Reviews (16)

Ignorance = Bliss ???
The science and explanation of the greenhouse effect/global warming has matured since the original publishing of this book in 1990, but give McKibben credit for raising awareness of an issue years before the herd. 'Little good it has done, however. Suggesting that one might consider altering the American lifestyle 1 inch (e.g. by using tankless on-demand water heaters) as a little "insurance" against the possibility global warming actually being true places you on about the same plane as a card-carrying member of the Communist Party.

But I digress. Mckibben's argument her is deceptively simple:

1. Nature is that part of the earth independent of humans.

2. Human activity has altered global atmosphere and weather patterns, thereby influencing all of the earth (and will likely continue to do so).

3. Since no part of the earth remains independent of human influence, ther is no more Nature.

There are two key areas of this argument: McKibben's definition of Nature and the existence of global warming. The latter idea still promotes considerable disagreement, although it is fair to say that very few climatologists unconnected with the fossil fuel industry reject the idea entirely. Don't rely on this book as a reliable source for the latest global warming information; do some independent research using more recent materials.

The Nature definition is more interesting. McKibben's definition obviously recognizes a separation between humankind and the rest of the earth. Many thinkers (both old and new) reject this separation on a variety of grounds. Ishmael author Daniel Quinn, for example, continuously ridicules the distinction, arguing that there is no meaningful difference between a woman sitting in a multiplex theater in a large city and the same woman sitting in the middle of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. In both places, Quinn argues, the woman "is in the middle of nature." McKibben has a couple of responses to this line of reasoning. First, although perhaps true as a matter of logic (because humans are part of nature) and something to ponder deeply over vodka or in an environmental lit class, few of us take it very seriously. Most of us-and rightly so-feel very different in the middle of a theater compared to the middle of a forest. Mere cultural or psychological construct? Perhaps. But does that make it less real? Ahhhh....a question for the metaphysicians in the audience. McKibben continues that the essence of Nature is independence-absence of human control. This could get a little dicey in that some might read "control" as suggesting "intent," and no one suggests we are intending to alter our atmosphere by accelerating the greenhouse affect. Perhaps "absence of human influence" is still a better definition. Some might quibble that there's a big difference between a lichen living a day longer because of a 2 degree increase in temperature and an offshore oil-rig belching crude into the water, but McKibben's thesis is a thought-provoking one...and that's precisely the point.

Tragic, depressing...all the adjectives of the other reviewers are true enough here. I can't say I'm glad I read this book, but that is my response much of the time I encounter new knowledge these days (particularly in the environmental sphere). Again I come face-to-face with the classic philosophical conundrum: is it better to live and die happy and ignorant or know the Truth (or at least be headed in that direction) and live and die miserable. As a young(er) pup I always answered unequivocally the former...these days I'm not so sure. Decide for yourself.

will make you see the world in a new way
This book has already received the highest accolade the reading public can grant: it has become part of the way we think. Since the publication of THE END OF NATURE we have all accepted McKibben's premise. Mankind is so powerful that no natural process on the planet now operates beyond the range of human influence. A pleasure to read, it is a great pleasure to see a tenth anniversary edition that will make this fascinating book available to new readers.

Prophetic and life changing.
In the ten years between the time THE END OF NATURE was first published in 1989 and reissued in 1999, we experienced seven of the ten warmest years in recorded history (p. xiv), which establishes Bill McKibben as a global warming prophet. And the thing is--we're still not getting it. "We live in the oddest moment since our species first stood upright," McKibben writes in the new Introduction to his environmental classic, "the moment when we are finally grown so big in numbers and in appetite we alter everything around us" (pp. xv-xvi). The United States alone dumps 15 percent more CO2 into the atmosphere than it did ten years ago (p. xvi). Arctic glaciers continue to retreat, ice grows thinner, and the sea level steadily rises (p. xviii). In short, "this buzzing, blooming, mysterious, cruel, lovely globe of mountain, sea, city, forest, of fish and wolf and bug and man; of carbon and hydrogen and nitrogen--it has come unbalanced in our short moment on it" (p. xxv).

McKibben's basic argument is that our relationship with the concept of "nature" as something separate and wild has changed, and in our pursuit for "a better life," we have totally wrecked the environment (p. 48). By changing the weather, for instance, we have altered every spot on earth, depriving nature of its independence, leaving "nothing but us" (p. 58). Stated differently, we have ended nature's separation from human society (p. 64).

Because nature provides us with a sense of comfort, reading THE END OF NATURE is not a happy experience. McKibben has issued a wake-up call, and his book should be required reading for any global-warming skeptic, or for anyone who drives a SUV. As Thoreau said, we are living lives of quiet desparation--we enjoy the consumptive, easy life. However, as McKibben's compelling argument demonstrates, such a lifestyle is incompatible with the well being of our planet. He encourages us not only to change the way we act, but also to change the way we think by adopting the radical notion that we learn to respect nature "for its own sake," as a "realm beyond the human," and give it "room to recover" from the damage we have done (pp. 174-77). This book was a life changer that prompted me, in part, to move from the concrete, urban sprawl of Phoenix, Arizona to Boulder, where there is a respect for open space, and where it is still possible to have a humble relationship with nature.

G. Merritt

The time is coming
It's been a while since I read this book, and it has been one that has always stuck out in my mind as being one of the better environmental books that I've read. One thing that the author touches upon is the relevance of time; things take time to happen, sometimes a painfully long time, and this is often difficult for humans to understand. Nature has progressed at its own pace from the beginning; at times its course has been checked, but in the end Nature has rebounded and rebalanced itself. For much of this process, humans have been a part of it; possessing only "primitive" technologies they were obligated to rely on Nature; but over the course of the last few millennia, the human race has manage to evolve to a point where we can dominate and control Nature to our own benefit. This of course has had an adverse effect on Nature, and during the 20th century we began to experience the consequences of this state of things. But in many cases, the change has been subtle, and as a result there has been a bitter debate raging as to whether the concerns of the envirnmentalists are in fact legitimate. Naysayers will argue that things really haven't changed all that much, that when one looks at the evidence that is presented, it doesn't look like much is happening at all. They do so because they have the inherent human trait of seeing things from their own perspective, and fail to see how we are subtly having a negative impact on the environment; the end, or whatever you want to call it, may not come in the year so-and-so in our lifetime, but it will invariably come if we continue on as we are.

