The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds

Book Description

This dictionary concentrates on the globular cacti, particularly Mammillaria, but includes some popular columnar cactus forms such as Echinocereus.

Customer Reviews:

Informative and helpful.......2007-05-23

I have really enjoyed looking at all the different plants in this book. It has helped me identify plants I already owned as well as add to my wish list of exotic plants I want to add to my collection.

Necessary for the New Collector.......2007-01-31

People that have an extensive collection of cacti reference material either don't need this book or, likely, already have it! I use this book in conjuction with other reference books to help me identify the many different species. I would recommend it to anyone.

CACTI: THE ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY.......2005-09-25

SUPERB COMPACT REVIEW OF A VERY BROAD SPECTRUM OF CACTI TO HELP ANY SERIOUS AFFICIONADO OF THESE CRITTERS. ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED, GOOD PICTURES OF EACH BASIC GROUP WITH CLEAR CONCISE DESCRIPTIONS. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MUST IN THE LIBRARY OF ANY CACTUS LOVER.

in a few words.......2005-08-25

Very beautiful book, with as much colorfull pictures as you wish. The title should be "dictionary of globular cacti", because only such species are presented.

Family Album, but who is missing.......2004-10-28

It is very difficult to find fault in a book that is so comprehensive in what it sets out to achieve, and I have no wish to do so. However I would like to point out to potential purchasers, if your interest lies in columnar cacti (Cereus, Cleistocactus, Pilosocereus, I know I could go on forever), or anthing from the Opuntia genus, you will be disappointed because they are not included in the book. Of course many other species are not included but this would be virtually impossible to achieve. There is a very good selection of species for all of the more popular genera, many in flower, which obviously aids in the identification process. As a plant identifier this book would be very difficult to beat. Plant care is virtually non existent, but this is not what the book is about. Under most photographs you will get details of the distribution of the plant; flower colour; spination and some of the different synonyms the plant may be labelled under. if you have any serious interest in Cacti you need this book.

Average customer rating:

Informative and Invaluable!
Great book for both students and professionals

The Dictionary of Human Geography
Derek Gregory , Geraldine Pratt , and Michael J. Watts
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Human Geography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Reference | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Geography | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Dictionary of Physical Geography
Human Geography: An Essential Anthology
Place: A Short Introduction (Short Introductions to Geography)
For Space
Key Thinkers on Space and Place

ASIN: 0631205616

Book Description

This path-breaking guide to the concepts, terms and theories used in human geography has now been fully revised to reflect and to advance changes in the nature and practice of human geography. The Dictionary of Human Geography, Fourth Edition, contains a wealth of new material, to ensure that it remains the definitive resource for a new generation of students and teachers. As human geography plays an increasingly important role in interdisciplinary inquiry, so The Dictionary of Human Geography draws upon and contributes to a rich and diverse series of debates, making the dictionary an indispensable guide to contemporary travels in interdisciplinary space. The successful format of previous editions remains unchanged: the Dictionary includes short definitional entries and longer, interpretative essays on human geography and its major sub-fields, thereby providing readers with a contextual background to the terms. By directing readers to the major sources for further information, the Dictionary also serves as an unparalleled companion to geographical literature. The Dictionary of Human Geography, Fourth Edition makes a significant contribution to the discipline's literature and will be an essential aid for undergraduate and graduate students, professional geographers and other scholars in the humanities and social sciences, and geography teachers

Customer Reviews:

Informative and Invaluable!.......2005-05-10

This dictionary is an invaluable resource for the student, academic, and researcher of anything "cultural". Although it was specifically created to fill a reference gap in the field of geography, it contains hundreds of useful and expansive definitions, each with a complete bibliography, that are useful to anyone who studies humans and cultures.

It is NOT a "dictionary of places/names", but rather focuses on concepts, applications, and general terms related to humans and cultures. It is also encyclopedic in its scope, giving both breadth and depth of coverage for each term, application, and concept. Most of the definitions are stated in simple terms, and then expanded upon, drawing from multiple sources, often times outside the field of geography.

The list of contributors spans the global gamut of experts in human- and cultural-related fields. It is well-researched, well-formatted, and easy to follow. If you want/need to know anything about human/cultural features in the world, chances are, you will find the explanation in this dictionary.

