Conceptual Ecology and Invasion Biology: Reciprocal Approaches to Nature (Invading Nature

Book Description

The conservation threat represented by invasive species is well-known, but the scientific opportunities are underappreciated. Invasion studies have historically been largely directed at the important job of collecting case studies. Invasion biology has matured to the point of being able to incorporating itself into the heart of ecology, and should be viewed as extensions or critical experiments of ecological theory.

In this edited volume, global experts in ecology and evolutionary biology explore how theories in ecology elucidate the invasion processes while also examining how specific invasions informs ecological theory. This reciprocal benefit is highlighted in a number of scales of organization: population, community and biogeographic, while employing example invaders in all major groups of organisms and from a number of regions around the globe. The chapters in this volume utilize many of the cutting edge observational, experimental, analytical and computational methods used in modern ecology. Through merging conceptual ecology and invasion biology we can obtain a better understanding of the invasion process while also developing a better understanding of how ecological systems function.

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A revision of the Artemisia vulgaris complex in North America (Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 4th ser)
David D Keck
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007EWOBW

Book Description

This book is essential reading for anyone who is even considering taking a gap year, an extended holiday or the trip of a lifetime, let alone just putting on a backpack and going for it. Covering all eventualities, it tells you everything you need to know now and will need to know later, plus a huge number of other things you hadn't even thought of. Features a 100-page directory of the top 50 backpacking destinations from Australia to Venezuela, with information on sights and experiences not to be missed; plus climate, currency, languages, religions, visa requirements, embassy addresses, first-night accommodation and other useful contacts.

The Virgin Travellers' Handbook: The Definitive Guide for Students and Career Gap Travellers Planning a Gapyear

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The Virgin Travellers' Handbook: The Definitive Guide for Students and Career Gap Travellers Planning a Gapyear
Tom Griffiths
Manufacturer: Virgin Archive
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Reference | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0762724412

Book Description

This book is essential reading for anyone who is considering taking a gapyear, career gap, an extended vacation, or the trip of a lifetime. Covering all eventualities, it tells readers everything they need to know, plus a huge number of other things they hadn't even thought of!

Topics include:
·Preparation and getting started
·Budgeting and finances
·Traveling alone or with friends
·Health and safety
·The final countdown
·Working overseas
·Dealing with parents and advice for parents
·Home to reality

In addition, readers will find advice on how to pack, use the Internet, keep in touch with family and friends, buy a car, and much more.

The Virgin Traveller's Handbook also features a 100 page directory of the top 50 backpacking destinations from Australia to Venezuela, with information on sights and experiences not to be missed, plus climate, currency, language, religion, visa requirements, embassy addresses, first-night accommodations, and other useful contacts.

Written and researched from first-hand experience, gapyear guru Tom Griffiths has definitely been there, seen it, and done it. Peppered with amusing anecdotes of his travels, this book has a personal and engaging tone that encourages readers to make the most their time off.

Book Description

Meri is back with a vengeance!

When we last left our tale of deceit, blackmail, and really great shoes, our heroine Cindy Bixby had gotten rid of Meri Sugarman, the diabolical sorority president of Alpha Beta Delta.

Now Cindy, along with her sorority sisters and friends at Rumson U., including her über-hottie boyfriend, Keith (yum!), is working hard to rebuild the sorority . . . but then along comes Meri.

She's back. Sure, she's not allowed anywhere near Rumson U., but do you really think that will stop her? (Get real!) Meri's still got a few tricks up those Dolce & Gabbana sleeves, and she's determined to destroy Alpha Beta Delta once and for all -- and exact her cruelest revenge on Cindy!

But Cindy is nobody's fool anymore. She's ready to do whatever it takes to beat Meri!

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-11-19

MERI STRIKES BACK is a continuation of the story introduced in Hazing Meri Sugarman. Meri Sugarman, evil sorority president whose downfall was brought about by Cindy Bixby and her friends, is back. Criminal charges against her amounted to nothing but a few hours of community service to be done. This time around, Cindy is being set up so that her sorority sisters will think she's the crazy one, instead of psychopath Meri.

Meri's not alone this time, either. Even though her old vice-president, Gloria, is in prison, Meri has gotten the help of some evil Catholic schoolgirls--miniature Meri Sugarmans. With their help, Meri's plan is working. Everyone sees Meri as the victim, and Cindy as the crazy girl who just won't forgive poor, apologetic Meri Sugarman. Only Cindy knows the truth, and she's got to convince her friends, the Dean of the college, and the rest of Alpha Beta Delta that Meri's just as dangerous as she ever was.

