A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Could not put it down
  • How not to discover the Appalachian Trail
  • A Walk in the Woods
  • Super read for anyone who wants to hike those miles
  • a fun read
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)
Bill Bryson
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0767902521
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Amazon.com

Bill Bryson has made a living out of traveling and then writing about it. In The Lost Continent he re-created the road trips of his childhood; in Neither Here nor There he retraced the route he followed as a young backpacker traversing Europe. When this American transplant to Britain decided to return home, he made a farewell walking tour of the British countryside and produced Notes from a Small Island. Once back on American soil and safely settled in New Hampshire, Bryson once again hears the siren call of the open road--only this time it's a trail. The Appalachian Trail, to be exact. In A Walk in the Woods Bill Bryson tackles what is, for him, an entirely new subject: the American wilderness. Accompanied only by his old college buddy Stephen Katz, Bryson starts out one March morning in north Georgia, intending to walk the entire 2,100 miles to trail's end atop Maine's Mount Katahdin.

If nothing else, A Walk in the Woods is proof positive that the journey is the destination. As Bryson and Katz haul their out-of-shape, middle-aged butts over hill and dale, the reader is treated to both a very funny personal memoir and a delightful chronicle of the trail, the people who created it, and the places it passes through. Whether you plan to make a trip like this one yourself one day or only care to read about it, A Walk in the Woods is a great way to spend an afternoon. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.

For a start there's the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa along for the walk. Despite Katz's overwhelming desire to find cozy restaurants, he and Bryson eventually settle into their stride, and while on the trail they meet a bizarre assortment of hilarious characters. But A Walk in the Woods is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, A Walk in the Woods is destined to become a modern classic of travel literature.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Could not put it down.......2007-10-15

I have just recently started hiking and camping myself only really having any experience in the woods for no more than a few years. I found this book to read out like a fantasy of mine. Hiking in the middle of nowhere, No modern tools or advantages available to you. But it brought some realism to the dream. I felt I was there enjoying and suffering right with them. I want to thank Bill Bryson for writing this book and living the adventure.
If you enjoy the outdoors but cannot bare to take on the AT. Then get this book take a small hike to the top of of a cliff where the view is abundant, Lay out in some shade with a cool summer breeze and began your journey on the AT with Bill Bryson.

2 out of 5 stars How not to discover the Appalachian Trail.......2007-10-13

This book has obviously appealed to many readers. Some seem to be attracted by the humour, others by the subject matter and many by the writing skills of the author himself. There are some interesting factoids buried in this book, and some descriptive passages were terrific.

This is the first of Mr Bryson's books that I have not enjoyed. The antics of Messrs Bryson and Katz, two middle-aged, ego-centric and totally underprepared hikers, irritated me enormously.

I am glad that this is not the first of Mr Bryson's books I have read. If it was, it would almost certainly be the last.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

4 out of 5 stars A Walk in the Woods.......2007-10-08

This is a book about a treacherous hike through a treacherous trail. When the author decides to take a hike on the Appalachian Trail, 2,200 miles of wilderness, who's a better choice to take with him than trusty old Katz... who was completely out of shape, had gone to rehab, and he hadn't seen in 25 years. From Bryson's adventure getting the equipment, to Katz's desperateness while trying to find a female, this is a great book cover to cover, and all the pages in between.

Several people, including me, have gone camping. So, if you have, imagine it, except for 6 months, without good campsites, and nonstop hiking all day long with massive packs on. Doesn't sound to fun, does it? I think Bryson did a great job making his torture seem comical. It's a hilarious book, the only funny nonfiction book I've ever read, which also causes it to be the only nonfiction I've ever enjoyed. But, as good as it is, while reading it I began to think it was sad. Here's why- it's nonfiction.

5 out of 5 stars Super read for anyone who wants to hike those miles.......2007-10-06

A excellent read for any person just might have the thought buried deep in the back of their mind..walking that long long trail..bring tissue and laugh until you cry.

4 out of 5 stars a fun read.......2007-10-03

This book book taught me a lot about friendship, American history, and most of all "rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail" I learned about the Appalachian Trail--which I really didn't know about at all. I know I will explore the AT more in the near future. I will tell my son about this book and highly suggest to him that he read it. I will also read more by the author Bill Bryson--I enjoyed his sense of humor. :)
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Calculations are only as good as your numbers
  • Pants on fire?
  • Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
  • Very Interesting
  • History as Science Fiction
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

5 out of 5 stars Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

5 out of 5 stars Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

5 out of 5 stars Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

4 out of 5 stars History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Last Place on Earth (National Geographic)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Stunning pictures
  • Great Book
  • The most Impressive Book in my Library
  • Incredible Adventure and Book
  • Retrospective
Last Place on Earth (National Geographic)
Mike Fay
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0792238818
Release Date: 2005-09-01

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Stunning pictures.......2007-05-12

Mike Fay has done it again with this collection of amazing photos. Each picture tells a unique and compelling story that make you feel the real struggles in Gabon.

