Beautiful introductory reference book
928656
I love this book! It has beautiful pictures throughout, easy to follow recipes, resources in the back to suggest where to buy some of the items in the recipes and awesome bonus sections with additional info. There is a "Know Your Skin" section that helps you determine if you have normal, oily, dry, combination or sensitive skin. It sounds so simple, but I really have never known what type of skin I have. Certain make-ups make my face more oily, or they react poorly together, so I thought I had an oily T-zone etc. But this section in the book gives you details on how to determine what kind of skin you really have, which is important when you're making your own cleansers, toners, mask, moisturizers and scrubs.

I love the details provided for each herb too. Part 2 of the book has a "Fabulous Five" chapter and "Thirty-Worthy" chapter that talks about the most important herbs, what their power is, how to apply it, precautions, other names, and areas it grows the best. Part 3 of the book are the remedies for face and hair, body care, common ailments, around the house and more.

There is some great information in here and I am very glad that I got the hard copy instead of digital. The book is a great size to be a medium sized reference book and the pictures are very pretty and helpful! I enjoyed seeing pictures of all of the herbs in their natural state too.
(I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)
4010555
This is a beautiful book beautifully illustrated. Anyone interested in design will enjoy this book and spend many hours looking and relooking through this wonderful book. It is not cheap but well worth its weight in gold.
The concept of the layout is also interesting as it is divided into seasons which breaks down the content  enabling the reader to enjoy each section. This is truly a beautiful book to own and enjoy.
428969
A fantastic reference book with lots of good color pictures and laymen language.
3402168
I bought this manual to help me with a difficult photo project, so I've consulted it as I would an encyclopedia, but it has served me very well in that respect. I've still had to experiment on my own, but this book has pointed me in the right direction, answering many questions I had about photo processing in Photoshop Elements 11. You can use it as a training manual for an in-depth acquaintance with the program, but if you consult the book the way I do, the detailed table of contents and the index can direct you where you want to go to find instructions for specific techniques. The step-by-step instructions are clear, and the color photos illustrating the techniques further clarify the effects. Just by browsing through this attractively designed book, I've picked up pointers. Some manuals don't help me as much as they clutter my bookshelves, but this big beautiful tome is a keeper.
4797782
Since my students will be studying the history of Anchorage in a more detailed social studies program, I thought this might be an interesting reference book to add to the classroom.  The book arrived quickly, and in wonderful shape.  This is a hard cover text that is also part of a limited printing.  Inside the book, I received a beautiful bookplate signed by the author, and listing my book number out of the total run.  The pictures are grouped in sections (early inhabitants, tent city at Ship Creek, etc.)  Old maps of the area were also included for reference.  My class this year, and future years, will gain quite a bit of important information by perusing this book.  This is not what I was expecting for the low price paid, and I was very happily surprised when I opened this package.
(End of the year update) The class loved looking at these pictures, and often asked to look at this book (it was left out for easy use).  The students usually asked questions, and we had discussions about the pictures.  Great book!
3428744
Great introductory book. Must have for collectors.
Contains good photograph references and written  in a simple language .
Very reasonably priced.
847947
You will get a lot of different uses out of this book. Visually it is beautiful with glossy color photographs from the first page all the way to the back. An excellent coffee table book for the holidays. Second, it gives step by step instructions on how to create Mid-Atlantic colonial style holiday decorations using all natural materials. Third are the recipes. If you've ever visited Williamsburg during the holiday season and sampled the wonderful colonial dishes then you'll find the most popular recipes in the back section of the book. This is a great all-encompassing beginner book for homemakers to cut their teeth on before moving onto more specific (and ambitious) entertaining and decorating texts.
4196331
Well-written, well organized reference book that is full of screen shots, hints and sample code. I have a little Python experience, but I think this book would work for complete beginners as well. The basics are covered with step by step lessons and the author did not leave out important details.
790087
Beautiful book, lovely pictures, clear instructions.
1881973
This beautifully illustrated book deals with Astrology, Cosmology, Kabbalah, Initiation, Magic, Sexuality, Alchemy, Tarot plus Symbolist and Visionary Art. The lucid and interesting text serves as a great introduction to all these disciplines for the novice or for those already into esotericism who wish to get an authoritative overview of all these fields. A lot of the illustrations appear here in color for the first time, like Frater Achad's Cosmic Snowflake, the complete set of 22 paintings of the medieval alchemical masterpiece Splendor Solis, and Harry Smith's The Tree Of Life In The Four Worlds and Eye Of The Mysteries. Some of the many artists whose work is featured include Urbino, Leonardo da Vinci, Hieronymus Bosch, Raphael, Rembrandt, Raymond Lull, Botticelli, Poussin, William Blake, Arnold Bocklin, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Vincent van Gogh. My personal favorite works are Alex Grey's "Holy Fire" and Nicholas Roerich's "Mother of the World." Western, Eastern and Egyptian art is given equal weight and some very rare manuscript illustrations and tarot decks are reproduced. There are also portraits of Eliphas Levi, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, Aleister Crowley and Helena Blavatsky. There is a very extensive and useful bibliography of classical occult works. This is a beautiful and inspiring book that also serves as an excellent reference work.
2136184
Contrary to what two previous reviewers have expressed, I'm finding this book very beautiful and informative.  The only other thing I would have liked--for my purpose--would have been detailed descriptions of techniques (though I didn't expect to find them). Not only are the photos excellent and large, but also illustrated materials are noted in the captions; moreover, the well-written accompanying text provides concise (rather than rambling,wind-bagged) context for the various types of items. However, die-hard historians or those of similar ilk will need additional info.