Above average seller, i would buy from them again
they did a good job packaging and shipping and had a GREAT price. the only thing the didn't do is send an email confirming that they shipped the item. besides that little, they are a great seller and would recommend. ... Read more

Book Description

Quantitative methods and mathematical modelling are of critical importance to fishery science and management but, until now, there has been no book that offers the sharp focus, methodological detail, and practical examples needed by non-specialist fishery scientists and managers, and ecologists. Modelling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries fills that void. To date, methodology books in fisheries science have been limited to cookbook approach to problems; simple compilations; or expositions in which either too much theory or insufficient methodological detail is given. The text is organized into three sections: an introduction to modelling in fisheries and ecology, a straight methodology section covering a range of methods, and a section focusing on specific fields in fisheries science. This book is timely as it addresses a topic of recent debate in fisheries and ecology, describing and comparing the uses of Least Squares, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian quantitative methods.Designed as stand-alone units, each chapter provides examples from both classic and recent literature and comes with dedicated Excel spreadsheets that permit you to delve into every detail of the analysis. All of these spreadsheets serve as active examples, which can easily be modified and customized and can be used as templates for analyzing your own data. The spreadsheets permit you to learn at your own speed and cover the simplest linear regression to the more complex non-linear modelling using maximum likelihood.Data analysis and modelling are best learned by doing and not just by reading. This book illustrates, step by step, the analyses it covers. More detailed in terms of introductory quantitative methods and modelling as applied to fisheries than any other book available, Modelling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries gives you the advantage by supplying the full details of the analysis so that understanding the material is a matter of following the book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A primer for all of us
In my opinion, Malcolm Haddon has managed a "tour de force" with this book. He not only covered most of the modern methods of quantitative analysis and modelling in fisheries science but he did so in a clear and relatively simple language. His book is approachable to all biologists with a basic understanding of mathematics and statistics. Yet, he managed to cover both the theoretical underpinnings of the methods and the practical aspects of their use (options, pitfalls ... etc.). In addition, the book gives MS Excel examples of the methods which should allow those of us who are not programmers to fully appreciate the methods by using them interactively. The Excel spreadsheets are also available for download on two web sites. ... Read more

Book Description

Spacecraft interact with the space environment in ways that may affect the operation of the spacecraft as well as any scientific experiments that are carried out from the spacecraft platform. In turn the study of these interactions provides information on the space environment. The adverse environmental effects, such as the effect of the radiation belts on electronics, and spacecraft charging from the magnetospheric plasma, means that designers need to understand interactive phenomena to be able to effectively design spacecraft. This has led to the new discipline of spacecraft-environment interactions. The emphasis in this book is on the fundamental physics of the interactions. Spacecraft-Environment Interactions is a valuable introduction to the subject for all students and researchers interested in the application of fluid, gas, plasma and particle dynamics to spacecraft and for spacecraft system engineers. ... Read more

Book Description

Because of the ubiquitous nature of environmental problems, a variety of scientific disciplines are involved in the development of environmental solutions. The Handbook of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Calculations provides approximately 600 real-world, practical solutions to environmental problems that involve chemical engineering, enabling engineers and applied scientists to meet the professional challenges they face day-to-day.
The scientific and mathematical crossover between chemical and environmental engineering is the key to solving a host of environmental problems. Many problems included in the

Handbook are intended to demonstrate this crossover, as well as the integration of engineering with current regulations and environmental media such as air, soil, and water. Solutions to the problems are presented in a programmed instructional format. Each problem contains a title, problem statement, data, and solution, with the more difficult problems located near the end of each problem set. The Handbook offers material not only to individuals with limited technical background but also to those with extensive industrial experience. Chapter titles include:

-Chemical Engineering Fundamentals
-Chemical Engineering Principles
-Air Pollution Control Equipment
-Solid Waste
-Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment
-Pollution Prevention
-Health, Safety, and Accident Management

Ideal for students at the graduate and undergraduate levels, the Handbook of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Calculations is also a comprehensive reference for all plant and environmental engineers, particularly those who work with air, drinking water, wastewater, hazardous materials, and solid waste. ... Read more

Book Description

David Quammen's book, The Song of the Dodo, is a brilliant, stirring work, breathtaking in its scope, far-reaching in its message -- a crucial book in precarious times, which radically alters the way in which we understand the natural world and our place in that world. It's also a book full of entertainment and wonders.

In The Song of the Dodo, we follow Quammen's keen intellect through the ideas, theories, and experiments of prominent naturalists of the last two centuries. We trail after him as he travels the world, tracking the subject of island biogeography, which encompasses nothing less than the study of the origin and extinction of all species. Why is this island idea so important? Because islands are where species most commonly go extinct -- and because, as Quammen points out, we live in an age when all of Earth's landscapes are being chopped into island-like fragments by human activity.

Through his eyes, we glimpse the nature of evolution and extinction, and in so doing come to understand the monumental diversity of our planet, and the importance of preserving its wild landscapes, animals, and plants. We also meet some fascinating human characters. By the book's end we are wiser, and more deeply concerned, but Quammen leaves us with a message of excitement and hope. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Thoughtful, entertaining, and important
*The Song of the Dodo* is a very long book on what some of us believe to be a vitally important subject, the ongoing loss of worldwide bioversity. Anyone interested in the fate of the world's wild creatures and yes, the fate of the world itself should read it and will likely enjoy it.

David Quammen does an exemplary job of leading his readers through almost two centuries of significant ideas and debates related to "island biogeography," a subject which is a lot more interesting and certainly a lot more significant than it might sound. Begining with the fascinating story of the Darwin vs. Wallace story vis-a-vis "who really came up with the theory of evolution first?" Quammen goes on to explain and illustrate just why the biogeography of islands is so important to any consideration of biodiversity and wildlife conservation for the world as a whole.

In weaving this historical narrative, Quammen doesn't just encapsulate theories (though he does this in some detail), he takes his reader into the field where the sometimes abstract principles behind diversity/rarity/extinction are actually demonstrated through the predicaments faced by various creatures. Quammen ventures to the Aru Islands, the Galapagos, Madagascar, Guam, Tasmania, Mauritius, Barro Colorado Island in Panama, the Amazonian rain forest, and on and on. It's a veritable world tour of places where rare and endangered animals struggle for existence in a world where human encroachment is causing an alarming acceleration in the rate of species extinction.

Through his mostly fascinating discussion of places, species, and biologeographical theories and the people behind those theories, Quammen shows an unusual ability to restate abstruse ideas in clear and understandable terms. He also writes with humor, a gentle and humane world-view, and an excellent eye for empirical detail.

