Reviews (67)

Comedian As Scientist Entertains As He Informs
I picked this book up recently for the first time since high-school, some 15-plus (!) years ago.Maybe it was Steve Irwin's death, or a viewing of the documentary Grizzly Man, that got me to thinking about it- either way, I'm glad I did.I'd forgotten what a wacky character Farley Mowat was, and how much more there is to this quick read than dry scientific reporting.
"Wolves, please don't cry."
NEVER CRY WOLF is Farley Mowat's first-person reminiscence of his time spent studying wolves in the Canadian arctic. NEVER CRY WOLF, first published in 1963, was one of the earliest, most widely-read, and most effective conservation narratives ever penned. It's Russian edition (the title of which, literally translated back into English, is WOLVES, PLEASE DON'T CRY) was responsible for a Soviet ban on wolf hunting that spared the animals in their natural habitat and gained Mr. Mowat a notorious reputation at the U.S. State Department, which banned his subsequent entry into the United States.
Three Stars for Entertainment, Zero for veracity
I can't believe all the reviewers gushing about this book. It is propaganda, propaganda for a good cause. But, like all propaganda, it is not bound by truth or even by facts.
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Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Essays    3. General    4. Habits and behavior    5. Juvenile literature    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Wildlife    9. Wolves    10. Marriage, family & other relationships    11. Nature / Wildlife    12. Popular psychology   

Editorial Review

Considered the definitive raptor identification guide for North America, this essential resourcefor birders includes photos and text for distinguishing between hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures in thefield, paying careful attention to plumage variations in juveniles and adults. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hawks and Birds of Prey
This is by far the very best book I have ever seen. The photos and details are just Great. I would advise anyone that watchs for these beautiful birds to have this as a guide!!

A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors
This is the best photographic guide to north american raptors available.The photos are very clear so you can see details on plumage.It also includes multiple photos of the species that have morphs, which is very helpful in the field.This is not a book I would recommend if you are using it for written reference.But I give it 5 stars for a field reference guide!

Useful field guide, shows variability of morphs
This is simply the best field guide for North American diurnal raptors that I have seen.Unlike some other photgraphic guides, it provides several images of each species in poses that one is likely to see in the field: perched and soaring from above and the side (showing field marks of top of wing and tail).It shows several examples of different morphs and ages for most birds.This is critical in understanding the variability in markings within a species.In addition, it has a section on field identification problems, detailing differences between similar looking birds.To my knowledge, there is no substitute.Read more

Subjects:  1. Birds & Birdwatching - General    2. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Biological Sciences    6. Birds & birdwatching    7. Birds and Natural History    8. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (5)

The Best Technical Review of California Plants
There is no easy way to identify a plant to species, but if it is in California it is far easier to use this volume than the others. Although it was written in 1925, the line drawings are for me priceless. Be advised that names change in 75 years even if plants do not, you will need a modern flora to reference the old name. HIGHLY recommended, but technical.

Good Reference and Learning Guide
This is an excellent guide.Very comprehensive, however you must have formal education in botany and plant ID in order to effectively use the guide to key plants to genus and or species.Not recommended for the average person.Just people who are plant nerds!

Not for the uninitiated
This book is an excellent botanical key listing a huge number of plants. It is not your average "audubon" guide, since it requires you to key out the plant in question using botanical systematics. Definitely a good reference book, but hard to use casually to find out what that tree is in your front yard! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Botany    2. California    3. General    4. Identification    5. Life Sciences - Botany    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Pictorial works    9. Plant Geography    10. Plants    11. Botany & plant sciences    12. Plant life: general    13. Reference works    14. Science / Biology    15. USA   

Reviews (8)

Beautiful and Useable Book
I love this book- the art is absolutely beautiful and the general layout really shows it off. It talks about how to begin nature journaling, giving tips on both starting the habit and learning to draw! I love the approach it takes, fostering a closeness and syncronicity with nature and its cycles!

