Reviews (4)

This is for the serious botanist
Contains excellent illustrations. The terminology and abbreviations may be confusing to some. Needs to be updated as some of the family nomenclature has been changed. I wouldn't recommend this for the average "what's this plant" person.

Flora of the Pacific Northwest
EXCELLENT first-book to reach for when needing proper scientific terminology. Does include some common names in the descriptions. Extremely detailed and uses extensive abbreviations. I used this book in Univ. ofIdaho botany classes in the 1980's and still use it in my daily job now(year 2000). However, it does indeed need to be updated for currentterminology and names, including lower-case spellings.

"The"Botany Key.
This botany key is used by University of Idaho's botany classes. It is still "the" book reached for by the professional in the work force. Afterall, what else is there that is so comprehensive? However, itis in need of revision due to changes in genus and specie names since itsfifth printing of 1981.

Respected key for Pacific Northwest flora.
This key for PNW flora is the key used by Washington State University.Text is scientific in nature, and is not intended for pleasure reading.An excellent but complex key, it follows a standard dichotomous (two choicesfor each step) format. Although not intended for the layman, the textincludes a good glossary and has helpful black and white illustrations. This book would not be a good introduction to dichotomous keying as it isdesigned for the serious botanist. ... Read more

Book Description

When the unconventional Durrell family can no longer endure the damp, grayEnglish climate, they do what any sensible family would do: sell their house andrelocate to the sunny Greek isle of Corfu. My Family and Other Animalswas intended to embrace the natural history of the island but ended up as adelightful account of Durrell’s family’s experiences, from the many eccentrichangers-on to the ceaseless procession of puppies, toads, scorpions, geckoes,ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, bats, and butterflies into their home. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in its fourth edition, the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America is the ultimate birder’s field guide. Sturdy, portable, and easy-to-use, it features the most complete information available on every bird species known to North America. This revised edition features 250 completely updated range maps, new plumage and species classification information, specially commissioned full-color illustrations, and a superb new index that allows birders in the field to quickly identify a species.

The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fourth Edition will continue to be a bestseller among the fastest-growing sector in the U.S. travel market—the nearly 25 million people who travel each year specifically to observe wild birds.

Reviews (4)

National Park Basics in a Book That Will Make You Want To Go
National Geographic has produced an excellent introduction to our national park system.

This book briefly covers national parks and monuments of the entire country. A description is given over a page or so (a bit longer for majors like Yosemite) which includes helpful visiting hints, the main attractions at each and other details that could help the day or short visitor hit the highlights. Information is also included on the best time of year to travel, places to stay, park rules and contact information. Also very informative are "side excursion" briefs for each major attraction.

The books' maps are very well done and it contains beautiful pictures that show our national treasures in all their glories.

Besides being well organized and informative, this is a very attractive book that makes one want to venture out and see some of the natural wonders of our country. Great for the national park enthusiast and would-be traveler.

AN EXCELLENT INTRODUCTION
This visually stunning and well made guide is an excellent basic introduction to America's National Parks. This book features overviews of what to see in each of the parks. Filled with necessary information such as contacts and regulations--this book is a must for those seeking to visit the parks.

The parks listed in this book are organized broadly by region. Recommended day trips are given in some detail. Other sites of interest in the region are listed after each park entry.

My family and I took up camping this summer and have set ourselves the goal of visiting all of our country's National Parks. This book, along with National Geographic's Road Atlas and topographic maps have been very useful.

The one thing I do wish this book listed is America's National Lakeshores and Seashores. They too are National Parks--and are often some of the most stunning places to visit.

I give this little book my full recommendation.

A beautiful book for NP enthusiasts!
Like many Indians living in US, I am an avid National Park traveller. I have travelled around 10 major National Parks to date.

If your plans to a National Park range from 2-4 days, then this book is a must have. It gives a brief overview of each park and then gives suggestions about day trips that you can take in each park.

I have followed the sugesstions and have got the most pleasure in minimum time.

Buy this book if you plan on spending your long weekends in National Parks. You will not regret it!

National Parks
This is a well written travelogue that is easily packed for a journey to any of the parks in the country. The guide offers a brief overview of the park and then breaks down tours of the parks into length of miles and length of time. It also offers advice on visiting the various parks (complete with rattlesnake warnings and backpack camping rules, etc.). The book offers real life information and does not merely glorify the parks (though many of the photographs certainly does). For instance, in describing the South Unit of Badlands it recommends bringing a USGS topographic map but warns people will still probably get lost (not a pleasant thought, if you've ever been there before).

This is a handy book that most people will be able to use. There are side trips to other sites listed after the main park is described. It is more than a coffeetable conversation piece but is still fun to peruse when cabin fever strikes. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 370 edible wild plants, plus 37 poisonous look-alikes, are described here, with 400 drawings and 78 color photographs showing precisely how to recognize each species. Also included are habitat descriptions, lists of plants by season, and preparation instructions for 22 different food uses. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

How To Eat Nature
If you're like me and you enjoy trying to eat leaves and berries that you find while hiking and wandering about in nature, this is a handy book to own. The Peterson who wrote this book (son of the Peterson of the many, many wildlife guidebooks writer) is also a forest forrager and details some other cool books to own in the Introduction (including Stalking Wild Asparagus..excellent). I searched for a while to find a guide that would not only easily ID edible berries, roots and leaves..but also give recipe-like tips on how to prepare said roots and leaves..and they do here. Who knew, for example, that one could make a cool and refreshing beverage from staghorn sumac? Crafty! Guide is sub-divided into several search methods: color, plant-type (berry, leaf) and includes many color plates along with ink drawings to help to be sure that Amanita spp. mushroom you're eating won't cause you trouble later! And, the final great feature of the Peterson guides is that the front and back covers are tough so that you can make your copy go camping with you over many moons and you won't wear out your book. Nice!

excellent book for beginners but has some problems
This book contains descriptions and uses of hundreds of useful plants and is probably the most imporant book to have in your edible plant book collection. It also gives fair warning when some evidence suggests possible risks.

