Reviews (14)

Pure Dynamite!
I found Diane's use of local dialect when "she" is talking, and standard prose elsewhere, a delightful aspect of this book. The local dialect is what one hears in the Texas Coast fishing communities, and it evokes an incredible feeling of time and place. The reader feels the salt spray right along with her.

Outstanding Story Excitingly Written
Diane Wilson is not only an unreasonable woman she is an outstanding human being. She is a reluctant hero, the most authentic kind. She eventually stands up for her native waters, mother earth and the very survival of the human race.
Bravo This Heroine and Great Story Teller
What a pleasure to read this story of an amazing and heroic woman, giving it all to take down giants.Ms Wilson's Marquez-like writing style and choice of words leaves me breathless and imagining I'm there with her as her mission lays itself at her feet and she picks it up and takes it on.Bravo!An absolutely wonderful read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    5. Naturalists, Gardeners, Environmentalists    6. Oceans & Seas    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Women   

Reviews (2)

Awesome book, great for kids, perfect for schools!
This is an awesome pictorial with great editorial book that is awesome to read or simply thumb through to view some of the most beautiful rainforest's the world has to offer. Perfect for schools, to show kids who may have never been to or seen a rainforest what they are & why we need to protect them.
Monteverde residents bring rain forest to life
The author and photographers are part time residents of the Monteverde area of Costa Rica. Many of the photos in this book also are displayed at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, near Santa Elena, in Central CostaRica. Anyone who has been to a Central or South American rain forest orcloud forest will enjoy the ecological explanations -- similar to brieferexplanations by guia naturalistas (guides) in the reserves -- and willespecially enjoy the dramatic photos. Those who haven't visited the forestin person may be motivated to do so. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Latin America    3. Life Sciences - Ecology    4. Nature    5. Photo Essays    6. Rain Forest Ecology    7. Rain forests    8. Forests, rainforests    9. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Development - Sustainable Development    4. Environmental Science    5. Environmental Studies    6. Life Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems    7. Management - General    8. Wetland conservation    9. Wetland ecology    10. Wetland management    11. Wetlands    12. Development studies    13. Management of land & natural resources    14. Science / Environmental Science    15. Sustainability   

Reviews (2)

lacking color photos
I like most peterson books, however this one is just as knowledgable, but I bought the book hopeing to see color plates of corals, which it did not have.It had mostly color plates of starfish, sponges, sea buscuits, other animal life.I was disappointed in that, but as most of their books have, a nice description on how to identify it.It does seperate out the different types of corals, such as brain coral, then different subspecies (depressed, common, sharp hilled) but NO good pictures.It tells depth circumferance and valley, color, nice descriptions. It does have some black & white photos of coral, but it really does not help much.

It's a hard guide to write
I would feel confident recommending any of Peterson's field guides including "Coral Reefs."Many field guides simply discuss a single group of animals or plants.However Kaplan has succeeded in producing a pocket book explaining the most diverse habitats on earth.He writes from a broad knowledge base covering many topics important to coral reef watchers or biologists.Frequently he injects wit and humor into what might have been a dry text.He manages to hit on most groups of animals and uses many types of illustrations to allow the reader to identify and sort out the great number and types of animals that they will see on any coral reef within the area discussed.Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean Area    2. Coral reef animals    3. Coral reef ecology    4. Florida    5. General    6. Identification    7. Marine Life    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Oceans & Seas    11. Reference    12. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    13. Nature / Marine Life   

Reviews (4)

Very informative guide
I recently visited Arches and Moab for the first time and picked up this book while down there.This is a great book to carry in your pack as you hike or bike and generally explore the area.There were some facets that I felt were lacking.I found a few plants that I could not identify using this guide, and the I wish that there would have been information regarding seedlings of plants listed in the book.Other than that this is a great book to carry withyou, it is a little wide to carry in a pocket, but great for packs and has a very sturdy binding.

