Letters from Alabama: Chiefly Relating to Natural HIstory (Library Alabama Classics)

Book Description

one day adventures

Customer Reviews:

I always take this book everytime I travel to Israel........1998-07-22

I have lived and traveled extensively in Israel and have found this book to be an enourmous help. It has easy to follow trips, which can be done in a day and allows the reader to see sights not listed in other travel guides. I have recommended it to others and have heard nothing but positive feedback. I advise bringing this book along with a travel guide with places to stay and eat for a complete and easy trip to Israel.

Average customer rating:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Don't Be Thrown Off by the Title: This is a Wonderful Book, Suitable for Younger Teens

A fun read for preteens and younger teens

Great read!

Funtastically fabulous for all!

Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love
Maryrose Wood
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385732767
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Book Description

Meet Felicia, 14-year-old student at the Manhattan Free Children’s School (also known as the Pound). In Felicia's world, she and her best friends, Jess and Kat, like to refer to themselves as the Sex Kittens, and the boys they know as the Horn Dawgs.
Felicia is getting tired of waiting for a Horn Dawg to notice her uniqueness, however. So she devises a project she and the object of her affection, Matthew the Science Brain, can work on together. Felicia is determined to discover the Secret of Love with Matthew while winning both Matthew’s heart and the science fair. But love has other plans.
(Doesn’t it always?)

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-10-29

SEX KITTENS AND HORN DAWGS FALL IN LOVE is a gossipy love story sure to please the tween and teen chick-lit crowd. Maryrose Wood takes the reader into the world of the New York City teen with her story about a group of students who attend the Manhattan Free Children's School.

Felicia narrates the story about her crush on a boy named Matthew, and her attempt to lure him in her direction. With the school's science fair as a backdrop, the two agree to join forces to discover the mysterious X-factor in what makes love work. Felicia actually confesses her crush to Matthew, hoping his scientific curiosity will force him to help her prove their relationship is meant to be. Can they use experiments and observation to scientifically prove what makes love happen?

Other parallel plots in the book help entertain the reader. There is Felicia's liberal-minded, bookstore-owning mother who is divorced from Felicia's now remarried father. Then there's Kat, a blossoming violinist who has a Russian accompanist who seems to forget her tender young age and develops a disturbing crush on her. If that's not enough, there's Randall, a closet martial arts student, who tries to fight his romantic feelings for Felicia. All these intertwined stories are told in Felicia's unique conversational style.

Although the title might disturb some adults, Wood's novel, written about young love, is humorous and harmless fun for teen readers.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Don't Be Thrown Off by the Title: This is a Wonderful Book, Suitable for Younger Teens.......2006-07-17

The first thing that I have to say about Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love, by Maryrose Wood, is that, despite the title, it's NOT about sex. It's about relatively innocent high school freshmen exploring the world of love and dating. If anything, it's almost too cute for words. But not quite. Instead, it's simply adorable.

The Sex Kittens of the title are three fourteen-year-old best friends who attend the Manhattan Free Children's School. They've christened themselves the Sex Kittens in response to a karmic incident with a kitten-themed deck of Tarot cards. (You'll have to read the book for details.) Naturally, once they call themselves Sex Kittens, it's a logical extension that they refer to the boys at their school as Horn Dawgs (or just Dawgs for short), and to the school as "The Pound."

The narrator is Felicia, a young poet who lives in a tiny apartment with her bohemian mother. Felicia's defining attribute (besides being a poet) is her hopeless and consuming crush on Matthew, a classmate who is fixated on science experiments. In a moment of mind-boggling bravery, Felicia confesses her crush to Matthew, and proposed that they do an experiment for the upcoming science fair. Specifically, Felicia wants to explore X, that mysterious something that makes her fall for Matthew, while he remains largely indifferent to her. Matthew, in the interest of science, agrees to the project, and they unlikely duo is off!

Matthew and Felicia interview people, they devise and watch various experiments, they collect data, and they do learn a few things along the way. Meanwhile, their collection of friends, Jess and Kat, Randall and Trip and Jacob, and eventually Deej, all have their own experiences with love, too. These are very PG experiences of love, by the way, with some hand-holding and kissing, but nothing at all for the book banners to grab hold of (beyond the title itself). There's a great deal about the feeling of being in love, the pains in the pit of your stomach, the wardrobe indecision, the rapid heartbeats... But overall, these are nice, believable kids who are easy to get attached to.