5 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2007-04-16

Bought this book for my mother-in-law as a birthday present. She has traveled to Africa many times so it was perfect for her. She was thrilled with the book. The book is spectacular. We would recommend highly.

5 out of 5 stars The most Impressive Book in my Library.......2007-03-08


Having been a member of The National Geographic Society since 1952 and with a library accumulated in that time, I have not seen before Last Place on Earth such a fine book so magnificently produced.

5 out of 5 stars Incredible Adventure and Book.......2007-03-08

As a photographer and a journalist who has a passion for intense travel and the natural world, I think this is one of the most amazing books published in the past 20 years. Passionate, heartbreaking, and beautiful the world and work of Nick Nichols and Mike Fay shown in this book was eye opening. Highly reccomend. Only comment that maybe negative is the size a bulk of the book.

5 out of 5 stars Retrospective.......2007-01-27

This is a beautifully bound book covering a wide range of areas in and about the jungles of Africa. The images are possible only for someone who spent as much time there as these two did, and the breathtaking work shows this condition. The mega-transect journal is a very nice companion to the photographs, and really helps to convey a mood and philosophy of their work. There passion is obvious.
The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Difficult to Read
  • Fascinating read
  • Disappointed
  • Everything you wanted to know about Trees
  • Arboreal trilogy
The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter
Colin Tudge
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1400050367
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

There are redwoods in California that were ancient by the time Columbus first landed, and pines still alive that germinated around the time humans invented writing. There are Douglas firs as tall as skyscrapers, and a banyan tree in Calcutta as big as a football field.

From the tallest to the smallest, trees inspire wonder in all of us, and in The Tree, Colin Tudge travels around the world—throughout the United States, the Costa Rican rain forest, Panama and Brazil, India, New Zealand, China, and most of Europe—bringing to life stories and facts about the trees around us: how they grow old, how they eat and reproduce, how they talk to one another (and they do), and why they came to exist in the first place. He considers the pitfalls of being tall; the things that trees produce, from nuts and rubber to wood; and even the complicated debt that we as humans owe them.

Tudge takes us to the Amazon in flood, when the water is deep enough to submerge the forest entirely and fish feed on fruit while river dolphins race through the canopy. He explains the “memory” of a tree: how those that have been shaken by wind grow thicker and sturdier, while those attacked by pests grow smaller leaves the following year; and reveals how it is that the same trees found in the United States are also native to China (but not Europe).

From tiny saplings to centuries-old redwoods and desert palms, from the backyards of the American heartland to the rain forests of the Amazon and the bamboo forests, Colin Tudge takes the reader on a journey through history and illuminates our ever-present but often ignored companions. A blend of history, science, philosophy, and environmentalism, The Tree is an engaging and elegant look at the life of the tree and what modern research tells us about their future.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Difficult to Read.......2007-08-09

As a layperson, interested in learning about the biology of the life forms around me, I bought this book with high hopes only to find it essentialy useless and unreadable.I didn't expect a tree ID guide, but this book doesn't tell the story of trees well. It's not a smooth narrative. It's 400 pages full of technical sounding Latin names and totally lacking pictures.In short, it's just not a good basic intro to trees or a good read.

5 out of 5 stars Fascinating read.......2007-05-31

I've been sort of collecting books on trees the last few months. Though still an amateur on the subject, this book is a winner from where I sit. An I-can't-put-it-down book that makes me happy I'm only half way through right now.

If you are interested in understanding the flora around you and you aren't already degreed in botany but kinda would like to be, this book is for you!

2 out of 5 stars Disappointed.......2007-05-13

Mr. Tudge is obviously very well educated on trees, but he gets a bit dry and lost in the details from time to time.

5 out of 5 stars Everything you wanted to know about Trees .......2006-10-15

One of the most beloved and memorable of all popular poems is Joyce Kilmer's 'Trees' " I think that I shall never see/ a poem as lovely as a tree'/ A tree whose hungry mouth is prest/ against the earth's sweet flowing breast/.
The sheer wonder, delight, and inspiration 'Trees' give to our poetic nature is only one side of what they are.
In this learned and detailed study of Trees,Colin Tudge tells us more about them than we might ever have wanted to know. He describes the different species, provides a survival guide to the way Trees manage in often challenging environments, considers the special qualities of different kinds of trees, helps us understand how Trees are a benefit not only to the 'natural world' but to human civilization and society.
He does this as he also points out the new dangers facing various species from global- warming. And he has specific recommendations on how we can better create an environment more beneficial to the natural world as a whole.
The book is disappointingly poor in one element most of its readers will certainly want to have, good illustrations of Trees. But it nonetheless is an overall encyclopediac treasure for those for whom one of the natural world's great stars are an ongoing source of interest and attraction.