Best single "naturalist" reference for canyon county...
If you can only take one book with you to the Colorado Plateau, this is it! It covers all the basics--wildflowers, animals and geology, as well as clear information and illustrations on topics such as cryptobiotic soil, desert varnish, pothole life and hanging gardens. It also has information on cacti, wildflowers, reptiles, birds, mammals and their tracks. For an "all-in-one" type of book, this is fabulous.After years and a dozen backcountry trips to the San Rafael Swell area in Utah, this is the book we grab when we want more information. It is the only book we put in one of our packs when we go on a hike or mountain bike ride. On a recent trip with family members who have never been to the area-- the book was indispensible. As we came across hanging gardens, potholes, cryptobiotic soil, desert varnish, lizards, bats, cacti, and wildflowers-- this guide provided the information we wanted, and it explained everything much better and more concisely than we could have done.For people interested in detailed information on specific topics like wildflowers or reptiles, then a more comprehensive guide would be a good companion to "A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country".(If you want information on hiking or canyoneering, then I would recommend books by Steve Allen and Michael Kelsy.)If you are going to the Colorado Plateau, take this book with you.

Excellent all-in-one guide
"A Naturalist's Guide to the Canyon Country" is an excellent overview of the natural history of the Colorado Plateau, and especially valuable for first time visitors and amateur naturalists. When my sister brought her family to visit this past June, we consulted this book every hour of every day. The adults and the children all found it invaluable for both identifying plants and animals and learning something about their life history. No, the guide is not all-encompassing, but most of the major players are here. I especially appreciated the inclusion of the little guys- especially the beetles lizards! We also appreciated the extremely sturdy binding, which held up well against all of the abuses that a 9-year-old could think of. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Colorado Plateau    2. Ecology    3. General    4. Guidebooks    5. Mountain ecology    6. Natural History    7. Nature    8. Personal & Practical Guides    9. Reference    10. Travel    11. United States - West - Mountain (General)    12. Travel / United States / West / Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)   

Reviews (1)

discusses all topics pretty thoroughly
Although oceanography is not my strong point, I did find the book interesting covering a wide range of topics from different types of tides and currents to the marine life found in the ocean. Each chapter offersmath problems to help solve different equations about the oceans.Also,the chapter questions are helpful in reviewing the material found in eachchapter.Overall, an interesting a well-written book for first timeoceanography students! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Oceanography    2. Oceanography    3. Oceanography (General)    4. Oceans & Seas    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    8. Oceanography (seas)   

Editorial Review

The world's oceans are vast, too vast for their components to be distilled comfortably into the pages of a single book. That said, Richard Ellis, a noted student of all matters pelagic, does an extraordinary job of gathering key points of the oceans' natural and human history in this fact-filled, desk-sized encyclopedia. Starting with Read more

Reviews (3)

Well worth the price...
His previous work shows that Richard Ellis is certainly a man of artistic talent with a broad interest in all things aquatic.With Encyclopedia of the Sea he has tried to bring together as much information as he can about the ocean.Everyone should know that this can't be done in one book, especially of this size.I don't think that this was a serious attempt to produce the master treatise on the ocean.If that is what your looking for look elsewhere (it doesn't exist but good luck). A 'must' purchase for any strong science library collection
Ellis is a leading world expert on aquatic life and ocean lore, and his Encyclopedia Of The Sea is an impressive compendium of facts and information gathers years of investigation from various sources to provide the first comprehensive illustrated reference on almost everything known about the sea. The A-Z reference will prove an invaluable guide and a 'must' purchase for any strong science library collection.

great coffee table book
This is a wonderful coffee table book. The pictures are just fabulous- like nothing I had ever seen before. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to look at unique and interesting books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Oceanography    2. Encyclopedias    3. Marine ecology    4. Marine organisms    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Ocean    7. Oceanography    8. Oceanography (General)    9. Oceans & Seas    10. Science    11. Nature / Oceans & Seas   

Reviews (4)

