Reviews (2)

Extremely valuable tool
"Land Development Calculations" provides an excellent and innovative strategy for working towards sustainable land use and development.The models for varying land development strategies can assist local government land use decision makers and planners as well as developers determine the carrying capacity of land within realistic thresholds.The accompanying spreadsheets for the development scenarios on the CD-ROM are extremely user friendly and do not place an undue burden on the user by requiring what may be hard to find or to collect data.All of the data required just is typical of what is necessary to make appropriate land development decisions.As a local government planner, I am working towards incorporating the information received from the models in to the zoning and development code as part of the approval process by using it to further assess suitability of the property for the purposes proposed (a zoning consideration required in accordance with the State of Georgia Zoning Procedures Act).I strongly encourage other land planners and developers to read "Land Development Calculations," because of its highly practical and very timely material.

Author Delivers Valuable Techniques and Tools
This is a terrificaly valuable technical reference for practitioners who need an efficient method of performing land development calulations. The book and its companion set of spreadsheets enable users to answer two key questions: 1) how much can be built on a given piece of land; or 2) how much land is needed to accommodate a given use? The material is clearly written and well illustrated, especially a series of worksheets leading through the method. Another strength is its comprehensiveness and detail, including all major land-use and micro site conditions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Land use    3. Mathematical models    4. Natural Resources    5. Planning    6. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    7. Real estate development    8. Reference    9. Architectural structure & design    10. Architecture / Methods & Materials    11. Structural engineering   

Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    3. Environmentalism    4. Green movement    5. Natural Resources    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Sustainable development    9. Environment; political science; ecology    10. Globalization    11. Nature / Ecology   

Reviews (12)

Plan B
Fred Pearce provides a current and thorough accounting of the travestries of water mismanagement throughout the globe.Plan A groups the grandiose and expensive plans of water engineers to impound and transfer water that have already failed or soon will fail [e.g. "water flows uphill to money"]
Afoundation to our future
A scientific travelogue, engaging both in the author's personal approach and the wealth of information it contains. Highly readable; the message is both clear and alarming:we have soiled our home, have lost sight of our stewardship, and immediate action is needed.Continuing neglect, indifference, and procrastination will be irreversible.Not a shrill or alarmist messenger, the author provides practical interventions both for the individual and on a larger, political scale.The concern is that, embedded in the present, broader cacophany of blame and distraction, the book will be overlooked.Read this book.You owe it to yourself and the future to not sit on the sidelines.

Sponge of Damocles
For those concerned about the frightening state of the world's fresh water supplies, this book is a treasure of information and viewpoints on why humanity should start getting extremely worried about the issue. Fred Pearce has traveled the world to report on water supply horror stories (and a few success stories), with the theme of river health and long-term human usage. This book turns out to have a similar effect for the reader as others on the subject, which dutifully report on who in the world doesn't have enough water to drink and the potential human consequences. (Though this one probably has the most specific examples.) Pearce does give his book a bit of an edge by finding some unique insights into the social and economic problems that are leading us all down a sinkhole of disappearing water.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Natural Resources    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Water Supply    6. Water resources development    7. Water-supply    8. Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection   

Subjects:  1. Geology    2. Natural Resources    3. Petroleum    4. Petrology    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Technology / Petroleum   

Reviews (55)

I'd go elesewhere for a broader view of energy issues
The title of this book is a good summery of their views.Most if not all of what the authors have to say is true and much of it interesting. They talk a lot about computers and how they will make cars more efficient and even about one author's theory about how life began.They are very optimistic about science finding ways to handle our energy needs without much change in our lifestyle or the health of our economy.However if you want to know something about how much oil is left, what are the prospects for specific alternative energy sources and how global warming will impact the trade offs I suggest you go to another source.The best I have found is: ENERGY AT THE CROSSROADS by Vaclav Smil.He is an academic who has studied energy issues for 40 years.It is a tougher read because it has a lot more pertinent science and information.He is not given to prediction because he has seen so many fail but he does address the issues in a thoughtful and nuanced way.

