Book Description

Reviews (11)

The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-To-Z Guide
What makes this book a hit is that the author and editor seem to communicate before going to print. Many books fail because of a lack of that communication.
I almost think of The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-To-Z Guide to Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, and Treats as being set up in the style of an encyclopedia. Don't let that statement put you off though. You can tell Sally Roth knows her subject, but beyond that, she wrote the book with a passion.
Anyone who is a "birder" would recognize Roth as a bird enthusiast (birder) first and who, as an added bonus for her audience (us, her readers), is an excellent writer.
The pictures of the birds are professional quality. The information is presented in an easy to follow format for each bird. There are numerous tips on how you can enjoy watching the birds in your backyard.
I enjoy this book everyday, reading a particular section and enjoying the birds even more because of the info given in this book.
A good purchase! Most enjoyable!
John Row

Worth every penny.
Back in the glory days of The Tonight Show, Johnny would read from a list or a book and then Ed would say, "Everything you could ever want to know about....... is in that book." Of course Ed would always get shot down for there was still more to know and while I am sure there are things about bird feeding that are not in this book, I doubt there is much that can not be found here. Sally Roth has done an outstanding job of putting together what could indeed be considered the Bible of backyard bird feeders.

Everything is alphabetized so after you pick up the book to check on what kinds of birds eat earthworms (robins and other thrushes) you will also glance down and find that many birds like crushed eggshells for grit. Pretty soon you are reading about falcons and feeder maintenance. Basically, this is a hard book to put down and every time you pick it up you will learn something. Roth tells her readers what kinds of birds like what food, what kind of plants birds like, how to alter your feeding in different seasons and how to handle problems that you may encounter. There is a basic biography of each North American bird and the author tells us where each bird can be found and when.

For anyone who has decided to establish a bird feeding station, buy this book and read it before you buy the first feeder or grain of food. Doing so will be well worth your time and monetary investment for not only will Roth give you an excellent idea of what kinds of feeders and foods you need to get started, she also provides tips on how to feed the birds without breaking the bank. I have fed birds (and squirrels) for years and I have several books on the subject but this is hands down the best bird-feeding book in my library. In other words, a novice needs this book and an old pro can learn a lot within its pages. Sally Roth knows her stuff and luckily for all of us she writes in a clear, interesting, and easy to grasp style that makes learning what she knows a joy.

I am very glad I bought a copy of this book and I know my birds are too. Not only has my enjoyment of this hobby increased but also the birds are eating better than ever. I expect to see my finches building a little statue of Sally Roth any day now.

Thanks, everybody
Hey bird lovers! Just wanted to say thanks for saying such nice things about this book. Wish I could have you all over for breakfast with the birds (say, around 10 a.m.? late sleeper zzz). On second thought, wish I could've had you all over a few weeks ago, when we had a freak ice storm and frigid temps, and the Anna's hummingbirds that were still around (torpor, I kept telling them; it's time for torpor.... would they listen? of course not) needed to have their feeders thawed and replaced EVERY 15 MINUTES!!! (Worse than a new baby) Anyway, hope your feeders are just overflowing with bluebirds, grosbeaks, varied thrushes, pine siskins, red-breasted nuthatches, and soon, soon, indigo buntings, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and let's not forget my favorite starlings (really, though I realize I'm the only person in the world that feels this way; it all started when I raised a batch of orphaned babies and they were just so homely, I fell in love) (but don't worry, this book'll tell you how to discourage 'em in case you'd rather send them all to my place). And for all of us stuck in the depths of winter for far too long this year, SPRING IS COMING! Go break off some forsythia branches and pussywillows and stick 'em in water in the house, they'll bloom fast. And don't forget to stock up on zinnia seeds at those 10-packs-for-$1 sales, the flowers are great for butterflies and hummingbirds (and bouquets) and goldfinches and native sparrows love the seeds---and they're about the easiest flowers in the world to grow. All right, I'll get a grip now (bad case of spring fever, sorry), just want to say Thanks again. And, hey, Dennis from TN, how's that statue coming along? (just kidding, just kidding) (But hello to TN. I'm not in southern IN anymore---WA state now---and I sure am gonna miss those spring wildflowers, man, what a well-kept secret---everybody hears about New England wildflowers but those ACRES of Virginia bluebells, wild sweet william, tricorner delphiniums, mayapple, trilliums, and a zillion others in TN, OH, IN, KY are just incredible. Not to mention the dogwoods and redbuds. And the sugar maples in fall. And the morels, mmm.) All right, have no idea if they'll let me post this or not, but here goes.... Thanks again, everybody.

Great Book For Beginners and Experts
This book is great. It really is a bible for backyard bird enthusiasts. I turn to it everytime I have a question about bird feeding, housing, gardening, bird behavior, and others. It's also nice because it's current, with all the correct information, unlike old birding books from the 80's that say milo is a prized seed. It's a wonderful book for beginners in birdfeeding or the seasoned expert!

