Financial Market Risk: Measurement & Analysis (Routledge International Studies in Money and Banking)

Book Description

This new book uses advanced signal processing technology to measure and analyze risk phenomena of the financial markets. It explains how to scientifically measure, analyze and manage non-stationarity and long-term time dependence (long memory) of financial market returns. It studies, in particular, financial crises in persistent financial markets, such as stock, bond and real estate market, and turbulence in anti-persistent financial markets, such as anchor currency markets. It uses Windowed Fourier and Wavelet Multiresolution Analysis to measure the degrees of persistence of these complex markets, by computing monofractal Hurst exponents and multifractal singularity spectra. It explains how and why financial crises and financial turbulence may occur in the various markets and why we may have to reconsider the current wave of term structure modeling based on affine models. It also uses these persistence measurements to improve the financial risk management of global investment funds, via numerical simulationsof the nonlinear diffusion equations describing the underlying high frequency dynamic pricing processes.

Customer Reviews:

There exists a cheaper paperback edition!.......2007-09-11

There exists a much cheaper $38 paperback 2nd edition of 2006 in addition to this expensive $210 hard cover 1st edition of 2003.

The Measurement of Market Risk: Modelling of Risk Factors, Asset Pricing, and Approximation of Portfolio Distributions (Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems)

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The Measurement of Market Risk: Modelling of Risk Factors, Asset Pricing, and Approximation of Portfolio Distributions (Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems)
Pierre-Yves Moix
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Futures | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Options | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Pricing | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Risk Assessment | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 3540421432

Book Description

The objective of this book is to set up an economic quantitative model for the assessment of financial market risk. The Measurement of Market Risk reviews the probabilistic modelling of so-called risk factors, which represent the uncertainty of financial markets, and discusses the issue of risk as the perception of uncertainty by individuals when faced with a decision problem. Further, the book discusses the pricing of financial instruments as a function of risk factors. Emphasis is put on options, because they exhibit a non-linear exposure to the risk factors. The core of the text is the assessment of risk for financial portfolios by way of estimating the portfolio probability distribution. A new approach, the Barycentric Discretisation with Piecewise Quadratic Approximation (BDPQA), which poses no assumptions on the risk factor distribution and accounts for the non-linearity of the price functions, is introduced.

Empowering Innovative People: How Smart Managers Challenge and Channel Their Creative and Talented Employees
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Empowering Innovative People: How Smart Managers Challenge and Channel Their Creative and Talented Employees
Karl F. Gretz , and Steven R. Drozdeck
Manufacturer: Probus Professional Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1557385173

Astronomy from a Space Platform (Aas/Aaas Symposium) Dec. 27-28, 1971, Philadelphia, Pa (Science & Technology Ser)
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Astronomy from a Space Platform (Aas/Aaas Symposium) Dec. 27-28, 1971, Philadelphia, Pa (Science & Technology Ser)

Manufacturer: Univelt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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Astronomy | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0877030618

ASTRONOMY FROM A SPACE PLATFORM: VOLUME 28: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SERIES
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ASTRONOMY FROM A SPACE PLATFORM: VOLUME 28: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SERIES
George W. And Greyber, Howard D..: Mergenthaler
Manufacturer: American Astronautical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000V1REW0

Customer Reviews:

Great Guide.......2003-04-17

The authors have provided a wealth of information to assist the reader in experiencing the wonders of this beautiful state. Along with recommended trips for each month of the year, there is a trip locator map, state and government resources, Internet resources, recommended reading, best bets, and a terrific index. Each adventure has a wealth of information including a detailed map, food and lodging recommendations, how to have fun in that locale, things to bring with you, time you need for the adventure, and more.

Seedling anatomy of Cannabis sativa L
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Seedling anatomy of Cannabis sativa L
Anton Helmer Berkman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00088UWPW

Book Description

Here's the inside information on all the family-friendly fun to be had in the Yellowhammer State. Fun with the Family in Alabama leads the way to amusement parks, hiking trails, children's museums, festivals, parks, and much more.

