Book Description
There has always been interest in how animals live their lives â it is easy for us to identify with them. But there are many remarkable stories about plants that deserve to be told. The Nature of Plants tells how plants adapt to the challenges of their habitats. Plants may live in places that provide too little rainfall, yet they thrive, either by evading drought, like the animals that live in deserts, or by tolerating the scarcity. There are plants that use other plants, climbing on them, strangling some, living in their leafy canopies, or parasitizing them. And The Nature of Plants explores the love-hate relationships that plants have with animals, some feeding on plants but others drawn into serving plants by pollinating them, scattering their fruits and seeds, or being eaten themselves. The mostly hidden associations that plants have with bacteria and fungi are also revealed. Illustrated throughout with superb color photographs, it is written in a way that is clear to anyone who wishes to understand the life of plants.
Customer Reviews:
A brief comment.......2005-07-28
As my fellow Top 50 reviewer, Dennis Littrell, has already said it better than I, I just wanted to add a brief comment, mainly because a few years ago I once spent a wonderful three weeks travelling around New Zealand observing its plant and animal life, and many of the examples of plants in the photos are from this country, since one of the authors is from there, and I've seen much of New Zealand's fascinating and diverse fauna and flora myself.
As Dennis mentions, the photographs are superb, along with the well written and interesting text. The book is not just about the local flora however, as the author discusses interesting and important plants from around the world.
One major difference between the ecologies of the northern and southern hemisphere is that conifers forests dominate the north, whereas the large climax trees in the south, especially in South American and New Zealand, are southern hemisphere hardwood beech trees, of which there are a number of species. Although not as tall or as massive as the sequoias and redwoods of the Pacific Coast, they can still grow to over 200 feet in height.
Interestingly, 60 million years ago the giant sequoias and redwoods were circumpolar and once dominated the whole northern hemisphere boreal forests, but today are restricted to just a few strips of land in California and Oregon. No one knows why such huge and seemingly invulnerable trees as sequioas, which can have bark several feet thick, can hardly be killed by fire, are impervious to insects because of their thick and tannic acid rich bark, and which are the largest living things, have been dying off.
Although, as I said, the book isn't just about New Zealand plant life, I have to add a fascinating tidbit about that. New Zealand is a very rainy and wet country mostly, especially in the south (Milford Sound is the rainest place in the world at sea level with 28 feet of rain per year, about the same as the top of Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii, but that's at 14,000 feet). In fact, it's almost unremittingly green, because there are few plants with colored flowers there. There are a few exceptions, such as the well known "New Zealand Christmas Tree," metrosideros excelsea, which has red flowers, but it's the exception. Most have white flowers because they are fertilized by night flying moths. Colored flowers are actually for bees, and New Zealand broke off and separated from the original supercontinent before bees evolved, hence the reliance of many New Zealand plants on moths. I found this quite interesting and only learned it after I'd arrived on the island, although I was partly trained as a botanist in college and grad school.
Overall, a wonderfully illustrated and well written book on the diversity of plant life on this increasingly ecologically fragile planet of ours, and a truly beautiful and diverse one botanically that hopefully some of which will survive the locust plague of our species centuries hence.
A beautiful book.......2005-07-19
Most of the color photographs are by co-author Rob Lucas. They are just sumptuous--stunning even--and carefully chosen, and illustrative of the great diversity of plant life on earth. There is a slight bias in favor of the unique biota of New Zealand which is understandable since Lucas is from New Zealand. He and his colleague, UC Berkeley botany PhD John Dawson, have written several books on the flora of New Zealand, one of which won the Natural Heritage Prize. This book too ought to win some sort of prize since it is so gorgeously illustrated, so engagingly written, and so carefully edited.
They take the widest possible focus in introducing the reader to plants from around the world and from many different habitats, from deserts to swamps, from the Arctic to the Amazon. They begin in the first chapter, "The Freeloaders: Plants Using Plants," with parasitic plants such as the tree-dwelling epiphytes, of which the familiar mistletoe is an example. This sets the tone for the book, the idea being to show how plants make a living in the world and how they interact with other plants and with animals, and how they meet the challenges of their environments. In other words, as the title has it, the authors explain and illustrate "The Nature of Plants." As such this book is an excellent introduction to the nontechnical aspects of botany, giving the reader the sort of information about plants that would especially appeal to weekend gardeners and others (like myself) who love plants but have had no academic training in botany.