OUTSTANDING!
I am new to bird watching and was utterly fascinated with this book! Simple, concise, yet not at all condescending - this book is hands down the best book I have ever seen for bird watchers and feeders! Some people may be scared off by the 'organic gardening' title but let me reassure you - it has very little focus in the book. I would recommend this to anyone who loves watching and interacting with wild birds! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rosemary and Peter Grant and those assisting them have spend twenty years on Daphne Major, an island in the Galapagos studying natural selection.They recognize each individual bird on the island, when there are four hundred at the time of the author's visit, or when there are over a thousand.They have observed about twenty generations of finches -- continuously.
Jonathan Weiner follows these scientists as they watch Darwin's finches and come up with a new understanding of life itself. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A perfect sequel to "Origin of Species"
"The Beak of the Finch", subtitled, "A Story of Evolution in Our Time", is a truly amazing book. Its principle topic is the work of Peter and Rosemary Grant, who have been studying the finches of the Galapagos Islands ("Darwin's Finches") in great detail since 1973. They have collected and analyzed data on 24 generations and close to 19,000 individual birds. The result of their work is empirical proof of Darwin's theory of evolution, along with a tremendous amount of new data concerning the mechanisms of evolution and life. The author (Jonathan Weiner) quotes liberally from Darwin. Of course Darwin was not right in every detail, but modern work is validating much of the speculation of "Origin" and other works. Some points I gleaned: (1) Natural selection works much more quickly than Darwin or anyone else had, until recently, realized. Under extreme selection pressure the finches were recorded evolving in one direction, then another. The reason the pace has been misjudged by several orders of magnitude is that the effects follow environment, and tend to net out over long periods of time, leaving the impression of a much slower pace. (2) The theory of evolution has been rigorously proven through the traditional scientific method of exact hypothetical predictions confirmed with experiment and observation. (3) Stephen J. Gould mentions frequently that the observation of evolution is neither unknown or even rare. I learned from Weiner that observed incidents are not necessarily subtle or obscure, and learned about many fascinating specific cases. (4) American farmers have never realized a net gain against insects by use of insecticides. When the cotton fields were cleared of "pests" in the forties, adjacent species began invading their crops almost immediately. Pesticides, of course, select for pesticide resistant insects. Before pesticides were introduced farmers lost 7% of their crop to insects. In 1993 the number was 13% and has risen steadily since the first pesticide was introduced. The irony is that the farmers being destroyed by the inevitable forces of evolution are deep in the cotton/bible belt, where they are simultaneously (not all of them of course) trying to keep their schools from teaching evolution, thus crippling the chances of saving their crops. (5) Antibiotic resistance is, of course, taking the same course as pesticide resistance, threatening everyone's health. I had missed the point that the same fundie saying s/he doesn't "believe" in evolution is likely aware of one of it's most immediate effects, bacteria surging ahead in our ongoing war. (6) I gleaned a pretty good grasp of how divergence and speciation occur in the absence of geographical barriers. This has been a stumbling block to understanding for me, because the geographical separation requirement seemed too rare for the effects attributed to it. Very briefly, when a species is severely stressed by changing environment, there are commonly two or more survival niches best addressed by different evolved configurations (beak shape and overall size, in the case of the finches). Offspring suited to a niche survives, and by staying out of each others' niches, the separating groups survive and prosper. Speciation can occur if the conditions favoring the separation persist long enough. (7) "Preserving a species" is an almost meaningless statement. Species are constantly in evolutionary flux, and the descendents of animals we preserve will likely not be the same species, especially if we introduce or reintroduce them to the wild.

Brilliant exposition of evolutionary biology for the layman
Writing about science, scientists, and history in a way that keeps an educated layman absorbed is an extremely difficult craft. This writer is so adept at it that his Pulitzer Prize was almost inevitable; and I'll now read everything he writes. The Beak of the Finch is about what Darwin deduced from limited observations, which only in the past couple of decades has been confirmed and better understood by biologists. The book focuses on the work of Peter and Rosemary Grant and their students in the Galapagos Islands, which Darwin visited on the Beagle. I picked up this book before going to the Galapagos--as should everyone lucky enough to do that--but it would be just as fascinating for the armchair traveler and the would-be or wannabe biologist. I marked numerous passages to read to wife and teenaged kids on our trip, and even the most cynical and anti-school of the kids rated it extremely interesting and beautifully written. The shocking punch line: "Nearly half of all Americans say they don't believe the theory of evolution."

Darwin's fascinating finches.
Although Creationists have long argued that evolution is "only a theory" which cannot be scientifically proven (see, for instance, THE HANDY-DANDY EVOLUTION REFUTER, Wheaton, Illinois), and that whatever processes the Creator used to create, those processes "are not now operating anywhere in the natural universe" (Duane Gish, EVOLUTION? THE FOSSILS SAY NO!), current evolutionary studies are now demonstrating what even Charles Darwin thought was impossible.

Darwin first introduced us to the finches that inhabit the Galapagos Islands in his ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES. Through their research since 1973, evolutionary scientists, Peter and Rosemary Grant, have discovered that Darwin's finches are even more interesting than Darwin ever dreamed, and reveal that Darwin may not have known the strengths of his own theory. Jonathan Weiner's Pulitzer-Prize winning book provides a fine introduction to evolutionary science, while also delivering conclusive proof that evolution is happening "in jittery motion," daily and hourly all around us (pp. 8-9). "The beak of the finch," Weiner writes, "is an icon of evolution the way the Bohr atom is an icon of modern physics, and the study of either one shows us more primal energy and eternal change than our minds are built to take in. Yet like the vista of the atoms, the vista of evolution in action, of evolution in the flesh, has enormous implications for our sense of reality, of what life is, and for our sense of power, of what we can do with life" (p. 112). For this reason, Weiner's brilliant book should be considered required reading.

G. Merritt

An insight on evolution
"The Beak of the Finch" analyzed many of Darwin's theories on evolution. Most of the book follows the Grant's as they study thirteen species of finches on the Galapagos Islands, especially the island of Daphne Major. The Grant's studies focused mainly on how the finches reacted to environmental changes and how natural selection influenced their evolutionary change. Jonathan Weiner also provides insight into other experiments done by other scientists on finches and other species.

The book was an interesting read and the author did a good job of keeping complex science concepts simple for the purpose of suiting every type of reader. He included the stories of the Grant's and numerous other scientists to keep the novel interesting and not strictly scientific. The novel was presented in a story-like fashion on how evolutionary concepts were supported.The idea that evolutionary changes are always occurring and that the results of evolution can be seen in both short and long time periods is presented in the novel. Overall, the book was enjoyable and gave the reader valuable insight on evolution and Darwinism.

a good read, if you're interested
This book is a fascinating look into the science of volution. It is centeres around the very place that inspired Darwin: the alapagos Islands. Peter and Rosemary Grant, along with many other respected scientists, keep watch on the island of Daphne Major and keep close tabs on the finch population living there. The virtually inaccessible island is perfect for this study because of its sheer simplicity and isolation from the outside world. The Grants can keep a close eye on every environmental factor on the island, and know every one of the finches by sight. Over the past twenty years they have seen remarkable changes in the finches' traights, especially their beaks. They have had a first-hand look at what Darwin said would take millions of years: evolution in action.
The Beak of the Finch is a well-written book that throws a whole new light of authenticity on the theory of evolution. It suggests that evolution is not the slow process Darwin thought it was, but that it can be seen clearly from year to year, season to season. However, it runs into the same problem that has been plaguing the evolutionism-creationism debate for years: it offers no hard evidence that large-scale evolution can occur. If you are an evolutionist, it will confirm your beliefs with several documented cases of proven natural selection. If you are a creationist, chances are it won't sway you much. Creationists argue that you can not extrapolate from relatively minor changes like the ones mentioned to evolving into completely different species. It is a good book if the topic interests you, but most will probably find it more tedious than it is worth as a convincing argument for evolution. ... Read more

Book Description

There are two kinds of math: the hard kind and the easy kind. The easy kind, practiced by ants, shrimp, Welsh corgis—and us—is innate.