5 out of 5 stars Arboreal trilogy.......2006-05-11

"I never met a Tudge I didn't like" is a fitting adage for this wide-ranging author. Having written an "unauthorised biography" of life, the impact of agriculture on human development and other works, Tudge has created a masterpiece of science writing. No longer can we claim that we can't "see the woods for the trees" since he has detailed the mechanics of both in exquisite detail. At) least so far as we know now. If nothing else is clear from this book, what we don't know about the mechanisms of trees far exceeds what we've learned. Trees, so ubiquitous in their presence and so meaningful in our lives, remain a great mystery to be solved. In three almost independent segments, he spells out what is known and what needs to be revealed.

He opens with one of the most understated definitions in science writing: "a tree is a big plant with a stick up the middle". From this simplistic opening, he then develops an image of how complex that "stick" and "plant" combination is in the final product. This complexity didn't appear from nowhere - the author explains how evolution built it from simple beginnings. Most readers will be familiar with the fact that 46 chromosome are needed to make a human. Trees, through various mechanisms, may develop hundreds of chromosomes depending on conditions. The structure of a single tree almost pales against the variety of trees growing around our planet. Tall trees, spreading ones, trees that we often call "shrubs" - which are merely superbly adapted to their local environment - all reflect the immense diversity trees have developed over the ages. Although generally divided into but two forms, conifers and "flowering" trees, they comprise thousands of species, many probably still unknown.

Tudge dedicates the second part of his book to descriptions of those variations. It is a catalogue of wonders as he depicts the oaks, beeches and other "common" types along with palms, celery pines and fruit trees. He begins with the ancient conifers, trees with a lineage stretching back nearly three hundred million years. That heritage shows in the varieties the conifers incorporate. From stately pines to humble ground-huggers, the conifers even include a parasitic member among their ranks. Angiosperms, the "flowering" trees, have surpassed the conifers in species number. The author lists each Order, with a list of the families and species. He explains why the numbers of species are in flux as new information about relationships comes to light. Tree habitats are also described with indications of where to find typical specimens.

In last third of the book: "How Trees Live", Tudge demonstrates why he's one of today's leading science writers. He has accumlated a vast repetoire of information, and presents it with almost passionate style. Seemingly static from our viewpoint, trees have much to do in the course of their lives. They must keep the sun in view, and many forests are competitive arenas to lift leaves into the light. There are seasons to keep track of, predators to discourage and to entice and employ helpers in the process of reproduction. Lacking brains, or other "intelligent" means, trees cannot manufacture devices for these needs. All must be accomplished with chemistry. Much of "the secret life of trees" is hidden here. With but five hormones and a handful of pigments to achieve their tasks, they have built up forms and methods to accomplish it all with an astounding degree of success.

Tudge's adulation of trees goes beyond being simply informative. In his conclusion, he both endorses our need to increase our knowledge of trees and warns of the effects of our failure to do so. We may view trees as aesthetically pleasing or as a source of lumber or paper. Either way, we must deal with them properly. Hewing down vast forests does far more than leave a barren landscape. Trees are the source of the oxygen we breathe. They take up the carbon dioxide our society produces in such imposing quantities. Their capacity for that role has likely been exceeded at this point. Trees matter, he argues, and we need to know why and how. This book is an excellent starting point to find the answers to that learning quest. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
A Natural History of the Senses
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A welcome feast for the senses
  • Not for the Left-brained, Delicious for the Right-brained
  • ONE BIG LUSCIOUS CELEBRATION OF HUMAN FACULTIES
  • Beyond the book
  • "The Heady Succulence of Life" (p. 41)
A Natural History of the Senses
Diane Ackerman
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679735666
Release Date: 1991-09-10

Amazon.com

"One of the real tests of writers," notes Ackerman in this liveliest of nature books, "is how well they write about smells. If they can't describe the scent of sanctity in a church, can you trust them to describe the suburbs of the heart?" Ackerman passes the test, writing with ease and fluency about the five senses. Did you know that bat guano smells like stale Wheat Thins? That Bach's music can quell anger around the world? That the leaves that shimmer so beautifully in fall have "no adaptive purpose"? Ackerman does, and she guides us through questions of sensation with an eye for the amusingly arcane reference and just the right phrase.

Book Description

Diane Ackerman's lusciously written grand tour of the realm of the senses includes conversations with an iceberg in Antarctica and a professional nose in New York, along with dissertations on kisses and tattoos, sadistic cuisine and the music played by the planet Earth. "Delightful . . . gives the reader the richest possible feeling of the worlds the senses take in."--The New York Times. (Literature--Classics & Contemporary)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A welcome feast for the senses.......2007-08-19

{Review writte in July 2004}

I read A Natural History of the Senses back in 1991, when it first came out ...

If you're an aspiring writer, if you enjoy meditation and/or sensory deprivation (or other activities designed to heighten your sensory awareness), or even if you're just an unpracticed closet sensualist eager for new experiences, then do not walk ... RUN ... run out and by this book. Better still, click on our "Buy Books" link, locate it, and select overnight shipment. You'll thank me for it.

