Trees of the Northern United States and Canada

Customer Reviews:

Another great book.......2007-05-16

This book is just about as complete as everyone else that has reviewed says. I really only wanted North American trees and that is precicely what I got. A very fine book that is well organized with abundant photos, drawings and discriptions. I am just a novice so the more complete of a book the better. The only thing I wish is that I had an old beat up one to take into the woods.

The one I reach for.......2006-11-23

There is no one book that will satisfy all your tree needs, but this one comes closest. Though it is Canada-centric, it should be useful no matter where in the US you may live. The pictures and line drawings are excellent, but most importantly they are consistent throughout. The "Quick Recognition" bits are a wonderful feature.
It is organized as an identification book but I use it more as an encyclopedia and wish it was organized alphabetically by genus. This is a book you read, then go for a walk, then read again. Highly recommended to everyone.

The best tree book.......2006-06-05

Every attempt I've made to identify a tree with this book has been successful. Worth every penny.

Great Field Guide.......2003-09-11

This is a great book to help with the identification of tree specimens that you find in our northern forests. Beautifully illustrated, with pictures of leaves (and fall color), flowers, fruits, and the bark of both mature and young trees, Farrar really provides horticultural enthusiasts with all the tools they need to make correct identifications (in most cases, of course). In addition to the pictures, other botanical information is provided such as max heights, growth rates, silhouettes, reproductive information, ranges, etc.

My only small complaint with the text is that the ranges for several species are incomplete, covering only the areas in Canada and the very northernmost United States. Many species have a much broader native habitat, and it's often necessary to reference a second text for that information. Other than that; however, it is a great text that even includes "quick recognition" tips for most species. Farrar gives us a valuable resource for horticulture lovers and woodsmen of the north.

The leading candidate?.......2003-06-07

This book is among the leading candidates in the race for best tree identification book ever. It has a huge advantage in that it first appeared in 1917 (as Native Trees of Canada, already a good book) and has been continually revised and updated since. This book pretty much has it all: clear distribution maps, fine line-drawings of details and pretty decent color pictures of various other details (including bark).

Of course Canada has the 'advantage' of not having many tree species, which makes it easy for an author to be complete. Just imagine Harri Lorenzi trying to cover Brazil to the same degree of detail!

It is a pity the US has no other books on this same scale, and that this degree of detail is only available for its Northern part (OK, California has some fine tree books too!).

Shade Trees for the Central and Northern United States and Canada
Average customer rating:
Shade Trees for the Central and Northern United States and Canada
Sharon A. Yiesla , and Floyd A. Giles
Manufacturer: Stipes Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Shade | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Trees | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Seed-Bearing Plants | Trees | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 087563379X

Field manual of trees: Including southern Canada and the northern United States to approximately the southern boundary of Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, westward to the limits of the prairie
Average customer rating:
Field manual of trees: Including southern Canada and the northern United States to approximately the southern boundary of Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, westward to the limits of the prairie
John H Schaffner
Manufacturer: Long's College Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Trees | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00087RXBO

Field manual of trees: Including southern Canada and the northern United States to the southern boundary of Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, westward to the limits of the prairie
Average customer rating:
Field manual of trees: Including southern Canada and the northern United States to the southern boundary of Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, westward to the limits of the prairie
John H Schaffner
Manufacturer: R.G. Adams & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Trees | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008CQH3Y

Trees and shrubs: Field marks of all trees, shrubs, and woody vines that grow wild in the northern and north-central United States and in southeastern ... Canada (Roger Tory Peterson field guides)
Average customer rating:
Trees and shrubs: Field marks of all trees, shrubs, and woody vines that grow wild in the northern and north-central United States and in southeastern ... Canada (Roger Tory Peterson field guides)
George A Petrides
Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Shrubs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Trees | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00070O8SI

Trees of Canada and the northern United States
Average customer rating:
Trees of Canada and the northern United States
Frederick Howard Montgomery
Manufacturer: Ryerson Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0770003249