Great book for both students and professionals.......2000-09-29

Yes, It's a great book -- Not only a dictionary of jargons, but also a collection of guidelines for study and research in various fields within the discipline. Most items provide a brief but critical review on the topics, all by preeminent figures in related areas. It's will be great helpful for both students and professionals.

A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics

Average customer rating:

Excellent reference for those not familiar with ecology terms
A valuable resource for ecology students
excellent reference piece
A very nice dictionary for students majoring biology

A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
Roger J. Lincoln , Geoffrey A. Boxshall , and Paul F. Clark
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

A Dictionary of Ecology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
Instant Notes in Ecology (Instant Notes)
A Dictionary of Zoology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
Environmentalism: A Global History
Field and Laboratory Methods for General Ecology

ASIN: 0521269024

Book Description

A working dictionary for students and professionals with an interest in the natural history of plants and animals. Its great breadth of coverage reflects the immense scope of literature that confronts today's biologist.

Download Description

This is a completely revised, updated, and expanded version of this hugely successful book, which remains the most wide-ranging and comprehensive dictionary for the study of natural history in its broadest sense. There are over 11,000 entries, providing a working dictionary for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone having an interest within the broad arena of biodiversity studies. The extensive coverage includes classical disciplines (botany, zoology, bacteriology, mineralogy, paleontology, etc.), focusing particularly on concepts, strategies, and methodologies. New information in the book reflects major scientific developments, with special attention given to terminology relating to molecular techniques and to terminology generated by recent initiatives in the study of biological diversity and global climate change.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent reference for those not familiar with ecology terms.......2007-01-05

My background is physics and I used this book in my radioecology class. I found it very helpful in looking up ecological terms I'm not familiar with in the books and journals I had to read. The definitions are easy to understand and find.

A valuable resource for ecology students.......2004-07-28

My graduate advisor recommended this book and I wish I'd had it sooner. It has been extremely helpful with both my classwork and my thesis. When muttling through scientific literature, this has come in handy for understanding the esoteric vocabulary. It is laid out just like a Webster's dictionary, so terms are easy to find. There are also 28 Appendices with everything from maps of goegraphic regions and biomes to units conversions to abbrevaitons and proof correction marks. It is also good for finding the correct term to describe that concept your professor was discussing in class.

excellent reference piece.......2001-05-18

this is an excellent reference piece to any biologist. It has alot of the key words that any biologist who is in the fields of evolution, ecology, systematics, taxonomy to name a few. I myself am a graduate student and a couple of us have it and has become an invaluable piece to our librairies.

A very nice dictionary for students majoring biology.......2000-05-04

I bought the dictionary of first edtion twelve years ago. I found its explanation about ecology, evolution, and systematics is very easily reading and useful to students majoring biology. It let me understand many terms, and read the texts and references more easily. I'm very gald to know the new edition was published. I believe that the new edition will give readers more useful and modern words of ecology, evolution, and sytematics.

Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses, Volume 2 (Medicinal Plants of the World (Humana))

Average customer rating:

Great book
A very interesting book for the scientist or layperson.
Very disappointing

Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses, Volume 2 (Medicinal Plants of the World (Humana))
Ivan Ross
Manufacturer: Humana Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Herbal Remedies | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Alternative & Holistic | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Biochemistry | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Pharmacology | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Dictionaries & Terminology | Reference | Medicine | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Medicine | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Understanding Medicinal Plants: Their Chemistry And Therapeutic Action

Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0896038777

Book Description

An extraordinary compendium of information on herbal medicine, Medicinal Plants of the World, Volume 2 comprehensively documents the medicinal value of twenty-four major plants species widely used around the world in medical formulations. The book's exhaustive summary of available scientific data for the plants provides detailed information on how each plant is used in different countries, describing both traditional therapeutic applications and what is known from its use in clinical trials. A comprehensive bibliography of over 3000 references cites the literature available from a wide range of disciplines. This book offers an unprecedented collection of vital scientific information for pharmacologists, herbal medicine practitioners, drug developers, medicinal chemists, phytochemists, toxicologists, and researchers who want to explore the use of plant materials for medicinal and related purposes.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2005-03-09

