Reviews (1)

Add this book to your collection!
I just got the book and in short, was very impressed.The book fills in the gap in the taxonomic order not covered in the famous Birds of South America Vol. I & II by Ridgely and Tudor.The book is small and compact (5" X 7.5").The illustrations are great...a bit crowded on some pages (as can be expected with the size), but overall are visually appealing and birds are identifiable (unlike other Princeton Illustrated Checklists I've seen recently).The book is just that though, an illustrated checklist.Each bird is illustrated on one side with a corresponding paragraph describing the bird and habitat on the opposite side. Each species has a small range map next to the text block as well.
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Subjects:  1. Birds & Birdwatching - General    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. South America    5. Biological Sciences    6. Birds & birdwatching    7. Birds and Natural History    8. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (3)

A MUST read
I don't know why there aren't hundreds of reviews on this book, because it's absolutely magic. If you're looking for comfort and evidence, buy it! I am grateful Elizabeth shared her insights with us, readers. As I am in the learning process of becoming an animal communicator myself, I am doing research in reading as much as I can. But first of all I am a grieving person who's animal friend recently died and I am besides myself with grief over this loss. Elizabeth shares her knowledge that all is as it's supposed to be. She enlights, she has such insight, and yet, as a scientifically educated woman, she does not take things for granted. The care-humans (as she calls them) of the pets, deceased or alive, acknowledge her words over and over again. Facts. I read this book of 143 page's in one day, up to late at night. Just couldn't stop. It was one of the most beautiful gifts I received. So just buy it :-)
would you like to see how an animal views death?read this book
Judging from the response to this book, not many people buy this book, but a lot of people see the site.That said, I found this book to be quite intriguing.Like "1smileycat", I had to recently put down my favorite pet (in my case, my beloved dog of 10 years).I actually found out about this book from looking at 1smileycat's profile (so thanks :) )and bought it.Severino's book is a nice read and offers an interesting view of dying, death, and euthanasia- all, as the title suggests, told from an animal's point of view.A good read and definite recommendation for anyone grieving the loss of a loved pet.

Be open minded while reading this book.
I truely enjoyed "The Animals' Viewpoint on Dying, Death, and Euthanasia" by Elizabeth Severino, D.D., D.R.S, animal communicator.
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Subjects:  1. Animal Rights    2. Animals    3. Death & Dying    4. General    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Domestic animals & pets    8. Pets / General   

Reviews (21)

EXCELLENT ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION
Having been a birder for quite a number of years, I of course have quite a number of bird identification books.This was a very nice addition to my collection.I do carry it on field trips along with a couple of others (Sibley's and Peterson's being the primary ones).I have found that not one bird guide is suitable for everyone.Being from the "old school" I tend to turn to Peterson's more often, but that is probably from pure habit.Some hard to identify birds though do take some work and really more than one reference.This particular work is quite good.The pictures are very helpful and when I use this work with others I find most of my needs meet.I highly recommend this particular book.

The Best Bird Guide
This is the bird guide you should buy. Superior illustrations, easy to read text, thoughtful organization. Best of all-all the species (plus tons or accidentals and casuals)of North America in one handy volume! No worrying if a bird crosses "the border" between the East/West field guide boundary.
Bird Lady of Woodinville
I am very pleased with the book! The pictures & descriptions are excellant,better than anything else I've seen so far through the years. It's very easy to find the species, good size for travel, and just handy to have by the patio! This guide is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!---Jeannice------ ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds & Birdwatching - General    3. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    4. Identification    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. North America    8. Reference    9. Birds & birdwatching    10. Humour    11. Nature / General    12. The Americas    13. USA   

Editorial Review

Longtime animal lover Kobie Krüger got a little more than she bargained for when she married a game warden and moved deep into some of South Africa's wildest country.Read more

Reviews (22)

Wonderful Book!
I agree with all of the earlier reviews of this book - it is a must-read!My family had the privilege of visiting Kruger Park last November.Ms. Kruger does a wonderful job of capturing what it feels like to be there.I highly encourage anyone who can to make the trip - South Africa is a beautiful country that shouldn't be missed.

if there were 10 stars, this book would get them all
The question is - where do you go from here? After this book you have to take a break before launching yourself into any other read just because there's so much verve and life to this book, it lingers in you for days. You laugh with it and you cry with it. Extraordinary book!

