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Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate: Exotic and Unseen Costa Rica
Discover the mysterious and fascinating ways in which animals and plants...and people...interact with one another in the rainforests of Costa Rica. Author and naturalist Jack Ewing shares a wealth of observations and experiences, gathered from more than three decades of living in southwestern Costa Rica, home to some of the most prolific and diverse ecosystems on Earth. More than just a simple collection of essays, Monkeys are Made of Chocolate is a testament to the wonder of life in all its countless guises, as seen through the eyes of a man with a gift for subtle discernment and a natural flair for storytelling.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
149 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Jack Ewing
22 books15 followersA creative writing/English graduate of Parsons College (Iowa) and a post-graduate student at the State University of New York, Jack Ewing has published more than 100 million words for print, broadcast, Internet and other media since 1960. A former radio station copywriter, advertising agency creative director, and longtime freelancer, he has published over 600 short stories, five novels, ten full-length nonfiction works, thousands of articles and reference entries, and tens of thousands of ads. A marketing specialist/consultant since 1970, he has won 225 industry creative awards for communication. Jack has lived in Idaho since 1980.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 24, 2012
In 1991 I met Jack Ewing while in Costa Rica researching articles on the emerging ecotourism industry. In 1972, Jack and his wife Diane came to the Pacific lowlands near Dominical to manage a cattle ranch and rice fields.
The Colorado natives found the ranching poor but they were enamored by the flora and fauna in five discrete ecosystems located on their Hacienda Baru. In the 1990s the Ewings bought a stake in the ranch and began to shut down agricultural operations. They planned to let the rice paddies and pastures regrow into native mangrove and cloud forest; to build a small eco-resort; and to train local people as guides through this rich environment full of toucans, monkeys and more.
I had a huge respect for this undertaking but was doubtful. In 1991, Hacienda Baru was a long way from anywhere over poor roads. The idea of ecotourism was new and unproven. Would people pay to tramp through the forest and stay in rustic cabins? At the time Costa Rica operated under more of a Hawaiian resort model emphasizing beaches and large, air-conditioned motels.
This year my family returned to Costa Rica for 10 days of volunteer work and tourism. I wondered if Jack and Diane had succeeded or even if they were still alive. Google quickly led me to the web site of what appeared to be a thriving enterprise. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Hacienda Baru has been designated a National Wildlife Refuge.
Then Amazon Kindle led me to this book, which I bought right away and read in Costa Rica. During the trip we stayed at Hacienda Baru and reconnected with the Ewings, now in their late 60s, and employing more than 30 locals who work running an open-air restaurant, gardens, and lodging in simple screened cabins, along with a thriving rainforest guide service that attracts busloads each day. We had a small, private tour with a guide named Olman who grew up in a peasant household learning to track animals. He still tracks them expertly, but only to see, not hunt.
We learned that Jack wrote the book as a series of guest columns for local publications in Costa Rica. The essays are short meditations on the natural phenomena of Hacienda Baru based on Jack's own careful observations. You learn how a leaf-ant colony has an amazing social order for 5 million individuals; that the charismatic toucan is a ruthless bully to woodpeckers; and generally that nature is fascinating but not nice, simply a well-design and efficient system to recycle all biomass as new life.
Jack apologizes for not being a wildlife biologist, but he is an expert storyteller who makes what could be dry science come alive with personal experiences, characters and dialogue. He says he learned his craft while taking creative writing classes in high school in Greeley, Colorado. Then he honed this skill while bedridden and accepting assignments as term-paper ghost-writer. Knowing Jack only as an acquaintance, I suspect he is the rare natural writer.
The story of Hacienda Baru is a hopeful one for the future of our natural environment and resources. Since letting Hacienda Baru "go native" and linking to other habitat areas through wildlife corridors, the Ewings have witnessed an explosion in the diversity and recurrence of native species. These include white-faced monkeys, toucan, coati, jaguar and panther.
