I am not trained in zoology and approach this subject as a complete amateur and a beginner amateur at that. This book is lavishly illustrated with expert and precise drawings as well as breathtaking photography that is more than adequat in conveying the beauty and complexity of the book's subject matter.

The "Key Facts" corner of every chapter gives useful basic information, e.g. the biggest and smallest of snakes, lizards or whatever - and how many are endangered. One cutaway view of a rattlesnake's rattle is particularly fascinating, though it only leaves me asking for more internal anatomical views.

While the writing is generally good, it sometimes lapses into a specialist's jargon that leaves us amateurs scratching our heads. Even when words like "lamellae" and "setae" are explained, might it just suffice to call them "overlapping plates" and "projections" respectively when discussing how geckos can "stroll on the ceiling"? I found myself looking back to check on what term meant what. Also, rather than a photograph, a drawing of the gecko foot might be more revealing - and there the scientific terms could be introduced.

But this is a minor complaint. I have no regrets whatsover about purchasing this book. it is a brilliant and spectacular tribute to the animal world's great wonders.

Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians, Second Edition gave exellent synopsi on many herpetofauna ranging from the common green tree frog, to the care New Caledonian geckos. This encyclopedia will be enjoyed by anyone who has a genuine interest in reptiles and amphibians.

As a student in engineering geology, I found this book to be
a very good reference but with no in-depth reading. For the novice, I would recommend
this to see if you're interested in the field of geology; but for an intermediate
or advanced geology enthusiast, I would recommend a more scientific book.

There are no photographs but rather drawings of the various
components of geology. The artist did well, but nothing can amount to the incredible
display of mass wasting, or the delicate detail of Micas

This is an excellent guide for beginning geology students and a very good review for more advanced students. Should be on all geologist's shelves.

Among the good points of this book are that it is well printed, with a sturdy cover (for a paperback). It is very accessible with a good size of pictures, and some of these pictures are very good. The idea is that if one sees a brightly flowering roadside woody plant one whips out this guide, looks under the appropriate flower color and will find the popular ornamental it belongs to. This goes with a brief description of habit and a list of names (for several countries in Asia). In the back of the book one can find a brief entry with some further detail such as where the plant came from. The botanical names appear to be remarkably free from typos (although not quite).

The bad points are that among the pictures more than a few are a little overexposed (too much sun!). The selection of species illustrates quite clearly that tropical ornamentals (in Asia and elswhere) have become a universal and standard mix that ubiquitously accompanies Man wherever he goes.

For those who are in need of a guide (as described above) this will be a great, perhaps even invaluable resource. Good value for money! For those expecting to learn something of the tropical plants of Asia this will be a letdown, and not really worth taking up shelf space.

The collaborative effort of American landscape architect David H. Engel and naturalist Suchart Phummai, A Field Guide To Tropical Plants Of Asia is a gorgeously illustrated guide featuring full-color photographs on every page of high-quality paper. Basic identification information for some 300 species of trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers and more, easily looked up by flower, leaf, or fruit, fill this 280 page, first-rate reference for professional landscapers and horticulturalists, and which is a simple joy and splendor to simply to page through for the non-specialist garden and gardening enthusiast.

There is hardly any significant fact about viruses that missed-out in this edition of "Fields Virology". Page after page, this sound all-inclusive reference doles out authoritative information on both viruses and viral syndromes. From taxonomy to etiology, metamorphosis to replication; the analyses of this text is grand. The same applies to its attached CD-ROM. Its practical outlook was intended to benefit both microbiologists and pathologists. Bernard Fields and his colleagues made their mark with this book. It is a great effort.
However, most botanist may not be pleased to know that little attention was paid to plant viruses. Again, many potential buyers may be demoralized by the rather high price that this virology-set demands.

It covers all fields of virology. Perfect and wonderful ! Easy to understand. I really recommend this book to who is involved in biology

Dave's lyrical writing style engages the reader throughout this 275 page book, which thoroughly chronicles the fate of the grizzly bear in Colorado. One is left with a sense of wanting to know what's next, what's happened since the ink of this book dried in 1994?

Personally, I felt compelled to action, to do my part to help keep the San Juans as wild as possible for those Ghost Grizzlies to have a chance to someday rematerialize.

