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El mundo inconmensurable: Viajes por lugares desérticos

El mundo inconmensurable: Viajes por lugares desérticos

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  • Create Date：2022-07-02 08:42:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-23
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  • Author：William Atkins
  • ISBN：8439739672
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Summary

Una tercera parte de la superficie terrestre está ocupada por desiertos， lugares inhóspitos y desolados que han cautivado a la humanidad desde el comienzo de la Historia。 Desde los profetas de la Biblia hasta Marco Polo， desde Lawrence de Arabia hasta Gertrude Bell， los viajeros han encontrado en estas áridas extensiones lugares malditos que debían evitarse， o cruzarse lo más rápido posible。 Pero para aquellos que han hecho de los desiertos su hogar， el «espantoso vacío» descrito por los exploradores es rico en recursos y significado。

William Atkins decidió emprender una travesía por ocho grandes desiertos de cinco continentes: su viaje le llevó del Cuarto Vacío de Arabia Saudí a los lugares donde se llevan a cabo pruebas nucleares en Australia， del desecado mar de Aral en Kazajistán a las volátiles dunas del noroeste de China， de las disputadas fronteras del desierto de Sonora al desenfrenado festival Burning Man en el Black Rock de Nevada o a los monasterios ancestrales del desierto Oriental de Egipto。 Atkins pone luz sobre las gentes， la historia， la topografía y el simbolismo de estos lugares extraordinarios （y a menudo conflictivos） en una obra que， galardonada con el Stanford Dolman Writing Award， está destinada a convertirse en un clásico de la literatura de viajes。

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Reviews

Kristopher Larsen ，

Really good book， except for the last section。 That part seemed entirely out of place and kept it from being a 5 star desert book。

Rosie ，

Atkins travels to some of the most remote deserts and describes his experiences in a beautiful language that brings them to life as well as raising deeper philosophical questions about how man interacts with these places。

Gilles Russeil ，

7 voyages dans des déserts au 4 coins du monde。 Un livre de voyage apaisant et profond qui parle aussi du monde aujourd'hui : ses peurs， ses murs， ses migrants， sa violence。。。 7 voyages dans des déserts au 4 coins du monde。 Un livre de voyage apaisant et profond qui parle aussi du monde aujourd'hui : ses peurs， ses murs， ses migrants， sa violence。。。 。。。more

Neha ，

One more goes to kitty of unfinished books（and the list is growing at alarming rate， lol） not because it’s not readable， from whatever little I have skimmed through it， containing my favourite subjects-travel and geography， it is full of interesting anecdotes mixed with account of some very fascinating deserts。 I guess I am spoiled for choice with a severe reading slump hence unable to stick with books now。

Lee Prescott ，

This one comes across as a series of essays loosely linked along the theme of being set in deserts。 Some of them I found interesting - the chapter focussing on Burning Man reads like it could be a storyboard for an episode of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends， the chapter on the Aral Sea heart breaking and， having spent time working as a jackaroo in the Austrian desert， I felt the depiction of life in that part of the world was well written。 But I found the majority of the rest of the book fairly d This one comes across as a series of essays loosely linked along the theme of being set in deserts。 Some of them I found interesting - the chapter focussing on Burning Man reads like it could be a storyboard for an episode of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends， the chapter on the Aral Sea heart breaking and， having spent time working as a jackaroo in the Austrian desert， I felt the depiction of life in that part of the world was well written。 But I found the majority of the rest of the book fairly dull and with the lack of any central message or journey， in the end a bit of a curate's egg。 Worth reading if only to understand the tragedy of the Aral Sea。 。。。more

Tom Romig ，

William Atkins's capacious curiosity， thorough research， amiable outlook， and sharp observation combine to make his tales of arid places bloom in the reader's imagination。 Deserts around the world have been sites of environmental degradation， lethal nuclear bomb tests， resource exploitation， and human suffering， from Australian aborigines to Uighurs in China to migrants and refugees attempting to enter the U。S。 William Atkins's capacious curiosity， thorough research， amiable outlook， and sharp observation combine to make his tales of arid places bloom in the reader's imagination。 Deserts around the world have been sites of environmental degradation， lethal nuclear bomb tests， resource exploitation， and human suffering， from Australian aborigines to Uighurs in China to migrants and refugees attempting to enter the U。S。 。。。more

