Florida Landscape Plants: Native And Exotic

Customer Reviews:

Florida Landscape Plants: Native and Exotic.......2007-01-09

I bought this book about 10 years ago and it turned into my Florida "Bible". Just about every plant, especially garden plants, is included. On one page you can see all the necessary information that is needed to be a successful Florida gardener.

I loaned it to a friend, a plant "nut", recently transplanted from Pennsylvania. She was trying to grow plants the old northern way, which wasn't working out. Eventually success is growing in her garden.

The book became a Christmas gift and a "Welcome to Florida" gift (and a gift for me, my old book is very worn) this year. Use it and enjoy.

The Florida plant chronicles.......2005-12-31

FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PLANTS lists native and non-native plants growable in the northern, central or southern parts of the state. It's an updated version of the late Professor John V Watkins' book. Professor Watkins taught landscape horticulture at the University of Florida. But he was well known outside the campus, for his gardening- and landscape-related radio series and writings published as books and magazine articles.

Professors Thomas J Sheehan and Robert J Black fill the empty space left with Professor Watkins' death. They've added to and modernized his classic landscape plant manual. Throughout, they've stayed true to Professor Watkins' original mission of writing for an audience of university students, nurserymen, master gardeners, and homeowners of our Gulf states.

Their book is nicely organized for that purpose. There's a listing of over 400 plants. The book closes with a helpful model planting guide, list of invasives, glossary, and an index of common and scientific names.

Their book gives more information and puts in more plants than the original work by Professor Watkins. But their book isn't comprehensive. It's not a case of everything Professor Watkins listed, along with add-ons. In fact, they've left out some "old favorites," partly because some have been called "invasive" by the Florida Exotic Plant Council. In part, too, they wanted the book to fall within the page range known as "popular size."

FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PLANTS is nevertheless very workable, with a lot of clearly illustrated and organized information and with no useless information. Each plant is listed by common name. The scientific name is given below, with the way to say it and the English meaning. There's also a sketch of each plant. I miss the beauty of color drawings and photos. But the black-and-whites are so well done that the plants should be easily known by form and shape, often more telling than color.

The information is conveniently slotted into family; relatives; type of plant; height [in Florida]; zone [in north, central or south Florida]; how to identify; habit of growth; foliage; flowers; fruits; season of maximum color; landscape uses; habitat; light and soil requirement; salt tolerance; availability; culture; propagation; and pests. Sometimes, there's a note slot, such as for sweet acacia "This plant is cultivated in the south of France for its flowers, which are made into a very fine perfume."

FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PLANTS would be an interesting read not only for gardeners and landscapers. I was impressed with how many of the plants are already common household words as household plants: Dieffenbachia, ficus, jade plant, spider plant, and wandering jew. Others are already known as "public places" trees, such as my favorites: American hornbeam, black olive, geiger, gumbo limbo, lignum vitae, red maple, river birch, and southern magnolia. Still others are already known as rock garden plants, such as my favorites: agave, aloe, aluminum plant, bush zinnia, Florida yew, kalanchoe, peperomia, ponytail palm, prickly pear, royal fern, spineless yucca, and variegated pineapple. And still others are already known as water garden plants, such as my favorites: African iris, Asiatic jasmine, black tupelo, firecracker plant, galingale, ginger lily, oleander, peperomia, pittosporum, primrose jasmine, sweet bay, and torch ginger.

It was particularly interesting to see how many of my favorites were listed as natives, such as: Adam's needle, beauty berry, buttonwood, coontie, frangipani, fringe tree, seven year apple, Spanish bayonet, sweet shrub, and tulip tree. In many cases, with natives we reduce the use of hazardous materials such as pesticides. For natives have their own natural controls. They're part of wider plant, bug, bird and animal communities that have built up a balance between over- and under-population in the same space over the same time. Just as important, natives reduce yardwaste. So many have attractive flowers, fruits and parts that can be reused as and recycled into artistic creations, such as dried bouquets and holiday wreaths.

