Book excerpt: First published in 1981. Settling the Desert is an attempt to organise those aspects of scientific and sociological research that are the necessary prerequisites for making the desert a comfortable and profitable place for man to inhabit. In this book, experts from many fields of desert research review the history of desert settlement and agriculture, as well as the present problems encountered by modern desert settlers. Topics discussed include: meteorology, sociology, ecology, water resources, solar energy, innovative desert agriculture, architecture, and animal science.