For me, the most painful chapter was "Rarity Unto Death," in which he recounts selected stories revealing how various animals (and peoples) have been lost to extinction. The discussions of the extinction of the dodo and other wild creatures are terribly sad; the horrifying tale of the demise of the Tasmanian aborigines is heart-rending and infuriating.

In the end, Quammen's workmanlike effort establishes a "big picture" demonstrating how small, isolated ecosystems render their wild inhabitants increasingly vulnerable to extinction. We come to see that the biological notion of "islands" applies increasingly not just to small land bodies surround by water, but to more and more of our continental ecosystems as they are carved up into isolated pockets of habitat through human encroachment and development. Indeed, increasingly, the world's ecosystems are composed of various kinds of "islands," a situation that threatens to result in catastrophic losses of biodiversity over time.

That the situation is not entirely hopeless for all creatures is shown by the remarkable, human-aided recovery of the Mauritius kestrel, rescued in recent years from the very brink of extinction. But certainly the message overall delivered by Quammen is not a comforting or upbeat one.

In a book of this length and scope, there inevitably will be sections that particular readers may not like. I found the chapter on theorists McArthur and Wilson a bit pedantic and boring in places, partly due to the very abstruse nature of their mathematical theories. However, it also irked me a bit that Quammen took such an awe-filled, uncritical attitude here, particularly in his worshipful presentation of his audience with the Great Man, Edward O. Wilson. Wilson is a towering figure in the history of biology and biography, certainly but a few words of criticism might have been in order here. Yes, the leftist activitists of the mid-seventies were out of line in pouring water on Wilson's head at a scientific meeting and their accusations toward him vis-a-vis his theories of sociobiology were shrill and excessive. But the truth is that some of Wilson's human-related "speculations" in the final chapter of his book on sociobiology *were* overreaching, inappropriate, and yes, foolish, and he deserved some of the criticism he received. In providing a discussion of the furor raised by the mathematical grand theorizing proposed by MacArthur and Wilson and other scientists beginning in the sixties, Quammen also could have pointed out that the often emotional debate over "mathematical modeling" vs. "detailed, real world empirical research" took place (and in some ways, continues) not just in the biological sciences but in a large number of academic fields. Whereas it's easy to dismiss extremist critics of truly useful mathematical models as narrow-minded or antediluvian, the proliferation of derivative, marginal, and in some cases, fairly useless "quantitative models" has at times threatened to eviscerate various fields of study, emptying them of virtually all attention to empirical detail and rendering them arid and lifeless.

I also was just a tad disappointed in the book's final section, where Quammen pays all too short shrift, in my view, to the question of "so what?" as it relates to the ongoing loss of world biodiversity. He makes the point that human encroachment is creating mass extinctions, but really doesn't drive home his thoughts as to why urban dwellers with no plans to visit the rainforest or the Galapagos should really care. I guess to Quammen the tragedy represented by this trend is self-evident, but what's really frightening to some of us is just how easy it is for people to live out their lives without ever having to give a darn about these broad, long-term issues of biodiversity. The question, "Why should people care?" needed atleast a bit more attention, I think.

Overall, however, this is a fine, readable, well-crafted, and wonderful book. I salute David Quammen for his accomplishment.

A great book about ecology and travel
This is unquestionably the finest book I've read that explains biogeography and population ecology in clear, concise English for the average intelligent person interested in the natural world who lacks a background in science. Quammen deserves highest praise for devoting much time to learn relevant science and then disseminating this knowledge to his readers. Much to my amazement, Quammen fully understands the implications of MacArthur's and Wilson's theory of island biogeography, encompassing such diverse subjects as determining the appropriate size of wildlife refuges to studying cycles of mass extinction in the marine invertebrate fossil record. He gives compelling descriptions of Alfred R. Wallace, Robert H. MacArthur, and E. O. Wilson as scientists and people, pointing out the importance of Wallace's and MacArthur's work towards our understanding of biogeography and indeed, of biological diversity. To his credit, Quammen mentions other signficiant players, such as Ernst Mayr, Daniel Simberloff, Jared Diamond, and of course, Charles Darwin himself. Mixed successfully with biography and scientific research are lyrical passages about the many islands Quammen visited in pursuit of Wallace's footsteps and ongoing important ecological research. Anyone wishing to catch more than a glimpse of great science and how it pertains directly to preserving endangered species should read this magnificient book.

From Anecdotes to Science
This is a terrific read on important biological questions which lie in the scientific stratum far above the world of molecular biology, which has come to dominate so much of the field, almost to the point of extinguishing the venerable methods of systematics, evolution, and field studies of actual organisms. Quammen transports us into a world where interactions of animals in real ecological systems are the object of study, charming us into seeing its importance, and introducing us to the people who are working to advance our understanding of the natural world.

The central theme of the book is the importance that islands have played in this area of research, starting from the work of Darwin and Wallace, extending to the modern work of men such as E. O. Wilson, Macarthur, Simberloff, and Lovejoy. What is revealed is a science progressing from anecdotes and scattered observations of curiosities to something with its own generalizations and laws that can be have an increasing certainty, backed by sound statistical studies, and that produces graphs and tables, equations, useful computer models and testable hypotheses. The majesty of the process is astounding.

Quammen writes clearly and spares no effort to involve the reader, mixing a historical treatment of the process, interviews of the modern players, and his own thrilling explorations of the remote islands--he splendidly communicates his excitement and involvement.

Excellent overall, but...
Quammen has an engaging writing style that cuts through the scientific jargon and allows the layman to feel as if he understands the broad issues that occupy biogeography. His historical account (from Wallace and Darwin up to the present) of how we've come to understand speciation and extinction is captivating.

Contrary to what some other reviewers have said, he does NOT disparage Darwin. He merely highlights some aspects of the Darwin/Wallace controversy that are not well-known to the average person. Wallace may have been 'rehabilitated' long ago in the scientific community, but to the average person Darwin is the "father of the theory of evolution", so Quammen's discussion -which emphasizes that both deserve alot of credit-is a useful antidote for that.

Where i take issue with Quammen is his failure to tie declining bio-diversity with any stakes for humans beyond the aesthetic. He strikes me as being guilty of "biological snobbery". Take, for example, the cases where an island that was previously filled with wondrous songbirds and exotic, unique lizards is overrun by rats, pigs, and house cats that were brought to the island by humans. The rats, et al. either eat the exotic wildlife or so alter the environment that they can't survive, thereby going extinct. Quammen obviously considers these situations to be tragic. He disparages the newly-arrived animals as "pestiferous" (p.561), or "junk" or an "ecological blight" (pp.562). His tone is rather gleeful when he describes how a bioligist kills a "pest species" mongoose by bashing its skull against a rock, and when another researcher squashes a "pest species" preying mantis between his fingers. Quammen seems to *like*, in an aesthetic sense, birds of paradise and cinnamon-coated lemures more than rats and cats, and that colors his analysis.

