Book Description
From reviews of the first edition:
"A complete and professional treatment of the woody plants west of the Pecos River in Texas.... The manual is quite comprehensive and includes many slightly woody perennial herbs in addition to trees and shrubs....[It is] a valuable addition to the growing body of regional floras and will be a useful tool for all those interested in this beautiful and fascinating area."
—Madroño
"Dr. A. Michael Powell's 25 years of botanical experience are evident in this work for both professional and amateur botanists. It makes easy the identification of 453 species of woody plants."
—Wildflower
First published by the Big Bend Natural History Association in 1988 as
Trees & Shrubs of Trans-Pecos Texas, this book is the only keyed guide to the more than 400 species of woody plants native to the Trans-Pecos region and adjacent areas in eastern New Mexico and northern Mexico. A. Michael Powell has significantly revised and expanded this edition, including nomenclature changes for 62 genera and new distribution information for 60 genera.
Average customer rating:
- A wonderful book on a forgotten man
- American Hero
- Interesting Life Story of a Neglected American Genius
- Rich historical perspective
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Tracks in the Sea : Matthew Fontaine Maury and the Mapping of the Oceans
Chester G. Hearn , and
Chester Hearn
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
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Binding: Paperback
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The Physical Geography of the Sea and Its Meteorology
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Cook : The Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook
ASIN: 0071427902 |
Book Description
Navigation at sea was a matter of guesswork until well into the 19th century. Changing that became the obsession of Matthew Fontaine Maury. While others built railroads, Maury mapped highways of wind and current over the seas. Hearn uses Maury's career as a window on America's maritime development in the 19th century, including the clipper-ship era of the 1850s, the rise of steam and steel, and the Civil War.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful book on a forgotten man.......2007-07-08
This is simply a wonderfully written book about an almost forgotten man, Matthew Fontaine Muray.
Maury lived in the golden days of sail, the 1800's. In those days, the ocean was a big, mysterious, and dangerous place. Sailors had decent charts of the continents, and by the middle of the century. they had decent chronometers to help them navigate (find the Longitude). But what they did not have was a set of charts showing where the winds blew when. Sure, they had some knowledge, gained by long experience, but no scientific knowledge.
What Maury did was to make a life-long scientific study of the winds and currents around the world, with a view of shortening sailing times, thus reducing expenses and increasing safety. At first glance, this does not sound like much, but it took reading literally hundreds of thousands of logs to collect this information, then making charts showing the direction and strength of the wind and current in every month of the year.
Did Maury's efforts work? Would you call shaving a month off a sailing trip from New England to Rio worthwhile? This was the typical result of skippers who followed Maury's charts.
He also 'invented', to a large degree, the science of oceanography, and did a lot to standardize and strengthen the science of meteorology.
Many think this information has been rendered useless by powered ships. Wrong. People who sail long distances always have a current copy of this type of chart onboard, and plan their itineraries around the winds and tides. Professional seamen, especially of very large ships, also continue to use this information, as the sea can overpower even enormous ships like supertankers.
If you enjoy reading books like Dava Sobel's book Longitude, about John Harrison and his clocks, you will equally enjoy Tracks in the Sea. Highly recommended.
American Hero.......2004-01-19
Mr. Hearn's splendid account of the life of the self-taught Matthew Maury is one that should be read by anyone with the remotest interest in sailing or the industrial revolution. He should also be of interest to those who want a concrete account of the benefits of "data-mining" in which miscellaneous, disparate sources of information are aggregated into something which is tremendously useful.
Maury took crates of old ship logs, and extracted the data about weather and currents as a function of date and location, and produced ingenious maps of the sea that could be used to plot voyages that minimized the time of passage. In the age of the American clipper ships, the time saved could be quite substantial, even amounting to as much as factor of two over the haphazard routes used by the intuitive captains of the day.