Trees and Shrubs : Field Marks of All Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines That Grow Wild in the Northern and North-Central United States and in South-Eastern and South-Central Canada
Average customer rating:
Trees and Shrubs : Field Marks of All Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines That Grow Wild in the Northern and North-Central United States and in South-Eastern and South-Central Canada

Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000HW3JHM

Trees of the Northern United States and Canada
Average customer rating:
Trees of the Northern United States and Canada
John Laird Farrar
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MU9EQ4

Book Description

Marrakech has hosted superstars from Paul Bowles to Richard Branson, whose long-awaited “kasbah” (fortress) hotel opened in March 2005. This practical guide shows seasoned visitors and first-timers how to make the most of this pink-walled city on the edge of the Atlas Mountains. More than 80 of the city’s famed riads (boutique hotels) are profiled, while maps of the labyrinthine alleys of the Old City mark every monument, museum, hotel, restaurant, and bar for easy reference. Local writers provide insightful coverage and analysis of local culture, traditions, and arts that have made Marrakech a magnet for the international set.

Customer Reviews:

Time Out: Marrakech.......2007-03-15

An exquisitely photographed guide to Marrakech, this book is especially valuable for its "behind-the-scenes" views of riads, the traditional inns that are often hidden from view in the medina (the ancient section of the city.) In addition to well-written critiques of hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and attractions, Time Out: Marrakech also suggests memorable side trips to other regions, including romantic visits to dramatic mountain hideaways. If this book doesn't make you want to visit Morocco, nothing will!

Time Out Marrakech & the Best of Morocco (Time Out Guides)

Average customer rating:

a great time with time out

Time Out Marrakech & the Best of Morocco (Time Out Guides)
Time Out
Manufacturer: Time Out
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

Morocco | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Morocco, 4th Edition (Footprint Morocco Handbook)
Fodor's Morocco, 1st Edition: Expert Advice and Smart Choices: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore On and Off the Beaten Path (Fodor's Gold Guides)
The Rough Guide to Morocco 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook

ASIN: 0141008911
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Customer Reviews:

a great time with time out.......2004-06-03

If you travel to Morokko and especially if you plan to hang out a couple of days in marrakesh as it was my case, i really recommend this book that is taking it to the point. A carefully choosen list of destinations, changing from the confusing big guides i usually used!
i picked up the adress of the riad zina www.riadzina-marrakech.com from this book and it was really worth it!

Book Description

From slave ships to plantations to freedom, The Struggle Against Slavery traces the remarkable history of the heroic fight to end slavery, from its North American beginnings in the early 1600s to its violent demise in the mid-1800s with the Civil War. Captured in their own words from transcripts, diaries, memoirs, newspaper clippings, drawings, and other documents are the stories of how slaves and free blacks fought against the dehumanization of slavery by developing anti-racist arguments, creating their own institutions, physically escaping, and fighting with weapons. An exceptional social, political, and cultural history of the period, The Struggle Against Slavery is filled with stirring tales of survival and strength, bringing to life the African-American experience in early America.

A Teacher's Guide to The Struggle against Slavery: A History in Documents (Pages from History)

Average customer rating:

A Teacher's Guide to The Struggle against Slavery: A History in Documents (Pages from History)
Diane N. Palmer
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Loose Leaf

Study & Teaching | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Pedagogy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0195174925

The Struggle Against Slavery: A History in Documents (Pages from History)

Average customer rating:

The Struggle Against Slavery: A History in Documents (Pages from History)
David Waldstreicher
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKAW54

TEACHER'S GUIDE TO THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY:HISTORY IN DOCUMENTS PH - PAGES

Average customer rating:

TEACHER'S GUIDE TO THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY:HISTORY IN DOCUMENTS PH - PAGES
PALMER/WALDSTREICHER
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKKPX8

Book Description

The work of the Dutch jewellery-maker Robert Smit. The book involves the reader in the sensuous qualities of his work and sets a new standard in documentation and book design.

Customer Reviews:

A Lovely Treasure.......2002-02-03

This is a lovely book. I will giving this book to all my animal loving friends. There is a poem and quote on every page about how special pets are in our lives. The illustrations are beautiful. Jim Daly's art really captured the soul of dogs and cats in this book. Don't buy just one book, you will want many to give away.