Despite these points, there are some things that make it hard to use. First, because they are trying to cram in as many plants as possible, they don't give enough attention to many plants that deserve it and give very breif descriptions, although they do point out some of the main identifying features. Second, the pictures, at least for the first half of the book, are simply recycled from the Peterson Guide to Wildflowers, which means that they often leave out important parts that you really need to see. Third, the book is organized for the most part so that you can't find a plant unless you know the color of the flower, which makes it really difficult to recognize plants unless you find them during the period they flower, which is usually pretty short. And did anyone notice that they switched the pictures of Nodding Wild Onion and Field Garlic on page 115?

Of course, the descriptions and drawings are better than most books on the subject, and it does have many useful features, so this book is definately worth having.

I have an older print
The only difference being the front cover has been updated.

This has a lot of very good line drawings and some photos. The information in it is very good.

But, I would suggest that people cross reference the plants they find with another field book before eating something.

The descriptions in the book are short, the emphasis is on the use of the plant and were you may find them. Remeber with out looking closely an untrained eye may mistake water hemlock (deadly) with water parsnip, cow parsnip, angelica, or wild raison at a quick glance. And that could be unfortunate to say the least. Other then that warning though I enjoyed this book and have had it a long time. It tends to be one of the books I carry with me when I go hiking and looking for plants and birds.

Well written.
This book is very well written. it contains over 400 drawings and 78 color photos, to help in the identification of the mentioned plants. Each entry contains information on habitat, when they flower, a description and the uses. Also conatins any applicable warnings. The line drawings are very accurate and are more than enough, when coupled with the descriptions, to be able to identify just about any plant. But if you have any doubts, check the color photos. Also, at the back of the book, it contains the various types of plants divided up into habitat, and then each habitat divided into what plants can be harvested there during various seasons. This book is a great resource for any survivalist's bookshelf.

Pretty good
This book is very well written. it contains over 400 drawings and 78 color photos, to help in the identification of the mentioned plants. Each entry contains information on habitat, when they flower, a description and the uses. Also conatins any applicable warnings. The line drawings are very accurate and are more than enough, when coupled with the descriptions, to be able to identify just about any plant. But if you have any doubts, check the color photos. Also, at the back of the book, it contains the various types of plants divided up into habitat, and then each habitat divided into what plants can be harvested there during various seasons. This book is a great resource for any survivalist's bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art

Our once-pristine wildlands are threatened by ever increasing problems of pollution.Since its first publication in 1989, How to Shit in the Woods has been adopted by outdoor enthusiasts everywhere as part of the solution.In this updated edition, outdoorswoman Kathleen Meyer reviews the newly available portable potties, with special attention to individual trekkers in an all-new chapter, "Plight of the Solo Poop Packer."Other topics include: the growing array of travelers' field water-disinfecting systems, Giardia contamination and the now infamous critter Cryptosporidium, crotch-accessible clothing for women, and a fresh batch of "worst experience" stories, all peppered with irreverent musings.For the purist, there are more wise t.p.-less techniques from the Old World.Written with an effervescent sense of humor, this is a book for anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

How to Keep Your G.I. Tract Healthy While Enjoying the Woods
Book Review: How to Shit in the Woods 1/3/00 Mozella Rainwater Sunshine If you want to enjoy the woods and leave the place so others can come behind you and enjoy the same space, then this is the book to read before you shop for supplies. And be sure to also put it in your backpack to consult in case you forget a detail or two. In reading this book, it is evident that the author backed her material with solid research and the experience of years of trekking in the wilds all over the world. Ms. Meyer tells you how to keep your entire gastrointestinal track healthy and how to be comfortable when nature has to eliminate your private bio-waste material. There's even a chapter devoted to women and our special concerns in this delicate category.

Be sure to read this book with your children before sending them off to camp so they can come back to you as healthy as they left you.

I wish this book had been available before I went on my first backpacking expedition back in the early 80's. Thanks to the Powers That Be for freedom of the press and the unhindered flow of information.

A Great Gift for New Scouting Professionals
This is one book that always manages to turn up at Scouting Events, Wood Badge Courses, etc. Once you get past the laughts & shock value of the title, the reader will find some common sense tips on being environmentally friendly in the outdoors.

At Camporees we always put this book in our latrine as many of our scouts like to read while doing their "duty." (Hey, it promotes Reading Merit Badge!).

My favorite use of this book is to recognize new District Executives and other Scouting Professionals by presenting this book to them at various Scouting events, usually right after they first land a job in our district (seems like we are getting new D.E.'s all the time) or saying thanks to Scouters in our district.

Anyone who loves this book will also like "Up Shit Creek" also produced by ICS and available from Amazon.

Ed Henderson Associate Editor - SCOUTER Magazine

QUITE FUNNY AND VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING
I BOUGHT THIS AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT (WITH SIMILAR BOOKS OF "TOILET HUMOR") FOR MY 40 YEAR OLD BROTHER-IN-LAW. HOWEVER MY HUSBAND AND KIDS ENJOYED IT TOO MUCH TO GIVE THEM UP....

Read the sample pages
This is one of those books that will either amuse you or offend you, so I suggest you take advantage of Amazon's sample page views before buying.

For myself, I was gently amused but, after twenty pages or so, found my eyelids closing and sleep looming threateningly over my head. Why?... well, frankly, it's just not very interesting!

If you've nothing important on your agenda, by all means take a trip through Kathleen Meyer's world of bodily functions. Otherwise, go for a brisk walk - you'll learn more.

Funny book
If you have ever had a problem taking a dump in the forest or just been embarrassed about it...read this book. It is great. ... Read more

Book Description

Dr. Carl Sagan takes us on a great reading adventure, offering his vivid and startling insight into the brain of man and beast, the origin of human intelligence, the function of our most haunting legends--and their amazing links to recent discoveries.
"A history of the human brain from the big bang, fifteen billion years ago, to the day before yesterday...It's a delight."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
... Read more

Reviews (47)

Engrossing
I've always considered Sagan my favorite story teller. He tells both wonderful fictional tales (like Contact), and tales that while certainly grand enough to be fiction, are actually tales of nature and science.

The Dragons of Eden is one such book. So large in its scope that one might think it would be disconnected and hard to follow, it in fact is the perfect balance of big picture and fascinating detail.