Helpful for the new Florida resident.......2005-10-08

I purchased this book because it was highly recommended in a Florida Gardening magazine. I am new to Florida recently moving here from the Northeast. I was looking for someway to link plants I see in neighbors' yards with what might work in our spaces.
The only thing I was disappointed in is that the book's pictures are not in color. Colors would help me better link plants I see with what's in the book.

Florida Landscape Plants.......2000-04-19

This is a worthwhile book for a number of reasons, however, it has one major omission. The positive factors: 1) Excellent plant descriptions including details like salt tolerance level; 2) wonderful (and most appreciated) treatment of botanic names by giving the pronunciation and derivation of the Latin words (Thanks!). The omission concerns color photographs of the plants discussed. The publisher included a few color pages of plant drawings which are mostly useless and confusing. A good garden book needs to have extensive color photographs. I am sure that the author would agree!!

The absolute last word on Florida Landscape Plants!.......1999-05-24

This is the text book used to teach horticulture classes and plant identification at the University of Florida. All Horticulture graduates and Landscape Architecture graduates at UF have studied from this book. Dr.s Watkins and Sheehan have put more than 5 decades of combined Florida horticultural expertise into this book.

Ornamental gardening in Florida;: A treatise on the native and exotic decorative plants adapted to Florida and their cultivation, with suggestions for the ornamentation of our homes and grounds

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Ornamental gardening in Florida;: A treatise on the native and exotic decorative plants adapted to Florida and their cultivation, with suggestions for the ornamentation of our homes and grounds
Charles Torrey Simpson
Manufacturer: n.p
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00085QIT4

Florida Landscape Plants Native & Exotic

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Florida Landscape Plants Native & Exotic
Watkins John V.
Manufacturer: University of Florida Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDL5NS

FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PLANTS: Native and Exotic

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FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PLANTS: Native and Exotic
John and Thomas Sheehan Watkins
Manufacturer: UP Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TW32B8

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Florida Landscape Plants; Native and Exotic
John V and Sheehan, Thomas J: Illustrated Watkins
Manufacturer: University of Florida Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SAGI8K

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Budget-friendly travel guide with lots of little extras

A must-own for must-buys

The only shopping guide you'll need in London!

The London Shopping Companion: A Personal Guide to Shopping in London for Every Pocketbook
Nicki Pendleton Wood
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Great Britain | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581823835

Book Description

Of all the ways to explore a great city--touring, studying, or meandering through its streets--shopping is by far the most pleasant and civilized way to get to know the city. The London Shopping Companion is the ideal aid for exploring the British capital, whether you are heading off on your first trip or returning for the umpteenth time.

The London Shopping Companion is the perfect book for the discriminating traveler who wants to make the most of what London has to offer. While certainly a travel guide, it provides something no other book does: personal guidance from someone who knows how to look at each establishment from a resident¹s point of view and offers practical advice on the best buys at each shop. Containing maps of the major shopping areas, the book is organized to encourage shopping forays neighborhood by neighborhood.

The London Shopping Companion describes the merchandise of a wide array of London businesses offering unique goods and services, from clothing to linens, jewelry and accessories to books, stationery, food, collectibles, leather goods, kitchen aids, and more. Packed with practical information, it will be the ideal companion for anyone who travels to London, regardless of the size of one's budget.

Customer Reviews:

Budget-friendly travel guide with lots of little extras.......2004-05-27

I thought high London prices would keep me from shopping on an upcoming trip, but this book has lots of budget-friendly shopping ideas. And I love the feature that lists a bit of culture nearby -- that way I can combine my love of shopping with a little art or architecture to alleviate the guilt. Highly recommended!