Love This Beautiful Book!!!
Our family loves this book - we love the examples from actual nature journals and it has really inspired myself and my children to keep our own nature journals.As we do so, we come to have a better appreciation for the amazing creations all around us.The author really helps to encourage even budding artists to keep nature journals, which helps some of the more timid artists in our family.

Wonderful teaching tool.
I coordinate outdoor workshops for women to provide them the opportunity to learn new skills.We hosted a new class,Nature Journaling, and the instructor needed a book to suplement her curriculum.I selected this book based on the Amazon recomendations and further research.Both the instructor and participants loved the book.It was very helpful and useful once they left the workshop.Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Diaries    3. Journal Writing    4. Natural history    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Reference    8. Art techniques & materials    9. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    10. Nature / Reference   

Reviews (12)

A delightful memoir
This was a book I hated to see end.The descriptions of Corfu, family members and residents of the island, and wildlife were lyrical and loving.The author was a keen observer of his environment and was able to share his observations vividly with the reader.His humorous anecdotes were of laugh-aloud variety.
A pleasant summer read!
My Family and Other Animals is about a ten-year-old boy named Gerald who moves to the sun-soaked island Corfu, Greece with his family to escape the dreary and gloomy climate in London. There, he encounters many different animals and people. I absolutely loved this book because it was really funny. There was a lot of action in this book. Durrell lovingly described each and every animal that he owned. He also told every detail of the settings, so I felt like I was really in Corfu!
My Family and Other Animals
Charming and delightful. A true story which made me want to pack and return to Corfu again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Corfu Island    3. Corfu Island (Greece)    4. Description And Travel    5. Europe - Greece    6. General    7. Greece    8. Natural History    9. Nature    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Travel - Foreign    13. Travel - General    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (21)

Excellent Training Guide
This book is an excellent guide for training Labs.It was recommended by my veterinarian as a gentle, yet effective training guide for Labradors.I highly recommend it.

Outdoors man
On the advice of a friend, I purchased this book and used it to train my black lab pup as a hunting dog. The results were incredible.I had the most wonderful dog and hunting companion for many years. The Best for the everyday hunter
I have trained four or five labs over the past 30 years using Water Dog as my bible.The methods described therein work.The hardest part is finding the time to work with your dog, but Wolter's method definitely teaches the dog and the hunter/trainer what to do.I have read most of the retriever training books which have been written and basically Water Dog is all you need. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Dogs    3. Dogs - Breeds - Sporting Dogs    4. Dogs - Training    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Pets    7. Retrievers    8. Training    9. Pets / Dogs / General   

Reviews (17)

#1 must have in Texas
As far as I'm concerned this is the bible for texas gardening.I refer to it for lawn care, landscaping, tree planting, flower beds and vegetable gardening.

A bit dated but good
Some of the info is old, but most is good. He tends to lean heavily toward chemical usage, insecticides, fertilizers, etc. A good basic start on Texas gardening.

A complete gardening book
This book gave me information from beginning to advanced.It covered the best plants for Texas.Any question you might have is answered in this book.A great resource for Texas gardeners, of any level. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Horticulture (General)    5. Reference    6. Regional - General    7. Texas    8. Gardening / Regional   

Reviews (13)

Good for quick reference
If you already know a bit about corals, this is a nice book to have around for quick reference.I especially like that it lists similar corals and gives some basic information on how to tell them apart.It can be deceptive, though.The information it gives on the specific corals is very general, and should not be considered a good source for research on a coral you're planning to actually buy.Don't get me wrong, though.I'm happy I have this book, but I'd suggest supplementing it with a text such as Eric Bourneman's "Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History".This text will actually give you much more specific information on requirements to care for the corals, as well as some better techniques to identify certain corals, since many look very similar, and there's no way any book could show every possible shape and color for many species.