Tonka Trucks, 1947-1963
Average customer rating:

Must Have

Tonka Trucks, 1947-1963
Don DeSalle
Manufacturer: L W Publishing & Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Tonka Tonka

Price Guide to Tonka Trucks, 1947-1963

How to Restore Classic Toy Cars, Trucks, Tractors, and Airplanes (How to Restore)

O'Brien's Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks 4th Edition (Paperback) (Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks)

ASIN: 0895380552

Customer Reviews:

Must Have.......1999-09-06

The definitive guide to Tonka Trucks

Average customer rating:

Price Guide to Tonka Trucks, 1947-1963
Don DeSalle
Manufacturer: L-W Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

How to Restore Classic Toy Cars, Trucks, Tractors, and Airplanes (How to Restore)
Tonka
O'Brien's Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks 4th Edition (Paperback) (Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks)
Tonka Trucks, 1947-1963
O'Brien's Collecting Toys: Identification and Value Guide, 11th Edition

ASIN: 0895380862

Product Description

Full color photos of collectible Tonka Trucks from 1947-1963, plus history and identification. Includes cabover, box vans, dump trucks, fire trucks, Hi-Way, Metro vans, pickup trucks, semi trucks, stake rack trucks, tanker trucks, utility, wreckers & plus accessories, logos, and more.

Book Description

This book is a helpful guide to identifying 500 species of Florida plant life, including rare as well as common wild flowers and characteristic trees, shrubs, vines, and ferns. Each description includes both common and scientific names, a range map, symbols to show the season of bloom, and a useful summary code of nine key plant, leaf, and flower characters, to aid in identification. With rich color photographs and brief, nontechnical notes to accompany each species, this handbook is a valuable reference for tourists, residents, students, and anyone interested in plants in all seasons of the year, from Pensacola to the Keys.

Average customer rating:

Includes invasive species!
Good content, don't like how it's presented
too garbled
The bible of native flowers!
good for everybody

Gardening with Native Wildflowers
Samuel B., Jr. Jones , and Leonard E. Foote
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Wildflowers, (The New England Wild Flower Society)
Gardening With Native Plants of the South
Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast: Landscaping Uses and Identification
Appalachian Wildflowers
Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers

ASIN: 0881921750

Book Description

This classic on native plants encourages the garden use of wild flowers, grasses, ground covers, and hardy ferns native to the eastern and midwestern U.S., suggesting suitable plants for woodland, meadow, and wetland features in the garden.

Customer Reviews:

Includes invasive species!.......2006-04-10

Don't buy this book! It says it lists native wildflowers, but lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) is listed in the table of contents. This species has been listed as an invasive species or noxious weed in about thirty states. Its sale is prohibited by law in several of those states. Obviously the authors did not do their homework. I wouldn't be surprized if there were other invasives listed in there too.

Good content, don't like how it's presented.......2002-12-29

This is one of the better books when it comes to information about growing native plants. The authors are not shy about their opinions and the book is better for it.

On the down side, the book is not nearly as exhaustive as Cullina's books. I also don't like that it puts the photographs apart from the text, as this makes for some annoying page-flipping. The quality of the photographs is also rather amateurish.

A tepid recommendation would be a hearty one with a better layout and improved pictures.

too garbled.......2002-09-05

I have an extensive collection of books on native plants - and the plants
to go with them! This book is one of my least favorite. The information is
not well sorted or presented. I would recommend C. Colston Burrell's
"Encyclopedia of Wildflowers" in preference to this book.
Or Carole Otteson's "Native Plant Primer" with trees and shrubs in addition to
herbaceous perennials.