A Great Escape
This is one of my favorite excape reads.I've read it many times and each time get just a bit more out of it as well as the feeling of being there and wishing I was.It's an incredible adventure written with humor and honesty.Life was not easy and it certainly wasn't dull.Ms. Kruger displays the courage and humility it takes to survive, sometimes alone, as part of Africa's protector.The interaction between humans and animals, even the fearful-for-her snakes speaks volumes.It's a book I don't want to end. Imagine raising children to appreciate life in this incredible location! Wonderful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Essays    3. Kruger National Park    4. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    5. Lions    6. Natural history    7. Nature    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Nature/Ecology    10. South Africa    11. Wildlife    12. Wildlife Conservation    13. Zoology    14. Krüger, Kobie    15. Nature / Wildlife   

Editorial Review

Holley Bishop loves bees. No, more than that: she idolizes them. She marvels at their native abilities and the momentous role these misunderstood and unjustly feared creatures have played in the development of human history. And with her book, Read more

Reviews (17)

She's as sweet as....
I don't think I can add much to all of the valid points the other reviewers have touched on (although I take issue with the scientific criticisms of one reviewer - I think she didn't read those passages closely enough) however I can't resist saying how enjoyable and eminently readable Holley Bishop's book is.
well written
I found this book to be a great read. The writing was quite eloquent and absorbing and I found that I got to know honey bees intimately. Because the structure of the book, the sense you get of the history of the honey bee is somewhat fragmented. I agree with some of the other reviewers that there is something lacking to the science side, although very well researched and very nearly comprehensive, I didn't feel like the social and environmental issues facing this amazing creature were sufficiently addressed. I was dissappointed that the issue of genetically engineered food and organisms was glossed over, this however may be because the book is largely set in the USA which is one of the few countries worldwide where the implications and effects of GMO's for humans and animals are also largely glossed over. I felt that Hattie Ellis in her wonderful history: "Sweetness and Light: The Mysterious History of the Honey Bee" did a remarkable job at addressing the various issues of the plight of the modern honey bee, and like Holley Bishop's book is a very compelling read.

Good History Book, Bad Science Reference
Bishop presents an entertaining history of bees and beekeeping, and gives us an absolutely fascinting tour into the relationship between humans and bees, both ancient and modern. What she misses are her science references:
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Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Essays    3. Honey    4. Insects & Spiders    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Specific Ingredients - Natural Foods    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Animal husbandry    10. Nature / Insects & Spiders   

Reviews (9)

A Masterpiece
This book is an absolute tour de force and I was totally won over to Guthrie's premise at the end, after at first being a little skeptical. I will leave it to the experts to argue detail points, but I will assume that Guthrie's reproductions are accurate, and that his intellectual and philosophical underpinnings will stand firm in the storm. I don't see how it is possible to fault Guthrie's profound analysis and interpretations of Paleolithic art, all written in a graceful and delightfully friendly style. What a wonderful, insightful book. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude as I finished the last sentence and closed the cover. A masterpiece.

A different look at Paleolithic Art
Suppose you were astudent in an art appreciation class and your professor assigneda critique of Paleolithic art, that is, the art produced between about 40000 and 10000 years agoWhere would you start?Perhaps by looking at some of the finest cave paintings, which, without a doubt, are the work of talented artists.This is the approach taken by many of the specialists on Paleolithic art.It is not R. Dale Guthrie's approach in his book "The Nature of Paleolithic Art".
Its the Story of "Us"
Every once in a while, a book comes along with the potential to change the way we fundamentally view ourselves as humans and our place in the natural world. Guthrie has written just such a book. Drawing upon forty-plus years as a biologist, observer, and synthesizer of patterns in nature and in human culture, Guthrie weaves a profound thesis about the latter stages of human evolution, starting about 40,000 years ago (the upper Paleolithic). Don't be misled by the title--while Paleolithic art is the thread that binds this work, it spins a story about who we are and where we came from, behaviorally and culturally. It is our natural history. It is the story of Us (especially if your ancestry stems from Europe). Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities, Prehistoric    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art, Prehistoric    4. Cave paintings    5. General    6. History - Prehistoric & Primitive    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Paleolithic period    10. Nature / General   

Reviews (28)

The Best Birding Guidebook for Costa Rica!
This is by far the best birding guide book for Costa Rica.Most of the guides working in the country use this one!If you're planning a trip and don't want to take the whole heavy book, you can take it to a copy center like Kinkos and have the color photo pages cut out and bound with a waterproof cover and a few extra blank pages for notes.This makes an excellent field guide!

