This is a survey of islands how they reflect and refract the view of the world. Are you isolated on an island for good or ill?
The author is clearly well travelled, lots of the Scottish islands, but also Antarctica and various tropical islands make an appearance, he also uses literary references to islands, in fact and fiction - Both Alexander Selkirk and Robinson Crusoe make several appearances.
At times it feels like he skips from topic to topic like a stone skimming on water. This is at its best when he spends a few pages on one topic or experience.
The illustrations are epic, though.
I'm not an isle-o-phile like the author, my obsession would be the sea, I'm happy on the mainland by the sea, knowing it's there. ( )

Galloped through it in an afternoon, before library book group as he will attend (he locums in orkney as a gp and lived in stromness for three years