A Grand Tale
Huber and Mills tell a happy and triumphant story in The Bottomless Well.Our energy future is secure."Energy technology is now poised to evolve faster than at any time before in human history."Don't worry about the details, the markets will work it all out (markets never fail).The story is cast as a battle between order and chaos, life and death. It is a "chronicle of humanity's struggle against the second law of thermodynamics, not in theory but in the real world . . . It is a story of ingenious valves and gates that flip open and closed, with just the right timing, to push energy up the thermodynamic hill, to structure our environment, and to add order to our lives." xxix.Capitalists are on the side of order.Ghandi and government regulators are on the side of chaos.
Great material but inflated and unnecesarily devisive...
A character in the recent dystopian science fiction film The Island works all day injecting fluids into wires that disappear into the wall next to him.He is never told "where these wires go," and his curiousity to find out eats away at him.Without this crucial contextual knowledge, his understanding of his own role in the system is facile.
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Subjects:  1. Energy    2. Energy Policy (Economic Aspects)    3. Energy consumption    4. Energy policy    5. Energy resources    6. Natural Resources    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Power Resources    10. Power Resources Management    11. Science    12. Management of land & natural resources   

Editorial Review

With language as colorful as a Canyonlands sunset and a perspective as pointed as a pricklypear, Cactus Ed captures the heat, mystery, and surprising bounty of desert life. Read more

Reviews (104)

I try to imagine a ride along the river...
Edward Abbey is a contradiction. A poet when describing the wonders of the desert and the joys of solitude; then he becomes a strident critic ofhis fellow man if they have the audacity to disagree with him. There is a definite will and intelligence driving the prose, but it is partially spoiled by the rants that Abbey goes on. The book has a split personality; celebrating the wilderness, but using a voice that often becomes so disagreeable that you might want to take asphalt to the park yourself. Finally though the poet wins out and you go along for the ride. I try to think of this book as rafting down the river, enjoying the wonders and trying to avoid the jagged rocks. A little white water is fine; just don't hold me underwater forhours at a time.

A yawn as big as the Grand Canyon
When this book first came out, it started a nationwide cult, primarily of college-aged students, who suddenly became entranced with nature and began to rally against the forces trying to contain it.Although he had written three prior books, this was Abbey's first major success as he relates stories from his two summers as a Park Ranger in the Arches National Monument in southeast Utah.There is no straight narrative here, just bits and pieces from his experiences in this desert land.He also finds time to boat down the Colorado River through the Glen Canyon before it is forever flooded by another massive dam. Although I stuck with this book to the end, I found it more sleep inducing than inspiring.Although written well, Abbey seems to find it necessary to include the names, bothEnglish and Latin, of every single plant and bush that grows in this desert.He even endlessly names the rocks. Then he goes on to the stars! And that trip down the river was mostly repetitive glimpses down side canyons.However, this is a forerunner to one of my favorite books, Abbey's "The Monkey Wrench Gang," as he gives us glimpses into the beginnings of eco-terrorism with the pulling up of surveyors' stakes and the destruction of billboards.I have read the "Gang" many times, "Solitaire" will just be once.

"Arches" Outshines Abbey's Militant Gibberish
Abbey is the type of person that you will either love or hate.There is no middle ground.Personally, I find few things in this book that do Arches the justice that it deserves and I can't tolerate Abbey's selfish militant eco-hermit gibberish.That being said, I'm a scientist and I realize the importance of preservation of our wild lands and I constantly encourage people to become involved BUT I will never become so selfish as to propose exclusion of these places to handicapped people.Futhermore, I could never place a snake's life in higher regard than a human unless the human is a worthless piece of sh*t.So, you can tell I'm not on the majority's side here...I won't glorify this Abbey's book like others have done in these reviews.Do yourself a favor and VISIT Arches and see these things for yourself.Its the most beautiful place you will likely see out West.For something really enjoyable, read anything by John Wesley Powell...won't be written about Arches but will describe the West in its early, unexplored days. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arches National Park    2. Biography    3. Desert biology    4. Essays    5. General    6. National parks and reserves    7. Natural Resources    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Park rangers    11. United States    12. Utah    13. Modern fiction    14. Nature / Natural Resources   

Reviews (4)

Absolutely fascinating work
This book took me into the grassroots level work of the newest Nobel Peace Prize winner.I was glad to get a glimpse into what the world is just recognizing as the new frontier - the hope that comes from action at the local level which makes real course changes in our world as a whole.I enjoyed the very practical outline of this movement's accomplishments and connections to the growing consciousness for earth's slow, steady salvation.

