砂漠の美しい景観と、注目すべき気候について読者に啓蒙する一冊です。著者は、砂漠が乾燥した荒地であるとするありふれた先入観に異論を唱えます。そしてその豊かな生命体、そして人の居住地としての長い歴史を明らかにしていきます。
  

• Explores the extraordinary nature of the desert and its landscape
• Written by a scholar with an international reputation in the field
• Demonstrates the great variety within deserts, their climates, landscapes, wildlilfe, and human use

  
Deserts make up a third of the planet's land surface, but if you picture a desert, what comes to mind? A wasteland? A drought? A place devoid of all life forms?
  
Deserts are remarkable places. Typified by drought and extremes of temperature, they can be harsh and hostile; but many deserts are also spectacularly beautiful, and on occasion teem with life. Nick Middleton explores how each desert is unique: through fantastic life forms, extraordinary scenery, and ingenious human adaptations. He demonstrates a desert's immense natural beauty, its rich biodiversity, and uncovers a long history of successful human occupation. 
  
This Very Short Introduction tells you everything you ever wanted to know about these extraordinary places and captures their importance in the working of our planet.