If you're even mildly interested in evolution, biology, zoology, neuroscience, or the nature of what really makes us who we are, this book is a must read.

Turn your Thinking about Thinking Upsidedown.
I had certainly heard of Carl Sagan, but only in terms of cosmology. I had no idea that he wrote extensively on the field of evolutionary biology-stimulated by his wife, the biologist Ann Druyan. My field is not science, so The Dragon's of Eden was my first encounter with the idea of the tripartite brain. The idea does not originate with Sagan, as he himself points out, but this slender volume makes the idea quite assessable for the lay person and, more importantly, it creatively explores the idea's possible implications. Although I read this book years ago, I have thought of it several times a week since then, as I speculate upon some of the biological causes of human behavior. Newer models of the brain have already proved some of the basic ideas in this book as a bit oversimplified, but if you are looking for an introduction to speculating about how the brain's evolution may shape human behaviors, this is great place to start. I found the book a "mind blower"-and I always pick it up used when I see it to give to friends. Prepare to have your perception of perception itself turned upside down.

The "OH SO FABULOUS" Book
Oh my gosh. everyone should TOTALLY read this book. it will give you informative info on all your life questions. i read this book in less than 24 hours and SO CAN YOU! wanna know about dinosaurs and cool aliens? well then DEFINITELY read this book. instead of going to the beach, i stayed in and read this truly intriguing book. oh wow. im such a good student! YOU can be just like me if you read this Carl Sagan dragon junk book. At first you might be discouraged because its REALLY BORING, but if you're into all that space stuff then you'll really like it. my friend OLGA recommended it to me and we just love sharing our thoughts over a nice hot cup of coffee, while checking out the other book worms. anyways be RAD like me and read some carl sagan today!

In a league of his own
Carl Sagan is one of the select few prolific non-fiction writers who can manage to create a masterpiece each time. While much of _Dragons of Eden_ is dated, the book was way ahead of its time and probably remains on the cutting edge of theory in the evolution of human intellegence (at least in the popular realm).

Those areas in which the book is clearly a generation old (Sagan predicts that someday computers will have television like interfaces, that regular people may have access to them and that they someday may exist in peoples' homes), are endearing, yet they also exemplify Sagan's foresight and wisdom. Predictions like these, and others (such as the then-absurd notion that genetic engineering may someday become science fact), are what sets him apart. As a scientist, he is a skeptic in the purest sense, but that doesn't mean he lost his imagination and ambition. He was not a cynic.

I recommend this book to just about anyone who is a Sagan fan. However, it isn't his best work. I would certainly place either _The Demon Haunted World_ and _Billions and Billions_ above this.

Sagan's Best
This was the first book I read by Cark Sagan while in college. As a layman, I found it to be completely accessible and absolutely fascinating. Among the most memorable of his well-thought out and original theories are: his belief that man's inherent fears of snakes and heights can be traced back to his days as a tree-dwelling primate during which the snake constituted his only natural enemy; his idea that the ogres, elves, goblins, and "little people" that pop up in every culture's myths and fairy tales are genetic memories of a time when man's ancestors shared the earth with other intelligent humanoids; and his speculation that perhaps man is the only primate capable of verbal speech (chimpanzees and other primates are right on the brink, so to speak, as evidenced by their quick grasp of sign language) because his ancestors engaged in genocide against other linguistic humanoids- their primary competition. Sagan is best known as the man who popularized astronomy. But this book, one of his best, shows that he was just as interesting when he focused on man's origins, as opposed to his destination. ... Read more

Book Description

Every January 1, a quirky crowd storms out across North America for a spectacularly competitive event called a Big Year -- a grand, expensive, and occasionally vicious 365-day marathon of birdwatching.For three men in particular, 1998 would become a grueling battle for a new North American birding record. Bouncing from coast to coast on frenetic pilgrimages for once-in-a-lifetime rarities, they brave broiling deserts, bug-infested swamps, and some of the lumpiest motel mattresses known to man. This unprecedented year of beat-the-clock adventures ultimately leads one man to a record so gigantic that it is unlikely ever to be bested. Here, prize-winning journalist Mark Obmascik creates a dazzling, fun narrative of the 275,000-mile odyssey of these three obsessives as they fight to win the greatest -- or maybe worst -- birding contest of all time. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A great people study book.
I think anyone who reads this book thinking they are going to learn about birding, or how to brid watch, are going to be very disappointed. This is a book about people, and their obsessions, rather than birds. I can just imagine me in a roomful of people, and then trying to figure out who is the avid, obsessed, birder. Try it. I dare you to. To be honest, I picked this book up, and layed it back down at least three times before I really got past the intoduction. I had a narrow minded view about the book going into it, and I knew I could not possibly be interested in a book about bird watching. But, once I got into the characters, I was hooked. What a great read.

A great Bird Voyeur birding book!
I have to admit, before reading this book I was totally clueless about the "big year". I'd heard about life lists and scoffed. I watch birds because its interesting, I feed them because I feel guilty living on what used to be bird habitat. But I care not a whit whether or not I've seen all 600+ native species. I really enjoyed this story though. It's light reading, and very well written. I had no idea that those hummingbirds at my feeder had crossed the gulf of Mexico. I'm even more impressed. (by the birds, not the birders...)

But that Autu Alaska is now closed to birders who could at one time get to see non native species blown over by a storm, well I don't really care. It is great though that some people remember to live their passion. And that part is what makes this book a fun read.

The most exciting book I've read this year.
No, I'm not being sarcastic. I mean it. Big Year is full of laughs, twists and yes, some touching moments. I love bird watchingand road trips but the guys in Big Year are hard core competitors who operate on an entirely different plain than the novices.

The book is so well written that you can almost see yourself sitting in the backseat of Sandy Komito's Skuamobile as he prowls down the highway looking for birds. In fact, it's so vivid that Big Year would actually make a darn good movie. While reading it I kept imagining James Cagney or Oscar Levant as Komito, Gregory Peck or Walter Pigeon as Al Levantin and a very young Jimmy Stewart as Greg Miller, the wonderful optimist who decides to do a Big Year on the cheap.