A must-own for must-buys.......2004-05-04

Whether you read it beforehand and map out your shopping or just read it on the fly as I did, you'll be glad to have this down-to-earth, practical information in an easy-to-reference guide. I had very little time in London to shop and I really wanted to find some specific things for myself and others. Although I've traveled fairly widely, I don't know London well. Even without a real language barrier, I wasn't sure I'd be able to get everything done, but I did. London Shopping Companion is more than a companion, it's a true friend. If you want to find all your must-buys-in-London easily, then this little book is a must-own.

The only shopping guide you'll need in London!.......2004-05-03

I used this book to plan a recent trip to London and found it easy to use, quite informative, and just plain fun to read. I used it to plan shopping in combination with sightseeing -- so I really appreciated the book's organization (by area) and its lists of attractions and restaurants near to each shopping district. The store descriptions are accurate, and I was able to find unique items, for myself and as gifts, in all price ranges. Thanks to The London Shopping Companion, I was totally organized and ready to hit the ground running when I landed in London.

Customer Reviews:

Fun to Read.......2005-02-23

Each chapter stands alone with attention-grabbing subjects. Children, & even adults, will enjoy the topics.

Buy it!.......2000-09-11

This is an awesome book. It clearly is the result of meticulous research, but it's the superior writing skills of Janet Nuzum Myers that set this collection of stories apart from other volumes.

In explaining carnivorous plants, Myers puts you right in the middle of the action. You ARE the bug that falls into the tube-like body of the pitcher plant, having been seduced by its fragrant nectar. You fully understand what happens next, thanks to her fine use of detail, yet ability to simply explain the complex process of digestion.

She also debunks such childhood myths as the existence of mermaids, and that contact with quicksand means certain death. Myers objectively examines both sides of the argument regarding the existence of Bigfoot, and whether there really are supernatural forces at work in the Bermuda Triangle.

The opening paragraphs to each of her chapters prove that she is truly a master at luring you, the reader, into a story from the very beginning. The subject matter is fascinating, and paired with such compelling storytelling, this book is sure to spark the interest of children to read further about mysterious or unexplained phenomenon.

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Strange Stuff: True Stories of Odd Places and Things
Janet Nuzum; Hagsted, Maj-Britt Myers
Manufacturer: Linnet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OOT65W

Customer Reviews:

A slim yet amazing volume.......2003-09-11

This book is chockablock full of groovy pix of awe-inspiring interiors and furniture. I have a friend whose fab mod pad has been featured in several design books, and this book was a perfect present for him. Loved to see his eyes pop out and the mouth hang open. It's not real thick, and kind of pricey, but worth it for a special person -- maybe you!

Book Description

The first book on language and nonhuman oppression--and the most progressive animal-rights book to date--Animal Equality shows that deceptive, biased words sustain injustice toward nonhuman animals. Speciesism (prejudice against nonhuman animals) survives through lies. Animal Equality's compelling evidence of nonhuman thought and emotion debunks language that characterizes other animals as unreasoning or insensitive. Vivid descriptions of hunting, sportfishing, zoos, aquaprisons, vivisection, and food-industry captivity and slaughter reveal the cruelty that misleading words legitimize and conceal. Animal Equality also uncovers the speciesist attitudes and practices underlying much sexist and racist language. Every animal--nonhuman or human--deserves equal consideration and protection, Joan Dunayer argues. Offering pronoun, vocabulary, and style guidelines, she proposes new language that will bring us closer to nonhuman liberation.

Customer Reviews:

Easy to read and very informative.......2006-02-01

Joan Dunayer knows her subject and knows how to write. I enjoyed reading her book and learnt a lot.

Language is powerful.......2002-07-08

Joan Dunayer compellingly argues that the cruel treatment of nonhuman animals (in vivisection, entertainment, sport, rearing/slaughter for food consumption, etc.) is often masked by the euphemisms we employ. We are all familiar with our tendency to call the flesh of dead cow "beef," but Dunayer digs deeper and calls for an end to other common practices that undermine the individuality and unique personality of each and every nonhuman animal that exists. "Wildlife management" groups facilitate hunting. "Animal welfare committees" often oversee research in which countless nonhumans are blinded, subjected to burns, and killed. Zoos market themselves as "wildlife conservationists," imprisoning sentient beings in cages and tanks, depriving them of natural stimuli, and driving them to repetitive and self-destructive behaviors.

