160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ 

Happy Halloween!  Our Hobsonville Bookstore is open today for spooky fun and sweet treats! πŸŽƒ

The Age of Islands

In Search of New and Disappearing Islands
3.54 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 161 ratings, 21 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Age of Islands by Alastair Bonnett takes readers on an enthralling journey across diverse and unique islands worldwide. It's a vivid exploration of human ingenuity and nature's eccentricities, revealing how these islands have emerged as significant cultural and geographical landmarks. The book offers insight into both newly formed and disappearing islands, reflecting on our relationship with these enigmatic spaces.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by the creation and transformation of islands around the world. You'll enjoy exploring the intriguing stories of artificial islands, alongside the cultural and political changes they bring. With insightful narratives, it’s perfect for those who appreciate unique perspectives on geography and human ingenuity.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A fascinating exploration of new and disappearing islands around the world, by the author of Off the Map.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Extraordinary... A fascinating and intelligent book. - Sunday Times

New islands are being built at an unprecedented rate, whether for tourism or territorial ambition, while many islands are disappearing or fragmenting because of rising sea levels. It is a strange planetary spectacle, creating an ever-changing map which even Google Earth struggles to keep pace with.

In The Age of Islands, explorer and geographer Alastair Bonnett takes the reader on a compelling and thought-provoking tour of the world's newest, most fragile, and beautiful islands and reveals what, he argues, is one of the great dramas of our time.

From a 'crannog', an ancient artificial island in a Scottish loch, to the militarised artificial islands China is building in the South China Sea; from the disappearing islands that remain the home of native Central Americans to the ritzy new islands of Dubai; from Hong Kong and the Isles of Scilly to islands far away and near: all have urgent stories to tell.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Age of Islands by Alastair Bonnett receives praise for its engaging and knowledgeable exploration of various islands, both natural and man-made. Reviewers commend Bonnett's acerbic charm and self-deprecating travel anecdotes, highlighting the book's ability to bring geographic concepts to life in an accessible manner. The book is noted for combining deep historical and geopolitical insights with vivid, detailed travel writing, presenting a fascinating account of the world's evolving landscapes.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786498120

Publisher: Atlantic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 July 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Atlantic Books

Edition: Main

Illustration: 2x8pp col plates, maps

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 247g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Alastair Bonnett is Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University. His previous books include Off the Map, Beyond the Map, New Views: The World Mapped Like Never Before, What is Geography? and How to Argue. He lives in Newcastle.

Also by Alastair Bonnett

View all
  • 40 Maps That Will Change How You See the World
    Turn the pages of this thought-provoking book and discover maps that challenge conventional wisdom, confront social and political norms, and offer fresh perspectives on familiar landscapes. This meticulously curated selection of 40 maps spans the ages, from ancient parchment scrolls to cutting-edge digital creations. Each map is a window into a different facet of our world, shedding light on the...
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Off the Map
    From forgotten enclaves to floating islands, from hidden villages to New York gutter spaces, Off the Map charts the hidden corners of our planet. And while these are not necessarily places you would choose to visit on holidayβ€”Hobyo, the pirate capital of Somalia, or Zheleznogorsk, a secret military town in Russiaβ€”they each carry a story about the strangeness of place...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Off the Map
    Off the Map is a fizzingly entertaining and enlightening book. – Daily Telegraph Mesmerising. – Geographical Magazine A fascinating delve into uncharted, forgotten lost places. But it's not just a trivia-tastic anthology of remote destinations but a nifty piece of psycho-geography, explaining our human need for these cartographical conundrums. – Wanderlust In a world of Google Earth, in which it...
    Hardback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Multiracism
    Racism is a world problem. From Morocco to China, Brazil to Indonesia, racism is being debated and contested. Multiracism broadens the horizon on this global challenge, showing that racism has a diverse history with multiple roots and routes. Drawing on examples of racism from across the globe, with a particular focus on cases from Asia and Africa, Alastair Bonnett rethinks...
    Paperback
    $4299
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • 40 Maps That Will Change How You See the World
    Turn the pages of this thought-provoking book and discover maps that challenge conventional wisdom, confront social and political norms, and offer fresh perspectives on familiar landscapes. This meticulously curated selection of 40 maps spans the ages, from ancient parchment scrolls to cutting-edge digital creations. Each map is a window into a different facet of our world, shedding light on the...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Extraordinary Islands
    Extraordinary Islands: A Journey Through the Strange, Scary, Remote, and Naturally Odd Dive into a captivating exploration of 33 of the world's most unique and enigmatic islands, each with its own compelling story. This visually stunning book is divided into four sections, each revealing a different facet of these extraordinary locales: Strange: Uncover islands that defy the ordinary. From Ocean...
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • New Ruins
    Pre-order
    New Ruins
    This is the age of ruins. The wrecks of our speeding, super-sizing, impatient era can be found on the Moon and at the bottom of the sea, in the internet's haunted attics, in desecrated jungles and in abandoned shopping malls inhabited by dust and spiders. We live amid the accumulating debris of an economy that can't stop producing, building and...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    Pre-order
    Out 1 Dec 2026