But beyond the aesthetic, why should anyone care if cats overrun a tropical island and kill off the native turtles? Why are the cats any less entitled to live there than the birds are? The turtles reached the island some time in the past by floating in on flotsam, the rats by stowing away on a ship. What's less "natural" about the latter than the former?

Quammen doesn't explain that, so the reader is left wondering what the stakes for humanity or for "the planet" actually are.

A wonderful, important book.
I don't usually write reviews of books that already have a bunch here, but this book is important enough to make an exception.
I forget now how I came across this book, but I'm glad I did. Quammen writes in very clear prose, keeps the story moving, and provides a wealth of detail. If I were the editor, I might have shortened some of the personal accounts, but that's about the strongest criticism I can come up with.
The book explicates the theory of island biogeography, the theory of islands are where species develop, and that in a larger sense, continents are both islands and collections of islands. It's much more complicated than that, but I don't read thousand-word reviews, so I shouldn't write one.

The book is complete, and very well thought out. Midway through the book, as he's discussing species extinctions, I'm thinking, why doesn't he talk about the passenger pigeon? And, in the next chapter he does.

One of the things he does is remind us of WHY the theory of evolution became unavoidable to a generation of people trained in Biblical literalism (Darwin himself was a Anglican seminary graduate, and took his voyage on the Beagle before settling down as a parish priest.) There's a "movement" nowadays which purports to prove that there's no real evidence for evolution, that It's really a lie told by Bible-hating scientists. If this book did nothing but dispel that myth, it would be worth reading. (a synopsis of his account would take me a couple of pages.) But it does more, so much more that.
A modern book discussing extinctions must almost inevitably be depressing, but he manages to close the book with a note of hope, almost triumph.
Read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on Abrams' hugely successful Earth From Above: 365 Days, this new and improved edition includes 60 additional pages and almost 200 brand-new, eye-popping images by renowned aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Reaching across the continents, from the icebergs of Antarctica to the cotton fields of India to the olive plantations of Spain, the breathtaking, full-color photographs are accompanied by informative new captions that illuminate what we see and describe the environmental concerns related to each location.

In addition, all 12 chapters of the book now open with an insightful introduction by one of several noted authors who address a wide variety of subjects critical to the present and future health of our planet: agriculture, biodiversity, sustainable development, energy, forests, fresh water, seas and oceans, global warming. Earth from Above: 366 Days offers us a valuable new perspective on our spectacular but fragile environment. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful photos spoiled by propaganda.
The photos get 5 stars, Unfortunately, the text is a constant stream of preachy eco-alarmism. Various leftwing "intellectuals" introduce each chapter with astonishingly naive tracts: the one on "poverty" could have been exerpted directly from the communist manifesto.

Enjoy the photos, but ignore the text and read instead Lomborg's "Sceptical Environmentalist" and Norberg's "Defense of Global Capitalism"

Another Stunning Collection from Arthus-Bertrand
I have both Earth from Above (the BIG book) and Earth from Above: 365 Days. Both books contain hundreds and hundreds of images that I find extraordinary -- intoxicatingly beautiful images of our world. I am happy to report that this newest volume adds many more absolutely stunning NEW images to the Arthus-Bertrand collection.

This new volume is not just an expanded and/or revised version of older editions. At least eighty percent of the photos are entirely new. Another ten to fifteen percent contain either DIFFERENT photos of a given geographic site (e.g., the famous "heart" on New Caledonia) or explore the same theme in a new area (e.g., the photo of a windmill farm in this edition is in Denmark instead of California.)

The only criticism I can make of this new edition is that it occasionally flirts with tourist kitsch. I'm thinking of the photos of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and Tower Bridge in London. Still, even these rather tame and familiar images are balanced with other fantastic views of less familiar landmarks on the world tourism trail. (The photo of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India is absolutely the finest picture of that magical city that I have ever seen.)

If you already own Arthus-Bertrand's other books, you will not be disappointed by this latest collecton. If this is your first exposure to his photography. . .well, I envy you. Please check out his other fine books. He offers a multitude of images that never fail to beguile and astonish. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The one book needed when travelling to the galapagos
I just recently returned from the Galapagos Islands, and the book that guided me throughout my journey was this book by M.H. Jackson. Very easy to find the animal you are looking, and also helps to discover more creatures to look for. Helped explain things further from what the guides had said. Also helped me in answering many people's questions about different creatures. A Great book! A must for all travelers to the galapagos in search of unique wildlife.

Undoubtedly the best overview of "Darwin's Islands".
I am a biologist that has been working in the Galapagos as a Naturalist leading tours there for the last 6 years. Michael Jackson's book is the "Bible" for the beginning naturalist and certainly more than adequate for the casual "ecotourist". Jackson covers all major aspects of the history, geology, ecology, and biology of the islands. In the "biology" section, he gives a clear, concise, but thorough group-by-group treatment of all major taxa including plants, reptiles, land and sea birds, mammals, and a brief section covering marine life. While there are other guidebooks available, none come close to the accuracy, clarity of presentation, and logical format of this book. Of particular usefulness are the many photos, tables, and graphs which provide a visual representation of many of the topics discussed and a synthesis of large amounts of data. ... Read more

Book Description

Science tells us that an oil crisis is inevitable. Why and when? And what will our future look like without our favorite fuel?

Our rate of oil discovery has reached its peak and will never be exceeded; rather, it is certain to decline—perhaps rapidly—forever forward. Meanwhile, over the past century, we have developed lifestyles firmly rooted in the promise of an endless, cheap supply. In this book, David Goodstein, professor of physics at Caltech, explains the underlying scientific principles of the inevitable fossil fuel shortage we face. He outlines the drastic effects a fossil fuel shortage will bring down on us. And he shows that there is an important silver lining to the need to switch to other sources of energy, for when we have burned up all the available oil, the earth's climate will have moved toward a truly life-threatening state.

With its easy-to-grasp explanations of the science behind every aspect of our most urgent environmental policy decisions, Out of Gas is a handbook for the future of civilization. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Serious topic, worthy of a more serious treatment
David Goodstein, author of "Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil", needs no lessons in alarmism. His entire book can be summed up by its first paragraph, whose last sentence reads as follows: "Even if human life does go on, civilization as we know it will not survive, unless we can find a way to live without fossil fuels." The rest of this short book is meant to be proof of this thesis.