The bible of native flowers!.......2001-07-25

I never thought I would take a gardening book to bed with me. This one is a pleasure to read and taught me a lot about identification and gardening uses of native wildflowers of the southeast and northeast. It's the first book I grab to look up a species. Lots of full color photographs have made it much easier for me to identify the plants I want at the nursery. The two authors are coming from different perspectives - one has a natural meadow/woodlands landscape and the other uses native plants in a more controlled garden setting along with exotics. Between the two of them, the reader gets a balanced idea of the possibilities of introducing native flowers to their own yards. I only wish the index combined scientific names with common names, rather than having two separate indexes. It would also be convenient if the plant photos were on the same pages as the descriptions. But those are minor criticisms of an overall superb book.

good for everybody.......1999-02-03

This book is helpful for anyone interested in gardening. The scientific names are beneficial and the color photos are exquisite and provide assistance in identifying plants. An excellent book for the novice or the amatuer.

Hardy Californians: A Woman's Life with Native Plants

Average customer rating:

If You Love Your Plants and the Worlds They Thrive In, Buy This Book!

Hardy Californians: A Woman's Life with Native Plants
Lester Rowntree
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

The Landscaping Ideas of Jays: A Natural History of the Backyard Restoration Garden
Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens
Native Treasures: Gardening With the Plants of California (Phyllis M. Faber Books)
The End of the Wild (Boston Review Books)
An Island Called California: An Ecological Introduction to Its Natural Communities, Second edition, Revised and Expanded

ASIN: 0520250516

Book Description

Lester G. E. Rowntree (1879-1979), free-spirited adventurer and pioneering botanist, was fifty-two when she traded a comfortable home for the life of a peripatetic traveler in the California mountains, deserts, and forests. Through hundreds of magazine and journal articles, two acclaimed books, and uncounted public lectures, Rowntree shared her vast knowledge of California native plants and at the same time argued passionately for the protection of the state's bountiful flora. A mountain mystic who worshipped on Sierra peaks, bathed in alpine streams, and lived for months on beans and bread, Rowntree has remained an inspiration in native plant horticulture and plant conservation to this day.
A beloved classic first published in 1936, Hardy Californians is Rowntree's poetic sketch of California and its plant life. In charming prose, she takes us along on her annual seed-collecting journey through the state and gives a concise introduction to the complexities of California flora, climate, and geography. The book also gives information on the suitability of many native California plants for the garden. This new edition includes a comprehensive biographical essay, a chapter on Rowntree's horticultural legacy, an updated species list, and a complete bibliography of her writings.

Customer Reviews:

If You Love Your Plants and the Worlds They Thrive In, Buy This Book!.......2007-07-12

First published in 1936, this seminal guide to California's native plants is a must-have for any gardener, Californian or not, who wants to work with rather than against nature in the garden. Lester Rowntree spent her summers exploring the back roads, desert washes, and mountain trails of California collecting specimens and documenting the habits and habitats of her beloved native plants. Her winters were spent writing up her notes and experimenting with propagating and growing native plants in her own garden in the Carmel Highlands just north of Big Sur. An amateur "plant enthusiast," committed conservationist, and gifted writer with an unpretentious style and a wry, gentle sense of humor, her keen insight into plant ecology years before the term "ecology" was coined will amaze, delight, and humble the contemporary reader. Lester Rowntree wrote another classic, The Flowering Shrubs of California (1939), regrettably out of print at this time but available in many libraries.

Go Native!: Gardening With Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest

Average customer rating:

Native plants???
Native? Are you kidding?
Good reference, not so good layout
native plants can thrive in abundance with just a little stewardship
Excellent Resource

Go Native!: Gardening With Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest
Carolyn Harstad
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers
The Prairie Garden: Seventy Native Plants You Can Grow in Town or Country
Got Shade: A "Take It Easy" Approach for Today's Gardener
Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes
101 Trees of Indiana: A Field Guide

ASIN: 0253213029

Book Description

Using a simple question and answer format, this informative and user- friendly book focuses on the Lower Midwest, and includes everything you need to know about gardening with plants and wildflowers native to the region. It explains methods of planning, site and soil preparation, garden design, plant selection and propagation. Illustrated with 125 drawings and 100 color photos, this is the must-have book for Midwestern gardeners.

