And Then There Was One: The Mysteries of Extinction (And Then There Was One)

Average customer rating:

HOAX Review 2006

And Then There Was One

And Then There Was One: The Mysteries of Extinction (And Then There Was One)
Margery Facklam
Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Nonfiction | Environment & Ecology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Nonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Can We Save Them? Endangered Species of North America

Will We Miss Them? Endangered Species (Nature's Treasures) (Nature's Treasures)

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

The Lorax (Classic Seuss)

ASIN: 0316259845

Customer Reviews:

HOAX Review 2006.......2006-02-12

This band is not extinct. The Hoax will continue. Prog rock rules.

And Then There Was One.......2001-04-05

Dinosaurs are among the examples of extinct species examined here along with giant tortoises, passenger pigeons, and the dodo. Good discussion of environmental risk.

The Ghost with Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking and the Search for Lost Species

Average customer rating:

ghost with trembling wings
Dude, Where's My Book?
A gorgeous mind-opener
excellent anthology
Superb Read!

The Ghost with Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking and the Search for Lost Species
Scott Weidensaul
Manufacturer: North Point Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Endangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0374246645

Book Description

A round-the-world detective story about rediscovering vanished species

Three or four times an hour, eighty or more times a day, a unique species of plant or animal vanishes forever. It is, scientists say, the worst global extinction crisis in the last sixty-five million years -- the hemorrhage of thirty thousand irreplaceable life-forms each year. And yet, every so often one of these lost species resurfaces, such as the Indian forest owlet, considered extinct for more than a century when it was rediscovered in 1997. Like heirlooms plucked from a burning house, they are gifts to an increasingly impoverished world.

In The Ghost with Trembling Wings, naturalist Scott Weidensaul pursues these stories of loss and recovery, of endurance against the odds, and of surprising resurrections. The search takes Weidensaul to the rain forests of the Caribbean and Brazil in pursuit of long-lost birds, to the rugged mountains of Tasmania for the striped, wolflike marsupial known as the thylacine, to cloning laboratories where scientists struggle to re-create long-extinct animals, and even to the moorlands and tidy farms of England on the trail of mysterious black panthers whose existence seems to depend on the faith of those looking for them. The Ghost with Trembling Wings is a book of exploration and a survey of the frontiers of modern science and wildlife biology. It is, in the end, the story of our desire for a wilder, bigger, more complete world.

Customer Reviews:

ghost with trembling wings.......2006-12-14

Quite an interesting book, and in some ways, rather haunting.There is a lot more to this book than the somewhat small size of it would seem.It is also somewhat engrossing.

Dude, Where's My Book?.......2006-08-22

Uh, like it's difficult to review a book that I haven't, like, received yet, dudes. Maybe if you didn't keep, like, pushing the delivery date to the right, I could maybe, like, have something more constructive to contribute.

A gorgeous mind-opener.......2006-02-06

For 310 of the most engrossing pages about things that live on earth, you won't do much better than Scott Wiedensaul's The Ghost With Trembling Wings. I came at the book with virtually no science ability and only a passing knowledge of naturalism or species conservation, but it doesn't matter - Trembling Wings works so effectively because all it really requires to catch onto Wiedensaul's point of view is any sort of awe at the variety of organisms and the varied regions in which they show up. Wiedensaul's prose is transporting in the best way - he gives the mosquito-encrusted white reaches of Siberia the same impressive eloquence that he gives the rivers of Louisiana or the Mato Grasso region of Brazil. His eloquence is so surprising, he manages to find poetry in the everyday actions of species, fascinating or not. Check out this description simply of film footage of the Thylacine in Tasmania: "Though the thylacine was said to be stiff and awkward in its movements, this one seemed as graceful as the cramped, artificial surroundings would permit; the film showed a lithe, tapered animal, but to an eye used to a dog or wolf, the proportions seemed a bit off - the head looked too long and conical, the ears too small, the almost tubular tail too straight and stiff." It's written mastery like that that makes The Ghost With Trembling Wings as beautifully specific as it is evocatively universal, giving vivid breadth to the human need to penetrate the outside world in whatever form rouses our deepest passions.

excellent anthology.......2005-08-08

of supposedly lost and newly rediscovered species. Weidensaul concentrates on the few selected species which have been catalogued as extinct, yet which anecdotal evidence tells us may still be out there. This is a wonderful book, full of travelogues and hope by the author in search of supposed mystery creatures, both likely and unlikely. He maintains a skeptical yet optimistic mind in his own searches and touches upon species as varied as the "extinct" Sempler's Warbler and the Loch Ness "monster". It is carefully and objectively written without a hint of sensationalism, but maintains an open discourse related to the species' possible existence. One of the top three "cryptozoology" guides; the other favorite of mine is Matthew Bille's book on a similar subject. Toss the rest as National Enquirer material, including the venerable Heuvelmans' tome.