good picture book
Book has lots of good pictures to help you identify corals.IN this manner it can be used as a min-coral atlas.
Good First Reference Text, pity about poor quality binding and packaging
A wonderful first reference text from Julian Sprung. The necessary information is well presented and communicated in a clear manner. A word of advice, don't get the hardcover version as it looses pages through poor binding and Amazon's inability to package adequately results in the corners being damaged in transit. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Coral reef animals    2. Earth Sciences - Oceanography    3. Identification    4. Marine Life    5. Marine invertebrates    6. Nature    7. Oceans & Seas    8. Reference    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics   

Reviews (7)

Not the best in the Southeast but a must.
Although it's been mentioned as the "best book" for plant identification in the Southeast by reviewers, this is simply not accurate and any true field botanist can attest to this.It's a wonderful manual for an OVERALL coverage of Carolinas, parts of Virginia, Tennessee, and portions of Alabama and northern Florida.In regards to wetland plants, Godrey & Wooten's work remains the gold standard for the entire SE. Andre Clewell's "Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle" is better even without illustrations and covers many, many more species.As you move away from the Jacksonville, FL area and move westward toward the panhandle (and still well within the heart of the SE) Radford, et al. becomes hit and miss and doesn't cover the much more species rich area of the Florida Panhandle and adjacent southern Alabama and SW Georgia.
absolutely necessary!
As a botany major, I have to say this is the most important book to have in your collection. I use it for classes, I use it for the field, I use it for reference. Some things are outdated and need to be corrected, but for the most part it is essential for anyone dealing with plants. One concern I have is that it may be hard to use for people who are not knowledgeable in plant vocabulary. The keys are sometimes difficult for even advanced botanists to use, and not always because of the plant in question. It is a must-have for anyone dealing with plants, but a good plant dictionary is something I heavily recommend.

Good but outdated
Though the Green Bible has been the best in the southeastern US for the past 30 years, and is still the best published manual for the Carolinas, it's in dire need of updating.Taxonomy for many of the species has changed, many more species have been discovered in the Carolinas since it was written (some native, some exotic), and the dot maps reflect what was know about species 30-40 years ago and don't necessarily reflect what is known about current ranges (also, the county dots aren't always backed up by occurrence records deposited in herbaria and thus are difficult to confirm)... overall, a wonderful publication, but one in need of a modern overhaul. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Life Sciences - Botany    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    6. Science / Botany    7. biology; botony; plants; flowers; Carolina; horticulture   

Subjects:  1. Floriculture    2. Flowering Plants (Angiospermae)    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Life Sciences - Horticulture    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Plants - General    8. Science    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Gardening: plants    11. Science / Botany   

Reviews (5)

Palmer's Field Book of Natural History
I have had this book since my college days---mid fifties---and refer to it regularly.Last night our daughter told her 3 year old son to call me about a ginko berry he had found and I should look it up in Palmer's.So, it is now on it's third generation.Pretty good reputation.It is very comprehensive.
Excellent book
I have used the 1949 edition since high school.I especially treasure this book for its opinions which are revealed in the last paragraph of each entry.The book has a decidedly no-nonsense approach to the use of natural resources, while still very much concerned with conservation and human ecology.It's editorial emphasis is ahead of its time.

An Excellent Fieldbook
This book was given to me by my uncle more than 20 years ago and I still refer to it constantly.Although the delineation of kingdoms has been revised since the last printing of the book, it is still an excellent resource for the naturalist.I use it in conjunction with more current field guides to learn more about my interest.This book goes beyond the standard field guides by providing not only a physical description for each entry, but also adds a description of the history and uses of the entries where possible.I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in our natural world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Natural history    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Science   

Reviews (14)