What innate calculating skills do we humans have? Leaving aside built-in mathematics, such as the visual system, ordinary people do just fine when faced with mathematical tasks in the course of the day. Yet when they are confronted with the same tasks presented as "math," their accuracy often drops.

But if we have innate mathematical ability, why do we have to teach math and why do most of us find it so hard to learn? Are there tricks or strategies that the ordinary person can do to improve mathematical ability? Can we improve our math skills by learning from dogs, cats, and other creatures that "do math"? The answer to each of these questions is a qualified yes. All these examples of animal math suggest that if we want to do better in the formal kind of math, we should see how it arises from natural mathematics.

From NPR’s "Math Guy"—The Math Instinct will provide even the most number-phobic among us with confidence in our own mathematical abilities. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Darling!
This is based on a true story. Margarete, who considered herself a typical grandmother, ran across a downed baby bird in her flower patch. She tried to put the bird back in the nest as a helpful soul, but that didn't work. She tried several times, describing her attempts to reach the nest by roof and ladder like a gymnastics move - remember, this is a grandmother. Each time she completed the task only to find the bird back in the flower patch down below. When she decided to raise the bird herself, it was of course only going to be temporary.

This is a wonderful story of love and compassion, of companionship and triumph. Arnie the starling ended up being the thread that held many stories together in Margarete's life. A war bride from Munich, Margarete lived in Texas where she had run a pet clinic, among other things. She moved to Cape Cod with Arnie by the end of the tale, having had many adventures along the way. Margerete even shared the rejection letter from the Tonight Show. Maybe they didn't believe Arnie the starling could talk? "Good," was Arnie's reply.

Arnie never did return to the wild, preferring the company of Margarete and her other animals, human food to wild offerings, and, of course, there would be no one to talk to out there! This is a lovely story, a touching story, one for kids and adults.

Amazing!
It is the heartwarming story of a lady and her bird. Brings tears to the eyes! Superbly written! A great biography for any one who even remotely likes animals!

Bravo!
Heartwarming story about a remarkable woman and the wild bird that captivated her heart.

Heartwarming!
I found this charming book in a used bookstore when I visited my father in Texas. Sorry to see it out of print. A real treasure that is fun to read and very poignant. ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 4 hours, 3 cassettes

When Nate Twitchell discovers that one of his family's hens has laid the
biggest egg he has ever seen, he is determined to see it hatch.And when it
does, neither he nor his parents, the townspeople, the scientists, or the
politicians from Washington are prepared for what comes out!





... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good book for dinosaur lovers!
My favorite part of this book is when the dinosaur hatches. Dr. Zeimer is so excited that he shows up in his bathrobe! No one knows what it is. Another scientist comes to figure it out. But the dinosaur is gone; then it pops out of a flower bed! The scientist was first impatient, then amazed. This book is very funny & exciting & makes you want to read on. Everyone would enjoy it, but especially people who are interested in dinosaurs. Douglas A., age 9

What a cool story!
This book was a good book because it holds your interest. It didn't have any boring parts. It didn't have any parts that went on too long, instead on every page there was something new to think about. I really liked it!

Nate Twitchel found an enormous egg under one of his hens one morning. It was so big Nate had to turn the egg for the hen.It took six weeks till it finally hatched.A dinosaur came out. News spread fast and soon people from across the country started coming to the Twitchel's house. The dinosaur got so big that the Twitchels had to send him away, but Nate got to go too. the dinosaur ended up in Washington D.C. and there trouble began. Read the book to find out how Nate solves his prolems.

Great Story in the Style of Henry Reed (But Better)
I read this when I was ten and again when I was thirty. And you know, I enjoyed it just as much the second time. The story's great and the writing's very good. Like "Henry Reed" and "Homer Price," but better. I wish Oliver Butterworth lived next door - he would've been a really fun and wise man to know.

Not Really a Dinosaur Book
Although on the surface this book is about a boy and his dinosaur, it is really about the freedoms promised to Americans by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Through Nate's story we learn about the power of free speach, and the importance of each voice in our political system. It is also a celebration of non-traditional learning experiences, and the joy of persuing education outside of school. The Enormous Egg is a great civics lesson and should be of particular interest to home schoolers.

A splendid book
I loved this book because it was a funny aventure. I thought the dinosaur, Uncle Beasley, was awesome. My favorite part was when he turmed over a truck on the highway. I thought it was funny! Nate was a cool guy because he rode the dinosaur and saved him from dying. Everybody would enjoy this book! ... Read more

Book Description

A spellbinding history of the one bird every serious birder hopes to find, even as the world doubts its existence.

In Search of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is both a complete natural history of one of the most exciting and rare—perhaps even extinct—birds in the world, and a fascinating personal quest by the world's leading expert on the species. Jerome A. Jackson provides detailed insights into the bird's lifestyle, habitat, and cultural significance, examining its iconic status from the late 1800s to the present in advertising, conservation, and lore. As he relates searches for the bird by John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and others, Jackson offers anecdotal tales illuminating the methods of early naturalists, including how Wilson's captive ivory-bill destroys his hotel room in a desperate attempt to escape.Jackson's search for perhaps the last remaining ivory-bill takes him across the United States and into Cuba. He spends hours flying over potential ivory-bill habitat, canoeing through isolated waterways, and trudging through swamps, always playing recorded ivory-bill calls into the wilderness, hoping for a response. 30 halftones. ... Read more

Book Description

This stunning guide explores the kingdom of snakes, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards, salamanders, and crocodiles, with information on physical appearance, voice, breeding cycles, habitat, range, and status in the wild. Poisonous or otherwise dangerous animals are distinguished with a warning symbol. An essay on observing reptiles and amphibians, and detailed anatomical drawings, round out the coverage in this comprehensive guide. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Edition needs refining.
The contemporary edition of the Audubon Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians is decades old. Though it covers many species of snakes, salamanders, newts, etc., it is underrated because of the lack of updating. Some species names are known to be out of date, or invalid. However, even this cannot override the true quality of all the Audubon guides, including this book. Even though a newly revised and updated edition is way overdue, it still presents spectacular photographs of various species. The system is the same, with the description in the back of the book. The Audubon Guide to Weather has been revised and updated over the years and hopefully, this one will be also.