In the Introduction and the initial chapter, Goodstein is effective in convincing us that the impending crisis -- one precipitated by dwindling supplies of oil -- will be upon us much sooner than we think. He takes up what others have proposed or theorized as ways out of the crisis (methane, shale, nuclear fusion, etc.) and makes his case for why those are unlikely to suffice. After that the book fills in some very basic facts about the relevant physics associated with energy production and concludes with a revisit of the main ideas.

It's not clear what level of audience this book is aimed at. My best guess is that the author had in mind a group of college freshman with non-science majors. There's a strong air of condescension about the book, reinforced (perhaps I imagined this) by the standard author's photograph in which Goodstein strikes a stern, professorial expression. The diagrams meant to illustrate textual points are laughably simplistic.

This book is another example of what I sense is a disturbing trend in publishing. It's a small format book with generous line spacing and margins. The Notes are minimal. Yet it's been priced and reviewed as if it were a more substantial treatise, with little mention of its brevity.

Goodstein obviously knows what he's talking about. In "Out of Gas", he manages to convince us that this is an important subject deserving a more comprehensive and energetic effort.

Non-hyperbolic treatment of a serious subject
David Goodstein does a good job of treating a flammable subject with the balance and seriousness it deserves. His conclusion is that there is no doubt that fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) will run out by the end of the century, but that we will be forced to begin dealing with the ramifications of falling supply long before that. Most estimates assume that the coming lack of oil will become a problem only when the wells have all dried up. Goodstein argues that the problems will occur much earlier - when production peaks at the half-way point of the planet's oil reserves. A point that is either here or will soon arrive.

The book avoids a long and detailed discussion of the geological forces behind the formation of fossil fuels - giving just a brief overview - and doesn't discuss the techniques of oil exploration, production and drilling at all. Goodstein's audience is the person who is unfamiliar with the science behind the controversy and a large portion of the book is devoted to an overview of energy, fuel, the science behind the discovery of the uses of oil and our rising dependence on it (with one or two brief forays into the related phenomenon of global warming).

I give the book 5 stars not for its fluid prose (although it is very readable) but because the author draws simple, firm and appropriate conclusions based on available evidence, while at the same time studiously avoiding hysteria and hyperbole to make his point. He also offers some alternative suggestions which, while unable to completely prevent economic and social dislocations that will be caused by falling oil production, do offer some hope.

An Introduction to Energy Physics from Yester-year
This short venture into the issue of Peak Oil by a distinguished physicist is a nice introduction to the important concepts in energy physics for the science-oriented high-school sophomore or for the college freshman liberal-arts student. Moreover, if Joe Voter simply skips Chapters 3 and 4 (where Goodstein presents a rather boring basis for the difference between conservation of energy and utilization of fuels), it becomes a brief, informative, and interesting introduction to the problems of our looming energy crisis for the average citizen.

While the general physics presented is at least 99% correct and the energy-related data and projections are also generally sound, the book is not without technical problems. First of all, Goodstein completely dismisses, without justification, all biofuels as having negative value. He is clearly unaware that the most recent USDA studies show grain ethanol to permit energy balance up to 1.77, cellulosic ethanol well above 2.2, and other advanced biofuel options ultimately above 3. Surprisingly, his view of wind energy is only slightly less pessimistic than his view of biofuels.

The other major problems center around the nuclear issue. He seems to believe the global uranium reserves are sufficient to supply all the world's energy for up to 25 years. Quite to the contrary, the IAEA indicates the total global uranium reserves (5 million tones) of usable quality are sufficient to sustain only existing nuclear power plants (which furnish less than 20% of the world's electricity), with a 2% annual growth rate, only through 2040. Others believe the usable uranium resources are 30% smaller, and processing the low-grade reserves (hard ores with U content below 0.02%) would be too expensive and result in too much CO2 release. Goodstein also trivializes the problems of developing successful breeder and fusion reactors; and he, like many, suffers from the hydrogen hype syndrome. For a more informed perspective on this subject, see my "Fuels for Tomorrow's Vehicles" or "The Hype About Hydrogen" by Romm. For a much more detailed and up-to-date discussion of all major aspects of energy, see "Energy at the Crossroads" by Smil.

The heavy sprinkling of anecdotes from the history of science helps to keep "Out of Gas" interesting, but Goodstein's infatuation with the archaic Stirling engine just accentuates his lack of appreciation for modern engines, power cycles, and engineering in general. The book's success has no doubt in large part been due simply to the coincidence of its release with the rapid rise in the price of gas. Possibly because the book was largely written before the price of oil and gas shot up, it doesn't take a very strong position predicting that Peak Oil may occur within a few years. For the most authoritative treatment of the Peak Oil issue, see "The Coming Oil Crisis" by Campbell. - F. David Doty, engineering physicist.

physics A, economics F
Yet another natural scientist with expertise in his own field while failing to understand basic economics to sort through the ramifications of scientific findings. 1) as the supply of gas/oil decrease, the price increases leading to less demand 2) the author holds out little hope for technological gains over the next 20-30 years, yet this is completely unconvincing. 3) Goodstein's narrative of the 1973 oil embargo is flawed as he fails to mention US government price controls more than OPEC were responsible for the winding lines at the pump.

In the 1980s, a group of Stanford scientists modeled the supply/demand of oil for 1997. They predicted around $80/barrel when in fact oil was under $20/barrel. Goostein's predictions will prove about as accurate. 2 stars for content discussing the natural science aspects.

