"In a text that is part travel memoir and part social commentary, Bonnett presents examples from around the world to illustrate humanity's long-held fascination and infatuation with islands. The cases highlighted depict how civilizations throughout history have used islands as a means of escape, as tools to isolate and hide undesirable persons or secrets, as foundations for realizing economic, military, or political opportunity, as venues to accommodate population growth, or as symbols of religious devotion and piety. In particular, he notes the extent to which people have taken to creating artificial islands where none exist, modifying natural islands deemed inadequate for the proposed uses, or using artificial islands accidentally created by other activities. . . . Attractively illustrated with color photograph plates and hand-drawn maps and compiled during a two-year trek around the globe, the text is engaging and accessible to general audiences."– "Choice"