I must confess that this review does not contain much analysis or critique, but this is one of those books where I choose simply to appreciate the artistry of the photos and go from there.

Erica Asahan wrote:

There are several segments from show that were captured beautifully and are included in this book. By far, one of the best books of my generation. I am greatful to have this in my collection and I would recommend it to all!

Erica Asahan

Interesting information abounds between the outstanding photographs. The "Overview" section tells readers that the four planets nearest the Sun are made up largely of solid material with high melting points; further away are the gas giants. Mercury, closest to the Sun has an average daily temperature varying from a daytime +806 F. to -292 F at night. Venus has an atmosphere rich in CO2, resulting in an average surface temperature of 896 F. Reading on, is see that the moon was created when a planet about the size of Mars hit the Earth, with pieces flying off that coalesced to become our moon.

The South Pole has the same number of hours of daylight over a year's time as the Equator - it's just more seasonally concentrated and weaker because of the oblique angle involved. However, it is far colder at the South Pole and the North, primarily due to its 9,515 ft. altitude vs. 0 at the North Pole.

"Planet Earth" then goes on to provide greater detail on each major region as one moves to higher latitudes.

I just got off the phone with my father who was the recipient of this book from me, and I quote: "This is a work of art! I will read this over and over! The photos are out of this world! The quality of the paper used is outstanding!" I bought this book based on the reviews already written. I'm so glad I did!
PBH, Maui, Hawaii

The photography is beyond excellent! A beautiful book that brings the animals to life! Wonderful book for kids of all ages!

This is a beautiful book. It took a lot of dedication to do such a product. Our planet is a work of art, yet so fragile.We need to take care of it. It is a great book, created with lots of love and passion.

Wow!!! my 8 year old loves this DVD. Very interesting to watch. Does have some parts that my 8 year old has a trouble watching, this is the section of life and death in the food chain. Otherwise highly recommended, in HD DVD is Awesome....

I have not had a chance to even break the seal on this new book as yet. I skimmed this book at a bookstore, and then decided to buy it. If you saw the mini-series on Discovery or Animal Planet, you will be impressed with this book as well. For those with children, this book is a must.

A great companion book to the dvd series.

Amazing photos and wonderous facts regarding everything imaginable to the unusual. Our family has enjoyed this educational and spellbinding photography.

Beautifully photographed and informational, this book should be on every nature lover's shelf. The "Planet Earth" series, which I watch weekly on Animal Planet, is even more jaw-dropping. I thank the generous and unbelievably courageous people who have the cojones to make this possible!

Julie Townsend
Metairie, LA

This book was purchased as a memorial gift to a library. It is a visual feast. The library was very pleased with the gift.

I was a little disappointed with this book. I have been watching the series on TV and the photography is brilliant. The book is not the best quality and the photographs are missing the brillance you would have expected with the quality of the series.

Children and adults of all ages should take a look at this. It is absolutely amazing.

Incredible and unbelievably beautiful photographs -- wonderful perspectives!

The book is wonderful. I have not watched all of the DVD's yet, but am sure they will not disappoint...
John

This book is a masterpiece. It is full of beautiful photography. The text is easy to read and understand.
I have it displayed on a table in my living room and when guests are over the book always catches someone's attention. They can't resist picking it up and always exclaim over it and want to know where I found this book! It has even caught the attention of teenagers!

Most of the books images have been poorly resized upwards. Almost every image is marred by pixelization -- Zebra stripes have jagged stairsteps. While original digital footage was shot with enough resolution for HD DVD, those screen captures do not have enough detail for good prints.

This is a great book, I got it for my nephews and they absolutely love the pictures. It's a pretty big and heavy book but they drag it around all over the house so we can read it to them while they look at the pictures.

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY 10 YEARS OLD NEPHEW. HE JUST LOVES IT! THE PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO LOVES ANIMALS. YOU HAVE TO GET THE DVD'S TOO.

Beautiful and rarely seen photos. A "feast" for the eyes (and brain).

This is a beautifully produced high quality book suitable for display on your coffee table to be enjoyed by all. It appears (to me) that all magnificent photographs and much of the text are the same as that found on the DVD series with the great advantage of not requiring a DVD player to partake of all the splendor our universe still affords us. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

This is an extraordinary undertaking. The filming is excellent, the explanations and commentary are topnotch. The animals come alive on the screen.We especially like David Attenborough's dialog. The background of filming with the crews gave us a great appreciation of the dedication they had in making this accurate and spectacular series.

This book is a wonderful companion to the Discovery Channel series. It provides breathtaking pictures of many shots seen in the television show but also some incredible new ones (My favorite was of the polar bear on the blood-covered iceberg after slaughtering a seal. So primal and beautiful at the same time.) The text is easy to read and very informative and leads you through each section throughly. A must have for any nature/animal/photography lover!

Its Loaded with pictures from the series on DVD set. At first I found the DVD set to be terribly expensive for my pocketbook (limited income), and while looking for this DVD set, I came across this book and ordered it INSTEAD, thinking it would be the only thing I could afford. I love it!! Worth the money! BUT after having seen some of the series on TV and hearing what they had to go thru and the years it took to get this series made for us, I thought WOW, it is TOTALLY worth the price and More even!!! I am so grateful to the makers of this series for bringing us a message of the earth and its occupants and how fragile and strong it is at the same time.. Brings a new appreciation of it all !! I highly recommend the book for those who maybe cannot afford the DVD set, but I hope all who can will consider getting both!!! I DID!!

If you want a book with great photos of animals and nature then this is the book for you. It would be a great book to display on your coffee table. I find a book like this interesting, but would not buy it and prefer borrowing it from the library.