200 Conspicuous, Unusual, or Economically Important Tropical Plants of the Caribbean  •  John Kingsbury FIELD GUIDE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 220 PAGES A general purpose plant identification guide to Caribbean shores, also useful for subtropical Florida. Written for a popular audience, it features color photographs and short descriptions. (CRB01, $20.00)
The Big Year, A Tale Of Man, Nature, And Fowl Obsession  •  Mark Obmascik NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Obmascik, himself an over-the-edge birder, recounts with glee and page-turning detail the race to see the most birds in North America in a year, a quest that has his three competitors on the road at a moments notice, heading out in the middle of the night, and combing the beaches. As he so winningly demonstrates, these people are driven. (BRD29, $14.00)
The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife  •  Christopher W. Leahy  •  Gordon Morrison NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 1072 PAGES A handsome, fully illustrated survey of the birds of North America, organized A to Z, covering birds, bird biology, conservation and birdwatching. Published in cooperation with the American Birding Association. (NAM21, $19.95)
Citrus County Map  •  Universal Map Enterprises MAP A helpful road map of Citrus County, Florida, including the Crystal River and Homosassa, at a scale of 1:45,000. (FLA27, $4.95)
City on the Edge, The Transformation of Miami  •  Alejandro Portes  •  Alex Stepick HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 281 PAGES A look at how immigrant communities shaped the urban landscape of Miami. Two professors of sociology team up to trace the city's development from its early popularity as a tourist and retirement destination to its current status as an immigrant mecca. The authors believe that Miami's multiculturalism may hold the key for the future of other American cities. (FLA38, $21.95)
The Civil War, A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Red River to Appomattox  •  Shelby Foote HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER This classic, three-volume collection documents the military and political battles of the Civil War. (USS116, $78.00)
Diving Guide to Underwater Florida  •  Ned Deloach GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES Now in it's 10th edition, this guide to diving in Florida not only covers the Keys and their numerous underwater treasures, it also gives ample information on dive sites around the state, including many popular (and lesser-known) springs. 600 sites are covered in all. (FLA28, $19.95)
The Exile, Cuba in the Heart of Miami  •  David Rieff CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1994 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A portrait of modern Cuban Miami and the challenges it embodies. Rieff traces the history of Cuban immigration to Miami and how these exiles' dreams of returning home are becoming increasingly distant. (FLA46, $16.95)
Florida Map  •  Rand McNally Maps MAP (USS07, $4.95)
Florida Map  •  ITMB 2003 •  MAP A colorful, travelers map at a scale of 1:720,000. (FLA31, $4.95)
Florida Map with Florida, South Carolina, Georgia  •  Hallwag MAP A detailed map of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, at a scale of 1:1,200,000. With a gazetteer, national parks, and more detailed insets of major cities. (USS218, $12.95)
Fodor's Miami and Miami Beach  •  Fodors GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES This shirt-pocket guide includes an excellent map of the center of the city and essential information on its highlights, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing. (FLA42, $16.95)
Fodor's Orlando's 25 Best  •  Fodor's Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A shirt-pocket guide and map, this slim book includes an pull-out map of the city and essential information on its highlights, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing. (USE382, $11.95)
From Slavery to Freedom, A History of African Americans  •  John Hope Franklin HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 742 PAGES A classic history of the African American experience from ancient West African civilizations to the civil rights struggles of the 20th century. First published in 1947, and now in its eighth edition, this book has set the standard for comprehensive studies of the changing roles of Africans in the United States. (USA39, $75.00)
Golf Course Wildlife, Southern Florida FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PLASTIC CARD A fold-out, laminated reference to some potential uninvited tee time guests. This handy pocket-size guide features illustrations of almost 150 species. (FLA34, $5.95)
Gone Wild  •  James W. Hall LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 421 PAGES (EGL07, $7.99)
Guide to Marine Mammals & Turtles of the U.S. Atlantic & Gulf of Mexico  •  Kate Wynne  •  Malia Schwartz  •  Garth Mix FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 115 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A sturdy, wire-bound (and waterproof) field guide to the all the whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, manatee and sea turtles of the Gulf coast and Atlantic, 33 species in all. With full-color illustrations of each species, color photographs, range maps and key information for identification. Winner of National Outdoor Book Award in 2000, this exceedingly useful book follows the field-friendly format of Wynne's Guide to Marine Mammals of Alaska. This book satisfies the requirement by MMS and NOAA for ships and crews operating in the Gulf of Mexico. (FG42, $25.00)
