Though published to accompany an upcoming documentary series on the Discovery Channel, Wild Asia stands alone as an introduction to the tremendous diversity in the flora and fauna of Asia. The largest of the continents (bigger than North, Central and South America combined), Asia is also the youngest, consisting of several large fragments that collided over geologic time to create one. This vast area experiences the widest climactic extremes on the planet, which coupled with the varied terrain supports an enormous range of wild plants and animals. The book explores the continent region by region. Showcased in all of their richness are areas as disparate as the Himalayas, home of the world's highest peaks and one of its rarest animals, the snow leopard; the Indian subcontinent, ruled by the monsoon rains; and the deserts of Mongolia, where roam the last wild horses and camels. The magnificent photographs are the strength of the book, picturing species both familiar (tigers, elephants, Komodo dragons) and unfamiliar (Rafflesia, the world's largest flower) in the vast diversity of the continent. Good photographs of Asian plants and animals can be difficult to come by, and the beautiful landscape portraits further sell a book that will fill a gap in most libraries' natural history collections.