The author defines ecology as being concerned with the workings of the biological world within the framework of the world's environments. The book provides a comprehensive coverage of the subject and is soundly based on the scientific principles involved. By providing a wide range of examples of how populations and communities interact in nature, the reader is given the tools to gain a firm understanding of the ecological news items that come up in daily life. There are 21 chapters in all, ranging through geographic distributions, population dynamics, negative and positive species interactions, population regulation, community dynamics and landscape ecology. Towards the end of the book are three chapters covering topical problems in conservation biology, fisheries management and pest management. The final chapter deals with the problems of human impacts. It tackles growth of the human population together with the carrying capacity of the earth. This is not an easy subject and the author deserves congratulation for its inclusion. The book is an excellent read. The problems are clearly outlined and explained. The illustrations are relevant, easily understandable and beautifully presented. One particular feature is the inclusion of photographs of famous and influential ecologists. This reinforces the idea that ecology, and of course all science, is the product of human activity. While the book is suitable for students of all biological disciplines including agriculture, medicine and biotechnology, it is also essential reading for anyone, professional or amateur, who has an interest in how the natural world works.