The most complete North American reptile and amphibian book.
This book contains 657 full color pictures of over 470 species of reptiles and amphibians in North America. It covers from habitat locations to breeding and feeding. This is a must for any child or adult who is interested in our native animals.

mediocre
This guide is beset with problems, and there are better out there.

The range maps are so general as to be mostly useless. They're incredibly small, to the point where it's hard to discern where the lines on it are; is that snake's western range limit NM or AZ? You can't tell! The written descriptions of ranges are too vauge as well; they list eastern, western, southern and northern limits, but it's not like an animals range will make a nice little square; there are places within those boundaries where it does not occur. Maybe a lizards westernmost point is in, say Alamogordo, NM: it'll list that as it's westernmost point. but say, as it's range extends northward, it is restricted to a more easterly distribution; that won't be mentioned.

Furthermore, the guide is 25 years old. There have been massive taxonomic revisions since this was written; new species have been discovered, some species have been combined, some subspecies complexes split, etc. Ranges have also shifted since '79, due to development and climatic changes.

Also, the guide only deals with species level info. This is unnacceptable for some animals; L. getula (kingsnake) has some 7-8 subspecies, ranging from the mexican black to the desert to the eastern; these animals have markedly different apperances, habitat, ranges, and behaviors. But the guide doesn't deal with that; it list info for "L. getula" in general, without dividing it into subspecies information. This makes the guide worthless for Pituophis melanoleucus, Lampropeltis getula, Lampropeltis traingulum, and several other species which contain a wide range of different subspecies.

So what to do? Buy a good local field guide; they exist for most states- Degenhardt's Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico is execellent. Texas Snakes (Dixon) is good. Failing all else, most states maintain a listing of most native fauna online, usually whatever department deals with hunting and state parks will have a link to it. There is probably a good field guide for reptiles and amphibians of your state. If you need one for a bigger area, try Peterson's. They offer regional guides; one western and one eastern and central. They're a little more difficult to learn to use, but they're far more current, far more detailed, and once figured out, far more useful.

well, two and half,
This book may have been something for it's time, but it's since been eclipsed, and has become outdated.
For one thing, the book was written in the 70's--it's older than I am. Taxonomy has changed, but that's not the most important (taxonomy is always changing).
Ranges have shifted; habitat changes have forced various species into new areas and out of old ones, new species have been introduced and become established, etc. Even if the range maps were up to date, they're poorly done; very small and hard to see, and inexact.

Furthermore, the book doesn't delinate subspecies; all kingsnakes (L. getula) and rat snakes (L. obsoleta) are treated as one species a piece, despite each having over six very distinct subspecies. This is problematic as the various subspecies of kingsnake have remarkably different size, patterns, and ranges; a desert king is a rather different animal than an eastern king, but the book just gives you the same info for both. It happens numerous times with king snakes, milksnakes, ratsnakes, and all the pituophis species. It list some 10 subspecis for P. melanoleucus, and gives the same info for all of them, despite radical differences between, say, a northen pine and a bullsnake or SD gopher snake. It does the same thing with kingsnakes; it list 7 subspecies ranging from the Eastern to the Mexican, and gives on set of info for all of them. This occurs many times throughout the book, and negates it's value as a field guide. By now, with the explosion of herpetocultural writings, you're better off buying a good area specific guide; a Peterson's is a decent choice, or you can by a guide just for your state if there's a good one; such books typically give more in depth info and better done.

Over-rated
This guide has a lot of nostalgia for me; it was my first real field guide, a birthday present when I was in 2nd grade. But like many nostalgic items, it hasn't stood up to the test of time. On the plus side, the photos make a good book to introduce youngsters to the joys of the herping world. and animals are arranged by similarities to each other, not by family; a great help for the novice. And it covers "all" the reptiles on the continent, no need for 2 books. On the negative side, photos usually aren't helpful for id, and can in fact be very misleading. But the worse complaint is that the publishers haven't bothered trying to update this book, as they have some of there other guides. Reptile Taxonomy changes every year, and this book is over 2 decades old. Many new introductions, newly discovered species, and split off species aren't covered, and many animals go by out of date names. The ranges maps are also less than helpful, rarely delineating subspecies or race range, just species. Overall, skip this book and invest in the Petersons. They have been updated both in the late 90's, have better range maps, and use modern taxonomy ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first comprehensive guide to the unique wildlife of theGalápagos, encompassing the birds, mammals, and reptiles a visitor to theseextraordinary islands might encounter. The innovative, simple-to-use format of thepocket-sized volume will help beginners and experts alike to identify with confidence thestriking and charismatic Galápagos fauna.

Highlighting the differences between similar species, the guide focuses on the keyidentification features of each. Information on the status, habitat preferences, breedingseasons, and significant behavioral characteristics is provided for each species, alongwith 78 distribution maps for all resident species. Fifty-three remarkable color platescompiled from a composite of 500 photographic images and 20 illustrations depictvirtually every bird, mammal, and reptile ever recorded on the Galápagos. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Guide
This book is, in the words of my 8-year-old son, "incredible"! The layout is very easy to understand, the photographic plates that show the various species in related groupings are marvelously well-done. The text is informative without being pedantic, and the plethora of full-color photographs and excellent illustrations make the book a joy to use. If you are going to the Galapagos, BUY THIS BOOK! Better yet, buy more than one, because you will wear it out so fast flipping pages and grabbing it out of your travelling companions' greedy hands. If you aren't going, but want to learn about the fauna of this unique archipelago, you will find no better resource.

The best pocket guide to Galápagos land and air critters
Unless you are an advanced nature buff, birder, etc. this book should fulfill the need for travelers to recognize habitats and the land and air critters that inhabit them. Lavishly illustrated, good identification information, and even range maps- all very compact, and accurate. The information is next to the photo, so there's no paging back and forth- a good thing when you have a critter right in front of you. There's even a cross-referenced check-list by habitat! I'll definitely be taking this slender book with its strengthened, plasticized covers on my next trip to the "Islas Encantadas". You'll be glad you got this for your trip.