David Petersen captured my attention early in the book and kept me glued to the pages all the way through. He presents the reader with the grizzly bear, its natural history, and its possible existence in the Colorado wilderness. Along the way, he involves you in exciting adventures and a thrilling search for bruins. This is a must have book for the library of anyone interested in grizzlies, wilderness, the rockies, and the general outdoors. This is definitely the best book I've read in a long time.

Stories about particular bears and events in the southwest, from the 1820s to the present. Shows the changing attitude toward bears. Written by David Brown, who also wrote the very good book "The Grizzly in the Southwest: Documentary of an Extinction".

I could not put this book down!!! Wonderful stories about the Great Bear that roamed so much of the American West. This is really a history lesson about how our ancestors exterminated the Grizzly mainly due to not fully understanding this animal. Let this be a lesson for present and future generations on how to preserve the American Grizzly.

An important contribution to a critical subject. Change management consulting often suffers from "hack" approaches. Whether change can in fact be managed is another issue.

A very useful book especially if you are a change agent within your corporation. In relatively short and sharp chapters, the three authors address key issues in managing change. The underlying theme that change is all about people comes out relatively clearly. Though the book is based on much of Coopers & Lybrand's approach to change management, the first six chapters are fairly generic. By learning from the Coopers & Lybrand's experiences , you can craft your appropriate change strategy for your particular situation and circumstances. Recommended reading for all those involved in managing change and transition at the workplace.

MNNA is a very good book, and has the finest keys I have ever found in any work on mushrooms. However, I find its coverage of certain groups of fungi to be in want of more detail. For example, the avid Russula student will find that few species have been included. The book could use more information on various genera, especially those which are in need of detailed systematic analysis, and more comprehensive data on the taxonomy of included fungi, which has been very neglected. I hope that a future edition of this book may correct some of these problems. Nevertheless, I reccomend Mushrooms of Northeastern North America to all serious amateur mycologists, you will find it to be an indispensable reference.

Alan Bessette is truly a great contributor to the field of mycology. Mushrooms of Northeastern North America is a fantastic book on its way to being the "bible" to species in the Northeast. A huge undertaking, Bessette does his best with a dichotomist key arrangement, making narrowing down the possibilities easier. Although aided by Fischers photographs, this guide is tremendously lacking quality, well organized, photographic detail. This book is not for the novice, as familiarity with mycological terms is necessary. I'm waiting for a new, up-to-date, thicker volume: MONNA revised.

"A Naturalist's Guide to the Canyon Country" is an excellent overview of the natural history of the Colorado Plateau, and especially valuable for first time visitors and amateur naturalists. When my sister brought her family to visit this past June, we consulted this book every hour of every day. The adults and the children all found it invaluable for both identifying plants and animals and learning something about their life history. No, the guide is not all-encompassing, but most of the major players are here. I especially appreciated the inclusion of the little guys- especially the beetles lizards! We also appreciated the extremely sturdy binding, which held up well against all of the abuses that a 9-year-old could think of.

I have been visiting the four-corners every summer for 25 years and this is one of the most delightful books I have seen yet! In fact I just returned from my four-week summer 2000 trip and this Guide was my constant companion. Of the many guides and books I have collected over the years, this was the one that I carried in my Jeep, kept with me in my tent, and consulted on my hikes. As an academic biologist, I appreciate the accurate (and beautiful) paintings of the animals and plants that I routinely encounter on the Colorado Plateau. The selection of species is representative of those that a visitor will likely see.

And the one thing that distinguishes this guide from the many others I have is the inclusion of interesting, yet concise, information about the different species pictured. Many guides merely help identify, while this one tells you something about what is identified. Each night above my desert tent a common nighthawk performed as the Guide described: "While they dive and climb during courtship, wind moving across their wing feathers produces a 'booming' sound. This has led to another common name: bullblasts." So much better than just color, pattern, length, scientific name.

I have recommended this Guide already to anyone I know who is considering a first trip to the Colorado Plateau, and even to those who, as I have done, continue to visit canyon country every chance they get. The beautiful paintings alone are worth the price.

David Olesen takes us on a journey to northern Canada. With poetic verse he explains the hardships and the pleasures of living in isolation. David's love of the land and the way of life he has chosen comes through clearly as we are transported to the wilderness

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. For anyone who appreciates the outdoors, I'd recommend reading this book. Very well written.