Superb Read!.......2005-05-07

A superb book. Fascinating, extermely well written and difficult to put down. Weidensaul renders his vast curiosity, observation,and love of nature contagious.

You Can't See a Dodo at the Zoo (Book about Animals: Endangered and Extinct)

Average customer rating:

You Can't See a Dodo at the Zoo (Book about Animals: Endangered and Extinct)
Dr. Fred Ehrlich
Manufacturer: Blue Apple
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Zoology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Antiquarian & Rare Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1593540728

Book Description

You Can't See a Dodo at the Zoo looks at the world of extinct and endangered species. In easy-to-understand language, Fred Ehrlich covers dinosaurs, extinct birds and mammals, and endangered animals, giving clear and concise explanations of what happened to them.

Book Description

Walk a little, nosh a little, and get immersed in this lively, food-focused guide to 13 ethnic neighborhoods in and around Boston.

This city is steeped in history and tradition. It is also a melting pot, where generations of immigrant cultures mingle. Lynda Morgenroth, a Boston-based writer and longtime resident, leads readers on artfully crafted walking tours that will let them discover the diverse neighborhoods created by the interweaving of people. Sample authentic Korean and Portuguese dishes plus eighteen other ethnic cuisines. Navigate like a native through Russian groceries and Latin bodegas. Visit Chinese herbalists and become well-versed in local history and architecture.

In the neighborhoods, experience hidden treasures such as:
*The North End, where the pasta and the pastry are multilayered
*Little Armenia, where a gourmet grocery is also the neighborhood gathering place
*Dudley Square, where there are limbo pies, a Victorian bus station, and majestic murals in unlikely places

Customer Reviews:

Overreaching title..... poor substance........2006-11-04

Having recently moved to Boston after 22 years in Manhattan, six years in London and brief stints in Baltimore and Providence I ordered three books which were highly rated (though with minimal reviewer coverage) expecting at least good, rich, expansive, interesting and colorful opinions on a city that I have known over the years as having exactly these qualities and more. Ms. Morgenroth's book treats in a sadly shallow way this great city, giving it a gray uni-dimensionality that penalizes its English, Irish and Italian roots and treats Asian and African- American legacies as those mostly found at the servant's entrance. Even her focus on the ethnic Jewish heritage of Boston is as shallow as someone saying that New York deli begins and ends at Katz's which would be reflect the same sad and limited regional perspective provided in "Boston Neighborhoods". New arrivals as well as old timers in Boston are still better off using the Globe's website and a few other resources and talking to the locals (who are delighted to provide opinions) than spending real money on Ms. Morgenroth's book. Borrow it if you need it.

For the true urban explorer.......2001-08-15

Ms. Morgenroth has truly explored the Boston area to offer this cornucopia of choices of restaurants, markets, and shops in ethnic areas of the city and its surrounding areas. She explores such diverse areas as the North End and Coolidge Corner and even makes forays to lesser-known places such as Watertown's Little Armenia and East Cambridge. A must for the urban walking tour enthusiast or anyone who enjoys ethnic food and experiencing the beautiful city of Boston. The only guide to the city that truly takes one beyond the historic sites, museums, and affluent districts to unveil the true city. Highly recommended for the "off the beaten path" traveller or the Bostonian who wishes to discover more of their city.

Customer Reviews:

all vexilology fans must have it.......1998-11-15

an excelent reference work which includes flags of all countries plus arms for a large number of countries. Also includes state and provincial flags for selected countries. On the down side this book still depicts the old flag of Bosnia.