With the ecosystem more in balance from the bottom to the top of the food chain, Hacienda Baru has also seen a reduction of pests such as mosquitos, who once found halvah in the rice paddies. We stayed three days and were amazed by the diversity of life but bit once or twice.
I strongly recommend both this book and visiting Hacienda Baru; its gardens, trails and lovely pool where bats and nighthawks swoop down at sunset. You can even get there easily since the paved coastal highway 34 opened in 2010.
The Colorado natives found the ranching poor but they were enamored by the flora and fauna in five discrete ecosystems located on their Hacienda Baru. In the 1990s the Ewings bought a stake in the ranch and began to shut down agricultural operations. They planned to let the rice paddies and pastures regrow into native mangrove and cloud forest; to build a small eco-resort; and to train local people as guides through this rich environment full of toucans, monkeys and more.
I had a huge respect for this undertaking but was doubtful. In 1991, Hacienda Baru was a long way from anywhere over poor roads. The idea of ecotourism was new and unproven. Would people pay to tramp through the forest and stay in rustic cabins? At the time Costa Rica operated under more of a Hawaiian resort model emphasizing beaches and large, air-conditioned motels.
This year my family returned to Costa Rica for 10 days of volunteer work and tourism. I wondered if Jack and Diane had succeeded or even if they were still alive. Google quickly led me to the web site of what appeared to be a thriving enterprise. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Hacienda Baru has been designated a National Wildlife Refuge.
Then Amazon Kindle led me to this book, which I bought right away and read in Costa Rica. During the trip we stayed at Hacienda Baru and reconnected with the Ewings, now in their late 60s, and employing more than 30 locals who work running an open-air restaurant, gardens, and lodging in simple screened cabins, along with a thriving rainforest guide service that attracts busloads each day. We had a small, private tour with a guide named Olman who grew up in a peasant household learning to track animals. He still tracks them expertly, but only to see, not hunt.
We learned that Jack wrote the book as a series of guest columns for local publications in Costa Rica. The essays are short meditations on the natural phenomena of Hacienda Baru based on Jack's own careful observations. You learn how a leaf-ant colony has an amazing social order for 5 million individuals; that the charismatic toucan is a ruthless bully to woodpeckers; and generally that nature is fascinating but not nice, simply a well-design and efficient system to recycle all biomass as new life.
Jack apologizes for not being a wildlife biologist, but he is an expert storyteller who makes what could be dry science come alive with personal experiences, characters and dialogue. He says he learned his craft while taking creative writing classes in high school in Greeley, Colorado. Then he honed this skill while bedridden and accepting assignments as term-paper ghost-writer. Knowing Jack only as an acquaintance, I suspect he is the rare natural writer.
The story of Hacienda Baru is a hopeful one for the future of our natural environment and resources. Since letting Hacienda Baru "go native" and linking to other habitat areas through wildlife corridors, the Ewings have witnessed an explosion in the diversity and recurrence of native species. These include white-faced monkeys, toucan, coati, jaguar and panther.
With the ecosystem more in balance from the bottom to the top of the food chain, Hacienda Baru has also seen a reduction of pests such as mosquitos, who once found halvah in the rice paddies. We stayed three days and were amazed by the diversity of life but bit once or twice.
I strongly recommend both this book and visiting Hacienda Baru; its gardens, trails and lovely pool where bats and nighthawks swoop down at sunset. You can even get there easily since the paved coastal highway 34 opened in 2010.
January 18, 2020
An interesting set of essays on the wildlife of Costa Rica and the work that the author and his family undertook to change their ranch/rice growing property into a natural rainforest. The essays revolve around a particular species and provide an example of how weird and wonderful nature is. It is a bit outdated and some of the messages become repetitive but you can't deny the great work and great stories of the author.
December 13, 2025
Terrific pre travel book. A collection of short stories that were fun and easy to read about various Costa Rica wildlife. Hoping to see some of these myself in person this week!