The reduction of the data and the production of the maps was carried out by only a handful of men at the U.S. Naval Observatory, but produced tremendous economic advantages to those who used them. They were quickly adopted by the merchant marine, and by cleverly requiring the recipients of the latest maps to turn over to him logs taken in a standard format, he was able to gather tons of new data for ever-improving successive maps. Maury also discovered the feasibility for the route of the first transatlantic cable, and fought to establish the first weather bureau in the US.
He also brought about the convening of a Brussels Marine meteorology Conference in 1853 that was attended by nine countries and resulted in the adoption of a uniform method of gathering and disseminating the information among the world. Not bad for a simple Lieutenant! His quarrels with the jealous Joseph Henry (of electromagnetic induction fame) and others of his ilk are instructive to those interested in stories of how pettiness and obstructionism of powerful men can be overcome by men of true ability.
This story is well researched and ably told by Mr. Hearn, and is another exciting adventure of the heroes who made the industrial revolution.
Interesting Life Story of a Neglected American Genius.......2003-03-01
Maury's life, rising from the humble origins of a farming family in Virginia and then Tennessee, to a career as an internationally renowned scientist, is quite interesting, and generally well told by author Chester Hearn. Most scientists would feel their careers were a success if they made a few contributions to their area of science. Maury's genius invented two whole sciences: oceanography and marine astronomy. He significantly improved navigation by finding "tracks in the sea," the patterns which numerous currents and winds follow all over the globe. Perhaps because he sided with the Confederacy in the Civil War, he became a relatively obscure figure. Since he had an enduring influence on the human race's knowledge of the oceans, he deserves to be better known. This book will help, and is well worth reading.
Rich historical perspective.......2002-11-19
This is a great book for anyone with an interest in or passion for sailing, navigation, mapping and charting or who holds an interest in the challenges of early explorers.
Book Description
New Interchange is a multi-level series for adult and young adult learners of English from the beginning to the high-intermediate level. The Workbook has six-page units that follow the same sequence as the Student's Book. It has interesting grammar, vocabulary, and writing activities, appropriate for classwork or homework. It also has numerous reading passages that recycle and review language from previous units.
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New Interchange Business Companion 1 Workbook and Audio CD Pack (New Interchange English for International Communication)
Milton Roth
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
English (All)
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ASIN: 0521536499 |
Book Description
New Interchange Business Companion 1, International Edition is a self-study workbook, accompanied by audio-CD, that has been written for New Interchange students who have an interest in Business English. It offers a variety of activities that recycle language from New Interchange 1 and enables learners to operate effectively in business contexts. It also introduces a wide range of business vocabulary, systematic listening, reading, writing and speaking practice. New Interchange Business Companion 1, International Edition contains 16 two-page units linked to the units in New Interchange 1 Student's Book. Although the activities can be used in class, they have been designed for learners to do individually and at their own pace. The recordings on the audio-CD provide a model for pronunciation of new words in the Vocabulary activities and Listening exercises.
Book Description
Every style of music is represented in this giant volume of over 200 songs arranged for the 5 string banjo in easy-to-play tablature. Includes complete lyrics to folk songs, sentimental favorites, Christmas and Chanukah songs, sing-alongs. Tin Pan Alley, funny and sad songs, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Well-presented and a lot of fun.......2000-05-13
Simple clawhammer arrangements of a lot of folk and other songs, grouped by category ("A parcel of rogues", "All over this land", etc.) and with a short introduction to each song.
Most of the tunes are what you'd expect from a book of this type (Shady Grove, Sweet Betsy from Pike, etc.) but there are a few from left field - a whole section on Stephen Foster, for example, and a few Jewish tunes which are arranged quite well.
If you already own a book or two of folk tunes, you can probably do without this, but it's a great book for someone just starting out on the banjo (it was for me!)
Customer Reviews:
For the Bluegrass Fan . . ........2006-08-16
Butch Robins is a great banjo player. His writing style may be somewhat unorthodox, but he shares a wealth of information about what he knows - bluegrass and the people (including himself) who helped to shape it.
In this book you will find some tidbits about some of the "stars" of bluegrass music that you are not likely to find anywhere else. Robins also attempts to put to rest some myths about the father of bluegrass through personal observations made during his tenure with the Blue Grass Boys.