GREEN BELT MOVEMENT
I found this book to be an enlightening and educating account of the background and work of the current Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Wangari Maathai.THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT is currently the only volume that provides as much insight on this topic.
Depressed about the environment?Read this book!!
The Green Belt Movement by Wangari Maathai is a wonderful, informative and user-friendly book that gives a good sense of the movement's history and the person behind it. Just as Maathai in her work likes to keep her hands in the dirt planting trees, in her book she cuts directly to the meat and bones of what the Green Belt Movement is about and how it functions practically on the ground.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Environmental Studies    3. Green Belt Movement (Society :    4. Green Belt Movement (Society : Kenya)    5. Kenya    6. Natural Resources    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Tree planting    10. Trees & Forests - General    11. Africa    12. Environmentalist, conservationist & Green organizations   

Reviews (3)

Highly Recommended for Understanding Environmental Issues
How much pollution is too much? What role should government play in regulating the environment? Will "clean technology" lay the foundation for a sustainable future? These are the questions students of environment issues are posed with. Letters from Students
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 15:55:19 -0500 From: C.N.Gomersall Highly Recommended for Students of Environmental Issues
How much pollution is too much? What role should government play in regulating the environment? Will "clean technology" lay the foundation for a sustainable future? To help students understand thefar-reaching implications of environmental and resource economics, thistext examines a broad range of topics in environmental economics. Itpresents "standard analysis," as well as in-depth treatment ofimportant issues at the cutting edge of environmental policy debates. Thefocus is on equipping students with the tools necessary to analyze currentenvironmental issues as an economist would.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Sustainable Development    5. Economic development    6. Economics - General    7. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    8. Environmental Economics    9. Environmental Science    10. Environmental aspects    11. Natural Resources    12. Business & Economics / Economics / General    13. Economics   

Reviews (6)

what a disturbing book
I haven't even finished reading this book yet and I'm already feeling queasy about my own diamond ring, which incidentally I haven't worn in a few years due to an allergic reaction.When my husband and I bought it, it was definitely the most expensive thing either of us had ever shelled out money for, except our co-op apartment.Neither of us knew about the bloody history of the industry and the likelihood that the "forever" symbol of our love was so tainted.I'd like to sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.At least then it would do something good for somebody.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, and important
As others here have noted, Tom Zoellner's book is comprehensive, engaging, and deeply troubling for those of us who had planned to proudly wear a diamond one day. In addition to these observations, I'd like to point out several other aspects of the book that place it a step above similar works of non-fiction.
Excellent read
As a current student at GIA, this book gives a total different story about diamonds and the diamond industry. He's fair, honest and meticulous in his explanations. This book is funny, sad, scary and you feel as though you are on a journey with him through the many areas of the world where mining occurs. Makes you really think about other world industries when a little rock can be the difference of whether you live or die. Excellent read, awesome author. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Diamonds    3. Natural Resources    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Customs    7. Jewellery & jewellery-making    8. Travel / Africa   

Reviews (1)

A Good Book!
I first met the book in the uni library. Having been teaching natural resources and environmental economics, I find this intermediate textbook with is useful and worthy of recommendating for those postgraduates whohave strong interests in theoretical exploration. Since almost alltextbooks in the market are elementary and are not suitable for theadvanced readers, this book with new approaches has been increasingly usedin the uni. However, this book does not pay enough attention toenvironmental policy. This should be considered by the authors when thethird edition is composed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Development - Sustainable Development    4. Economics - General    5. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    6. Environmental economics    7. Management    8. Natural Resources    9. Nature    10. Sustainable development    11. Business & Economics / Economics / General    12. Macroeconomics   

Reviews (11)

