Australia Books

Australia's Aborigines are legendary hunters and trackers, but few outside of Australia have any inkling of what's involved in their art. Enger Pat Lowe, who migrated from England to Australia in 1972, and who met Aboriginal artist Jimmy Pike, spending three years with him in the desert hunting and exploring his country. Her Hunters And Trackers Of The Australian Desert thus provides a truly unique blend of observation and personal experience.

Superb look into the primitive world of Australia's legendary hunter/trackers, the Aborigines. This book is an oversized soft cover made with quality paper. The book is heavily illustrated with line drawings, B&W and color photography, with the later being prevalent. This book goes into great detail describing the lifestyle of these Bushmen (Pre and post contact with Europeans). It covers a substantial amount of information about the art of tracking, primarily how it is a body of various skills and knowledge (botany, primitive navigation, and understanding animal behavior, to name but a few skills). I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in culture, nature, and in particular tracking. I do have to say it is a very hard title to find, I ordered it three or four times with no luck (And it is listed as a obtainable title, so beware!), finally I had to purchase it through a used book dealer at more then double its cost. But it was worth every cent. I provided the table of contents;

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Acknowledgment
Introduction
1 - Why Track?
2 - The Hunter's Tool Kit
3 - Learning To Track
4 - What Tracks Say
5 - Tracking Clues
6 - Tracking News
7 - Fire
8 - The Flight Of The Crow
9 - Water
10 - Tracks And The Law
11 - A Search And A Short Story
12 - Yesterday And Today
Walmajarri Pronunciation Guide
Glossary Of Walmajarri Words And Phrases
Glossary Of Other Australian Terms
Further Reading
Index
(Total page count is 112)
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If you read only one "South Seas" book from the 1920s back, this should be the one. This Penguin issue corrects a number of inaccuracies from previous editions, including Stevenson's own error in their departure date (!) It is the classic travel and observation book of the Pacific. The early descriptions of the Marquesas are unmatched, as are the accounts of the several islands they visited in Kiribati (Gilbert Islands). The account of Tem Binoka will give you a real eye opening into an absolute ruler and his ways in the late 19th century. Reading this could start a life long interest in Pacific literature.

In his book, In the South Seas, Stevenson gives an accurate and in depth look into the people and culture of the islands of the South Pacific. The book describes Stevenson's two year journey from the Marqueses Islands, to Tahiti, then Honolulu ,and finally Somoa. Stevenson uses the great adventures he experienced and his masterfully writing skills to paint a breath taking view of the islands and thier many beauties.

This book offers important insights into the debate about reciprocity. Weiner provides a great discussion of related social theory besides introducing her insights about reciprocity. An important book.

Annette Weiner does an amazing job with this book. For anyone interested in social relationships and economics, this book is for you. She reinterprets age-old anthropological data (upon which most current anthropology is based) with an entirely new focus. Rather than reciprocity being the foundation of society, the paradox of "keeping-while-giving" is what defines our social and economic lives, our histories, and our ancestries. She's bold and amazingly intelligent -- good work Annette!

The book is as great as all his others, I'm a big fan of Nick Waplington, He can see things that looks hidden for closed minds. This book is the conjuntion of places in South America and I can tell you that his work is amazing

this is a truly amazing piece of work by nick.truly scrumptiou

Very nice guide book that was easy to carry during our travels. Plenty of information for the price and size. Highly recommend.

The publisher has the bad habit of hiding the names of authors of their compact guides, let me rectify this:

The guide was written by Nicholas Cobb, the splendid color photography was provided by Tim McKenna.

On mere small 121 pages, Cobb's book provides the essential information about the (tragic) history of Tahiti and about the contemporary marvels of its nature, attractions and the hospitality.

McKenna's photography is magnificent and its value cannot be underestimated: Compared to the black and white photography in books from Lonely Planet and Moon Handbooks, with their sometimes abysmal print quality, this travel guide really shines. In its photographic valors and in the quality of print Insight Guides match the best of the breed, including the Eye-Witness DK guides. The charts and maps of the islands are also in color. Without clutter, they really depict well only the important details of interest for a short time visitor.

Of course, 121 pages cannot contain all the information which you might find in David Stanley Tahiti Moon Handbook, thus I would suggest to take Stanley as the primary source of information. However, considering the moderate price, this guide is a most welcome extension and a "must have!" It is current, 2005 edition, compared to 2003 editions of others. Foremost, currently this is probably the only guide about Tahiti written after Marlon Brando passed away. Somehow I do not like to read about a dead person in 'present tense'...

My only regret is that Insight does not provide a larger version of this guide! Maybe they will, I will grab it as well!

I researched Australia for over a year prior to my April 2002 visit there, and I read as many guides and books as I could find. While in Australia I purchased a local behemoth encycledia of the country, thinking that was as good as it gets.

I found the Insight Guide at my local library after I returned, and I am convinced this is THE single book anyone with more than a passing interest in Australia should buy.