Dunayer dispels the myth that language separates humans from nonhumans. Two of her many examples include Alex the African gray parrot who can count, identify objects, and convey fear and sorrow (all using human English), and Washoe the chimpanzee who learned American Sign Language then spontaneously taught it to her son.

The author draws analogies between the current treatment of nonhumans and past abuses of human slaves and women. (At one time both human slaves and women were not considered "persons," much like nonhumans today.) Words like emancipation and abolitionist are resurrected and applied to a cause just as worthy of our concern and immediate action.

The book incorporates a handy thesaurus of words that can be used as alternatives to speciesist terms (e.g. use "flesh" or "muscle" instead of "meat," use "captor" or "keeper" instead of "caretaker") as well as style guidelines for countering speciesism (e.g. use the term animals to include all creatures, human and nonhuman, with a nervous system; avoid expressions that elevate humans above other animals, such as human kindness, the rational species, the sanctity of human life).

This book is a very important building block in making the world a better place for everyone.

An Important Book.......2002-03-01

We use words not only to inform -- but to deceive and retain our biases. This important book shows how we use words to cover-up and desensitize ourselves to our abuse and cruelty toward other species. It shows how our use language to support our attitudes toward non-human animals as being things or "tools." Dunayer also compares our speciesist language with our expressions of gender bias -- we use the term "mankind" for humankind and "lower" animals for all but humans.

Even people who are sensitive to our more obvious speciesist epithets (like the use of "animal" or "subhuman" to refer to bad actions and "pig" to refer to human sloppiness) and our use of impersonal pronouns when referring to non-humans -- even such sensitized people might still find themselves not exactly "off the hook" (also speciesist).

The book includes a useful thesaurus of speciesist terms and substitute, preferred expressions, as well as a list of style guidelines.

Although this is not a book that one can read in one sitting, it is an important work for both people who care about our treatment and "use" of animals as well as those who care about how we use language.

Brilliant!! A Much Needed Book.......2002-02-26

This book is a MUST read!! Read it and "mind your bees and shrews."

Is shooting a human also an act of kindness?.......2001-09-26

Animal Equality masterfully delves into the deep-seated bias the English language contains concerning nonhuman animals. Dunayer crosses many different areas of animal exploitation to show how our language is manipulated to erase the individuality of individuals, remove the space from which empathy can naturally develop, and to justify immoral and cruel actions. This book is a great resource for open minded people and linguists who wish to delve deeper into how the language we use shapes our own reality. Dedicated to ýall nonhuman animalsý, Animal Equality is one big step towards a kinder and more compassionate future; a future void of Speciesism. Learn how the use of simple words like, animal, reinforces our exploitation of nonhuman animals by reading this book.

Animal Equality: Language and Liberation. (Book Reviews). (book review): An article from: Women and Language

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Animal Equality: Language and Liberation. (Book Reviews). (book review): An article from: Women and Language
Elizabeth M. Gunn
Manufacturer: George Mason University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Women and Language, published by George Mason University on September 22, 2002. The length of the article is 1380 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: Animal Equality: Language and Liberation. (Book Reviews). (book review)
Author: Elizabeth M. Gunn
Publication: Women and Language (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2002
Publisher: George Mason University
Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Page: 33(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Exquisite photos & illustrations selected from the McCormick-International Harvester Company Collection. The Farmall M & the diesel Model MD are featured in the book with field & studio photos. Also includes rare photos of the Farmall 3F, the Farmall M prototype.

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No Drought Tolerant Section?