May 26, 2013
I recently finished the non-fiction book “Monkeys are made of Chocolate.” It is a non-fiction book that reveals the exotic and unseen side of Costa Rica. I really enjoyed this book because it focuses on many different animal species, and on many different national parks found in Costa Rica, including Hacienda Baru, one of the more remote parks. Hacienda Baru is an amazing natural wonder, reminding us that we should do whatever possible to protect our earth.
The author, Jack Ewing has written this book to create an awareness of nature. He said that he hopes “the reader will acquire a deeper appreciation for the natural marvels of planet Earth, and the millions of living organisms with which we share it” (Ewing 2). This is a very noble cause, and I do feel this helped me more appreciate the planet we live on.
At the same time I refined my appreciation for nature, I got to read many stories of animals, and how they exist on the Hacienda Baru. I personally love animals and was fascinated with stories of animals like sloths all the way to ants. Ewing has a philosophy about humans and monkeys. He says that “monkeys are made of chocolate, but humans are made of fossil fuel, and there will probably still be cacao trees on this planet when the fossil fuels are all gone” (Ewing 6).
This was a fun, and informing read, that I would recommend to all who have interest in animals and nature. It is motivation to help the Earth, because it really makes you want to help the animals described in the book.
The author, Jack Ewing has written this book to create an awareness of nature. He said that he hopes “the reader will acquire a deeper appreciation for the natural marvels of planet Earth, and the millions of living organisms with which we share it” (Ewing 2). This is a very noble cause, and I do feel this helped me more appreciate the planet we live on.
At the same time I refined my appreciation for nature, I got to read many stories of animals, and how they exist on the Hacienda Baru. I personally love animals and was fascinated with stories of animals like sloths all the way to ants. Ewing has a philosophy about humans and monkeys. He says that “monkeys are made of chocolate, but humans are made of fossil fuel, and there will probably still be cacao trees on this planet when the fossil fuels are all gone” (Ewing 6).
This was a fun, and informing read, that I would recommend to all who have interest in animals and nature. It is motivation to help the Earth, because it really makes you want to help the animals described in the book.
October 2, 2024
power outage book #10!
[the power at my research base gave out and i had no physical books so i read basically Every Physical Book that other people brought, indiscriminately]
the essay about fer-de-lances was my favorite but I also liked the sloths!
[the power at my research base gave out and i had no physical books so i read basically Every Physical Book that other people brought, indiscriminately]
the essay about fer-de-lances was my favorite but I also liked the sloths!
December 28, 2023
I read this book while travelling through Costa Rica. It gives a nice insight into the state of nature conservation in Costa Rica from before the '90s versus now, through short, enthralling and engaging stories featuring everything from sloths, snakes and ants. Fortunately, the Ticos have realized the treasure they possess, the immense value of the forests and ecosystems and the life they contain. Nowadays many areas are being protected and allowed to heal, regrow and flourish and it is a beauty to behold.
March 30, 2018
This is a really cute book by a cattleman-turn-ecotourism-entrepreneur/naturalist Jack Ewing. Ewing started a cattle farm in Costa Rica. When he realizes the environmental damage that it's making, he turned the place (Hacienda Baru) into a wild life refuge. Jack is truly, as described in the book, a natural story teller. The book is full of little stories, interesting facts, observations, and wisdom about nature and being in peace with it. Here are a few examples:
Workers who cut grasses are afraid of using their machete to cut a snake: the half snake can still crawl and bite you.
Bats got into the attic of his house and there is always a fine dust of guano. No solution would work and he simply accepted it and would regularly go up the attic to clean up. One day he found very little guano and then saw there is a boa constrictor. They decided to leave it alone.
The wild life refuge has 350+ species of birds after a year of recording. For perspective, the entire US+Canada have about 850 specifies of birds after 100 years of record keeping.
Once some toxic substance killed a large number of sea turtles. The dead bodies washed on shore. Two vultures were also found dead next to the carcasses. (Let that sink in a bit: The extraordinary acid in vultures’s gut gave them the legendary ability to handle the most rotted carcasses that can easily kill anything else who dare to eat them.)