A Superb Guide for Scientists
A friend bought me this ID guide to take with me on a week-long cruise of the islands. The trip was magical and defies description; this ID guide was very helpful to me. It discusses not only the specific animals but also the ecology of specific vegetation zones of each island and documents sightings of each species. Not strictly for the layperson, because it requires some familiarity with scientific terms. I shared this guide with the National Park guides on our trip and they praised it highly - so I bought them each a copy. How's that for an endorsment? ... Read more

Book Description

In "Horses Never Lie," acclaimed horse trainer Mark Rashid breaks new ground by challenging the longstanding belief that a person must become the "alpa leader" in order to work with horses. Instead, "Horses Never Lie" teaches you how to become a "passive leader"—a reflection of the kind of horse other members of a herd choose to be around and to follow. It’s a must read for all horse owners who care about their horses and the kind of relationship they have with them.

As he did in "Considering the Horse" and "A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color," Rashid writes about his experiences with real horses, always featuring his sense of humor and an overriding compassion for the horse. His instructive anecdotes reach back to when he was a youngster under the mentorship of the "old man," and continue to his experiences today as a horse trainer and a popular clinician who has traveled the world to teach his remarkably effective methods to enthusiastic horse owners. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Horses Never Lie
This book, along with Rashid's other 2 titles, are the most useful and practical horse training books I've ever read. This title well establishes his concepts and philosophy through a storytelling style that makes it difficult to put down. Enormously engaging, he presents his conclusions and insights into working with horses while sharing the experiences that developed them. Rather than providing formulas, he provides a mindset, along with some specific ideas, that enables the reader to creatively compose their own solutions to difficulties that may arise when working with their own horse. He gives you a framework that requires creative but effective problem solving that is more relationship focused that task oriented...meaning he helps you to avoid sacrificing a trust relationship to accomplish the goal. He gives examples of ways to keep and even reinforce trust between you and your horse while accomplishing your goal. This is an alternative approach to manhandling or "John Wayning" a horse as I call it while remaining entirely practical. Written in an honest and vulnerable style. Excellent tool for developing creative solutions to difficulties with your horse designed to further establish trust and avoid a fight with a 1000+ lb. animal. Truly excellent!

Good read, but not the FIRST Mark Rashid book to buy
I have three of Mark Rashid's books and am here to get the fourth. His writing is friendly and fun to read, and I hate coming to the end of a book.

That said, if like me, you're fairly new to owning horses and looking for tips on training and communicating with horses, be sure to start with Mr. Rashid's "Considering the Horse". It has a plethora of useful information for the beginner and helps you think through how to work through problems with your horse.

"Horses Never Lie" is a tribute to a horse with which the author has an outstanding relationship. It has some food for thought, and is of course enjoyable to read. I happen to be looking for the line between becoming assertive enough to keep horse and self safe on a ride, and just being over bearing. Some of the stories in this book confused me as to where that line should be drawn.

On the other hand, this book would be interesting even to horse lovers who don't own horses.

What the heck, while you're here, you might as well just get all of his books. If you're a horse lover you're going to want them.

HORSES NEVER LIE
I found the book interesting and very easy and fast to read. I am an avid horse fan/owner and try to absorb any information out there to include anything regarding "natural horsemanship" . I enjoyed the book but was put off by the subtle put downs he had for other trainers. I think any attempt to get people to switch to "Natural Horsemanship" is a wonderful thing and should not be
put down or criticized especially considering the alternative. I felt each reference to other "natural" trainers (and most true horse lovers know exactly who he is referring to) was a blow to horses in general. Followers of these trainers may not be doing it exactly right but at least they are trying. I was confused as to what he was trying to tell me exactly, did he consider this wave of natural horsemanship a bad thing as long as it came from other trainers. Having said that I enjoyed hearing about how smart and forgiving horses really are. I would buy another of his books and hope he writes more but without the underlying jabs at others.

Very intriguing
This book was so interesting, that I plan to buy all books written by Mark Rashid. My family and friends will be receiving this book as a gift over the holidays.

Most Helpful of Horse Books
As a novice horse person, I have purchased many books on horse behavior and training. Of all the books I have, I have learned the most from Mark Rashid's books. He doesn't tell you "how to" but he gives you enough insight to develop your own how to. The most helpful thing I learned is that I don't have to win every "little" battle with the horse. It's a process, and one I've enjoyed more since I am no longer trying to be the alpha-mare; a concept that never worked for me. I will be recommending these books to all of our 4-H kids. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well worth it!
This book is on my "short list" of essential references. Species are covered in clear, concise descriptions. This well organized volume makes hunting for similar species as easy as turning a page. The photos? I can't say enough about the clear, photos that make insect identification a good deal easier!

While an excellent book for the landscape professional, scientist, or advanced gardener, beginners might be a bit overwhelmed by the technical language and scientific names.

This is a much needed and fabulous manual.
When trying to identify a particular problem with growing trees or shrubs knowing what kinds of insects are possible culprits is a major step. This book gives us, in color photos and descriptions, most of the common larvae that can be found feeding on the particular plants. Even Entomology texts often refuse to deal with larvae of insects, keeping only the adults in the keys and descriptions (even though the adults are often not pests!). This guide will be a welcome addition to any plant clinic, grower, or Entomology professor or student's bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (35)

Wonderfully Wise (and Witty)
Pat Parelli's work is an excellent reference guide for equine enthusiasts at any stage of riding. While his writing style bears the signs of a real show-man, beyond the self-hype lie important ideas and techniques which have, repeatedly, proven exceedingly beneficial for all types of horse-people. He carefully (albeit often somewhat pompously) describes his programme, which consists first of ground-work and then of exercises to be performed in saddle. His very noble goal is to help humans to develop a subtle, understanding relationship with their equine partners.

Having read (and re-read) Parelli's work countless times in the past few months and having consistently applied his programme when "playing" (Parelli believes that humans should never "work" a horse) with my young Quarter Horse, I have witnessed enormous improvements in my horse's demeanour and, crucially, in the trust he has for me. By establishing dominance over my horse using the sensible, humane tactics Parelli recommends, I have made major progress en route to transforming this horse from a fearful, unridden colt into a willing, dependable, "true blue" mount.

I highly endorse Parelli's work; if his programme is applied with persistence, patience, and an open mind, the possibilities in the horse-human relationship are limitless.

