Reviews (1)

COMPELLING, INSPIRING AND A FITTING TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER
When I learned of this dramatic account of the recent expeditions to track the planet's northernmost point of land, I knew that it was a must-read. Not only is it an exciting story about adventurers who succeeded in their goal, it brings a fitting tribute to John Denver to the outdoor community. John Jancik, Javana Richardson and Steve Gardiner have offered a book here that parallels Jon Krakauer's bestselling "Into Thin Air." Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Mountaineering    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (1)

A glimpse into the very heart of the Sierra Nevada.
This collection of Norman Clyde short topics from the 1920's and 1930's captures, in Clyde's refreshingly unassuming style, the very essence of life in the Siera Nevada- through the eyes of the man who spent more of hislife there, made more first ascents, and knew the high country better thanany man before or since.While modestly illustrated by modern standards,the work covers many aspects of the region which can not be foundelsewhere.A must-have for all who have felt the almost spiritual draw ofthis rugged and beautiful mountain range. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1885-1972    2. Clyde, Norman,    3. Essays    4. Guidebooks    5. Mountaineering    6. Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev    7. Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Travel    11. United States - West - Pacific (General)    12. Clyde, Norman    13. Clyde, Norman, 1885-1972    14. Whitney, Mount (Calif.)    15. Yosemite National Park (Calif.)   

Reviews (3)

Simply Beautiful
Having never heard of Rachel Carson except in relation to "Silent Spring", I was pleasantly surprised on first reading her writing in this book by the masterly and near-poetic elegance of her prose. Written in the 1950s, before nature documentaries allowed most of us to see the wonders of marine life with our own eyes, Carson's ability to introduce those wonders to us through evocatively-written description alone (with occasional illustrations) remains truly amazing. The problem is that a generation raised on visual stimuli would probably find it quite difficult to sustain enough patience to go through the whole book, since it does make substantial demands on one's sense of imagination. I found myself struggling by the time I had finished two chapters - even though each chapter is generally about a different kind of seashore (rock, sand, or coral reef), trying to visualise one fascinating organism after another just got rather tedious and confusing. My recommendation to other readers would be to maximise your enjoyment of this book by reading it at the seaside, or in conjunction with a relevant documentary on the Discovery Channel.

Informative as a textbook, entertainment like a novel
I just finished this and I can't wait to read the rest of the author's work.Carson has a gift for describing the world around her and a command of the language that few seem to appreciate today.This is basically a natural history book written as if it where a novel.In "Edge of the Sea" she describes seashores,the environment and how it defines the animals and plants that a visitor will see.She concentrates on America's East Coast.The text left me with a longing to be there. Where modern writers would use pictures, Carson uses words.This book would be good (4 stars) for anyone who enjoys written imagery. If you already love the sea then it deserves 5.

A Book written By Rachel Carson
I thought this book was very mature and detailed. She is an excellent writer and I am doing a report on her!She was a wonderful person. And I enjoyed this very much. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Essays    3. Marine Biology    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Oceans & Seas    7. Seashore biology    8. Conservation of the environment    9. Nature / Oceans & Seas   

Reviews (3)

interesting, pretty pictures, but blah
As the reader breebree mentioned, it is more of a reflection and definitely not a guide to parenting. I found this book to have interesting insights as the authors thought back to their childhoods with a different perspective, and observed the reactions of their children and those of others to their landscape. There were a bunch of cute little nostalgic tales but not a lot of impact. There are messages in there, but they're diffuse. I wish they had put more emphasis on their points or otherwise offered a more concrete discussion than just offering personal examples, muse a bit, and leave it there. It gave enough perspective to discuss our childhoods in small groups but beyond that I didn't find much use for this book. The landscape through a child's eyes
Gary Nabhan and Stephen Trimble have penned a fine collection of essays on how children perceive and play in their environment.References are made to psychological studies that support a child's need for wild places, butthe real value I see in this book comes from the authors' own anecdotalexperiences with their children.If you are a parent of small children,you will especially enjoy the ideas you will get for places to takechildren to play and explore. Read this book and you will begin to learnwhy children need to experience wild places.And why, as adults, if weshare the "hands-on" experiences with our kids, our ownconnection to the landscape becomes more deeply rooted.

