Supplies Books

This is probably the best ecological wetland plant book that is out there right now. Very detailed. Explains it all.

Scientific in nature, but still easy to read. An excellent reference for anyone beginning the study of wetlands. Includes one chapter on constructed/treatment wetlands.

Wetlands and Urbanization: Implications for the Future Editedby Amanda L. Azous, Richard R. Horner* Lewis Publishers, 2000, 338pages. Reviewed by Helen Engle, National Audubon Society, Washington Environmental Council, WA Native Plant Society, People For Puget Sound; the urban lovers of wetlands.

Wetlands, as every schoolchild knows, are those wondrous places of important resources like frogs and tadpoles and cattail spears and yucky channels to muck about in with boots and little boats.

Wetlands, as the editors of this important compilation of wetlands research and monitoring data point out, are the absolute basic building blocks of a healthy ecosystem -- from flood storage and pollutant trapping to groundwater recharge and discharge, shoreline stabilization, food chain support and critically important habitat in the lives of fish and wildlife of uncountable species.

Scientists Amanda Azous and Richard Horner recognize the value their encyclopedic collection of charts, tables, and citations to the citizen organizations' highest environmental priority campaigns. And so, as `citizen scientists' we turn to this good work for the references we need as we work with agencies and consultants and as we educate the public -- young and old -- about the vital functions of wetlands. Not to mention our role in educating land managers and authorities who set regulations and restrictions.

The book includes descriptive ecology of freshwater wetlands in the Puget Sound Basin; and separate chapters deal with your favorite creatures among macroinvertebrates, amphibians, birds, and mammals. And how these populations are impacted by development's impacts on water quality, soil quality, and hydrology. Human values are included -- as our wonderful swamps and marshes turned to sumps for industrial and highway runoff, it seeped into our consciousness that we actually valued the beauty of those wetland places. Not to mention the excitement of birding, botanizing, herpetologizing and whatever. . . .

The book points out that the decades of intensive studies of upland birds -- of the forests and fields -- had no counterpart in the species-rich wetlands. Our nearby urban wetlands provide resting, feeding, breeding habitat for a wide diversity of birds --including of course waterfowl -- and provide high quality passive recreation in densely populated urban areas. The data collected and referenced here is invaluable.

This book is a treasure trove -- even if you only read one chapter. If you can't buy it, ask your library to put it on the shelves. Its timely values for us in the age of "Restore the Salmon" are the comprehensive guidelines for wetlands management, not only for urban managers but for the home gardener, farmer, and ephemeral-flowing-ditch-watcher. The native and recommended non-invasive plant species, for instance, is a beautiful list. A comprehensive source of support material, definitions and glossary, and guides of all kinds make this the book for our organizations to use.

Visit some of our favorite wetlands (we have field guides to them), and see if you don't fall in love with what some people still think of as just yucky mosquito factories.

* Besides Amanda Azous and Richard Horner, the Puget Sound Wetlands and Stormwater Management Research Program Team also included Klaus O. Richter, Lorin E. Reinelt, and Sarah S. Cooke. Other authors include Marion Valentine, Ken Ludwa, Brian Taylor, and Nancy Chinn. Numerous federal, state and local agencies, academic institutions and other local interests participated in the research program.

Wetlands and Urbanization: Implications for the Future Edited by Amanda L. Azous, Richard R. Horner* Lewis Publishers, 2000, 338 pages, $89.95 at Amazon.com. Reviewed by Helen Engle, National Audubon Society, Washington Environmental Council, WA Native Plant Society, People For Puget Sound; the urban lovers of wetlands.

Wetlands, as every schoolchild knows, are those wondrous places of important resources like frogs and tadpoles and cattail spears and yucky channels to muck about in with boots and little boats.

Wetlands, as the editors of this important compilation of wetlands research and monitoring data point out, are the absolute basic building blocks of a healthy ecosystem -- from flood storage and pollutant trapping to groundwater recharge and discharge, shoreline stabilization, food chain support and critically important habitat in the lives of fish and wildlife of uncountable species.

Scientists Amanda Azous and Richard Horner recognize the value their encyclopedic collection of charts, tables, and citations to the citizen organizations' highest environmental priority campaigns. And so, as `citizen scientists' we turn to this good work for the references we need as we work with agencies and consultants and as we educate the public -- young and old -- about the vital functions of wetlands. Not to mention our role in educating land managers and authorities who set regulations and restrictions.

The book includes descriptive ecology of freshwater wetlands in the Puget Sound Basin; and separate chapters deal with your favorite creatures among macroinvertebrates, amphibians, birds, and mammals. And how these populations are impacted by development's impacts on water quality, soil quality, and hydrology. Human values are included -- as our wonderful swamps and marshes turned to sumps for industrial and highway runoff, it seeped into our consciousness that we actually valued the beauty of those wetland places. Not to mention the excitement of birding, botanizing, herpetologizing and whatever. . . .

