Wildlife Books

David Hopes, in this sensitive and breathtaking book, reaches the highest goal of any good writing--to touch the spirit and raise it up. These essays are about nature, yes, and about its beauty--but more than that: they are about the interfaces between the human world and the natural world. Or, more even than that, they are about how the human and natural world are one, fabric of the same universe. The nature that is our nature. And, it is this knowledge that has the power to save us. I urge you to read this book and treasure it-- for its beauty and its spiritual searching and its wisdom.

There are no words to express the magnificence of Mr. Hopes' prose. I came upon a copy accidently and have read and enjoyed it more than any other book in my vast library. This is a book that truly should be re-issued. David Brendan Hopes is a literary gift to be treasured.

This book is enlightening. It retells old tales with beautiful photos. Animals and nature have center stage in the attempts to teach us, to show us, what is important in life. I volunteer at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Illinois and can speak personally of witnessing the intelligence, the playfulness, the connectedness that exists in all creatures. We should cherish the earth, the animals, the plants, they can survive without us, but we wouldn't make it without them.

All creation is connected. This is the underlying theme of "Shared Spirits" as it beautifully depicts Native American thoughts on twelve different species through extraordinary photographs and witty narration. "Considering the struggles we are now having with our own environment, perhaps it is time to listen to some old teachers - the ones who have been here for eons. Native People aren't the original teachers. They simply listened to the rest of the Earth with an open heart, giving voice to bear, eagle, raven and stone, and carried the water through the desert, to us (from the Introduction of Shared Spirits)." Perhaps through works such as this, all creation can learn to live harmoniously together and man can begin to realize that we have been entrusted to be caretakers of this beautiful planet and all of the creation it houses.

I've found that I'm really picky about datebooks and calendars -- this one meets all of my criteria:
1. 5x7 size - I like the space because I scrawl.
2. 1 page per week - never more, never less.
3. The left side is always the picture of the week (stunning, a conversation piece).
4. The right side is always the week and Sat. & Sun. are never scrunched.

This calendar's purchase and examination is always a pleasurable event, and I have saved them for some 20 years. The 2005 edition measures up well. There appears to be a bit more emphasis on close-up photography in this year's edition, but the subjects chosen are very beautiful and some of the finest photography anywhere, I daresay. Another splendid work. Bravo!!!!

This book describes minimal-impact camping techniques and supports the Leave No Trace program. Every hiker and backpacker must have this book. We camp in order to appreciate mother nature, and when following the guidelines set forth in Soft Paths you can be confident that you are not hurting the environment that you appreciate so much.

This well written and easy to read book details minimum impact techniques for a wide variety of environments. Any outdoor person (front country or backcountry, veteran or neophyte) can do a better job when enjoying wildlands- this book will show you not only "how," but more importantly, "why."

Wanna learn where to hike? or how to dig a cat hole? or the best place to camp without establishing a new site? Just what the heck should I do with those slimy food orts at the bottom of my cookpot near the top of some peak? Take a read of Soft Paths and you'll find out.

Absolutely the most important book on softbills that I've every read. Martin Vince's considerable and thorough knowledge of softbills is evident in easy to understand chapters that make caring for these unique types of birds far less difficult. He includes valuable information about the various species, including their individual dietary and habitat requirements. If you own softbills or are considering acquiring them, this book is the most important addition you can make to your library and is an absolute must have.

This book contains valuble information that can be applied to most all birds kept in captivity.The text is clear,easily digested, and should be on every birdkeepers shelf.In a time when we are smoothered with useless books of pictures and no text of any importance,this book shines as the cutting edge of understanding the birds that we keep.

A very detailed look at a beautiful area of the world. The writing makes you feel like you have been there. Lots of research in this one. Relax and enjoy the get-away.

Discount this review as you will; I must confess that I've known Jack for a number of years... Nonetheless, it's a beatutiful work. While some reviewers have compared him to Thoreau, I wouldn't go that far. But his love for the small deails of an eccosystm comes through exquisitly. As the title implies, Jack cronicles his frequent trips to Soldiers's Delight, a sort-of protected park near his home. It includes the geologic history of the area, as well as the history of human impact. And does a good job of riding the line between science and simple love for a place on the planet. It's clear to the reader that Jack loves the place, and his detailed, but not judgemental, descriptions of everything from the beauty of salamanders to piles of junk put you there. Maybe Jack isn't the next Thoreau. This book makes me think more of Hemmingway. A sort of restrained exuberance, and an economy of language that takes the reader into a place worth seeing. --del

We bought this book to learn more about lions in general, and increase my rancher/lion hunter husband's understanding of issues surrounding them. We were a little concerned that the angle might lean one way or another but were gratified by the balance. Well crafted and very informative. Highly recommend to any one interested in mountain lions.