A must-have for newbies to Northern California

Great region-specific gardening resource

Indispensable Guide for Northern CA gardeners

Northern California Gardening: A Month-by-Month Guide; Updated, 2nd Edition
Katherine Grace
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0811853128

Book Description

Beloved perennial of the green-thumbed in the golden state, and now revised and sporting a gorgeous new cover, Northern California Gardening is a comprehensive, illustrated guide for both novice and expert gardeners. San Francisco Chronicle garden columnist Katherine Grace Endicott maps out the rewards of reaping what you sow from flowers and fruits to herbs and vegetables throughout Northern California. The unique month-by-month format helps readers find answers when they need them, while detailed information on native and nonnative species and basic planting and pruning techniques make carefree gardening easier than ever. Add to that a completely new and updated source list, and finding just the right plants and seeds is as simple as watching them grow.

Customer Reviews:

No Drought Tolerant Section?.......2007-06-16

Pretty good book but beware the cover lists that there is a special section on drought tolerant and xeriscaping which is no where to be found.

Advice on Fushsias and Hydrangeas is very good.

A must-have for newbies to Northern California.......2004-02-05

I stumbled on this book at the library, and now I have to have my very own copy to keep at my bedside! People who have grown up gardening in Northern California might find Endicott's advice old hat, but for people like me -- a longtime gardener but new to this region -- or for longtime NoCal residents who are just now getting into gardening -- this is an excellent guide. Highly recommended!

Great region-specific gardening resource.......2000-10-10

This book has helped me make the transition to gardening in the Central Valley. Besides being a new gardener, I'm also new to the Sacramento area. Northern California Gardening explains plant care clearly and includes a lot of recommendations for plants that thrive in the different NorCal micro-climates.

Because there's a limit to how much the book can cover, some subjects aren't explained as thoroughly as a beginner (like me) needs, but it provides me with a good starting point.

I love that the book is divided up by the different months of the year, specifying what tasks I need to consider during each month. It gets me excited about what gardening I will be doing in a few months' time.

Indispensable Guide for Northern CA gardeners.......2000-06-08

While there are many guides to Bay Area Gardening, those of us in Zone 14 (Sacramento) are usually busy trying to translate instructions for a dramatically different climate to our own gardening needs.

This book is an indispensable guide for ALL Northern Californians. Month-by-month the author tells us what all gardeners should be doing, then has specific recommendations for Central Valley, Mountain, and Coastal gardeners. Each month also includes great advice on pest control (she favors gentle methods), planting, pruning, and what is usually available at local nurseries.

This guide is especially good for people who are new to Northern CA, and are in garden shock. When I moved from Zone 4 to Zone 14 it was the first book I purchased and it was a real life saver (the plants's lives, that is!)

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Gardening Month by Month in Northern California
Bob Tanem , and Don Williamson
Manufacturer: Lone Pine Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1551053659

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The Way We Live: Making Homes, Creating Lifestyles
Stafford Cliff
Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Stone by Design

ASIN: 0500511373

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Very nice and educational

It's What You Need

Mel Bay Basic C6th Nonpedal Lap Steel Method
DeWitt Scott
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0786614498

Product Description

Book/ CD set. C6 nonpedal system of steel guitar has many advantages due to its versatility. It is especially useful in playing two and three-string chord combinations and for easy single string passages.

Customer Reviews:

Very nice and educational.......2007-06-27

I have not yet completed this book but what i have read is really good. I don't think that i could have replicated everything in this book without having listened to the CD that comes with it. Some parts the author hasn't written that there is a slide to the next note but on the CD you can hear it, so some is incomplete but i would still recommend it for beginners.