The things these guys encounter while pursuing their passion such asmountain lions, cowboys with potbellied pigs, the horrors of economy flight, crocodiles, frozen graves, and icy cold outhouses are the stuff of adventure novels with a good sized dollop of comedy thrown in.

The Big year is fascinating, fun, and daydream inducing. I and most of the readers of the book will probably never get closer to a Big Year than vicariously through the book but after reading it I have started thinking that maybe, just maybe I could survive a one county Big Day.I loved the book and even my non nature loving friends found themselves laughing out loud when I read sections of it to them.

Great look at serious birding
Being a novice birder, I was very interested to read about what it takes to complete a Big Year, a calendar year of birding in which the participants try to see more species than anyone else.Apparently it takes an obsessive personality, a lot of money, and an unrelenting competitive spirit.Mark Obmascik captures all of this in his book which features the top 3 birders in the 1998 competition.The birders are as different as they are interesting.Sandy Komito is a former Big Year winner, Al Levantin is a retired CEO who lives in Aspen, and Greg Miller is a computer programmer who attempts to work full-time while doing a Big Year in his "spare time".Author Obmascik follows them all over North America, from the mosquitos of the Florida Everglades to the blinding snow storms of the remote island of Attu, and chronicles their successes, struggles, and failures.Adverse weather conditions, only an advantage to birders, allow these three men to tally huge numbers of birds.The book contains a lot of interesting birding history, insider practices, and a lot of laughs which make this a delightful read.

Extreme Birdwatching! Yuck!
I have always harbored a fantasy where I retire with lots of money (yeah, right) and spend my remaining years traveling around the country looking for birds I have never seen. Forget that I am not a birder, have never been able to memorize the tiniest fact about species, and am bad at identifying bird calls: The truth is I just love birds, and love to watch them on my backyard feeders.

Well, any fantasy I may have harbored was killed forever with this strange and off-putting story of competitive birders striving to outdo each other in sightings in one Big Year (not my term or even the author's; a legitimate competitive birding term). Yes, the writing is sprightly, humorous, well done and competent--the author is a birder himself, although not in the same league as the three gentlemen he describes who take off at the beginning of 1998 to break the Big Year record.

It seems to me that the more grueling the trek to spot a rare bird, the more humorous and tall-tale-like the stories became, the more put off I was. Nowhere in the book did I sense any joy of seeing a bird for its own sake, but rather for quickly spotting it, jotting it down in one's "life list" or Big Year list, and moving on. ALL the birders in the book appeared to me to care more about the competition and the listing of the birds than the birds themselves. In fact, in one horrifying story, an anonymous person actually KILLS a bird in order to make an identification. Although this is not condoned, it happens...and it's disgusting.

I disliked the book so much for its subject matter, I would have given it one star, but the writing is great, and this world of competitive bird watching is certainly described well, whether I liked it or not. Apparently, due to el nino and a strange combination of weather factors, 1998 was the biggest birding year of all time vis a vis The Big Year counts. Good. I hope I never have to read about it again! ... Read more

Book Description

With carefully chosen topics presented in a logical order, this book provides an excellent introduction to the object-oriented features of C++ programming and the Standard C++ library. Clearly written and easy to understand, it provides examples and applications along with problem solving techniques, enabling the reader to learn this powerful language quickly and easily.This book covers such topics as the 5-step approach to problem solving; object-based features of C++ and the fundamentals of programming; engineering examples and applications; and an integrated introduction to function templates and classes defined in the Standard C++ library.For professional engineers who want to learn C++ programming language about its object-oriented features. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent problem solving book!
As a computer science student who changed majors to computer engineering, this was one of the best programming books that I've read in college. It actually teaches you problem solving in a very straightforward manner.Not without flaws though, since there are quite a few typos and errors in the code of the programs in the book; however, everyone with at least some basic understanding of computer programming should be able to figure out what is wrong and fix them quite easily.

With the help of this book I was able to apply C++ to a lot of common problems encountered throughout all engineering fields; from statistics to simple physics and math problems.After taking the class, in which this book was used, this book has become one of my main references.

A disappointment
What should have been a definitive work on classical C programming is seriously flawed by the presence of dozens and dozens of errors.The basic idea is excellent: that is, to relate the learning of C to real life engineering applications.A good editor could have made this an excellent text.

An Enlightening Book with C!
The book presents many ready-to-use problem solving methodologiesusingthe C language. This is a great book for those who would like to write theclassical engineering or scientific applications. ... Read more

Book Description

In the late 1960s, Eliot Wigginton and hisstudents created the magazine Foxfirein an effort to record and preserve thetraditional folk culture of the Southern Appalachians.This is the original book compilation of Foxfirematerial which introduces Aunt Arie and hercontemporaries and includes log cabin building, hogdressing, snake lore, mountain crafts and food, and"other affairs of plain living." ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A heapin' helpin' of good reading
If you've never heard of the Foxfire series, then you are in for a treat. By all means, you have an interest in the lore of the Smokey Mountains, Appallachian culture, or if you just want to learn the "way it was", then start reading these books.
Subjects ranging from folk medicine, ghost stories, cooking, woodslore and much more. If you are involved in "living history" or you work for a recreated farm/museum, these books are a gold mine of information. The text can be a bit difficult to follow, but this is because it is written the way these people still speak. If anything, it adds to the authenticity and charm of the series. Even if you never attempt to build a log cabin, or make "leather britches beans" you're sure to find a "heapin' helpin' of good reading.

The best begining is a simple one.
My father tried to teach me from the moment I would pay attention, until the time I "knew it all", about simplicity. When I was in boy scouts, I read all kinds of books. The problem with most is that most people have no kind of base to start from. The whole foxfire series tells a story of the way life used to be. If you are into "outdoors" type books or life style, it captures the wonder of it all. Most books of this nature tend to get technical leaving what was interesting behind, fun. Around the time I was getting burnt out on tech books, my father found original foxfire books. Now all of the tech books mean more to me than ever before. They approach simple living "camping" from an entirely different vantage point. Now it's time to get my own set.

One of the Foxfire books we use the most
Owning the FOXFIRE series of books this is one that I probably use the most, since I am an organic gardener who found value in the information on planting according by the moons phase as well as how to weave baskets as well as the quilting section.

