Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Economic aspects    3. Economics - General    4. Environmental Science    5. Natural Resources    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Water resources development    9. Water-supply    10. Literary Criticism & Collections / Theory   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Drying    3. Kilns    4. Lumber    5. Manufacturing    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Wood Technology And Products    10. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    11. Technology / Agriculture & Animal Husbandry    12. Timber & wood processing    13. chemical engineering    14. forest engineering    15. wood process engineering    16. wood science   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Forestry    2. Forests and forestry    3. Mensuration    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technology    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    10. Technology / Agriculture / Forestry   

Reviews (2)

Jewels-Not Only for Jewel Lovers
For anyone who is interested in the fascinating story of some of the worlds most popular types of jewels, this book is for you. For anyone who is interested in visiting little know and remote parts of our planet, this book is for you. For anyone who is interested in better understanding why people are mesmerized by beautiful objects and why other people undertake dangerous jobs to find them, this book is for you.
Sparkling History
"It is an ordinary gemstone," writes Victoria Finlay of the sapphire in a ring given to her by her parents, "yet like most other ordinary gemstones it has a good story to tell, if you go looking for it."Go looking she does, not only for the story of that sapphire but for those of other gems, and yes, she found good stories and writes them up in _Jewels: A Secret History_ (Ballantine Books).Indeed, she values the stories more than the stones' rarity, perfection, or size.She set out to tell stories of nine different stones, from semi-precious to precious, and from two to ten on the Mohs hardness scale.The scale, invented in 1825 by mineralogist Freidrich Mohs, simply rates stones and other substances by what they can scratch and what scratches them; talc rates a one and diamond, the hardest substance known, rates a ten.Finlay ranges her chapters from softest stone to hardest: amber (Mohs somewhere between gypsum 2 and calcite 3), through jet, pearl, opal, peridot, emerald, sapphire, ruby, and finally diamond.(It is interesting that value tends to increase with hardness, indicating that we place a premium on durability.)Even the biggest stones, Finley notes, are objects that are really rather small, but the stories encompass great swaths of human history and technical expertise.
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Subjects:  1. Fashion    2. Gems    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Jewelry    7. Jewelry making    8. Precious stones    9. Rocks & Minerals    10. World - General    11. World History    12. History / World   

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. Engineering - General    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Environmental Engineering & Technology    5. Environmental Science    6. Groundwater    7. Groundwater Pollution    8. Oil pollution of groundwater    9. Purification    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Technology & Industrial Arts    13. Water Purification    14. Water Supply    15. Pollution of rivers & water supplies    16. Sanitary & municipal engineering    17. Science / Environmental Science   

Reviews (6)

Best WNC Hiking and Waterfall book out there
Buy this and forget all other waterfall and hiking books for WNC.
Highly Recommended
I visited the mountains last week (Mid May) and with the help of this book I was able to find some really beautiful waterfalls. I never would have known they were there if not for the book. The directions were clear and easy to following, and the information on where to park was extrememly helpful. The best part about it was the fact that we had every waterfall to ourselves. I would highly recommened this book to anyone who enjoys unspoiled waterfalls.

Keeper waterfall book
This is the updated version of the 1994 book - and at its release - it's extremely accurate of trail conditions (just used it).This is the bible for NC waterfalls in my opinion.The chapters are laid out nicely according to region and there are enough details to always set you right direction to each falls.
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Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Hydrology    2. North Carolina    3. Photography    4. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    5. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S/South    6. Techniques - General    7. Travel    8. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    9. Water Supply    10. Waterfalls   

Reviews (41)

Really awsome tale of fishing off the coast of Alaska
This book is a semi-autobiographical tale of the dangers and rewards of fishing in both the Gulf of Alaska and the Bearing Sea.Spike Walker recounts his 8 years of fishing for crab, as well a touches on some of the cod and other fish caught in these cold waters.Walker talks about both the highs (the ability to earn $100,000 in four months, in the early 80's) and the lows (stories of death, missing fishermen, and rampant drug usage).
Very well written account of King crab fishing
This is a succint and well-written account of the fishing industry in Alaska. Too often books like this start well and rev you up in the first few pages. But after a while, you get lost in the detail and finish them for the sake of it. Fortunately this book is NOT like that and lives upto the promise it makes in the first few pages. The author sticks to the subject and presents an all-round view of how it really was. There is a good mix of information and action and there is no dull moment.
Pretty good but a bit boring
I am a huge fan of anything Alaska. This book is good, but a bit boring at times. Perhaps a bit too much drama about the characters and not enough about the sport he is partaking in. Good for an easy quick read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Alaska    3. Alaskan king crab fisheries    4. Biography    5. Fishers    6. General    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Walker, Spike   

