Adventures with a Texas Naturalist  •  Roy Bedichek  •  Rick Bass NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES First published in 1947, this classic combines Bedichek's profound observation and his curiosity with the natural world. Employing a friendly, narrative style and a love of literature, Bedichek delivers memorable commentaries on subjects such as the northern mockingbird, country people and the naming of birds and wildflowers. (TEX14, $22.95)
All the Pretty Horses  •  Cormac McCarthy LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 301 PAGES The best-selling, coming-of-age novel of John Grady Cole, a 16-year-old boy who ventures from his Texas ranch across the Mexican border on horseback. (TEX22, $14.95)
Barren, Wild and Worthless, Living in the Chihuahuan Desert  •  Susan J. Tweit CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  PAPER  • 203 PAGES These seven personal essays celebrate the nature and culture of the Chihuahuan Desert. Tweit's topics of choice include ecology, conservation and immigration. (USW431, $17.95)
The Best of Edward Abbey  •  Edward Abbey ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 440 PAGES Abbey compiled this generous collection of his fiction and non-fiction in 1984, including excerpts from The Brave Cowboy, Black Sun, and The Monkey Wrench Gang, along with sections of Desert Solitaire and other essays. (GEN336, $16.95)
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)
Birding in the American West  •  Kevin Zimmer FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES An illustrated guide to finding and sorting out similar species of birds in the mountains, deserts and other habitats of the West. Zimmer provides plenty of useful information on individual species, including behavior, habitat and identification. Useful as a site guide, he includes detailed listings by state -- and suggestions of the best places to find individual species. With numerous black-and-white illustrations and photographs of similar species and sought-after birds. (USW404, $29.95)
Birding Texas  •  Roland H. Wauer  •  Mark A. Elwonger GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 525 PAGES A site guide to the birds of Texas featuring birding strategies, a list of resources for planning a birding trip, and information on 200 of the best birding sites. The 40-page "Status and Distribution Checklist" provides information on the species occurring in Texas' ten birding regions. With 120 maps and a few black-and-white illustrations. (TEX17, $22.95)
Birds of Texas  •  John H. Rappole FIELD GUIDE •  1994 •  PAPER A photographic guide to the birds of Texas featuring 600 color photographs, descriptive information and detailed range maps. The photographs show each bird in its typical habitat. (USW93, $18.95)
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)
Butterflies through Binoculars, The West  •  Jeffrey Glassberg FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 374 PAGES A photographic identification guide to butterflies found throughout the western United States, from the Mississippi to the Pacific. Range maps and 625 color photos are included, along with short descriptions, information on biology and conservation, and other facts helpful to spotting and identifying butterflies. (BUG11, $24.95)
Compass Guide Texas  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES This wonderfully written handbook features outstanding color photography, good maps and in-depth information on the culture, history and attractions of Texas. It includes archival photographs, literary excerpts and practical travel information. (TEX25, $21.95)
Crossing Paths, Uncommon Encounters with Animals in the Wild  •  Craig Childs EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Adventurer and naturalists Craig Childs vividly describes 23 meetings with the animals of the American desert, from camel to rainbow trout. Each chapter introduces a new animal, and Child offers memorable descriptions of each in this engrossing travelogue. (SWU170, $14.95)
The Desert Cries, A Season of Flash Floods in a Dry Land  •  Craig Childs NATURAL HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 140 PAGES Naturalist and adventurer Craig Childs's impressionistic account of five flash floods which killed 22 people in Arizona in 1997. (SWU172, $14.95)
Getting Over the Color Green  •  Scott Slovic ANTHOLOGY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES This anthology and tribute to the American desert features the writing of Charles Bowden, Ann Zwinger and Barbara Kingsolver. Highlighting the work of these and other renowned Southwestern authors, the collection includes more than 50 pieces, ranging from fiction and poetry to essays and field notes. While the pieces differ in style and tone, they all share a passion for the desert. (SWU62, $19.95)
The Great Psychedelic Armadillo Picnic, A Walk in Austin  •  Kinky Friedman TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES A rowdy, rollicking tour of the state's capital city by a resident writer and bon vivant. Kinky Friedman (founder of the band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys and also the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch) opens his guide with "The Barenaked Essentials." The book is actually useful (and funnny)! He also lists his favorite restaurants, bookstores and radio stations. Like all the books in the excellent Crown Journeys series, which pairs writers and favorite cities, this short book is loosely organized around the idea of a walk. (TEX63, $16.95)
In a Narrow Grave, Essays on Texas  •  Larry McMurtry CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1989 •  PAPER  • 173 PAGES First published in 1968, this is a wide-ranging collection of essays on the Texan character. McMurtry covers topics such as rural Texas sexual behavior, cowboys, southwestern literature and country music. From the author of "Lonesome Dove." (TEX20, $14.00)
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)
A Line in the Sand, The Alamo in Blood and Memory  •  James Stuart Olson  •  Randy Roberts HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES An informative history of the Alamo and how it lives on in history texts, John Wayne movies and modern border wars. The authors make no bones about it: they want to debunk the Alamo myths, once and for all. Their book is not recommended for members of the Davy Crockett fan club or the Santa Anna fan club, but nonpartisan readers will do well to read it. (TEX47, $24.95)
Made in the Southwest: A Shopper's Guide to the Region's Best Native American, Hispanic and Western Craft Traditions  •  Laura Morelli GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES A shopper's guide to all that is handmade and beautiful in the Southwest's Hispanic, Native American and Western traditions, by writer and art historian Laura Morelli. With a state-by-state guide to artisans and stores and 80 color illustrations. (SWU209, $24.95)
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)