It’s known that for some mysterious reasons, tree sloths always come down to the ground to poop. The author and some other people in the refuge saw a rare instance of a sloth actually pooping from up in the canopy.
Anyways, it is really a lot of fun to read these little stories. And if you are planning to visit Costa Rica, it is easily a marvelous must-read.
Workers who cut grasses are afraid of using their machete to cut a snake: the half snake can still crawl and bite you.
Bats got into the attic of his house and there is always a fine dust of guano. No solution would work and he simply accepted it and would regularly go up the attic to clean up. One day he found very little guano and then saw there is a boa constrictor. They decided to leave it alone.
The wild life refuge has 350+ species of birds after a year of recording. For perspective, the entire US+Canada have about 850 specifies of birds after 100 years of record keeping.
Once some toxic substance killed a large number of sea turtles. The dead bodies washed on shore. Two vultures were also found dead next to the carcasses. (Let that sink in a bit: The extraordinary acid in vultures’s gut gave them the legendary ability to handle the most rotted carcasses that can easily kill anything else who dare to eat them.)
It’s known that for some mysterious reasons, tree sloths always come down to the ground to poop. The author and some other people in the refuge saw a rare instance of a sloth actually pooping from up in the canopy.
Anyways, it is really a lot of fun to read these little stories. And if you are planning to visit Costa Rica, it is easily a marvelous must-read.
December 9, 2021
Through wonderful storytelling, even from the animal’s perspective, Jack Ewing teaches so much about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica and how it has changed and evolved. I read this while in Costa Rica and had many first hand experiences with the creature and plants discussed. I found this enriching, and educational. Ewing’s love for the richness of the country shines through.
January 27, 2023
I was happy to have this book as a companion as I traveled through Costa Rica in early January. What Jack Ewing teaches in these essays about the various wildlife and the ecosystems found in Costa Rica apply not only to Costa Rica but to ecosystems and animals worldwide. He tells interesting stories, for example, about how baby sloths that fall from trees are left behind for a reason, because they are not fit to survive. There is no bad or good to survival in the jungle, it is just nature balancing itself. Animals must eat to live, and when any animal in the food chain is eradicated, there is a domino effect on the entire ecosystem. I really like the chapter titled "And the Cards Came Tumbling Down," which talks about this uneasy balance.
Jack Ewing went to Costa Rica initially to become a cattle rancher, but as he learned more about the rain forest and the fragile ecosystems he was disturbing, he converted his land to a 330-hectare (815 acre) nature reserve, Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge. He has also been instrumental in encouraging local people to create wildlife corridors, so that species can travel between protected area. His goal is to lead people on nature hikes and in the process teach people about conservation.
I learned a lot from this lighthearted yet serious series of essays, and I'm thankful that they helped me to understand more about Costa Rica's wildlife and the country's concerted efforts at conservation.
Jack Ewing went to Costa Rica initially to become a cattle rancher, but as he learned more about the rain forest and the fragile ecosystems he was disturbing, he converted his land to a 330-hectare (815 acre) nature reserve, Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge. He has also been instrumental in encouraging local people to create wildlife corridors, so that species can travel between protected area. His goal is to lead people on nature hikes and in the process teach people about conservation.
I learned a lot from this lighthearted yet serious series of essays, and I'm thankful that they helped me to understand more about Costa Rica's wildlife and the country's concerted efforts at conservation.
December 26, 2021
3.5/5 for me. This book was the perfect supplement to a fantastic trip to Costa Rica exploring a rich biodiversity and a society that has worked hard to let it thrive. This book gave me a strong appreciation for various aspects of the local ecosystem in central America that I didn't know much about previously. From sloths to tapirs, ants to crocodiles, this book is full of short stories that build up a holistic picture of Costa Rican wildlife based on scientific facts, local cultural heritage and anecdotes from the life of the author who himself led a very interesting life in the pursuit of regenerating the tropical biodiversity of Costa Rica that was dying. It's a story of hope as much as curiosity, a must read for wildlife enthusiasts interested in visiting central America.