What I like best about this book is the use of language. Felicia is a poet, and she is constantly making up or modifying words. The one that sticks with me that most is "insert sound of the Chinese gong, reverbeverbeverberating!" Isn't that great? The word reverberating is reverberating itself. There are also a lot of words in all caps, followed by exclamation points. This took me a bit of getting used to, but I have to say that it accurately reflects the moods and expressiveness of Felicia and her friends. These are high school freshmen, excited about first love and the freedom offered by their new school. They should speak with exaggerated emphasis, shouldn't they? If I had access to notes from my own 9th grade self, I'm sure that they would be filled with exclamation points, underlinings, and made up words. All that's missing in the text of the book are little doodles of hearts and rainbows and champagne glasses (though there is some of that on the cover).

There are plenty of other nice things about the book. The girls are, for the most part, self-confident, and the kids all have talents and interests that they're passionate about. Felicia has a wonderfully close relationship with her Mom, and a believably strained relationship with her suburban father (and his new family). There's a great scene in which the kids from The Pound stand up to some "unhip" racist idiots, in defense of their new friend Deej and her schoolmates. But really, the reason to read this book is that the Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs are realistic portrayals of nice kids having their first look at love. Who wouldn't want to spend time with them?

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on July 16th, 2006.

A fun read for preteens and younger teens .......2006-06-24

A racy title may suggest a racy story normally, but Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love is anything but. Felicia, Jess, and Kat are fourteen-year-olds at the Manhattan Free Children's School, an alternative environment for the story that allows them midday chais at diners and virtually no bothersome studies. The three call themselves the Sex Kittens, so the boys are dubbed Dawgs. In the science competition of the century, Felicia decide to enlist the aide of science guru Matthew--her crush--who breeds genius bunnies, to find the secret of love. While no easy task for a group of girls, their adventures and experiments while searching for "X" create a knot of boyfriends, pretend boyfriends, secret crushes, unrequited love, and a really good story.
Opinion: If you can manage it past the SOMEWHAT EXCESSIVE capitalization and LOTS of puns on kittens, this book is REALLY good. Although the Kittens are all a little crazy--I personally don't know any teens who would volunteer their deepest emotions for a science fair project--the Dawgs, who are more grounded, tie the book together. The end, definitely a happy ending of the usual sort, was not at all what I had expected, due to the many twists romances. While not for the Gossip Girl set, this is a fun read for preteens and younger teens looking for romance and adventure without the more mature issues dealt with in other novels of this sort.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

Great read!.......2006-05-24

A great, clean book for teenagers who are just looking for something fun to read. This book would be wonderful as a girly summer beach read! If you liked books such as "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", you will love "Sex Kittens". The characters are all unique and interesting, and I had so much fun reading it. I will definatly recommend this book to all my girlfriends!

Funtastically fabulous for all!.......2006-04-03

Maryrose has a way of writing which made me feel as if I were sitting in her living room by the fireplace listening to her tell stories about the mysterious quest for love. Anyone who has been a teen (or has yet to be) will enjoy the humor of the mishaps and mayham bestowed upon her likeable characters. It was a fantastic fast page turner, with entertaining twists - quite similar to love itself.

Book Description

This guide for the practicing chromatographer who wants a ready source of information on HPLC detection explores and compares existing detection systems and detectors, outlines the common problems associated with a given detector, and offers proven approaches to avoiding such problems.

Key Features
* Addresses the practical aspects of HPLC detection, including:
basic theory
* when a particular type of detector can be used
* how detectors from various manufacturers differ
* common problems of detectors and ways to avoid them
* Presents an overview of today's most common techniques
* Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of HPLC, dispelling common misconceptions

Customer Reviews:

A practical guide to HPLC detection.......2000-04-07

I am a gradute student in the Analytical Chemistry division at University of Maryland, College Park.

HPLC detection is an important aspect, and I think this book is short and sweet.

Thanks.

Amazon.com

Frederic Chopin was in many ways a contradictory figure: a passionately patriotic Pole, he left his country for good at the age of 21; frail and almost sexless, he was famous for a seven-year love affair with the novelist George Sand; shy, lonely, and retiring, he was inevitably surrounded by friends and admirers. In Chopin in Paris, biographer Tad Szulc has produced a dishy account of Chopin's most creative and tempestuous period, his 18-year sojourn in France. It's also a portrait of a unique time, when musical and artistic luminaries such as Chopin, Balzac, Hugo, Liszt, Berlioz, Delacroix, and Schumann ran in the same heady Parisian circles.