It's What You Need.......2005-08-25

Wanna play country licks on the 6-string lap steel? You have a problem. There are few basic works to begin with; Mel Bay's main title uses an E7th tuning and insists that you learn to sight-read music; Cindy Cashdollar's DVDs are expensive and are designed around the 8-string guitar; everything else focuses on Hawaiian music. Scott's book is for 6-string guitars, uses the country-friendly C6th tuning, and lays everything out in tabulature (in addition to regular music notation), so you can play without having to read music. Best of all, the songs are all country and folk oriented, and there are sections focused on country fills and runs. And the acommpanying CD lets you hear many of the songs and play along with a rhythm track. Get a copy, and start whinin'.

Lap Steel Guitar - Design & Construction

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Lap Steel Guitar - Design & Construction

Manufacturer: Cactus Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1882731204
Release Date: 2006-12-15

Product Description

If you ever thought of building your own lap steel but didn't know where to start this is the CD for you. We will take you through the design process leaving nothing to guess about. We cover string length, body styles, pickups, wiring, 6 string models, 8 string models console steels and much more. You can save a lot of money by building your own lap or console steel - single neck - double neck - triple neck or even more

It's easy to Build Your Own Lap Steel Guitar

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Just what you need...
It's ALL in this one book.

It's easy to Build Your Own Lap Steel Guitar
Martin Koch
Manufacturer: Koch Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 3901314091

Book Description

This book explains how to make a solid-body lap steel guitar. Because building a lap steel is relatively easy, it provides an excellent introduction into the art of guitarbuilding. With 225 photos and 40 line drawings, Martin Koch shows how to make two different lap steel guitars in simple, easy-to-follow steps. He even explains how to make your own guitar pickup using the world's simplest pickup winder. The author puts special emphasis on the use of hand tools.

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

Just what you need..........2007-05-07

..to build your first Lap Steel. The book is well laid out, clear, and well suited to a beginners approach. I had never done any musical woodworking projects, and this book (Along with the guidance of some skilled woodworking friends) walked me comfortably through the steps to completing a good looking and good sounding lap steel. Very rewarding purchase. Can't recommend it enough.

It's ALL in this one book........2004-04-22

As with is other book, Martin Koch tells you ALL you need to know to build a beautiful instrument.

From building 2 types of lap steel's from A to Z, to making the case and even making your own pickups, this book as it all.

This is my second book by Martin Koch and let me just say that his books are a gold mine of information from cover to cover.

Martin Koch also as a website that compliments his books where you can ask questions, see other instruments people have built and there are also good tools such as Fret Calculator and stuff.

Book Description

Centerstream proudly presents the first-ever comprehensive book about lap-steel and console steel guitars. Includes: interviews and profiles of more than 35 of the greatest electric and acoustic steel guitarists of the past and present, representing most forms of music played in the world today; previously unpublished photos and commentary on vintage steel guitars and new instruments from the best modern builders; resources for guitars, amplifiers, accessories, instructional materials, steel guitar tunings; and much more. Players covered include: Junior Brown, Bob Brozman, Jerry Byrd, Papa Cairo, Jody Carver, Cindy Cashdollar, Bruce Clarke, John Ely, Pete Grant, Steve Howe, Andy Iona, Harry Manx, Dick McIntire, Santo and Johnny and dozens of others. 336 pages, with 40 pages of wonderful color!

Customer Reviews:

Steel mania.......2004-12-26

If you're captivated by the fat whine of a Supro steel, the cutting cry of a tripleneck Fender Stringmaster, or the mellow twang of a Weissenborn hollowneck acoustic, you'll flip over Lap Steel Guitar. Author Andy Volk has interviewed or profiled more than 40 great players of all styles -- including Hawaiian, country, Western swing, gospel, Cajun, and roots rock -- and gathered info crucial to anyone who wields a tone bar. Such masters as Leon McAuliffe, Don Helms, Herb Remington, Jerry Byrd, Freddie Roulette, Aubrey Ghent, Greg Leisz, David Lindley, Bob Brozman, Cindy Cashdollar, and Debashish Bhattacharya share their secrets with Volk, who organizes the resulting treasure into a fun, yet instructive read. Just the tuning charts -- which Volk has codified for every player -- are worth the price of admission, but we also learn how these masters approach their music and what gear they use to get their sound.