Customer Reviews:

Native plants???.......2007-08-30

Invasive plants are an increasingly big problem in the US costing tax payers millions of dollars. I'm not too thrilled with a book titled "Go Native!" that appears to be promoting exotic invasive species of any type in a North American Landscape... but then the author's title did additionally state ":Gardening With Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest". Many people assume all wildflowers are native plants. This is simply not true. Many wildflowers are extremely undesirable invasive plants that have naturalized and are wreaking havoc in our environment. Native plants don't naturalize because they belong in the environment in which they occur. The term naturalized is almost exclusively used for exotic plants that can quite successfully outcompete native plants. If one is really concerned about the environment and wants to "Go Native", it might be best to consider selecting a more appropriate book.

Native? Are you kidding?.......2006-04-10

This book lists several severely invasive, nonnative species in its table of contents. Euonymus alatus, Berberis thunbergii, and lythrum salicaria are all extremely invasive plants across the country. It is illegal to sell lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) in several states. At least thirty states list it as invasive. Berberis thunbergii, or Japanese barberry is listed by 45 states as a noxious weed. Don't support a book that sells invasive species as native "wildflowers."

Good reference, not so good layout.......2002-12-29

I find this a useful book that I refer back to time to time, as I innately trust the author's advice. There is excellent info in here on a plant's propagation/division and planting requirements. I haven't found anything better.

There are problems: 1) I wish it was more exhaustive in the number of plants it covers, although for a primer it picks really good candidates. 2) It commits the common sin of putting the photographs in their own section instead of with the text, substituting nearly useless line drawings next to the text. 3) The book is topically organized -- plants for shade, using ground cover, developing woodland gardens, etc. I find this rather annoying, and I can never find what I want right away. I'm forever referring to the index. 4) It's presented on cheap paper stock in an amateurish paragraph format, with no page divisions for different plants. This makes it needlessly difficult to use as a reference.

In sum, there is a lot of great info in here, enough to recommend it. I just wish the layout was better.

native plants can thrive in abundance with just a little stewardship.......2001-09-05

"Go Native...", written more as warm personal narrative, is as extensive as an encyclopedia without being dry, includes superb drawings and gorgeous color photos. It is a great help if one personally chooses to prepare for the low maintenance stewardship of our natural "wildlife" environment, maybe heeding Thoreau's simple joys of nature. "Perhaps it is time for each of us to consider taking a single step" suggests Harstad.
Even a modest land plot can be a natural theater of brilliantly sunlit landscape in constantly changing shadows and colors. Some, albeit greatly scaled down, might be reminiscent of those scenes from the 19th Century landscape artists, such as the Hoosier Group and the Hudson River School, that at the beginning of the 20th Century inspired today's goals in Conservation and Habitat Preservation. Or, as I can imagine, your own "...Brigadoon...look in your heart and there it will be."
Carolyn Harstad writes that native plants and wildflowers have the ability to thrive and survive on their own and when the "pioneers" came "...they wrote glowing reports... that the land through which they were traveling looked like an immense flower garden." Can we assume that similar sentiments inspired George Washington, Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark among others of America's early visionaries?
Here is a small but highly pertinent cross-cultural reference: Eva Cassidy sings of seasonal moods in her typically heartfelt manner: "Autumn Leaves", "Fields of Gold", "What a Wonderful World", and "Blue Skies" on the cd "Live at Blues Alley".

Excellent Resource.......2000-06-30

This book was wonderful in describing the various plants that are native to the lower Midwest and which ones (that you would have believed to be native) are not. A must have for persons who would like to create a native yard. A great gardening tool.

Landscaping With Wildflowers and Native Plants (5246)

Average customer rating:

Landscaping With Wildflowers and Native Plants (5246)
William H. W. Wilson
Manufacturer: Ortho Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Create the sweeping color of a forest meadow, a tall grass prairie, or a desert landscape in your own garden. You can learn how to design a natural landscape or just grow a few wildflowers by your front path, once you learn where to find seeds, how to take cuttings from wildplants, and much more.