However, this is no "plants for dummies" sort of book. Scientific nomenclature is used throughout, and precise numbers about plant sizes and other aspects of their lives, including rainfall and temperatures, are given in both metric terms and US equivalents. References are made to more comprehensive academic tomes, and there is a glossary of specialized terms.
Here is a short notice of facts that I found especially interesting:
It is well known that fire can be the catalyst for the germination of some kinds of seeds, and indeed, there are seeds that germinate only after a fire. On page 136 the authors explain that "In some pines, the tips of the woody scales of the cones are glued together with resin. Fire melts the resin, and the scales are able to separate."
They also report that "it has been discovered that smoke alone can break the dormancy of seeds of many heathland species in South Africa and Australia." Even more surprising is that in the chaparral in California (where I have hiked many times) "It is believed that some of the shrubs manufacture toxins that leach into the soil with rain and inhibit the germination of seeds. Fire destroys these toxins, and the seeds then germinate abundantly. In following years, the herbs steadily diminish as shading increases and toxins from the shrubs build up in the soil." ( p. 135)
We have all heard of a swarm (or "plague") of locusts, but the one the authors describe here is truly incredible: "One such swarm," they write, "in eastern Africa was described as being more than 30 m (100) feet deep on a front 1.6 km (1 mile) wide that took 9 hours to pass by." Imagine that you are a poor farmer with a crop just ready for harvest, and then the locusts descend. What could you do? (p. 207)
By the way, there is an amazingly beautiful photo on the opposite page (206) of a cabbage tree moth on a dead cabbage tree leaf illustrating not only the moth's camouflage but some of the incredible beauty that nature is capable of. The colors are fantastic. As lovers of flowers know, no chemist can match the ability of nature to produce color in such vivid and arresting hues.
As I was reading this and admiring the beautiful photos I couldn't help but think about plants as our benefactors, and to marvel at how they have come to an accommodation (in some cases a clear symbiosis) with the pesky animals that want to eat them, and how they have in many cases learned to use the animals to their advantage as pollinators and seed dispersers. It gives me hope for humankind to think that if plants can make such clever give-and-take arrangements (without a hint of rancor) with those who would be their enemies, surely we can do the same with our fellow humans.
Book Description
At the southern tip of Africa, this city is an enticing taste of an entire continent. Somewhere between the good looks of this cosmopolitan city and the realities of its surrounding suburbs is the true Cape Town. Eat out at the local hot spots, surf the secret breaks, or drum a tabletop to the tempo of a resident jazz ensemble. This guide will help you dig beneath the glittereing surface and find your own unique take on the Cape.
o CLIMB TABLE MOUNTAIN - our dedicated chapter will help you decide when, how, why and with whom
o QUAFF A STEEN - from grand old vineyards to the workers' wines, our special chapter on wine will tickle your palate
o SEE EVERY ANGLE - take a grass-roots tour of the Cape Flats, or wander the colourful streets of the Bo-Kaap; we've got every option covered
o GET SOME RHYTHM - catch some jazz in this city that pounds to a perpetual beat
o FLY, DIVE, AND SAIL - our hand-picked activities listings will have you skimming across the waves, diving with the sharks or catching a bird's-eye view of the Cape
Customer Reviews:
Disorganized and a waste of money.......2005-05-03
SUMMARY OF MY REVIEW: Save your money and get free guides at the Cape Town tourism office instead!!!
Lonely Planet guides usually rate pretty good in my view, but this guide to Cape Town has made me re-think my devotion to Lonely Planet books. The one positive thing I have to say about this book is that it is small and packs easily, and that is why I think this guide deserves even one star.
The book is a very disorganized rambling description of Cape Town and neighboring communities. The guidebook begins with a historical overview, which is appreciated, but then is divided into sections that defy logical order. One of the first sections in the book, for example, is about wineries. Why is this section near the front of the book? Shouldn't more essential Cape Town items like lodging and dining come before wineries? Some destinations, such as the wine country, have different descriptions in more than one section of the book, making this book even more frustrating to use.
Additionally, there are very detailed descriptions for things like how to buy a car in Cape Town (how many vacationers are actually going to buy a car and then resell it while on their vacation???), but descriptions of more touristy things like Table Mountain or the Kirstenbosch Gardens are lacking.
Speaking of lacking, when you're in a new city, good maps are essential. So why are the maps in this guide so lacking in detail? The free maps at the Cape Town tourist office are ten times better.
It would be a much more effective guidebook if (1) it were organized in a more logical fashion, and (2) gave readers a clearer picture of what is a "must see" versus something not so good. Frommer's has a pretty good guide to South Africa in general, but I bought this one because it was specific to Cape Town and because it was small and portable.