PS I'm a retired content/copy editor for university faculty, as well
  as copy editor for JAMA (Journal of the American Medical
  Association).
647435
As with Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum when I reviewed it, I was simply fascinated and thoroughly impressed with the presentation, information, and art of the beautiful oversized book. In Animalium: Welcome to the Museum, we have a pretty clear presentation of Darwin's evolutionary theory as being an accepted theory. I disagree and hold to the Creation concept of the species. I still think, however, that this is a fascinating book and those who hold to either origin of creatures will discover much to interest them.

The accurate drawings are exquisite and the book is printed in an oversized format on heavy ivory toned paper. There is an antique or museum quality look to the book and drawings as presented. This makes it even more special to me.

Animalium: Welcome to the Museum and Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum, while designated for the age 8 to 12 child, utilizes information and vocabulary that might be beyond the realm of this age group making the books fitting upward to adults. Introduction of vocabulary and scientific information can begin at any age and more is often absorbed than imagined possible. However, the majority of age 8 to 12 students will find some of the text daunting. And no, this is not your toddlers lovely animal picture book. This is a book that provides insight into the groupings of animals and species. It encompases virtually the whole spectrum of living creatures.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
2916263
beautiful book w/lots of good color photographs
4544409
As a coffee table book to wonder at or as a reference book you are sure to enjoy this beautifully illustrated book. This is the second one I have bought. The first was lent to a person who promptly left town while still in posession of my copy of this book. I missed the book so have now bought a second.
2293882
I borrowed a copy of this book from the library while doing some research and not only did it come in handy...but it charmed me (no pun intended).  It organized the different aspects of amulets and charms into clear concise chapters and came with plenty of wonderful color photographs from around the world.  As an overview of types of charms and amulets and why people wear them or how they use them, it was an invaluable aid and a great starting point for deeper research into the history and usage of amulets.

Being someone who very much enjoys looking at interesting clothing and bits of jewelry from the ancient past to the modern day, this book was an absolute delight to the eye.  I definitely will be buying a copy of my very own as I definitely think it's a "keeper."
499102
After buying 4 books on this topic, I ended up returning 3, and keeping this one. It is beautifully laid out, and a wonderful reference for anyone who may be interested in essential oils whether for understanding how to use them, to the various recipes that are included. I wish there were more guides on how to put together diffuser blends, but all in all, this book shines for its organization, its indices, layout and design. Of particular note is the quality of paper used, the use of color, graphics, and even the page numbering system, which is graphically located in the center edge of the page, where a person would be thumbing through it. Brilliant.
This book will not be an encyclopedic reference for those who require far more in depth analysis, but I especially love the illustrated and beautifully written (along with their latin names) explanation of the origin, uses and blend suggestions. All in all, it is a wonderful keeper.
1741339
This book is beautiful and useful.  It contains the basic building blocks of painting landscapes and then shows how those concepts work in a variety of wonderful art works. This is a great addition to the budding artists' bookshelf.