Reviews (1)

A useful reference for the practicing hydrogeologist
The Design, Performance, and Analysis of Slug Tests is a text which walks the reader through all the necessary steps for obtaining information about the transmissive nature of formations through slug testing.Butler givesnot only a theoretical understanding of the slug test in this book, but healso gives many caveats and pitfalls which may be encountered when usingthe method.Butler explains to the reader which field methods and analysismethods are best suited for various situations.He also gives specialreccomendations for formations of high and low hydraulic conductivity. This book is not meant to be read from cover to cover, but is an excellentreference for the field hydrogeologist.The topic is limited in scope - afact which allows the coverage of the material to be superb. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aquifers    2. Earth Sciences - Geology    3. Earth Sciences - Hydrology    4. Geological Research    5. Groundwater flow    6. Measurement    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Testing    10. Underground Water    11. Wells    12. Environmental science    13. Nature / Water Supply    14. Soil science, sedimentology   

Reviews (3)

Excellent, portable, easy to use.
Very good reference guide to have while assessing forest.Is portable enought to take along, without being unreasonably heavy and bulky.Still need definitive text to refer back to, since it's not all-inclusive, but then again, it isn't supposed to be.

Forestry Handbook: Must-have resource for foresters
The Forestry Handbook contains a wealth of information for foresters and other natural resource managers.It's not a book that you read from start to finish (even discounting the 1,335 page length).Rather, it is a superb reference book.I use the Handbook frequently, and have a copy both at work and at home. outstanding book
i used this book extensively during my forestry training.if you are serious about forestry this is a must have book. it covers everything to do with forestry. its extreamly informative. the price may seem a bit highbut, you'll get volumes of excelentforestry information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Forestry    2. Forestry (General)    3. Forests and forestry    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Reference    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    8. Nature / Trees   

Editorial Review

The title of this book could not be more explicit or apt. With 40 actual wood specimens in popular use, descriptions of grain, color and texture, how to identify trees by their leaves, fruit, and bark, and much more, this is a small encyclopedia for woodworkers, carpenters, hobbyists, dealers, architects, craftsmen, nature lovers, teachers, or anyone with the urge to learn about wood. With small, aromatic samples of 40 varieties of wood, from afrormosia to zebrawood, this book even smells good! --Read more

Reviews (4)

Focus On European Not USA Species
This book is of little value for the woodworker trying to identify woods commonly used on the American continent.When the species are described (with wood samples provided) the European varieties are given to the exclusion of woods from this continent.Species vary enough from the Euopean continent to make the book of very little use in identifying American woods and can even be misleading. The grain pattern on Birch is a classic example and Birch is used a great deal on funiture. Quiet and straightforward
This is a very friendly and straightforward book. It starts with veneer samples (quite small, but big enough) of 40 woods and finishes with descriptions of the trees that yield these 40 woods. Great samples. Great book.
If your working on a project involving exotic woods, then this book should be added to your library. The REAL wood samples are great. The book also has very useful information about many types of wood. I find this book tobe a handy reference tool and am glad to have added it to my collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Forests and forestry    2. General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Identification    6. Reference    7. Trees    8. Wood    9. Woodwork - General    10. Woodworking    11. Reference / Handbooks & Manuals   

Reviews (1)

Useful book
It contains a lot of thin-section photo of igneous rocks. By reading the atlas of igneous rocks, we can classify their rocks type. It is a very great book for studying igneous rock. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. General    3. Igneous Petrology    4. Reference    5. Rocks & Minerals    6. Rocks, Igneous    7. Nature / Rocks & Minerals   

Reviews (1)

