Excellent read for any California naturalist
588040
Lovely read. Walking through the Mt Diablo foothills and other regional parks in the Bay Area, we've been able to identify and delight in several of the species Marianchild presents. The writing, as well as the science, is excellent! Now, going for hikes feels like running into a bunch of old friends.
992639
Moore's book is the result of a lifetime spent studying and mapping the geologic structures of the Sierra. It is an incredible achievement and an important contribution to a detailed understanding of the geology of the Sierra for the amateur naturalist. As literature and science, it's a worthy successor to Matthes's Geologic History of the Yosemite Valley (USGS Prof. Paper #160). He includes terrific chapters on the work of the first scientists to study the range and then describes current knowledge about the creation of the Sierra: from the collision of tectonic plates to the retreat of the last glaciers.
As an added bonus, Moore includes an appendix with detailed geologic comments for stopping points along several roads and trails in the Sequoia-Kings area: Highway 180 from Clovis to Cedar Grove; Highway 198 from Visalia and over the Generals Highway; the Mineral King road; the High Sierra Trail from Lodgepole to it's intersection with the John Muir Trail near Mt. Whitney; and, the John Muir Trail from Mt. Whitney to where it leaves Kings Canyon in the Evolution Valley region, 100 miles north.
Although Moore concentrates his narrative mostly to the area of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (where, as luck would have it, I work as a ranger), anyone interested in the geology of the Sierra would find this book useful for its explanation of the major granitic and metamorphic structures we see throughout the range. It's large format makes it unlikely you'd want to slip it into your backpack as a field guide. It's also probably of interest only to the serious amateur, though I think it's photos and organization make it accessible to a beginner who might just want to skim some of the detailed sections.
3884219
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The only trouble with it was it ended too soon. It is quite engaging, even if you follow science news with a particular interest in geology. Some of it I had missed, some of it I knew but the other does a great job of putting it all into context, in clean readable prose, with a nice dollop of the historical and no purple prose, as some classic authors are won't to do.

Answers just about all of my questions, even the one I had while reading about quakes in the basin and range causing mountains to rise (footnote makes clear: it's probably the basin falling, not the mountain rising but it's hard to be sure and most people think of it as the former).

One strange coincidence: I've always wondered about some folded red, thin beds I saw near the north side of golden gate bridge. It's been over 30 years but I actually remember those beds quite clearly and the nearby military emplacement rather poorly. Imagine my delight when early on the author covers that very spot, even pointing out the chert is a lot more interesting than the old concrete (I quite agree :)

From the south pier of the golden gate to why the sierra's are rising to a host of other questions, this tells the whole story. I think you'd have to be a near professional geologist to know everything in the book and even the more familiar terrain is made interesting as it is placed in context.
3972777
As a novice interested in learning how to appreciate and observe nature, this book filled the bill better than I expected to get from one source. I especially liked the detailed, yet cogent, descriptions of the three primary areas of nature, namely plants, animals, and habitats. It's description of how form follows function in the evolutioary process, gave a added meaning to understand not only how each domain works, but how they are interconnected. Superb book.
2363973
This gorgeous book really excited me when I found a copy at the San Diego REI store. The California Coastal Guide, by the California Coastal Commission, is a delicious menu of beaches, cliffs, boardwalks, marshy estuaries, tide pools and baysides. For under 25 dollars, this makes a great gift for anyone planning to move to or travel along the long, endlessly changing California coastline.

From San Diego, my plan was to drive along the coast to Seattle, camping and hiking enroute. This book showed me the BEST places to leave the highway and get to the water, and includes everything there is to see - even the tiny, hidden gems only locals know of. Each section includes a map of the local town or city, and how it fits into the coast at that area. Mileages are given between areas for reference.

Places to camp and hike on EVERY SECTION of the coast are included - thank goodness! It's hard to get this kind of information from any one resource. I didn't want to drive north with a gazillion guidebooks to each part of California.

The guidebook starts with the northern coast and works south, so I mentally had to read backwards while I traveled, which was fine. Each section of the coast is also given an introductory treatment with highlights of flora and fauna (ie. - want to identify sand verbenas and pickleweed? Know a sanderling from an avocet? Dig for clams? There's a lot of fun stuff here.

My main regret about this cool book was that it did not continue up into Oregon and Washington! I felt like I was abandoned once I crossed the border. Not their fault. :)

This book is a work of art and science for anyone who loves California and hiking along the sunniest beaches of the Pacific Ocean.
4738980
As a person who has worked in environmental sciences and landscaping for decades, as well as being a master watershed steward, I think this book will be extremely valuable to both the layperson looking to plant natives as well as landscape professionals who need an easy-to-use guide at their side. After a brief intro explaining why native plants are critical to healthy landscapes, including our endangered insect populations that rely on these plants, the book contains an in-depth section on how to use its contents most effectively This is not a book that you sit down and read...it's a reference volume that will help decipher which plants are best used in which situations.