What it's not is a detailed study of Chopin's music. The author of critically praised books about Fidel Castro and Pope John Paul II, Szulc sets out in search of Chopin the man, "the human dimension" he finds missing in other, more musically oriented biographies. What he finds is not always attractive; tortured through much of his life by physical and psychological illness, Chopin emerges as an often fussy, distant, manipulative man, as well as something of a snob. It's a tribute to his genius as a composer, Szulc writes, that he was befriended by some of the greatest minds of his age, including the larger-than-life figure of George Sand: "Fryderyk Chopin gave the world a treasure in music. The world gave Chopin a treasure in human beings." Commendably, Szulc refrains from editorializing about the composer's life and habits, in particular Chopin's break with Sand. Instead, he allows his wealth of primary sources--including diaries, memoirs, letters, and Chopin's own brief journal--to speak for themselves.

Book Description

First time in paperback: The acclaimed biography of Chopin focusing on his 18 years in Paris at the center of a dazzling circle that included Hugo, Balzac, Stendhal, Delacroix, Liszt, Berlioz, and George Sand

Born in Poland in 1810, Chopin emigrated to Vienna at age eighteen-and then to Paris, where from 1831 to 1849 he would spend almost half of his brief and tumultuous life. In Paris his extraordinary powers would reach their height and he would shine among the immensely talented writers, painters, and musicians who were working there and defining their era. Chopin's other acquaintances ranged from Rothschild to Marx-and it was here that he began his long and stormy relationship with the novelist George Sand. In Chopin in Paris-a New York Times Notable Book-Tad Szulc brings to life this complex, contradictory genius, and re-creates an unsurpassed epoch of European history, culture, and music.

Download Description

Born in Poland in 1810, Chopin emigrated to Vienna at age eighteen -- and then to Paris, where from 1831 to 1849 he would spend almost half of his brief and tumultuous life. In Paris his extraordinary powers would reach their height and he would shine among the immensely talented writers, painters, and musicians who were working there and defining their era. Chopin's other acquaintances ranged from Rothschild to Marx -- and it was here that he began his long and stormy relationship with the novelist George Sand. In Chopin in Paris -- a New York Times Notable Book -- Tad Szulc brings to life this complex, contradictory genius, and re-creates an unsurpassed epoch of European history, culture, and music.

Customer Reviews:

It could have been better.......2006-08-31

I'm just reaching the middle of Chopin in Paris right now, and I already have a list of complaints that have become irritating. The book follows Chopin's life from childhood to his death, focusing primarily on the period of his self-selected Parisian exile. Other reviewers have noted the special place this moment holds in European cultural history and, if this is of interest to readers, they should peruse The Parisian World of Frederick Chopin by William Atwood. That work is an exhaustive socio-politico-cultural history of the period, interesting and colorfully written. While it only touches on Chopin peripherally, it explains the why's and how's of Paris as certainly the musical and probably the cultural center of Europe at that time.

Mr. Szulc's book does have its strong points. A recently written, authoritative account of Chopin's life is certainly overdue, and Szulc attempts this. He depends largely on textual sources, obviously, and much of what he says appears at first glance to be documented. For example, Szulc does treat George Sand very evenhandedly, letting the evidence speak for itself. Many, many writers have painted Sand as a depraved, blood-sucking harpy who robbed Chopin of his life, and Szulc resists the temptation. He relies heavily on the Andre Maurois biography of Sand and the correspondence in hand, and this presents a more fair and balanced picture of their relationship. On the plus side, Szulc manages to make it sound very dishy, heightening the interest.

Many things detract from the effort, however, firstly his use of purple ink. Szulc undercuts his own credibility with a turgid, wordy style and the use of hyperbole to describe every event. He often sounds like a partisan trying to convince the reader that Chopin's accomplishments are so great that they prove the superiority of Polish (or French, or I don't know whose) culture, and this is completely unnecessary and very distracting. Chopin did have his detractors early on in the 20th century, but today everyone accepts that Chopin was a genius, his works are masterpieces, and his influence can be felt and heard everywhere subsequently. Chopin carved out an international reputation for his playing alone on the basis of 30 public concerts he gave in his adult life, blowing almost all his peers out of the water in a couple of swift strokes and making Liszt his only serious competitor on the stage. I know of several concert artists alive today who do 30 concerts in 2-months' time as a part of their regular season, so by itself this would make Chopin's accomplishment extraordinary. All of the adjectival puffery just makes it harder to take seriously.