February 2, 2023
A very good book about nature an animal in Costa Rica. I lived the moment, like if I was there. Sad the book came to an end.
April 5, 2023
Great book about the importance of conservation
June 27, 2023
There are some interesting stories about Costa Rica, where I also live, in this book. But there's also a lot of the typical Malthusian-Puritan lecturing in it. To be clear, I am strongly in favor of Costa Rica's reforestation, the preservation of species, and the decarbonization of our economy.
But in this particular case, Ewing pretty critically omits that it wasn't really locals who deforested the Southwest of the country. It was banana plantation owners (guess who!). Some is now reforested, some is palm oil plantations, some banana plantations remain, including an enormous one near Sierpe. Once the locals *did* get a handle on it, they realized they could do better with conservation.
It's somewhat confusing, because when he relates an argument with a cranky tourist, he seems to be saying there are economically viable ways of preserving the environment, but then he falls into the sort of copypasted lecture that you almost start hearing in David Attenborough's voice that the worst predator is .... MAN! This is also inaccurate. MAN! is a consumer, not a predator. As Ewing explains quite competently, predators and prey have an evolutionary symbiosis. MAN! does not cull the herd of weaklings, we just farm and slaughter most of the time.
Costa Rica should be presented as a success story. More and more land is conserved and protected. Renewable energy provides all but a tiny 1-2%ish number of electricity. If everyone was doing what they did here MAN! wouldn't be such a problem.
"Exotic and unseen" is also a strange title for the book, since most of what he talks about is his finca where he gives tours and relates what he and others ... saw.
But in this particular case, Ewing pretty critically omits that it wasn't really locals who deforested the Southwest of the country. It was banana plantation owners (guess who!). Some is now reforested, some is palm oil plantations, some banana plantations remain, including an enormous one near Sierpe. Once the locals *did* get a handle on it, they realized they could do better with conservation.
It's somewhat confusing, because when he relates an argument with a cranky tourist, he seems to be saying there are economically viable ways of preserving the environment, but then he falls into the sort of copypasted lecture that you almost start hearing in David Attenborough's voice that the worst predator is .... MAN! This is also inaccurate. MAN! is a consumer, not a predator. As Ewing explains quite competently, predators and prey have an evolutionary symbiosis. MAN! does not cull the herd of weaklings, we just farm and slaughter most of the time.
Costa Rica should be presented as a success story. More and more land is conserved and protected. Renewable energy provides all but a tiny 1-2%ish number of electricity. If everyone was doing what they did here MAN! wouldn't be such a problem.
"Exotic and unseen" is also a strange title for the book, since most of what he talks about is his finca where he gives tours and relates what he and others ... saw.
June 18, 2025
This is a series of short pieces originally printed in local monthly publications, now combined in a collection and probably used as a fundraiser for the Hacienda Baru wildlife refuge in Costa Rica.
I picked up this book because I've been to the area just south of the refuge and so was interested to learn more about the wildlife. I did learn a bit, but...
The writing. The writing reminded me repeatedly of a boring college lecturer for some reason. It is hard to say exactly what bothered me about the writer's style (which a lot of the time is just fine) but quite a bit seemed rudimentary somehow. It's understandable why it is repetitive (each piece was written separately, over time...) so that's not the problem.
A low point was reached when he did the imaginative piece where mosquitos are talking in heavy hick dialect to one another.
Two more instances involved his wild theory of people riding nude on a plane as a counter measure to terrorism (if it was meant to be funny...well, it wasn't) and his theory about sloth moths. The latter was, in my opinion, wild surmise and the whole issue probably doesn't need the degree of attention it seems to have gotten.
I do appreciate the importance of informing the public about living in harmony with nature, but the repeated hammering of this point home was a bit much.
I picked up this book because I've been to the area just south of the refuge and so was interested to learn more about the wildlife. I did learn a bit, but...