Fabulous
This book is a bird lover's God send. On our trip to Costa Rica, it was extremely useful, given its full illustrations of thousands of exotic species to be found in that glorious tropical climate. We were especially delighted to experience sightings of the rare Quetzel and Toucan. A fabulous guide for anyone visiting Costa Rica, or who simply wants to live vicariously.

good but not great
I spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica birding with this guide.There was only one bird in adult plumage that the illustration did not match the bird very well--peg billed finch. The finch is much much darker above than the illustration.
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Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds & Birdwatching - General    3. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    4. Costa Rica    5. Identification    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Birds (ornithology)   

Reviews (7)

This is still the Galápagos guide you want - this 2nd edition is even better than the 1st!
Original review of 1st Edition, November 9, 2005
One of the best books we bought for our trip
We bought this book as one of 5 guides to the Galapagos which we took with us on our trip in Oct 05. It was really excellent, so good in fact, that our wonderful naturalist guide asked if we could send him a copy. I just gave him ours and now I have to order it again for us!It's organized by type of animal and bird, which makes it easier for novices to experienced wildlife observers alike to identify animals and birds. It has a nice sturdy format also, which is good for taking along onto the islands.
An Identification Guide to the Birds,mammals, and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands
It is very informative for visitors to the islands and probably be able to recognize some of the birds etc when you see them.Yet to proof it during my next visit to the island in December 2005. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Reptiles & Amphibians    6. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    7. Nature / General   

Editorial Review

Paper or plastic? Cloth or disposable? Regular or organic? Every day, environmentally conscious consumers are faced with the overwhelming catch-22 of a capitalist society--reconciling the harm we do by consuming, while still providing ourselves and our families with the goods and services we need. It's enough to make a city dweller crazy. Fret no more! The Union of Concerned Scientists has put together a well-researched and eminently practical guide to the decisions that matter. The authors hope that the book will help you set priorities, stop worrying about insignificant things, and understand the real environmental impacts of household decisions. For instance, you may be surprised to learn that buying and eating meat and poultry is much more harmful to the environment than the packaging the meat is wrapped in, even if it's Styrofoam. This guide takes on both sides of the consumer-impact argument, goring sacred cows of the environmentalist movement (like the strident emphasis on recycling) and the industrialist perspective (like the relentless message to buy more, more, more). If you're confused and overwhelmed by all the environmental decision-making in the modern world, you'll find new inspiration in this book. Read more

Reviews (21)

Pratical Advice
This book offers a lot of scientific input of our environmental problems, but I think it also gives people a choice to whether they want to make it. I would say that this is a helpful book in gearing people to make smarter choices, but at the same time almost tells people that somethings are not a big deal. Which can be debated.Read it and enjoy.

Strange omission
This was an interesting enough book, if slightly repetitive. The best part about it was telling people not to sweat the small stuff like deciding between paper and plastic bags. But what I found particularly odd was that there was absolutely no mention of cigarettes anywhere. It's strange because tobacco is a crop like fruits and vegetables and therefore effects land use, water pollution, and stuff like that. It's clearly a personal health risk (cancer), and it may contribute to air pollution since there's tar and other toxic chemicals that are released into the air when they're smoked. I can't believe it's more important to eat organic foods than to stop smoking. Why such a glaring omission??

great and practical advice
i agree with all the other reviewers.
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Consumer Behavior    3. Consumer Behavior - Consumer Guides    4. Consumer goods    5. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    6. Environmental Engineering (General)    7. Environmental Science    8. Environmental aspects    9. Green products    10. Nature    11. Nature/Ecology    12. United States    13. Consumer guides & advice    14. Environmentalist thought & ideology    15. Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection   

Reviews (28)

The Classic Guide
My 1966 Golden Field Guide($3.95) is coming unglued.We've used this reference for 40 years from homes in the Northeast, East, Southwest and Southeast U.S.Our life bird list is impressive due to this guide.
An all right book
This book is not bad. It thankfully has been updated since the 80s, as I had heard that it was horridly out of date. The illustrations are a tad fuzzy,and they used one illustration to depict two species in a few instances, which is very frustrating, but overall it is a pretty good guide. I use it as a reference book. It has a few extras, like silhouettes of the birds, and sonograms of songs, and pages showing all the sparrows/ warblers on one page, for at-a-glance comparisons. If you are a new birder, skip this and buy the National Geographic guide or the Stokes guide. If you are an intermediate to advanced birder, get this. It's a good book to have around, just in case.

