The Amateur Emigrant  •  Robert Louis Stevenson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 172 PAGES The famed novelist's 1896 account of travels in the American West -- in pursuit of his future wife and featuring his impressions of this still wild and untamed land. Named "One of the Ten Essential Travel Books" by Paul Theroux. (USW481, $13.00)
Angle of Repose  •  Wallace Stegner LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a retired historian who plans to write the story of his grandparents and their life in the American West. With a deep knowledge of the region's history and lore, this novel is also the story of a man coming to terms with his family and himself. Much of the narrative takes place in California, Colorado and Idaho. (USW301, $16.00)
Art-Sites San Francisco  •  Sidra Stich GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER The Indispensable Guide to Contemporary Art-Architecture-Design. (SFO23, $19.95)
art/shop/eat San Francisco  •  Marlene Goldman GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A compact, illustrated guide with excellent local maps. The book includes not only museums, shops and restaurants, but also not-to-be-missed sites and attractions by neighborhood. (SFO18, $13.95)
Backroads of Northern California  •  David M. Wyman GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A photographic guide to the lesser traveled roads of Northern California. Featuring 100 dazzling color photographs and accompanying text by California native David Wyman, this book also covers the geology, history and main attractions of the region. (USW145, $21.95)
The Best of the West, An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West  •  Tony Hillerman ANTHOLOGY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES A campfire collection of unforgettable portraits of the West, this anthology includes excerpts from diaries, news dispatches, travelogues, novels and short stories, selected and introduced by Tony Hillerman. The anthology, which spans the centuries, is organized thematically, taking in travelers, homesteaders, Navajos, government officials, pioneers and authors as diverse as Edward Abbey, Meriwether Lewis, Frank Waters and John Steinbeck. (USW87, $18.00)
Best Short Hikes In Redwood National & State Parks, Including Humboldt Redwoods State Park  •  Jerry Rohde GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 237 PAGES A guide to more than 60 hikes among the Redwoods in five northern California parks, inluding Redwood National Park and Humboldt, Prairie Creek, Del Norde Coast, and Jedediah Smith State Parks. (CAL232, $15.95)
Between Pacific Tides  •  Edward F. Ricketts  •  Jack Calvin  •  Joel W. Hedgpeth  •  David W. Phillips  •  John Steinbeck FIELD GUIDE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 652 PAGES A handbook to the rocky shores and tide pools of the Pacific Coast of the United States, first published in 1939 and now in its fifth edition. After 50 years this standard reference still reflects Ed Ricketts' considerable personality and enthusiasm for tidepooling and marine biology. Each intertidal zone is discussed in depth, augmented by black-and-white photographs and diagrams. Much revised, this edition includes the original forward by John Steinbeck and a tribute to Ed Ricketts. (FG34, $31.95)
Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch  •  Henry Miller LITERATURE •  1978 •  PAPER A loving, observant tribute to Big Sur, Miller's home for 15 years. As with many of his works, this is more a collection of reflections, anecdotes and character portraits than a straightforward narrative, and it's just as evocative and thought-provoking as anything he has written. First published in 1957. (CAL143, $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)
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)
Bone  •  Fae Myenne Ng LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 194 PAGES A poetic, dreamlike novel that relates the story of two generations of a family in San Francisco's Chinatown -- as told through the wandering memories of Leila, an Asian-American woman in search of clues to explain her sister's suicide. (USW153, $12.95)
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)
California Fault, Searching for the Spirit of a State Along the San Andreas  •  Thurston Clarke CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1997 •  PAPER  • 417 PAGES More than just a discussion of earthquakes, this is a good natured portrait of California, from a man who traveled along the San Andreas fault in search of what defines the Golden State. What he finds is an eccentric landscape of people living on land that could crack open at any minute. (CAL33, $12.95)
California Map  •  Hildebrand 2000 •  MAP A folded map of California, shown at a scale of 1:700,000. (CAL55, $11.95)
California's North Coast Map  •  MapLink MAP A detailed map of Nothern California's coast to the Oregon border, including Redwood National Park, Klamath District State Parks, Smith River National Recreation Area, and Humboldt County Parks, at a scale of 1:62,000. (CAL233, $3.95)
Cannery Row  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 193 PAGES Based on memories of characters he met living in Monterey, California, this is Steinbeck's story of the denizens of Cannery Row, a group of good-natured bums, prostitutes and alcoholics. It's an often humorous, touching story of community and poverty. (USW150, $10.00)
Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage  •  Robert Michael Pyle NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES A memoir of Lepidoptery, combing the entomologist-author's considerable knowledge of butterflies and their biology with a rambling road trip from British Columbia through the Southwest to Mexico. (MEX62, $14.00)
Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest  •  Elizabeth Horn FIELD GUIDE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 179 PAGES From British Columbia to northern California, this is a handy photo-identification guide to coastal shrubs and wildflowers. It's divided into five habitats and organized by plant family. With 200 photographs. (PNW15, $14.00)
Compass Guide California Wine Country, California's Napa & Sonoma Valleys  •  John Doerper  •  Charles O'Rear GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES A comprehensive introduction to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, covering wineries both small and large. The listings are excellent and include helpful driving directions and regional maps, but what sets the book apart from other guides are the numerous evocative color photographs and informed essays on the history of the region and winemaking techniques. (USW171, $21.95)
Compass Guide Coastal California  •  John Doerper  •  Galen Rowell GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 397 PAGES This compact guide is an excellent overview of coastal California from Point St. George to San Diego, with particular emphasis on history, nature and visitor attractions. Handsomely illustrated with color and archival photographs, it features literary excerpts, good maps and some practical travel information. (CAL38, $21.00)
The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park  •  Steven P. Medley GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES A compact guide to the park by the Yosemite Association, featuring practical information on activities, hiking trails, wildlife and history. With color drawings and photos, and dozens of detailed maps. Winner of the Best National Park Guidebook Award from the National Park Service. (CAL51, $12.95)
Continental Drift  •  James D. Houston LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES James D. Houston's acclaimed novel of the California experience unfolds on a Monterey ranch in the 1970s, amidst the reflected horrors of Vietnam and a populace gone amok. (CAL103, $15.95)
Cowgirls: Women of the American West  •  Teresa Jordan CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1992 •  PAPER  • 309 PAGES The West is often portrayed as a land made by "Big Men" with big dreams. Ms. Jordan's delightful book is dedicated to those Bigger Women who were usually too busy running things to dream. The story of the western woman, past and present, is intimately recounted through the words of the women themselves. Rare photos of early frontierswomen help the reader to change long held images of the Old West, and interviews with contemporary cowgirls give insightful lessons into a woman's life on the range. (USW13, $19.95)
Crossing the Next Meridian: Land, Water, and the Future of the West  •  Charles F. Wilkinson HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A discussion of development and conservation in the West, centering on distribution and management of water supplies. Wilkinson, a professor and expert on environmental law, tackles these hotly debated issues with informed opinions and propositions for change. (USW361, $35.00)
Daughter of Fortune, A Novel  •  Isabel Allende LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES In this absorbing historical novel a young woman follows her lover from Valparaiso (then a British colony) to California at the height of the gold rush. (CHI63, $14.00)
Days of Gold, The California Gold Rush and the American Nation  •  Malcolm Rohrbough HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 569 PAGES This vivid, eyewitness history draws on diaries, letters, and other archival sources, letting the (mostly) men speak directly of the discovery of gold in California on the morning of January 24, 1848. Rohrbough shows, in vivid detail, the impact of the 49ers on the development of the west. (CAL155, $24.95)
Divisadero  •  Michael Ondaatje LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 273 PAGES Ondaatje weaves several stories into an interconnected, lushly depicted tale of family, desire and dislocation this this novel, which moves back-and-forth in time from San Francisco to Nevada's casinos and, eventually, to south-central France, where Ondaatje's Anna becomes immersed in the life and the world of a writer from an earlier time. (FRN665, $13.95)
Down to a Soundless Sea  •  Thomas Steinbeck LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Son of John, Thomas Steinbeck mines the same terrain as his father, writing stories set in the Monterey Peninsula of the early 20th-century. This collection was his debut, featuring 7 tales in all. (CAL144, $13.95)