The writing. The writing reminded me repeatedly of a boring college lecturer for some reason. It is hard to say exactly what bothered me about the writer's style (which a lot of the time is just fine) but quite a bit seemed rudimentary somehow. It's understandable why it is repetitive (each piece was written separately, over time...) so that's not the problem.
A low point was reached when he did the imaginative piece where mosquitos are talking in heavy hick dialect to one another.
Two more instances involved his wild theory of people riding nude on a plane as a counter measure to terrorism (if it was meant to be funny...well, it wasn't) and his theory about sloth moths. The latter was, in my opinion, wild surmise and the whole issue probably doesn't need the degree of attention it seems to have gotten.
I do appreciate the importance of informing the public about living in harmony with nature, but the repeated hammering of this point home was a bit much.
January 30, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed this book. It's a series of essays written and published over a period of 3 years, so there is some repetition and redundancy. The essays were written in the late 90s and early 2000s so there is some sense of being out-of-date as well, but overall, most is still very relevant and applicable.
I enjoyed some essays better than others. But overall I really enjoyed learning about different species, the conservation movement, and the ecology of costa rica.
The book is written by Jack Ewing, who moved to Costa Rica from Colorado to become a cattle farmer in the 1970s, but grew fascinated by the wildlife he saw in the pockets of forest remaining on the cattle farm. He decided to buy the property and let nature reclaim it and turn it into an ecological tourist destination - the first in Costa Rica (and maybe the world?!) Really a revolutionary idea that changed Costa Rica (and the world) for the better.
We just visited CR including an overnight at Hacienda Baru and I had intended to read this book while I was there. I wish I had. Still, it was really interesting to read after-the-fact.
I enjoyed some essays better than others. But overall I really enjoyed learning about different species, the conservation movement, and the ecology of costa rica.
The book is written by Jack Ewing, who moved to Costa Rica from Colorado to become a cattle farmer in the 1970s, but grew fascinated by the wildlife he saw in the pockets of forest remaining on the cattle farm. He decided to buy the property and let nature reclaim it and turn it into an ecological tourist destination - the first in Costa Rica (and maybe the world?!) Really a revolutionary idea that changed Costa Rica (and the world) for the better.
We just visited CR including an overnight at Hacienda Baru and I had intended to read this book while I was there. I wish I had. Still, it was really interesting to read after-the-fact.
March 23, 2023
3.5 stars
Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate is a series of essays about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica, written by Jack Ewing, who runs Hacienda Baru, a former cattle ranch near Dominical, Costa Rica. More than 30 years ago, the ranch was transitioned from farmland back into secondary growth forest, with such success that the area is now a National Wildlife Refuge. The essays discuss the success of this transition; return of the native plants and animals; the overall health of the affected ecosystems; broader conservation efforts in Costa Rica; and general concerns about the health of the planet and humans' impact on it.
As someone who hopes to visit Costa Rica at some point, it was very interesting to read about plant and animal species I was previously unaware of, like the latex-producing jabillo tree or the arboreal olingo, a relative of the raccoon. The only downside to this book is that it, because it's a series of essays that Ewing wrote for several different publications over a period of time, when read altogether, there are some pieces of information that get repeated a bit. This might be a better read if not read cover to cover, but visited more leisurely.
Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate is a series of essays about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica, written by Jack Ewing, who runs Hacienda Baru, a former cattle ranch near Dominical, Costa Rica. More than 30 years ago, the ranch was transitioned from farmland back into secondary growth forest, with such success that the area is now a National Wildlife Refuge. The essays discuss the success of this transition; return of the native plants and animals; the overall health of the affected ecosystems; broader conservation efforts in Costa Rica; and general concerns about the health of the planet and humans' impact on it.
As someone who hopes to visit Costa Rica at some point, it was very interesting to read about plant and animal species I was previously unaware of, like the latex-producing jabillo tree or the arboreal olingo, a relative of the raccoon. The only downside to this book is that it, because it's a series of essays that Ewing wrote for several different publications over a period of time, when read altogether, there are some pieces of information that get repeated a bit. This might be a better read if not read cover to cover, but visited more leisurely.
