Plant Life In The World's Mediterranean Climates: California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin

Book Description

This book provides a wonderful overview of the landscapes, vegetation types, and plants of the five regions of the world that have a Mediterranean climate. This climate of mild, rainy winters and dry, warm summers is found in California, Central Chile, the Cape Region of South Africa, the southwestern part of Australia and the Mediterranean Basin. The regions are widely separated and the flora of each is distinctive, having for the most part developed independently. Nevertheless, the plants share remarkably similar characteristics which allow them to thrive in these unusual conditions.
Peter Dallman's non-technical prose is complemented by numerous maps, tables, and figures, and the book is richly illustrated with photographs of landscapes, plants, and flowers. With its detailed information on some of the world's most resilient plant life, this book will serve as an excellent reference for everyone interested in growing drought-resistant plants and as a naturalist's guide to these beautiful and unusual bioregions.
For the growing number of travelers whose vacations focus on learning about and appreciating natural history, Dallman also includes a chapter on planning trips to the five Mediterranean regions.

Customer Reviews:

Great overview of mediterranean climates.......2005-09-19

This book is great. It has plenty of pictures, diagrams and drawings. Most of the pictures are not in color, however, which is its biggest downfall. It is not a detailed evaluation of mediterranean climates nor is it a good plant ID book, but provides an excellent overview for both the layman and scientist. It provides informatin on the plants that make the mediterranean climate unique and the typical plant communities that are found in them. It is great for someone who doesn't want to get bogged down with individual species and wants to see how all the parts fit together. I first checked this book out of my local library and felt it would be such a good reference book for work, play and travel that I had to have it. The book uses the most scientific and inclusive use of the term Mediterranean which means you are going to get descriptions of plant communities from San Diego to Sacramento to San Francisco. For those of us that prefer the more exclusive definitions it may come as a shock that San Francisco and Sacramento could be considered mediterranean so I'm warning you now. I am currently using this book to help plan a trip to Australia as a supplement to Lonely Planet's travel guides. This book has inspired me to visit all the world's mediterranean climates at some point in my life and I'm not even a plant lover.

Author's Credentials.......2004-09-21

Peter Dallman, a retired pediatric doctor and docent at Strybing Aboretum in San Francisco, California, spent many years
studying plants and traveling the world to see them where they grow in the Mediterranean climate areas of the world. Prof. Robert Ornduff, the late director of the Univ. of California Botanical Garden, encouraged him to write about these
plants and his travels. The result is a book giving the reader the best armchair picture of the vegetation of a very special part of the world.

A thoughtful, beautifully produced book.......2001-01-02

This book falls into a category somewhere between botany, climatology, and geography; it looks at several different types of "mediterranean climate" around the world, and describes the different vegetational types within each region, explaining (in a scholarly but accessible way) why these plant communities look the way they do.

It's beautifully produced, with both climate maps and full-color illustrations of plants and plant communities. I know of no other book that explains the relationship between geography and botanical ecology this elegantly; it's a lot of fun to browse, and I would recommend it *very* highly to armchair travellers with botanical inclinations.

A "must" for horticulralists and gardeners........2000-02-03

Peter Dallman's Plant Life In The World's Mediterranean Climates covers plants of California, Australia, South Africa and the Mediterranean, and will prove more accessible to general audiences studying plants. Here are photos, charts, and a host of details on plant communities and plant life common to this climate, with chapters providing both individual regional details and links between plants of each area. This is a highly recommended pick not just for specialty libraries, but for general collections.

PLANT LIFE IN THE WORLD'S MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATES. CALIFORNIA, CHILE, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, AND THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN.

Average customer rating:

PLANT LIFE IN THE WORLD'S MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATES. CALIFORNIA, CHILE, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, AND THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN.
H. Dalmat
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WQ765E

Average customer rating:

Plant Life in the World*s Mediterranean Climates - California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin
Peter R., Dallman
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKV3FW

Average customer rating:
Illustrated Guide to the Seaweeds and Sea Grasses in the Vicinity of Port Aransas, Texas
Peter Edwards
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0292775245

Book Description

No matter what your budget or whether it's your first trip or fifteenth, Fodor's Gold Guides get you where you want to go. In this completely up-to-date guide our experts who live in Spain give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do -- from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. Fodor's Spain shows you hundreds of hotel and restaurant choices in all price ranges -- from budget-friendly B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to the hottest new restaurants, complete with thorough reviews showing what makes each place special. The Smart Travel Tips A to Z section helps you take care of the nitty gritty with essential local contacts and great advice -- from how to take your mountain bike with you to what to do in an emergency. Plus, web links and mix-and-match itineraries make planning a snap.