Readers of Hazing Meri Sugarman will love its sequel! It might be even more hilarious than book number one. The great characters are back as well. The only reason this book might not live up to the very high expectations set by the first book is the ending. MERI STRIKES BACK ends in a way that is very obviously setting it up for a continuation. Cindy's last diary entry hardly wraps up any loose ends, and even creates several more questions. Certainly, I'm glad there will be another story, but it would be nice if each book was also a story in itself, not just a continuation of one long story. Hazing Meri Sugarman stands on its own very well, but this novel, unfortunately, does not.

Still, though, it's a great read that is not to be missed! It's not entirely necessary to have read Hazing Meri Sugarman first, though it is recommended (certainly don't read that one after reading this one; there are a lot of spoilers). MERI STRIKES BACK is a fairly quick read that will have readers anxious for the next book about Meri and Cindy, Dark Cindy.

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

Where is "Dark Cindy"?.......2006-07-23

I think that "Meri Strikes Back" was a great novel for fun reading. It's witty, fast-paced, and is a definite page turner. It leaves you at the end wishing that the next book "Dark Cindy" was already released, so that you could continue the tale of Cindy Bixby and Alpha Beta Delta...

Have you "pulled a Meri lately???".......2006-07-18

I didn't think it was possible to top Hazing Meri Sugarman but M. Apostolina has done it. This latest offering of teen debauchery, Meri Strikes Back, has the reader engaged from start to finish. The heroine, Cindy Bixby, goes up against arch enemy Meri once again while at the same time searching for her own authentic self. This book gets into more detail with Cindy's cohorts, my particular favorites are Lindsey and the vulgar yet lovable Bud Finger ( hasn't everyone dated a Bud Finger at least once?!). The action was nonstop and I could not put the book down. As I finished each chapter, I was giddy with excitement wondering what awful predicament Cindy would find herself in; on pins and needles as I waited for Meri's deliciously torrid next move. The only thing this book left me wanting is more, more, more! Can't wait for the next installment, Dark Cindy.....Will the tables be completely turned on Meri once and for all? Will CIndy finally find a solution for that "tragic hair?" Will the journey for CIndy's authentic self take a deep, dark turn??????
I look forward to going on more adventures with Cindy and the gang at Rumson U.
Go, Meri , Go!!

Excellent sequel!.......2006-07-08

Just when poor beleaguered Cindy Bixby thinks it's safe to go back to her college sorority, after vanquishing uber-_itch Meri Sugarman in Apostolina's debut Hazing Meri Sugarman, Meri rises in Martha Stewart-like phoenix fashion to return to Rumson U. What devilish plans does Meri have for Cindy this time and how will Cindy fend her off? Readers absolutely do not have to read the books in order, since each stands alone, but it is fun to do it that way. As for this reader, I can't wait for more adventures with Cindy and the sisters - good and evil - of Alpha Beta Delta.

Meri 2.......2006-06-24

Meri's back and even more devious than before! The rivalry between her and Cindy is totally intense. And I love how Patty Camp psychoanalyzes everyone. Hilarious! Can't wait for the next book!

Book Description

To understand the structures and dynamics of DNA and its interactions with ligands, a complete analysis of its confirmational flexibility is required. This volume and its companion, Volume 212 of Methods in Enzymology, collate in one source all the methods and approaches needed to achieve this goal.

Book Description

The average-case analysis of numerical problems is the counterpart of the more traditional worst-case approach. The analysis of average error and cost leads to new insight on numerical problems as well as to new algorithms. The book provides a survey of results that were mainly obtained during the last 10 years and also contains new results. The problems under consideration include approximation/optimal recovery and numerical integration of univariate and multivariate functions as well as zero-finding and global optimization. Background material, e.g. on reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces and random fields, is provided.

Book Description

This is part of a new series of guides to contemporary novels. The aim of the series is to give readers accessible and informative introductions to some of the most popular, most acclaimed and most influential novels of recent years - from `The Remains of the Day' to `White Teeth'. A team of contemporary fiction scholars from both sides of the Atlantic has been assembled to provide a thorough and readable analysis of each of the novels in question.