East of Eden (20th Century Classics)  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 602 PAGES Steinbeck's sprawling epic of two families -- the Trasks and Hamiltons -- living in the Salinas Valley of California. Covering the period from the Civil War to World War I, this is a retelling of the early chapters of Genesis, a story of connected families and their violent destinies. (USW152, $16.00)
El Dorado, Adventures in the Path of Empire  •  Bayard Taylor TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A wildly popular contemporary account of the California gold rush, originally published in 1849. Taylor's wonderful book includes his voyage to California, and life both in the frontier town of San Francisco and out in the mining camps. He traveled throughout the new American territory from San Francisco to the Sierras at the behest of Horace Greeley, attending the state constitutional convention and interviewing countless Californians. (USW367, $18.95)
Empire Express, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad  •  David Haward Bain HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 816 PAGES A magisterial history of the railroad that connected the East to the West -- and radically changed the face of America. It is quite a tale, featuring greed, corruption, disaster and many memorable characters. Based on exhaustive research, the detailed narrative jumps between Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroad Company. With photographs and maps. (USW135, $20.00)
Epicenter, San Francisco Bay Area Art Now  •  Mark Johnstone ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER A lively survey of 48 contemporary artists and collectives active in the Bay Area. (SFO24, $40.00)
Exploring Point Reyes: A Guide to Point Reyes National Seashore  •  Phil Arnot  •  Elvira Monroe GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Now in its seventh edition, this guide to Point Reyes National Seashore is a compact introduction to the park, with natural history, geography and plenty of information on trails and hiking. Written by an avid hiker in the region, it is illustrated with maps and photographs. (CAL57, $10.95)
Eyewitness Guide California  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 630 PAGES A literate, visually rich guide to the Golden State, featuring color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of California's attractions with a particular focus on San Francisco and Los Angeles. It includes a well chosen section on hotels and restaurant. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (USW146, $30.00)
Eyewitness Real City San Francisco  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES With up-to-date information on what's hot in San Francisco, this chic guide lists the trendiest local spots to eat, shop, party and relax. Supported by a website so you'll always be on the inside track. (SFO33, $15.00)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks  •  Laurel Scheidt GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 296 PAGES In addition to useful descriptions of 86 trails, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to Sequoia and Kings Canyon gives an overview of the area's natural history, and advice on navigating the rugged terrain. Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States, is included. (CAL123, $16.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking the Sierra Nevada  •  Barry Parr GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A practical guide to hiking in the Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite, Sequoia and King's Canyon. It features descriptions of 96 hikes, maps, black-and-white photographs, and practical information. (CAL71, $19.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Yosemite National Park  •  Suzanne Swedo GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 230 PAGES In addition to useful trail descriptions, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to Yosemite National Park gives an overview of the area's natural history, and advice on navigating the area's beautiful scenery. (CAL41, $14.95)
A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes  •  William Eschmeyer  •  Earl Herald  •  Howard Hammann  •  Roger Tory Peterson FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES Recently updated, this field guide, part of the Peterson series, describes the many fishes, including sharks and rays, found in Pacific coast waters. Illustrated with black-and-white and color drawings. (FG45, $20.00)
A Field Guide to Western Birds  •  Roger Tory Peterson FIELD GUIDE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 431 PAGES A field guide to the birds west of the Mississippi, featuring color plates of each species. (FG18, $19.95)
Fodor's Around San Francisco with Kids  •  Clark Norton GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES This illustrated roundup highlights 68 things to do with kids in San Francisco and surroundings. (SFO31, $11.00)
Fodor's Family San Francisco With Kids  •  Fodor's Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES • COMING IN APRIL Local parents cover a variety of interests and tastes for families with kids of all ages in these handy guides. With maps, family-friendly hotels and the five best things to see and do in every neighborhood. (SFO42, $10.95)