Volk devotes another section to guitars, serving up juicy details about classic Oahu, Bigsby, Rickenbacker, and National steels, as well as modern creations from the likes of Asher, Bear Creek, and Harmos. The 296-page tome is crammed with historical images and excerpts from catalogs, and its 38 pages of color photos will have you scouring local pawnshops for an old steel. A discography maps a lifetime of essential listening, and the thorough index allows you to quickly locate facts about specific players, instruments, and tunings.

Great book about a great instrument.......2004-03-21

The lap steel guitar is an incredibly expressive instrument that covers a wide range of genres. It is the signature sound of what most us think of when we think of Hawaiian music. The lap steel cries and moans in country music, wails in roots and rock, and reaches the sublime in east Indian raga. Because the sound that comes out of it is so closely linked to the hands of the individual player, no two players sound completely alike.

Andy Volk's "Lap Steel Guitar" is a well-written, thoughtful, and highly engaging book on this very unique instrument. The interviews of notable players are highly entertaining and very informative (most often giving the tunings used by the particular player) . There are also beautiful color photographs of instruments dating from the earlier part of the 20th century to the present, with descriptions of the unique qualities of each instrument. Also of note is information on manufacturers of lap steel guitars and accessories, and other sources of information about the instrument (including the excellent Steel Guitar Forum - www.steelguitarforum.com).

I highly recommend this book to all players and enthusiasts of the steel guitar!

The definitive look at a unique instrument.......2004-03-19

Andy Volk has authored the definitive book about lap-style and console steel guitar. Simply titled "Lap Steel Guitar", this book includes interviews with, and profiles of, more than 35 of the greatest electric & acoustic steel guitarists of the past and present in the Hawaiian, Country, Western Swing, American Roots, Cajun, Sacred, Rock & Roll, and World Music idioms as well as 40 color pages containing photographs of some of the most desired vintage steel guitars and new instruments from many of the best contemporary builders, as well as comprehensive information about steel guitar tunings.

It's a deep book with a lot of useful information, beautifully laid out and well organized. It contains great interviews with famous and obscure musicians, all of whom should be better known thanks to this book.

Andy's book deserves to be up there with Lorene Ruymar's as a standard reference for steel guitarists. The two books compliment each other well and are a must-have for every steel player's library.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the non-pedal steel guitar.

The world of the lap steel guitar.......2004-03-15

Being an amateur steel guitar player, I just had to have this book.
Well, I'll say it is great. It will interest any music lover, it'll take you from the birth of the hawaiian steel to the 21st century.
The interviews of steel players give an incredible amount of informations, on the instruments, AND on the life of those professional musicians who bring so much to our lives.
I would say the very well documented part of the book is supplemented with a big human dimension.
It'll bring you insight on why a musician has to keep on picking and hit the road to play another gig.
And than, if you're hooked to that, the list of steel makers and CD's at the end of the book will give you many possibilities to spend your spare money for years !
Great book.

A must have ... for all musicians & music fans.......2004-03-14

What a wonderful book !!!

The author gives the reader a guided tour of one of the world's most intriguing instruments ... the steel guitar.

Mr. Volk's treatment of the past, present and future of this expressive instrument is detailed via a host of interviews, photographs and essays.

Most folks think of Hawaiian and Country music when a steel guitar is mentioned. This book will show you just how diverse and popular the steel guitar was/is in many different musical genres ... past and present.

Andy Volk has done a masterful job showing us all that the electric "Lap Steel Guitar" is ... still alive and well.

Average customer rating:
Lap Steel Guitar - Easy Instruction
Don Campbell
Manufacturer: Joe Morrell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Mel Bay Complete Steel Guitar Method

Mel Bay Basic C6th Nonpedal Lap Steel Method

ASIN: B000M0OJNC

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