Engrossing
The deep sea is considered the last place on Earth that is relatively untouched and unexplored by man.As such, the last 20 years have witnessed an explosion in the number of books, movies (think IMAX), documentaries (Discovery Channel) and other lay-man oriented exposes on the deep sea.This book fits right in with that trend, and serves as a good introduction to the biology of the deep sea.
surreal so real
This is a fascinating, compelling book with a lot of truly phenomenal photography throughout. I love deep-sea beasties - they please my aesthetic taste - spiky, fangy, bizarre and... bioluminescent. Hmm. The writing is clear, concise and evocative - an 'easy' read without being simplistic or dumbed-down. Overall, an excellent trip into a world here and not-here. Highly recommended.

"Stunning" doesn't quite cover it
I sat with this book for 4 solid hours, in aew. Packed with incredible photos of creatures so bizarre that you couldn't invent anything even close to this reality.Hoyt explains the layers of the sea and what lives there, why and how each atmosphere creates and hosts it's own World. It tells in plain language how these creatures live, eat and reproduce and find each other in the pitch black.It's rare to find a book who's text and visual offerings are equally astounding and educational.I came away with a feeling that all I thought I knew about the sea and life on Earth had just been rewritten for me. This book is a genuine treat and a glimpse into all the possibilites of Life in our "not human" terms. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    2. Marine Life    3. Marine animals    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Ocean    7. Oceans & Seas    8. Aquatic creatures    9. Deep-sea animals    10. Nature / Marine Life    11. Sea monsters   

Reviews (26)

Truly a race for madmen
A reviewer described this book as a study in abnormal psychology. Having now completed this story I can only agree with him.
literature of the sea

Wow
I found it engaging and captivating.I've since read a few of the books by the actual participants.I recommend reading this first, and then the available books by the yachtsmen who participated. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (1968-1969)    2. Fiction    3. Oceans & Seas    4. Sailing - Narratives    5. Special Interest - Adventure    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Sunday Times Golden Globe Race    8. Nature / Oceans & Seas   

Editorial Review

When David Doubilet was a child, he photographed swimmers in the waters off of New Jersey. Read more

Reviews (22)

Excellent pictures, nice commentary
Great underwater photographs. I wish there was a book with Doubilet's pictures taken in the Okavango Delta...

The ultimate coffee-table book.
This is a monumentally gorgeous book -- easily the most visually appealing I've ever picked up.

brilliant sea adventure
if you like jacques cousteau and national geographic picture cavalcades you will love this book. full of christal clear pictures from around the world. very much from the US coast both in B/W and color.
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Subjects:  1. Photography    2. Underwater photography    3. Pictorial works    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photographs: collections    6. Photography / Nature & Wildlife    7. Sea & seashore life    8. Nature Photography    9. Individual Photographer    10. Oceans & Seas    11. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    12. Photo Essays    13. Marine biology   

Reviews (1)

Stunning environmental volume
This book provides a stunning description of the practical, legal and spiritual side of environmental issues.Mr. Blackburn vividly describes the Texas coast, his legal battles and his love for the environment.The pictures alone are worth the cost but the spiritual contents caps it all off.A wonderful book for those interested in the environment and the spiritual underpinnings of environmental concern. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bays    2. Coastal ecology    3. Ecology    4. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    5. Natural history    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Oceans & Seas    9. Texas    10. Management of land & natural resources    11. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS   

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive Reference
An outstanding volume.Extrememly well organized and comprehensive.Aimed at serious practitioner or professional engineer needing quantitative methods and process understanding.This is more than an engineering design manual - a thorough extremely well organized treatment of treatment wetlands.Restoration scientists and practitioners using simple "permanent pools" in stormwater wetlands will benefit from the wetland science and process engineering organized here into the best current reference available. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biological treatment    2. Engineering - Hydraulic    3. Environmental Engineering & Technology    4. Purification    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Sewage    7. Sewage Disposal And Treatment    8. Technology    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Wetlands    11. Wetlands Ecology    12. Hydrology (freshwater)    13. Management of land & natural resources    14. Nature / Water Supply    15. Pollution & threats to the environment   

Reviews (2)

WEAK!
This book is pretty weak... I guess the price should have been a dead giveaway!