These are not fancy dancy books, but basic down to earth helpful information that the modern homesteaders we know still use. And the section on snake lore is informative as well as enchanting. Same with the section on moonshine.

And for those like ourselves who have designed and are in the slow process of building our dream homes or cottages the section on chimney building is one of the best we have ever read or used.

I also will add that the used copy we bought via Amazon,com to replace another copy we gave away, arrived in mint condition. If you haven't bought used books via Amazon.com you are missing out on a money saving gem.

You Can Survive With This Information
For generations people of the Appalachia have been practicing sustainable lifestyles. This entire collection of Foxfire books gives details on how to live with the land and provide without modern day utilities and technology. These books are essential for teaching sustainable living, environmental conscienceness, and learning how to live without anything but your two hands.

Teach your children well....

How did Americans get food before the Supermarket?

Thankfully, the old ways of Appalachian country living are preserved in these interesting and relevant instructional books. If you've ever been interested in how rural Americans survived before the days of Wal-Mart and Shoprite, you only have to look to the Foxfire books.

These books are very useful and informative. They come with plenty of diagrams and photos to teach you how to live off the land. Before the advent of trailer homes and double-wides, rural Americans had to build log homes. Before satellite TV and Playstations we had banjos and ghost stories. And before welfare, people were self-sufficient and could live off the land.

Not only can these books teach you about country living, they are handy for any writers or researchers who want details on Appalachian mountain life. There are lots of monologues and stories told by old-timers here. In many cases the living language of these folks is preserved quite well, and by reading their stories you almost feel like you're with them.

-- JJ Timmins ... Read more

Book Description

Not since the early 1970s has there been an attempt to describe and illustrate the anatomy of the developing mouse embryo. More than ever such material is needed by biologists as they begin to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying development and differentiation. After more than ten years of painstaking work, Matt Kaufman has completed The Atlas of Mouse Development--the definitive account of mouse embryology and development.
For all those researching or studying mammalian development, The Atlas of Mouse Development will be the standard reference work for many years to come.

Key Features
* Provides a comprehensive sequential account of the development of the mouse from pre-implantation to term
* Contains clear and concise descriptions of the anatomical features relevant to each stage of development
* Large format for easy use
* Contains explanatory notes and legends, and more than 180 meticulously labeled plates, 1,300 photographs of individual histological sections, and 200 electron micrographs, illustrating:
* Intermittent serial histological sections through embryos throughout embryogenesis and organogenesis
* Differentiation of specific organs and organ systems, including the spinal cord, eyes, gonads, kidneys, lungs and skeletal system
* External appearance of intact embryos throughout development ... Read more

Amazon.com

With its colorful coral reefs, excellent birding, and tropical temperatures, Florida remains a popular vacation spot for the ecologically minded. In this concisely detailed volume you'll become acquainted with the state's geologic origins, natural history, and diverse habitats (salt marshes, mangrove swamps, prairies, and woodlands). A field guide assists in the identification of some of the region's wildflowers, trees, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, mammals, and birds, including the elusive manatee, three species of dolphin, and the rare snail kite. An extensive sampling of the area's best parks, preserves, beaches, forests, islands, and wildlife sanctuaries, with thorough descriptions and visitor information on 50 destinations, is also included. For instance, the section on Everglades National Park includes information on wildlife viewing possibilities, driving directions, and popular touring attractions inside the park (such as Shark Valley, where a 15-mile loop via foot, rental bike, or tram affords close views of alligators, anhingas, and wading birds). Lesser-known areas such as Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and Withlacoochee State Forest are also featured. More than 1,300 color photographs heighten the quality of this handy compilation. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Florida for the Nature Lover
This Book is portable and all-incluseive. I was happy to see the state's wonderful parks included.It's clearly divided into sections such as;Topography, Night Sky,Habitats,Weather,Invertebrates,and more..If you are not adverse to writting in books this is the book for it. Each time I spot a bird,a plant, a flower, a tree that is shown in the book I date the picture of it. It makes a good historical review of sightings.

This is a good beginning
As a nature photographer and new to Florida this is what I needed, concise and accurate and small enough to fit into my camera bag this is an excellent book with well detailed sections, which make it easy to identify the wildlife. It also is a good read if you are intersted in Florida's wild life and ecology.

Good for what it is.
This was one of the first reference books I picked up when I moved to Florida from up North, and it's been a valuable resource for identifying common flora and fauna in an unfamiliar region. Now that I AM familiar with the area, however, this guide isn't nearly as useful. Several times in the past month I have seen unfamiliar animals and insects (in my new affection for walking), and they haven't been included here.

The book includes the life that is COMMON to Florida, but if you have a desire to identify less common animals and plants, it's probably better to stick with the specialised field guides. Audubon usually does a better job than this, and make a few other books that are well put together and more inclusive than this one.

Excellent reference
After living in Florida for a few years, I started to get curious about all the critters in my backyard. This book tells you about them all and has detailed color photos for easy identification. It's also quite comprehensive, including everything from bugs and mammals to state parks. A must-have reference if you live in Florida and are even remotely curious about the native wildlife.

Great overall educational guide to Floridas' wildlife
Great book to keep in your car. Whenever I see something I don't recognize, I usually find it in this book. I've identified many plants and animals using this book. ... Read more

Book Description

485 ways to clean, polish, disinfect, deodorize, launder, remove stains, even wash your car, without harming yourself or the environment. Recipes based on harmless, nonpolluting, renewable ingredients.160 pages, recycled paper/vegetable ink, paperback. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A must read to detox your life.
Most of us take our homes and our environment within our homes for granted, when in reality, the polutants found in most homes may be adversely affecting the health of many of us. This book offers a lot of great information on how to rid our homes of the offenders and replace them with products that are safer and as a bonus, much less expensive.

It was almost too much information and didn't get into enough directions on individual uses while offering way too many choices. However, the basics were there and getting a start with many of the cleansers is easy.

Ridding our homes of environmental toxins is extremely important and this book helped me out tremendously.

Andrew Keith, author of, Aging Is NOT An Option!

Good information, but way too much for a beginner
This book is good. BUT...there are way too many recipes with no explanations for the beginning green cleaner.