Kingbird Highway, The Story of a Natural Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand  •  Kenn Kaufman BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES Kaufman's absorbing account of coming-of-age as a Wichita teenager on the road in 1973 with a summer's pay in his pocket and the goal of seeing as many birds as he could in a year. He tallied 671, impressive by any account and extraordinary if you count birds per buck. He did it all for $1,000. This cult classic was originally published in 1973. (BRD27, $14.00)
Lonely Planet Miami & the Keys  •  Nick Selby  •  Corinna Arnold GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES This practical guide to Miami features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and plenty of information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. With color photographs and excellent travel information. (FLA21, $18.99)
Lost Man's River  •  Peter Matthiessen LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES This acclaimed novel by Matthiessen continues the story of Mr. Watson in the frontier of southern Florida in the first decades of the 20th century. In part it is the story of a son's struggle to understand the mysterious death of his father, but it is also a powerful portrait of the wanderers, renegades and other eccentrics in still wild Florida. (FLA10, $15.95)
Mammals of North America  •  Roland W. Kays  •  Don E. Wilson FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A comprehensive guide by two noted mammalogists and featuring 108 color plates, illustrating 442 species. Range maps and descriptive text on ecology, habitat and behavior complement the wonderful paintings. (NAM11, $19.95)
Manatees and Dugongs of the World  •  Jeff Ripple  •  Doug Perrine NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES An attractive overview of the natural history of the world's sirenians (Manatees and Dugongs) featuring large color photographs. Jeff Ripple describes the behavior of these odd marine mammals, while discussing the history of human encounters and current conservation issues. (BST64, $19.95)
Miami  •  Joan Didion CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1998 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES Acclaimed essayist Jon Didion looks to Miami in this book of astute commentary. The drug war, Cuba, political scandals and race relations all find their way into this trenchant examination of a completely unique American city. (FLA22, $12.95)
Miami Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A laminated, folding map of the center of Miami, at a great scale of 1:15,000. (FLA25, $7.95)
Miami Then and Now  •  Avra Moore Parks  •  Carolyn Klepser HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES A visual record comparing Miami's past and present. Features captioned archival and contemporary photos. An entry in the "Then and Now" series. (FLA40, $18.95)
Naked Came the Manatee  •  Carl Hiassen MYSTERY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 201 PAGES A madcap collaborative mystery from 13 prominent Floridian writers. Originally serialized in the Miami Herald, the tale follows an 102-year-old environmentalist, a manatee named Booger, a severed head that resembles Castro -- and that's just the beginning. Carl Hiassen, Dave Barry and Edna Buchanan are just a few of the authors who contributed a chapter. (FLA39, $12.95)
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America  •  National Geographic FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 502 PAGES From Alaska to Baja California, this field guide published by the National Geographic Society, now in its fifth edition (with tabs!), is the one to carry. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages. The scale of the maps changes with the range of the bird, which means you get a more detailed regional map for those birds with a restricted range. This fully revised fifth edition features nearly 700 color range maps, bigger and better than ever. (FG09, $24.00)
Oranges  •  John McPhee NATURAL HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 194 PAGES Originally conceived as a magazine article, McPhee's essay was expanded into a short book using his usual flair for investigating the commonplace. He chronicles the history and production of oranges -- showing once again that seemingly narrow topics can be full of interest and importance. (FLA20, $13.00)
Palmetto Leaves  •  Harriet Beecher Stowe TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A collection of literary sketches celebrating Northern Florida. The author of Uncle Tom's Cabin moved to Florida in 1867 and was inspired by the land and its idyllic lifestyle. Originally published in 1872. (FLA44, $19.95)
Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians, Eastern and Central North America  •  Roger Conant FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 616 PAGES A comprehensive field guide to Eastern and Central North America for the herpetologically inclined. With range maps, detailed descriptions, photographs and drawings of 595 species and subspecies of snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. At the heart of the book are 50 color plates. (FG46, $21.00)