Good book for your tackle box
I bought this 64-page 6"x9" booklet mainly to keep in my tackle box. It has figures of basic knots. It talks about how and when to set up baits,lures and rigs under various conditions. It also gives techniques when fishing from jetties, banks, inshore, offshore, bridges, canals, etc. It's really handy if you are not having a particularly good fishing day and you want to move or change bait. I would have rated it a 4-star, except that it is a 1992 book, and the information on tackle and rigging is generically informative, but specifically just too old. The techniques info is just fine though. I'd recommend it only as a reference booklet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Fishing - General    3. General    4. Oceans & Seas    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Fishing Tackle    8. Fishing Tips    9. Saltwater Fishing   

Reviews (11)

Beautiful Book
This is a beautiful little book that would make a great addition to any ocean lover's collection.

My Favorite Beaches Book - Inspirational !
I am a beach lover, and as the DVD producer / cameraman of the "Waves: Virtual Vacations" Series here on Amazon.com, this book has been an inspiration to me.The spectacular shots of beaches from around the world are truly extraordinary.Having shot myself hundreds of the best beaches from California, Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean both with stills and for the DVDs, I can easily say this book is top notch.I highly recommend it. It sits proudly on my desk.And for those who want to see and hear what some of these beaches really feel like, bring this book with you and check out our Waves DVDs here on Amazon.

A Retreat in Itself
The is a stunning book.The photos come from diverse parts of the globe and diverse coastal landscapes.At first, I was skeptical of the small-ish size.But the photos are very high quality and beautiful to look at.Maybe someday I'll get around to looking at the text?Read more

Subjects:  1. Beaches    2. Coastal Geomorphology    3. Light    4. Oceans & Seas    5. Photo Essays    6. Photography    7. Pictorial works    8. Science    9. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    10. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/General    11. Geological surface processes (geomorphology)    12. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    13. Optics (light)    14. Photographs: collections    15. Photography / Nature & Wildlife   

Reviews (7)

"A Kiss of Blue"
Coming across this book is much like finding a bit of treasure from the sea. Plenty of "pearls", "gold", and "jewels" are to be found here. There are lovely stories, poems, cartoons, drawings and paintings to be cherished. Each one comes from the heart. Anyone who knows the "Chicken Soup" series of books will know what to expect, each contribution is amazing. Those who have not yet been introduced, this volume will be a wonderful place to start. The ocean theme will bring close to home the importance of the ocean and our responsibility towards it. The Sea's power and mystery reaches out to each of us in all parts of the world. What sets this one a bit apart from others is the inclusion of Wyland's art and his personal stories. This is a soulful, spiritual, and beautiful man who deeply loves the sea and is doing what he can to bring that out in all of us in order to protect it for the following generations. His moving stories will bring you closer to that part of us that that love the ocean and all that live in it. Don't miss out. It is unforgettable.

Excellent!
This book is really excellent. I was in a diving trip in the islets of spratlys when i started reading this book. It really had my eyes fill with tears. The book not only did touch my heart but also my soul. Never did i regret buying this book!

The best book in the chicken soup series!!!
Wow! I received this book as a gift from a co-worker who knew I was a fan of the work of the artist Wyland. I had seen the Chicken Soup series for years, but found most of the stories to be a little too similar. This book was a VAST improvement and really deserves a look from anyone who thought the Chicken Soup series has burned itself out. I was particularly drawn to the story, "The Sea and the Wind that Blows," by E.B. White, the author of "Charlotte's Web." White, a long-time sailing aficionado, realizes for the first time that he is getting older and is becoming a risk to himself by sailing alone ... and must make a painful decision to give up his beloved pasttime. He ultimately decides that the point of life is to do what you love, and in so doing, decides to continue his sailing adventures, regardless of the consequences. It's a message for everyone who has ever considered giving up on something precious. The other stories are great too -- they come from around the entire world -- but are too numerous to explain in this review. This was simply a great gift that I will treasure as long as my paperback copy holds out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Human-animal relationships    3. Inspirational    4. Inspirational - General    5. Marine animals    6. Motivational & Inspirational    7. Ocean    8. Oceans & Seas    9. Psychological aspects    10. Sports    11. Sports & Recreation    12. Water Sports    13. Nature / Oceans & Seas   