The very heavy paper presents the beautiful color pictures in high resolution, and the articles are written in a complete yet entertaining style. Australian artwork highlights the history section. The sites of interest descriptions are entertaining and concise. I actually did not read the last section (travel tips)in depth since I had already returned from my vacation, but even without that section the book would be a great read.

This is NOT the book to carry with you on your vacation - there are plenty of other lighter guides that have more useful trivia like hotels and restaurants. This is the book to read and enjoy before you leave home. It is an excellent overall introduction to the country.

My daughter is beginning to study Australia in her 2nd grade class - I have ordered a copy to let her take to school.

I highly recommend this book. At the very least, check it out of your library to look at the pictures.

A wonderful book show me a beautiful Australia.
I like all of Insight Guide,and this is the best one.
I like Australia,I want living there

It is a warm and friendly guide to Australia and the Australians at a critical period in our efforts to build allies. A marvelous gift to send to all your Auzzie friends.

Dr. Clarkson presents a detailed and informative summary of all major aspects of invertebrate evolution. The book is organized in a step-wise fashion that introduces the reader to the main principles of the field of paleontology (including genetics, populations and micro- and macroevolution) and then moves into detailed descriptions of the various invertebrate phyla. Be aware that this is not your typical coffee table book; rather, it is written at a level best appreciated by those with a biological background or by introductory students in this field. Descriptions are appropriately detailed and concise and are accompanied by a wealth of similarly detailed drawings and images. I particularly enjoyed his chapters on molluscs, echinoderms and crinoids. It is a valuable accompaniment to other books that have been written on the Burgess Shale and early forms of non-vertebrate life. Both the armchair paleontologist and the professional will find this to be a most valuable addition to his or her collection of books on this wonderfully diverse group of ancient animals.

This very fine invertebrate paleontology textbook strikes a nice balance between focus on the paleobiology/taxonomy of the organisms and theoretical topics in the science. The well-crafted illustrations help to make the sometimes intricate details of fossil morphology clear. Clarkson has a knack for bringing forth key details that illuminate ancient organisms (e.g., the hysteresis mechanisms that control the liquid in cephalopod chambers), and he writes with a wry sense of humor (see the Lehmann quotation on p. 245). The importance of convergent evolution is apparent throughout the book, and is one of the main lessons to be learned from the science of invertebrate paleontology. The next edition of this book needs to stop calling the Ediacarans a "fauna" (the term "biota" is preferable, as we are not sure that Ediacarans were indeed animals). I also have quibbles with the higher taxonomy presented in this book for other groups. Overall, however, this is an outstanding presentation of invertebrate paleontology.

The photography is awesome.

The is absolutely the best book I've seem on iris. The book is well laid out and very informative. Grosvenor is a leading authority on iris and comprehensively explains each genus as a group as to characteristics, culture and breeding. Then he gives detailed descriptions the best cultivars of each type. The photography throughout the book is fantastic and completes this book as a treasure!

Any fan of mythology will love this book. Brilliantly blends ancient Greek heroes with Arthurian Heroes and a Celtic backdrop. Fast moving story with larger than life characters. I wouldnt spoil the story for anyone but this is a must for any fantasy reader. The only fly in the ointment was Mr Holdstock's chronological displacement of Greek mythological events. The Argonauts came first and then the Trojan War because one of the argonauts was Peleus, Achilles father. In fact it was Peleus' wedding that leads indirectly to the Trojan war. When Eris was not invited to the festivities she cast a gold apple to the guests which was to be given to the fairest. That apple became the prize that Paris later awarded to Aphrodite in exchange for Helen of Sparta. That being said it in no way spoiled the story any more than the changes made to the recent movie Troy. I am eagerly awaiting the third book.

Seven hundred years have passed since Merlin and Jason (see CELTIKA) searched for the Golden Fleece, but now the magician resides in Alba where he receives three warnings including one about a man who wants him dead for betrayal. Also Merlin is warned to beware of a being used by a man and a ship that is more than a ship.

Merlin travels to Ghostland to rescue the children of the warlord Urtha at about the same time that Jason sailing the Argo arrives in Alba still seeking his son Kinos the "Little Dreamer" after failing in his reconciliation with his older boy. Merlin joins Jason on his quest to the Otherworld, where the latter's wife Medea probably has hidden Kinos from him. Jason believes the Mage is assisting him out of guilt because Merlin's first love Medea faked the deaths of the sons she had with Jason. Still the Argo captain wonders if he can trust the magician once they locate Medea who may have Merlin under her spell.

Combining English and Greek mythology, Robert Holdstock provides the audience with a delightful fantasy as the audience will enjoy the exploits of Merlin and Jason as they struggle to find the lost lad. Though some of the early fantasy scenes seem unnecessary, this epic tale is exciting non-stop action especially once Jason arrives on the scene. The second Codex tale is a treat for Camelot fans and Greek mythos readers who will want to hitch a ride on the Argo as the adventures in Otherworld are fun to follow as the two heroes each know that love can blind the purest.

Harriet Klausner