I have been using the two books by I.A. Ross in the library, and hopefully will buy my own copies soon. The organization of information is excellent. There is a similarly titled book by van Wyk and Michael Wink, which I bought sometime ago before I discovered the books by Ross. The book by Wyk and Wink, with its misleading title,is quite inferior to the books by Ivan Ross. My main grouse with the Wyk and Wink book was its over-representation of European plants, considering the relative small size of Europe and the small number of people there who rely on herbal medicines, compared to the hundreds of millions of people who depend on medicinal plants in Africa, Asia and South America. In any case, most of the "medicinal plants of the world" are in those continents. The second reviewer should be quite pleased with th book by Wyk and Wink, with its near-equation of "world" with Europe-North America. One distinguishing feature of these excellent books by Ross is its information on the traditional medicinal preparations of these plants. This is information you rarely come across in the so-called Encyclopedias of Herbs published to profit from what the publishers obviously treat as a fad. The choice of plants by Ivan Ross is quite consistent because they are mostly plants used by millions for whom herbal therapy is not just 'alternative therapy'. The scientific information collected in these books make these books invaluable reference books for a wide range of professionals

A very interesting book for the scientist or layperson........1999-08-22

As a layperson interested in the value of medicinal plants, I found this book very interesting. Even though it is primarily a book geared toward the scientific community, I found the traditional uses and pharmacological activities interesting enough to cause me to research these plants further. I like the fact that many of the plants discussed are common food plants and I was not aware of the medicinal values of them. I would recommend that anyone, either scientist or layperson, interested in furthering their knowledge in this area purchase this book. I would think that any scientist interested in this field would certainly want this book as an addition to their reference library.

Very disappointing.......1999-04-15

As someone working actively in the field of phytotherapies, I was extremely disappointed when this bbok landed on my desk by our research library - a waste of budget to say the least. The depth of each plant reviewed is on the whole well done, however, Europe as a land mass let alone a group of exciting people, does not appear to exist for this FDA author. The introductory preface clearly identifies that the author is not in tune with real global herbal medicine. Only 27 plants are reviewed, and the choice is bizzare and incoherent. Don't bother with it - there are far better books available!

The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

A Good Start -Needs An Update
Excellent for Star Wars fans
A Great Reference
planets of the star wars universe
Helpful

The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (Star Wars)
Daniel Wallace , and Scott Kolins
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guides & Reviews | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Astrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Star-Gazing | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Essential Guide to Alien Species (Star Wars)
The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology, Revised Edition (Star Wars)
The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Star Wars)
The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars)
The Essential Guide to Droids (Star Wars)

ASIN: 0345420683
Release Date: 1998-07-21

Amazon.com

For the true Star Wars fan, the Essential Guide to Planets and Moons is crucial. You can keep track of all the places mentioned in the movies, books, and comics with this detailed reference. One hundred locations, from the well-known (Tatooine and Hoth) to the more obscure (J't'p'tan and Taanab), are covered in detail. Each planet, moon, or asteroid is accompanied by information on solar system, terrain, language, and points of interest, along with illustrations of the resident species, intelligent and otherwise. Daniel Wallace investigates each planet's role in the Star Wars saga, while Brandon McKinney and Scott Kolins's comic-style black-and-white drawings help the reader get an idea of what these unique worlds and their inhabitants look like. The Essential Guide series also includes Weapons and Technology, Vehicles and Vessels, and Characters.

Book Description

THE ULTIMATE RESOURCE TO THE WORLDS OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY!

From the sun-baked deserts of Tatooine to the frost-bitten snowscape of Hoth to the misty swamps of Dagobah, here's your expert guide to the hundred most fascinating worlds of the extraordinary Star Wars universe. Travel from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim Territories and discover the wonders of:

¸  Kashyyyk--the treacherous, arboreal planet where the Wookiee race dwells among the branches in elevated cities . . . and lethal predators rule the surface
¸  Bespin--the gas planet devoid of solid ground, in whose atmosphere hovers the formidable Cloud City
¸  Endor--The Forest Moon: home to the peaceful but powerful Ewoks and site of a decisive battle in the galactic civil war
¸  Coruscant--center of power, law, history, and culture in the galaxy . . . and once the location of Imperial City, the seat of the dreaded Empire

EXPLORE THE TERRAIN, MEET THE INHABITANTS, AND UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THESE AND MANY, MANY MORE REMARKABLE DESTINATIONS ON A CAPTIVATING, FULLY-ILLUSTRATED VOYAGE TO THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF A FANTASTIC UNIVERSE!