Excellent information!An Easy & Fun Read!
Ryan and Durnings book contains excellent information about products we use everyday, and how our choices matter.After reading the first section tracing the history of coffee, I was prompted to go to my health food store and purchase "shade coffee" (organic or cooperatively produced).
Serious but fun read
This is one fun and informative book and one I am buying for young as well as older friends. I sit here typing on a computer keyboard and because of the book I see things I never really stopped to see before.And with this comes questions and answers about how many people and natural resources does it take to make all the elements of this modern marvel. Not just the keyboard, monitor and speakers, but the people behind Amazon.com who are consuming coffee, flushing toilets, using lights and machines to process my order.
Limited as an Environmental Guidebook, but Informative.
In "Stuff", Ryan provides a comprehensive description of the materials and processes used to produce, use, and dispose of a variety of everyday consumer products (automobile, hamburger, coffee, newspaper, etc.).He presents precise statistics on the quantity of raw and recycled materials, energy, and pollution caused by this production and consumption of each product."Stuff" is concise and thoroughly researched.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Consumer goods    3. Ecological Anthropology    4. Environmental Science    5. Environmental Studies    6. Environmental aspects    7. Green products    8. Natural Resources    9. North America    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Social Science   

Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. Earth Sciences - Geography    3. Environmental Science    4. Environmental Studies    5. Geographic information systems    6. Management    7. Natural Resources    8. Natural Resources Management    9. Nature    10. Computers / Information Technology    11. Geographical information systems (GIS)    12. Management of land & natural resources   

Reviews (1)

Great contribution to green building
I truly enjoyed this book. One thing that frustrates me about new environmental standards for buildings, like LEED, is the fact that designers and builders are not taking more cues from natural systems when they are planning the actual construction of these buildings.
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Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architecture    3. Environmental aspects    4. General    5. History - Specific Styles    6. Mental Health    7. Natural Resources    8. Nature    9. Psychological aspects    10. Psychology Of Architecture    11. Remodeling & Renovation - Energy Efficient    12. Architecture / General    13. Nature / General    14. The Environment   

Reviews (2)

The Best Drilling Book to Date
If you are looking for a good book on environmental, geotechnical or hydrogeology drilling this is the BOOK it is set up so even a driller can understand basic concepts and gives engineers a good idea about drilling practices and concepts.

A very comprehensive and complete book about drilling
Im a driller in Mexico, I have found this book very useful, it covers a lot of topics, It is very well explained and very detailed in any subject, from measures to drilling techniques as well as machinery and tools and geology for drillers.Read more

Subjects:  1. Boring    2. Earth Sciences - Geology    3. Mining    4. Natural Resources    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Geology & the lithosphere    9. Mining technology & engineering    10. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (2)

From an OPEC country ...
Excellent book, easy to read for petroleum engineers yet quite insightful and nicely presented. A great deal of references are useful to direct further reading, this book became my preferred reference in petroleum geology. Highly recommendable. From the Titan of petroleum!
This second edition surveys the science of petroleum geology.It describes the generation, migration, and entrapment of oil and gas, and outlines the procedures used in their location, evaluation, and production. The topics, appropriate for the geology student (and cyber-cadet seekingabiogenic petroleum anywhere in the universe), include requisite basicmaterial from the fields of petroleum engineering and geophysics. The eightcolour plates are packed with useful information.Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. Engineering - General    3. Geology    4. Natural Resources    5. Natural gas    6. Petroleum    7. Petroleum Geology    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Technology    11. Petroleum technology    12. Technology / Engineering / Chemical & Biochemical   

Reviews (2)

spectacular visuals, excellent text
This book is a spectacular visual text to some of the American National Parks.The size of the photos, and their photographic quality, are just excellent. The photos are right up there with National Geographic-type quality. In addition, the accompaning text gives ecological insights to where and why this part of the United States was designated and saved as a National Park.The book gives short but insightful accompanying text for each of the Parks that are presented to the reader. The only problem is, unfortunately, the organization of the chapters, and a very skimpy table of contents, and the reader can get easily annoyed with these two problems. It is hard to understand why the publisher made such errors, as the problems are very obvious, and the whole book suffers as a result.It is a beautiful book covering many of the National Parks, with super photos and very good college level text, and if you can put up with the problems of a missing table of contents, this book is a great collection of art, ecology, and the National Parks of the USA.A 5-star for the photos and accompanying text, and a 3 for a useless table of contents.Sorry, but the publisher made major mistakes in putting this otherwise spectacular book together. But I will still give the book a 5-star anyway. The photos and text are just too good to give this book anything less than a 5-star.