Written by a parent, for parents, this opinionated, personal, and easy-to-use guide has the best things to see and do to keep the kids busy and happy for an hour, a day, or a weekend - a guaranteed antidote to vacation boredom.

This guide includes up-to-the-minute information on Alabama's family attractions, detailed maps, quick reference icons, age-appropriate guidelines, kid-friendly restaurants and places to stay. (5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 224 pages, maps, icons)

Book Description

Browsers and young students alike will enjoy these lively question and answer books with their unique mix of realistic illustration and engaging cartoons. The enticing questions will amaze, amuse and inspire, while the highly visual format encourages kids to keep reading.

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-11-01

I admit that I'm a very unique type of NASCAR fan. I love the drivers, love reading about them, checking out the standings, and perusing all the gossip about their personal lives. I don't actually like watching the races. See, how odd is that? Sure, occasionally I'll stumble into a room where the race is on television (thanks to my mom and stepfather, who are NASCAR fanatics), but other than that I won't waste hours sitting down to watch cars drive in endless circles. But, okay, yes, the crashes are kind of cool!

I was always a Dale Earnhardt fan. The number three car got my vote every time. When he died in a crash at the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001, I was devasted--as were thousands upon thousands of NASCAR enthusiasts around the globe. The thing about NASCAR is that its devout fans come from every walk of life, from every part of the world, and they are a dedicated, loud-mouth bunch of people. They're also a family. When one of their "own" dies, as on that day when the racing world lost Dale Earnhardt, everyone mourned. Even fans who didn't like Earnhardt (and by that I mean they dared to cheer for another driver, like Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart), sadly and publicly grieved the loss of a legend.

Although I now root for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the number eight car, I still remember his father with pride. I still look for memorabilia with that number three. I still read books like SPEED SHOW, which discuss NASCAR, its history, and the mark it's made on the racing world. Filled with numerous facts, figures, and full-color photos, SPEED SHOW is sure to delight any and all NASCAR fans, regardless of age. The legacy of "The Intimidator" lives on today, as well it should.

For an easy-to-read, fact-filled history of NASCAR, its drivers, and its fans, SPEED SHOW is the book you need.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

RACING HEARTS # 9 (Sweet Valley High (Numbered Paperback))

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RACING HEARTS # 9 (Sweet Valley High (Numbered Paperback))
Francine Pascal
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0553266268
Release Date: 1984-10-01

Average customer rating:

A Big Change for the Series....
it is good
Why?
Fairly typical SVH teen romance fare.

Racing Hearts (Sweet Valley High)
Francine Pascal
Manufacturer: Sweet Valley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Dear Sister (Sweet Valley High #7)
All Night Long (Sweet Valley High #5)
Wrong Kind of Girl (Sweet Valley High #10)
Secrets (Sweet Valley High #2)
Playing with Fire (Sweet Valley High, No 3)

ASIN: 0553278789
Release Date: 1984-10-01

Book Description

Love on the run...

Roger Barrett has always had a hopeless crush on glamorous, wealthy Lila Fowler. The only attention Lila ever pays to him, though, is to make fun of him in front of her friends. But why shouldn't she, he thinks. After all, he's clumsy and shy and works secretly as a janitor after school.

When Roger wins the qualifying heat for a big race, he becomes a school celebrity overnight. And to his surprise, even Lila starts to chase after him. But Roger knows if he runs in the race finals, he'll lose his job. Will Lila still notice him when he's no longer a star?

Customer Reviews:

A Big Change for the Series...........2003-08-22

This is a Land-Mark SVH Book because it is the First to Revolve around Other Teenagers at Sweet Valley besides Jessica and Elizabeth...Other than that, it was an okay book.

it is good.......1999-12-28

I feel bad for roger considering he has always had a humongus crush on Lila . But she has never felt the same passion for him at all. She liked to make fun of him and laugh when ha slipped or tripped. Then a big race came and roger decided to run. He won not only first but Lilas heart. She was kissing his shoes pretty much. Then he finds out who his true love is and that lilas a fake. Will he win th final race? Will his true love still want him too?