I loved it!
At first glance, this book seems to be another in a long line of published material telling parents how to be good parents.But it really seemed like a personal reflection of what makes life great through a child's eyes. Instead of trying to raise a child through adult methods, this book showsthat through simply remembering what being a child was and why it was funis enough to help you understand what your child is thinking.Through thisunderstanding, you will become a great parent.I was very pleased with mypurchase and recommend this book to anyone that has had any contact withchildren. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Developmental - Child    2. Essays    3. Psychology    4. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    5. Child & developmental psychology    6. Nature / General   

Reviews (3)

One of those rare books...
There a few books that conjure a simultaneously bizarre reaction within a soul: like a biblical epiphany, Dagget stirs new paradigms that made me so excited that I could barely put down the book to complete my daily tasks.Yet, I could not turn the page to the next chapter because the elegant revelations of our place in nature evoked so much thought and "wow", that muddying the gift of a previous chapter with another would do it no justice.
A persuasive concept presented in a passable fashion
Dan Daggot has done an excellent synthesis of a number of "projects" to support the book's theme. The theme is that human interaction can be very beneficial to natural systems, as opposed to the common view that humans always degrade any environment they affect.
A new conflict out of an old one
In his new book Dan Dagget describes a new conflict over management of western resources. Instead of the tired old set-piece of preservation versus extraction, we now have a fresh, new struggle between Leave-It-Aloners--as Dagget terms those who believe that the best thing for humans to do with land is to leave it alone and let nature take its course--and the Lost Tribe, who are busy reversing land degradation through use.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Essays    3. General    4. Nature    5. Nature / Field Guide Books    6. Nature/Ecology    7. The Environment   

Reviews (2)

Tell Us More Mr. Science
Not enough people read Maeterlinck today and this is a shame: the man was, unlike some Nobel prize winners in literature, truly a fantastic writer with a uniquely tuned, sharp, comprehensively philosophical but never didactic mind. Coming from a well-to-do Belgian family in the age before Television, Radio, and all the other usually destructive distractions of today, the young Maeterlinck had beekeeping for his principal hobby (just ask even your high-I.Q. high-schooler today ANYTHING about the life of bees and ants and other social insects and you'll be amazed at how little they know, in spite of the 'Discovery' Channel and all the documentary films made about the subject and shown on TV), and inspired by the essays of Fabre, began a period of amateur observation and experiment with his apiary, finally publishing the results in 1901, at the age of 39, as "Life of the Bee." Written in a highly poetic style that blended fact, imagination, and mystical speculation, it became the single most popular book ever written about insect life. Not that there aren't errors in Maeterlinck's observations that subsequent research corrected, but as far as the QUALITY OF WRITING is concerned, no one else can even come close to these amazing descriptions: in fact, some of the best written passages in all of literature are in this book.

this is an incredible book
i found a copy of this in london, just hoping for something to keep me occupied while i was traveling.it turned out to be one of the best books i've ever read.an utterly unique view of the world - the bee's and our own. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Insects & Spiders    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Nature/Ecology   

Reviews (7)

Authenticity, underground, safety, and human education.
This is a collection of selected articles from a desktop-published magazine, and this shows in its irregularity of design, and its tendency to refer to other articles that weren't included in the collection. (Darn!) As is the case with some 'zines, though, this is the Real Deal, the Serious Stuff, these are the People Who Actually Know What They're Talking About. There's a bit of philosophizing throughout, about things like how there is some commonality of background amongst all human beings when you start looking at neolithic skills, and of the importance of human beings knowing how to make fire by rubbing sticks together. (I have to agree; knowing how to make fire is part of what made us human, but how many guys know how to do it nowadays? Can you?) All the instructions are saturated in safety precautions, making sure you know of the dangers and legal problems that you might get yourself into if you take risks with these crafts. (A relieving change of pace, after reading a few countercultural 'zines of the sort that tell how to blow things up, without giving much information about how to put them out again.) They strive for accuracy and authenticity, and respect for the cultures from around the world that they're learning from, as well as interest in innovation based on the concepts they learn. This is even better than I expected! I'm going to have to try a whole bunch of these crafts next time I'm camping. Thanks, guys!

Text Book Style
Written in traditional textbook form, this book covers dwellings to musical instruments. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for in my pursuit of "So if I were in the wilderness with a knife...", but it was still written very well, packed full of fascinating facts. There are detailed descriptions of simple weaponry and bow drilling, but it didn't tell me how to feather the arrows for my hickory bow. I can probably make a really good boomerang and decorate it traditionally; yet somehow if the need were to arise, I would not trust my proficiency with this time-honored hunting tool. There were some neat ideas for stringed darts and such. This book was very educational, and I am glad to have it, even if it wasn't exactly what I expected.