THE OIL COMPANIES MAY HAVE KILLED ALCOHOL FUEL, BUT WHY?
Hi, I am Jim Wortham, and I am very pleased to read and comment on David Goodstein's new book, "Out of Gas." High oil prices have been an ongoing problem since the late 1970's. Professor David Goodstein, on page 32, addresses the fact that ethanol alcohol can be used as automotive fuel. At the time period around 1978 to 1980, the government gave money in the form of grants to farmers to produce ethanol alcohol. That is the type of alcohol that can be fermented and distilled by using grain (such as corn) or other organic material. In fact the government then and still does provides a permit (I think it is now a free permit) to legally distill ethanol alcohol as long as an individual completes a short application, and commits to using it to experiment with running engines including cars, tractors, motorcycles, lawnmowers, with the fuel (rather than drinking it). I am the author of the book (Forget The Gas Pumps--Make Your Own Fuel) and I believe it is one of the books still in print written on the subject of converting a car to run on 90 to 100 percent alcohol. It was published in 1979 at the price of $3.95 (it is still selling at the same price on Amazon.com). This book sells as an autographed copy (to anyone you want it autographed to) for just $1.50 on Amazon Marketplace , where you are reading this. I explain how to legally distill alcohol for automotive fuel & how to get a permit (I believe it is now free to get this permit--I include with the book where to get this permit to legally distill alcohol for fuel. I tell in my book how to make minor adjustments to a car so you will never need to use gasoline again. I had converted a 1969 Dodge Dart to run on alcohol at that time. I hope to revise this book in the next year to include how to convert the newer cars that are more computerized. I am presently considering converting a motorcycle to run on alcohol and taking a tour to major cities (and contact the press) to prove that anyone can run an American made motorcycle or car or lawnmower) on American made fuel. I wrote this book in 1979. Several other books were published because of the success of my book. This book was initally turned down by every large and small publisher that I contacted, so I self-published the book and sold 24,000 copies in the first few months. It is still in print. I am selling the first edition, and autographing the book for you or for anyone who wants to get a copy. You can email me at: jwortham@seidata.com. I would be interested in your feedback of anything I have said. Respectly,
Jim Wortham
(Author and Publisher)
Amazon Marketplace name: jwortham4
Address:
Jim Wortham
Marathon International Book Company
PO Box 40
Madison, IN 47250 U.S.A.
Fax: 812-273-4672
Voice Mail: 812-273-4672
Thanks for any feedback you desire to give. ... Read more

Book Description

Increasing numbers of Americans are fleeing cities and suburbs for the small towns and open spaces that surround national and state parks, wildlife refuges, historic sites, and other public lands. With their scenic beauty and high quality of life, these "gateway communities" have become a magnet for those looking to escape the congestion and fast tempo of contemporary American society.

Yet without savvy planning, gateway communities could easily meet the same fate as the suburban communities that were the promised land of an earlier generation. This volume can help prevent that from happening.

The authors offer practical and proven lessons on how residents of gateway communities can protect their community's identity while stimulating a healthy economy and safeguarding nearby natural and historic resources. They describe economic development strategies, land-use planning processes, and conservation tools that communities from all over the country have found effective. Each strategy or process is explained with specific examples, and numerous profiles and case studies clearly demonstrate how different communities have coped with the challenges of growth and development. Among the cities profiled are Boulder, Colorado; Townsend and Pittman Center Tennessee; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Tyrrell County, North Carolina; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Sanibel Island, Florida; Calvert County, Maryland; Tuscon, Arizona; and Mount Desert Island, Maine.

Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities provides important lessons in how to preserve the character and integrity of communities and landscapes without sacrificing local economic well-being. It is an important resource for planners, developers, local officials, and concerned citizens working to retain the high quality of life and natural beauty of these cities and towns. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A feel-good land use/planning guide
- A feel-good land use/planning guide produced by the Conservation Fund and the Sonoran Institute. Examples show how communities can work together to protect parks and environmental refuges..

Balancing economics and the environment
National parks and other public lands are big, fragile, economic engines for nearby gateway communities. In this book, communities and near-by public lands sometimes play nice together. The authors conclude: " . . . successful communities have transcended the 'growth versus no-growth' wars that characterize land-use policy in many cities and towns."

An excellent resource
Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities is a must read for anyone who still believes that environmentalism and economic development are fundamentally opposed propositions. This book of case studies and analysis describes several successful ways in which communities created new jobs and economic opportunities while celebrating and protecting, rather than exploiting, their area's natural resources. ... Read more

Book Description

As Thomas Sterner points out, the economic "toolkit" for dealing with environmental problems has become formidable. It includes taxes, charges, permits, deposit-refund systems, labeling, and other information disclosure mechanisms. Though not all these devices are widely used, empirical application has started within some sectors, and we are beginning to see the first systematic attempts at an advanced policy design that takes due account of market-based incentives.

Sterner's book is an attempt to encourage more widespread and careful use of economic policy instruments. Intended primarily for application in developing and transitional countries, the book compares the accumulated experiences of the use of economic policy instruments in the U.S. and Europe, as well as in select rich and poor countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Ambitious in scope, the book discusses the design of instruments that can be employed in a wide range of policy areas, including transportation, industrial pollution, water pricing, waste, fisheries, forests, and agriculture.

While deeply rooted in economics,Policy Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management is informed by perspectives drawn from political, legal, ecological, and psychological research. Sterner notes that, in addition to meeting requirements for efficiency, the selection and design of policy instruments must satisfy criteria involving equity and political acceptability. He is careful to distinguish between the well-designed plans of policymakers--and the resulting behavior of society.

A copublication of Resources for the Future, the World Bank, and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

Book Description

Virtually any exercise in ecology will require some knowledge of the techniques for carrying out a census of population numbers. This practical text outlines clearly, with worked examples, the main techniques used by field ecologists to enumerate plants and animals. Contributors treat each taxonomic group separately, with detailed descriptions of appropriate census methods; their advantages, disadvantages, and biases. Techniques for measuring a wide range of environmental variables are also included. The final chapter lists the twenty most common censusing sins. Concise yet comprehensive, this book provides a unique overview of the most important methods for those working on field studies in population and behavioral ecology and conservation biology at all levels, from the beginner to the practicing professional. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ecological Censusing Techniques
This book is useful and unbiased. It covers both animal and plant censuing. I found it very useful and informational. ... Read more

Book Description

What’s going on up there when the rain falls, when the wind blows, when the clouds roll in and the lightning flashes? How do hurricanes arise and where to tornadoes come from? Why do seasonal conditions sometimes vary so much from one year to the next? Our ways of life, our very existences depend on knowing the answers to questions like these. Economies have been wiped out, civilizations have risen and fallen, entire species have come into being or gone extinct because of a temperature shift of just a few degrees, or a brief shortage or glut of rainfall. With so much riding on the weather, it makes you wonder how you’ve lived this long without knowing more about it.

Don’t worry it’s never too late to find out about what makes the weather tick.

