Environment and Nature Books

This book is probally the most influential environmental law text in the nation. It is used by over 150 ABA approved law schools in the country. The reason for its influence is that it also happens to be the best written environmental law text. The beauty of this book is that it provides incredible amounts of information in a relatively easy readable format. Keep in mind this book is not an easy read, but it is certainly worth the effort. The text covers such subjects as what environmental law is to how groundwater laws are different in various parts of the country. The book also does a nice job of explaining the Federal/State battles over jurisdiction. The cases presented as illustrations to the various subjects make the text worth the purchase price alone. If you want to study environmental law or need the perfect reference text, then I heartily endorse this book. This book would make a perfect addition to any personal library for future use.

highly recommend this book for anyone interested in classic cases of environmental law and policy

This book is excellent in presenting an integrated world view by examining relationships between physical and biological systems. It is not a biology, ecology, or geography book alone, but an interdisciplinary alternative. I really like the "your ecological footprint" exercises in each chapter.

This book does a great job of describing basic principals of economics, biology, chemistry and physics and applying these ideas to understand how natural systems work and how humans interact with these systems. The book is well structured starting with basic principles and moving up to application of these ideas to topics such as biodiversity, climate change, water resources, agriculture forests and energy. Both authors are well respected scientists particularly in regards to energy issues and this shows in the underlying theme of basic principles from physics as tools to understand all physical systems.

What this book does:
The book provides a great rigorous explanation of the core sciences and how they inform our understanding of the natural world and social/economic interactions with it. Key environmental problems are discussed presenting students with a strong understanding of what the problem is, how it came about, and what solutions may exist

What this book doesn't do:
This book is truly a science book and does not inject anything in regards to the political controversy surrounding these topics. Thus instructors should encourage students to discuss how we can use the science to inform policy and also to discuss the philosophical ideas that go beyond environmental protection merely as an economic necessity.

contemporary and timely highly recommended

In The Conference Board's magazine, "Across the Board," in a Nov/Dec 2000 article on the best business books read over the past year, I wrote:

"Over the past couple of years, I must have read 10 to 20 management books every month. Unfortunately, before long, many of these titles start reading the same, hoping to capitalize on the management trend of the moment. But every once in a while a book comes along that includes unique and clear-headed thinking and writing. When I was working on an article about environmental ethics in business, I came across a new collection of the writings of Aldo Leopold, the legendary conservationist of the 1930s and 1940s perhaps best known for A Sand County Almanac. Edited by Curt Meine and Richard L. Knight, The Essential Aldo Leopold: Quotations and Commentaries is not, strictly speaking, a business book, but contained here in many previously unpublished observations are the thoughts and ideas of a natural (in all senses of the word) manager. Leopold was a rare combination of someone who saw the need for conserving nature, but who also understood and encouraged experiencing the beauty and functionality of the outdoors." --Across the Board, Nov/Dec 2000

One of my favorite quotes of Leopold's from this collection:

"Relegating conservation to government is like relegating virtue to the Sabbath. Turns over to professionals what should be daily work of amateurs."

Aldo Leopold was the author of "A Sand County Almanac" and one of the most influential conservationists of his day. In The Essential Aldo Leopold, Curt Meine and Richard Knight have collaborated to assembled a comprehensive collections of quotations from Leopold's extensive and diverse writings. These gems of wisdom, insight, and encouragement are organized in twenty-one chapters under the broad themes of conservation science and practice, conservation policy, conservation and culture. Each chapter begins with an introductory essay by a prominent conservation scholar to provide the reader with perspective on Leopold's numerous and varied contributions. The Essential Aldo Leopold is an essential, core title for any personal, academic, and professional environmental and conservation studies collection, and highly recommended reading for all Aldo Leopold admirers within the modern conservation movement.

I love this book. It is fun to browse through (cartoon-like illustrations make it fun). But it is definitely a book chock full of information. How do seals dive so deep and not get the bends? How do frogs survive winter after being frozen like popsicles? Can an organism really survive temperatures exceeding 230 degrees or as low as absolute zero, -459 F? Not only does this little book provide these answers and explanations, it will leave the reader hungry for more mind-blowing revelations about life on this planet, and perhaps on the next. Warning: It will be difficult not to read snippets to whomever is in the room with you.

Lots of people have written about penguins, polar bears, and bacteria--but not this way! Nicola Davies has written stories about the roughest, toughest, baddest animals there are, so funny I was laughing out loud and so good I couldn't put it down.

She brings life to the dullest subjects. Is a sponge an interesting creature? It never was to me, but her account is. She says, "To be honest, even live sponges don't do much. They just sort of sit there and grow. But put one in a blender and you'll see that they do something no other animal can: pour your sponge smoothie back into its seawater home, and it will put itself back together..."