Customer Reviews:

A Good Start -Needs An Update.......2007-05-20

This book can be helpful to hard core fans, but it is woefully incomplete and I was not impressed with the tiny artwork. One reviewer here hit it spot on when they said that this book should have focused more on what the planets were like (climate, ecology, civilizations,cultures, mini-history) rather than rehashing the stories from those worlds. It would have been nice if they had explained the meaning of "Agriworlds" And "Industrial Worlds" and their roles in the SW Galaxy. It would have been nice if they'd done the obvious and updated the book to include the Prequel worlds too. And while they were at it, some of the more intrieguing worlds from the obscure corners of the universe like Togoria, Renastasia, Dellallt, Grizmallt,Taris, Or Malachor V.(Heck- since they could included Rafa IV, they could have included some of these) Of corse if they expanded this in the way I'd like to see, it would be a huge richly illustrated tome indeed. But I'd buy it.

Excellent for Star Wars fans.......2003-10-13

When it comes to science fiction, the Star Wars saga is the best. However, the films themselves give very little information regarding the locales that our beloved characters find themselves exploring. This is a shame, because the planets that occupy everyone's favorite galaxy far far away are nothing short of fascinating. Finally, a book entitled Star Wars - The Essential Guide To Planets And Moons was released! Now, fans would be able to learn about the ever-so awesome places characters in the films travelled to! Read on for my review of this book.

PROS:
-If you're a fan of the Star Wars films, and you're interested in reading about the worlds explored in the classic trilogy, this book will have more than enough information to make you happy. From Luke Skywalker's desert homeplanet of Tatooine to the icy world of Hoth, they're all here.
-The book covers the expanded universe! This means places from the novels, comic books, and video games appear in this book! Even if you're just a fan of the films, the information on the expanded universe will fascinate you.
-This book is readily available in most major bookstores (B. Dalton, Barnes And Noble, Borders, etc.) You shouldn't have any trouble finding it.
-The price for this book is very good, considering all the information it has to offer. This is a worthwhile purchase if you're a Star Wars fan.

CONS:
-The major problem with this book is that it was released circa 1997. This means it came out before 1999, and accordingly the locales exclusive to the prequel films, Episode I and Episode II, don't appear in here. That kind of bites, because I wanted to read up on Naboo and Kamino.
-The only pictures in the book are black-and-white sketches. I would have liked to see some more detailed pictures, preferably in color.

OVERALL:
If you're a Star Wars fan, I guarantee this book will fascinate you. If you're not a fan of the Star Wars series but know somebody who is, this makes a great gift. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A Great Reference.......2003-01-15

Although it is not officially a supplement, I found this book indispensable for gamemastering in the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. The fact is, there really isn't a better resource for finding new places to visit in the Star Wars Universe. Even if you're not into the RPG scene, however, this member of the 'Essential Guide' series is an excellent read.

For some of those, namely the hardcore fans that have read every single Star Wars thing ever published (I cannot claim this title, as I've only read about half of it all) this book might seem a bit redundant. All of the locations are taken from either film or literature, so if you've read all the literature it follows that you'll have seen all of the 100 worlds depicted here at least once. Nevertheless, it is useful to have all of this information in one place, in case you forgot just which world the Ugnaughts come from (Umgul) or how to spell "Mrlsst." The Star Wars Encyclopedia and Guide to the SW Universe have all of this information as well... somewhere. The problem is you have to remember what you were looking for to find it. This book simplifies matters if you just have to know, but can't recall any of it.

For those who are NOT hardcore fans or could care less that Wild Boetays can be found on Garos IV, you probably won't find this guide more than moderately amusing. The other ones in the series (Characters, Vehicles and Vessels, and Weapons and Tech, to name a few) might be more diverting. But for those who are serious about Star Wars (you know who you are) the Guide to Planets and Moons is a really cheap thrill.

planets of the star wars universe.......2001-10-11

This book is very cool.There are 200 planets in this book.But there are way more planets then this.

Helpful.......2001-08-04

This book is helpful for those who haven't read a certain Star Wars book, but come across one of the planets in that book mentioned in some other book. However, with all the new books coming out right now, you'll find that this book is pretty useless for them.