An excellent resource
When I first started thinking about starting my business in the early-mid 90's I picked up this book and devoured it.Then, it sat on my shelf as I pursued my 'corporate ladder' and took care of pets part-time.
MY SUCCESS STORY
When I took early retirement after 25 years in the Banking industry and began a career in pet sitting, I found a treasure in "The Professional Pet Sitter."It is a gem not only inthe useful information it contains, but also in the caring philosophy conveyed by its authors, Lori and Scott Mangold. Whether you are considering pet sitting as a full-time or part-time venture, this book is valuable.With time being a precious commodity in today's fast-paced world, I found that "The Professional Pet Sitter" provided clear-cut, easy-to-locate details on how to establish a successful service.As a further boon to launching a pet sitting career quickly and effectively, all appropriate business forms are included in the book.Thanks to the Mangolds' encouragement and expertise embodied in "The Professional Pet Sitter," my business is now in its sixth year and flourishing.

The Professional Pet Sitter
This is a wonderful book for anyone starting out in the business or for those who are already actively involved. It is full of useful information and can be used as a reference manual in multiple areas when business questions arise. I would highly recommend it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Pets   

Subjects:  1. Engineering - Civil    2. Engineering - Hydraulic    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Environmental Engineering & Technology    5. Environmental aspects    6. Land use    7. Management    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Urban runoff    12. Water quality management    13. Architecture / Landscape    14. Civil Engineering, Surveying & Building    15. Sanitary & municipal engineering   

Subjects:  1. Identification    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. New York (State)    5. Pictorial works    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. Botany & plant sciences    9. Northeastern & North Atlantic states    10. Reference works    11. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (17)

Handy and Complete
Definitely a very good reference guide for any freshwater enthusiast. The mini-atlas has every freshwater species beautifully diplayed in color photo. Under each color photo is a group of symbols. These symbols are defined in the book itself. The symbols convey what water conditions are appropriate, size of tank, food, swimming level, breeding type and level of aggression. The mini-atlas also has separate chapters on breeding, fish diseases, aquarium plants and tank set-up.
A disappointment.
From the reviews, I expected alot from this book. I know that it is old, but I was really disappointed. The information is not consistent and incomplete. Here are my issues:
Occasionally difficult, but a great reference
Need to know if a certain breed of unusual fish is compatible with, say, your angelfish?Dr. Axelrod knows.This atlas is amazing in it's depth for a "mini-atlas," with page after page of freshwater fish.And then he gets into the real meat of fishkeeping after that!Although it can occasionally be difficult to use (the fish are listed by their scientific name in general, not their common name, which can make looking up a certain fish difficult), all in all this is an incredible book, and one every fishkeeper should have on their bookshelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aquarium fishes    2. Aquariums    3. Fish & Aquariums    4. Fishes    5. Identification    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Pets    8. Pictorial works    9. Fishes & aquaria   

Reviews (3)

5 for the Book, 3 for the Shipping
Like the other reviewer, my book was improperly shipped, this time in a box too large so it sloshed around on its journey, getting dinged in the process.
Beautiful book, inadequately packed
This is a magnificent book, with unique photgographs of sea creatures on white backgrounds. It would have made a splendid gift, except for the unfortunate fact that it was shipped in a box hardly bigger than itself and had obviously been dropped and crushed. Every page was dented, but it was too late to return it and get a new copy. One wonders why tiny objects are so often shipped in a box many times larger than themselves, but books like this one are tossed casually into the mail with no real protection at all.

Another exceptional collection of images and information
Such beautiful work is a treasure and an education all at once. It's a rare treat to be able to see in such intimate detail those creatures who have lived and may perish without our ever having known them except for the work done here.This book, and the entire body of the Liittschwager/Middleton collaboration is a must-have for every conservationist, every school. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Nature    3. Nature Photography    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Scenic Photo Collections    8. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./West    10. Photography & Photographs    11. Photography / General   

Reviews (12)

Rocks and Minerals
This is the one book I was looking for, with good close-up pictures. Pictures that point out the small things on rocks or minerals you want to look for. It could be a small mass of fibers or small group of crystals. It sections off a mineral so you know what the different colors are. If you have any type of sight problems, this is more that helpful! I recommend this book for all beginners and anyone who just might be curious. It is well worth your money!