Average customer rating:

Excellent educational tool
An excellent source for world flags
An excellent source for world flags
An excellent source for world flags

DK Handbooks: Flags
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Heraldry | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0789442248

Book Description

Eyewitness Handbooks: Flags is a book for anyone who has ever wondered why the Mexican flag features an eagle and serpent, or needed to find out what kind of flags flew over America before the first raising of the Stars and Stripes. Fully annotated, full-color graphics of all the world's national flags (and many special flags) combine with detailed description of each flag's history and symbolism to take students, travelers, and curious browsers on a fascinating round-the-world journey. Includes over 300 flags-all nations plus possessions and historical flags.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent educational tool.......2000-05-09

While the detailed and thorough content of this book certainly serves as an educational tool for older children and adults, it should not be overlooked for younger children as well. My two-year-old daughter (who is fascinated by flags) was mesmerized by the bright colors and intricate details. We sat for some time flipping through the pages, naming each country and discussing the shapes and colors of the flags. I can see it becoming a wonderful reference book for her as she ages. Not only does it provide country flags, but it also includes state/province flags as well. Like other DK books we've purchased, I found this one to be well worth the money and would recommend it for any age.

An excellent source for world flags.......1999-04-06

Eyewitness Handbooks: Flags is an excellent, up-to-date book on the flags of the world. This is actually an updated version of DK Publishers Ultimate Pocket Flags of the World, in a larger page format. The new book matches, page for page, the same text, including the introductory pages and the index. The only changes are the updates: Bosnia & Hercegovina, and the ASEAN flags. There were a few word omissions from the first book that were included in the newer book. The shortcoming of both books are the flags of nations with coats of arms on the state flag. The civilian flags were shown, and several times, the coat of arms only described, never shown. For example, Spain's coat of arms, as intricate as it is, was only described. DK's interest in keeping to one page per flag/country hampered a complete display and description of flags like these. However, the book is worth having for those who appreciate the flags of the world.

An excellent source for world flags.......1999-04-06

Book Description

In-depth guide to ancient Native American crafts focuses on the techniques of the western Sioux. Explanations of techniques involved in quillwork, including dyeing and sewing, beadwork methods. More than 80 photographs and drawings depict handsome motifs on articles of clothing including vests, shirts, robes, dresses, leggings, moccasins, blankets, saddlebags, and shields.

Customer Reviews:

Any penny is wasted on this one!.......2004-01-09

Another of those Dover rehashings -- if there were MINUS stars, I'd rate this a million!! There's so much better books and museum/exhibition catalogs on American Indian beadwork, that this title should remain where it belongs: on some dusty dark library shelf.

Many authors have tried in the meantime to dispell Lyford's myth of porcupines NOT living where quillwork was done -- the contrary is true and I've found dead porkies on highways in Montana, right in the heart of Native American quillwork country!

Another ethnocentric myth that was buried long ago (and it should stay there!): "Caucasian rugs" being an alleged source of Sioux beadwork designs. It just ain't so: there are worlds between that "classic" spidery Lakota beading style of the late 1800s and early 1900s and Caucasian rugs. One might find perhaps similar design elements on kelims but these have evolved convergently. Only some ethnocentric arrogance can find a source of artistic ideas in the cheap rugs that the homesteaders and settlers brought with them to the West or mail-ordered from some Sears & Roebuck catalog!

This Lyford book may have become sort a "classic" but only so because for many years nothing else was available on Sioux beadwork.

As to the new title that deceived one buyer: it has become most likely a deliberate policy of Dover Publications to republish copyright-free books under new titles, in one case even using a title that still belongs to another book ("Native American Beadwork" for Orchard's classic "Beads and Beadwork of the American Indians").

there's just one little thing.......2003-08-22

if you have bought lyford's book, _quill and beadwork of the western sioux_, you already have this book.

yes, its a wonderful resource--i thought so when i bought i under its original title. i thought this book, with the different title, would expand upon the other.

as long as you keep this information in mind, and only buy the book once under either title, you will be rewarded. since it was originally published by the government in 1940, there are no color plates, which is a great shame. however, some of the historic photos are worth the price of the book.

the instructions for both quill and beadwork are very good. there is a section that briefly analyzes design elements, very useful for creating your own designs.

i just wish i had known i already owned it under another title.

A special guide to a very specific art.......2003-01-10

This guide to quillwork and its counterpart beadwork was originally published in the 1940s for the U.S. Dept. of Indian Affairs, and sees new light today thanks to Dover. Craftspeople of all kinds will find Sioux Quill And Beadwork Designs And Techniques begins with a short history of Sioux art and patterns to quickly move into the specifics of creating and sewing quills and using beadwork techniques adapted for Sioux designs. A special guide to a very specific art.