The avid fan of bluegrass will want to read this. Be warned, however, that the English language takes a beating and misspellings are rampant. (Jesse McReynolds' name is mentioned often throughout the book and is spelled correctly only a couple of times.) This work could have - should have - been edited a bit more rigorously. Also, be warned that Butch has no reservations about using words that some might consider offensive - hey, we're all adults here - right!?!?!
If the book had been edited a little better, I could have given it five stars just for the information it contains. But with these problems a weak "four star" rating is about all I can muster. Folks who are hungry for anything bluegrass shouldn't let it stand in their way though - buy it!
Great Insight Into the Mind of a Quintessential Banjo Player.......2004-11-20
I bought this book because at one time I barely knew Butch Robins and wanted to see what he had to say. I came away with a profound respect for him and a much greater understanding of the music he devoted his life to. And, Oh Yeah, I learned a lot about Bill Monroe, bluegrass music, and the hard life of a musician on the road.
Butch Robins is an exceptionally bright, driven, flawed human being who has managed to come to a peaceful resolution of his interesting (in the Chinese curse sense) life and this book is the product of that journey. I remember him as a talented and creative musician from whom music effortlessly flowed. He is that, of course, but is also a minor hero of mine after reading how he dealt with his demons.
I will be the first to admit that Butch is no Marcel Proust, but his writing is compelling and his (at times) stream of concsciousness approach to his biography grabbed me emotionally and helped me understand why I love the music so much.
If you are interested in one man's view on Bill Monroe, this is the best version of Monroe's character I have ever read. You have to read the whole book to get the complete picture as Butch is of several minds on the subject to say the least.
I will enjoy this book again after I examine my own feelings on growing up in the 60s and 70s, my love of bluegrass music, and the effects the honesty in this book.
MIke Keyes
mikeyes@charter.net
Book Description
One of the world's top players addresses nearly every aspect of the popular 5-string banjo style known as clawhammer or frailing. Chapter themes include fundamentals; advanced and experimental techniques; arranging and backup; how to play reels, hornpipes, jigs and other fiddle tunes; how to approach such genres as ragtime, bluegrass, klezmer, blues, calypso, and a wide variety of "national" and regional music; alternative tunings; setup and accessories; and historical background. Features 120 tunes along with numerous exercises and musical examples in crystal clear tablature; all tunes illustrated by author on two accompanying CDs.
Average customer rating:
- A great companion to Vol. I, but a must for any player.
- The best plectrum book, bar none (I have them all)!
- The best plectrum book, bar none (I have them all)!
- Excellent!
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The Ultimate Plectrum Banjo Player's Guide, Volume 1
David Frey , and
Susanne Sangiacomo
Manufacturer: S L S & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
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The Ultimate Plectrum Banjo Player's Guide, Compact Disc Companion to Vol.1 & Vol.2 (Set of 2)
ASIN: 0967361117 |
Book Description
Volume 1 -- For Students, Musicians and Teachers of Plectrum Banjo -- Amateurs and Artists Alike
The First Complete Teaching Guide for the 4 String Plectrum Banjo! Instruction includes chord melody technique, single string technique, music theory, banjo band style, Dixieland (Trad) Jazz Style, Tune Charts with Chord Diagrams, Shortcuts and Tips, Practice Routines. Plus much much more!
Lesson plans usable by both teachers and students. Volume 1 of a 2-volume. Companion CD's also available.
Customer Reviews:
A great companion to Vol. I, but a must for any player........2000-06-01
Volume I is probably the best music instruction book ever, but Volume II is an absolutly essential companion to it. If you're already an intermediate to advanced player, you could possibly get along without Volume I, but you've gotta get Volume II. It is comprised of two sections, songs and exercises.
First there are the songs, just about every song needed in a plectrum player's basic repertoire of tunes. But get this, not only are they presented in the usual "fake book" or "lead sheet" format (melody line in standard musical notation with chord names above and lyrics below), there is also a chord chart, as well as chord diagrams for every note in the chord melody!