A Review
Was bought as a gift for a friend. They seem pleased with it.
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Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds & Birdwatching - General    3. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    4. Identification    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. North America    8. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (34)

Keep this in your pack.
This book is the best starting place for those wishing to learn about wilderness survival.The book is well organized and a pleasure to read.The subject matter can be dry, but Mr. Brown does a good job of interlacing his personal experiences with the instructional material.There are two reasons I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. 1)I think it could use more diagrams and pictures.Without an instructor by your side it would be easy to misunderstand some of the more technical skills covered.2) This book is mainly for temperate regions.While much of the material is useful for any climate, it is missing tropical and artic specific information. Mr. Brown's knowledge of survival and tracking techniques is second to none.His field guides should be on every outdoor enthusiast's book shelf, and this book should be in your pack with you at all times.

Credit well deserved in this "have it all" guide.
I must give credit where deserved and Tom Brown, Jr. certainly deserves it.
Some good nuggets, largely impractical
In my experience, wilderness survival books come in at least two distinct flavors: from-scratch survival (like this book) and practical outdoors education.
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Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Outdoor life    4. Reference    5. Wilderness survival    6. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    7. Nature / Ecology   

Reviews (6)

Extremely informative, with excellent photography
I though this was an excellent resource for identifying hawks in flight. The photos are very informative, and attractive as well. The guide is, in my opinion, very comprehensive and extremely well written.

Hawks from Every Angle
A super-useful reference guide that goes well with HAWKS IN FLIGHT -- and actually I would probably look at this one first. Photographs and text both contain a lot of helpful information to assist in raptor identification -- though the "pitfalls" shots make it clear that not every bird will be identifiable.
another mistitled hawk book
If you're looking for a book that covers all the raptors that regularly occur in North America, forget it. A more honest title would've been 'Raptors of Northeastern Hawkwatch Sites.' Even then, northeastern hawkwatchers won't find Harris' Hawk in the book. The raptors Liguori does cover are done well, by and large, and I was particularly impressed with the treatments of both Harlan's Hawk and the Northern Harrier. But if you live in the West, as I do, you'll find the book less useful than the title suggests. Get yourself a Clark and Wheeler--it'll serve you much better. I'm looking forward to that frabjous day when hawkwatchers will escape their eastern bias, and discover that we have hawks in the West too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Birds & Birdwatching - General    2. Falconiformes    3. Flight    4. Identification    5. Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology    6. Nature    7. Nature / Field Guide Books    8. Nature/Ecology    9. North America    10. Pictorial works    11. Biological Sciences    12. Birds & birdwatching    13. Birds (ornithology)    14. Birds and Natural History    15. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (3)

Superb
Impossible that present day horses would beat any horse trained by Preston Burch.Just read the exercise prescriptions in this book and be blown away.I certainly was.Here is carefully controlled training by a trainer understanding that his horses are participating in an athletic event.This is a book about conditioning equine athletes and also contains every other aspect of training and caring for thoroughbred race horses in a well written book by an individual who apparently understood the great care required.I held off reading this fearing it was dated, but what a pleasant surprise to find the extreme if succinct comprehensiveness here, every aspect is covered by a fellow who tried to do everything correctly.This is Ivers before Ivers, and one does wonder whatever happened to trainers like Max Hirsch and Preston Burch.

Preston Burch, where are you?
If every owner had a trainer like Preston Burch, there would be a lot more owners. If you are just starting in this business...read this book.
If you are just starting out in this business, you should read this book.Preston Burch gives you a simple, direct and enlightening understanding of thoroughbred horses.This book may have been published almost 50 years agobut in every advancement man has made we constantly find ourselves goingback to old knowledge and wisdom. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals / Pets    2. Horse Racing    3. Horses    4. Horses - Showing/Training    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Pets    7. Race horses    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Thoroughbred horse    10. Training   

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Government & Business    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Mammals    5. Reference    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Squirrels    9. Business & Economics / Government & Business    10. Wild animals   

Reviews (55)

Green Cleaning Tips That Work!
I just purchased Clean House, Clean Planet and I simply love it!Written in a straight forward, clear manner, this book provides simple, home-made recipes to keep your house clean without the need for toxic chemicals.The tub and tile cleaner recipe called EarthScrub is phenomenal and rinses clean.It's a shame that her website is no longer available.But her book is still as current as ever and her ratings of the recipes and clear instructions on proper mixing and containers is great.I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for alternatives to commercial cleaners as well as anyone looking to save money on the green products now more widely available (which can be expensive in their own right, although worth it in comparison to their commercial, and oftentimes toxic competitors).The time spent making these home-made recipes is worth the results and the savings!