I recommend this book to all persons interested in lions in the America's. It will appeal to and educate people with diverse opinions on the management of this wonderful species of cat. Mr. Shaw is not only a good biologist, he also tells it like it is, and in a well written way. I especially hope that North America's wildlife decision makers will read and heed Mr. Shaw's conclusions about lion management. This book is for the biologist, the rancher, the lion hunter, and the preservationist.

Published by the U. of South Carolina Press, these 300 recipies are collected from South Carolina Wildlife Magazine. They represent the tried and true results from long experimentation with Native American, European, African, and Caribbean cooking of foods taken straight out of their natural surroundings.

You can eat at expensive 5 star restaurants, but you won't find more delicious meals than what you can make yourself using these recipies.

The compliers tell you up front that this book is "for people not too uptight to try a 'dash' of this and a 'dollop' of that, but particular enough to know that sometimes only one brand name is the right one."

Both freshwater and saltwater foods are extensively covered as are pretty much any sort of bird, small game, and, of course, deer.

The shellfish section is especially good, with 15 pages on shrimp alone.

Even vegetarians will find this book a gold mine. The 20 page section on wild plants includes treats like crabapple jelly, huckleberry pie, and wild muscadine juice, and some unusual vegetable treats like squashpuppies or cattail pancakes that can be washed down with sassafrass tea.

Marinades and Sauces get almost 20 pages to themselves, and though not singled out for a separate section, jambalaya and etouffe dishes are here too.

The great world beyond the Southeast has never grasped how well we eat down here, but if you just read this book--much less actually savor the fare--you'll find yourself turning a jaundiced eye towards the uniform, homogenized cuisine of modern life.

Southeastern Wildlife Cookbook is the best wild game cookbook I have ever read. I come from an outdoors family and this book has some of the best recipes and tips I have ever used. The recipes are very simple and easy to follow. I used to struggle when having to cook wild game, not any more. From deer to fish to wild turkey recipes this book has it all and then some. This cookbook is a GREAT gift idea to anyone who loves to hunt or fish.

The author moved to the Galapagos Islands at the age of two and spent over thirty years exploring their natural wonders: Spectacular Galapagos is an oversized presentation pairing a natural history text with spectacular full-page color photos of the Galapagos creatures, blending a coffee table presentation with scientific facts. Highly recommended: Spectacular Galapagos is an astonishing visual wonder in and of itself.

I treasure the time I spent in Ecuadór's Galápagos Islands, "Las Islas Encantadas". Tui De Roy has managed to capture the essence of these wondrous islands as much as can be done photographically and make them accessible to everyone. A wonderful gift for those who love nature, or those who have been there.

For those who are going there, add Michael Jackson's book on the natural history, Paul Humann's book on the underwater and Barry Boyce's guide book. Tui De Roy's book will whet their appetite and serve as a vivid reminder after the trip is over.

When the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan went into effect during the Clinton administration, Florida's great grassy wilderness garnered a host of national attention -- and has since become a breeding ground for environmental dispute. What does it take to "save" a forest? How can it be preserved?

Enter W. Hodding Carter. For an Outside magazine feature he's agreed to paddle the ninety-nine-mile waterway in Everglades National Park to examine the landscape from all angles -- physical, political, cultural, and very personal -- and get to the rock-bottom heart of the story. Stolen Water is the outgrowth of Carter's journey.

Through investigative research, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with key players in the conservation controversy, Carter offers a rare portrait of a national treasure. Utterly important, and at times downright hilarious, Stolen Water is a classic American adventure tale, and an environmental parable for our time.

The author's newest book is:
Off the Deep End

Hodding Carter loves the Everglades and Stolen Water: Saving the Everglades from Its Friends, Foes, and Florida reflects this affection as much as it reflects arguments on both sides covering the management and utilization of the wilderness. From restoration plans for the Everglades to author Carter's own quest through the region to consider both its history and future, Stolen Water provides some hard-hitting facts about the real friends and foes of the area.