An excellent academicintroduction to aerial photography
This book is an outstanding, in-depth introduction to the science of aerial photography.At the outset, it must be said that this book does not tell you how to bring in, register, or project your aerial photo in a particular GIS application.What it does tell you is how that photo came about and how it might be interpreted or used.The text reads well, but does require the reader's full attention to absorb all the information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aerial photography    2. Aerial photography in forestry    3. Agriculture - Forestry    4. Architectural & Industrial    5. Natural Resources    6. Natural Resources Management    7. Photo Essays    8. Photographic interpretation    9. Photography    10. Scientific And Industrial Photography    11. Techniques - General    12. Cartography, geodesy & geographic information systems (GIS)    13. Nature / Natural Resources   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Agronomy    2. Agriculture - Soil Science    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Soil Management    6. Soil conservation    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Water Resources Conservation    10. Water Supply    11. Water conservation    12. Agriculture & Farming    13. Conservation of the environment    14. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (3)

Worth every penny for arborists and homeowners alike
Printed by Oxford University Press, Pirone's Tree Maintenance has the heft and durability to withstand countless consultations.The text is informative beyond measure and very readable.The photography is black-and-white and didn't reproduce all that well, especially for small and detailed items; photos range from 'Fig. 7-15. Brush chipper and dump truck' (oh please...) to a hollowed-out, decayed Silver Maple resting comfortably on what appears to be a four-bedroom Dutch Colonial (illustrating the section on Identifying Hazard Trees).Good section on insects and diseases (with the caveat that the photos aren't that great); excellent tree-specific section.You will learn a lot from this book--it's a must if you want to rely on another source besides the local tree guy with a chainsaw.

Another book on my Horticulture Short List
Pirone's Tree Maintenance (Seventh Edition) is one of about a half dozen books I keep within arms reach.While Parts I and II provide a fantastic amount of information on the care of trees and identifying problem, it is Part III that I use the most.This section lists common insects, diseases, and problems associated with specific tree species.While by no means comprehensive, it is an excellent place to start when trying to figure out what is going on with a tree.
Practical introduction for the novice arborist
This classic text gives a broad introduction to the field of tree management, including common health problems associated with trees and practical advice for solving them. It is an excellent primer for thenovice arborist. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diseases and pests    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Life Sciences - Botany    6. Life Sciences - Horticulture    7. Ornamental Plants    8. Ornamental trees    9. Pest Control In Horticultural Crops    10. Techniques    11. Trees    12. Trees, care of    13. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    14. Gardening / Trees    15. Life Sciences | Botany | Plant Physiology    16. North America    17. Shrubs & trees   

Subjects:  1. Applied Mathematics    2. Arithmetic    3. Engineering - Industrial    4. General    5. Life Sciences - Ecology - Recycling    6. Mathematics    7. Problems, exercises, etc    8. Purification    9. Sanitary And Municipal Engineering    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Sewage    13. Sewage disposal    14. Technology & Industrial Arts    15. Mathematics for scientists & engineers    16. Nature / Water Supply    17. Sanitary & municipal engineering   

Reviews (2)

An invaluable title for veterinarians
Kevin Wright and Brent Whitaker's Amphibian Medicine And Captive Husbandry is a comprehensive, in-depth, scholarly reference manual designed to introduce and assist veterinary practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in captive amphibians. However, it also serves as an invaluable, core addition to the library of any herpetologist, breeder or pet owner of an amphibian, for it extensively covers numerous details of the care, feeding, and reproduction of captive amphibians, as well as disease diagnosis, basic clinical techniques for treatment. The many diseases discussed include sicknesses that are infectious, metabolic, nutritional, neoplastic, and idiopathic. 243 color pictures, 317 black and white pictures, and 54 tables greatly enhance the meticulous and highly precise text of this exhaustively complete reference. An invaluable title for veterinarians and/or owners of amphibians.