Parelli-Safe way 2 start new relationship, info beyond book
Being a beginner 3 years ago, I bought many books to prepare myself and my new 3 year old for our relationship. I learned alot from the concepts of Lyons and other authors, but they didn't give me enough direction to start actually working with my horse.

I found Parelli's book to be the best help - it started out with more specific exercises and details on how to applied what I'd learned. In one year working with Parelli book techniques a few times a week my horse went from green broke to "too well trained" to be enough of a challenge for me. I have since attended Parelli seminars and bought the "system" to start my new horse. I disagree with the reviewer that said some of Parelli is untrue or unsafe - that some horses cannot be ridden bareback. Parelli has a very detailed system with very specific pre-flight checks that guarentee your horse will be safe before you get on. If the horse is not safe to get on bareback, then he is not really mentally ready to get on with saddle & bridle either! It's all about preparing his mind and starting a relationship - and it does take patience & lots of work (DON'T try to rush it or shortcut). If you are looking for a quick way to make your green broke horse into an old trail horse, this book is not for you. But then again, you probably will get sick of trying to "train" your horse and be like the 80% of new horse owners that quite before the 1st year is up.

In Parelli training with Teri Palmer, I saw some "un-sane" horses with terrible relationships with their owners being ridden by the last day with a lead rope and halter. My new horse was on the other end - terribly confident and walking all over me. It took him a VERY long time to pass the "pre flight checks" (as Pat says to each new lesson & test, "I've never seen it take more than 2 days!"), but once he did, it allowed me to ride with more confidence and way more safely (no one in the program had a single problem, spook, stubborness, or anything on their horse!!!!-and everyone was there because their horses were terrible originally). The book does describe these pre-flight checks, but I recommend getting a video or going through training if you are unsure about any one of them since seeing it is easier to understand than reading it.

I do say though that although the book is a good start, the parelli trainer sessions (level 1) really helped me with some of the confusion and questions I had about certain techniques. It was very expensive, but so interesting that my auditing husband signed up for the last 2 days after the first 2 were so progressive. I would highly recommend that if you are serious about trying parelli, you consider sessions with a 3 or 4 star trainer, even over buying the system. And find a friend interested in working with it also - it's easier to bounce concepts off each other and get some feedback while working your horse. And it helps with motivation - I'm a "common just do it NOW" type person and it took alot of motivation to take a step back and really do things right (as my horse was ready for).

I'm actually out here today looking to buy Linda Parelli's riding video - I feel that I'm not quite communicating what I want to now that I'm up on my youngster bareback and I really like the way Linda communicates her ideas (she helped organize Pat's).

One other nice thing about the book - if you don't like it, you can alway sell it for asking price on ebay. One downside with parelli - although you can make your own tools (and I did), his ropes and carrot stick are really one of a kind and are expensive. His rope is custom made for his company, and is much much heavier than all other ropes - you cant buy this rope at any store that I've found, or already made lead ropes of this sort. I used much lighter rope of the same size & softness, with heavy clasps on the end, and it's much less effective in giving signals (but it does work sort of). The carrot stick can easily be replaced with any 4-5 foot stick with leather taped on the end(and he uses golf club handles on the end) and if you are new at it a lighter stick won't wear you out as fast (this stick is heavy). The savvy string is a must - it's also extra heavy weight, and there are no replacements (trust me I tried). And obviously rope halters are easy to make or buy on ebay.

A worthwhile introduction to Parelli-ism and NH
I would hope that every one of Pat Parelli's detractors carefully read this book. I'm not a PP groupie but the more I read this book the more I see how his ideas are mangled and maligned by those who are put off by the razz-a-matazz, or jealous of the celebrity or perhaps have seen a bad example of his pupils.

This book is an introduction. It tries to cover all the principles of Natural Horsemanship (PP style), introduce the Parelli philosophy, give you a couple of exercises to start out with, talk about the gear and discuss PP's life and experiences. Covering such a wide range of topics, it is easy to complain that it covers none in depth - but it was never intended to.

What I particularly like about the book is that, if you are willing to read it (perhaps several times), in its entireity you get a much better picture of what Pat Parelli is really all about. Here is a man with an understanding of the horse as a complex being in its own right - not a big dog or a cow or a surrogate baby or a tractor. He explains equine motivation, and needs and how understanding and working within those boundaries will make your relationship with your horse much more satisfying (for both of you).

Warning: This Book Will Change Your Life Forever.
I'm a believer. I tried the others, then found the truth in Pat Parelli's teachings. If you don't know anything about Parelli Natural Horse-Man-Ship, this book is a good start. His whole home study program and the tools that go with it can be purchased online. Once you get into Parelli, there is no turning back. We came to him because of a horse that adamantly refused to get into a horse trailer. Now the whole family has learned to savvy our horses in ways we never thought possible. This book will explain how humans behave like predators around horses, driving a wedge in their relationship. More importantly, he explains how to overcome that tendency and how to teach yourself new ways of communicating with your horse as a loving partner and leader. Giving you specific techniques and exercises to use, Pat sets you up for success with your horse, no matter how difficult he may be now. I have now seen dozens of people get incredible results from their horses by changing their approach and adopting Pat's methods. My own former spookaholic Arabian now trots after me at liberty and I ride him bridleless - with nothing on his head. This didn't happen overnight - in fact it took a year of dedicated focus, but the results are, frankly, amazing. Try the book, then the program, but be warned: you cannot return to normalcy. And by the way, the horse that wouldn't load now trots happily onto the trailer when we point to it. No kidding.

Pat Parelli is the greatest people teacher!
This book is about getting your horse to become your partener while gaining his trust and respect without fear and developing yourself to become a better horseman (or woman). I can't believe this book received bad reviews! Parelli's students are his proof. Yes it takes time and it won't happen overnight. He sells his own tools(not gadgets)because nobody made what he was looking for. The "normal" people just don't and won't get it! I have to say that if you get this book (and you take the time to read it) you will want more info and Parelli Natural Horsemanship has all of the info you could possibly need in getting it natural & right with your horse. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the publication of The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America by Cornell University Press in 1989, scientific discoveries and taxonomic changes have resulted in the addition of many taxa and species to the herpetology of the Western Hemisphere. This updated, heavily rewritten, and greatly expanded version of that book now includes accounts of all 192 species of venomous snakes and lizards found in the Western Hemisphere. This two-volume set is illustrated with:

• 1500 stunning color photographs, including portraits of venomous reptiles—many of which are unique in showing newly discovered species and fresh views of male, female, and juvenile individuals—and images of snakebites, an important tool for the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries;

• Eight color vegetation and topographic maps;

• 161 black-and-white photographs;

• 109 line figures; and

• 113 completely revised black-and-white distribution maps.