Average customer rating:

GREAT in every step

Yorkie Bookk Great For Yorkie Owners

How to Groom a Yorkshire Terrier Perfectly: A Step by Step Illustrated Guide for Grooming Your Yorkshire Terrier
Tammy Sprinkle
Manufacturer: Lifeskill Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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A New Owner's Guide to Yorkshire Terriers (JG Dog)

ASIN: 0974943290

Book Description

This manual was written and compiled by a professional, certified groomer, designed especially for beginners and pet owners interested in grooming their own Yorkshire Terrier.

You will learn techniques you usually won't find in grooming manuals, nor Professional Pet Grooming Courses. In this manual you will learn about: Proper equipment (includes resources to purchase & maintenance) Bathing tips (gives shampoo types & what to choose for your dog, how often & How to bathe your Yorkshire Terrier properly) Feet care (how & where to clip) Ear care (signs of ear infections & how to & how often to clean the ears) Nail care (where to clip & how often) Dental care (problematic signs & how to care for & brush your dog's teeth) How to give your Yorkshire Terrier a haircut & trim Proper brushing techniques (includes how to prevent/remove matting) How to make bows & bandanas to add the finishing touches And many more aspects to properly grooming your Yorkshire Terrier, including fully color-illustrated instructions on Yorkshire Terrier grooming--step by step.

No longer will you have to worry about leaving your pet with unfamiliar people or spend money on frequent grooms. With this book, you will learn with ease, how to groom your Yorkshire Terrier. The manual also includes specific writing in red to warn you of problem areas that can be stressful for the groomer and the pet, and specific instructions on to how work through these problem areas. This is something you won't find in any other grooming instruction manual. You will also have email access to the author of the manual, a professional, certified groomer, and will receive six full months of email technical help to walk you through procedures. Whether you are a professional groomer or a loving owner of a Yorkshire Terrier, this book can be of great benefit to you, and potentially save you lots of money. Please feel free to check out our positive feedback ratings. THIS MANUAL IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR PET OWNERS & BEGINNING GROOMERS. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR SHOW GROOMING PURPOSES

Customer Reviews:

GREAT in every step.......2007-09-28

I am just learning how to groom my Yorkie. What a treasure this book is

Yorkie Bookk Great For Yorkie Owners.......2006-09-21

Excellent for the Yorkie owner without grooming experience. Gives lots of helpful tips to get you going.

Book Description

This completely updated full-color reference showcases the style, sophistication and breathtaking beauty of Lalique glass. René Lalique's ability to reveal the beauty of glass in its own right by use of careful design and taking into account the crystalline purity of the glass has resulted in a vast range of lavish, rich and delicately crafted works. The classic timeless quality of Lalique glass is reflected by its worldwide popularity.

Collectors learn how to evaluate the true quality in each Lalique piece and how to avoid the common collecting pitfalls. Includes the most current values based on recent auctions. The unique price and pattern guide lists values in both U.S. dollars and British pounds.

Customer Reviews:

Un libro especial.......2005-01-18

Yo pude conseguir una edicion de Lalique Perfume Bottles
by GLENN UTT, y me siento feliz por tenerlo y disfrutar de tanta belleza convertida en cristal. Ojala se actualice.
Contacteme para intercambiar comentarios.
Saludos, Maria

Un libro especial.......2005-01-18

Deseo con toda mi alma obtener este libro!.......1999-06-17

Soy coleccionista de botellas de perfume de Lalique, he oido hablar del libro "Lalique Perfume Bottles", escrito por Glenn and Mary Lou Utt. Siento mucho que esté agotado, podrían ayudarme a conseguir un ejemplar? Los comentarios de Michael Trenteseau indican que es un verdadero conocedor del arte del cristal Lalique, me comunicaré con él. La colección iniciada en 1994 para su propia fragancia Lalique es preciosa, espero con ansiedad y mucha curiosidad por ver la próxima. Yo las tengo todas, gracias al amor de mi familia, que cada año me la regalan. Estoy interesada en conseguir libros relacionados con el arte del cristal Lalique. Espero la nueva edición de este libro en especial.