Editorial Review

Meteorologists called the storm that hit North America's eastern seaboard inOctober 1991 a "perfect storm" because of the rare combination of factorsthat created it. For everyone else, it was perfect hell. In Read more

Reviews (882)

Excellent, exciting and interesting...
I read this book after I visited Gloucester last year and had a chance to read F/V Black Sheep before it was published, in it the author talks about drinking in a bar with Sully so it was interesting to be able to get this book and read about what happened to him. Gloucester fishermen sure lead tough lives. This is a very exciting book with lots of details and information about what their lives are like. I'll probably read it again.

A haunting sea
This is a gripping book that kept me awake many nights when the winds would push the rain against my bed room windows.They say that the New England weather is unpredictable and having lived in Massachusetts for almost 15 years I can only agree.Storms can build so fast that a sunny picnic can quickly turn into a washed out event.In fact, I remember this "Perfect storm" happening in October of 1991.It happened the day of Halloween and it rained and rained and rained.The sky was so dark and the wind was roaring like a true Nor'easter.Given my location and own personal experience of this storm, I feel very attached to this story.
The Perfect Storm
By: Travis Brountas, a sixth grader in Maine
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Natural Disasters    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. New England    6. Northeast storms    7. Oceans & Seas    8. Specific Groups - General    9. Nature / Oceans & Seas    10. Biography    11. Storms    12. Specific Groups   

Subjects:  1. Coastal Ecology    2. Ecology    3. Environmental Science    4. Environmental Studies    5. Life Sciences - Biology - Marine Biology    6. Life Sciences - Ecology    7. Marine Ecology    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Applied ecology    11. Ecological science, the Biosphere    12. Oceanography (seas)   

Subjects:  1. Animal communities    2. Atlantic Coast (Canada)    3. Atlantic Coast (U.S.)    4. Coastal Ecology    5. Life Sciences - Ecology    6. Life Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Animal ecology    10. Atlantic Ocean    11. Ecological science, the Biosphere    12. Marine biology    13. Oceanography (seas)    14. Plant ecology   

Reviews (3)

For the Ageless Avid Beachcomber
If you like to collect seashells, then this handy key to the typical shells found on a beach may be of interest. It comes in a handy soft cover and is pocket sized, so it will easily fit in one's bathing suit's waist.It is slender, although several of the easy to find shells are listed, photos are reasonable and of good quality.It is similar to other such books, although not quite a book and not quite a pamphlet. It's in a league of its own!

Ultimate shell reference!
Whether for a valuable collection at home, or a sight while swimming or scuba diving, this will prove very reliable in the field. A MUCH more advanced field guide than the Golden First Guides, this lists over 600 shells in all and will quickly identify any strange seashell you happen to find beachcombing. This guide contains: Augor shells, chitons, whelks, limpets, and many other valuable collectibles. Each shell species entry has a description added to the side, explaining: abundance, range, and habitat. After the first Golden Guide to Seashells intrigues you, try your luck out with this field reference. This is the book that got me started.
Yes it's way out of date.Yes the super rare shells listed in the book are often no longer even mildly rare.Yes it is drawings only.Sigh.But this is the book that got me and all too many others hooked into this area.30 years later I still love the hobby.Give it to a child and watch him/her grow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Seashells    4. Nature / Oceans & Seas   

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Oceanography    2. Electric Energy Conversion    3. Energy    4. Ocean thermal power plants    5. Oceans & Seas    6. Power Resources    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Alternative & renewable energy sources & technology    11. Engineering & Technology    12. Science / Energy