Yes, it really is THAT good.

Ackerman gives us a first hand tour de force overview of our 5 bodily senses, from the historical, scientific, philosophical, artistic and literary vantagepoints. With the giddy delight of someone with a rapt attention for fine details, not to mention a true gift for words, she takes us on a rich journey of the subtle and the sublime ... from the musky scent of fire-warmed leather, to the plaintive cry of a lonely loon hidden in the misty wilderness, to the rousing plushness of crushed velvet, to the crisp-tart taste of muscat grapes plucked straight from their sun-ripened vines.

No need for me to wax poetic, because that's what this work is all about ... it's a master class in understanding the senses we use to percieve the world itself.

Sure, there are people out there who think that books like this are just lightweight literary fluff ... such people reveal themselves to be the same undiscerning people who are blindly content to live on fast food slop, who never stop to relax and fully appreciate a beautiful sunset, and who mechanically motor off into the rat race without pausing for a long moment to nuzzle in the musky warmth of their lover's neck and hair, and to beam love for a long languid moment into their mate's eyes. For those cannot appreciate the subtleties such things, I feel nothing but pity. Go right ahead and wallow in your detached mediocrity ... and whatever you do, do NOT buy this book, because it'll only upset you to realize all the things you've been missing out on all these years. You've been living your life in the lowest possible resolution, and you have nobody to blame but yourself.

Anyway, this book is easily one of the most enjoyable and satisfying books I've read to date.

5 out of 5 stars Not for the Left-brained, Delicious for the Right-brained.......2007-06-27

Some of the other reviewers who didn't rate this book very highly mentioned mostly that it was too "cloying" and not factual enough. In my opinion these readers misunderstood the intention of the author and were looking for a science textbook. Sure the title may leave you to expect that, but reading the synopsis or even the reviews can tell you to expect something different.

The intent of the author, again in my mind, was a social study of the senses VIA the senses - she used the language of the senses so we could have a sense-ful experience. Since one can only experience their own senses, she of course used many of her sense experiences to be able to add the most enticing language. Note that she incorporated just as many quotes from other artists/writers describing their own sense experiences. The result was successfully full of senses, which her point was that we don't notice and appreciate our senses and how they've influenced our society enough, and if that is cloying to some then they're all the more in need of using their senses.

I particularly like how she blends in philosphy and facts into the reading so you aren't aware you're picking up gems. I underlined a lot of words to meditate on. Just goes to show how much how we use our senses shapes our world.

Summary: If you're looking for a bland scientific text on the senses look elsewhere (or better yet learn to use another part of your brain with this book). Otherwise indulge yourself in it's poetry. Yummy.

5 out of 5 stars ONE BIG LUSCIOUS CELEBRATION OF HUMAN FACULTIES.......2007-04-28

Taking inventory of the five senses may at first seem a simple and scientific theme perhaps better suited to a book meant for junior high, but there's nothing prosaic about this epic work of staggering proportions. Ms. Ackerman manages to smoosh in such a diverse array of beguiling facts about our sensibilities and the world within which we perceive them, and with such lyrical splendor, that reading this book is a grand sensory carnival in itself.

Because the senses are both natural and cultural--we share them with animals, but they also form the bases of human institutions--she glides smoothly from, say, the mating habits of mice to the activities of the international perfume industry. Wondrous sounds and rich imagery are made available to us on molecular, diagnostic, and even galactic levels. Why do leaves change hues in the fall? What makes crocodiles dance? What would the world sound like if we could hear all its frequencies? How do we feel pain? What do our pheromones try to tell us? How would Helen Keller 'hear' a symphony? What have scientists learned from people who are missing one or more of the senses?

This is no pedestrian treatise. Some readers may find the prose extravagant--and to them my advice would be to read the book in fits and starts, not in one weekend sitting--but like Stephen Gould or Annie Dillard or other such maestro raconteurs of science and nature, Ackerman comes across as an adventurous soul who seems to experience nature firsthand and then describe it with an eager enthusiasm that is both personal and learned. As readers, we simply savor the companionship on a sparkling journey. This remains one of my most dog-eared and gifted books of all time. Get it pronto if you don't already have one, and be prepared to be mesmerized.

5 out of 5 stars Beyond the book.......2006-09-04

She's an amazing writer. Her artistic, sensual passion wins the day, though she warms up to good science, too. If you enjoy all things Ackerman, or if you are especiallly interested in the senses, then you'll love Nova's "Mystery of the Senses." This is a 5-part documentary featuring each of the major senses. It is based on this book, primarily. It is narrated by Ackerman, and you'll find her (and her glorious '80s era hair) taking mudbaths, sitting by a stream, etc. The video set, like this book, bridges the gap between sensuality and science; experience and explanation.