Gardening With Wildflowers and Native Plants (Plants and Gardens Handbook 119)
Average customer rating:
Gardening With Wildflowers and Native Plants (Plants and Gardens Handbook 119)
Claire Sawyers
Manufacturer: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Flowers | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Flowers | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Fiskars Phone and Garden Pocket #94336974

ASIN: 0945352522

Begin with a seed: The Riveredge guide to growing Wisconsin prairie plants
Average customer rating:
Begin with a seed: The Riveredge guide to growing Wisconsin prairie plants
Al Heon
Manufacturer: Riveredge Nature Center]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Flowers | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006RDOIW

A comprehensive bibliography of publications about gardening with native plants
Average customer rating:
A comprehensive bibliography of publications about gardening with native plants
Mary M Walker
Manufacturer: New England Wild Flower Society Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006YSHGE

Gardening with native plants: A comprehensive bibliography, with annotations
Average customer rating:
Gardening with native plants: A comprehensive bibliography, with annotations
Mary M Walker
Manufacturer: New England Wild Flower Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006PDAYC

Book Description

Discover the secrets of successful songwriting with this essential guide! Cofounder of the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase John Braheny teaches you the craft of songwriting while going behind the scenes of the music business to reveal insider secrets that will make your work stand out. Dozens of exercises, examples and anecdotes from songwriters such as Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, TLC, Lenny Kravitz and Paul McCartney will you show you how to: develop a songwriter's consciousness; overcome barriers in the creative process; write in all musical styles, and for film and TV; and skillfully manage the business of demos and contracts. This updated edition also covers online opportunities for songwriters. "A practical street-level look at today's world of songwriting ... Read and learn." - Diane Warren, six-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year with more than 50 Top 10 hits

Customer Reviews:

Ever wondered what it would be like to write a hit song?.......2003-11-21

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a hit song? Perhaps you have asked yourself why do some songs become commercial successes while others end up in the dustbin?

Journalist, talk show host, teacher and consultant, John Braheny, provides us with the answers to these queries as well as many other topics in his blue-ribbon manual The Craft and Business of Songwriting-Second Edition.

Braheny was one of the founders, along with Len Chandler, of the Los Angles Songwriters Showcase. For 15 years he was intimately involved with this national non-profit organization that was dedicated to creating opportunities for discovering aspiring songwriters. As a result of this relationship, he accumulated an exceptional amount of knowledge pertaining to the business and craft of song writing. The reader is fortunate to have all of this information neatly wrapped up in a compact manual that is split into two main sections, the craft of writing songs and the business of selling and marketing songs.

Within the section dealing with the craft the author delves into such topics as creativity, inspiration, subject matter, media, listeners, lyric writing, song construction and possible collaboration with other writers. Naturally we would probably be sceptical of a book that purports to teach us how to write a song. Some would say you are born to write a song, others would disagree and say it is possible to be taught the craft. Braheny believes that you can't be taught inspiration or imagination. However, you can be taught ways to get in touch with what you have to say and how to communicate it effectively. Using this premise as a base, the book provides us with the tools that will perhaps uncover our hidden talents.

The second half of the book deals with the business features of song writing and as the author states, "writing a great song is only part of being a successful songwriter. Unsung thousands possess the talent and craft to write great songs, but without understanding the business and knowing how to protect your creations and get them heard by those who can make them successful, those songs are like orphans." Perhaps we should refer to the second half as the entrepreneurial skills needed to sell, promote and market your songs. Within this section we are introduced to such topics as protecting your songs, securing money, publishing, self- publishing, demos, marketing, Internet and record deals.

The appendix of the book provides the reader with a very comprehensive listing of songwriters' resources containing names, addresses, phone numbers, web sites and general descriptions of the various references. No doubt this inclusion will save anyone who aspires to be a songwriter a great deal of time and effort.

After reading the book are you guaranteed that you will be successful songwriter? Probably not. Unfortunately, we don't have a crystal ball indicating who will succeed and who will fail. However, at least after reading and being exposed to the elements of song writing, you will have a better understanding as to how the music industry works in relation to the songwriter, or writer/performer. As the author asserts in his introduction, "it will demystify and humanize what can often feel to a newcomer like a cold, monolithic, and impersonal industry."