Szulc makes Chopin's sexuality an issue, and he handles the subject most unfortunately. To start with, Szulc bends over backwards to argue that Chopin wasn't gay in a fashion that borders on the offensive. He takes some early letters written to a male childhood friend and tries very lamely to explain that Chopin didn't really mean the epithets he larded the text with (can we say "latency period?"). Szulc is obviously uncomfortable by the profusion of physical affection described there, yet he doesn't bother to explain it in terms of the differing standards of propriety and convention of the day. Enough research has been done regarding this subject that these sentiments appear innocuous and entirely lacking in sexual intent when taken in context. Unless of course, Chopin had a secret, closeted life. The sexuality of many great cultural figures has been argued spuriously for a while now, notably Tchaikovsky and Schubert. If people are going to bring it up, then the subject now deserves a serious, scholarly treatment. Szulc avoids this, doing his readers a disservice by giving them an embarrassed shiver in its place when touching on any aspect of Chopin's love life. While it is doubtful that Chopin was even bisexual, myths and legends persist. Szulc does not explore the matter in any meaningful way that would lay the question to rest.

Then there is Chopin's mental state. Chopin had a number of personality quirks, especially his hesitancy, his aristocratic manner and certain prejudices prevalent in his letters, and Szulc brings these to the fore. He also spends a good deal of the page in a tiresome and unconvincing effort to analyze the soi-disant `link' between mental instability and creativity, quoting a couple of doctors and psychological experts. Was Chopin really schizoid or bipolar, as Szulc asserts? It's very, very hard to say without any clinical evidence (and there isn't any), yet Szulc takes it as a foregone conclusion that Chopin was, mostly because of his genius, and he concludes that other major artistic figures of the day were also, again because of their genius. I thought people had given that theory up along with the Oedipus Complex long ago! In his defense, Chopin had a diagnosis of consumption early in his life, and he spent the rest of it in indifferent or failing health because of his disease. I can't imagine anyone waking up in the morning in a good mood if they were facing that every single day of their lives. Additionally, the pressures of celebrity certainly heightened Chopin's characterological flaws, a reaction we see today in much-less-talented Hollywood celebrities unable to cope with their fame. Is this to say that Chopin' creativity pushed him to the "edge of madness"? I don't think so, and Szulc just seems to be guessing.

Lastly, Szulc's practice of citing sources is confusing and spotty. The book does have a bibliography, but Szulc dispenses with end- or footnotes in the text. He defends this practice in the preface, saying that the references are cited directly in the text and notes are therefore unnecessary. But I've been looking in the bibliography for two days now for a journal article he quoted as a medical reference, and I can't find it there.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. He doesn't talk about the music. Not really, and this is just a shame. Chopin was a leading exponent in the use of chromatic harmony and the evolution, transmogrification really, of formal rhythmic structures from the classical sonata of Haydn, Mozart and even Beethoven, into the very free yet harmonically complex forms that came about later in the 19th century. It is this use of chromatic harmony and coloring, and no other, that makes Chopin's music and that of his contemporaneous peers groundbreaking and as highly influentual as it turned out to be. It is not too much to say that, thanks to Chopin and his contemporaries, Debussy, Stravinsky and Schoenberg became possible. But we don't get that. Instead we are treated to an overblown and even lurid description of the subjective emotional content of the works, without any explanation of "why". Too bad, because an accessible discussion of the musical style would be of great benefit to anyone interested in music. I am reminded of how other non-musicians such as Will and Ariel Durant very succesfully present this subject in interesting yet non-technical terms, so there's no reason why anyone else can't.

Other reviewers have pointed out that there isn't a good, authoritative biography of Chopin available, and I'm sad to say the current effort falls short on several counts. I can't help thinking that this book would have been much better if it had been written by Maynard Solomon.

Chopin in Paris is for the Literate .......2005-02-27

The most fantastic level of detail, insight and analysis on Chopin! However, the depth and sophistication rendered by Tad Szulc is done so in a manner that the typical English reader (with a poor command of the language) will find difficult. If you are a literate reader this is the ultimate book for the Chopin enthusiast.

Flawed but STILL Fascinating.......2004-07-12

I'm glad I gave this book a chance because I enjoyed it quite a lot. Why only 4 stars? A good editor would have cut out some repetitious details. It's annoying, but don't let it stop you from reading it.

The tragedy of Chopin's short life was consumption (tuberculosis of the lungs). You'll marvel that he could give lessons and even perform in public when he seemed to be perpetually short of breath. In this sense, it's a story of triumphing over the odds.