February 7, 2020
I bought this book before heading out on a 27 day, first time visit to Costa Rica. Jack Ewing's short stories and photographs about the wildlife and nature of this beautiful country were the perfect companion. His individual glimpses of the natural world written in first hand accounts and with humor as well, provide a necessary and glowing example of successful conservation in a country that values nature above most everything else. Many other countries could definitely learn a thing or two from the steps that Costa Rica has taken. In addition scattered about the book, he provides the reader multiple environmental and wildlife conservation organizations to support and gives examples what happens when you allow nature to return to the land providing a healthy balanced ecosystem. All of this is centered around Hacienda Baru a former cattle and rice ranch now a 815 acre nature reserve, thanks to Jack Ewing himself. An inspirational read for sure! This is a must read if you love nature, wildlife, conservation and have an interest in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
November 12, 2025
This was a delightful read! I met the author when I was in Costa Rica in 2017, and his story REALLY stuck with me (clearly, because now it's 2025 and I'm reading one of his books). When I met Jack, I thought, "Wow, this is a man who has discovered his purpose in life." He came to Costa Rica with every intention of being a cattle farmer and ended up assisting in the reforestation of what is now Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge. I didn't love every essay, but I loved a good 85–90% of them. That's a lot of essays I loved! I especially loved learning about his toad-licking Doberman and his comparison of ecosystems to a house of cards. My interest in wildlife conservation has once again been ignited.
Also, I have unlocked a new hot take: anti-agricultural revolution. Jack's explanations of the intricacies of ecosystems and how there is no good or evil in nature, everything just is, got me thinking that maybe we should have stayed hunters and gatherers.
Also, I have unlocked a new hot take: anti-agricultural revolution. Jack's explanations of the intricacies of ecosystems and how there is no good or evil in nature, everything just is, got me thinking that maybe we should have stayed hunters and gatherers.
April 8, 2020
This is simply a collection of essays brought together in book, so it can get little repetitive. Really only of interest if you are planning on visiting Costa Rica, and have a desire to know a little more about practical conservation. His message is simple.
Plant trees.
Return recently created farmland to rainforest - but only plant a few specimen trees - nature will do the rest.
And create corridors joining top the existing rainforest.
Because the predators at the top of the food chain need huge territories.
But if we can sustain them (jaguars etc) then the rest of the fauna are probably getting along just fine.
My favourite is the advice to those of us afraid of snakes - buy a lottery ticket before you trekking, because you have more chance of winning the lottery than being bitten by a snake....:-)
Plant trees.
Return recently created farmland to rainforest - but only plant a few specimen trees - nature will do the rest.
And create corridors joining top the existing rainforest.
Because the predators at the top of the food chain need huge territories.
But if we can sustain them (jaguars etc) then the rest of the fauna are probably getting along just fine.
My favourite is the advice to those of us afraid of snakes - buy a lottery ticket before you trekking, because you have more chance of winning the lottery than being bitten by a snake....:-)
December 6, 2019
This book is a good one to tuck in your suitcase if you are planning a trip to Costa Rica. The descriptions of the rain forest and wildlife are interesting and the author provides additional color from his experiences running a wildlife refuge. The author describes himself as a naturalist and has strong opinions about wildlife preservation and the detriments of human impact. At times he comes across as preachy, and he also occasionally draws scientific-sounding conclusions without any evidence to support, which is why I'm only giving 3 stars. On the whole, it's worth a read, but it might try your patience at times.
April 15, 2021
Some essays in this book were really interesting and I definitely learned a lot. I bought the book because I was traveling in Costa Rica and I even had a chance to visit Hacienda Baru- the reserve owned by the author. I think the essays are written more to promote conservation than to entertain the reader, which is not a bad thing but at times can be a bit dull to read. Some of them were fairly poorly written, and it was hard for me to get all the way through it. I read about half, took a break and then went back to it. For me, it was better when read in small pieces. Overall I did learn a lot while reading, but I wouldn't say I really enjoyed reading it.