Bottom line is that if you go to Cape Town, avoid using this as a guide. I'm sure there are better guides out there. If not, the tourist offices in Cape Town are EXCELLENT resources.
Deals with the city well.......2002-04-20
This book deals with a complex city in an understandable manner, and was very helpful in the planning of our trip. I would recommend it, though get the latest edition
Well written, but out of date already.......1999-07-07
This guide covers many things that a tourist would like to know. But a year old is too old for fast-changing South Africa.
It is nice to see Lonely Planet adding web pages - but I wish there was an index somewhere rather than having to search through the book looking for them once I'm at the computer!
This book is incorrect, poorly written, unreliable.......1999-06-26
I would not recommend this book
Average customer rating:
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Lonely Planet Cape Town: City Map (City Maps Series)
Lonely Planet
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map
Maps
| Atlases & Maps
| Reference
| Subjects
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World
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ASIN: 186450076X |
Book Description
- Around Cape Town
- City & the Waterfront
- Suburbs & the Cape
- Cape Town & Table Mountain
- Cape Wineries
- Unique Lonely Planet Walking Tour
- Index of all Streets & Sights
- Essential Information
Customer Reviews:
EXCELLENT MAP.......2005-05-01
i could not have gotten around in cape town without this map. Thank God I had it. It made my movement in Cape Town enjoyable and easy. Easily slipped into your bag or back pocket (sticking out of course)- all landmarks are clearly marked. public transportation stations clearly marked. easy to follow. don't go without this map.
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Lonely Planet Cape Town: A Lonely Planet City Guide (Lonely Planet Language Survival Kit)
John Murray
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 086442325X |
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Genocide: The Systematic Killing of a People (Issues in Focus)
Linda Jacobs Altman
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
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ASIN: 089490664X |
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20th Century Design: A Reader's Guide (Reader's Guides)
Conway Lloyd Morgan
Manufacturer: Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0750646519 |
Book Description
This is a bluffer's guide to the design criticism and commentary of the 20th century, providing an entertaining summary of the key design texts of the last hundred years. Yet this collection goes further than simply listing the design classics: it also puts design in context and demonstrates the impact and relevance of design values on contemporary living.
It is written in an accessible, provocative and entertaining style. Conway Lloyd Morgan has published books on leading 20th century designers, including Philippe Starck and Jean Nouvel and edited the 'International Design Yearbook'.
This is the second in the Architectural Press series of Reader's Guides, comprised of reviews of seminal texts on design in the 20th century.
*Condensed summary of the most important design books saves you research time and effort.
*Cut through the abstract and be taken straight to the key points by the witty and controversial style of Morgan.
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The New Complete Lurcher
D. Brian Plummer
Manufacturer: Swan Hill Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Lurcher: Training and Hunting
ASIN: 1853109924 |
Book Description
The New Complete Lurcher covers all you could possibly need to know about this increasingly popular type of dog that many find hard to define.
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Postcards from Kew
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
Manufacturer: Stationery Office Books
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ASIN: 0112500374 |
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Royal Postcards
Jack H. Smith
Manufacturer: Wallace-Homestead Book Co
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0870694952 |
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Royal Tunbridge Wells in Old Picture Postcards
Manufacturer: Europese Bibliotheek B.V., Uitgeverij Boekhandel Antiquariaat
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 9028825649 |
Customer Reviews:
From the Publisher.......2005-11-15
"The Royal Photographic Society was established in 1853 for 'the promotion of the art and science of photography, by the interchange of thought and experience among photographers.' Today, its photographic collection is one of the best in the world for nineteenth- and early twentieth-century photography. Included in this book of postcards are thirty spectacular nineteenth-century images of travel, architecture, and landscape in Burma and India by Samuel Bourne and Linnaeus Tripe; in Japan by Felice Beato; in Java by Walter Woodbury; in China by John Thomson; and in Russia by Roger Fenton. 30 Duotone photographs.
"Pomegranate's books of postcards contain thirty top-quality reproductions bound together in a handy, artful collection. Easy to remove and produced on heavy card stock, these stunning postcards are a delight to the sender and receiver. Note: postcards are oversized and may require additional postage. ISBN: 0-87654-492-8; size: 4 3/4 x 6 7/8"."--© Pomegranate
Product Description
NO DATE GIVEN. Postcard book.