In another sense, it's a love story, i.e., his 8 year affair with George Sand (aka Aurore Dudevant). These were years of extraordinary creativity for Chopin. Their breakup was like many another - faults on both sides, misplaced pride, lack of communication, friends taking sides, etc.

Your heart will break for Chopin in this final tragedy, particularly since we all know (with the benefit of hindsight) that his time was running short and his strength was failing. And he couldn't quite forget her, pathetically asking about her through her grown children. Was she at his bedside when he breathed his last? You'll have to read the book.

One test of a good book (for me) is whether it inspires and opens the door onto other books. This book easily passes that test. Not only does it make me want to read more about Chopin and his friends, but when I listen to his music, I am more moved than ever.

Interesting, but redundant, judgemental, and poorly paced..........2002-10-27

This book is well written from the standpoint of sustaining a narrative based purely on personal facts and historical data, and in making one person's life interesting to people now far removed from his time, but the book really begins to slow down and become pedantic somewhere near the middle. It is the fault of poor editing, I believe, and the inclusion of several strange passages where the writer interjects his own opinions or judgements both on Chopin's character and the times he lived in were just redundant, annoying, and superfluous. By the time you finish reading the book your respect for Chopin will probably be lessened noticeably, not only because the writer seems to always dwell on what he considers the "faults" of the musician's character, but also because the unending reiteration of their cataloguing becomes fatiguing by the end. Who cares, really? Does it matter when listening to this man's Nocturnes or Polonaises or the incredible Etudes that he was a good businessman, extremely "careful" with his money, and that he was anti-semetic, often verbally abusing his Jewish music publishers? Does it matter that Chopin was a hypochondriac, a gossip, a manipulative, immature, emotionally-inept recluse? Will it matter to you? You will have to decide after reading this book, as all the "sordid" details of his life are open to your perusal. When confronted by Chopin's "faults" and "sins" or "defects of character" I was not impressed in the least. In fact, even though the author goes out of his way to make one aware of these things, nothing he could say really surprised me, and the attempts on his part to prejudice the reader seemed clumsy and ill-handled. A better writer would have been persuasive, the would-be moralist Szulc ends up merely berating and nagging. There are better biographies out there.

good book on his life and love: music and George Sand.......2002-10-08

This book is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about Chopin and his love for music. You also get to learn about his love interest in George Sand. Szulc does a great job of keeping the material interesting as Chopin's contributions for all of time.

This is a great book to have for anyone that loves Chopin!

Average customer rating:
Chopin in Paris: The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer
Tad Szulc
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QYDVN8

Book Description

A classic of naval warfare! "Macintyre was England's top U-boat destroyer during World War II, with seven kills and several captures to his credit. Here he offers his firsthand account of safeguarding convoys in the North Atlantic from roaming German subs. Pretty scary stuff."--Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book for the Buffs.......2000-04-30

This book has accounts of battles from Captain Donald Macintyre. It talks a lot about the battles in WWII and is very interesting especially because of the release of the movie U-571. It is perfect for any history and sea war-fare buff. The lingo is a bit tough to pick up on if you don't know your stuff, however, but it is still a good read.

Average customer rating:

Ridiculous Nonsense

Invisible Resistance to Tyranny

Outstanding, practical advice

Disappointing

Excellent update of a classic

Invisible Resistance to Tyranny: How to Lead a Secret Life of Insurgency in an Increasingly Unfree World
Mack Jefferson
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1581603088

Book Description

What is invisible resistance to tyranny? It is an underground movement of secret freedom fighters, each acting individually and independently to ignore, evade, resist and thwart the increasingly heavy hand of government power. Invisible resisters do not join protest groups, stand on street corners making speeches or run with a mob throwing rocks at police vehicles. Rather, they make up a collective silent insurgency that tyrants won't be able to put down because they won't be able to find it. Government enforcers will fruitlessly look for organizations with no members, commanders who aren't there, secret headquarters that don't exist and couriers that carry no messages. Invisible Resistance to Tyranny is both a manifesto and manual for everyday citizens who are alarmed by the never-ending encroachment upon the individual freedoms recognized by the Bill of Rights and who want to do something about it now before it comes down to a choice between violent revolution and total submission. It outlines a progressive program of resistance that anyone can undertake without having to protest in the streets, go on hunger strikes or take up arms. It tells how to: Â• be a "bad" citizen while still being a good neighbor. Â• identify and nurture sympathizers and build a network of invisible resisters. Â• confront and convert "government supremacists" to your side. Â• disrespect politicians and bureaucrats without drawing attention to yourself. Â• actively resist within today's system through such avenues as taxes, guns, juries and schools. It then provides ideas for the many paths of invisible resistance to tyranny - intelligence collection and dissemination, propaganda, support for active operations and, if it should ever come down to it, direct operations against a totalitarian regime.

