This one was a huge disappointment. I've read Petersen's essays and they're not bad. But in Writing Naturally the prose is clumsy and cliched; the chapters focus on the most elementary writing topics. He makes absurd and insulting suggestions. For example, he advises readers to avoid Thoreau because the "archaic" prose is "a tough row to hoe." I expected content on how to use natrual imagery for metaphic purpose, or techniques on observation and description. Instead I got a chapter on tense and point of view. He puts down other authors who load their writing books with their own writing, then he does exactly that himself! If you are a beginning writer who needs good, concrete information, I suggest you spend your money on a subscription to Writer's Digest or another monthly magazine that deals with the basics. You'll get much more value for your money!

I just read Dave Petersen's "Writing Naturally" and loved every page. OK, so I am more partial to Ed Abbey and Ernest Hemingway than HD Thoreau or Diane Ackerman. OK, so I like Dave's down-home style and lack of pretension, and am impressed by his years of free-lance nature writing experience. So what?

Petersen reviews all the key topics, from title selection and journal-keeping to revision to making sales, with vivid, colorful anecdotes. The section comparing two essays on the porcupine, one drab, one brilliant, alone was well worth the price of admission. No matter how successful or jaded you may be as a writer, Dave's book will buck you up and get you in love with writing - and nature - again.

If you are serious about nature writing, this book written by the David Peterson is a must, must, read. This brilliant work is an insight into what a great nature writer should be; crack the cover and you won't be able to put it down. Myself being a late bloomer to nature writing, that was born from an intense passion to learn and photograph the nature and wildlife of Florida, Writing Naturally is just what the doctor ordered. Enjoy and be masterful!

My daughter (almost 5) these books as an introduction to Geography (recommended in the Core Knowledge books). We've both learned a lot!

When I first read this book I was in Sata Fe, New Mexico's public library looking for some other poetry book. When I cam across it I thumbed through it at first but then a few poems just grabbed me and I ended up reading the entire thing there in the public library. The poems are real. I like Edward Abbey's poetry because it is not so flowery and wordy that you lose the point, but just enuff. His metaphores and style of writting truley capture the sense of whatever momment he may be writting about.

If you want a book about facts supporting creationism, this is the book for you. First, I'll let you know now that this book is actually designed for older children. But as an adult without children, I'd get this book again in a heartbeat. The benefit of that is well written, thoroughly researched, very interesting book without any of the trappings of ego that you will find in the pro evolution section. Plus, it is pretty easy to see where the evolution theory is wrong and far more interesting to see how science supports creation. Don't worry about the bad reviews from those supporting evolution. As a former evolutionist, I know that there is no such thing as "unbiased" science. Anyway, I hope that if you get this book it blesses you as much as it has me.

I would like to start by saying that the review by Marty in April 2002 was an example of how science has been taught in our society. Science in our country concerning evolution has been taught as fact. However, there is yet to be scientific proof. Evolution is just a theory, that has been taught as fact. Creationism is a believe just as evolution is a believe. It all boils down to one thing. You have two choices when it comes to choosing between evolution and creation, ignorantly (without knowledge, or information) believe what you are told by scientist who have created their own methods of proving age and etc., or investigate for yourself. This book allows those who have had evolution shoved down their throats as fact, to see it in a new light. Anyone who investigates for themselves, will see that evolution is a religion just as creationism. Fortunately for me and many others we have had our eyes opened to this fact. For those of you who disagree, think for a moment, creation is a believe, evolution is a believe. I would much rather believe in a God who created this body of mine with such perfection, (that we has humans are still unable to figure it out completely) than evolution that says we happened by chance and evolved from apes. There are so many resources out there to help those who really want to learn and see that evolution is such a lie. Dig deep and you will find.

I purchased three books after I read one myself. I have read a number of creation books, but this is by far superior in content and presenation. My grandchildren are now reading the books and there responce has been most rewarding. I do as you can see recommend this book most highly.

Is a good book for beginner to mixing, it has shown you how to get things sounding like in a professional mix! The examples for styles are visual (very refreshing look) and is very usefull because when you planifica a mixdown you think inside the head or write draws on a paper with any instrument on your recording. That is what wizard Gibson made. The book give you a solid foundation to create your own style of mixdown, becuase is an art. If you want to about mixing fast, then this is the book for you!...

The visuals are superb in conveying complex stereo field information. This book is packed with clearly explained specifications for all styles of music and technical tips on all the vital, yet confusing, studio equipment. A must have book!

For the pros and home-musicians alike, this book gives a surprisingly clear view of virtually all aspects of recording and mixing in the studio. For me, having read the book, I suddenly understood why my mixes were only so-so and certainly not good enough for record companies (especially the section on compression is great!). This book provides highly valuable insight, which means that you still have to practice a lot to really improve your skills, but that practicing becomes much more pleasurable having read this book.

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.
As far as the travel essays, this area has been covered better by others, though the essay on the relatively unknown Owyhee country was well done.
Another note of irritation is Peterson's continuous railing of "urban refugees" sticking "a dagger in the heart of the wilderness". Yes, we would all love to be the only ones hiking up our favorite trail or to have a lonesome cabin at the end of a dirt road, but Peterson doesn't seem interested in any sharing of the wilderness.

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.

Other essays weren't as moving (I'm thinking of the pacific northwest essays) and read rather flat. Another gripe: Peculiar analogies pop up in every second essay or two, e.g., elk bugling being described as the equivalent to "Yo momma, sucker!", a feeding hawk is termed a "feathered dracula", an adobe doorpost is as thick as a bodybuilders bicep, and finally, views are sometimes described as "million dollar" or "billion buck" rather than *really* described.

Still, this book should be read by those who like to read about outdoor activity, especially those with an interest in the west. Loads of interesting anecdotes about Ed Abby and crew. Excellent ranting versus development and threats to the environment.

This is one of a series of books about earth science written by Mr. Carroll. He does an admirable effort of integrating the record of nature with the Bible and succeeds on many points. My only disappointment is that he misses several key Scriptures, such as the description of the atmosphere in Psalm 104 and Genesis 1, which could help refute the fallacious canopy theory.

This book written by four of the top Hebrew Scripture Scholars was a fien overview of the themes and theology of the Old Testament. But there was some uneven parts of the book. The style was not even, which is perhaps what you get when you have four different authors. Also there were inconsistencies in content. One example is in the section on the later prohets when the conclusions starts off by saying there are three major parts to their thought and gives only two. This being a theological introduction there was also little reference to liberationist or feminist theology, which would have rounded out the picture the authors offered. In conclusion, while there are some good parts there are some problem areas which need to be refined. Perhaps a second edition would be helpful?

This is merely a consensus of a limited number of people, many of whom do not practice and others with apparent private agendas. One of the supposed contributors was deceased long before it was even published. Makes me wonder how they even published it.... Pretty much a waste of time and paper.

This small group of 'experts' on chiropractic completely misrepresented the facts involved. They set out with an obvious purpose and this book is their attempt at a professiopnal takeover. A new guidelines book has recently been published and has been approved by the National Guideline Clearinghouse (a branch of US gov't). If this subject interests you, get the other one and save yourself some money.

The Mercy Center Guidelines reflect the highest standard of care in the chiropractic profession.