Definitive book on the topic... almost........1999-03-27

"Lalique Perfume Bottles" by Glenn and Mary Lou Utt is the definitive book on the work of the Lalique in one of the most important aspects of the family's design history. Rene Lalique designed the bottle for "l'Effleurt" for Francois Coty, originating the concept of a specific bottle designed for a single fragrance. Lalique later produced bottles that would house any of Coty's dozens of scents, but the concept of individuality in presentation was born in 1907.

The book is thorough in its descriptions and its pictures. Every flacon mentioned is illustrated, and there is a table in the back which lists them all as well.

There are two drawbacks to the first edition: There are some errors - pieces listed that are not in fact by Lalique, and some older designs have come to light. Much of this was dealt with in an addendum given to attendees at the International Perfume Bottle Collector convention in Atlanta in 1991, which may or may not be available elsewhere.

The second drawback is that it was written in 1990, before a boom in perfume bottle collecting, which included the release of Lalique's own fragrance in 1994.

Bringing the first edition up to date would mean including the changes made in 1991, and adding more recent designs. Fortunately, other than the colored stoppers of the classic double dove bottle for "L'air du Temps," the only new styles are those produced by Lalique either for their main crystal line, or for their own four fragrances.

I hope that the book is updated, I will be eager to add it to my collection.

Average customer rating:
Lalique perfume bottles: Revised appendix, tables
Glenn Utt
Manufacturer: The authors
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006QLA8E

Average customer rating:
Lalique perfume bottles: Revisions to tables, additions, deletions, and new information
Glenn Utt
Manufacturer: Utt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006P6QKW

Average customer rating:
Perfume Presentations (Important Lalique Perfume Bottles, Traditional and Internet Auction)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HWNOPO

Average customer rating:
Sotheby's New York: Important 20th Century Decorative Works of Art Including the Mary Lou & Glenn Utt Collection of Lalique Perfume Bottles and the Mike and Renee Silverstein Collection: 7232: December 4 & 5, 1998
Sotheby's Staff
Manufacturer: Sotheby & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KH54W2

Average customer rating:

Great for "regular people" despite a couple of goofs!

Mostly good for garden formation ideas, but needs help.

It genuinely does make a few mistakes

A Real Keeper and Invaluable Source

Engaging, well written reference... with a few gaps

Easy Care Native Plants: A Guide to Selecting and Using Beautiful American Flowers, Shrubs, and Trees in Gardens and Landscapes
Patricia A. Taylor
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Landscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Regional | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Canada | Middle Atlantic | Midwest | New England | Pacific Northwest | South | Southwest | West
General | Techniques | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation

Native Plant Primer, The: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers for Natural Gardens

Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants

ASIN: 0805038612

Book Description

North America's magnificent plant life has a peculiar history in that it is generally regarded as weedy material in its native meadows and woodlands and viewed as a horticultural treasure trove abroad. In Easy Care Native Plants, Patricia A. Taylor seeks to change this situation by emphasizing the elegant beauty, rather than the common naturalness, of American flora and by urging gardeners to capture the exquisite essence of its blossoms and foliage in artistic compositions.The book is divided into three sections, each filled with color photographs and containing special lists of plant recommendations from horticultural experits in the United States, Canada, and Europe. These suggestions include natives for city patios and decks, shrubs for winter interest, colorful flowers for drought situations, and prairie plants for a formal front yard display.The first section reviews the history and current use of native American plants and includes a brief primer on garden design. The second presents profiles of eighteen public and private gardens in Canada and the United States and highlights the crucial role of horticultural organizations and garden clubs in spreading the good news about native flora.The last section is devoted to detailed descriptions of over 500 plants, chosen not only for their handsone appearance but also for their ability to flourish without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. With them, gardeners everywhere will have yearlong beauty requiring minimal maintenance.While many of the plants cited in the book are little known, all are commercially propagated and available. The Appendix lists sources for each plant category and describes a select number of mail-order firms, including ordering information.Easy Care Native Plants has been written and designed to be a usable, definitive resource for the full specturm of those who love and appreciate beautiful plants, from weekend gardeners to landscape designers and architects.

