The Desert realm: Lands of majesty and mystery

"It is true, the silence of the desert can make one believe that the beating of the heart is clamorous," writes Thomas O'Neill. His wonder with the desert is shared by the other writers and photographers who crossed five continents to explore the world's dry regions for this volume. How plants, animals, and humans adapt to unforgiving lands of little rainfall fills a special section. Ten images transmitted by unmanned satellites reveal a new view of deserts from space, and more than 300 color photographs illustrate The Desert Realm: Lands of Majesty and Mystery.