More from Travel & Adventure

View all
  • On Sale
    19% off
    The Salt Path
    The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Abroad in Japan
    The hilarious number one bestselling memoir from YouTube sensation Chris Broad, a Brit trying to assimilate into life in Japan as he unravels the wonders and eccentricities of one of the world's most mysterious cultures. When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan, he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With no knowledge of the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Penguin Lessons
    Now a major film, this is the true story of an unlikely friendship between a flightless bird and a teacher out of his depth. When schoolteacher Tom Michell pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. Back at his apartment, Tom cleans him, but upon returning to the beach,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the city's most scenic tram routes, find the best pastΓ©is de nata and discover the winding backstreets of Alfama; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Lisbon and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Cozy Bookshops: Colouring Book
    Cozy Bookshopsβ€”your ultimate escape into a world of bookish bliss and mindful relaxation in 46 adorable scenes, from the coziest book nooks. Wander labyrinthine bookshelves, sink into soft armchairs by roaring fireplaces, and lose yourself in snug, atmospheric corners. Escape, relax, and unwind with this colouring book for all skill levels and bring your own personality. The possibilities are endless!...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Domesday
    Pre-order
    Domesday
    The Domesday Book describes the furniture of a culture and its economy – the legacy of Anglo-Saxon England. When King William I sent his agents to survey every shire in England, he asked them to list his holdings and calculate what was owed to him. The manuscript record of the resulting β€˜Great Survey’ is not just a tax record, but...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Pre-order
    Out 5 Jan 2027
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Porto
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Porto is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the historic Se cathedral, marvel at the stunning Palacio da Bolsa, and visit peacocks in Jardim do Palacio de Cristal, all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Porto and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Auto Biography
    From one of the world's most popular motor journalists, a highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars. A highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars by Mat Watson, the world's most followed car journalist on social media. Mat Watson knows everything there is to know about cars. In his 25-year career as a motor journalist, he has driven...
    Hardback
    $4600
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Around the World in 80 Trains
    WINNER OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 'Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride'...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Lonely Planet Norway
    Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Norway. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from watching walruses lolling and hunting in Borebukta to hiking in the remote causeway of EkkerΓΈy in Finnmark, and road tripping along the Lofoten Islands to admire villages replete with traditional fishing...
    Paperback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Paris
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Paris is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Wonder at the city's museums and architecture, stroll through the Pere Lachaise, and dine on rich French cuisine; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Paris and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Paris:...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Lonely Planet Thailand
    Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Thailand. Discover popular and off-the-beaten-track experiences, from sinking your toes into the soft white sand of Ko Lipe's Sunrise Beach to slurping boat noodles with locals at food stands in Ayuthaya, and spotting wild elephants on a night safari at Khao...
    Paperback
    $4100
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.