5 out of 5 stars "The Heady Succulence of Life" (p. 41).......2006-08-30

Imagine having a witty and informed guided tour of one's own sensory apparatus! That is what Ackerman offers. By turns intensely intellectual and cybaritic, the result is an irresistable romp through the world of newly magnified familiarities.

Some gems: chocolate as "an emotional food" (p. 154). "Hands are messengers of emotion" (p. 118). "The tongue is like a kingdom divided into principalities according to sensory talent" (p. 139).

And on page 20: "Smell was the first of our senses, and it was so successful that in time the small lump of olfactory tissue atop the nerve cord grew into a brain. Our cerebral hemispheres were originally buds from the olfactory stalks. We THINK because we SMELLED."

Highly recommended. A terrific mental flight while trying to endure air travel!
Kinship with All Life : Simple, Challenging, Real-Life Experiences Showing How Animals Communicate with Each Other and with the People Who Understand Them
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Simple Unavoidable Secret
  • Profound impact
  • Simple and Juicy and Right to the Heart!
  • Kinship With All Life
  • Learning Empathy For All Life
Kinship with All Life : Simple, Challenging, Real-Life Experiences Showing How Animals Communicate with Each Other and with the People Who Understand Them
J. Allen Boone
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060609125

Book Description

Is there a universal language of love, a "kinship with all life" that can open new horizons of experience?

Example after example in this unique classic -- from "Strongheart" the actor-dog to "Freddie" the fly -- resounds with entertaining and inspiring proof that communication with animals is a wonderful, indisputable fact. All that is required is an attitude of openness, friendliness, humility, and a sense of humor to part the curtain and form bonds of real friendship.

For anyone who loves animals, for all those who have ever experienced the special devotion only a pet can bring, Kinship With All Life is an unqualified delight. Sample these pages and you will never encounter "just a dog" again, but rather a fellow member of nature's own family.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Simple Unavoidable Secret.......2006-07-11

I can't count how many copies I've bought of this book because I keep giving it to people. Years ago, it got me to study my cat tracking a cockroach without letting the bug know he was watching. That started my process of becoming more carefully observant of everything around me. It isn't ESP. It is, simply, paying attention. Most importantly, it is love, respect, and appreciation for All Life. By the time you finish reading (no doubt still hungry for more), you'll have gotten the message and probably given it a try. If you're serious about it, you'll find your life changing little by little and you'll discover how you can improve your relationships with others - animals or people - or insects, plants, and the planet itself. Once I chose to be somewhat of a reclusive hermit, but I couldn't do it because I have literally millions of intimate friends. The evidence of long ago that there was harmony among all on earth is still present. In choosing to stand there, we can begin to resolve our differences. We can evolve as humans. We can put an end to war and pestilence unfailingly, "whenever the human does his required part." Written in 1954, Boone's message is more important for us now than ever.

5 out of 5 stars Profound impact.......2006-04-23

I read this book back in the late 50's and still own my original copy. It had that much of an impact on me! I have always been an animal lover, esp. dogs, but this book taught me more respect for all living things. I was fascinated with Boone's experiences and remember way back then trying to control a fly in a similar way. (I don't remember if I were successful.)

Today you can find book after book after DVD about "_________Whisperers" (fill in the blank with a type of animal), many of which are not unique (Cesar Millan IS the REAL thing, however!), but this book was a foundation book for all the rest.

I highly recommend reading it and am delighted to see it's back in print. Now I don't have to loan it out with the fear I'll never be able to replace it--actually, I still won't loan it out. Friends,here it is; buy your own copy!

5 out of 5 stars Simple and Juicy and Right to the Heart!.......2006-02-27

My life has been about animals for so long...I even run a pet-care business! When I was kid, I knew all this stuff. But then I "grew up" and somehow lost track of the wonder of 'being still' and 'knowing.' In this phase of my life I'm finally back on track -- due in large part to the amazing animal teachers in my life. (And some great insight by humans as well!) This book really hits the mark when it comes to understanding the bond among all living things. It's straightforward and thoughtful and full of love. Just like you want all your relationships to be! It's a must have for any animal lover's library.

5 out of 5 stars Kinship With All Life.......2005-09-12

I have made a gift of this book to a number of friends and having ordered another totally enjoyed it all over again. Delightful and sensitive it is a must for all generations regardless of age.

5 out of 5 stars Learning Empathy For All Life.......2005-04-12

Mentally connecting with animals and insects? Boone tells the true story of his quest to understand their world from a totally non-anthropocentric (human superiority) view point by becoming a willing student and admirer of dogs, bugs, etc., in hopes of learning about them.

His open, non-judgmental attitude while attempting mental contact opens up a whole new world of communication and friendship. He bungles along with trial and error, but he soon finds out that non-verbal language of thoughts and feelings is just about all that is necessary to commune with them and this, coupled with true admiration and love for what each critter is and does, gives them the safe comfort zone they need to feel appreciated and open with him.