Customer Reviews:

Slight but worthwhile.......2003-01-29

Of the three volumes I've looked at in this series, this is the only one I've found worth keeping. A major disappointment of these brief discussions is the failure to include a timeline summary--of either the narrative or the actions it contains. As a consequence, the usefulness of the commentary is limited to readers who are fresh from reading the novel.

All the same, Bolland brings lots of welcome information, helpful clarification, and fresh critical perspective to Ondaatje's major achievement. Moreover, his frequent reference to postcolonial theory and Foucault post-structuralism proves to enhance rather than obfuscate his discussion of the novel. Somewhat disappointing, however, is the author's decision to afford no more than 4 pages to the film, especially given its critical reputation and Ondaatje's keen interest in the project.

Excellent overview.......2002-06-04

This short book is an excellent overview for people reading or studying The English Patient. I got it to help with an English/linguistics course with the novel as key text, and it has been very helpful to me. I found though that it was an interesting read in itself and in some cases gave me new insight into others of Ondaatje's books which I have read for pleasure rather than studying.
The first chapters are invaluable for providing a background to Ondaatje's work through his personal and academic history, as well as charting the development of the Canadian post-modern movement which provides much of the impetus behind Ondaatje's work. There are numerous and detailed references to his other works as well, which help in showing the development of the concerns and themes prevalent in The English Patient.
The section dealing with the narrative and thematic structure of the novel was exceptional - I make particular note of the section on intertextuality, where clear points and inferences are made about the relation between the novel and key intertexts such as Kim.
The section on the movie didn't seem to live up the promise - it would have been good to have seen more detail on the similarities and differences between the two texts, and the implications of some of the decisions Minghella made about changing the script.
All in all a good resource, but the detail on theory (e.g. post-modernism) may be irrelevant to high school students. There is also a comprehensive list of articles and websites for further reading.

New and Interesting.......2002-03-15

This is not a sereis of books that I have seen before, so I don't know if any of the others are good, but this particular volume was very helpful. Short enough to get through in one sitting, it helped me get my thoughts together about The English Patient. I hadn't been sure how to approach it beforehand. I'll admit that once or twice the author lost me - it's a complex novel and his analysis of it is, at times, equally complicated. Ultimately it works, though. You get the impression that John Bolland would be a good teacher. Recommended, if you need help with this novel.

Book Description

Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the young Australian journalisted went to La Paz and joined one of Thomas's illegal tours. They formed an instant friendship and then became partners in an attempt to record Thomas's experiences in the jail. Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with Thomas and recording one of the strangest and most compelling prison stories of all time. The result is Marching Powder.

This book establishes that San Pedro is not your average prison. Inmates are expected to buy their cells from real estate agents. Others run shops and restaurants. Women and children live with imprisoned family members. It is a place where corrupt politicians and drug lords live in luxury apartments, while the poorest prisoners are subjected to squalor and deprivation. Violence is a constant threat, and sections of San Pedro that echo with the sound of children by day house some of Bolivia's busiest cocaine laboratories by night. In San Pedro, cocaine--"Bolivian marching powder"--makes life bearable. Even the prison cat is addicted.

Yet Marching Powder is also the tale of friendship, a place where horror is countered by humor and cruelty and compassion can inhabit the same cell. This is cutting-edge travel-writing and a fascinating account of infiltration into the South American drug culture.

Customer Reviews:

Very good read.......2007-10-02

I read this book about 3 years ago. I never read a book with so much interest as this. It was very interesting, entertaining, frightening and attention grabbing. I am not sure if the story is 100% true but it certainly made a good read. I am planning to read the book again sometime soon.

Good read but certainly not outstanding.......2007-08-01

this book is a pretty good read. i enjoyed it but it wasn't a page turner. i'm not certain i believed all the incidents described and i think the writer embellished and downright lied at certain points for the sake of entertainment. still it is interesting and if half of what was written is true then it is a fascinating glimpse into prison life in bolivia.
worth a read but don't expect to be riveted.

Very entertaining and facinating read.......2007-05-28

What a great story - Once you begin reading it, you won't put it down until it's finished! Well written and very interesting all the way through, the book shares stories that you will find most surprising and almost unbelievable. I can't compare the substance of the story to anything else I have read - it is a mix of eye-opening surprise, awe, adventure, humour and sadness. When we travel, it's always facinating to see how other people live, and this book provides the reader with an amazing glimpse of life in a unique situation. Highly recommended.

Too good a story to be true?.......2007-05-26

If you believe everything that McFadden writes, then this is a fascinating tale of a bizarre, corrupt and frightening world.