Average customer rating:
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Royal Leamington Spa in Old Picture Postcards
Manufacturer: Europese Bibliotheek B.V., Uitgeverij Boekhandel Antiquariaat
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions
| Photography
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ASIN: 9028834958 |
Book Description
Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America. Homeowners are realizing the health benefits derived from gardening and the increase in their home's property value.
Book retailers are well aware that the trend in gardening books is to regional titles that provide credible information on the plants that perform well in specific regions.
Colorado Gardener's Guide is written by the highly popular gardening expert John Cretti.
Contains easy to use advice on the top landscape plant choices (more than 160 entries) for Colorado. Recommends specific varieties and provides advice on how to plant, how to grow and how to care for Colorado's best plants.
Customer Reviews:
Very little Colorado specific information in this book.......2002-02-19
I was greatly surprised by the poor regional quality of this book's contents given John Cretti's reputation as an excellent and respected Colorado gardener. "Colorado Gardener's Guide" is essentially a generic compendium of plants that will grow in Zones 3 to 6. There is a brief (7-page) introduction that gives some common Colorado growing advice mixed in with general gardening advice. The only insight into why the author included certain plants in the book is, "The plants recommended in this book are good performers in many parts of Colorado." Many of the recommendations contradict the author's own advice. For example, under the entry for Poplar, the author warns against landscape trees that are weak-wooded and susceptible to storm damage. He then goes on to list the Goldenrain Tree as recommended despite noting that it is weak-wooded and susceptible to snowstorm damage. A number of plants included in the book are potentially invasive and are commonly listed in Colorado and other Western states as plants that responsible gardeners should try to avoid.
The recommended plants are divided into simple categories of annuals, perennials, groundcovers, lawns, etc. There are no further helpful subdivisions such as native, xeriscape, mountain compatible, etc. The reader must read the two page description for each plant to ferret out any such information. Although I did find one plug for drought-hardy plants, many of the plants recommended in this book for semi-arid Colorado require frequent watering. It would be more helpful to include at least some lists that indicate which plants will require extensive soil modification, protection from wind and sun, have high water requirements, etc. After all, this is supposed to be the COLORADO gardener's guide, not a general garden guide. Although the book is inexpensive, I would not add it to your garden library. I wouldn't have bought it if I had leafed through it first rather than buy it unseen, as I did. (I was swayed by the two previous reviews, reviews that now mystify me!) Unless you do not own a single other garden book, this book will give you very little new information, especially Colorado-specific planting information. A much better beginner gardening book for Colorado is "Month-To-Month Gardening, Colorado."
Everything you need to know.......2000-07-13
This fabulous book lives up to its subtitle -- it truly does tell you what, where, when, how and why to garden in Colorado. It's written by a Colorado native, which is helpful to a "flatlander" like myself who is trying to garden in this challenging climate. This is by far the most helpful gardening book we've bought -- it outranks our Sunset western gardening book since it is written specifically for Colorado.
John Cretti is a GARDEN GOD.......1999-04-28
John is the greatest. I'm not a gardener, but with this book, it takes the guess work out. I only have to buy one book. I know my garden this year won't be without envy.
Book Description
Detailed, easy-to-understand information about the ins and outs of gardening in Colorado, from a Colorado master gardener, with advice from state gardening writers, horticulturists, and other local experts.
Book Description
To create classic country color schemes and breathtaking combinations, look no further than this foolproof guide. Pictures of houses, by a leading interiors photographer, show ideas put into beautiful practice, while pages of actual paint chips make it remarkably easy to select the precise and perfect shades for your own home. Room after room is decorated in irresistible colors, some drawn straight from nature and others (such as red and white gingham) familiar and beloved. Bring warmth to any space with earthy greens, browns, golds, and terra-cottas, or brighten up with the clean, fresh shades of seaside and summer skies. You’ll come to understand, as you admire the photos, why they work so well and how to use them. Plus: fail-safe combinations!
Book Description
In 1968, Jerzy Grotowski published his groundbreaking Towards a Poor Theatre, a record of the theatrical investigations conducted at his experimental theater in Poland. This classic work on acting and performance is now available once again. In his preface to the original edition, Peter Brook wrote: "Grotowski is unique. Why? Because no one else in the world, to my knowledge no one since Stanislavski, has investigated the nature of acting, its phenomenon, its meaning, the nature and science of its mental-physical-emotional processes as deeply as Grotowski." More recently, Richard Schechner has called Grotowski "one of the four great directors of Western theater." Jerzy Grotowski was born in Poland in 1933. In 1982 he moved to the United States and worked at the University of California. He later moved to Italy, where he continued his unique and intense theatrical investigation. He died in 1999.