A Dictionary of Ecology (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Average customer rating:

Review of the 1998 2nd edition: comparison to EARTH SCIENCES

A Dictionary of Ecology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
Michael Allaby
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Ecology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Instant Notes in Ecology (Instant Notes)
A Dictionary of Biology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
A Dictionary Of Ecology, Evolution And Systematics
A Dictionary of Zoology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
Elements of Ecology (6th Edition) (Ecology Place Series)

ASIN: 0198609051

Book Description

The third edition of the most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of ecology available. Written in a clear, accessible style, it contains over 5,200 entries on all aspects of ecology and related environmental scientific disciplines such as biogeography, genetics, soil science, geomorphology, atmospheric science, and oceanography. Coverage is wide-ranging and includes plant and animal physiology, animal behaviour, pollution, conservation, and habitat management, evolution, environmental pollution, climatology and meteorology. Fully revised, updated, and expanded, the third edition contains internet links, over 30 new illustrations and over 200 new entries. The dictionary will be invaluable to students of ecology, biology, conservation studies, environmental sciences, and professionals in related areas, as well as the general reader with an interest in the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

Review of the 1998 2nd edition: comparison to EARTH SCIENCES.......2004-11-07

Allaby is also a co-editor of the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, as well as General Editor of THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY. Where terms in this book's 2nd edition appear in the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES (which came out a year later), the latter is to be preferred.

EARTH SCIENCES provides additional cross-references for various technical terms (e.g. classes of minerals) that the ECOLOGY dictionary doesn't contain. (ECOLOGY rarely seems to contain cross-references that EARTH SCIENCES does not.) Where the definitions are not identical (which is the most common occurrence when the terms appear in both books), the differences lie in the clarification of examples, the provision of additional details, rearrangement of the order of the information for greater clarity, and (where the word is used differently for non-ecological disciplines) the provision of additional alternate meanings.

In other words, Allaby incorporated the work done on this book into the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, and he and his co-editor on that book continued cleaning up and improving any terms used in common by the two books, taking care not to introduce silly inconsistencies.

When found in both sources, only one word out of a quasi-random selection of forty didn't match *any* of the senses listed in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES. However, out of 75 quasi-random terms in the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY, 35 weren't in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, so unfortunately the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY can't be treated as a simple subset of the larger work.

Not surprisingly, the terms found in the ECOLOGY dictionary that aren't in the EARTH SCIENCES dictionary tend to be the more 'biological' terms, e.g. "saltatory" ('leaping movement, as of crickets or grasshoppers).

Eco-Sanity: A Common-Sense Guide to Environmentalism

Average customer rating:

Very good critique of "mainstream" environmentalism.

Eco-Sanity: A Common-Sense Guide to Environmentalism
Joseph L. Bast , Peter J. Hill , and Richard C. Rue
Manufacturer: Madison Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (British) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World

ASIN: 1568330286

Book Description

Now in paperback--an easy-to-read primer of environmental dangers and the best way to address them.

Customer Reviews:

Very good critique of "mainstream" environmentalism........2003-01-28

This book, out now for almost nine years, has never received the attention it deserves. Bast, Hill and Rue survey the major tendencies among radical environmentalists--"greens"--and have produced the most objective evaluation I've yet to run across that ought to be accessible to the nonspecialist. In fact, considering the scope and complexity of their subject matter, it is amazing that they have produced so brilliantly written and accessible an account of where the human race really stands vis a vis the natural environment.

Guess what? We're not killing the planet!

Bast, Hill and Rue survey air and water quality, forests, global warming, ozone depletion, solid wastes and acid rain among other environmental topics. Bast, Hill and Rue succeed in showing that few if any of the hysterics coming from environmentalist circles are really warranted. The best scientific evidence we have tells us, for example, that our air and water supplies are getting cleaner, not dirtier. Total air pollution emissions in the U.S. today are much lower than they were in 1940, and lower than they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Water quality has shown equivalent improvements. Likewise, there are more acres of forest in the U.S. today than anytime since the 1950s. Regarding global warming, the evidence of a phenomenon that can be traced to human industrial activity is nowhere near as decisive as both the "greens" and the major media would have us believe. Average temperatures fluctuate across the globe for a variety of reasons, some of them too complex to determine exact causes, and we simply have not been keeping records for long enough to map out a direct cause-and-effect connection between warming temperatures and human industrial action. Certainly the science is not decisive enough for the massive changes in the whole economic order being demanded by many "green" activists (many of whom--let's just say it--are socialists who want a "new world order" they can control).