Daren ，

As Atkins is drawn to spend time in deserts of the world， I was drawn to purchase this book （new， and at full price， which is rare for me （but I did have a voucher！））。In this seven chapter book we accompany Atkins on his travels。 He explains （to a varying degree in each chapter） the history of each place， about its pioneering explorers and native inhabitants， it geo-politics （to a small degree） and its current status。 The possibilities for the future？ - A little。We commence in Oman， with the As Atkins is drawn to spend time in deserts of the world， I was drawn to purchase this book （new， and at full price， which is rare for me （but I did have a voucher！））。In this seven chapter book we accompany Atkins on his travels。 He explains （to a varying degree in each chapter） the history of each place， about its pioneering explorers and native inhabitants， it geo-politics （to a small degree） and its current status。 The possibilities for the future？ - A little。We commence in Oman， with the Empty Quarter， made famous by Thesiger and his adventures there described in Arabian Sands， although he didn't pioneer the crossing， there were others before him。 Like all chapters， Atkins visits and makes a journey。Australia's Great Victoria Desert is Atkins next stop。 Here is located Emu Field Nuclear Test Site， and what must surely be an embarrassment to Australia （and Britain）。 As always seems to be the case， the test detonations didn't disburse as expected and radioactive contamination of the ground and everything on or in it occurred， including the Aboriginal settlement at Maralinga。 It doesn't take much imagination to picture the long term effects for the people on whose tribal land the tests took place。To China， and the Taklamakan Desert for the third chapter。 Mildred Cable and Francesca French， Aurel Stein and Sven Hedin all feature in the history here。 The story of the Mogao Caves （Cave of 1000 Buddhas） near Dunhuang is central here。 Some of China's typical treatment of ethnic minorities is covered here， but not too in depth。Kazakhstan's Aral Sea/Aralkum Desert is the location for the next chapter。 An environmental disaster area now much more desert than sea， and how the people live with the loss of their livelihood。 High intensity farming of cotton under soviet rule sucked the water from the land and the sea， leaving desert。 Interestingly， construction of a dyke in 2005 has resulting in part of the sea collecting more water， and some of the fish species have reestablished。 A quick google of "Aral Sea before and after" shows the scale here！The next chapter takes us to the Sonoran Desert， between Mexico and the USA。 This chapter largely examines the illegal immigrants chancing their lives to cross from Mexico to the USA - not only Mexicans， but a lot of people from Central America。 Atkins interviews people from all sides of this issue。 Surprisingly I found this one of the best chapters。Again is the USA， chapter 6 takes us to Nevada and the Black Rock Desert， specifically for a visit to the Burning Man Festival。 While this could have been an exploration into the crazy and debauched， it was more about the supervision and safety。The final chapter examines Egypt's Eastern Desert， and his time at St Anthony's Coptic Orthodox Monastery。 He shares the stories of some of the monks， his short time in the library， and various historical aspects and those who have written about it before。 This chapter slowed the whole pace for me， and it crawled to an end。Atkins writing is at its most interesting for me when he is describing those he meets and his interactions with them。 I don't delight in his prose， or his descriptions of the desert as some other reviewers have， not sure why， as this book focuses on some really interesting places。 I believe those he quotes or mentions do this better than in his own text。This book didn't enthuse me the way I wanted it to。 It somehow never built to a climax。 I wanted a five star book， taking the best of each desert visited。 For me it was at best a 3。5 star book， which I must round down to 3。 。。。more