And there’s never been an easier or more enjoyable way to learn than Weather For Dummies. In know time, you’ll know enough of weather basics to be able to:

• Identify cloud types
• Make sense of seasonal differences in the weather
• Understand what causes hurricanes, tornadoes, and other extreme events
• Make your own weather forecasts
• Avoid danger during severe weather
• Understand the global warming debate
• Get a handle on smog, the greenhouse effect, El Niño, and more

Award-winning science writer John D. Cox brings the science of meteorology down to earth and, with the help of dozens of cool maps and charts and stunning photographs of weather conditions, he covers a wide range of fascinating subjects, including:

• What is weather and how it fits into the entire global ecosystem
• What goes into making a professional daily weather forecast
• The basic elements of weather, including air pressure, clouds, and humidity
• Storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, monsoons, and other extreme forms of weather
• Seasonal weather effects and why they vary
• Lightening, rainbows, sundogs, haloes, and other special effects

Featuring clear explanations, stunning illustrations, and fun, easy experiments and activities you can do at home , Weather For Dummies is your guide to making sense of  the baffling turmoil of the ever-changing skies above. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Reader-Friendly Reference
Weather is a subject that everyone knows something about. However that's just where John Cox starts. So one knows about Doppler radar? How about polar orbiters? So one has always heard the expression "it's too cold to snow?" Is it really?

Of course this is a reader-friendly book. But I will wager that it will soon turn into a handy reference book that is frequently pulled from the shelf.

Weather for Dummies
This is a great book for those of us interested more in the weather and less in stuffy meteorology. I now have an understanding of "relative humidity" and why a "dry heat" is more comfortable than humid heat. I now know where some weather proverbs come from, such as "Red sky at night, sailor's delight." (There's actually factual basis for this proverb.)

This book makes a nice coffee table book, and it lends itself to casual reading. But if you're serious about the weather, you can get a lot from this book as well. There's a chapter on setting up your own weather instruments at home and keeping a weather diary. And the appendix lists a number of websites where you can learn even more about the weather. No more glib answers from me when someone says, "How about this weather?"

Great Book on Weather
Very good book on the topic. It gives a great description and count on how weather forms for example hurricanes like el nino. I am glad that dummies finally put out a book on weather. Nice job John D. Cox. It's good to see a new writer in this field!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

the result of a year-long project in critical thinking
Cronan has done it again! This volume of essays critically examines the concept of wilderness, nature, and humanity's role in the modern world. Though the individual essays are somewhat uneven, the main theme of the book is clearly communicated, especially in Cronan's introductory piece. That is, that the concept of wilderness needs careful rethinking, particularly with our world nearing 10 billion persons. ... Read more

Book Description

Riki Ott, PhD exposes the profound legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how readers can help reshape our global energy future.

The author chronicles the long-lasting environmental harm to Prince William Sound, Alaska, and investigates the health problems suffered by many cleanup workers. Exxon's spill provided a portal to understanding a startling truth: oil is much more toxic than we previously thought. Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$ frames the larger story of discovery of the truly toxic nature of oil. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great book for college courses
Dr. Ott's book will serve as an excellent supplement to course syllabi around the country. The book's interdisciplinary approach makes it a perfect educational tool for a variety of departments - public health, environmental studies, ecology, and sociology to name a few. Ott's ability to combine rigourous science with an accessbile writing style offers an engaging expose of oil's effects on humans and nature.Perhaps just as important, the book also presents students and teachers with an inspiring model of how one scientist's passion and determination can uncover truths of global importance.

Highly recommended for teachers and students.

People Need to Know
People need to know what happened in the Valdez cleanup and thankfully the injured and sick found a voice in Dr. Ott.She translates the multi-layered wrong doing hidden beneath corporate and political bureaucracy that lead to so many workers becoming sick in the Valdez clean up.She also translates the science and toxicology behind "what went wrong" in a way that average people can comprehend.

A good read!
Dr. Ott , like the lone pedestrian facing a tank about to run him over, faces the giant Exxon.In Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$, Ott reveals the far reaching effects of the Valdez oil spill on human health, wildlife populations, and the environment.Worker safety and environmental laws based on antiquated science need to be revamped, the industry needs to be held fully accountable and finally we need to take a look at ourselves and the role we can play in reducing the toxicity of our environment.This journey with Dr. Ott, through the initial devastation and lingering after effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, tells the incredible magnitude of the disaster. Through her first hand account we are transported to Prince William Sound, and hear the silencing of the birds, see the slick lapping the shore and smell the inescapable fumes.We also learn that drilling is no longer necessary when looking for oil in Alaska, just scrap away some rocks and a little sand and there on the beaches you'll find it.

Urgent action required
Dr. Ott's book is not only an exceptionally good read but her message must reach our Senators and Representatives now and action must be taken.Dependence on oil is NOT the way of the future.It is highly toxic not only to the environment but to human health as well.We need to start now, to conserve our oil reserves and develop alternative energy sources or the chances are, that our retirement years will be the setting for a major economic shift toward the worst.

If President Bush would like to enter the history books as a man of incredible foresight, he'd better pick up this banner and start leading us in that direction now.

Alaska Resident Says Book Rocks
As a lifelong resident of the area affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, I was ecstatic when this crusader, Dr. Ott, accurately portrayed the spill. Not only does Dr. Ott expose Exxon's myths and public deceptions, but she does justice to the thousands of residents affected by the spill.

This book personalizes the disaster by adding a human dimension without compromising fact. If you believe that Prince William Sound has recovered from the effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Dr. Ott's book will show you how Exxon has deceived us all.

Overall, a groundbreaking worthwhile read!! ... Read more

Book Description

An award-winning nature writer weaves natural history and personal experience into the dramatic story of the last days of six North American bird species.

Journey with Christopher Cokinos to a time when flocks of Passenger Pigeons blocked the sun and Carolina Parakeets colored the sky--according to one pioneer--"like an atmosphere of gems."

Driven by a desire to understand the lives of these now-extinct birds and how and why they vanished, Cokinos excavates crumbling newspapers and forgotten reports. From Bird Rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Louisiana's tangled bayous, he searches for those who loved the Passenger Pigeon, the Carolina Parakeet, and the Labrador Duck; for the people who stalked the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, the Heath Hen, and the Great Auk; and for those who tried to save them.

A compelling blend of science, history, politics, and memoir, Hope Is the Thing with Feathers draws on previously unpublished photographs and original documents to make these long-vanished birds come alive. Cokinos delves into the mysterious sighting of Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers in April 1999; the incredible plan to create new Heath Hens on Martha's Vineyard; and the astonishing possibility that these extinct birds could be resurrected through the science of cloning. Published to mark the 100-year anniversary of the shooting of the last wild Passenger Pigeon, Hope Is the Thing with Feathers is a wonderfully textured and ultimately uplifting narrative.

"This story--the ghost species still haunting this continent--is full of power and mystery."--Bill McKibben

Illustrated with 30 black-and-white photographsBibliographyIndex ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Perched in the soul...
...From the second line of the Emily Dickinson poem that both inspired Cokinos and gave him his title for the book. It is only natural that a poet would look to Dickinson and it is appropriate that it is this form which guides this book. HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS is indeed a poetic and lyrical description of the symbolic significance of six vanished species of North American birds.