The above review first appeared on the reviewer's own site

Bumpy Ride---Great Guide.......2003-01-09

So what if words and music come natural? We write the stuff down, add a tune and sing it to the world. Then what? This book, The Craft and Business of Songwriting, is a very affordable reference; and probably all you need.I'm happy it contains material that will make me wiser.Buy this or you'll miss out.

A Must Read Book for All Songwriters!.......2002-05-03

The first Edition of the book, was a must read, now this 2nd Edition, updated with new information and current song references, is also a must read for everyone that writes songs. The most complete songwriting book, for beginning songwriters to the aspiring, to even pro writers will learn from the book. I often refer to it as "The Songwriters Bible", just full of information that we need in the world of songwriting.
I have been a Nashville Songwriters Association International coordinator in Charlotte for (6) years, and do at least one activity or read a quote from a hit writer or music professional in the book at every meeting. This book is years of songwriting seminars and workshops all in one. The reader will learn just like the title says, the craft and business from someone who knows what they are talking about, and has led workshops for some of the best songwriters of all time, including the awesome Diane Warren and several other hit writers. John Braheny made a difference with hit writers, with myself, and other songwriters that I have recommended the book to in the past 14+ years of reading the first edition, and now the 2nd edition. I recomend this as the very first book for every songwriter to read and study. If you know someone who writes songs, buy the book for them, and a copy for yourself. Buy a highlighter or two, to use when reading the book. ...Doak Turner
...

Strategy and structure andlots more.......2001-01-11

One of my most basic problems when starting off as a songwriter, was the lack of background and knowledge on how to approach a new song. I am talking about your basic strategies and how to structure them into a final product. Where does one begin, what do you need to take into account, what to do first, how to approach rhyme, basic tips about melody, chords etc. I found this book to answer these type of questions in a simple and interesting way.

The author is obviously a specialist with a very good track record. He taught me how to analyse existing songs to expand my knowledge. No more do I just listen to music, I learnt the skill to expand my songwriting knowledge whilst listening to other songs on the radio or on CD.

I have learnt how to decide on a basic structure, how to approach the most important issue of finding a "hook" for your song and refining it to something useful. I have discovered that it is O.K. to rewrite songs, but I have learnt how to approach it. This book has taught me how to make songs more interesting and it has made songwriting a more interesting hobby for me.

I think the most important lesson from this book is how to grow from a songwriter that tries to express his/her own feelings to himself/herself and a few close friends, to someone who can express his deepest feelings in such a way that his song could be loved by millions and could become a commercial success. It also contain an abundace of valuable information on the industry and how to promote your music.

If I did not read this book I would have missed something for sure. If you are serious about songwriting you cannot go without this book.

Terrific book for basics of songwriting & the business.......2000-01-29

Although this book isn't as comprehensive as others in the songwriting department, it presents information in a very concise and interesting format. It also has a comprehensive section (half the book) on the BUSINESS. It's a quick, easy read and definitely worth the price. But if you want to get serious about songwriting, you'll also need a book with more theory such as WRITING MUSIC FOR HIT SONGS.

Song: The World's Best Songwriters on Creating the Music That Moves Us (American Songwriter Magazine)

Average customer rating:

Song: The World's Best Songwriters on Creating the Music That Moves Us (American Songwriter Magazine)

Manufacturer: Writers Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

This Business of Songwriting
The Craft and Business of Songwriting: A Practical Guide to Creating and Marketing Artistically and Commercially Successful Songs (Craft & Business of Songwriting)
Songwriters on Songwriting
The Plain and Simple Guide to Music Publishing: Foreword by Tom Petty
The Frustrated Songwriter's Handbook: A Radical Guide to Cutting Loose, Overcoming Blocks, and Writing the Best Songs of Your Life

ASIN: 1582974241

Book Description

Song is an enthralling compilation of songwriting wisdom from 100 of the biggest names in music. From country to rock to folk to alternative, this genre-spanning collection of interviews captures the anecdotes, history, and wisdom of the best songwriters aroundInside, you'll find entertaining and enlightening interviews from great songwriters such as Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Jewel, Kenny Chesney, Cat Stevens, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Ray Charles, Clint Black, Rob Thomas, Dolly Parton, Rufus Wainwright, Bob McDill, Lyle Lovett, Keith Urban, Beck, M.Ward, Lou Reed, Roger Miller, Grant-Lee Phillips, and John Denver.