August 5, 2024
Great book full of ecological essays that were both enjoyable and insightful. I read it during my trip to Costa Rica and many of the essays touched on the flora and fauna that I experienced on my trip. Highly recommend reading it if you plan to visit Costa Rica and explore the jungle. Note that I could not find a copy in our library system. You need to get a copy via the Internet. I found and bought a used copy on Amazon. But lo and behold, it was autographed by the author. What an unexpected bonus!
December 6, 2025
This is a series of essays that Jack Ewing, a cattle rancher turned naturalist, wrote over a decade for various local Costa Rican publications. Each essay is about 5 pages long and focuses on some interesting aspect of a particular animal or phenomenon. He's an engaging story-teller and it was easy to want to keep reading 'one more.' It's from 2005 so can seem a bit dated but the general concepts hold true. I would recommend to anyone traveling to Costa Rica for the purpose of wildlife viewing, or with a general interest in wildlife conservation and reforestation.
March 6, 2023
I just finished this book shortly after returning from a Costa Rican trip. I loved his way of educating through a series of stories rather than a strictly scientific focus. I greatly admire his dedication and that of his family and his team. I'm not sure it would be so meaningful to me if I hadn't just spent time immersed in the National Parks and Wildlife Refuges of Costa Rica. Definitely recommended if you are interested in conservation and wildlife preservation.
July 6, 2023
This book became a wonderful travel companion while on a recent excursion to Costa Rica. Ewing's storytelling voice took a few chapters to ease in to, but by the end he seemed a friendly, relaxed guide. His stories and experiences illuminated many of the nooks and crannies tucked deep within the vibrant diverse array of life one comes across while exploring Costa Rica. I'll be forever fascinated by leaf-cutter ants!
January 24, 2025
This book was a lot of fun. It's part memoir part travel advertisement, part science, part nature and it just pulls off the balance brilliantly. I really enjoyed all of the little short essays in this piece that talked about different parts of Costa Rican ecology and the journey from raising cattle to creating a nature preserve. I learned a lot about rainforest ecology and about the business of running a nature preserve. I really enjoyed this.
June 2, 2025
A wonderful book filled with short stories about life in Costa Rica. It features everything from sloths, monkeys, poisonous frogs, snakes, trees, and more! The book left me with a much deeper appreciation for the environment and an understanding of the predator/prey relationships. This makes a great read for anyone visiting Costa Rica or for someone who wants to go on an adventure (through these stories) without leaving the four walls of their home.
December 1, 2018
A must-read for CR visitors
I read this on the plane trip to Costa Rica because I could not find a satisfactory guide to the animals and ecosystems that I was visiting. The descriptions and stories really stuck with me while I witnessed all the life that was accessible to my eye in the vast CR ecosystems.
I read this on the plane trip to Costa Rica because I could not find a satisfactory guide to the animals and ecosystems that I was visiting. The descriptions and stories really stuck with me while I witnessed all the life that was accessible to my eye in the vast CR ecosystems.
December 26, 2021
For anyone going to Costa Rica or a nature lover, this is an amazing read. Jack Ewing's writing is witty and makes this book read like a great story book. The stories are filled with personal anecdotes and make even an information filled text fun. The titles of the chapters are especially catchy. This helped me appreciate and understand tropical rainforests in a manner I hadn't before.
February 27, 2023
Interesting to me before my trip to Costa Rica.
Probably less so to anyone not interested specifically in that place, though the conservation angle is the book's raison d'etre.
Great descriptions of individual animals' life journeys and comings and goings, as well as the trials and tribulations of running a conservation area that admits the public on tours.
Probably less so to anyone not interested specifically in that place, though the conservation angle is the book's raison d'etre.
Great descriptions of individual animals' life journeys and comings and goings, as well as the trials and tribulations of running a conservation area that admits the public on tours.
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