Customer Reviews:
Required Reading.......2007-01-13
For any theatre professional, student or enthusiast. Highly recommend watching "My Dinner With Andre" as well. It's a film by Wallace Shawn.
Beauty in Poverty and Performance.......2003-01-09
Comprehending this book is no small feat. Sure, you start with the premise that competing with the technical spectacle of movies and TV is a fruitless pursuit. That's not difficult. Neither is the idea of embracing poverty in theatre and making the human being the only center of performance. That's dead easy. Spare costumes, little or no makeup, no sound effects, as few light effects as possible. Who can argue with that?
But this doesn't mean everybody can embrace Grotowski's vision of Poor Theatre. His is one that involves stripping away all preconceived notions of theatre from the early Modern period on. This will never fly in commercial theatre, dependent as it is on technology, nor will it satisfy many recent playwrights, who depend on technical do-funnies to make their shows work.
Grotowski also takes a funny view of plays, playwrights, and theoreticians who don't agree with him. Among other things, he considers playwrights as hired talent and plays as essentially malleable. He also suggests that the only way the writings of Artaud are useful in theatre is if they are taken elementally rather than globally - a position sure not to sit well with many avant-garde directors.
Because this book isn't a straight-ahead statement of principles, ideas, and practices, it yields its secrets only with difficulty. Parts of it aren't even written by Grotowski, but are interviews by other authors, or even observations that don't include quotes from the man himself. It was basically compiled to provide an overview of the ideas and products of the Polish Laboratory Theatre up to that time, and it encourages experiment and development by the reader.
This isn't to say that it isn't actually useful. There are exercises for actors; there are statements of theory for directors; there are even sketches, diagrams, and photos for designers. However, expect to wrestle with this book if you're going to unlock its secrets. Once you elect to start down this path, you have a long row to hoe
It is a crime this book is out of print........2001-11-22
"Towards A Poor Theatre" by Jerzy Grotowski is probably the most important book written on acting since Stainslavsky's three famous character books. There is so little known about Grotowski and many people have tried to fake his work and people need to read the man's original words. Grotowski's vision of theatre has had the greatest effect on me more than any other person in theatre. He saw acting as a Holy experience where both the actor and spectator were transformed after the performance. Grotowski expanded from where Stainslavsky left off and drew his ideas everywhere from modern art to religious rituals to primitive theatre. Any one interested in theatre must read this book somehow and be changed forever like I have.
A Classic.......2001-10-18
There is no better book that I have read on the theory and practice of theatre. As Peter Brook says in the preface, "Grotowski is unique. Why? Because no-one else in the world, to my knowledge, no-one since Stanislavsky, has investigated the nature of acting, its phenomenon, its meaning, the nature and science of its mental-physical-emotional processes as deeply and completely as Grotowski."
Grotowski argues effectively that the split of the stage and the screen necessitates that the stage redefine its focus. The screen with its higher budget and countless retakes will always beat the stage in richness. So, Grotowski posits "If it [the stage] cannot be richer than the cinema, then let it be poor." The rest of the book illustrates what such a poor theatre means in practice. Brilliant.
Average customer rating:
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Towards a Poor Theatre
Manufacturer: METHUEN DRAMA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GRPCWS |
Average customer rating:
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Australian Astronomer John Tebbutt: The Life and World of the Man on the $100 Note
Ragbir Bhathal
Manufacturer: Kangaroo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0864175221 |
Books:
- The Private Life of Plants
- Trees of North America: A Guide to Field Identification, Revised and Updated (Golden Field Guide from St. Martin's Press)
- Trees of Texas: An Easy Guide to Leaf Identification (W L Moody, Jr, Natural History Series)
- Trees of the Northern United States and Canada
- Understanding the Alcoholic's Mind: The Nature of Craving and How to Control It
- Vascular Epiphytes: General Biology and Related Biota (Cambridge Tropical Biology Series)
- Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners
- Wildflowers, Blooms, and Blossoms (Take-Along Guide)
- Y Tu, Donde Vives?: Big Book
- 101 Trees of Indiana: A Field Guide
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents 2004: Who They Are! What They Wa
- Foods That Fight Pain: Revolutionary New Strategies for Maximum Pain Relief
- Ernie's Ark
- Ferns for American Gardens
- Frog and Toad Are Friends
- Foundations of Image Science
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