A good book for learning skills
This is a good book, and it covers many things. My favorite is the projectiles section. It shows how to make different kinds of spear throwers among other things. very interesting. I cant wait to get out and try some of this stuff. It is not a survival book by any means, but it's not supposed to be a survival book. It is just what the title says; a book of earth skills, and it lives up to this name. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Essays    5. Experiments    6. Industries, Prehistoric    7. Methodology    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    11. Nature / General   

Reviews (4)

Mixed feelings about it, overall a good book
I have mixed feelings about this book - it is a book packed with info & I imagine it would be very helpful to somebody who had never lived in Arizona & who wasn't already familiar with our native birds. So, if you don't know what the heck a Gambel's Quail is or what they look like, I'd imagine this would be the book for you. On the other hand, as someone who grew up in Tucson I can tell you that you'll still be a long way from finding any birds w/ this book in hand. It has general areas where birds can be found - but nothing that helped me find any more birds in the field than I found have found anyway...as a traveling wingshooter you'd still need another resource to help tell you exactly where to go (whether it be the guy at the gas station in Sonoita or a buddy who hunts doves near Picacho, etc)

QUAIL AND SHORTHAIRS
I HAVE NEVER READ A BOOK WITH MORE FEELING, KNOWLEDGE, AND JUST PLAIN "SMARTS" AS THIS BOOK BY "WEB" PARTON.I"M A VERY EXPERIENCED HUNTER AND SHOTGUN PERSON AND COULD NOT BELEIVE I WAS READING ABOOK WITH THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THE HUNTING, GUNS, AND SHELLSREQUIRED. MOST BOOKS SHOW THEIR IGNORANCE IN A FEW PAGES, THIS BOOK I COULDNOT PUT DOWN, IT'S THE TRUTH--READ THIS BOOK. PARTON IS MY HERO.

Fantastic Read!
This book establishes Web as the authority on Arizona wingshooting.If you own a shotgun you need this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arizona    2. Hunting    3. Hunting - Bird Hunting    4. Hunting - General    5. Hunting Sports    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Travel - United States    9. United States - Mountain - Arizona    10. Upland game bird shooting    11. Waterfowl shooting   

Reviews (2)

A fine example of regional writing, focusing on Colorado
Starting from a personal viewpoint (but in no means limited by it) author Robert Michael Pyle eloquently writes of the importance of nature and of making a personal connection to the land and the natural world. Never preachy, he manages to gently urge the reader to look more closely at the local landmarks, wildlife and little details that make up their most familiar landscapes. I saw the landscape in my area with new eyes after reading this book.

A trip in the natural pockets left within suburban sprawl.
Pyle grew up near an irrigation canal running through Denver and Aurora, Colorado.He has returned to this canal throughout his life, and in this book he tells their stories.Urbanization leaves these pockets of unclaimed land behind, and this book is a durable guide to one example.Coloradans will find Pyle's work especially relevant. At times, the author strays into a didactic zeal as he warns of the need to protect such places, but this is by far the lesser part of The Thunder Tree. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Colorado    4. Ecology    5. Essays    6. High Line Canal    7. Natural history    8. Naturalists    9. Nature    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Pyle, Robert Michael    12. Applied ecology    13. Biology, Life Sciences   

Editorial Review

As any lover of animals will tell you, creatures of the natural worldbring inspiration and spiritual insight to their human admirers. In thiscollection of essays, ponderings, poems, and interviews, which includescontributions from Jane Goodall, Barbara Kingsolver, Ursula Le Guin, and TessGallagher, readers are able to glimpse the personal yet profoundly universalimpact of animals on women's lives.Even more, theycanexperience the relational and spiritual feminine model for animal study. Intheir introduction, editors Linda Hogan, Deena Metzger, and Brenda Peterson explain, "Thisstrong sense of compassion that many women bring to the study, celebration,and love of animals has been world changing and visionary. We can now say thatthe old guard of detached science is being replaced with the new guardians,many of them the women in this Book." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent parallel to Peterson's "Living by Water".
I have always resonated with the way Brenda Peterson writes about her connection between our natural world and people.I found poignant parallels between the experiences described in "Bond" andPeterson's previous "Living by Water". God, how I wish I couldtalk to her.This latest book by Peterson (et al.) has struck a chord inme , and I feel this book is an important read for all women. Highlyrecommended.