Fodor's San Francisco  •  Constance Jones  •  Paul Eisneberg GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A popular, practical guide. (SFO28, $18.95)
Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast  •  Robert Van Pelt FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A beautifully illustrated directory of 117 noteworthy forest giants of the Pacific Northwest sponsored by the Big Tree Program, including not just the redwoods and giant sequoias but also the Eureka Valley Giant, a 192-foot-tall pine and other species. (CAL231, $40.00)
The Free Speech Movement, Reflections on Berkeley in the 1960's  •  Robert Cohen  •  Reginald E. Zelnik ANTHOLOGY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 672 PAGES A compilation of essays by diverse contributors on the 1964 Free Speech Movement at Berkeley. Combining analysis, memoir and schoalrship, the book includes many points of view from students, clergy, faculty, administration and others who were present. (CAL185, $22.95)
The French Laundry Cookbook  •  Thomas Keller  •  Deborah Jones FOOD •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 325 PAGES This lavish volume collects 150 recipes from The French Laundry, Thomas Keller's four-star Napa Valley restaurant (considered by many to be the best restaurant in the U.S.). With 200 color photographs by Deborah Jones and a $50 price tag, it's the ultimate souvenir of a trip to Napa. The very brave returned tourist may actually attempt to cook from the book, which presents each recipe exactly as Keller himself prepares it in the restaurant's kitchen (right down to the fresh duck fat, imported truffles and 10-liter tureen). The rest will be satisfied to gaze and remember. (CAL76, $50.00)
Frommer's Irreverent Guide to San Francisco  •  Arthur Frommer GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES In addition to usual general travel information, this guide provides insiders' tips on places to visit, shop, sleep, eat or just hang out. (CAL02, $12.99)
Frommer's Memorable Walks in San Francisco  •  Arthur Frommer GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 180 PAGES As one of the nation's most interesting and walkable cities, San Francisco was begging for a guidebook that mapped out its landmarks and neighborhoods. This edition of the Frommer's series does just that -- it contains 12 routes with detailed directions, handy maps, and historical info for well paced walks through scenic San Francisco. (CAL08, $12.99)
Frommer's San Francisco  •  Erika Lenkert GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 340 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series, revised annually. With a foldout map. (SFO19, $16.99)
Gae Aulenti  •  Margherita Petranzan ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER A retrospective of the 50-year career of the Italian architect and designer. Aulenti is the archirect of the New Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. (SFO25, $29.95)
Garlic is Life, A Memoir with Recipes  •  Chester Aaron FOOD •  1996 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A man's obsession with garlic drives him into Sonoma County where he tries to make it as a garlic farmer. This humorous tribute to the pungent plant and life in Northern California is enhanced by a series of recipes, all teeming with garlic. (CUL02, $16.95)
Glaciers of California  •  Bill Guyton SCIENCE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 223 PAGES A primer on glaciers and glaciation in California. Geologist Bill Guyton explains how glaciers form and work, and the history of California's glaciers and mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada. Well written, the book includes accounts of early explorers, many illustrations and a 100-mile glacier tour in the Sierra Nevada. (CAL44, $18.95)
Gold Dust and Gunsmoke, Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen and Vigilantes  •  John Boessenecker HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES One of the most violent chapters of the American story is chronicled in this history of the California Gold Rush, as seen through the rampant criminal acts that characterized it. Through a series of anecdotes, historian and lawyer John Boessenecker explores the myths and truths behind this pivitol point in the history of California. (USW189, $21.95)
The Grapes of Wrath (20th Century Classics)  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 612 PAGES The epic tale of the Joad family and their journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a new life in the new promised land. It's a story of desperation, tragedy and spirit, wonderfully detailed in its portrayal of rural America in the 1930s. Considered one of the greatest works of literature on the Great Depression, it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. (USW151, $14.00)
The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906, How San Francisco Nearly Destroyed Itself  •  Philip Fradkin HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES In this well-researched history, Fradkin controversially argues that much of the destruction caused by the April 1906 San Francisco earthquake could have been avoided if the city had been better prepared. (SFO32, $15.95)