Boone opens the story with an exceptionally well trained, smart and alert police dog from Germany named "Strongheart". The dog was brought to Hollywood to be groomed for films and he becomes a sensation in several films such as Jack London's "White Fang", et al. London, of course, is one America's most famous writers- especially known for another and even more popular dog story, "Call of the Wild"- both stories a must for all animal lovers. As a note of interest, Strongheart was the first dog to star in film and preceded the popular "Rin Tin Tin" series.

Larry Trimble, the man who trained Strongheart for the movies, had to take a break from Hollywood and go to New York for business, so he asked the screenwriter Boone to "dog watch" for him and here the fascinating tale of their meeting of the mind/spirit and friendship begins.

Boone goes on to tell of other critters he learned to commune with and finishes the book with a fly he befriends and calls "Freddie". I learned about Freddie from a reference in Joanne Elizabeth Lauck's book, "The Voice of the Infinite in the Small"- another beautiful treatment of finding empathy for life in all it's marvelous creations- especially bugs.

If I hadn't had many of the same incredible experience's with critters that Boone writes about, I could easily have dismissed this stuff as interesting, but hard to believe. My experiences did not come close to the intentional, driven need to know that Boone writes about and yet, I still have had some very consciousness awakening experiences of inter-critter, if you will, communication.

This book is a gem and a fast read- too fast, you will want more!


Storm Warning: The Story of a Killer Tornado
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Gripping Tale of our Killer Storms
  • compelling book about tornadoes
  • A Great Book on Tornados
  • Like an IMAX movie in hardcover
  • A Riveting Read
Storm Warning: The Story of a Killer Tornado
Nancy Mathis
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743280539

Book Description

The Perfect Storm on the prairie, Storm Warning is a compulsively readable account of one of the most terrible tornadoes in history -- and the extraordinary people who kept it from becoming the deadliest.

May 3, 1999, is a day that Oklahomans will never forget. By the time the sun set over a ravaged plain, some 71 tornadoes had claimed 11,000 homes and businesses and caused a billion dollars in damages. One of them was a mile-wide monster of incredible power, the fiercest F5 twister to hit a metropolitan area, and whose 300 mph winds were the fastest ever recorded on the planet.

Veteran journalist Nancy Mathis draws on numerous interviews to weave the story of those few terrifying hours that irrevocably changed the lives of many Oklahomans. Storm Warning features Kara Wiese, who fought to save her son from the fatal winds, and Charlie Cusack, who followed the tornado's progress on television until it came knocking on his front door. Amazingly, only thirty-eight people perished at the hands of the Oklahoma F5. Many lives were saved by the efforts of professionals such as Ted Fujita, the creator of the Fujita Scale (dubbed "Mr. Tornado" for his relentless pursuit to unravel a twister's mysteries); the oft-criticized but dogged government meteorologists; and Gary England, a resourceful TV weatherman whose tireless efforts prepared hundreds of people in the tornado's path. Storm Warning alternates between personal stories and the history of the struggle to understand this bewildering force of Mother Nature, creating a nail-biting, captivating look at surviving the fury from the skies.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Gripping Tale of our Killer Storms.......2007-06-17

Tornadoes are the most powerful storms known, with an F5 monster reaching 300 mph winds. Fortunately they are far smaller than hurricanes and so do not usually cause the extensive damage that hurricanes can. The localized damage is often nearly total!

Nancy Mathis in her book "Storm Warning: The Story of a Killer Tornado" chronicles the story of one F5 tornado in particular, the one that struck Oklahoma City in early May of 1999. She provides much historical background, including the story of Ted Fujita, who survived World War II in Japan by a series of apparently random events to produce the Fujita scale to to aid in the understanding and prediction of tornadoes. Another important player, Gary England, pioneered tornado prediction when the United States Weather Service was unable to do so. Numerous people worked on developing the ability to give at least several minutes warning of an approaching storm. In the case of the Oklahoma City storm of May 3, 1999, this paid off big time, with many fewer fatalities than would have happened otherwise.

Nancy Mathis tells this story with great skill. Before the reader is through they develop a wide respect for the obsessional people (including storm chasers) who have continued to develop an understanding of the formidable storms. The reader also begins to understand the power and fascination of these nearly unique monsters of the American Great Plains, where 80% of all tornadoes develop.

I have seen the result of the passage of a weak tornado in Florida (in fact I crossed its path just an hour before it went through). Even though the storm skimmed the treetops, it dropped several long-leaf pines into the roofs of apartment complexes. Luckily no one was hurt, but it was close. These are not storms with which to trifle!

This is a great summery of tornado research and history, plus a great description of a particularly savage storm. If you live anywhere were tornadoes can strike (the whole United States, but especially the Midwest), you should read this book!