Why?.......1999-04-11

Why does Roger like Lila? He barely ever talks to her, and she always puts him down. (The romance in this book is similar to that in #8) The part besides that, him having to deal with a cruel boss, and his friends helping him out is really good. I'm glad they talked some sense into him.

Fairly typical SVH teen romance fare........1998-06-20

Penniless outcast Roger ignores his loyal "friend" Olivia, while pining for snobby Lila. A scholarship race offers a chance to qualify as a suitable boyfriend for the girl of his dreams, but how can he run without losing his job and displaying his poverty?

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING.......2000-03-29

This book really is amazing. I would recommend this book to any one

AMAZING.......2000-03-29

This book really is amazing. I would recommend this book to any one

Average customer rating:

Sweet Valley High #9 Racing Hearts
Francine Pascal
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Wild at Heart #12 End of the Race

End of the Race (Wild at Heart, 12)
Laurie Halse Anderson
Manufacturer: Pleasant Company Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Trapped (Wild at Heart, No 8)
Masks (Wild at Heart)
Storm Rescue (Wild at Heart)
Time to Fly (Wild at Heart)
Teacher's Pet (Wild at Heart)

ASIN: 1584855320

Customer Reviews:

Wild at Heart #12 End of the Race.......2003-11-09

Maggie (a vet voulenter) is excited to go on a trip to a Grey Hound race track, but when she gets there Maggie is surprised to find that racing dogs (even if they fall during the race.) are forced against there wil to race. Can maggie stop the abusing of these dogs before it's to late?!? I found this book exciting to read and very informitive about how Grey Hound race tracks do miss treat there dogs.

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Racing Hearts

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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SWEET VALLEY HIGH: RACING HEARTS. NO 9.
Francine. PASCAL
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Consumer Behavior: A Strategic Approach
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Consumer Behavior: A Strategic Approach
Henry Assael
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Consumer Behavior | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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United We Brand

Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation and SPSS 14.0 Student CD (5th Edition)

Basic Marketing Research

Legal Environment of Business: A Critical Thinking Approach (4th Edition)

Contemporary Advertising (Mcgraw-Hill/Irwin Series in Marketing)

ASIN: 0618222154

Book Description

Tailored for upper-level undergraduate and MBA students, Assael's Consumer Behavior applies behavioral concepts to market strategy (domestic and international) with special emphasis on web-related issues and applications. Assael presents the content from a managerial perspective, focusing on decision making as the framework for understanding consumer behavior. The text also features a unique, three-chapter Marketing Action section, covering marketing communications, marketing segmentation and micromarketing, as well as consumer rights and social responsibility.

The text introduces decision-making at the beginning, providing students with a framework for understanding the characteristics of and various factors influencing consumer behavior.
Each chapter opens with a vignette describing how various companies are responding to specific consumer behavior strategies and challenges.
Chapter Overviews recap core principles and also explain the relationship between chapters.
Global Applications of Consumer Behavior boxes focus on the similarities and differences across international boundaries.
Web Applications of Consumer Behavior inserts address how the advent of the Internet has affected consumer decision-making.
Strategic Applications of Consumer Behavior features look at how organizations and managers confront current consumer behavior challenges.
At the end of each chapter, Questions for Discussion test students' ability to understand, recall, and apply essential chapter concepts.
Research Assignments allow students to practice the concepts presented in the textbook.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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Ancient Economy in Mythology
Morris Silver
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Economic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Ancient mythology and its striking themes have always fascinated scholars and the general populace alike. Mythological interpretations have proven valuable to historians and theologians for centuries, and more recently, structuralist and Freudian interpretations have dominated the field. "Ancient Economy In Mythology" is the first to explore the economic component in mythology. Original articles by scholars from diverse fields-ancient languages and history, philosophy, anthropology, and economics-uncover and utilize evidence in myths to throw light on ancient economies and reveal the role played by myths in shaping and justifying economic policies in ancient societies. The book's articles fall into four major economic themes: Primary Production and Distribution in Myth; Dynamics and Statics of Socioeconomic Roles in Myth; Resource Extraction and Royal Myths; and International Trade in Myth. These fresh and sometimes controversial papers will be of interest to ancient historians, economic historians, anthropologists, religious and Biblical scholars, Assyriologists, Classicists, Indo-Europeanists, and the general educated public.