Spectacular Presentation of Natural Wonder
Paul Schullery presents a book filled with powerful and beautiful images of fifty-six national parks that have been dedicated to the preservation and protection of irreplaceable treasures. This book shows why these parks are so worthy of protection. Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. National parks and reserves    3. Natural Resources    4. Natural history    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Parks & Campgrounds    8. Pictorial works    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./General    10. Travel - United States    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. Nature / Natural Resources    14. Travel   

Reviews (2)

environmental economics
Learn how our environmental regulations really impact our economy and what the true cost of clean up is.

Excellent Intro to Environ reesource economics
This book holds an excewllent treatment of the range and focus of topics which fall under the environmental resource economics realm.The author addresses both the fundamentals and advanced social concepts mixed withexcellent examples of the economic principles which resource managers mustmake during the policy process and the inherent problems these policiespresent.A must read for anyone interested in working in the publicsector. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Economic development    4. Economics - General    5. Environmental aspects    6. Environmental economics    7. Natural Resources    8. Nature    9. Nature / Field Guide Books    10. Business & Economics / Economics / General    11. Economics   

Reviews (2)

Effective guide to opal evaluation
Downing's Opal Identification & Value provides a descriptive overview of opals, though it is short on technical data or gemmological information.The book emphasizes criteria for determining opal values, and here it performs a great service, because it lays out sensible-sounding and user-friendly guidelines.This book gives the reader an independent way to access the value of the opals offered in the marketplace, and helps her to make wise choices.

Best on How to Price an Opal
Even if you never intend to buy an opal, this book has much to offer a opal enthusiast, or those wanting an in depth knowledge of this gem.Other books will talk about differences in opal colors.Paul Downing will teach you to appreciate an opal's hue, tone, clarity, saturation and intensity.Lots of color pictures, as good as any other opal book, gives you the full range of the varieties of opals.
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Subjects:  1. Natural Resources    2. Nature    3. Opals    4. Reference   

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. Natural Resources    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Rocks & Minerals    6. Science    7. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY NON-FICTION    8. Nature / Rocks & Minerals   

Reviews (6)

Good hagiography of a controversial man
This is a good introduction to the theories and life of Viktor Schauberger, an Austrian naturalist and inventor. Born in 1885, Schauberger started life as a forester who tried to understand and copy Nature. From watching mountain streams he developed unorthodox theories based on vortex movement about water and its use. He started out designing highly efficient log flumes that used water in vortex motion and at its densest temperature of 4 degrees Centigrade. He then proposed cleaning up the Rhine River by rebuilding the natural curves which stimulate vortex motion in the water. He said that this vortex motion in the Earth caused spring water to be more alive than plain water. He believed that plants grew better in this living water and developed laboratory sized egg-shaped water energizers to activate water. Perfect Start for anyone interested in Learning about Water
I agree that this book is only a brief introduction into the thoughts of Schauberger but hopefully many people are inspired by this book to move forward into the area of water research in an effort to uncover many more truths about what really makes water healthy. An Excellent Appetizer, Please Pass the Main Course
This is an excellent, brief introduction to the thought of Viktor Schauberger, and I hope it inspires works which are more complete. Callum Coates' books reach in this direction, but what is really needed are more people to read these books, synthesize their information, and come up with new and original books which take us further into depth in these areas. This will probably involve synthesizing the work of Schauberger, Grander, Bienveniste, and others.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    3. Life Sciences - Ecology    4. Natural Resources    5. Naturalists, Gardeners, Environmentalists    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. 20th century    9. Biography: general    10. Conservation of the environment    11. Environmentalist thought & ideology    12. Sustainability    13. c 1800 to c 1900