Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms is a very informative book that will enlighten people in Florida as to the areas most susceptible to hurricanes, the history of hurricanes and the least likely area to be struck. John Williams adds some personal accounts from him and partners that picks an otherwise dry subject for some and makes it a book you don't want to put down. The book needs updating, as it only covers the hurricane season up to 1996, but the pictures and charts are very helpful for the researcher and casual reading alike. Probably the best book on hurricanes dealing specifically with Florida.

John Elder, in this Credo Series book, intertwines observations of his three loves of - literature, nature and his family - into a celebration of life itself.

The book's title marks the moment between winter and spring when the tree frogs commence croaking, warning of the last maple tree sap good for distilling into syrup. The Credo Series offers contemporary American writers an opportunity to discuss the fluid and subtle issues of a world in constant change. Elder offers a message of hope; a hope grounded his lineage, literature and the land; how he found balance building a sugarhouse with his sons in the Vermont Woods.

My favorite essay in the collection is "Starting with the Psalms: A Reader's History" where he weaves memories of the 23rd Psalm into a discussion of John Milton's Paradise Lost with a little Annie Dillard, Robert Frost and Gary Snyder thrown in to season the discussion. Grounded in his experience as a professor and writer living in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Elder connects literature with the landscape that inspired it.

Elder is a treasure; a man who seamlessly weaves the dots of his existence into a portrait that honors his observations of his place on earth.

Tired of seeing the same photographs in older books ? Try this book, you will not be disappointed with the spectacular original color photographs by well known nature photographer John Netherton. Accompanying text gives general description of frog sizes, habitats, mating habits and distributions. This book is a definite must for any nature lover for its photos alone.

This is an update featuring all new information which has come to light since vol. II was published in 1976. It is a detailed compilation of discoveries and occurrences of all North American gemstones.

The book is organized simply with a brief description of each stone followed by details from each geographical region in which it has been found. Detailed bibliographical references follow each entry, facilitating further study.

There is a dazzling section of 16 color plates highlighting the most spectacular recent discoveries. An array of heat-treated sapphire colors, precious opal, exquisite turquoise & a beautiful elephant tourmaline carving are featured.

Of special interest are recent diamond discoveries and an extensive section on the varieties and cultivation of pearls. This is an indispensable reference for anyone interested in the wide variety of gemstones in North America.

The author's somewhat standard travelogue visit to Mongolia is escalated to excellence through two key things: the detail he provides about a little-documented country, and the insight that bridges Western concepts of society and natural beauty with those of Mongolia.

It may help a great deal to be interested in Mongolia or Central Asia before you pick up this book, but if you have even the slightest interest in the area Man will draw you in completely. While at first you might consider reading the book to learn about Mongolia without going there, Man paints in this blank corner of most people'e world view so well that you wish for much more contact with the country and its people.

It might be clumsy and big, but so were my numerous expeditions into the mighty Grand Canyon. For all who have seen the G.C. firsthand, the "coined" phrase is: "Pictures don't do it Justice." Which is absolutely true. However, this is the only book I have found that comes fractionally close to relating the G.C.'s awesome scale & vistas! It makes a perfect book for the cocktail table. This is the "creme de la creme" of G.C. Pictorial books. Get it! You won't be disappointed.

The cypress swamps of the southern United States were badly treated for years and decimated in many instances. However, their role in the ecology of the South became more appreciated as people became aware of the rare creatures and plants these forests and lakes held, and when they also became aware of their economic utility in such areas as purifying water, etc.

This book brings out these facets of cypress forests as well as clearly and excellently discussing the flora and fauna found in them. The discussion on these marvelous trees, themselves, is worth the book price. Excellent photos abet this effort very well.

The major swamps are covered on a chapter-by-chapter basis. The reader gains an appreciation of the unique nuances of each. I found the chapters on the Great Dismal Swamp and the discussion of the mysterious Carolina Bays most enjoyable.

Being a Michigander, the cypress swamp is not an item with which I became familiar until I was an adult, and even then, I had a great lack of understanding of how this eco-system works and why it is important to preserve it. This book greatly filled those voids in my knowledge.

Additionally, the book is a good vacation guide for anyone planning a trip to the South. These swamps, or at least one of them, are worth seeing. You will have a far better time, and understanding, of what you are seeing, if you read this book first. I recommend it very highly. It is one of the better regional ecology books in my library, and a real keeper. Certainly, anyone who teaches geography or biological sciences should own it.

This book is beautifully illustrated, designed and written. It is a perfect book for anyone who likes birds and an equally perfect book for those who love beautiful things. The latter might find that they love birds after reading the book. Overall, a very well done book.

When I first read Greening the built environment I did not think much of it, I didn't even finish it. Then the other day I picked it up again and I couldn't put it down. It is a very insightful book, that makes a strong case for greening the urban environment, the authors have a long experience in planning and environment and give examples that help you understand the why's and the how's of urban development and the changes it needs to become sustainable. Thank you for a great book.