John Benson ，

In this book， William Atkins explores seven desert environments in Asia， Australia， North America and Africa and themes that seem to be behind how people view desert environments。 In Australia， he visits two former nuclear tests sites; in Africa， he spends times with desert fathers in a monastery; and in the US， he takes part in the Burning Man Reunion held annually in the Nevada desert。 The trips aren't long but capture the themes and places well。 In this book， William Atkins explores seven desert environments in Asia， Australia， North America and Africa and themes that seem to be behind how people view desert environments。 In Australia， he visits two former nuclear tests sites; in Africa， he spends times with desert fathers in a monastery; and in the US， he takes part in the Burning Man Reunion held annually in the Nevada desert。 The trips aren't long but capture the themes and places well。 。。。more

Jonathan Freeman ，

I liked the different emphasis on the 5 deserts 。 You went from the mainly historic account about the empty quarter to the burning man festival in Nevada。 Definitely an author who didn't spare himself in the depth and how uncomfortable some of his research trips were。 I liked the different emphasis on the 5 deserts 。 You went from the mainly historic account about the empty quarter to the burning man festival in Nevada。 Definitely an author who didn't spare himself in the depth and how uncomfortable some of his research trips were。 。。。more

Pop Bop ，

Not A Lot of DesertI don't mind idiosyncratic。 Especially not in a book that tackles a vast， romantic subject like this。 But you do have to keep your eye on the ball。 And randomly inserted quotes about "deserts" aren't enough。This is pretty random and disjointed。 The Sonoran chapter is a superficial text about border politics。 Eastern Egypt leads us to a consideration of monastic life。 The Black Rock desert is all about Burning Man。 Somehow， Australia manages to become boring。This is interesting Not A Lot of DesertI don't mind idiosyncratic。 Especially not in a book that tackles a vast， romantic subject like this。 But you do have to keep your eye on the ball。 And randomly inserted quotes about "deserts" aren't enough。This is pretty random and disjointed。 The Sonoran chapter is a superficial text about border politics。 Eastern Egypt leads us to a consideration of monastic life。 The Black Rock desert is all about Burning Man。 Somehow， Australia manages to become boring。This is interesting enough， I guess， if you are interested in just hanging out with this author。 But there's more personal history， and less desert， than I would have preferred。（Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement， or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review。 Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book。） 。。。more

Sarah Boon ，

Started off a bit slow and technical， but once he hit his stride the book was lovely。 I particularly enjoyed the last chapter about the monks in Egypt。

Neil Jones ，

Would have scored higher but f*** Burning Man

Hal ，

The book covers the author's experiences on ventures into a select number of desert environments throughout the world。 On the surface it attracted my interest because it seemed like an exotic topic。 The way Atkins presented it though was not to me to deliver on that。He seems to bypass much of the physical characteristics of the desert itself to delve into the people who for one reason or other dwell here or encounter it in either ritual or passing。 So the book drones on and on abut the topics re The book covers the author's experiences on ventures into a select number of desert environments throughout the world。 On the surface it attracted my interest because it seemed like an exotic topic。 The way Atkins presented it though was not to me to deliver on that。He seems to bypass much of the physical characteristics of the desert itself to delve into the people who for one reason or other dwell here or encounter it in either ritual or passing。 So the book drones on and on abut the topics relating to these people and really is monotonous at times。 He starts in the Middle East， then covers Australia， Mongolia， Russia， the Sonoran desert along the US border， the Black Rock， and finally culminates in Egypt。Each episode has a different theme and some of them are interesting but again much of the narrative has to do with his encounters with these people there and their conditions or struggles。 In finality it made me want to escape the desert and not look back。 。。。more

Belinda ，

This book was not what I expected but it was still a good book。 I thought it was going to be a description of this man's trek thru each of these deserts but it was much more history， politics， economics and a cultural study than I anticipated。 At some other time I may have enjoyed it more。 This book was not what I expected but it was still a good book。 I thought it was going to be a description of this man's trek thru each of these deserts but it was much more history， politics， economics and a cultural study than I anticipated。 At some other time I may have enjoyed it more。 。。。more