But I don't believe everything McFadden says. I think he's a professional con artist and his last great con may have been this book. Rusty doesn't arrive on the scene until the very end, by which time McFadden's tours have largely stopped and "Yasheeda" has left the scene. In fact, very little happens after Rusty arrives. Strange, isn't it?

Even if one believes that the essential narrative of the story is true, the recreated conversations and scenes seem highly embellished.

I would love for an objective journalist to track down all the characters in this book and write a more objective account McFadden's life before and during his prison sentence.

If this book is ever made into a movie, the underlying "true" story will attract a great deal of scrutiny. As James Frey can tell you, that's not always a good thing.

boring.......2007-01-29

While you would think a book about such a bizarre South American prison couldn't help but be compelling Young and McFadden manage to turn out an absolute yawn. On top of that, my impression is that McFadden is a b.s. artist. Too bad.

Customer Reviews:

A Portrait of a Dynastic Army in Turmoil.......2001-07-31

Napoleon's Great Adversary is a well-written military study of the evolution of the Austrian Army and the role of its best commander, the Archduke Charles, during the Napoleonic Wars from 1792-1814. Charles, brother of the Austrian emperor, saw his first combat in 1792 and rapidly rose to become the driving force behind the reform movement in the often-defeated Austrian army. The author, a veteran of both the British army and the US Air Force, is a distinguished scholar and expert on the Austrian military. Dr. Rothenberg brings the full weight of his scholarly research and military insights to provide one of the few English language accounts of the Austrian military in this key period.

The book is organized in nine chapters which cover the Hapsburg monarchy and its army in 1792, the wars of the first and second coalitions, the first reform period in 1801-1805, the Ulm/Austerlitz campaigns of 1805, the second reform period of 1806-1809, the campaigns of 1809 and the final phase of the war in 1810-1814. There are 17 maps in this volume, mostly taken from other sources such as Scott Bowden. There are also 23 illustrations, mostly from the Vienna Army Museum, that depict uniforms and notable commanders. Unfortunately, the editors have not done the authors any favors and he notes this in his introduction. Given the dearth of works on this subject and the research effort made by the author, this is a shame.

The author gives an excellent description of the condition, equipment, tactics and doctrine of the Austrian army at the outset of the Napoleonic Wars. However the description of Austrian military operations in 1792-1800 is overly succinct and focuses primarily on Charles' 1796 campaign in Germany. Napoleon's 1796-1797 campaign in Italy is covered in less than two pages and the Battle of Marengo in only one paragraph, with no new Austrian perspectives offered on either campaign. Instead, the author provides considerable detail on the reform programs pushed by Charles after the defeat at Marengo. These reforms were only partly accomplished when war broke out again in 1805, resulting in the catastrophes of Ulm and Austerlitz.

Clearly the author's main interest is the period of reform that followed the defeat at Austerlitz and culminated in Austria's decision to re-enter the war in 1809. It was during this period that Charles, despite the suspicion and hostility of his brother's court, made his greatest contributions as War Minister and field commander. While not equal to the hard-hitting and fast-moving French armies, Charles was able to restore the Austrian army's cohesion and modestly improve its staying power. While he essentially bungled the outset of the 1809 campaign by failing to strike quickly at the dispersed French forces in Bavaria, Charles opted to retire behind the formidable Danube River and await Napoleon's attack. Napoleon soon obliged him with a reckless hasty assault across the river at Aspern-Essling, but a combination of Austrian tenacity and bad luck contributed to Napoleon's first battlefield defeat. The chagrined emperor, who had taken Austrian incompetence for granted, then realized that only a better-prepared offensive could succeed against the stout Austrian defense. Charles, although victorious, elected to do nothing and await the next attack. Napoleon's second crossing was successful and resulted in the bloodbath Battle of Wagram. This costly French victory taught Napoleon that Austrian armies were no longer the small, fragile forces that quickly retreated if their lines of communication were threatened, but were evolving into an attrition-oriented force. However, defeat at Wagram was the end of Charles' career and retired into relative obscurity thereafter.