Remember D-Day, Both Sides Tell Their Stories  •  Ronald J. Drez  •  David Eisenhower HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 64 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS An engaging and well-constructed history of the D-Day invasion for readers in grades 5 to 8, complete with anecdotes from soldiers, black-and-white photographs, plenty of historical information, and an introduction by David Eisenhower which paints a personal portrait of his grandfather, Dwight. (USA96, $17.95)
Return to Wild America, A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul  •  Scott Weidensaul NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Weidensaul follows in the footsteps conservation pioneers Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher in this homage to their 1953 journey, modern travelogue and eye-opening report on wilderness in America. (USA123, $15.00)
The Sarasota, Sanibel Island & Naples Book, A Complete Guide  •  Chelle Koster Walton  •  Karen T. Bartlett GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES A comprehensive, practical guide to the Gulf coast from Sarasota to Naples,including an overview of the culture, history and nature of the region, extensive recommendations on where to eat and sleep, and detailed maps. (FLA36, $18.95)
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America  •  David Sibley FIELD GUIDE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A compact, geographically-specific version of the Sibley Guide with all-new range maps, the same glorious illustrations and expanded, extremely valuable descriptions of each bird with status, habitat, range, voice and identifying marks. It includes 20 pages on the many and confusing species of wood warblers. This is the book we are now using. For birders living west of the Rockies, you'll want to use Sibley's "Birds of Western North America" (USW418). (USE262, $19.95)
The South in Modern America, A Region at Odds  •  Dewey Grantham HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A comprehensive, well researched survey of the South from the time of Reconstruction to the late 20th century. Grantham captures the politics, history, and psychology of the lower half of the country. Its distinctive personality and influence on the nation as a whole. With 93 illustrations. (USS66, $19.95)
Southern Florida Map  •  Universal Map Enterprises MAP A map of Southern Florida at a scale of 1:320,000. (FLA18, $4.95)
The Springs of Florida  •  Douglas Stamm NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 112 PAGES With plenty of photographs and maps, this book introduces the springs of Florida, an attractive reference for tourists and divers. (BST65, $16.95)
Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas  •  Ronald Wright HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A powerful history of imperialism and resistance in the Americas, with a focus on the Aztec, Maya, Inca, Cherokee and Iroquois. Wright's illuminating account, told largely from the point of view of the losers, details the rapid collapse of cultures and societies in the Americas following the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. Wright draws on an impressive range of archival material in reconstructing this classic account, originally published in 1993. Wright is also the author of Time Among the Maya. (NAM20, $17.00)
To See Every Bird On Earth: A Father, A Son, And A Lifelong Obsession  •  Dan Koeppel NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Ostensibly about birds and birdwatching, this enormously appealing book is a memoir by a talented writer of his father, a father who happens to be in the elite cadre of major birders. Dan Koeppel chronicles his father's growing interest in birds in this enormously appealing memoir of a life devoted to birds. Richard is a member of an elite group who have tallied more than 7,000 species. Koeppel includes his own travels tagging along and brief profiles of other eccentric listers. (BRD28, $14.00)
Up for Grabs, A Trip through Time and Space in the Sunshine State  •  John Rothchild BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 231 PAGES Part-memoir, part-travelogue, this humorous, unusual work is all Florida. Rothchild uses his own experiences and outspoken opinions to lead a witty and personal tour of the state, highlighting its eccentricities and gangsters. (FLA43, $19.95)
The Verb to Bird, Sightings of an Avid Birder  •  Peter Cashwell NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 269 PAGES A memoir of the birding life, its pleasures, obsessions and pitfalls. Based in the Carolinas (where he teaches English), Cashwell recounts in these essays the birds he's encountered, the why and wherefores of the birding life and some very entertaining anecdotes. Along the way, Cashwell traces his own development from casual novice to life lister (with a desire to see all the birds of North America). (BRD26, $14.95)
Walker Evans, Florida  •  Walker Evans  •  Robert Plunket ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 80 PAGES Walkers' photos capture Florida circa 1941, absent from the glossy brochures of the time. The celebrated photographer spent 6 weeks there photographing trailer parks, circuses and crowded streets. 54 black-and-white images are collected in this work, narrated by an essay from novelist Robert Plunket. (FLA45, $22.50)