Unlike any other plant books that I've seen, this one contains a handy chart with different landscape, planting area or vegetation characteristics, such as areas subject to drought, street planters, plants with winter interest or those tolerant of shade. There are numerous categories so that it's easy to assess the characteristics of the area you want to plant and match them with the appropriate trees and shrubs that will thrive there. Additionally, each tree or shrub has a couple of pages of description, photos, unique characteristics, habit, seasons of interest and a diagrammatic chart that shows its growth rate and its relative size (with a human figure for scale).

I highly recommend this book to those interested in making their yards (and others' yards) in harmony with the climate, topography, moisture and landscape of the Eastern seaboard through the planting of vegetation that evolved in this area. Bringing back these plants will, in turn, bring back the insect populations, followed by songbirds, small animals, and ultimately other animals higher up in the food web. It's about time that we turn our grassy expanses of lawn into habitat, so that we see a return of nature to our yards.
3434087
Rattlesnakes of the United States and Canada is the perfect follow up to Manny Rubio's first book Rattlesnake - Portrait of a Predator.  This book is set up in a very readable "field guide" format with some of the most amazing and beautiful photographs of rattlesnakes I have seen.  I appreciate that the author has taken the time to show the reader multiple photographs of each species to bring across the point that the range of colors and patterns within an individual species can be extremely variable and that mutants and hybrids do occur in nature.  The photos in combination with the maps and accurate natural histories of each species make this book a valuable reference for the seasoned field biologist as well as the backyard naturalist.  This book is a "must have" for anyone who has a serious interest in these fascinating creatures.
2895557
I'm an avid Monterey Area scuba diver who was on the verge of thinking I knew something about Monterey marine life. That was before I read this book. Despite my many hundreds of dives and many hours of time spent studying the things I'd seen this book opened my eyes to all sorts of things I'd never noticed before. Anybody interested in west coast marine life simply must have this book.
One of it's best features is the novel organization. It's broken up into habitat areas rather than by Phylum/Genus/Species etc. This really helps the reader understand the relationships between the various organisms. Also the photographs are truly exceptional.
Overall a real gem.
3794610
Ree Strange Sheck does an excellent job describing lodges, locations, activities, and nature. I work in nature travel and use this book often. I highly recommend it for anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica who is interested in experiencing the beauty of this amazing country.
84153
The book does a fantastic job covering the history of ufos in California. I cannot recommend this book enough. The amount of new information you will learn is staggering. The ufo crash and alien healing chapters are my favorite. The pictures section is just gorgeous. I am a fan of Dennetts work in ufology and I truly appreciate the effort put into this book.
2323945
John Alcock loves Nature.  Sometimes, though, getting from a suburban home to the wilderness he relishes can be tedious.  So he brought some of his favoured Sonoran Desert environment to his front yard.  Using a ramshackle Kubota tractor, he stripped away the layer of Bermuda grass surrounding his house.  Over time, and with no little effort, he transformed that yard into a little pocket of desert environment.  All this was more than an exercise in redecorating, however.  Alcock studies insects, especially their mating rituals, and this transplanted environment gave him ample opportunity.  Even if his practice of crouching over desert shrubbery at odd hours raised a few neighbourhood eyebrows.
Alcock loves what he does, imparting his passion to us with lively prose.  His academic background merges with his expressions of feeling to keep this book a delight to read.  This blending places his writing skills in a comfortable [and comforting] niche somewhere between E. O. Wilson and John McPhee or David Quammen.  He keeps you at ease as he builds the desert floor, inserts shrubbery and vegetables, and welcomes the bird and insect visitors to his creation.  He protects the native species of plants and animals where possible, but doesn't summarily reject harmless exotics.  And he carefully explains how to tell the difference.
The underlying reason for the garden's transformation was to attract insects.  Alcock is at his best in watching, analysing and explaining the life styles of desert bees, wasps, beetles and the rest.  How did they develop those behaviours?  What do their activities it mean to us humans, who are too often ardently killing the ones in our own gardens.  He poses his questions with the puzzlement of fresh discovery.  Then, adroitly picking through the available evidence - while calling out for further studies - he sifts through the optional answers to deliver the most likely, and most logical scenario.  Yet, at no point are you being "lectured to".  Instead, you are introduced to some of the awesome array of variation nature offers.  This is no specialist's daunting lecture, but the confessions of a man who finds wonder in small things.  It's also, of course, an example for any reader to enter his own yard to consider restoring it some state of origins instead of developer's artificiality.
Alcock's view of his environment isn't wholly without concerns, however.  There's no question of his concern for the impact of unrestricted "development".  Phoenix, the urban hub of his home in Tempe, is one of the fastest growing cities in the US.  With reconstructed landscapes, imported species, proliferating golf courses and a staggering consumption of water, this emblem of "progress" is another urban blight on the landscape.  Alcock is uncomfortable with this situation, but nearly helpless to block it.  His example of bringing some of the countryside into the city and restoring a bit of balance at a time is an example we should all consider carefully.  His book's photo collection will make every gardener smile knowingly.  The illustrations portray the object of his studies.  With this combination he has produced an example of what a single individual [with some spousal support] can achieve, and told us all about it in this fine book.  [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
1751911
This book is undoubtedly a wonderful guide for traveling Northern California, with its clear explanations and useful detail (no "pristine" lakes here -- they're actually described withOUT clich!). The surprise is that it's a pleasure just to read. The lively text pulls the reader along, and makes her late for work. The "North Coast" section, by Heather C. Liston is particularly entertaining and informative. (Learn about a tsunami that hit the US and the location where "The Birds" was shot within a couple pages.)

