This is an example of “The movie was better than the book”. Adaptation was based on The Orchid Thief, but is a completely different story.

This book is a biography of John Laroche, but most of the book is spent discussing the histories behind orchids, Florida land scams, the Seminole Indians, and plenty of other stuff.

If you liked Adaptation, just watch the movie again. If you thoroughly enjoy plants or Florida history, then you’ll probably enjoy this book.