"The king of guidebooks." - Newsweek

Book Description

A testament to the power of stories, and how they may bring hope even in times of darkness."Everyone gathers around, and from her lips to their ears the stories go, and for a little while the camp disappears, and for a little while they are all free."As night falls, the women gather their children to listen to Mara tell her stories. They are stories of light and hope and freedom, stories of despair and stories of miracles, stories of expected pain and stories of unexpected joy--all told in the darkness of the concentration camp barracks. Through extensive research noted in the back of the book, Gary Schmidt has skillfully woven together stories from such sources as the Jewish religious scholar, Martin Buber, Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel; and folklorists, Steve Zeitlin and Yaffa Eliach.Combining lore of the past with tales born in the concentration camps, Mara's stories speak to us from a time that must never be forgotten.

Book Description

Gene therapy offers considerable potential for the treatment of various incurable diseases of the nervous system. This volume describes a number of different viral vectors developed for achieving high efficiency gene delivery to the brain. Vectors described include those based on adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, lentivirus, and other retroviruses. It also discusses the potential application of such viruses in treating brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, and other diseases of the nervous system.

* Provides up-to-date account of gene therapy approaches for incurable neurological disorders
* Describes a range of gene delivery methods based on different viruses

Book Description

This comprehensive treatment offers 115 solved problems and exercises to promote understanding of vector and tensor theory, basic kinematics, balance laws, field equations, jump conditions, and constitutive equations. Expressed in a common, efficient notation, the clear and formally precise steps for solving each problem foster quick comprehension.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent as supplementary book on the subject.......2002-08-23

This book contains all the required theory in compact, though mathematically strict and complete form. About 180 pages, it is a valuable supplement for the study of continuum mechanics.

Concise supplement to your professor's lecture.......2001-10-03

This "textbook" is really a bare-bones, although reasonably comprehensive, outline of an entry graduate course on continuum mechanics. Many of its 100 or so worked-out "problems" are not really problems as much they are part of larger derivations of theories. If your professor does not specify a required textbook or does not provide lecture notes, buy this book as a supplement. -UC Berkeley graduate mechanical engineering student

Awesome supplemental reading for advanced students.......2001-02-21

I first heard about this book when in engineering graduate school. At the time, this book was out-of-print, so my version came from an almost unreadable nth xerox copy, where n is a very large number. Having had two courses in Continuum Mechanics, I was in a position to appreciate this book. In addition to defining the trace and determinant in the usual way, for example, this book also lucidly presented invariant direct notation definitions. This book contains an excellent derivation of the jump relations that must be satisfied across moving shocks. This book is too disorganized and incomplete to serve as an introductory textbook, but it is fabulous as supplemental reading if you seek new insights on topics you already know.

Book Description

From a dazzling array of well-known African American women, short fiction, poems, and personal essays that describe with warmth and humor their experiences as mothers and as daughters.

A sparkling anthology devoted to exploring the lives of African American mothers, Rise Up Singing presents the stories and reflections of such beloved and respected artists, journalists, and authors as Alice Walker, Faith Ringgold, Marita Golden, Martha Southgate, Tananarive Due, Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Deborah Roberts, Rita Dove, and others. It features original and previously published writings, organized by editor Cecelie Berry by themes—mothering, work, family, children, community, and love—that illuminate the multiple roles of black mothers at home, in the neighborhood, and in the world as a whole.

Rise Up Singing brings together the perspectives of women of different ages, backgrounds, and accomplishments. What shines through in their writings are the hopes shared by all mothers. As Marian Wright Edelman writes in the Foreword: “The mothers writing in this anthology speak in a range of voices. They are joyful, stressed, grateful, ambivalent, determined, disappointed, and, in bad ways and good, overwhelmed. But over and over again . . . we see mothers struggling with the push: striving to give their children their best and to make sure the world gives their children its best, hard as that fight may be.”