This account, while somewhat superficial in the early phases of the Napoleonic Wars, is graced with considerable data on Austrian forces. At times, Austrian leadership and tactics seem almost imbecilic and rigid to a fault. Even after the defeat at Wagram, Austrian reforms were reluctant to endorse open-order skirmishing tactics that the French had been using so successfully for the past 17 years. The Austrian army had some of the finest cavalry in Europe but wasted it by splitting it up in an infantry support role and using mounted units piece-meal, just as the French would later do with their armor in 1940. Good ideas, such as introducing all-arms corps formations, were negated by attempting to apply them in the chaos of mobilization. Nevertheless, the Austrian army continued to rise and fight again, even if it was a worn, threadbare force by 1814. Military reforms did not come easily to the hide-bound Hapsburg Empire as the author notes that, "the political and military leadership realized that radical innovations in the military sphere were linked to changes in government and society that neither party desiredýBasically the Hapsburg army remained a dynastic force."

Grosse oder Kleine Deutsch?.......2000-08-24

This is the definitive work on the subject in English, written by an acknowledged authority on the subject. Telling the story of the allied commander of the period whom Wellington thought the best and most talented of the commanders who fought Napoleon and his terrible Grande Armee, this volume neatly wraps up in easily understandable prose, the problems the Austrian army, and the Archduke Charles, had to face, both with the French and their own bureaucracy.

Essentially an 18th century fighting force, with a very conservative, and many times incompetent leadership, the Austrian army and state manfully took up the challenges brought to the fore by the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon as Emperor of the French. Defeated repeatedly by Napoleon in 1797, 1800, 1805, and 1809, both the army and the Empire it defended demonstrated admirable stamina in raising armies to continually send them into the fire. With the Archduke Charles, they had a world-class commander-in-chief, but even he could not rid the army of both its inherent conservatism, and its rigid adherence to methods by now far obsolete.

The book relies on a plethora of German and Austrian references, many of them archival, and it is the only book in English that has covered the Hapsburg army in any detail. The author is a master of his subject, and the book itself is easy to read, and full of first hand information that is invaluable to the student, historian, and researcher. It is a definite must for all enthusiasts and students of the period.

This is a wonderful book!.......2000-06-14

If you are interested in the 1809 campaign, or want to know more about the Army that was Napoleon's main adversary during the entire period, then you should read this book.

A rather dry account of the Archduke Charles of Austria.......1998-01-15

When first published, this book was touted as the only English text dealing specifically with the Austrian Army and Archduke Charles. There are now several other books on essentially the same topic. I found this book to be rather too academic for the lay reader (me), dwelling as it does in considerable details on Army organisation and reorganisation and other statistical details. There is also a heavy reliance on Austrian sources for the text. The author is aware of this and tries to correct the imbalance in treatment by selective use of material from other sources. However, one is still left with the feeling that this tome is not the definitive account of the Archduke Charles.

Napoleon's great Adversaries; the Archduke Charles and the Austrian Army, 1792-1814

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Napoleon's great Adversaries; the Archduke Charles and the Austrian Army, 1792-1814
Gunther E. Rothenberg
Manufacturer: Indiana Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ14V4

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an excellent book on Japanese foreign policy

Japan's Reluctant Realism: Foreign Policy Challenges in an Era of Uncertain Power
Michael Green
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Relations | International | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Securing Japan: Tokyo's Grand Strategy and the Future of East Asia (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs)

Koizumi Diplomacy: Japan's Kantei Approach to Foreign and Defense Affairs

Beyond Bilateralism: U.S.-Japan Relations in the New Asia-Pacific (Contemporary Issues in Asia and Pacific)

ASIN: 1403962359

Book Description

Using case studies that look at China, the Korean peninsula, Russia and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and international institutions, Michael Green uncovers a more Japanese foreign policy in Japan. Though it still converges with the US on fundamental issues, it is increasingly independent. While remaining low-risk, it is more sensitive to balance-of-power issues. It is still reactive, but it is far less passive. Green argues that this emerging strategic view, what he calls 'reluctant realism,' is being shaped by a combination of changes in the international environment, insecurity about national power resources, and Japanese aspirations for a national identity that moves beyond the legacy of World War II.

Customer Reviews:

an excellent book on Japanese foreign policy.......2001-06-29

This is an excellent book on Japanese foreign policy written by someone now working for the National Security Council. It draws upon on copious research including interviews conducted by the author, as well as Japanese and English language secondary source materials. Green convincingly argues that Japanese foreign policy is particularly driven by parochial domestic considerations, and in this respect the book is quite timely in light of the political changes occurring in Japan. I learned quite a bit from reading this book -- even regarding issues on which I thought my own prior knowledge was significant.