Customer Reviews:

Great for "regular people" despite a couple of goofs! .......2006-08-24

The outstanding characteristic of this book is that it is USABLE by regular, non-professional busy people who love gardening and nature and especially want to respect native plant communities and plant with sensitivity to their own region.
The Bittersweet confusion is terrible, but it is offset by good organization, good photos, and short descriptions on the outside of pages.
Another outstanding feature is that the author includes trees, shrubs, and vines, as well as flowers. This increases the value of this book significantly.
Flowers are wonderful, but people need to get a bit beyond flowers--flowers--flowers. For example, many butterfly species depend upon TREES as host plants and then use flowers for nectar. The distinctive Red Admiral uses trees at all stages of life and leaves the flowers for others.
Thanks to the author for a good down-to-earth reference that answers practical "ordinary" questions. I have recommended this book to a number of people in "wildlife/habitat gardening" classes and have given several as gifts . . . inserting a note about the Bittersweet :-)!

P.S. Yeah, I really should change that ridiculous name. I was under the influence of busy visiting grandchildren when I first reviewed a book here. . . and we do have a great goofy time!

Mostly good for garden formation ideas, but needs help........2005-04-03

I bought this older used book (1996) and find it remains quite relevant. One of the reasons we gardeners end up planting invasive species is because they are easy to grow. In EASY CARE NATIVE PLANTS Patricia Taylor addresses one of the biggest issues for gardeners... "I would grow native species, but I don't have time."

Well, Taylor suggests low maintenance creatures that will be no more work than the invasive plants you intended to install. With Taylor, we visit public and private gardens where individuals are making a difference one plant at a time. From these gardeners, we learn how to construct various gardens including a woodlands garden, a drought tolerant native garden, and a front yard native garden. Taylor provides lists of plants for each of these gardens. For a complementary book, you might consider buying both Taylor's book and 100 EASY-TO-GROW NATIVE PLANTS by Lorraine Johnson which is a kind of annotated plant directory (although it focuses mainly on non-woody plants, whereas Taylor includes trees, shrubs and plants). Alternatively, you can contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service for a free monograph on plant invaders and substitutes at www.nfwf.org. Do that and you are sure to find 'Celastrus orbiculatus' or Oriental Bittersweet on the "No-no" list. Also the latter monograph suggests several native alternatives to bittersweet, such as 'Campsis radicans' (trumpet vine) and 'Passiflora incarnata' or Passion Vine.

It genuinely does make a few mistakes.......2001-06-26

Not to belabor a nitpicker's criticism, but this book does include a few gaffes that compromise its use as a reference. I do very much enjoy the book, and my review below reflects that. But it just gets some things wrong.

For example, the species of Bittersweet southern gardeners have trouble with is Celastrus Orbiculatus -- oriental bittersweet. Yep, it's highly invasive, and yes, it can "consume entire forests" as this author says "bittersweet" does. The native American Species is Celastrus Scandens. The two differ in the position of the berries on the vine, partly... and they also differ in that the native one isn't swallowing entire forests. They're hard for an intelligent amateur to tell apart when looking at an individual plant... which is exactly the problem that this book has, too.

There's a HUGE difference between American chestnuts -- enormous trees now nearly gone from their native range due to blight -- and the shrubby asiatic Chestnuts that were brought in by nurseries and that carried the blight into this country in the first place. That's exactly the sort of distinction a gardener interested in native plants wants to know about, and it's basically the one this book misses with the two Bittersweets. In a lot of cases it's that sort of thing that got us into native gardening in the first place. So, see, it's bad to make this kind of error in a book on native plants.

Again, this is a decent book that just slips up in a few spots.

A Real Keeper and Invaluable Source.......2001-03-05

This is a top-notch gardening book, one that all gardeners can use to enrich their properties. While some may find recommendations by plant experts to be a disadvantage, I like knowing that top horticulturists have carefully selected the plants in this book (southern gardeners tell me that Taylor is right on the mark in describing the American bittersweet). The garden profiles, particularly, for me, the California one, are not only good reads but also packed with useful information. The book is designed to be useful - very easy to look for a yellow flower that blooms all summer or a small shrub with white spring flowers. I turn to it again and again to learn about and find beautiful, interesting and low maintenance plants. I have bought and given 14 of these books as gifts to friends and have received unanimous 5 star reviews from the recipients!

Engaging, well written reference... with a few gaps.......2000-02-26

This is a good choice for the beginning native gardener who needs a sense of the range of native plants available. It's a pleasant browse, and provides a representative sample of the choices you might make with natives. I appreciated the straightforward tone of the writer, who studiously avoided the pretensions of some of the more unctious coffeetable books. Let's just say she's gardening in urban New Jersey, not in northern California, and leave it at that.