The compassionate connection between women and animals
A beautiful, moving anthology of stories about the bond between humans (in this book, specifically female) and animals. I especially loved the story of Isabel the cat and what her human companion learned from her about play and healing. I recently found an interview on this site with the author of the story, Brenda Peterson (who is also a co-editor of Intimate Nature). To find the interview, go to Browse Subjects, then Non-fiction, then Non-fiction by Subject, then Women's Studies. Look down the page until you find "What Animals Can Teach Us." Then "read more..." about Intimate Nature!

Explores a connection surpassed only by motherhood...
As a scientist studying wolves, as the owner of several pets, as someone who loves nature and wildlife, and as a woman...this book spoke to me. It offers a vivid reminder of the very unique, emotional and primal bond that women share with animals. Narratives, interspersed with poetry, are organized loosley into several sections, focusing on diverse aspects of this bond. In one section, women who had made this communality part of their careers- studying animals in the field- share their insights as to how their work and their lives have been affected by what they study. Other sections explore the more common bond between womenand their pets, or the wildlife they find around them, and how this supplements and supports the lives they have created for themselves. The book has all the hallmarks of an epic work of fiction- humor, love, tragedy, revelation, loss- and yet never for a moment do you forget that these are real women speaking. Intimate Nature is not only about the unique bond between women and animals, but the bond we share as women as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Essays    3. Human-animal relationships    4. Literary Criticism    5. Literary collections    6. Nature    7. Nature / Field Guide Books    8. Semiotics & Theory    9. Women and animals    10. Women animal specialists    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Body, Mind & Spirit / New Thought    13. Collections & anthologies of various literary forms    14. Graphic novels   

Reviews (1)

sauntering companion
A must!!!Read more

Subjects:  1. 1838-1914    2. Essays    3. General    4. Meditations    5. Muir, John,    6. Nature    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Conservation of the environment    10. Muir, John    11. Nature & existence of God    12. Spirituality   

Reviews (1)

Understanding what 'scientists' do and why
In this book, professional biologist Tim Birkhead describes hisyears studying the breeding biology of seabirds in isolated arctic regions. Note however, that this is no dry ornithological text bogged down with eye-straining tables of data and statistics. Although the science is there for all to see, and the take home messages are as clear as crystal, they are nestled within a hugely enjoyable tale of what it is like to study wild animals in their natural habitat. The rugged beauty and remoteness of arctic cliffs and islands is captured well by the author's style, which borders on the reverential without being romantic. At times, I almost felt as though I was perched on a cliff alongside the author, watching crowds of auks (murres) squabbling on their tiny breeding ledges!Read more

Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Essays    3. Natural History    4. Ornithology    5. Research    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Applied ecology    9. Arctic regions    10. Birds (ornithology)    11. Botany & plant sciences    12. Canada   

Subjects:  1. 1908-1996    2. Anecdotes    3. Bird watching    4. Birds & Birdwatching - General    5. Essays    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Peterson, Roger Tory,    9. Travel    10. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (2)

A Great Introduction to Other Aspects of Reality
I really enjoyed these books, especially the second book "Journey into Nature". Even though the 1st book is a bit slower moving, it's important in that it journals MR's spiritual process. I have had some similar experiences and it's nice to find others who can relate. I hope to experience some of the more intense metaphysical events he describes one day, although in some ways I probably have more in common with his wife, Treenie.
Associations between spirituality and nature
Michael Roads began to stop and listen to the sounds of nature - and discovered a healing, nurturing power in the process, with a series of visions leading him to communicate with nature by associating his senses with the natural object. Talking With Nature/Journey Into Nature offers a reader describing his experiences and his surrealistic bonding with the environment, and is a recommended pick for any who seek to understand associations between spirituality and nature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Essays    3. Gaia & Earth Energies    4. Natural History    5. Nature    6. New Age    7. Mind, Body, Spirit   

Reviews (14)

A great read!
I loved this book.I have been a fan of Mr. Parker since he starred in "Simon and Simon" in the 80s, and always wondered what had become of him.In "An Accidental Cowboy" I found out.
Well-written and THOROUGHLY enjoyable!
I've read a lot of books, and while many of them may be fun to read, they are not always well-written. This book is both. I grew up on a farm and thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Parker's account of ranch life. His account is witty and fun to read, as well as being right on target with how cowboy life really is. At the same time, Mr. Parker has a wonderful grasp of the English language. His descriptions are easy to visualize and some of his comparisons arepoetic as well as funny/heart-rending depending on what he is depicting. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and one that is worth reading a second time.