The chord chart uses a box for each measure with the chord name(s) in each, a great compact memory jogger for use after you've learned the song.
The chord melody diagrams are the tour de force of this set of books and a major advance in the art of string music instruction books. They not only show how to form the chord, and where on the neck to play it, but they also show the timing and the picking. By following these diagrams, you can be playing the chord melody in a matter of minutes.
Part 2 is the exercises, a compendium of all the exercises in Volume I, which is to say all the really good exercises you will ever need to increase and maintain your skills as a plectrum banjo player. Once you have mastered a particular section in Volume I, all the exercises without the accompanying text will be found in Volume II.
When I was first working my way through Volume I, I tabbed each page with an exercise so I could go back and run through it. Then I looked in the back of Volume II and there they all were, exactly as I needed them to be!
Exercises include: Dexterity exercises; All the chords played up and down the neck; Chord transition exercises (same fret and inversions); Chromatic chord scales for every note on the neck; Single string scales; Harmonized scales; Runs and fillers; Intros, tags, and endings; Duoing; and Arpeggios.
If you can master these exercises, you can play any of the tunes in the first section with professional polish. I can't speak highly enough about these books and the accompanying CD's.
The best plectrum book, bar none (I have them all)!.......2000-06-01
I ordered the Ultimate Book as soon as it came out, and I have gained more plectrum skills in the past few weeks than in the 5 years previous! It is absolutely fabulous. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, student or teacher, it is the perfect plectrum banjo book.
I live in a small town in Indiana, the middle of plectrum banjo nowhere, and have been trying to learn to play plectrum for the last five years. Despite years of 5-string playing, I just wasn't getting anywhere...particularly without a live teacher.Then along came The Ultimate Plectrum Guide. The chord diagrams are the best I've ever seen. They are used in a unique way to indicate timing, picking, and even whether to pick up or down. The organization of the book is superb. First of all the explanations are precise, including "Dave's Rules", neat little generalities that stick in your mind the way he intended them to. Exercises are meaningful...when Dave says play it 20 times, if you play it 20 times you will have learned it. The book starts with the basic chords, and just when you have had enough chord playing, they interject a secondary subject, then back to chords, etc. By the time you reach the end of the beginner's section, you can play all but the most arcane of chords with various picking styles. But then you come to part 3: "Adding Some Polish". Single string picking, turnarounds, etc. "Chord melody vs. improv vs. Background", "You're working too hard -- shortcuts" and "Transposing on the fly". Really great stuff.
Part Four, "Music Theory" is terrific, my wife is taking piano lessons and reading through this section clarified things her teacher was unable to. It is practical music theory, which sounds like a conflict in terms, but it is presented in such a way that you can put it to use immediately...building chords, transposing, converting to chord melody, etc.
Section 4 "Intermediate Banjo Playing" is about playing in groups. The first chapter, "When to cheat and how to do it", is full of techniques for playing above your head. The second, "What'd he say?" is a lexicon of band jargon so you don't feel stupid when you first sit in with a group.
Part 6, "Advanced Banjo Playing" really is, subjects like "single string and embelishments", "Differing Scales", modes and the harmonized scale, and "Inside chords and beyond". Then comes the Appendices! Every chord diagram you can conceive of, transposition charts, etc., etc.
This book is not only the very best plectrum banjo book, it should be the model for every "how to play anything". It is a whole new approach to writing music books, a superb teacher (David Frey) combined with an outstanding writer of technical manuals (Susanne Sagiacomo, who was actually learning to play) created honest-to-God synergy and advanced the art of music instruction by a whole order of magnitude.
The best plectrum book, bar none (I have them all)!.......2000-06-01
"The Ultimate Plectrum Banjo Player's Guide" reallyis. It is not only the very best plectrum banjo book, it is a wholeorder of magnitude better than any music instruction book I've ever encountered.