The Carolina parakeet, Heath Hen, Great Auk, Passenger pigeon, Labrador duck and Ivory-billed woodpecker have with their passing come to represent for Cokinos a lot more than simply another group of vanished species. They are emblematic of lost time, effort, habitat, environment, and are missing slice of life. Poignant as his descriptions of their loss is, there is always an element of hope that suffuses each of his chapters.

Cokinos with this book successfully blends history with a little bit of biology and adds just enough personal observation and insight. The mix works and his writing is excellent. There is enough science here to satisfy those who wish to remain at a respectable distance. For those who don't mind getting close there is sufficient reason - through what these birds represent about our past and future on this planet - to allow them to come and perch in your soul.

Excellen Book with tons of information
Cokinos, an amateur birder, explores the life histories and conservation problems of North America's extinct birds, and then visits some of the famous zoos and nesting sites that marked the end of a species. Each section is filled with personal stories about the birds to give the reader a better feel for how the birds reacted to their habitats.

The book covers the Passenger Pigeon, Heath Hen, Carolina Parakeet, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Labrador Duck and Great Auk. Every birder has seen large flocks of Cedar Waxwings practically stripping all the berries from a tree- but imagine a flock of 3,000 Passenger Pigeons (considerably larger than a Mourning Dove, and much noisier) flying into a forest and deciding to nest there. That would be a small colony. It was the most populous bird on earth just a hundred years ago- and now it's gone.

The book is filled with interesting, and sometimes witty stories that will keep the reader from closing the cover. Sometimes, though, Cokinos drags on with information that doesn't seem necessary to the rest of the text- but this, by no means, should discourage you from buying the novel. I definitely recommend it.

A wonderful book - definitely required reading
Although it chronicles several chapters of bull-headed human stupidity, this book also documents the painstaking efforts of the many people who worked hard to save these vanished creatures, and offers some hope that the future need not repeat the past. At times sad, but also funny, and even joyful despite the material.

One of the best books I have ever read...
This book touched me deeply, made me both laugh, made me cry, made me angry...and also made me marvel at the what nature created, that I will never see. Months later, this book still touches me, and I often think of the stories in it. I didn't think a book on this subject could be as engaging, interesting and sad. It took me into the lives of these birds, explained their demise, told me about the last of their species. This really is a story that should be required reading for everyone...something that shows us that our actions have costs, shows us how greed and selfishness can really hurt the world around us, permanently...

Interesting, well-written, for lovers of wild birds
For the most part, Christopher Cokinos' "Hope is the Thing With Feathers" is an excellent and comfortable book. The author's writing style makes reading this book almost effortless. The pages flew by almost as if I were watching a movie.

The book chronicles, from a very personal level, the author's research on some of America's more recently extinct birds: the Carolina Parakeet, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Heath Hen, Passenger Pigeon, Labrador Duck and the Great Auk. I imagine that this book would only be of interest to someone who has, at the least, a passing interest in birds. Although the historical context is well represented, it's still a book about birds.

The book is 336 well-written pages with about 30 or 40 black-and-white photographs and drawings. The author included a selected bibliography, index and an interesting Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) style interview at the back of the book.

The only drawbacks were the very few occasions where the wonderful prose gives way to a dry, almost painful, regurgitation of historical fact. In addition there are some brief but awkward inclusions of political correctness that don't seem to fit with the overall text.

I would buy this book again without a second thought! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-west Europe.
I checked this book out of the library prior to a trip to London, and now I'm going to buy a copy for my library.This is such a well laid out book, and the perfect size for the field.The information on the covers is particularly nice, with black and white illustrations of members of all the families so that you can quickly determine where in the guide to look for details.This is very helpful because there are many unfamiliar birds there that don't fit into the categories of birds we're used to in the states.And right inside the front cover is a color-coded index to help you quickly get to the section you need.I also liked the interesting facts about the birds that you don't see in many field guides.If you need a guide to birds for this area, this is definitely the one to have!

Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-West Europe
I ordered this book for a trip to Northern Germany and really lucked out.I read previous reviews, liked the format and size and gave it a shot.It was perfect for my needs. I recommend it highly.

Please let them publish one for North America!
Before our vacation in Denmark this month, I purchased this guideand based my selection on the 2 previous reviews and its small size. Boy, did I get lucky! This is one great field guide! Not only is all the pertinent information for each species located on one page, but that one page is also full of all sorts of interesting items (such as behaviors and flight patterns), written and/or pictured. If the authors would compile a similar guide for our North American species, it would surely replace my almost-worn-out National Geographic (my previous favorite)!

an excellent field guide
This is a very intelligently laid out guide for the field.Pictures, copy and maps are all on the one page; no thumbing from picture to map to copy, as with Peterson's field guide.No space is wasted, even the inside coversare full of information, and there is a color code index.This wasdesigned by persons who know what it is to hurry, in wind, rain or badlight, to identify a bird.

Haven't personally tried, but ranked very high on Usenet.
Visit rec.birds newsgroup and ask for the UK Field Guide FAQ.This is one of the winners out of many guides available. ... Read more

Book Description

The Santa Cruz River that once flowed through Tucson, Arizona is today a sad mirage of a river. Except for brief periods following heavy rainfall, it is bone dry. The cottonwood and willow trees that once lined its banks have died, and the profusion of birds and wildlife recorded by early settlers are nowhere to be seen. The river is dead. What happened? Where did the water go?

As Robert Jerome Glennon explains in Water Follies, what killed the Santa Cruz River — and could devastate other surface waters across the United States — was groundwater pumping. From 1940 to 2000, the volume of water drawn annually from underground aquifers in Tucson jumped more than six-fold, from 50,000 to 330,000 acre-feet per year. And Tucson is hardly an exception — similar increases in groundwater pumping have occurred across the country and around the world. In a striking collection of stories that bring to life the human and natural consequences of our growing national thirst, Glennon provides an occasionally wry and always fascinating account of groundwater pumping and the environmental problems it causes.

Glennon sketches the culture of water use in the United States, explaining how and why we are growing increasingly reliant on groundwater. He uses the examples of the Santa Cruz and San Pedro rivers in Arizona to illustrate the science of hydrology and the legal aspects of water use and conflicts. Following that, he offers a dozen stories — ranging from Down East Maine to San Antonio's River Walk to Atlanta's burgeoning suburbs — that clearly illustrat