5 out of 5 stars compelling book about tornadoes.......2007-05-18

This was a book i could not put down, despite the author's letting us know right from the beginning who lived, who died, and how big the killer tornado was. Mathis' description of the history of weather forecasting was fascinating, and her summary of the science of weather (and tornadoes in particular) was easy to understand and compelling. Her recommendations on how to survive a tornado are vital for anyone who lives in "tornado alley" as well as for people who live in areas rarely visited by these potential killers. I recommend this book to anyone interested in weather and its effects on people.

5 out of 5 stars A Great Book on Tornados.......2007-05-13

Nancy is a fantastic author and did a great job with this book. An enjoyable read.

5 out of 5 stars Like an IMAX movie in hardcover.......2007-05-01

Just finished reading Nancy Mathis's Storm Warning in one sitting. Having grown up in Oklahoma and spent more than two decades as an airline pilot, I thought I knew a thing or two about hook echos, doppler radar and microbursts. Mathis nails these down--making the science interesting and easy to understand. But she also tells the story of this terrible twister in a way that puts the reader right in the middle of the action. And that is scary, especially if you happen to be reading Storm Warning during a blustery spring storm, as I did. I could picture the eerie green sky as the storm chasers sped across the plains and smell the dank culvert where victims perished. The blow-by-blow description of the destruction of a two story house in 20-25 seconds is as vivid and chilling as anything I've ever read. Do yourself a favor though: read it on a quiet sunny day with calm winds.

5 out of 5 stars A Riveting Read.......2007-05-01

Ok, so who knew that a book about tornado forcasting could make me tearful at its ending. It is a tribute to the author's ability to thread the stories of the lives so affected by these events through, in and around the science that makes this book read like wonderful fiction while carrying the burden of informing like nonfiction. There are two layers of the human element here, the victims of the killer storms, some of whom heal and many who don't, but the other story is of the men who pursued the science of forcasting, both for the love of the science itself, and for the advancement of the common good. The people I came to know in this book will be with me for a long time. This is, simply stated, a great read.
Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Immerse yourself in Annie Dillard's thoughts and unique use of language
  • teaching a stone to talk
  • Teaching a Stone to Talk - Good Read
  • Everyone knows that stones can't talk...
  • From The Mundane To The Infinite ... And Back Again
Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters
Annie Dillard
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060915412
Release Date: 1998-12-30

Book Description

Here, in this compelling assembly of writings, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard explores the world of natural facts and human meanings.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Immerse yourself in Annie Dillard's thoughts and unique use of language.......2007-09-17

This is a book of timeless essays regarding our journey through life. Enjoy.

From the essay - Sojourners.
"We are down here in time, where beauty grows. Even if things are as bad as they could possible be, and as meaningless, then matters of truth are themselves indifferent; we may as well please our sensibilities and, with as much spirit as we can muster, go out with a buck and wing.

The planet is less like an enclosed spaceship-spaceship earth-than it is like an exposed mangrove island beautiful and loose. We the people started small and have since accumulated a great and solacing muck of soil, of human culture. We are rooted in it; we are bearing it with us across nowhere. The word 'nowhere' is our cue: the consort of musicians strikes up, and we in the chorus stir and move and start twirling our hats. A mangrove island turns drift to dance. It creates its own soil as it goes, rocking over the salt sea at random, rocking day and night and round the sun, rocking round the sun and out toward east of Hercules."

1 out of 5 stars teaching a stone to talk.......2007-04-30

Tis is some of the worst prose i've ever tried to read. It reminds me of those old Dick and Jane primers in which everything is repeated. Every paragraph could have been condensed effectively into a single sentence. I struggled to finish the first essay but then gave up. It didn't seem to be going anywhere. Sorry I wasted my penny on it.

5 out of 5 stars Teaching a Stone to Talk - Good Read.......2006-03-12

Annie Dillard's work is most certainly her best with the exception of her Thoreau-esque first work. Her writing style and personality are captivating as she engages with a myriad of environments, from local lakes to the Galopagos Islands. As a naturalist writer, she explores the interaction between environments and individuals--the ways in which humanity and ecology play off one another. Fans of Joan Didion will also enjoy the personal feel of Dillard's work as well as the playful use of time and metaphor to capture the dynamism and eccentricity of everyday life. This work is a must-have for any lover/enthusiast of nature and everyone who appreciates flowing prose and lyrical description.

1 out of 5 stars Everyone knows that stones can't talk..........2005-02-15

Poetry is poetry and prose is prose. In my opinion, the extent to which they are mixed is the extent to which the quality of each, with some exceptions, deteriorates. The problem I have with Dillard's writing is that she so freely mixes the two that one is left with either pretty, but obscure prose or overly structured narrative poetry. The problem isn't that Dillard is a poor writer, its rather that she doesn't have a clear vision of what her artful constructions mean. The book is all wings and no roots. It ends up being an excersise in sophistry that, one feels, sweeps the author along in its grand illusions as readily as it does the sensitive reader. I almost feel guilty pointing out the emptiness of it all.