Customer Reviews:

Information Delux!.......2000-03-10

Finally a book which so eloquently spells out what Africa needs to do in order to industrialize and reach its full potential. Kudos to the author Mr. Makonnen Alemayehu who crossed all his T's and dotted all his i's. This book is so very important because it expresses what Africa need to do in order to industrialize. Industrialization the African way for Africans sake.

Agricultural industrialization is the key for overall industrialization in Africa. The author provides the reader with the necessary information with very important and relevant data. I recommend all interested in investing in Africa to read this masterpiece. Institutions of higher learning should make this book a must read for its economic and technical perspective. Finally every African Head of State and every African Minister of Economics and Industries should read this book like a priest reads his bible.

Wild America: The Record of a 30,000 Mile Journey Around the Continent by a Distinguished Naturalist and His British Colleague
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Gratitude and optimism for wild America.

One of the Most Influential Books of the Century

Wonderful

Wild America: The Record of a 30,000 Mile Journey Around the Continent by a Distinguished Naturalist and His British Colleague
Roger Tory Peterson , and James Fisher
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul

Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder

Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere With Migratory Birds

The Feather Quest: A North American Birder's Year

Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds

ASIN: 0395864976

Amazon.com

In 1953 renowned American ornithologist and painter Roger Tory Peterson and British seabird specialist James Fisher undertook a whirlwind, 100-day tour of America's great wildlife refuges and corridors. This wonderful book recounts that sometimes madcap voyage, which took them to familiar places such as Long Island and the Smoky Mountains, but also to less traveled venues such as Big Bend and the then-remote Everglades. Along the way the authors document such things as the courting behavior of dragonflies and the arrival of the first cattle egrets in North America. This is a classic of nature writing and a great pleasure to read.

Book Description

On an April day in 1953, renowned American naturalist, author, and illustrator Roger Tory Peterson met his British friend James Fisher, an authority on seabirds, in Newfoundland. There they began a strenuous and thrilling hundred-day field trip around the edge of the continent. Part travelogue, part epic natural adventure, their richly illustrated record is "the superlatively good product of ideal circumstances" (Chicago Sunday Tribune).

Customer Reviews:

Gratitude and optimism for wild America........2006-07-10

When I found this book at Third Place Books in Seattle in the summer of 2002, I had never heard of it, but, from the authors' reputation as naturalists and ornithologists, it looked like a good read. I discovered the book at the end of my camping journey to three national parks in Washington state and a one-week cruise to Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and the main points of interest in beautiful southeastern Alaska. My jaunt to the natural areas of the Pacific Northwest and the Alexander Archipelago would be lame compared to the 20,000+ miles that Roger Peterson and James Fisher logged in on their comprehensive foray to "Wild America".

The authors embarked on their journey following the coast of the US with intermittent forays to the interior and a brief excursion to Mexico a year before the publication of the molecular structure of DNA as double helix. Rapid developments in our understanding of the molecular basis of life ushered in the molecular era of biology, which has ultimately led to the restructuring and overhauling of the way we teach biology and the way we explain, understand, and appreciate the complexities of life. Just when most students in biology these days are honed to the molecular and cellular basis of life--a reductionist view, so to speak--and less to the holistic and more traditional view of biology, what a refreshing change to learn from and be engrossed by the keen observations of two naturalists on the road and be taken back to an era when biology as natural history was respected as an academic field and an engaging pastime as well!

