recommended reading

All the following books can be ordered through:
www.pacificislandbooks.com and www.amazon.com

A History of the Pacific Islands
Steven Roger Fisher
A dynamic account of the peopling of the Pacific, and its impact on world history.

The Exploration of the Pacific
J.C. Beaglehole
The journeys of Cook, d'Urville, Tasman and other European explorers, as well as those of the early Pacific Islanders.

A Fragile Paradise - nature and man in the Pacific
Andrew Mitchell
A broad look at the natural history of the entire region, woven together with the authors fascinating travel stories.

Nomads of the Wind - a natural history of Polynesia
Peter Crawford
Ecology and anthropolgy - the migration of plants, animals, and humans from island to island; how settlers changed the indigenous habitat.

The Sea Around Us
Rachel Carson
One of the most successful books ever written about the natural world; fascinating essays on the fragility and the importance of the ocean and the life that abounds within it.

The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook
Shelley Johnson
A comprehensive guide to sea-kayaking, everything you need to know to get started.

The Snorkellers Guide to the Coral Reef - from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean
Paddy Ryan
A small guidebook to help identify the most common South Pacific reef fish; nice photos combined with good text on fish and other forms of marine life.

Fiji's Natural Heritage
Paddy Ryan
An introduction to the flora, fauna and ecology of Fiji; for general readers as well as for natural history enthusiasts.

Birds of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa
Dick Watling
The definitive guide to birds of the South-west Pacific, and an insight into the ornithological history of the region.

Birds of the Fiji Bush
Fiji Museum Publications
A handy guide for sea-kayakers and trekkers, available at Fiji's Nadi International Airport or the national museum in Suva.

Moon Handbooks Fiji
David Stanley
Coverage of Fiji's accommodation, activity and travel options, with photos, illustrations, maps and practical travel tips.

Lonely Planet Fiji
Lonely Planet Publications
A general travel guide to Fiji, with useful sections on Fijian and Fiji-Hindi languages.

The Happy Isles of Oceania - paddling the Pacific
Paul Theroux
One man's 18-month sea-kayak journey through the Pacific islands; disarming observations, high adventure and memorable characters.

An Island to Oneself: Six Years on a Desert Island
Tom Neale
The strange but true story of one man's years by himself on a remote Pacific Island.

Romancing the Islands: Journeys in the South Pacific
Kim Gravelle
A collection of humorous and bizarre essays and anecdotes, from a writer with more than 25 years of South Pacific travel experience.

Kava in the Blood
Peter Thompson
A personal and political memoir, combining memorable stories of growing up in the islands with fascinating insights into Fiji's political turmoil in 1988.

Speight of Violence
Michael Field
The story of Fiji's political crisis of 2000.

Searching for Paradise - a grand tour of the world's unspoiled islands
Thurston Clarke
An examination of the connection between humankind and islands; a blend of sociology, history, politics, personality, and ancient and popular culture.

Myths and Legends of Fiji and Rotuma
A.W. Reed and Inez Hames
A rare collection of traditional tales.

The Trembling of a Leaf (Tales of the Pacific)
W. Somerset Maugham
Classic short stories set in the South Pacific islands, timeless and evocative.

The Seacoast Reader
The Lyons Press
An anthology of ocean-related writing.

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