The authors present similar evidence regarding other environmentalist "issues." Consider ozone-layer depletion. Bast et al draw our attention to the fact that global ozone levels have *increased*, not decreased, since 1986. The "hole in the ozone layer" about which "greens" have obsessed was observed back in 1956, long before the man-made chlorofluorocarbons blamed for the phenomenon could have had this kind of effect. Again, real science does not support extravagent "green" claims.

In short, there is no "environmental crisis" in any large-scale sense. The planet is not dying. Nor are we overpopulating ourselves toward extinction. If anything, we are getting healthier because of increased levels of prosperity over the past half-century. Prosperity--created by market-driven and not-command-driven economic systems--leads to a healthier environment because it leads people to adopt more environmentally sound patterns of action. Worries over the depletion of nonrenewable natural resources are exaggerated, because the available reserves dwarf actual consumption. There would be more reserves available, moreover (e.g., in northeastern Alaska), if only the "greens" would let us drill for them. We have the technology to do so in ways that accommodate legitimate calls for environmental protection.

These revelations, important as they are, are not the major strength of this book. Its major strength is to offer a set of principles for *sound reasoning* about environmental issues. These principles do not simply brush the subject off. Obviously we don't want to foul our own nest. There have been environmental problems in the past, but the point is, the situation is under control. Improved technology, the product of human ingenuity that can never be predicted in advance, has consistently provided *solutions* whereas radical environmentalists have provided only prophesies of doom. The real issue, therefore, is "green" hysterics--especially since these hysterics are so often repeated mechanically, like mantras, in the major media.

ECO-SANITY thus offers 36 "rules for eco-sanity" that ought to lead us to a more informed view of how to protect the environment in ways that do not undermine necessary economic liberty. Here is a sampling:

-Correlation is not causation. In eco-systems, cause-and-effect is very complex, and we should never jump to conclusions (e.g., "industrial pollution" is a direct cause of "global warming"), particularly if these conclusions could impact on public policies in ways that could prove to be economically disastrous over the long run.
-We can never avoid risk completely.
-Risks, however, can be measured and ranked.
-It is impossible to prove that something does not exist. (This is that old adage about the logical impossibility of proving a negative.)
-Science is not immune to politics. (Note that the views of climatologists who object to the above global warming thesis are never reported by the major media, much of which is sold on the "green" agenda.)
-Ownership leads to better stewardship. (If land is owned as property, in other words, and protected by private property rights, it is likely to be better taken care of.
-Some environmental groups profit from false alarms.
-Don't react out of fear.

This, as I observed, is only a sampling. For the rest, I recommend getting the book. The point is, we should stop reacting to hysterical claims about a global environmental crisis for which "American capitalism" is almost invariably blamed. And though Bast, Hill and Rue don't dwell on it as much as I would have, we need to question the motives of the "green" movement, especially since this movement now operates at an international level, very well organized, and bankrolled by people with very deep pockets (think of the Rockefellers, for example). There is pretty good evidence that this movement is motivated more by a desire for global power than a sincere belief in protecting the environment. Part of this effort consists of the above-mentioned media blackout on the views of scientists who question the global warming thesis, for example, as well as more recent efforts to destroy the reputations of dissident scientists such as Bjorn Lomborg (author of THE SKEPTICAL ENVIRONMENTALIST) who have presented direct scientific evidence of the flimsiness of the science behind the "green" movement. When efforts are made to ruin dissidents instead of answer them with responsible arguments, watch out! You're dealing with people more interested in an agenda than the truth.

Sharing a Robin's Life
Average customer rating:

love and understanding transcend differences in species

Sharing a Robin's Life
Linda Johns
Manufacturer: Nimbus Publishing (CN)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
English (British) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Birds of a Feather: Tales of a Wild Bird Haven

A Feathered Family: Nature Notes from a Woodland Studio

ASIN: 155109004X

Customer Reviews:

love and understanding transcend differences in species.......2000-01-04

A charming tale of adaptation, coexistance and wonder. I highly recommend this book to any bird lover and as a marvelous gift for Mother's Day or for any caregiver.

A Reference Guide to Clean Air (Science, Technology, and Society Series)

Average customer rating:

A Reference Guide to Clean Air (Science, Technology, and Society Series)
Cass R. Sandak
Manufacturer: Enslow Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Ecology | Science & Technology | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 089490261X

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books