Mary ，

I never imagined that a travel narrative about deserts could be so fascinating。 William Atkins， a British travel writer， set out to visit （not explore） deserts from Oman to Arizona。 I was not surprised that he wrote lyrical descriptions about the beauty of the deserts。 But he takes the reader beyond the surface sand and illuminates the history of these far-flung places。 As I read， I felt compelled to share what I was learning with those around me。 We are all far too ignorant and indifferent to t I never imagined that a travel narrative about deserts could be so fascinating。 William Atkins， a British travel writer， set out to visit （not explore） deserts from Oman to Arizona。 I was not surprised that he wrote lyrical descriptions about the beauty of the deserts。 But he takes the reader beyond the surface sand and illuminates the history of these far-flung places。 As I read， I felt compelled to share what I was learning with those around me。 We are all far too ignorant and indifferent to the amazing ecosystems that make up one third of the land surface of the earth。 The most powerful chapters for me were about the Australian desert where the British tested nuclear weapons in the 1950's and 1960's， completely oblivious to the importance this land held for the native tribes that lived there。 Atkins also visits Kazakhstan to see the devastation of the Aral Desert， once the Aral Sea。 In the past forty years， this sea that was the fourth largest inland sea in the world， has shrunk to almost nothing because of a short-sighted Soviet policy to divert the rivers that drained into the Aral Sea for cotton irrigation， thereby depriving the sea of its life。 The chapter about Burning Man in the Utah desert was both horrifying and funny。If you are at all interested in natural history and travel narrative， this book will provide you with a fascinating journey。 。。。more

Dorothy Hynous ，

excellent book。 wonderful descriptions of the deserts。 Best of all the stories from the deserts be they results from nuclear bomb testing， to environmental concerns do to man's mishandling of nature， to mishandling of immigrants as they try to cross the Sonoran Desert。A very easy read with a lot of info excellent book。 wonderful descriptions of the deserts。 Best of all the stories from the deserts be they results from nuclear bomb testing， to environmental concerns do to man's mishandling of nature， to mishandling of immigrants as they try to cross the Sonoran Desert。A very easy read with a lot of info 。。。more

Erin Moxam ，

I read this book because I heard an interview with the author on CBC radio and it sounded interesting。 I am truly sorry to say I probably would not have read it otherwise。 What a lovely book！ It's not actually， it's quite horrifying that the horror that humanity wrecks on the landscapes that surround us extend even to these remote places - usually because they are remote places。 It took me a little while to get into it， I wasn't sure what to expect， but the more I read， the more I fell in love w I read this book because I heard an interview with the author on CBC radio and it sounded interesting。 I am truly sorry to say I probably would not have read it otherwise。 What a lovely book！ It's not actually， it's quite horrifying that the horror that humanity wrecks on the landscapes that surround us extend even to these remote places - usually because they are remote places。 It took me a little while to get into it， I wasn't sure what to expect， but the more I read， the more I fell in love with these supposedly barren places and the author's style of writing and story telling。 This book gives an amazing and completely new to me in many respects， history of the deserts he visits， chronicles his journeys and experiences and talks about their present state and struggles。 History， nature and personal experience all come together beautifully here in a truly fascinating book。 Not the sort of book I generally read， but I will read this author again。 Highly recommend。 。。。more

Greynomad ，

done

Andrea ，

Atkins explores four desert areas of the world and in addition to describing the environment， includes brief discussions of the region's human history， environmental importance and other contextual details。 I felt rather disatisfied with the brevity of the historical and environmental background。 While not really writing a travel adventure tale， Atkins also is not writing a real natural or human history。 The desert places seem chosen somewhat at random， which seems okay， but makes the work feel Atkins explores four desert areas of the world and in addition to describing the environment， includes brief discussions of the region's human history， environmental importance and other contextual details。 I felt rather disatisfied with the brevity of the historical and environmental background。 While not really writing a travel adventure tale， Atkins also is not writing a real natural or human history。 The desert places seem chosen somewhat at random， which seems okay， but makes the work feel a little fragmented to me。 Worth reading but not going to go on my "absolutely amazing" shelf。 。。。more