Comments from co-editor Dr. Kevin Wright
Hello, I am Dr. Kevin Wright, co-editor of Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry.Given the global decline of amphibian populations noted at the end of the 20th century, Dr. Whitaker and I designed Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry to introduce the diagnosis and treatment of disease in amphibians to a wide range of audiences.Although our primary intent was to provide a practical but thorough text for the veterinary clinician, we believe this book will be an essential part of any biologist's library; the topics covered range from amphibian captive husbandry and propagation to the diagnosis of disease in amphibians by the application of basic clinicopathologic techniques.Topics are arranged by etiology.The pathology section is highly detailed and provides the only overview of amphibian pathology published.Read more

Subjects:  1. Amphibia    2. Amphibians    3. Animals    4. Captive amphibians    5. Diseases    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Pets    9. Reptiles, Amphibians & Terrariums    10. Veterinary Medicine Practice For Specific Animals    11. Veterinary medicine    12. Aquaculture & fishing: practice & techniques    13. Veterinary science: small animals (pets)   

Reviews (1)

Excellent for Astronomy buffs and Science Fiction buffs
This book has three parts: the Starlist, the visual binary stars (includes drawn orbits), and the variable stars (includes graphs of maxima/minima). Excellent ephemerides.Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General    2. Astronomy - Star Guides    3. Atlases    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Stars    7. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / Astronomy    9. Stars, interstellar matter   

Reviews (8)

Snapshot of a Ranger
I loved this book.The stories are riveting.I'm an avid backpacker; I find myself reflecting on this book while I'm in the backcountry.I usually have a short attention span, but I was captivated by the variety of situations and stories.One thing that I really enjoy is how the author assumes that you're intelligent enough to want to know what's going in the different medical situations.Most books that I pick up these days don't appeal to people that want to educate themselves; if you have any interest in medicine, the outdoors, adventure or interesting people, buy this book.Dr. Nancy Eileen Muleady-Mecham is one of those poeple that makes you wonder "how can one person do all that?"If you've ever visited a national park, you may or may not realize what these people do behind the scenes.They're expected to be protectors of our resources, law enforcement, fire fighters, medical technicians, and experts on the local environment.If you've ever gotten into trouble in the backcountry, you know these people are angels.They love their job and they have the best office in the whole world.There's not a lot of books out there that give you real insight on what goes on in a national park; this is the one to get.After reading this book, I have more respect than ever for what the rangers do;Dr. Muleady-Mecham is at the head of her class.If you know any young people that are considering a future in the National Park Service (or aren't sure what they want to be) - BUY THEM THIS BOOK!!

So What?
I barely got through this book and I love this genre.Two things kept annoying me in this book:1) it was poorly edited and 2)poorly written.
Easy read, enough techie stuff to sound "real"
Enjoyed the book. Purchased it with "Hey, Ranger!" and wound up reading it first. Swift read and explains technical details that I never understood until now. Repetition is part of the job. Very exciting repetition! Being from the "Park Ranger wannabe" generation, I thought it was cool to hear about the actual skill set and activities needed. I couldn't do it! Enjoyable read, probably not for everyone. If you like Tom Clancy details + adventure - go for it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction - General    2. General    3. Natural Resources    4. Naturalists, Gardeners, Environmentalists   

Editorial Review

Published in 1949, shortly after the author's death, Read more

Reviews (52)

A must read
A beautifully written account of Aldo Leopold's awakening to an environmental consciousness.

Galaxy (Oxford) edition is worth the extra money
This review does not relate directly to the information in the book which has been discussed in detail in many excellent reviews.This book is truly for the person who loves the outdoors and is in itself 5 stars
a book for meditation. . .
I had to read a science book for English class, and I wasn't the most thrilled. Reading the first parts of A Sand County Almanac, I wasn't sure if I was going to finish reading it, because I found his intense love for nature a bit extreme; however, as I continued reading, I found it very thought-provoking -- comparable to Thoreau -- and made me appreciate nature and its wonder. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Essays    3. Natural Resources    4. Natural history    5. Nature    6. Nature conservation    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Outdoor books    9. United States    10. Nature / Natural Resources   

Reviews (1)

The conifer manual
I 'm a partner inspecialized conifer nursery, always we are asking for the second volume for this extraordinary book. May be one of the best conifers manual. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Forestry    2. Conifers    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Ornamental conifers    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Trees    9. Trees & Forests - General    10. Varieties    11. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    12. Management of land & natural resources    13. Nature / Trees