The Great Garlic Book, A Guide With Recipes  •  Chester Aaron FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A garlic farmer's loving reference to the plant that has kept him fed over the years, featuring recipes, little-known garlic facts and color photographs, showing off some of the rarer varieties. (CUL03, $16.95)
The Happiest Man in the World, An Account of the Life of Poppa Neutrino  •  Alec Wilkinson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2007 •  HARD COVER (ATL25, $24.95)
Hill Guide Sonoma Valley, The Secret Wine Country  •  Kathleen Hill  •  Gerald Hill GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A homegrown guide to the Sonoma Valley from two longtime residents of the area, both practical and personal in its delivery of travel information and regional background. (CAL84, $15.95)
Insight Guide National Parks, Western United States  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 413 PAGES A volume in the award-winning Insight series, this guide is noted for its wonderful photography, superb production and informative short essays. It is a thoroughly illustrated, comprehensive guide to the national parks of the western United States, including Arches, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest. (USW181, $24.95)
An Island Called California, An Ecological Introduction to Its Natural Communities  •  Elna S. Bakker NATURAL HISTORY •  1984 •  PAPER  • 484 PAGES An introduction to the ecology and wildlife of the Golden State, this volume is filled with photographs illustrating a variety plants, animals and geological features found throughout the deserts, forests and coastline of California. (CAL11, $22.95)
Karen Brown's California, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries  •  Karen, Clare and June Brown GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A survey of inns, estates, and other lodging of character, along with suggested itineraries and highlights of each region. (CAL61, $19.95)
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)
The Klamath Knot  •  David Rains Wallace NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER The 20th-anniversary edition of Wallace's celebrated meditation on the natural history, myth and meaning of the Klamath mountains of northern California and southern Oregon. Winner of the John Burroughs Medal for Nature Writing, the Commonwealth Club Silver Medal for Literature 1984, and named one of the twentieth century's best nonfiction books by the "San Francisco Chronicle, The Klamath Knot," originally published by Sierra Club Books in 1983, is a personal vision of wilderness in the Klamath Mountains. (CAL251, $17.95)
Knopf City Map Guides San Francisco, The City in Section-by-Section Maps  •  Knopf Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER (SFO34, $8.95)
The Literature of California, Vol. 1  •  Jack Hicks  •  Al Young  •  James D. Houston  •  Maxine Hong Kingston ANTHOLOGY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 653 PAGES A chorus of hurrahs greeted the publication of this book, the first in a planned two-volume survey of literature about the Golden State. The star-studded cast of editors selected Native American myths and songs, diaries and historical accounts, nature writing, poetry, fiction and much else for a tour of California's history up to 1945. (CAL102, $24.95)
Lonely Planet San Francisco  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER A practical guide in the popular series -- and excellent. Lonely Planet has its offices in Oakland and the local expertise shows. (CAL135, $18.99)
Lonely Planet San Francisco Encounter  •  Alison Bing GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER With a section of not-to-missed highlights and a calendar of annual events, this lively pocket guide organized by neighborhood includes suggested side trips, along what to see and where to shop, eat, drink and play. With a double-sided pullout map. (CAL214, $11.99)
The Long Valley  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A collection of 13 of Steinbeck's greatest stories, including the celebrated "Red Pony." (USA91, $15.00)
Mac's Field Guide to Yosemite National Park: Birds and Mammals  •  Craig MacGowan FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PLASTIC CARD This double-sided, laminated card features color drawings of the birds and mammals commonly found in Yosemite National Park. It's waterproof and small enough (7.5" by 11.5") to slip into your backpack. (CAL48, $4.95)
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)
MapEasy's Guidemap to Napa & Sonoma  •  MapEasy MAP A handy, informative road map and guide to the wineries of Napa and Sonoma Valleys at a scale of 1:49,000. With detailed maps of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Russia River, Alexander Valley and route from San Francisco to Napa. (CAL118, $7.95)
Marine Mammals of the Eastern North Pacific  •  Sea Grant Alaska  •  Pieter Folkens FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PLASTIC CARD  • 8 PAGES A convenient, 8-panel waterproof card illustrating 50 species of whales, dolphins, sea otters and pinnipeds found in the North Pacific from Alaska and the west coast of North America to Hawaii. It's handsomely illustrated, and includes full-color panels with typical behaviors, whalewatching guidelines and identification tips. Co-sponsored by the Alaska Whale Foundation and the University of Alaska Sea Grant Program, It's an excellent, weatherproof identification guide. (ALA143, $8.95)