Nate ，

7/8 of this books were really good。 Well written， moved along well in a series of essays set in various desert settings。 Not a natural history， but not only a personal journey， a decent read overall。

Alaska ，

A fascinating book！ I enjoyed his stay in Egypt with the monks。 Agape。 A great word but there is little love around us。

Tom ，

Atkins travels to deserts around the world， and describes the different contexts they serve。 Politically they have been used to separate people （US and China）， but have brought them together socially （Burning Man） and religiously （Coptic monasteries）。 Their remoteness was used to test atomic bombs （US， USSR， Australia）， and short sighted economic motivations reduced healthy lands into wastes （Soviet Central Asia）。 An interesting book wounded at times by Atkins' clumsy writing。 Atkins travels to deserts around the world， and describes the different contexts they serve。 Politically they have been used to separate people （US and China）， but have brought them together socially （Burning Man） and religiously （Coptic monasteries）。 Their remoteness was used to test atomic bombs （US， USSR， Australia）， and short sighted economic motivations reduced healthy lands into wastes （Soviet Central Asia）。 An interesting book wounded at times by Atkins' clumsy writing。 。。。more

Toby ，

What a terrific read - each journey fascinating and illuminating in its own right， excepting the tedium of Burning Man。 I would be keen to read Atkins's other books after this， he's such a knowledgeable guide and poses such profound questions about mankind。 What a terrific read - each journey fascinating and illuminating in its own right， excepting the tedium of Burning Man。 I would be keen to read Atkins's other books after this， he's such a knowledgeable guide and poses such profound questions about mankind。 。。。more

Anna Iltnere （Beach Books） ，

Book by British writer William Atkins is about seven deserts in five continents， and about desert per se， divine and infernal。“The Immeasurable World” is William Atkins’ second book。 His debut， “The Moor” （also available in the library）， was about the vast moorlands of Great Britain。 Now he travels to Oman， Australia， China， Kazakhstan， United States and Egypt。Author doesn’t visit the desert places on his own， he is accompanied by locals or those who have been here before。 Voices from the collec Book by British writer William Atkins is about seven deserts in five continents， and about desert per se， divine and infernal。“The Immeasurable World” is William Atkins’ second book。 His debut， “The Moor” （also available in the library）， was about the vast moorlands of Great Britain。 Now he travels to Oman， Australia， China， Kazakhstan， United States and Egypt。Author doesn’t visit the desert places on his own， he is accompanied by locals or those who have been here before。 Voices from the collected “desert library” come along， too， as does a light sense of a heartache。 There is one time when he wanders alone too far away and gets lost for a few panicky hours。Atkins’ deserts are not empty。 They are filled with people， traced with history。 They are stained with present-day blood。 Not that long ago nuclear bombs were tested in the Great Victoria Desert in Australia， poisoning the Aboriginal land and families。 The Sonoran Desert in Arizona is a burning topic about the Mexico and United States border。 Even if you manage to trespass into the States， it’s like walking from a frying pan into the fire: you still have to cross the desert。 Some dead bodies are being found， covered in toothpaste， desperately trying to hide their skin from sun， when still alive。There are oasis， too。 In Black Rock Desert in Nevada， USA， a harsh place for any human soul， author spends a week in the Burning Man festival。 Post apocalyptic fun， freedom， kindness， and a couple screwing in a sand storm。 All these desert stories will stay like grit between your teeth for longer than you thought they will。I love what William Atkins does with his sentences。 He builds loaded lines and then blows them all away with an added “whatever”。 His gaze is sharp， observations filled with humour。 At one point he tries to guess the eye colour of a woman， always wearing sunglasses （“Red possibly。”）。 You laugh but the very next moment have to deal with such undiluted reality check， that you put three dots with your pencil right next to the paragraph， as if gasping for air。It’s easy to be with the author， and often fun， too， but he will not let you forget， that you are in a desert。 Desert is a front line， the devil’s domain， where early Christian hermits， the Desert Fathers， withdrew from society to face demons and seek Christ。Desert is also beautiful。 Silent。 Infinite。 Describing the vast landscape， it’s impossible not to compare it to the sea。 “It was like nothing I had experienced save for being at sea。” But after the Burning Man festival when Atkins rests by the Pacific Ocean， he sees that water is alive。 Desert is an ancient seabed， dead for thousands of years。 In the chapter about the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan， it dries out in front of locals’ eyes。And yet desert is home for animals that leave footprints at night， and plants that persist; a refined ecosystem， thriving in its own wonderful way。 When spending a starry night in The Empty Quarter in Oman William Atkins dropped a date stone in the fire， his guide， propping on one elbow， reached into the flames， extracted it and threw into the dark desert。 “No offer of life was to be wasted。” 。。。more