Volume I includes a table of contents, list of tables, preface, introduction, and regional/country accounts with related bilingual identification keys and vegetation and topographic maps. Genus and species accounts in this volume treat all of the lizards, coralsnakes, and seasnakes; these accounts are accompanied by color photographs of individual species.

Volume II begins with the pitvipers, including all known species of rattlesnakes. This volume features four chapters by experts on mimicry, evolution, and snakebite treatment in tropical and temperate America. A glossary, literature-cited section, and index serve both volumes. Color photographs portray pitvipers, including rattlesnakes, and the damage done by snakebite.

The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere, Volumes I and II is an essential reference for all naturalists interested in herpetology—amateurs impressed by the beauty and complexity of venomous reptiles as well as professional herpetologists and their students conducting research in the classroom, in the field, and at the zoo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great!
I am still reading the book, but I can say that everything inside is great. The format is very similar to the one used in the first version, but I found a lot new information about the venomous reptiles of all America. It is helping me with valuable information in a review that I am doing about all the venomous animals in America.

For everyone that knows the first version, I can say that this one has updated information and excellent images. For the ones who never knew the first version, I can say this is the best book you can find about venemous snakes and lizards in our hemisphere.

This is the best contribution to understand and appreciate the marvelous world of the venomous animals. ... Read more

Book Description

With 129 runnings to choose from, these and five other Kentucky Derbys made the cut as the all-time greatest as complied by a panel of horse racing experts. ... Read more

Book Description

Do Dogs Go To Heaven? is a question the author's Mom asked a number of ministers. Hearing each one give different "shallow" answers, Jean Holmes felt this question deserved a better answer. The Bible does answer her Mom's question with an emphatic "YES!"Long held theology that animals lack souls and spirits is soundly refuted with numerous Bible texts.This book addresses hard questions, like why God required animal sacrifices, in loving truth.The role of animals and the relationship Jesus Christ had with animals is illuminating.This book presents a brilliant tapestry of Bible verses, interwoven with animal behavior and intelligence studies, and anecdotal evidence of animals as intelligent, caring companions here and in the hereafter.Bible accounts of animals as healers, helpers and rescuers are laid against modern narratives.Do Dogs Go to Heaven is very readable, yet crafted with scholarly precision.It is already providing comfort to those who have lost loved animal friends. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Exceptionally good book
Well I've got something to shout about and praise God for after reading this wonderful book! There is wonderful teaching and some great preaching and some real important scriptures regarding animal afterlife! I loved the stories about miraculous divine healings and the teaching about why animals were sacrificed in the O.T. Scriptures that show how God loves and restores ALL His creation. And as Jean says "We must explore, prayerfully, what it means to 'preach the gospel to all creation.' If we don't, we may miss God's will, His best." Mark 16:15

I also let Jean speak for herself her when she says "How very poor in joy are those who have never been friends with an animal. Those who become friends with animals are the richest people I know. They have been blessed." And "When I listen to the heart of each animal, I see my Lord." And I also agree with her when she says "For animal lovers, heaven just wouldn't be heaven without their animal friends." Thank you Jean for all your hard work and research to make this book available to us who will appreciate it.

Inspirational, comforting and informative
This book is a must read for all pet owners, and future pet owners. It is inspirational, first and foremost. Then, it offers comfort and solace to the pain of grief. And, there is much information to be had, as well. Worth a try, and you will read and re-read it, as a source of reference and comfort.

Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY
(The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier)

Just Short of Five Stars
As a Universalist pastor and animal rights activist of many years, I have to say that this is an excellent book. The cover is absolutely adorable and worth the cost of the book alone. Much of the material presented regarding the souls and spirits of animals is very similiar to my own, which has been posted on the internet for a number of years, however, to Jean Holmes credit, she presents it in a much less confrontational manner than I usually do.

So, if I like this book so much and love the cover, why have I only given it four stars instead of five? Well, I feel that the author fell short of presenting, of what could have been, one of the most important books of our time. She is knowledgeable enough to discuss "apokatastasis" in her book, which indeed offers evidence of animals and all of creation being eventually being restored, however, I feel she has greatly missed the full understanding of this teaching, as she seems to hold a more traditional view of hell, by stating it is eternal. Of course hell can not be eternal if, as scripture says, it will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Such an oversight is, to me, unfortunate.

Jean Holmes, like myself, has spent a lot of time researching the original Hebrew words of various texts involving animals, I just wish she had done the same for the Greek word "aion", and other Greek words, which are mistakenly translated in English as "Eternal" and not as a "Period of Time", as they should truly be rendered... and perhaps she could have seen the truth of "apokatastasis". Of course if those reading this review also believe in eternal hell and are animal lovers as well, then I am sure that "Do Dogs Go To Heaven?" will be a five star book to them....

A Comfort
After the loss of my cat I was happy to find a book that told about God's plan for the animals. It is reassuring to know that we will be with them in heaven someday.

Comforting Book
I recently lost both my dogs...one to Cancer,the other to Renal failure. I found this book advertised on the website,Pet Loss.com so I thought I would investigate....I borrowed it from a friend and could not put it down as it was informative and comforting to me in my grief.I firmly believe,despite what friends and relatives say,that someday my pets and I shall be reunited in Heaven! This book only reenforces this idea.It is even more interesting and applicable since the authoress lives in my home state of Oklahoma. ... Read more

Book Description

Emphasizes the ecological principles that govern marine life throughout all environments within the world's oceans. Its unique ecological approach adds real-world relevance by exploring how organisms interact within their individual ecosystems.The book is organized by habitat and each habitat receives detailed, in-depth coverage, giving readers the flexibility to focus on their particular areas of interest. The Fifth Edition is fully updated with the latest research data and topics, including expanded coverage of the human impact on oceans, oceanic dead zones, and coral reefs. For marine biologists and marine ecologists. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great text
Most marine biology texts on the market are designed to support lower division courses for non-majors. Nybakken's text, however, is designed with the upper division biology major as its primary audience. This book is, in my opinion, the best book on the market to support an undergraduate course in marine biology for majors.