There are tons of information on birds in this book, but the authors also pay attention to mammals and other fauna, and then there is the flora (peculiar landmark plant species of the West stand out, like the agave, saguaro, ocotillo, Joshua Tree, Monterey cypress, coastal redwood, sequoia, sugar pine, lodgepole pine, and Douglas fir). There are also accounts of long-term inhabitants and indigenous peoples, and their culture and history. The illustrations are superb. The most remarkable part of the book, however, are the wholehearted commentaries on the purpose and values of our national parks and monuments. Since 1953, many of the national monuments they visited are now national parks. Roads have been paved, widened, and increased, and so have concessions and amenities, converting park villages into virtual towns and confronting many visitors with the same urban and suburban evils (traffic, congestion, to name a few) from which they try to escape by visiting national park areas. You can try hard to hope that James Fisher criticizes the way national parks are run, but you don't find that in the book. Notwithstanding this, it is amusing that many facts about the national monuments and parks still apply today and that these places can make the same impressions today, mainly because we try hard to keep these natural treasures intact for future generations. The British naturalist's gratitude to Americans for the designation and preservation of national parks and optimism for their stewardship is a sharp contrast to Edward Abbey's cynical attitude towards the National Park Service and disdain for tourists.

The book concludes with a powerful statement that speaks of Fisher's gratitude to Americans and optimism for "Wild America": "And this is what I have tried to do--to tell of Wild America, and say that never have I seen such wonders or met landlords so worthy of their land. They have had, and still have, the power to ravage it; and instead have made it a garden". Certainly the power of his statement would not have been lost on people who deeply appreciate natural America and care to preserve our astounding natural heritage.

One of the Most Influential Books of the Century.......2003-02-08

The world of e-reviewing is a tolerant world, and exaggerations have an easy home there. But measured by the role it has played in people's lives, there is little hyperbole in identifying Peterson and Fisher's "Wild America," precisely fifty years old this year, as among the most important books produced in the twentieth century. In the 1950s and 1960s, the book found its way into school libraries all over America, where it has been read with awe and envy by the last three generations of would-be naturalists--read so intensively that many of us, decades later, can quote great passages by heart.
The book is a collaborative account of the biggest 'big year' up to that point ever undertaken in North America; the trip was planned by none other than Roger Tory Peterson, then (and still today, perhaps) the continent's best-known birder, and was intended as an introduction to America's natural history for James Fisher, an equally prominent British naturalist who had never visited this side of the Atlantic. "Wild America" was the result: a priceless document of the continent's natural riches seen through the eyes, the words and the illustrations of two gifted and interesting observers.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Peterson and Fisher's trip, and the book is certain to be celebrated over and over in the press. Those who have not read it should by all means visit their library to borrow a well-worn copy; and those who have should take it in hand again, and be reminded of how important this text was in the birth of North America's birding culture as we know it today.

Wonderful.......2000-12-20

Let me just quote my favorite line from the book. It is when James Fisher, an Englishman, first sees the Grand Canyon:

"I went down there a few yards. The world ended; began again eight miles away. Between the ends of the world was a chasm."

Now I have never seen the Grand Canyon, but reading about it with such wonder through Mr. Fisher's eyes was extraordinary. It brought tears to my eyes. It goes to show how truly amazing and beautiful America is. I highly recommend this book, not just for the birds these two men see, but also for all the wonderful sights they come encounter. It made me want to retrace their route.

Wild America - The Record Of A 30,000-mile Journey Around The Continent By A Distinguished Naturalist & His British Colleague
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Wild America - The Record Of A 30,000-mile Journey Around The Continent By A Distinguished Naturalist & His British Colleague
Roger Tory and Fisher, James Peterson
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IUZI7C

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