The Craft and Business of Songwriting: A Practical Guide to Creating and Marketing Artistically and Commercially Successful Songs (Craft & Business of Songwriting)

Average customer rating:

THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SONGS RIGHT!
Now I only write hit songs
Reviewing The Craft and Business
The Book Of Choice
A must-have for songwriters!

The Craft and Business of Songwriting: A Practical Guide to Creating and Marketing Artistically and Commercially Successful Songs (Craft & Business of Songwriting)
John Braheny
Manufacturer: Writers Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs
This Business of Songwriting
The Craft of Lyric Writing
Songwriter's Market 2007 (Songwriter's Market)
Song: The World's Best Songwriters on Creating the Music That Moves Us (American Songwriter Magazine)

ASIN: 1582974667

Book Description

Combines inspirational craft tips with practical business lessons
Features examples and career advice drawn from successful artists in a variety of genres, from country to hip-hop
Perfect for beginners who want an overview of the business

Writing great songs is only half the work of becoming a successful songwriter - you also have to manage your business. Perfect for beginners and working songwriters alike, The Craft & Business of Songwriting features dozens of exercises, examples, and anecdotes from successful songwriters including Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, and Paul McCartney. With all this and more, readers will find the insider secrets they need to make them more competitive in a crowded marketplace."

Customer Reviews:

THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SONGS RIGHT!.......2007-08-07

As a Billboard author of "The Musicians's Handbook: A Practical Giude to Understanding the Music Industry," an instructor at UCLA Music Business Extension and Musician's Institute, and a major label/indie recording artist, I highly recommend "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" to anyone that is serious about succeeding in the music industry. Remember: THE SONG COMES FIRST and this author wonderfully lays out the tools you need to get your songs right. Buy this book now!

Now I only write hit songs.......2007-07-31

Well, at least in my opinion.

I just received the book last night and have read about 1/4 of it. It's great so far, lot's of insight and information. After reading some of Mr. Braheny's info on his web site [...] I couldn't wait to get his book. It's more than I expected, including actual music theory but as it relates to hit songs, not just raw theory. Cool!

I'll write more after reading the entire book, but this is the best thing I've done for myself regarding song writing.

BTW, I also got Pat Pattison's book on lyric writing and barely looked at it - I don't think I'll care for it if I ever get around to reading it. I used to read Pattison's column in Home & Studio Recording mag, although I didn't recall it at the time I purchased his book, and I never cared for his column back then (in the '80s and '90s) either. Braheny's book is MUCH better - no comparison really.

Reviewing The Craft and Business .......2007-07-28

"The Craft and Business of Songwriting" has been instrumental in boosting my songwriting career by leaps and bounds. Even though I consider myself an "experienced" songwriter, there are so many things that "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" keeps me reminded and aware of. This book does that and more! It also helps me look at songwriting from a different and somewhat fresh perspective. I truly appreciate the insight on usage of the internet's many resources for marketing and promoting songwriting, which gives songwriters a perspective of the internet and web-based options to explore in helping to grow the songwriter's opportunities in cyberspace.

When it comes to songwriting, The Craft and Business of Songwriting is my bible.

Ren Ten Music, LLC

The Book Of Choice.......2007-07-26

As a teacher of songwriting for over 15 years at Austin Community college,I have found John Braheny's book, "The Craft& Business of Song Writing",to be the best work of it's kind on the market today.
Students of songwriting in or out of school can find in this text invaluable information on every level of song production both subjective and objective. This book is a gem, both beautiful and practical!
Bravo John Braheny!

Robert Skiles B.A., M.A.
Prof. of Music
Austin Community College
Austin, Tx.

A must-have for songwriters!.......2007-05-18

An excellent, comprehensive work, which far exceeds all the other songwriting books I have purchased in both content and relevance. Newly updated to accommodate today's evolving market. An essential reference for all songwriters.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books