This is the best make them youself cleaning book
I have read some make your own cleaner books that call for mail order only items and I like this book since it calls for mainly easily found items. I have found most of the cleaners work 100% for me. The leather cleaner did not work for me but I have not found a commercially prepared cleaner that worked either! (I tried to clean a mint leather chair my MIL gave me that my children got dirty and nothing works!) I especially like the diluted vinegar essential oil spray for cleaning wood floors - it works so much better than what you can buy ready made!

Great Reference
Clean House Clean Planet by Karen Logan
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Subjects:  1. Citizen participation    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    3. Environmental protection    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House cleaning    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Reference    8. Repair    9. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking    10. House maintenance   

Reviews (6)

Good, but slightly flawed
Pete Dunne's latest tome, Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion, has been reviewed several times by various bloggers already including As Necessary as Binoculars, for Making/Confirming I.D.s
I won't repeat the (well-deserved!) accolades. Rather, I write to ensure that potential buyers are aware of one particular feature which is as profoundly helpful as it is unique. Each bird discussion includes the assignment of a V.I., that is, Vagarancy Index. This is best explained by example.
A different approach to identification
Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource For Identifying North American Birds is weightier than most similar/competing field guides; and for a reason: it too offers a different approach to identification, doing so by bird structure and shape as well as observer's general impression of size and shape. When size, color, behavior, flight pattern and vocalizations come into play in the identification process, much mystery is cleared up: this provides hints and clues to streamline identification efforts and builds a fine guide for all levels of birders. No color photos here; just plenty of tips and description.
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Subjects:  1. Bird Watching    2. Birds    3. Birds & Birdwatching - General    4. Identification    5. Individual Species Of Birds    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. North America    9. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Reviews (7)

STREAM MONITORING
This book is invaluable to citizen volunteers who monitor the streams of Virginia.

Freshwater Invertebrates of North America
I purchased this title as a fly fisherman wanting to learn more about entomology.This was a very helpful book written at a high school level which is good for someone wanting to tackle the subject for the first time and to get a good grasp of the vocabulary and science before moving on to more detailed college texts on the subject.
Extremely useful to both amateurs and professionals
This book is an excellent guide to family-level invertebrate identification.It has wonderful pictures and excellent background information on the organisms.
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Subjects:  1. Freshwater animals    2. Freshwater invertebrates    3. Identification    4. Invertebrates    5. Lakes & Ponds    6. Marine Life    7. Nature    8. Nature / Ecology    9. Nature/Ecology    10. North America    11. Rivers    12. Ecology    13. Freshwater life    14. Reference works   

Reviews (13)

For all you folks who think wild animals are "cute".......
A wake up call for all those considering a career in the world of care/training and feeding of animals. Amy Sutherland has spent a considerable amount of time researching and getting to know the staff and students of EATM at Moorpark College....truly a unique environment! She recognizes the sacrifices these animal lovers make to give zoo,park and entertainment animals a fulfilling and safe life! Wonderful to read, entertaining and sane and nice to see a little more balance after reading all the press from PETA about how "abused" animals in the entertainment industry are. The Johnson's Elephants live better than most of my friends! Very enlightening and entertaining read.

Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched
I am a penguin/seal keeper and trainer and I loved this book.I did not go to the school, but I always heard good things about it and it was very interesting to get an inside look at what goes on there.It was an easy and entertaining read that really reminded me to appreciate the job I have, b/c it really is hard getting into this field.I would suggest this to anyone who love animals.

From a graduate.
I was a graduate of this program in 1991.The book brought back so many memories.It also really gave an emotional look into what a student goes through.It also shows the different walks of life that enter into the program.I was able to really relate to the book since I knew many of the animals.I had two friends read it and even though they never met the animals felt like they had a connection.Great job! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Animal Husbandry    2. Animal Behavior (Ethology)    3. Animal trainers    4. Animals    5. California    6. Education / Teaching    7. Exotic animals    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    11. Vocational guidance    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General   

Reviews (50)

A Must Read
Anyone who spends time with horses owes it to themselves and the horses to read this book.

Sends a good message
An enjoyable read, well written, easy to understand.I have always questioned the integrity and motivation of the many clinicians out there who have invented and marketed a new mouse trap. He is right on the money when he discusses folks who get s