The book points out that the decades of intensive studies of upland birds -- of the forests and fields -- had no counterpart in the species-rich wetlands. Our nearby urban wetlands provide resting, feeding, breeding habitat for a wide diversity of birds --including of course waterfowl -- and provide high quality passive recreation in densely populated urban areas. The data collected and referenced here is invaluable.

This book is a treasure trove -- even if you only read one chapter. If you can't buy it, ask your library to put it on the shelves. Its timely values for us in the age of "Restore the Salmon" are the comprehensive guidelines for wetlands management, not only for urban managers but for the home gardener, farmer, and ephemeral-flowing-ditch-watcher. The native and recommended non-invasive plant species, for instance, is a beautiful list. A comprehensive source of support material, definitions and glossary, and guides of all kinds make this the book for our organizations to use.

Visit some of our favorite wetlands (we have field guides to them), and see if you don't fall in love with what some people still think of as just yucky mosquito factories.

* Besides Amanda Azous and Richard Horner, the Puget Sound Wetlands and Stormwater Management Research Program Team also included Klaus O. Richter, Lorin E. Reinelt, and Sarah S. Cooke. Other authors include Marion Valentine, Ken Ludwa, Brian Taylor, and Nancy Chinn. Numerous federal, state and local agencies, academic institutions and other local interests participated in the research program.

There is an old saying in India that the milkman cannot resist adding a little water into milk to make a quick buck. Dear milkman, please be forewarned that this may no longer be an economically profitable practice, for the price of pure drinking water already exceeds the price of pure milk!

In the late 1960's and also in the 70's, as a school boy in rural India, I remember drinking water directly from taps, at most public places. There was no necessity to carry clean water from home, and the concept of packaged drinking water was unheard of even in the cities. But now, our monthly domestic budget has water costing more than milk for the family. If we add the cost of illness caused due to accidental consumption of contaminated water, then the price is a lot higher. Pure water costs and impure water hurts. It is a pity that every day over 10000 children worldwide, succumb to water borne diseases.

This book is a great source of information on a topic that is vital to human existence. The collection of essays not only brings out the vital importance, availability, scarcity, skewed distribution of fresh water on this planet, but also looks at the topic from a global, political, hydrologic, environmental, economical, business, social, ethical, and strategic perspective. In other words, the book provides a comprehensive view from a panel of experts looking at issues from a multi disciplinary angle.

Water is now defined as a human need, as apposed to a human right. This brings it closer to being treated as a commodity for human consumption, making it amenable for pricing as per market forces. Pricing of a product is economically viable only when it is scarce and there are costs associated with its sourcing, purification, distribution and recycling. Unfortunately, accessible fresh water that humanity had assumed to be abundant constitutes less than a percentage of all water sources on earth.
One essay warns of serious social impact especially on economically weaker sections in developing nations if multinational companies are allowed to freely exploit markets in water. Here there is a strong argument that water is a human right and governments have a key role to regulate the ownership and distribution of water and protect its people. In reality, we might soon arrive at optimal and viable solutions involving public-private participation.

The role of mountains as reservoirs of fresh water makes interesting reading in a couple of essays. There is a good case to have a re-look at government policies and programs in mountain regions and plough back down stream benefits to hilly regions for long term sustainability of these vital regions. Forests also receive their due share of importance as guardians of the hydrologic cycle.

Tourism and sports like skiing and golf, while providing entertainment and amusement to the urban elite, are significant factors that deplete fresh water availability argues another essay.

Water bodies know no political borders, be it underground aquifers or surface bodies like lakes and rivers. The mighty Nile spans nine countries, and the river Jordan also has multiple contenders for appropriating its limited content. One essay does a good analysis of the political impact of such situations, especially when the sources dry up and demand escalates across borders. Mark Twain is quoted "Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting" (It is not known whether this statement was made with or without the effect of the former).

One exclusive essay on the mighty Colorado River that crisscrosses multiple states in America is well written. It costs $ 15 per acre foot of water for the upstream farmer, while the wealthy downstream consumers in the Californian cities are willing to pay as high as $ 300 for the same quantity. Farmers are some times paid to take a vacation instead of farming, so that the urban populations get the requisite quantities of water.

While the book is great on analysis of issues it is weak on proposing concrete solutions, including estimates of investments in technologies and interventions that will provide adequate quantities of the nectar of life not only to mankind, but to all living beings on this beautiful planet.

