本书记录了作者在骑行穿越南美洲时所看到的一切，尤其是我们地球上渐渐消失的生物多样性。

作者Kate Rawles带着她自己盖的一辆竹制脚踏车一共骑了13个月，从太平洋岛热带雨林再到盐滩，她一路发现生物多样性是多模重要，现在的状态，以及我们该如何保护它。Kate发现犰狳如果要过河的话，它们需要憋气。她发现哥伦比亚的鸟种比北美以及欧洲加起来都还要多。她发现人类在威胁生物以及生态系统的同时，我们在毁掉自己的生命支持系统。她一路上看到黄金开采以及石油钻探所留下的破坏，但同时也在那些保育人士以及社群中看到不少希望。

关于作者：

KATE RAWLES is a writer, cyclist and former university lecturer in environmental philosophy who uses adventurous journeys to raise awareness about environmental challenges. She writes for a range of publications, is a mountain and sea kayaking leader and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. She lives in the South Lakes, Cumbria.

好评：

The best travelling companion you could dream up. [Rawles'] conversational style, ear for an anecdote and searing observations focused on our need to protect biodiversity is a tour de force ... Her language is easy and her sense of humour rarely more than a heartbeat away ... I finished the book with a sense of regret that the adventure was over, inspired by the awesome and deeply melancholy at the hells she visited along the way. Welcome to the complexity of the real world.

Tim Smit OBE, co-founder of the Eden Project

The Life Cycle's pace is brisk, the vistas magnificent, the many characters encountered along the way compellingly and entertainingly brought to life. Even the all-important diversions ... leave one feeling stronger, more resolute than ever to support the causes and organisations she champions. This is such an informative, uplifting and truly important book, making all the right connections across many different areas of concern. 

Jonathon Porritt, author and campaigner

Profound and funny, philosophical and gritty, this book shares both the pain of an incredibly brave woman traveller and the enchantment as she meets the pioneers of lifestyles that seek to restore biodiversity rather than exploit it. A gripping read for anyone who cares about what we're doing to the planet and how we can change it. 

David Shukman, former BBC News science editor and visiting professor in practice at the LSE’s Grantham Research Institute

The Life Cycle will change your life. Or it should. Here is one of those rare flowers of a story whose message is as powerful, and urgent, as the beautiful writing used to tell it. It will move you, as it did me. Open it, but don't just read it. Savour it. 

 Carlos Zorrilla, environmental activist, writer and photographer

Rawles built a bamboo bike for one, but with this book she takes each reader on her heart-wrenching and heart-warming ride through South America and into the pounding soul of the vibrant biodiversity we have ignored for way too long.

Christiana Figueres, co-host of the Outrage and Optimism podcast and former head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

A call to arms to protect what's left of our precious natural world. Kate's explorations open up new perspectives, helping us understand how our daily choices impact on people and species that may be far away, but with whom we are intimately linked and co-dependent. 

Helen Browning OBE, organic farmer, author and CEO of the Soil Association

'A gripping read for anyone who cares about what we're doing to the planet and how we can change it' DAVID SHUKMAN, FORMER BBC NEWS SCIENCE EDITOR

'Searing observations focused on our need to protect biodiversity - A tour de force' SIR TIM SMIT OBE, CO-FOUNDER OF THE EDEN PROJECT

'An informative, uplifting and truly important book' JONATHON PORRITT, AUTHOR AND CAMPAIGNER