a must have for any rockhound or gem and crystal lover
I am more of a gem and crystal lover myself, yet I am happy to own this book. Whenever I go thru it I have a real URGE to go out hunting! Very comprehensive, quite technical, classifies rocks and minerals according to chemical formula (sulphides, oxides, halides, carbonates etc) or type of formation (sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous), and then works thru ecah subgruop alphabetically. Detailed descriptions, chemistry, hardness, tests, BEAUTIFUL photos, detailed index and glossary. Only thing I am missing is WHERE ON EARTH am I most likely to find them (especially the ones I absolutely LOVE), so I can plan my next vacation :D

GeoNewbie
I am new to the study of geology and have found this book to be indispensable in identifying rocks and minerals in the field. It even has a few tips at the beginning about how to do tests, and each mineral suggests tests to further aid in identifying them. It has also been a great reference when reading texts about geology. I use it to look up the rocks and minerals mentioned there. Very helpful for later field study. The least I can say is: buy this book, it is EXCELLENT!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Identification    3. Minerals    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Reference    7. Rocks    8. Rocks & Minerals    9. Nature / Rocks & Minerals   

Reviews (10)

Great information
All my questions were answered after reading this book. Helps you decide if horse ownership is right for you.

A Must-Have for Every Horse Owner
Cherry Hill has done it again. Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage is a must- have for all horse owners. It includes grooming tips, a barn-care schedule, and even a suggested layout for your farm! It also includes tips on choosing land.

Scratches that itch
Ms. Hill has written a book that fits in well with the psyches of horse-lovers--those who may have just one horse, a herd or stableful, or know that someday they will be a horseowner. It's a book to inspire, inform, encourage, and gently correct when necessary.
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Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Animal Husbandry    2. Farms, Small    3. Horses    4. Housing    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Animal husbandry    9. Horses & ponies    10. Pets / Horses / Care    11. TECHNOLOGY / Agriculture / Animal Husbandry   

Reviews (15)

Packed with information --not user friendly
A large volume, not easily used, in the field. The authors presume a good knowledge of North American birds--so you need a Sibley in addition. Unfortunately carrying the Sibley will remind you of how much more difficult to use this volume is.
Excellent guide for birding Guatemala
I just got back from a one-week trip to Guatemala where I used the Howell and Webb guide which was reported as the best book by other birders and naturalists while I was there.
worthy purchase
Great info, but large to carry as a field guide.Also, I could have used more color drawings to help with identification. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    3. Central America    4. Identification    5. Mexico    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Birds & birdwatching    9. Birds (ornithology)    10. Life Sciences | Vertebrate Zoology | Ornithology    11. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (44)

Not worth the money
Save your money.Spend time with your horse.Go to an actual clinic or trainer if you can afford it.Parelli's writing is difficult.The concepts are difficult to understand and there is little practical or useful information.Horses are fairly simple.Parelli makes it sound exotic.It's not.

Man and horse unite
I would recommend or even make it mandatory for everyone even thinking of going near a horse to read this book. Pat Parelli gets it from the horses point of view, and makes it easy for us to get it too. I have a 2, 3 and 4 yr horse. I have worked with all of them utilizing the theories presented in this book. I have also bought his partnership level 1 and the tools to go with it. It works, my horses are responsive and a joy to be with.

Popular but expensive and often unsafe
Mr Parelli writes in a self-opinionated, pompous style about horses, trying to give the impression that he is the guru of all things equine. While his methods have undoubtedly enabled a large number of people to improve their relationship with their horse, one must remember that there are untold millions who have a wonderful relationship with their horse which owes nothing to either his expensively-marketed system or the costly, cutely-named gadgets which seem to be an integral part of this.
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Subjects:  1. Horses    2. Horses - Riding    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Pets    6. Nature / Horses    7. Riding & horsemanship