On the other hand, there are some gaps in Ms. Taylor's knowledge that make this a less than definitive reference. The short version is that she's often recommending a plant based on the sendup of an arboretum or public garden with which she's corresponded, and that sometimes she hasn't done the research to back that recommendation up. For an egregious example, she describes the American form of Bittersweet (Celastrus Scandens) in a way that clearly demonstrates that she doesn't know the difference between it and the invasive asian form. That sort of slip is a real problem, both philosophically and practically, for someone who's into native plants. Oops.

All in all, I'd say this is a useful book that gets you interested in the plants, but that you should do a healthy amount of leg work elsewhere before you plant. The research is half the fun anyway...

For another native plant reference, with less species but more reliable context and detail, try C. Colston Burrell's A Gardener's Encyclopedia of Wildflowers.

Customer Reviews:

the notebook i wish i'd had for the class..........2001-12-29

i had the esteemed privilege of working with bill forsythe in a week long intensive class while he was visiting ucla during the spring of 2001. he spoke about most of the processes you will find on this cd-rom; however, the cd-rom is MUCH easier to follow than some of the class discussions we had... bill is a genius and sometimes left everyone in the room with blank looks on their faces, because he would jump into an idea without remembering that we didn't necessarily know the train of thought that got him to the idea he was currently discussing... that is definitely not a problem on the cd-rom -- it is exceedingly clear, and the concepts are demonstrated in actual choreographic examples. the disc is well organized, and very inciteful. if the ideas themselves aren't interesting enough, there's the fabulous design and layout of the whole package that will keep you fiddling for a long time. this is a must for anyone interested in bill forsythe, choreographic processes, dance for visual media, design for movement arts, and movement improvisation. check out bill's solo which is included on the disc as well!!

Watching Impro.......2000-11-24

The CD Rom format for this resource, allows for a visual insight into Forsythe's improvisation techniques. Planned initially as a training tool for new members of his company, the CD Rom offers much more for the analytical eye.

The format is very slick and the interface provides for easy navigation aroung an aesthetically pleasing environment. For those studying Forsythe's work, the resource is a must, as not only does Forsythe explain characteristic techniques such as room writing, but several performances by Forsythe as well as by other dancers, demonstrate each of the processes.

The 3D format is certainly the most appealing feature of the resource, and one which makes it stand apart from other resources on choreographers or improvisation.

Average customer rating:
OLD MAN FOG AND THE LAST ABORIGINES OF BARROW POINT.
John B. and Hart, Roger: Haviland
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institution Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K234BA

Average customer rating:
Old Man Fog and the Last Aborigines of Barrow Point.(Review): An article from: Oceania
Francine Lorimer
Manufacturer: University of Sydney
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008I7FWA
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Oceania, published by University of Sydney on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1126 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: Old Man Fog and the Last Aborigines of Barrow Point.(Review)
Author: Francine Lorimer
Publication: Oceania (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2001
Publisher: University of Sydney
Volume: 71 Issue: 4 Page: 338

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Old Man Fog and the Last Aborigines of Barrow Point

Average customer rating:

Interesting example of new ethnography

Old Man Fog and the Last Aborigines of Barrow Point

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1560989289

Customer Reviews:

Interesting example of new ethnography.......2005-12-16

Haviland's book is an interesting if not entirely successful experiment in ethnographic literature. Or perhaps we should say, Haviland's and Roger Hart's, since he goes further than most anthropologists in crediting the person who provided him with the information. It is well to remember that we anthropologists do not so much write books as craft accounts of the experiences that people allow us to have into books.
Haviland weaves together three strands in his work: Hart's life story as an elder from the Barrow Point region, the myths of the Barrow Point people (as reconstructed by Hart), and documentary data from the modern history of northern Queensland. He finally accompanies Hart on a journey back to his homeland. Haviland is more aware and more clear than most that an ethnography of a contemporary Aboriginal or any other native group cannot be straightforward reportage but must always been pieced back together from the fractured memories of the survivors of the modernization process. The resultant book, he warns, will always seem more integrated and unified than the experiences that went into it. His book cannot help but suffer from the same defect. He presents a refraction of his disjointed experience of Hart's disjointed memories, but a book that really presented the experience as it felt in the first place would be impossible to read. The whole project is worthwhile not only for what we learn about Aboriginal culture but about anthropological knowledge and the construction of one kind of account and literature out of another.

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