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous Nonsense.......2007-08-04

There is never anything wrong with questioning something, but this book is laid out to make a person supposedly feel like they are someone doing something rebellious while staying within the lines. Please, do not apply the word "insurgent" to someone walking a picket line or fighting the IRS paper trail, that is truly ridiculous nonsense.

Invisible Resistance to Tyranny.......2007-03-12

Intriquing title, but one that lets you down. While the author has a good grasp on the 'increasingly Unfree World' his solution is to continue to do nothing so no one will notice that you're doing something. The book offers few positive active suggestions for dealing with the cultural problem that he so clearly identifies. The book needs more develpment. It's like reading a recipe full of the correct ingredients for making a cakes only to find that the master chef tells you not to put it together or bake it lest you be noticed close to the ovens.

Outstanding, practical advice.......2006-02-03

Be a Bad Citizen! Jefferson explains how the mindset of the "bad citizen" is infinitely preferable to that of the sheeplike "Good citizen" who obeys his masters without question but never seems to gain from it. Bad Citizens are much better friends and neighbors, that's for certain. Spend the money and study this book --it won't take that long and you'll have a fairly concrete yardstick by which to measure yourself: Am I a free citizen or am I a government apologist?

Disappointing.......2004-07-17

This was a recommended companion to Enemies Foreign and Domestic by Matthew Bracken. Unfortunately, it falls amazingly short. For those already trying to fight the growing monstrosity that is our government, it contains little of any value and some bits that are actually counterproductive. For those who are not yet on board, it is written in such a way that it is very unlikely to get through to any of them. It is a repetitious and puerile mix of common sense and poor advice.

Excellent update of a classic.......2002-12-11

This book is largely an update of the author's earlier classic, _Secret Freedom Fighter: How To Fight Tyranny Without Terrorizing The Innocent._ Outdated information has been removed, and there is now references to things that happened since the first edition came out. I was one of those lobbying for the original to be reprinted, but this is better than a straight reprint would be.

Book Description

"Ralph Tiner transforms `wastelands' into national treasures. His book provides an accessible introduction to wetland ecology and management for students, the public, and wetland scientists."—Aram J. K. Calhoun, associate professor of wetland ecology, University of Maine

Praise for previous edition:

Named one of the Best Science Books for Junior High and High School Readers 1998 in Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

"If you want a comprehensive introduction and field guide to wetlands, written by one of America's most broadly knowledgeable wetlands biologists, Tiner's book is it."—Barbara Bedford, Cornell University

In the revised and expanded edition of this classic guide, Ralph W. Tiner introduces readers to the ecology and beauty of the wetlands in eastern North America. Topics include their formation and functions, wetland types, causes of loss and degradation, and recent efforts to protect them. The discussion now includes many examples from the Great Lakes region and information on best management practices for working in and around wetlands including vernal pools. A new chapter on classification and assessment further clarifies how the unique characteristics of these important natural resources serve specific functions.

In Search of Swampland also provides a field guide to wetland plants, soils, and animals. It includes detailed descriptions and illustrations—many of which are new to this edition—of more than 300 plants and 200 animals. Clear identification keys, information on how to distinguish typical hydric or "wet" soils from dryland soils, and general procedures for identifying wetlands in the field make this book an indispensable resource for readers with little or no training in wetland science, as well as for the scientist or amateur naturalist.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent text on wetlands.......2006-03-03

I got this book as a research reference in order to assist me in wetland delineations. It covers hydric soils, wetland hydrology, and wetland vegetation in a clear and comprehensive way. I recommend this board to everyone from the wetland scientist to the interested average Joe.

Great introductory text.......2004-06-22

I teach a short course in wetlands to students who are primarily non-scientists. My students love this book, as do I. Technical issues are discussed in a way that is accessible to the general reader AND clearly explains the concepts. I highly recommend this volume both to other instructors and to individuals with an interest in the natural history of wetlands.

Excellent coverage of a timely topic.......1999-09-02

I have an interest in wetlands science and this book gives an excellent introductory review of the topic. The drawings are excellent; but I wish that there were more color plates of the flora and fauna; this, of course, would have raised the cost of the book. The bibliography at the end of the chapters are helpful if you need more information. The controversial area of hydric soils is also covered very well.

Overall a very good first book.

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