Bookish ，

My book of the year is The Immeasurable World by William Atkins—an erudite， often dark， witty exploration of the world’s deserts。 Atkins writes sentences of great beauty that capture the isolation， dangers， attractions， and cultural importance of the desert， while always giving us a thoroughly immersive sense of what it’s like to be there。 It will make you think of the world anew。 —Stuart （excerpted from The Best of the Bunch: Bookish’s Favorite Books from 2018） My book of the year is The Immeasurable World by William Atkins—an erudite， often dark， witty exploration of the world’s deserts。 Atkins writes sentences of great beauty that capture the isolation， dangers， attractions， and cultural importance of the desert， while always giving us a thoroughly immersive sense of what it’s like to be there。 It will make you think of the world anew。 —Stuart （excerpted from The Best of the Bunch: Bookish’s Favorite Books from 2018） 。。。more

Peter Franklin ，

A strange book， mostly interesting， except the last chapter which I found tedious。

Antigone ，

The heart stumbles。She leaves， and his thoughts drift to the desert。 His literary instincts lure him to the books， propel him to the studies， set for him a feast of symbolic attractions。 Here are the records of emptiness and exile， isolation and ordeal - arduous days and nights of passage - the history， the art， the science of "the devil's domain。" William Atkins reads。 And then he packs a bag。The Immeasurable World invites the restless among us to join in the journey through the deserts of mode The heart stumbles。She leaves， and his thoughts drift to the desert。 His literary instincts lure him to the books， propel him to the studies， set for him a feast of symbolic attractions。 Here are the records of emptiness and exile， isolation and ordeal - arduous days and nights of passage - the history， the art， the science of "the devil's domain。" William Atkins reads。 And then he packs a bag。The Immeasurable World invites the restless among us to join in the journey through the deserts of modern time。 We will travel to the Empty Quarter in Oman， the Great Victoria Desert in Australia， the Gobi and Taklamakan in China， the Aralkum in Kazakhstan， the Sonoran and Black Rock of the American West， and come to our end in Egypt。 We will greet native inhabitants， encounter nomadic tribes， commune with monks and migrants; trip through the cultish rift of the festival of Burning Man。 We will hear about the quest for oil， nuclear testing， border disputes， and the rigorous price exacted by some of the earth's most inhospitable terrain。The writing is exemplary。 The experience comes to life through a mind that is smart， sensitive， well-informed， and genuinely worth accompanying。A small （and favorite） piece I came across， written during a period of respite:One evening， sitting on the edge of a motel pool in Carmel， she told me a story， or a parable。 "An anthropologist once asked a Hopi Indian why so many of his people's songs were about water，" she said。 In one hand， as she spoke， she was holding a lemon I'd picked， all rind， big as a grapefruit and hard as a nut。 She continued: "'Simple，" says the Indian， 'because water is so scarce。。。And why，' he asks the anthropologist， 'are so many of yours about love？'"Such is a sense of this。Recommended， of course。 。。。more