Japan's Reluctant Realism: Foreign Policy Challenges in an Era of Uncertain Power. (Book Reviews).(Book Review): An article from: Pacific Affairs

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Japan's Reluctant Realism: Foreign Policy Challenges in an Era of Uncertain Power. (Book Reviews).(Book Review): An article from: Pacific Affairs
Shinju Fujihira
Manufacturer: University of British Columbia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008FX02M
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on September 22, 2002. The length of the article is 683 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Japan's Reluctant Realism: Foreign Policy Challenges in an Era of Uncertain Power. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
Author: Shinju Fujihira
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2002
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: 75 Issue: 3 Page: 452(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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Book Description

Faith in a Seed contains the hitherto unpublished work The Dispersion of Seeds, one of Henry D. Thoreau's last important research and writing projects, and now his first new book to appear in 125 years.

With the remarkable clarity and grace that characterize all of his writings, Thoreau describes the ecological succession of plant species through seed dispersal. The Dispersion of Seeds, which draws on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, refutes the then widely accepted theory that some plants spring spontaneously to life, independent of roots, cuttings, or seeds. As Thoreau wrote: "Though I do not believe a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders."

Customer Reviews:

Remarkable Volume.......2007-07-26

This book contains the manuscript of one of Thoreau's last works, The Dispersion of Seeds. Through his daily walks in the woods, Thoreau became fascinated with the question of how the plants he was seeing became established. A puzzling riddle of the time that local townsmen constantly asked was why when they cut pine forests, oak forests seemed to grow up, and when they cut oak forests, pine forests would take their place. Thoreau was uniquely able to answer such questions, since he had spent years wandering through the forests, taking notes on everything he saw. In this volume, he not only provides answers to the pine-oak riddle, but he also lays to rest the idea of spontaneous generation of plants, which was still accepted in many circles at the time he wrote this book.

This book represents perhaps some of Thoreau's greatest works in ecology. In it, he lays out his own theory of forest succession based on ecological observation and experimentation. He was one of the first to understand forest succession on the American continent, working almost entirely alone, with little previous research in the literature to draw on. Not only is the book a magnificent ecological study, but the text itself is sheer pleasure to read, being a prime example of Thoreau's well-crafted prose.

A wonderful addition to any Thoreauvian's library.......1998-09-15

Faith in a Seed, a collection of Henry David Thoreau's late nature writings, deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the plant sciences or Thoreau's life and work. This volume consists of four previously-unpublished manuscripts, which the author left uncompleted when he died in 1862. Although compiled of rough drafts, Faith in a Seed is still very readable and enjoyable. Thoreau's last major project, The Dispersion of Seeds, fills most of this book. In it, he describes the seeds of various New England plants, as well as how they are disseminated by way of animals and the elements. The philosopher of Walden Pond roams the woods, fields, and swamps of "a world that is already planted, but is also still being planted as at first." Although this is a scientific work, Thoreau's wonderful voice and way with metaphor permeates every page, making for a very pleasurable read. Of historical interest, Thoreau was one of the first American scientists to embrace Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The idea of an ever-changing earth coincided with Thoreau's own beliefs. He felt that "the development theory implies a greater vital force in Nature, because it is more flexible and accommodating, and equivalent to a sort of constant new creation." In addition to the cornerstone of this book, The Dispersion of Seeds, three shorter selections are included. In Wild Fruits, Thoreau writes about the joys of hunting for wild berries, and teaches that "the value of any experience is measured, not by the amount of money, but the amount of development we get out of it." Weeds and Grasses and Forest Trees elaborate on the ideas of plant propagation and forest succession illustrated in The Dispersion of Seeds. On the whole, I found this book to be a welcome addition to my Thoreau collection. Even in his late years, as he became more and more interested in the technicalities of nature, he still dearly loved the wild; and this comes through in Faith in a Seed. Come, saunter with Henry through dark pitch-pine groves, the huckleberry fields of Fair Haven Hill, and the seedling-lined banks of the Concord River. Discover that "the very earth itself is a granary and a seminary."

Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings

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Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings
Henry David Thoreau
Manufacturer: Island Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WP10LQ

Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings.: An article from: Philological Quarterly

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Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings.: An article from: Philological Quarterly
Phil Round
Manufacturer: University of Iowa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Philological Quarterly, published by University of Iowa on January 1, 1994. The length of the article is 1255 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings.
Author: Phil Round
Publication: Philological Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1994
Publisher: University of Iowa
Volume: v73 Issue: n1 Page: p115(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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