A very enjoyable read.
I loved all the cowboy stories! Being a "city-slicker" it was all new to me and yet I found the stories interesting, and very, very funny at times. The parts about the shooting and the aftermath were hard to read and I was very surprised that the writer exposed himself as much as he did. I thought that was very brave and I hope it helped him to get it down on paper. I never felt the writer to be overdramatic, whiney or self indulgent. ANY shooting, whether the wounds be superficial or not, is very tramatic. I question one reviewers motives when they say that they purchased the book out of "sheer boredom". They go on to say that they had no interest in reading about life on a ranch. Wouldn't reading about something you had no interest in cause you to become more bored?Could this review be a personal vendetta?Sounded like it to me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Actors    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cowboys    7. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    8. Essays    9. Motion Picture Acting    10. Parker, Jameson    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Regional Subjects - West    13. U.S. Local History - Western United States    14. United States    15. Nature / Essays   

Reviews (1)

Slimy Things That Crawl with Legs...
This is the first complete English translation of an important work by the Dutch botanist, zoologist, and ethnographer Rumphius; it was first published in 1705. On his arrival on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies, Rumphius began studying, as a hobby, the region's flora and fauna; soon, he was toying with the idea of writing a book on the subject. Read more

Subjects:  1. Crustacea    2. Early works to 1800    3. Essays    4. History    5. Indonesia    6. Maluku    7. Mineralogy    8. Mollusks    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Science / History    12. Sea & seashore life   

Reviews (2)

Tepid essays from Abbey wanna-be
A collection of essays - part nature writing, part travelogue. While the intent of the writer is admirable, you can shelve this collection with other "friends of Ed"; that is Ed Abbey, the master of this genre. Name dropping appears to be the focus of many of the essays. Some 3 star essays, some 5 star essays
This book is a collection of essays, some may be familiar to the readers of Backpacker magazine.Petersen writes about places in the West and the people that love those places.Many of the essays read like travelogues, for better or worse.Some of his essays bring you right next to the campfire, sipping whiskey at night or strong coffee in the morning, sleeping under the stars awash in desert incense.Perfection.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography/Autobiography    2. Description and travel    3. Essays    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Natural history    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Petersen, David,    8. Rocky Mountains    9. Travel    10. Travel - General    11. United States - West - General    12. United States - West - Mountain (General)    13. West (U.S.)   

Subjects:  1. Food & Drink / Cookery    2. Fruit & vegetables    3. The countryside, country life   

Reviews (6)

fear from ignorance
Contrary to other reviewers I found this book to be slightly overwritten.Siebert too often strung out so many dependent clauses that the original point of the sentence was lost and I had to go back and find the subject. I suppose that this is a metaphor for the central narrative point of thebook, which seemed to be that life is worth reflecting upon once in awhile.That's hard to argue with.I concede that one of the reasons Ifound Siebert's prose a bit hard to follow sometimes is that it was sothought-provoking. This was a fascinating view of the city and the country.
I grew up, and still live, in Alaska.I've never been to New York - the biggest city I have experience with is Anchorage, 250,000 people.I have, however, a great deal of experience with the country and isolation.Mr.Seibert's comparison of the two was fascinating.I could empathize withhis feelings while in the Canadian woods, while exploring New York Citythrough his eyes.My only complaint is that I didn't get to find out whathappened afterwards.I highly recommend this book!

For the contemplative traveller in all of us
What is most fascinating in this meditative, language enhancing book is Siebert's continual spiralling outward thoughts.He has an uncanny ability to make insightful associations from travel memories, letters, and chance meetings with the wildlife roommates of Wickerby.This urban pastoral is more than just a comparison between city living and country weekend getaways. We also get Siebert's reporting (via letters mostly) of Bex's extended stay in Africa, free associations on Siebert's own visits to the Amazon and a contemplation on the "fearless forests" ofthe city, the jungle and the countryside.Here is a spare volume - rich with observation, opinion and anecdote.One of the best books I've read in 1998. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Essays    4. General    5. Nature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

Fine European gunmakers
This is how a good book on shotguns and rifles should be written and edited. Great discriptions on the mentioned guns and on the history of the manufacturers, even greater pictures. At the end there is helpful information on how to contact the different firms. Truly a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Firearms And Gunsmithing    2. Hunting - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Europe    6. Small firearms, guns & other equipment    7. Sports & Recreation / Hunting    8. The countryside, country life