Deserts are remarkable places. Typified by aridity and extremes of temperature, they can be harsh and hostile or spectacularly beautiful. For much of the time a desert may look desolate and lifeless, but on occasion, it teems with life. This book explains how each desert is unique; through fantastic life forms, extraordinary scenery, and ingenious human adaptations. He demonstrates the desert’s immense natural splendour, uncovers its rich biodiversity, and explores a long history of successful human occupation.