If you're planning a trip, buy it. If you're not planning a trip, buy it anyway!
335928
I received this book from Ron Lizzi and River Stream Media on October 6, 2015 as a Goodreads Giveaway.  Thank you so much for sharing your work with me.

This book is filed with spectacular photos of special places, and the information passed on is spot on on the parks I am familiar with, so I am trusting the rest.  And there are places I must see - This book could encompass my entire bucket list.  If you have a love of nature, please read this book.  There are many very popular parks listed, but also some small or intimate ones easily overlooked, and the inclusion of John Muir quotes just adds to the appeal.  Ron Lizzi coins a few new words that hit the spot - Awezure , a combination of awe and pleasure, and matterdays, days that are special.  The photos though taken by Ron Lizzi, an amateur photographer, are really terrific, and the park info is up to date, which makes it easy to set up your bucket list trips.
4808482
Mark Arax's writing is so compelling, it draws you in from the first few paragraphs. He does his homework and is fast becoming an expert historian on California's most interesting people, especially those who influenced the San Joaquin Valley both positively and negatively. I would recommend this book to all native Californians and those interested in learning more about the underbelly of local and state politics.
3283323
I own and have thoroughly enjoyed all of James Lawrence's books.  California is my home state and I've been up and down her coastline, in her valleys, and lived in the beautiful SF Bay Area.  She has a lot to offer every person.  You haven't lived if you have never stood on one of her beaches and been bathed with the golden glow of a sunset.  It can give you the feeling that people talk about when they meditate.

The photography is by the best photographers ever born.  They are David Muench and his son, Mark.  A few photographs are by Zandria Muench Beraldo.  The photographs take you from the coastline on the west to the Sierra Mountains in the east and many places in between.  Some of these places look so remote that you think maybe no one, but them, ever set foot there.  If California was a beautiful woman, the photographs would show that she wears lush colors in her diversified landscapes.

This is a hardback book with 144 colorful photographs on 144-pages.  There are four areas covered:  Mountains, Oak and Grass, the Coast, and Deserts.  At the back, you will find a large, colorful map of this great state.

Why should you have this book?  The contents have many things to enjoy, besides the photographs.  James Lawrence shares his knowledge on some of California's history to support his premise of how this state brings "promise and fruition" to many people.  Then, he draws you into his story with details of a personal journey over California that he and a best friend, Marty Alameda, takes while flying in their hang-gliders and then their ultra-light planes.  Want to see what an ultra-light plane looks like?  Look at the picture on the back cover of the book showing James happily flying very high in his.  His stories give us details about the dangers of flying in these vehicles and why caution is so important.  You read about close calls and the humorous tales of the things that can happen when on a journey with a good friend.  There's a peaceful moment with a daughter.  James has a great gift for writing.  You begin to read his book, but after a short time, his descriptions have you there with him and Marty and you see what they saw at that time.  If you don't know California, you will when you finish and understand why she's a great state.
4031587
I was looking for a general book on California history before a vacation and this book was perfect for my purposes. It traces the area's history primarily from 1540 onward, but there is an opening chapter on its natural history that goes as far back as 325,000 years to discuss the glacial movements that created Death Valley. Hutchinson does need to move quickly to provide so much information within 331 pages (including several excellent B&W photos) so some details are missing, but I still thought this book was much better than Kevin Starr's one volume "California." The early chapters are organized chronologically, but as the timeline moves closer to the present, the later chapters are organized by topic (e.g. Gold, Agriculture, Timber, Industry, etc.). This structure was very useful in providing context to better appreciate the more topically focused second half of the book.

I will caution that this book was written in the late 1960s so it is out of date if your purposes require a more recent book. But if you only want to explore the state's compelling history, then I highly recommend you read this book.
799669
I bought this book a couple of weeks ago when visiting Mammoth Cave National Park a couple of weeks. It was an impulse buy; I already had my Floyd Collins book in hand... but it's good. Carlsbad and that area of the Southwest is fascinating, and the author makes it all into a deeply interesting read. Informative about the caves, geology, ecology, etc. of the park; interesting insight into being an NPS ranger. I'm thrilled I decidied to pick it up.