I was a little lost in the vast forest of different ways to clean everything. Also, there are no detailed instructions on just how to mix together the ingredients. As Karen Noonan Logan points out in "Clean House, Clean Planet," there are times (especially when mixing baking soda and vinegar) when you must put the ingredients in a specific order for the cleanser to work.

Don't get me wrong, this *is* a very good book! Chemically sensitive people and those who already make their own cleansers will find it a valuable source. But, for the beginner, it would probably be better to get "Clean House, Clean Planet" first because it has detailed instructions, some chemistry lessons and effectiveness ratings.

After you become more familiar with how green cleaning works, this book would be an excellent addition for more recipes and ideas.

A practical guide!
I only bought this book a couple of weeks ago, and have already put many of the recommendations and recipes into practice. It offers easy to understand and implement alternatives for those who want to use enviromentally-friendly alternatives for their home. Also offers a large resource guide for where to find what you need.

People with environmental illness need this reliable info.
I'm not much interested in housecleaning, but when I read Annie's recipes, I trust her attention to safe and healthy living. Environmental illness,a disease that requires a lot of housecleaning, has forced me to search for safe products, and to use them.I am comforted to find such a reliable and extensive source of information.

No excuses!!
I bought this book a couple months ago and loved it. I showed it to two friends and they want one too! I love making and using my own household cleaners and feel really good about using them. Non-toxic, Earth-friendly cleaners are so easy and inexpensive to make, there's no excuse for anyone to use all those nasty chemicals! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A Neotropical Companion is an extraordinarily readable introduction to the American tropics, the lands of Central and South America, their remarkable rainforests and other ecosystems, and the creatures that live there. It is the most comprehensive one-volume guide to the Neotropics available today. Widely praised in its first edition, it remains a book of unparalleled value to tourists, students, and scientists alike. This second edition has been substantially revised and expanded to incorporate the abundance of new scientific information that has been produced since it was first published in 1989. Major additions have been made to every chapter, and new chapters have been added on Neotropical ecosystems, human ecology, and the effects of deforestation. Biodiversity and its preservation are discussed throughout the book, and Neotropical evolution is described in detail. This new edition offers all new drawings and photographs, many of them in color.

As enthusiastic readers of the first edition will attest, this is a charming book. Wearing his learning lightly and writing with ease and humor, John Kricher presents the complexities of tropical ecology as accessible and nonintimidating. Kricher is so thoroughly knowledgeable and the book is so complete in its coverage that general readers and ecotourists will not need any other book to help them identify and understand the plants and animals, from birds to bugs, that they will encounter in their travels to the New World tropics. At the same time, it will fascinate armchair travelers and students who may get no closer to the Neotropics than this engagingly written book. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Making you wish to go there
I've had to choose between 3 and 4 stars, but I'll stick to 4 stars.
It's really a good introduction to the natural history of the Neotropics. Yet, I've got the feeling that Mr. Kricher wants to tell us about too many things in too few space, thus leaving much things for further explanation. Of course, it's a heavy task to pack such a diversity in so small a book. The general introduction is thorough, but in the group description some groups remain heavily underexposed.
He shouldn't be playing on words this much only to let every pun be followed by a hypocritical "no pun intendeed". There's nothing against making puns, though.
The colour pictures do not add much to the book. I think he'd better have fewer and larger pictures than this stamp collection that give a somewhat disorderly impression.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it, making me wish to return to the neotropical rainforests.

A good companion to other books
Wonderfully researched, if sometimes silly in the execution. Like the other reviewers here mention, the incompetent use of puns is distracting. This book is best as a companion to other books on the subject or on a specific country.

I went to Costa Rica recently and I brought this book along with the coffee-table book, Costa Rica: The Last Country the Gods Made.

The essays, " New Conservation in the Costa Rican Parks System" and especially "House Made of Rain" touch on many of the subjects discussed in Kricher's text, albeit with MUCH more elegance in the writing!

Great Introductory Text
I found Kricher's text to be an enlightening, easy read for those interested in learning a subject they're not too familiar with. His explanations are satisfactory and he provides a broad, encyclopedic insight into the Neotropics as well as references for further reading. I also found his quips to be a nice break from the dry and tiresome technicalities that the topic often entails. Overall I think his book provides exactly what it he intended: an introductory text into Neotropical ecology.

Very, very good introduction to a tough topic
I thought this was a terrific introduction to the neotropics. The chapter on aquatic life was weak, and the author lowered himself to some unfortunate puns (he should have skipped the topic completely). The early chapters were the best.

For Students and Traveler's Alike!
Kricher's prose is easily read and digested with fascinating details of the workings in a tropical forest. A delightful read for both the student wishing to understand tropical ecology and the traveler who wishes to get a better feel for the environment in South America. Highly recommened. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for the marine aquarium hobbyist
I have positively oodles of books on fish behavior, diversity and ecology. When I brought this book home the wife asked "why do you need another fish book?" I will tell you like I told her.

This is the best book I have seen on the fishes commonly found in the aquarium industry. The fishes are arranged according to systematic (evolutionary) relationships, so it is in a format that is familiar to me, and more useful to people that are not already familiar with fish groups. Organization, however, is a minor part of a book. But the information in this book is also top notch. There is important information on hundreds of species referencing, feeding, care, availability and compatibility that is important when considering an addition to your salt water aquarium. There are also excellent sections on general aquarium keeping and reef inverts. This makes this a must have for any hobbyist. Lastly this is also a VERY attractive book, it now gets to be in the living room (near the aquarium where it should be) instead of in my library.