5 out of 5 stars From The Mundane To The Infinite ... And Back Again.......2004-10-05

This book truly is a well crafted and literary set of short stories; all or most of them being autobiographical. But the author does something special in this book. Her stories all center around the physical, mixed with the spiritual, mixed with the metaphysical, both alone and in concert, and finally, in the way they seem to co-exist, at least to her perception and observation.

The substance of her plot is more a substance of a progression of human feelings, than events. The events just happen, the reasons, she tells us, are personal, and mostly uncontrollable. But they ARE. They exist temporally, spiritually, physically, and metaphysically all at the same time. How each of us sees these things is a bit like Albert Einstein's General and Special Theories of Relativity. It all depends on how you come to the words of Annie Dillard, and how we interpret what she is saying. Whether you can relate to it out of your own experience, or whether you can live it vicariously through Dillard's writing matters not, what matters is the attitude and state of mind that one brings to the stories.

For readers interested in a mind expanding vision of reality, and non-reality, this book is beautifully written to take you to all these places. And it takes you through feelings, that almost every reader can relate to. It is worth every minute spent on it.
Images of Nature: The Photographs of Thomas D. Mangelsen
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful and extraordinary nature photography
  • Best nature photos I have ever seen
  • Breathtaking photography
Images of Nature: The Photographs of Thomas D. Mangelsen
Charles Craighead
Manufacturer: Hugh Lauter Levin Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & ExhibitionsCollections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Photo EssaysPhoto Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0883637898

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful and extraordinary nature photography.......1998-11-10

This is one of if not the most beautiful book of nature photographs I have ever seen.

5 out of 5 stars Best nature photos I have ever seen.......1998-10-22

All photos are done in the field---No staged photos. The patience required to obtain these photographs is hard to believe. This book has the finest nature photos I have ever seen.

5 out of 5 stars Breathtaking photography.......1998-05-21

Not only were the images beautiful, the descriptions and articles on the photographs were very informative. As a nature lover and artist this is a book that I would recomend having for reference
The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Food for the soul.
  • Must have book for woodland gardeners
  • Great Book!
  • Inspiration for Your Own Woodland Garden
  • A book of wonders.
The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest
Rick Darke
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Garden DesignGarden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
RegionalRegional | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Canada | Middle Atlantic | Midwest | New England | Pacific Northwest | South | Southwest | West
ShrubsShrubs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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  1. Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation
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ASIN: 0881925454

Book Description

North America's eastern half, roughly from the Midwest to the Atlantic, was once a great deciduous forest. Although centuries of human intervention have cleared much of the land, the timeless forest remains in the spirit of the place. Today, even the shortest period of human neglect allows for the resurgence of the process of forest creation. The greatest gardens — and happiest gardeners — in this area will be those that take into account the nature of the land.
In his unique, and often thought-provoking new book, award-winning author Darke promotes and stunningly illustrates a garden aesthetic based on the strengths and opportunities of the woodland, including play of light, sound, and scent; seasonal drama; and the architectural interest of woody plants.

While written from a compelling and fresh perspective, The American Woodland Garden never strays from the realistic concerns of the everyday gardener. Information on planting, soils, and maintenance provides a firm foundation for horticultural accomplishment. An alphabetical list of woodland plants offers useful advice for every garden, emphasizing native trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, sedges, and flowering perennials that fit the forest aesthetic. More than 700 of the author's stunning photographs show both the natural palette of plants in the wild and the effects that can be achieved with them in garden settings. Many of the most striking photos in the book were taken at classic gardens that are paragons of an ecological style.

The American Woodland Garden is a clarion call to a new awareness of our relationship to the natural world. This book will take its rightful place among the classic works that have influenced our concept of the American landscape.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Food for the soul........2007-07-10

If you live near the edge of woodlands as we do, you'll find this book to be a valuable source of information. It's a challenge to landscape the transition from woodland to home, but this book provides the knowledge needed to make that happen. And if you love to live in or near woodland areas as much as we do, you'll appreciate the wonderful photographs.

5 out of 5 stars Must have book for woodland gardeners.......2007-05-14

This man is the best photographer of the woodlands and a great speaker. Would purchase any book by him.

5 out of 5 stars Great Book!.......2007-03-26

I am a novice gardener but this book gives great advice and great choices from groundcover to shrubs and trees for the woodsy landscape. I refer to this book all the time.

4 out of 5 stars Inspiration for Your Own Woodland Garden.......2007-03-18

A gorgeous, substantive book. It's not a how-to in a conventional sense, but it will definitely get your creative juices flowing in terms of your own woodlands. If you've never thought about "color palette" for plantings, you'll really enjoy this book.

5 out of 5 stars A book of wonders........2007-02-12

This is simply the best book in my garden library. It is a way of looking at the environment around us, an ethos complete with pictures, information, and instruction. Be sure to buy this book in hardback, because paperback binding will never survive the hard useage this book will receive in your home.

Books:

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  4. Advances in Historical Ecology
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