Customer Reviews:

A Stirring Tribute.......2005-01-15

RISE UP SINGING is a collection of short stories, poetry, and essays that encompass the many defining roles of black mothers. Cecelie Berry has pulled together a dazzling array of noteworthy writers for this collection, and the result is a read that is as diverse as it is satisfying. The book includes such contributors as Maxine Clair, Rita Dove, Maya Angelou, Edwidge Danticat and June Jordon. Among my favorites was Tananarive Due's piece that described both her relationship with her mother and the journey the two of them took together in an effort to say goodbye to her grandmother and settle her affairs. Reverend Dr. Suzan Johnson's piece highlights the need for mothers to juggle their various roles and responsibilities and was one I related to in spite of the fact that I am presently a stay-at-home mother rather than a mom who works outside of the house. Faith Ringgold's "My Daughters and Me" speaks to the difficulties involved with getting through the teen and young adulthood years as a parent. And Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" is sure to remind children to appreciate their mothers and to avoid taking them for granted.

All in all, this was an enjoyable collection. While readers may not be able to relate to every piece, there are sure to be several that will call to them loud and clear. I found a couple of the contributions a bit laborious to read, but overall, I enjoyed this collection. The purpose of this book was to pay homage to black mothers, and it not only achieved this goal but went several steps further, by highlighting many of the issues with which mothers contend. Fans of poetry, prose, and short fiction alike, will find something that speaks to their specific reading tastes.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rise Up Singing Brings Honest Look At Black Mothering.......2004-06-11

Rise Up Singing , with its storied list of contributors such as Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Maxine Clair and with the foreword written by Marian Wright Edelman, seems well-intended to serve as a celebration of black motherhood, with all of its triumphal victories as well as its copious and devastating defeats. Serving as a brutally honest look at mothering and motherhood, Rise Up Singing's collection of poems, essays and fiction reveal not only a celebration of mothers, but even more so an overwhelming tinge of sadness about motherhood that is incomprehensibly balanced by an ever-present notion of the strict ability to overcome.

With its rich stories and superb writing, Rising Up Singing proves to have the weight and breadth of a true classic anthology that deserves recognition notably for its pioneering role in addressing the need for black women to write about motherhood but primarily for its unapologetic candidness.

Book Description

The racing world held its collective breath in 2001 when Alex Zanardi lost both his legs in a horrifying accident at the Lausitzring in Germany. The racing world again held its breath nineteen months later while witnessing his incredible return to racing. Bentley Publishers is thrilled to announce the publication of the North American edition of Alex Zanardi's autobiography, which quickly sold over 50,000 copies in his native Italy. Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory recounts his incredible story as only Alex can tell it. He takes us from his childhood in Italy through his hard-fought racing success to the moving story of perseverance and love that motivated his recovery. Along the way, Zanardi presents his triumphs and setbacks in kart racing, Formula 3 & 3000, Formula 1, IndyCar and CART racing, culminating in back-to-back CART championships for 1997 and 1998. In riveting detail, Zanardi relates his terrible accident, the long path to recovery and his return to Lausitzring in a specially modified 750hp Champ Car to complete the 13 laps he didn't finish in 2001. In addition to 32 pages of color photos, including many from the Zanardi family albums, Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory also includes the following new features: a foreword by Alex Zanardi's friend and supporter Mario Andretti, a chronology of Alex's racing career, and a new final chapter in which Alex discusses his return to competitive racing in the 2004 European Touring Car Championship driving for BMW Team Italy-Spain. Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory is an inspiring story of how personal strength and passion can triumph over even the most challenging circumstances.

Customer Reviews:

Who edits these things?.......2007-04-15

If the purpose of a memoir is to provide readers with an unedited and disorganized stream of consciousness (that completely lacks psychological insight), then Alex Zanardi accomplishes his mission with great brio. What you will find in this (much too) thick volume are meaningless anecdotes that are followed by more meaningless anecdotes. To be exact, the book reads like a transcription of slapped together interviews. I guarantee that you will be bored to tears after just 10 pages. For a better, more interesting look at Zanardi's life and accomplishment you would be much better off checking HBO's Real Sports documentary.

Zanardi does not disappoint.......2005-09-16

Alex Zanardi was a truly inspirational competitor on the track and one of the best characters off it. His fightback against crushing odds and his chase to have his life back at normal are inspirational and uplifting. For those who marvelled at his CART days and wondered about the disappoint at his F1 with Williams, there is some explanation here. There is no doubt that he is an exceptional driver and even more so an exceptional human being. He is now racing in the world touring car championship for BMW.