I ordered the Ultimate Book as soon as it came out. I live in a small town in Indiana, which is in the middle of plectrum banjo nowhere, and have been trying to learn to play plectrum for the past 5 years. Despite many years of 5-string playing, I just wasn't getting anywhere. Then along came "The Ultimate Plectrum...Guide", I have gained more plectrum skills in the past few weeks than in the previous 5 years! It is absolutely fabulous. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, a student or a teacher, it is the perfect plectrum banjo book. The chord diagrams are the best I've ever seen. They are used in a unique way to indicate timing, picking, and even whether to pick up or down. The organization of the book is also superb. The explanations are precise, including "Dave's Rules", neat little generalities that stick in your mind the way he intended them to. Exercises are meaningful...when Dave says play it 20 times, if you play it 20 times you will have learned it. The book starts with the basic chords, and just when you have had enough chord playing, they interject an interesting secondary subject, then back to chords, etc. By the time you reach the end of the beginner's section, you can play all but the most arcane of chords with various timing and picking styles.
Next is part 3: "Adding Some Polish". Single string picking, turnarounds, etc. "Chord melody vs. improv vs. Background", "You're working too hard -- shortcuts" and "Transposing on the fly". Really great stuff.
Part Four, "Music Theory" is terrific, my wife is taking piano lessons and reading through this section clarified ideas her teacher was unable to get across. It is practical music theory, however, which may sound like a conflict in terms, but it is presented in such a way that you can put it to use immediately...building chords, transposing, converting to chord melody, etc.
Section 4 "Intermediate Banjo Playing" is about playing in groups. The first chapter, "When to cheat and how to do it", is full of techniques for playing above your head. The second, "What'd he say?" is a lexicon of band jargon so you don't feel stupid when you first sit in with a group.
Part 6, "Advanced Banjo Playing" really is, subjects like "single string and embelishments", "Differing Scales", modes and the harmonized scale, and "Inside chords and beyond".
Then comes the fabulous Appendices! Every chord diagram you can conceive of, transposition charts, etc., etc.
This book is not only the very best plectrum banjo book, it should be the model for every "how to play anything". It is a whole new approach to writing music books, a superb teacher (David Frey) combined with an outstanding writer of technical manuals (Susanne Sagiacomo, who was actually learning to play) created honest-to-God synergy and advanced the art of music. If you've read this far, buy it! END
Excellent!.......2000-05-31
Covers all the bases from beginners to playing in a jazz band. Highly recommended to all especially those who can't find a instructor for this elusive instrument. It also is a nice supplement to the Buddy Wachter video courses. Also recommended...Vol 2. Well done Dave and Sue!
Product Description
When you're up to your eyeballs in trouble, grab the Banjo-Kazooie Player's Guide and take a bite out of the expert strategies from the pros at Nintendo Power. Feast your eyes on the incredible 3-D maps and learn what's around every corner in Gruntilda's Lair.
* 3-D maps of all nine worlds from the development team at Rare!
* Secrets to solving every puzzle and collecting every Jiggy!
* Tips for topping out your musical note score!
* Cheato's Codes uncovered!
Book Description
If you can play a few tunes on the bluegrass banjo but haven't played much with others (or at all), this book will show you what you need to know to sit in on a hot jam session. Geared toward beginner and intermediate players, this book covers playing chords, including which ones to play and when to play them. You'll also discover how jam sessions work and how to act in a session, along with advice on practicing at home. The included CD contains nine tunes performed at a typical jam session. The music is on the left channel with dialog about the tunes such as the name, the key, and the chord progression on the right.
Average customer rating:
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The Banjo Player
Elizabeth Starr Hill
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0670849677 |
Books:
- Under the Rose Apple Tree
- US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
- Vegetation Description and Analysis: A Practical Approach
- Waiting for Wings
- Wildland Water Quality Sampling and Analysis
- Working the Tides: A Portrait of Canada' S West Coast Fishery
- 50 Ways to Save the Ocean (Inner Ocean Action Guide) (Inner Ocean Action Guide)
- A High, Low, Near, Far, Loud, Quiet Story
- A Northern Light
- A Season in the Desert: Making Time Holy
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