I didn't use those exact words with the wife, but you get the picture. If you're looking for a book on salt water aquarium fishes this is a great choice. Hopefully amazon will begin carrying it soon. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

"I danced around naked in the sun."
"I hiked and hiked and the days grew longer but I wished for days longer still," Pete Fromm writes in this adventure memoir; "it seemed there wasn't nearly enough time to see everything I needed to see" (p. 173). After completing his degree in wildlife biology, Fromm attended night classes in Missoula's Creative Writing Program. In those classes, Fromm first began chronicling his seven-month winter adventure, guarding two and a half million salmon eggs in Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, while living all by his lonesome in a canvas tent with his dog, Boone. He eventually expanded those writing assignments into his award-winning INDIAN CREEK CHRONICLES, which begs comparison to John Krakauer's INTO THE WILD (1996). Both books follow the journeys of inexperienced young men into the realities of harsh winter wilderness. However, unlike Krakauer's protagonist, Fromm survived to tell his coming-of-age story, which involves face-to-face encounters with mountain lions and bobcats, learning to operate a chainsaw and trap wild animals (his raccoon story gave me nightmares), surviving food poisoning, and then readjusting to the "movement everywhere" of modern life. Easy to read and full of wilderness adventures, Fromm's book will appeal to the Thoreau in each of us.

G. Merritt

Wilderness adventure in a first-person perspective
I found this book a nice easy read in general. My main reason for picking it up is because this true story takes place within minutes of my residence. It was interesting to read about another person's adventures in the same wilderness that I hike, hunt, camp, and explore in on a regular basis. It is honest in that the author is not constantly glorifying himself or trying to prove that he was an expert mountain man. He also shows the reader the harsh, unforgiving environment that this area can become during the long winter months, and the dangers of not being prepared. Since it is a true story told in first-person perspective, it is more of a journal or autobiography than escape literature.

Indian Creek Chronicals Review
The book Indian Creek is a great book. The action never stops. There is always an action. In one part of the book this guy even beats a bobcat to death. The book is great. It is a very factional book. It is truthfull about what really happens in the wilderness.

Page-turner about a young man's winter wilderness adventures
A chance conversation with a college friend sends the author venturing into the Bitterroot Wilderness along the Montana-Idaho border, where he spends a winter tending to salmon eggs for the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game. This responsibility takes only minutes out of each day; the rest of the time is his own, and what this gregarious, impulsive, party-loving 20-year-old does with seven months of isolation in the wilderness is the central theme of this book.

Fromm makes clear from the outset that he's almost utterly unprepared for this experience, with little guiding him but a fascination for the rugged, self-sufficient mountain men whose adventures he has read about. Packing a couple books on outdoor survival, he plans to figure it out as he goes, and given a need to keep himself busy and his mind off the isolation, he acquires a range of on-the-job skills, from operating a chain saw, to camp cooking, skinning animals, and curing meat. He also hunts for game, subsisting on grouse and squirrel until he amazingly (and illegally) bags a moose with a muzzle-loader.

In fact, Fromm is not entirely alone -- he has a dog as a constant companion -- and there is a trickle of visitors throughout the winter. Besides the occasional visit by the wardens, who bring mail and packages, there are hunters and their guides who trek in on snowmobiles (snowmachines, as he learns to call them). Welcoming the company -- and curious -- he goes along on hunts, witnessing the shooting of a mountain lion.

There are some disappointments. His father and brother travel from Milwaukee and attempt to ski in but are turned back by cold and bad trail conditions. A planned "vacation" with friends in Missoula has to be cancelled when snowslides make access difficult. He consoles himself after killing and skinning an injured bobcat that he wouldn't have had this experience if he hadn't been on his own.

The book invites comparison with C. L. Rawlins' "Broken Country," in which the author recalls a college-boy summer as a cook and horse wrangler for a sheepherder in the mountains of western Wyoming. A reader will also be reminded at times of Edward Abbey's youthful "Desert Solitaire."All exhibit a willingness to abandon themselves to adventure without considerable forethought, but there's a relative lack of reflectiveness on the part of Fromm, who is able to report straightforwardly what he observes but tends to avoid making connections to the ideas of other people or to think deeply or critcally about his experience. This makes the book more of a page-turner; you rarely put it down to let something he's written soak in.

In the end, you forgive him his youth, give him credit for surviving (there are some close calls that may have turned his story into another "Into the Wild"), and appreciate the clean, clear style and the ability to create and maintain suspense (for example when his father and brother fail to arrive). I'm happy to recommend it to anyone with an interest in Western nonfiction, wilderness adventures and the psychological aspects of isolation.

Winter in the Wilderness: Life as it was Meant to be Lived!
Indian Creek Chronicles is an authentic look at personal growth, transformation and adaptation. And, it occurs in one of the most beautiful isolated wilderness areas in North America: The Idaho-Montana Selway River region near Nez Perce Pass. It occurs in winter too, which, considering the extreme cold and heavy snow creates some unique challenges and "opportunities."

Author Pete Fromm is a willing adventurer, at least in the beginning. But uninitiated and psychologically unprepared his journey from city boy/college kid to mountain man is fraught with challenges and misgivings.

Without giving too much away, the circumstance of the book is this: Fromm is a college student who takes a winter-long job guarding salmon eggs in Indian Creek, a tributary to the Selway.

His job is to make sure that the outlet of a small channel in the stream doesn't freeze and prevent water from flowing over some 2.5 million salmon eggs incubating in the gravel. So once a day, every day, Fromm must check the outlet and chop away any ice that has formed. He lives in a canvas tent with only a Husky/Shepherd puppy for compansionship.

I do realize that one of Fromm's chapters won a Sierra Club writing award, and that would be enough to discourage anyone from holding it in very high regard. The Sierra Club, after all, is one of the most self-righteous, pedantic, arrogant, condescending, narrow-minded and elitist organizations ever conceived.

That fact notwithstanding, "Chronicles" is one of the best books I've ever read. If you are an outdoorsman (or outdoorswoman), if you like camping or hiking, or just love the wildnerness, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a more fun or interesting book. Be forewarned though: this book deals with reality, with the forces of nature, the ancient and eternal relationship between prey and predator and man and his environment. Not that it's gruesome or sensationalistic. It isn't. In fact, in my opinion it's perfect "family" reading. But if you get squeamish thinking about where that leather belt around your waist or those shoes on your feet came from, or how pork chops or hamburgers are made, you might get a little squeamish once or twice reading this book.