Explanations that are accurate but make sense to a non-scientist (animals with "antifreeze" in their bodies, for example) and deceptively simple illustrations by Neal Layton make this one of my new favorite books.

Very easy to use and very helpful. Know the event but don't know the date? Just look it up in the index arranged alphabetically by issues/problems. Doing a project for a certain time period and don't know where to look? Check out the second half of the book with an index arranged chronologically (by date, from oldest to current). I definately recommend it for all you fast fact seekers, especially those who don't have much time to spare.

Capably edited by Ronald J. Formica (Managing Editor, New England Publishing Associates), Famous First Facts About The Environment is a highly specialized and thoroughly "user friendly", 573-page reference book. Half of the volume collects nearly 4,000 facts about environmental "firsts", from activist movements and geophysics, to zoos, aquariums, and museums. The second half is an in-depth index that allows the reader to quickly and easily look up the appropriate fact for just about any environmental subject matter. An exacting and thorough gathering of fascinating environmental facts, Famous First Facts About The Environment is an essential, core reference for school and community library Environmental Studies collections.

This is a great book, written not from a journalistic point of view nor from an official point of view, but from that of somebody who was a fire boss for over a decade on the Grand Canyon's North Rim fire crew. Written as fiction, although it is based on actual events with only the names changed. Edward Abbey, who worked in a fire tower on the North Rim for a couple of seasons, makes a thinly-disguised cameo appearance here as "Abner". Effectively captures the work, the culture, and the humor of forest firefighters in a way that no other book I've read has. If you're at all interested in the subject I'd recommend picking this up.

This book describes a seasonal firefighters job in 1977. This was before the advent of much of the specialized equipment used today. He also capture the essencial conflict between the resource/ranger staffs and real live firefighters. Reading this book I can feel the B2 unit digging into my back from my green canvas backpack.

This guy Kline is a genius. I never thought I'd actually be interested in a book about the US environmental movement but this blew me away. And I'm not just kissing up to this guy because he's my teacher. Oops, didn't mean to say that. Sorry Kline.

Very well-written and easy to understand. I read this book as an assignment for my 11th grade Environmental Science class. It opened my eyes. This book has made me consider making environmental studies part of my career. Thank you, Mr. Kline.

My granddaughters who are 5 and 7 years are very intrigued with Fairies and their stories. They love the poetry in this whole series of books by Cicely Barker. I love reading these books with and to them. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and inspire their imaginations.

I love Cicely Mary Barker's work. The drawings are botanically accurate, with a subtle artistic softness that makes them very pleasurable. I've been an avid gardener for over 15 years. Working in the garden regularly, you see the flowers, feel the seasons, and become part of the cycle of nature. The art and poetry in Flower Fairies of the Garden captures the essence of that experience.

Cicely Mary Barker's books are wonderful. I add one to each order I place on Amazon to complete my collection.

Prior to reading this book, I found I had so many questions, and that was after taking a 3 day class at a local fly shop. I blundered about all summer trying to remember how to do this or that. Dana answered ALL of my questions on general fly fishing in this one book. She covers everything from gear to safety (for women fishing alone), from knots to bug selection, from casting to playing fish. And all in clear, concise words... and she does it without putting you to sleep.

You WANT to go out and fish the second you finish reading it. I am sending my copy to a close friend, who wants to learn (her grown sons insist she is too old to learn!) And fellows, don't let the title fool you, this book works for you guys too (even if you hide the cover or pretend it is for your wife or girlfriend!)

I was lucky enough to watch Dana in action teaching this month. I watched her take 12 kids, ages 14-18, who had no prior fishing experience (let alone fly fishing!), and teach them so well that they all caught fish over the next few days! (These fish were in Colorado, on water that gets pounded by tourists and are educated and wary trout.) She even made knot tying fun!

Read the book! And if you are very lucky, you might just get a chance to take a class with her or watch her teach! I can honestly say, whether in the flesh or in print, she is the finest and most passionate instructor I have ever seen or read.

As a new member of the fly-fishing community I was looking for a book that would shed some light on the world I was entering. I found this book to be very helpful and informative. Rikimaru's writing style is conversational, while still being educational. The book is filled with great tips and stories, as well as many appropriate illustrations. I lent this book to a friend, an avid fly fisherwoman, and she was very impressed with the comprehensive content of the book.

Porter like Bob Dylan crafts a superb detailed synopsis of one of the strangest inexplicable events in recent history. Is the government behind this weather phenemenon? Chapter 4 is very well written, detailing all of the catastrphies in California. Check this out!!!

I'm an earth science teacher and initially shied away from the mass market nature of this text, but I looked over a couple of pages at the pharmacy one afternoon and was hooked. A thorough and thoroughly engaging book about El Nino - everything you need to know. And believe me. YOU NEED TO KNOW.