Linda ，

Rather than satisfying me with a book similar to two of my favorites: Desert Solitaire and The Man Who Walked Through Time， which are both about solitary sojourns in desert national parks， British author Atkins challenges by exploring some of the world's great deserts with guides in search of human activity。 The deserts he visits， from the Taklamakan in extreme western China to the Black Rock in Nevada， are not quite pristine， and several of them are scenes of conflict and tension。 His stay at t Rather than satisfying me with a book similar to two of my favorites: Desert Solitaire and The Man Who Walked Through Time， which are both about solitary sojourns in desert national parks， British author Atkins challenges by exploring some of the world's great deserts with guides in search of human activity。 The deserts he visits， from the Taklamakan in extreme western China to the Black Rock in Nevada， are not quite pristine， and several of them are scenes of conflict and tension。 His stay at the ancient Coptic monastery of Desert Father St。 Antony east of the Nile and the rituals and structured self-policing of the Burning Man festival are some of the most interesting chapters for me。 Border Patrols and dehydrated immigrants， Aborigine homelands lost to nuclear testing， and a great inland sea with its valuable fisheries dried up for water diversion projects are among the sad stories。 There are good maps which help with the geography and history along with meeting the deserts' current tough citizens。 。。。more

Richard ，

I'm not quite sure what this book was meant to be。 I’m not sure it knows either。 From the opening parts it looks like a history of the conquering of certain deserts， with the author kind of following in those pioneers footsteps。 A bit。 But as it goes on it seems to spend less time on the history and more on what is happening in these deserts now。 I’m quite surprised， because the most interesting parts were the two segments in the USA， closely followed by China and the Aral Sea， none of which exp I'm not quite sure what this book was meant to be。 I’m not sure it knows either。 From the opening parts it looks like a history of the conquering of certain deserts， with the author kind of following in those pioneers footsteps。 A bit。 But as it goes on it seems to spend less time on the history and more on what is happening in these deserts now。 I’m quite surprised， because the most interesting parts were the two segments in the USA， closely followed by China and the Aral Sea， none of which explore the history of the desert （well they do， but in the chapter about the Burned Man festival these paragraphs in particular just get in the way of telling the story of what is happening now）。 The books seemed to be building to a climax。 The author looks at seven desert regions， the first two come across as a bit dry （pun absolutely intended） but the next four segments just get more and more interesting。 Sadly， the seventh and final part， set in Egypt， loses that precious momentum。 Thematically it works， the theme of the saints rounds the novel off in an appropriate way， linking in with the first segment， finishing where it started， but that final chapter is just dull， and whilst I was eagerly devouring the previous parts I had to force myself through the last forty pages。 Shame， as without that loss of momentum at the end I think it would have been a four star book and not a three。 The bits that worked were great， it is certainly worth reading， but the end is unsatisfactory。 。。。more

Steven ，

Atkins is an excellent observer and can evoke a sense of place so well。 In this book， he travels to several of the worlds deserts， describing the natural features therein， but also delving into a human aspect of the place。 He travels to the Empty Quarter on the border of Oman and Saudi Arabia retracing the steps of British explorers， then he's off to Australia's Great Victorian desert to explore it's legacy of nuclear testing。 In the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts of China he retraces the steps of Atkins is an excellent observer and can evoke a sense of place so well。 In this book， he travels to several of the worlds deserts， describing the natural features therein， but also delving into a human aspect of the place。 He travels to the Empty Quarter on the border of Oman and Saudi Arabia retracing the steps of British explorers， then he's off to Australia's Great Victorian desert to explore it's legacy of nuclear testing。 In the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts of China he retraces the steps of archaeologists and missionaries。 He visits the former Aral Sea， now a desert， and then he's off to the US southwest， describing the plight of border-crossing migrants in the Sonoran Desrt and the excesses of Burning Man attendees at Black Rock。 Finally， he circles back to the middle east and visits Coptic monasteries in the Egyptian desert and his introductory exploration of the desert as a place that focuses one's thoughts。It's an excellent travelogue。 While he's definitely a presence in the book， he doesn't make it all about him and focuses our attention on the people he meets。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=El mundo inconmensurable: Viajes por lugares desérticos

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=El mundo inconmensurable: Viajes por lugares desérticos&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,El mundo inconmensurable: Viajes por lugares desérticos&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0