On another level, "Chronicles" is a thoughtful and reflective treatise on expectation, disappointment, fulfillment and growth; and most importantly, the relativistic nature of human values. Quite an excellent book actually and easy to read. Strongly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The End of Oil is a "geologic cautionary tale for a complacent world accustomed to reliable infusions of cheap energy." The book centers around one irrefutable fact: the global supply of oil is being depleted at an alarming rate. Precisely how much accessible (not to mention theoretical) oil remains is debatable, but even conservative estimates mark the peak of production in decades rather than centuries. Which energy sources will replace oil, who will control them, and how disruptive to the current world order the transition from one system to the next will be are just a few of the big questions that Paul Roberts attempts to answer in this timely book.

As Roberts makes abundantly clear, the major oil players in the world wield their enormous economic and political power in order to maintain the status quo. Of course, they get plenty of help from the tens of millions of consumers, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, who guzzle oil as if there is an unlimited supply. And this demand shows no sign of abating--nearly half of the world's population lives without the benefits of fossil fuels and they desperately want to be among the haves. In countries such as China and India, where energy systems are already breaking down, Roberts discusses how they are looking to oil to fuel their race for development, in many cases ignoring environmental considerations altogether.

Though there is much to be pessimistic about, Roberts does uncover some positive developments, such as the race for alternative energy sources, notably hydrogen fuel cells, which could help to ease us off of our oil dependence before a full-blown energy crisis occurs. No one book could cover every aspect of what Roberts calls "arguably the most serious crisis ever to face industrial society," but The End of Oil is a remarkably informative and balanced introduction to this pressing subject. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A very current look at the fossil fuel dilemma
From the bitter geopolitics of climate to the very real disruption that will result from any drastic (but ultimately inevitable) change in the global energy economy, Paul Roberts covers the scary future we face without resorting to hyperbole or overpoliticization. And he pulls it all off by using the tools of old-school journalism: Facts and clean writing.

This isn't a book for oil or policy experts. It's a book for the general public: That's you, and it's me, and it's the Hummer-driving dude down the street who better be ready to pay dearly at the pump. I always worry that when a really important environmental policy book comes out, it will find a home collecting dust on the bookshelves because it's too dense to enjoy. Thankfully, this book has what it takes to avoid that fate. It is envigorating, disturbing, and thorough without being dull. If, as Roberts asserts, there is a "bridge economy" that must be built to wean us from our petroleum habit, this book is surely a good cornerstone to get us started.

A balanced view of an unbalanced world
As someone who has taught courses on global energy use and the environment for more than 20 years, I have read a great many books on the linkages between energy, economics, environment, and politics. Usually such books suffer from either an obvious bias, an excess of technical jargon (especially books by economists), or a selective treatment of the subject (e.g., focusing on the promise of solar energy while ignoring prospects for new technology for coal). This book comes closest to balancing all of the topics critical to understanding the global energy situation, and given recent events in the middle east, could not have come out at a better time. I found particularly valuable the concise and lucid treatments of the status of oil supplies (distinguishing the end of the low cost era from plentiful but much more expensive sources), the science of climate change and its relationship to energy policy, the importance of growing demand in China for cars and other energy intensive products, and the prospects for alternatives to fossil fuels including the dream of the hydrogen economy. All topics are up-to-date and well referenced, and the credibility of the book is greatly enhanced by interviews with leading experts. This book is appropriate for students with widely diverse backgrounds and should find a large audience.

Compelling, but Lacking in Substance and Balance
Paul Roberts is a great writer, having authored many successful books about important subjects, such as the timber industry, the auto industry, and the Florida Everglades. Like his other works, "The End of Oil", is eloquently written for the non specialist. In it, he carefully researches and delves into most of the major issues associated with energy - oil and gas supplies, distribution, processing, uses, politics, economics, renewables, etc. Clearly, his goal is to awaken America to the urgency of doing something to avoid what otherwise is likely to be a chaotic economic upheaval as we pass Peak Oil, probably just four years from now. For this purpose the book is outstanding.

However, I came at it from the perspective of a physicist who has spent 25 years involved in various sustainable energy issues, and for me the book was quite disappointing. Roberts' in-depth understanding of all the issues about which he writes is limited. As a result, there are a huge number of minor technical errors throughout the book that are at best distracting and at worst seriously misleading. For a much more detailed and accurate discussion of most major aspects of energy, see "Energy at the Crossroads" by Smil, though Smil too has serious limitations on the subject of renewables and advanced technology. Roberts' treatment of oil resources is decidedly inferior to the definitive work on petroleum resources by Campbell, "The Coming Oil Crisis". (And you don't even have to buy Campbell's book. Just go to the ASPO web site and download his last 20 newsletters.)

Roberts also does poorly when he tries to evaluate future energy options - wind, biofuels, solar, and hydrogen. Of course, it's hard to be too critical, as there has been a lot of junk science published on these subjects (much of it even coming from government sources) and Roberts is not qualified to separate the wheat from the chaff. The worst chapter by far is Chapter 3, which essentially is an advertisement for Ballard's hydrogen fuel cells. This chapter is full of garbage from start to finish, though it probably contains enough real science to fool the general reader. For a scientifically sound, expert perspective here, see "The Hype About Hydrogen" by Dr. Joe Romm or my "Fuels for Tomorrow's Vehicles". On this subject, Romm, Smil, and Roberts each have very different views, and here it seems clear that Romm is on the right track. (The recent study by the National Academy of Sciences is on his side, and that should mean something.)

Roberts' review of wind and solar in Chapter 13 also leaves a lot to be desired, though most of the information presented on these subjects (except when it comes to hydrogen energy storage to address intermittency) is sound. However, he gives the distinct impression in several places he's already decided to be negative toward wind energy simply because the wind turbines must be produced by big industry to be competitive. He apparently fails to appreciate that the same applies to solar and especially to fuel cells. But the biggest shortcoming in this chapter is his non-treatment of advanced biofuels - such as cellulosic ethanol, algal biodiesel, and methanol and biodiesel from waste and switchgrass.

So, I have to commend Roberts for doing a good job (for an outsider and non-expert) of presenting a lot of useful information on energy issues; but for those interested in real substance devoid of slanted hype, I'd recommend turning to the real experts, like Campbell, Romm, and Smil, who also are excellent writers. Of course, you may not want to read three long books, two of which (those by Campbell and Smil) are rather heavy. In that case, you might want to read the first third and the last quarter of "Out of Gas", by Goodstein (the central portio