Must Have!.......2005-08-16

If you are a race fan, you will really enjoy this one. Alex is truly a hero.

Inspiring and moving tale.......2005-04-08

The way that Zanardi deals with his adversity is humbling and inspirational. Anyone who likes adventure or sports biography will really enjoy this title.

Many thanks to Alex.......2005-01-20

Although this book has moments when the narrative loses its rhythm, it is still organized and it is meaningful. Moments when the narration deviates off course can be managed by imagining Mr. Zanardi sitting with you at a Cafe, telling you all his memorable moments and anecdotes. He always has a great regard for his fans, so I can imagine this meeting easily. His narrative deviates like most casual speakers when he chooses to tell some extra information about the current subject, perhaps jumping to another time in his life. Still, the book reads well. The book is an English translation, and the translation is a good one.

In my opinion, Alex Zanardi lifts a huge burden from his fans. Please read this book to see how. His enthusiasm towards his American fans is obvious.

Alex Zanardi, as well as his best friends (like J.V. and T.K.), provides such a model for us in sportsmanship and acceptance of our human nature. This book shows how the best find each other, and support each other. Does Mr. Zanardi ever give up being this role model? Read to find out. Does Alex take his share of responsibility when his career is not going so well? I have a better idea about this now. Does he take or share the credit when things go well? Any fan who has watched him knows how gracious he is.

My review is about how I appreciate what Alex Zanardi has done and how he tells us about it. If you are an auto sport fan, or simply a Zanardi fan, you will enjoy this book. I imagine that anyone having to experience rehabilitation will find a true companion in this book. I can also imagine someone enjoying this book just for Alex Zanardi's sense of humor and how he manages it in this highly competitive endeavor of life. It is a fun read and very much appreciated.

My Sweetest Victory - Memoir Of Racing Success, Adversity, And Courage

Average customer rating:

My Sweetest Victory - Memoir Of Racing Success, Adversity, And Courage
Alex; Gasparini, Gianluca Zanardi
Manufacturer: Bentley Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K1PP36

Book Description

Shortly after Custer's defeat in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Colonel Nelson A. Miles and his Fifth Infantry launched several significant campaigns to destroy the Lakota-Northern Cheyenne coalition in the Yellowstone River basin. Miles's expeditions involved relentless pursuit and attack throughout the winter months, culminating in the Lame Deer Fight of May 1877, the last major engagement of the Great Sioux War.

Yellowstone Command is the first detailed account of the harrowing 1876-1877 campaigns. Drawing from Indian testimonies and many previously untapped sources, Jerome A. Greene reconstructs the ambitious battles of Colonel Miles and his foot soldiers. This paperback edition of Yellowstone Command features a new preface by the author.

Customer Reviews:

Yellowstone Command.......2007-01-18

This is an informative book which is also an easy and pleasant read. However, it lacks heart. It tends to be a listing of events rather than the story of the events.

Average customer rating:
Heavy Traffic: 30 Years of Headlines and Major Ops From the Case Files of the DEA
David Robbins
Manufacturer: Chamberlain Bros.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Forensic Science | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Dispatches from the front lines

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Book Description

This collection of biographies describes twelve women conservationists who helped change the ways Americans interact with the natural environment. Their writings led Americans to think differently about their land—deserts are not wastelands, swamps have value, and harmful insects don't have to be controlled chemically. These women not only wrote on behalf of conservation of the American landscape but also described strategies for living exemplary, environmentally sound lives during the past century. From a bird lover to a "back to the land" activist, these women gave early warning of the detrimental effects of neglecting conservation.

The main part of this work covers six historical figures who pioneered in their thinking and writing about the environment: Mary Austin, Florence Merriam Bailey, Rosalie Edge, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Helen Nearing, and Rachel Carson. A later chapter gives portraits of six post-World War II conservationists: Faith McNulty, Ann Zwinger, Sue Hubbell, Anne LaBastille, Mollie Beattie, and Terry Tempest Williams. The work covers a broad range of conservationist concerns, including preservation of deserts and old growth forests, wildlife protection, wetlands maintenance, self-sufficient sustainable ways of producing food, and pollution control. A conclusion examines where conservationists have picked up after Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962) and gives conservation ideas for our time. An appendix lists the published writings of the twelve conservationists.

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