After oil, then food, then water? The problems with distributing water are explored in an anthology fashion. This is an excellent book with surprising technical detail. Described herein is what will eventually lead to the downfall of the Chinese, the Indians, and yes, eventually the United States. Put simply: oil supplies fuel to run the pumps that withdraw water from unreplenished aquifers which supply the crops that feed an ever-growing population. Back in the early 70's I remember Playboy published a (Rand?) study showing what will happen when rising population meet limiting resources. This book would be a good follow-up to this study. I strongly recommend this book to everyone, especially, political leaders,business leaders, and others. This is a must read for everyone on the planet.

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This richly illustrated book is a superlative reference on navigation. The writing and organization is precise, logical, and clear, with no fluff or clutter. There is an amazing amount of information in its 200 pages, including the use of a sextant in celestial navigation. Some authors would take twice as long to present this information and end up with a book only half as good.

Readers in search of a first look at navigation with map and compass may be overwhelmed by the detail the book offers, but the chapters need not be read sequentially or given equal attention. For example, you could read chapters 1 and 2 on maps and the compass, then skip or skim through chapters 3 through 5 on the altimeter, GPS, and celestial navigation, then read chapter 6 on natural navigation, skip or skim chapter 7 on emergency communication, then read the final two chapters 8 and 9 on practical navigation and scenarios. After that, you could pick up on the chapters you didn't study on your first pass through the book. The book is organized logically, but your practical need or natural curiosity may motivate you to read it out of sequence. You may even want to read it as a second or third book on navigation. It is the third book for me (see my earlier reviews). As my reading on this topic now stands, I'd suggest the short book Route Finding: Navigating with Map and Compass by Gregory Crouch, as an excellent first look at navigation, then from that overview proceed to this one by Fred Touche. They compliment one other in style and presentation very well.

If you have room to pack just one book on navigation concepts, WILDERNESS NAVIGATION HANDBOOK should be the item of choice: it covers all the basics of using maps, charts, natural and man- made navigational tools to navigate in all terrains, from desert and glacier to jungle and oceans. Chapters are organized by type of navigation system and discuss basic principles of navigation systems, contrasting pros and cons of each.

FYI - (Not to discourage supporting the organiztion) but this publication is available via the FAO website:

http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/v4200e/v4200e00.htm

"The book really is a tour de force. In spite of its price, it should be held at least by every decent agricultural library in the world, and many practicing agriculturalists (who can afford the financial pain)will quite properly want to have their own copy. ....... It is literally a treasure of information that will usefully inform debate on the big issues of global food and fiber commodity outlook, and global natural resource issues linked to agriculture."

Jock R. Anderson, The World Bank (in American Journal of Agricultural Economics, February 1996).

"I would like to emphasize that this is an exceptionally important book. It belongs on every reference list in courses on agricultural development. Any effort that attempts to confront the issue of future food and population balance that ignores the work of Alexandratos and his colleagues can not be regarded as serious." Vernon W. Ruttan, University of Minnesota, (in Population and Development Review, 1996).

This book really helped me get off my couch and take action to get a job. The easy-to-follow daily steps make it easy to be prepared for everything that can come up in the job searching process. I have already seen results in that I now have the confidence to get myself out there. All of my questions and concerns about job hunting have been addressed in this book! Thanks!

Cheryl Cage offers the Job Seeker invaluable tools to further their career. An excellent resource for anyone faced with a layoff situation or if they are interested in going down another career path. I highly recommend this book!

My 3 yr old grandson (going on 30) loves anything hockey and especially zambonies. This one is not a story book for children but he LOVES it anyway because of all the pictures of so many different styled Zamboonis!
Sure glad I got it for him. I also got Z is for Zamboni and that is a story book for children. I am a hero in my grandson's eyes. Doesn't get better than this, thanks to Amazon and your great lists of available books.

Gave this book to my Son In LAW who is a hockey nut. He Loved it!

Limited to the Bell Telephones, but has historical information as well as lots of color photographs. Presented in a time-line format beginning in 1868 through 1983. Includes some schematics and old advertisements. Major drawback is that it has no index

I have to say that this is the finest work I have read in this field; although two years old, it's still a fascinating guide to the horse meat industry, and anybody with a proclivity for horses and mules will find the enormous range of black-and-white photographs particularly entertaining. It's quite expensive, though, but if you need this kind of information you can probably get your company to pay for it. Myself, I'm a consumer, and I just have a thing for meat, so I saved up.

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association publishes this excellent research document. This book is a "must have" for marketers and pet business owners, its has very complete scientifically collected information about pet owners demographics and purchasing habits. This jewel contains information about the pet market in general and also includes details of each one of the dogs, cats, small animals, fish, and horse markets. Extremely useful information. This study is released every two years at a price over $900. This 2005-2006 version is still very up-to-date with information and trends.