Nybakken takes a community ecology approach to his discussions of the marine environment. There are chapters that address communities of the plankton, nekton, deep sea, nearshore subtidal regions, intertidal habitats, estuaries and marshes, the tropics and the poles, and so forth.

The photographs and illustrations are good, the text is well written, and examples are widely known. It may be true that Nybakken tends to pull more heavily on examples from the West Coast of the USA, but there are also ample numbers of examples from other areas of the world that support the text.

Each chapter is supported by a list of references from the professional (primary) scientific literature -- something a serious biology student would appreciate and use.

This is an easy book to teach from and to learn from. The information is excellent, the examples are clear, and the supporting graphics are good.

It is also notable that Nybakken not only discusses the biology of marine organisms, but he addresses the stewardship we have to conserve the planet's vital assemblage of marine resouces and biodiversity. ... Read more

Book Description

A volume in the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine series, this second edition has over 40% new material, including the addition of six new topics and many others that are completely rewritten. The book comprehensively covers the biological and disease aspects of laboratory animal medicine while examining other aspects such as the biohazards associated with the use of animal experimentation and factors complicating the bioethics of animal research. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In his third book, Robert Sullivan leaves the wilds of the (Meadowlands and therough whaling waters ofthe Pacific Northwest to take up rat-watching in the alleys of New YorkCity. Sullivan learned to appreciate the rodents during nocturnalstakeouts; a night-vision scope helped him observe rats without scaringthem. As in his previous books, Sullivan uses pointillist details rather thanbroad portraiture to paint his subject, and the details in Ratsare devilish. There are plenty of facts in the book to make your skincrawl, such as a description of the greasy skids rats leave on the pathsthey frequent, and a list of garbage items they prefer to eat. ButSullivan's style is often less that of a nature writer than a historian.In personable, essayish chapters, New York's history is revealed to beparticularly ratty, with tall tales about the rodents' disgustingaccomplishments going back to the city's founding. Although many peoplehave never seen a rat outside a pet store, Sullivan reminds us that theyare our constant neighbors, staring out from dim corners and messycrevices with beady eyes and twitching whiskers. --Adam Fisher ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Ratty enough for me
While I agree with some of the points made by those critical of this book, I believe they are being unnecessarily harsh.The writing is surprisingly rough and awkward in many places, but there is much good writing as well.It seems to me that what the book needed most of all was a good editor.It presents as if it needs about two more editorial sweeps done to it. Although it does have some good notes, a major annoyance for me was the lack of an index and bibliography.This just seems to be sheer laziness or cheapness.

But there is a lot to like about the book.The author appears to be such a strange man.Likeable but strange.For someone who wants to know rats intimately, he is quite timid.There is a mysterious black hole with steps leading down in the alley where he makes most of his observations.He wonders and speculates about it but never gets upthe guts to go down in it.We never really learn what was down there.And when three noisy young people stumble into the alley the author flees for no apparent reason, and peeks back in to see if the young people are still there.They end up peeking back at him.Why is he so timid?Why not go up to the group and tell them what you are doing and get their reaction, their view of rats?And yet I found his neurotic quirks to be endearing in the end.Sullivan is a nice, eccentric guy who would be fun to know.

Other sections or topics just seem to be incomplete.Sullivan does a good job of exposing the antics of the U.S military during the 1950s when it was surreptitiously testing biological weapons on Americans.But he doesn't follow up, and the reader is left asking questions.What ever happened to those people in Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News?Were the tests benign or did people suffer mysterious illnesses, birth defects, etc?Yet Sullivan does well to point out that the monster behind Japan's wartime human testing and vivisection unit, General Shiro Ishii, lived to a venerable old age because he donated his records to the U.S government in return for immunity.There is a lot of good history in this book, even if it is scattered higgledy-piggledy throughout.

And this book is as much about New York, a topic I never tire of, as it is about rats.From colonial and revolutionary times to the paralysis and paranoia immediately following the World Trade Center attack, the reader is steeped in the history and feel of the most interesting city on earth.So while it is not a definitive rat book by any measure, Rats is a quirky, very readable book that I would not hesitate to recommend.

Disappointing
I have rarely found a more poorly-written book on such an interesting subject. Darn shame, as I (like other reviewers below) really wanted to like this book due to its subject.

The author does not move himself to the background. This book is not about rats so much as the author's adventures as he learns about rats. Rats are interesting, Robert Sullivan is less so.

The book is full of distracting misspellings ('They' for 'The' for example) and nonstandard capitalization ('Edens alley' for 'Edens' Alley' throughout). Each page has a half dozen places that brings the reader out of the story and back into the real world.

Further, the author is unable to write in a linear fashion. His description of of the alley is a jumble. I read the entire book and still cannot make a mental map of the place.

All in all, the subject deserves a better treatment than it receives here. An interesting, readable book on the urban rat remains to be written.

Too Bad
I really wanted to like this book.Unfortunately, the author's writing got in the way of what seems like a fascinating subject.Like other reviewers, I put the book down because I couldn't handle the stilted prose any longer.The book got one and one-half stars because I eventually picked it back up and plodded through because there were just enough interesting anecdotes to make it worth my while.
A prime example of my problem with Sullivan is on page 106.He spends a page talking about travelling with a group of exterminators.He sets up the scenario-this place is filled with rats, monster rats leaving two inch droppings.What's going to happen?Here's the payoff: "Something darted down, raced to the floor, where it stopped and looked right at him.IT WAS A BIG RAT." (Caps mine)That's it.Story over.If my 6th graders wrote a sentence like that, I'd give them the paper back.This is only one of many examples of the cringe-worthy writing encountered in the book.You've got to sort through too many rat droppings to make the experience enjoyable.

Almost perfect
Robert Sullivan relates his experiences as he delves into rats, with the focus being on the role that rats play in history and modern culture rather than dwelling on the nuances of rat behavior. He spends nights in a forgotten alleyway in New York, watching the rats as they emerge from their burrows to take advantage of the local restaurant waste. He spends time with exterminators (or "pest control specialists," as the industry leaders prefer), whether they work for small companies or large ones. And, apparently, he spends time at the library, digging up historical information that is at times so obscure that you wonder how he ever found it as it relates to his subject.

But Sullivan's book, peppered with literary quotes from the likes of Thoreau and Emerson, is ultimately less