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)
Native Universe, Voices of Indian America  •  Clifford E. Trafzer ANTHOLOGY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES This anthology of personal and historical essays, as well as over 300 color illustrations of Native American art, is being published to accompany the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. It includes selections from several modern Native American writers, including Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie. (USA95, $22.00)
A Natural State, Essays on Texas  •  Stephen Harrigan NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 199 PAGES An excellent collection of essays evoking the natural environment of Texas. Harrigan, a longtime contributor at the Texas Monthly, offers a close observation of man's interaction with nature. (TEX23, $14.95)
A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country  •  David Williams  •  Gloria Brown FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 188 PAGES A compact field guide to the wildlife of the high desert of the Colorado Plateau and the nine national parks of the region, including Arches and Canyonlands, featuring handsome watercolor illustrations by Gloria Brown. A former ranger based in Moab, Williams includes an overview of the history, geology and ecology of the high desert in addition to basic information that you'll need to identify common plants and animals. Published in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association. (USW289, $22.95)
The New Encyclopedia of the American West  •  Howard R. Lamar REFERENCE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 1320 PAGES A massive -- and entertaining -- reference to the West, featuring more than 2,400 entries and 600 illustrations. From prehistory to today, it includes historical and geographical overviews, trivial tidbits, biographical sketches of major figures, and commentary on art and literature. Compiled by Yale professor Howard R. Lamar, it's the most comprehensive single volume of its type. (USW416, $85.00)
Northern Chihuahuan Desert Wildflowers  •  Steve West FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A compact guide with 270 color photographs, species descriptions, range information and a separate section on succulents. (USW432, $24.95)
Paul Strand Southwest  •  Paul Strand  •  Rebecca Busselle  •  Trudy Wilner Stack ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 112 PAGES With 50 black-and-white photographs, this book showcases Strand's work during the summers of 1926 and 1930-1932, when Taos, New Mexico served as the inspiration for his stark, elegant style. Working from two homemade darkrooms, one in a hotel basement and another above a local movie theater, Strand captured the depth and beauty of the Southwest. Through personal letters and snapshots, this book chronicles a dynamic period in Strand's life, both artistically and socially; his relationship with his wife Rebecca and his mentor Alfred Stieglitz were struggling, and he crossed paths with the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keefe. (USW442, $50.00)
Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation  •  John Phillip Santos BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES An impassioned, affecting memoir of the Santos family's long history in Texas -- an American heartland which is also (as Santos reminds us here) an ancient Mexican homeland. (TEX49, $15.00)
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)
Scats and Tracks of the Desert Southwest  •  James Halfpenny  •  Todd Telander FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES An essential pocket guide to tracks, scats and signs of not just the mammals of the region but also the reptiles, amphibians and birds. Each of the species gets a double-page spread with line drawings of the animal, scat and track, range map, and description. With shaded pencil drawings by Todd Telander. (SWU61, $9.95)
The Secret Knowledge of Water  •  Craig Childs TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Longtime desert-dweller Craig Childs's reverence for water is displayed clearly in the pages of this travelogue, an adventuring ecologist's journey through Arizona, Utah, the Grand Canyon and Northern Mexico. Subtitled "Discovering the Essence of the American Desert," this lyrical narrative paints the desert as a place of mystery and infintie potential. (SWU169, $14.99)
Smithsonian Handbooks Birds of North America, Western Region  •  Fred J. Alsop, III FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 752 PAGES An illustrated handbook and field guide to birds found west of the Mississippi. Describing 700 birds in all, this book dedicates a page to each species, with digitally enhanced photographs and silhouette drawings, range maps, and concise descriptions of behavior, habitat and conservation. Introductory chapters provide helpful background on basic terminology and bird-watching techniques. (USW415, $25.00)
Smithsonian Handbooks, Birds of Texas  •  Fred J. Alsop, III FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 576 PAGES An illustrated handbook and field guide to the birds of Texas. This sturdy bookfeatures digitally enhanced photographs and silhouette drawings, along with range maps, and concise descriptions of behavior, habitat and conservation. Introductory chapters provide helpful background on basic terminology and bird-watching techniques. (USW433, $23.00)
Soul of Nowhere  •  Craig Childs TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES Naturalist and adventurer Craig Childs's account of travels in the American desert. (SWU171, $22.95)
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)
Texas, A Modern History  •  David G. McComb HISTORY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 197 PAGES A brief, entertaining history of Texas by the distinguished Texas historian David G. McComb. It covers a wide range of topics including the oil industry, land and nature, Spanish legacy, bluebonnet, Texas rangers and the "Texas mystique." With maps and many black-and-white photographs. (TEX24, $30.00)
Three Roads to the Alamo, The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis  •  William Davis BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1999 •  PAPER  • 791 PAGES A triple biography of three American legends who died at the Alamo in 1836, with much attention paid to the events of that decisive battle. Davis, a prolific historian of the American South, tackles reality and myth-making on the 19th-century frontier. (TEX45, $20.00)
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)
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)
With Santa Anna in Texas, A Personal Narrative of the Revolution  •  Jose Enrique De La Pena  •  James E. Crisp  •  Carmen Perry HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES This is the wartime diary of an officer in Santa Anna's army, covering battles in Mexico and Texas, most notably at the Alamo. (TEX46, $16.95)