Mario Botta, Light and Gravity: Architecture 1993-2003  •  Gabriele Cappellato ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  HARD COVER A monograph on the prolific Swiss architect, whose buildings include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (SFO26, $65.00)
Martin Eden  •  Jack London LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES Autobiographical in tone, London's of a young seaman struggling to make it as a writer is set in turn-of-the-century San Francisco is among the most personal of his books. (SFO16, $13.95)
The Measure of Her Powers, An M.F.K. Fisher Reader  •  M. F. K. Fisher LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A fat, judicious selection of M.F.K. Fisher's writings, which spanned a lifetime and chronicled adventures (culinary and otherwise) in France, Switzerland and Italy, on shipboard and in her native California. A supremely wise woman and an unsurpassed prose stylist, M.F.K. is here represented in all her witty, sad and celebratory incarnations. Edited with minimal interference by Dominique Gioia, this volume also includes a brief introductory memoir of Fisher by her acolyte Ruth Reichl, who once went on a pilgrimage to Fisher's Sonoma cottage -- only to find that Fisher herself cooked simply, not extravagantly at all. (CUL01, $22.95)
Mendocino and Other Stories  •  Ann Packer LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES True to its title, the short story "Mendocino" opens with a young woman driving northward on Highway 1 along the Pacific. These ten memorable slice-of-life stories, which originally appeared in The New Yorker and Ploughshares, recount the lives of ordinary people in unusual situations in Northern California. (CAL192, $13.95)
Michelin Green Guide San Francisco  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER A straightfoward, practical guide to the city. (SFO35, $19.95)
Mobil Travel Guide City Guide San Francisco  •  Mobil Travel Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • COMING IN JANUARY Celebrating 50 years, these practical guides feature the same Mobil star rating system. (SFO43, $16.95)
Monterey Bay Map  •  AAA Publishing 2002 •  MAP A road map of the Monterey Bay region at a scale of 1:200,000. It includes the Monterey Bay Peninsula, Carmel Valley, Big Sur coast, Salinas Valley, Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz mountains. In a series of California Regional Maps by AAA. (CAL184, $4.95)
The Monterey Bay, Big Sur & Gold Coast Wine Country Book  •  Christina Waters  •  Buz Bezore GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 301 PAGES An excellent, locally produced travel guide mixing history, culture, nature and anecdote with a shipload of up-to-date practical information. (CAL182, $18.95)
Monterey Peninsula Map  •  AAA Publishing 2003 •  MAP A detailed map and guide to Monterey Peninsula at a scale of 1:24,000 with a downtown map, suggested 17-mile scenic drive and information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium (CAL183, $4.95)
Moon Handbook Coastal California  •  Kim Weir GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 744 PAGES A practical guide to the Californian coast by veteran Moon Handbook writer Kim Weir, which features information on food, accommodations and attractions. (CAL189, $21.95)
Moon Handbook Northern California Wine Country  •  Philip Goldsmith GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A comprehensive, no-nonsense guide in the popular series, with good background information about history, culture, and popular attractions. (CAL198, $16.95)
Moon Handbook Northern California Wine Country  •  Philip Goldsmith GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A comprehensive, no-nonsense guide in the popular series, with good background information about history, culture, and popular attractions. (CAL198, $16.95)
The Mountains of California  •  John Muir TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES The classic account by the pioneering conservationist of Yosemite and lesser-known regions of the Sierra Nevada. Muir's tribute includes his commentary on the glaciers, geology and natural history of the region. Published in 1894, it's a romantic introduction to California's mountains. (USW368, $13.00)
My First Summer in the Sierra  •  John Muir  •  Galen Rowell NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 269 PAGES A facsimile edition of Muir's original account of his first summer in Yosemite and surrounding High Sierras. Based on his youthful notebooks of the summer of 1869, Muir did not publish the book until 1911. (CAL47, $10.00)
Napa Valley, The Ultimate Winery Guide  •  Antonia Allegra  •  Richard Gillette GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES A slim oversize guide to Napa, written by an award winning food and wine writer, and illustrated with a regional map and 150 color photographs. It includes information on the history, locations and tasting hours at 30 local wineries. (USW167, $19.95)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (Western Region)  •  Elbert L. Little  •  Angelo Lomeo FIELD GUIDE •  1980 •  PAPER  • 862 PAGES A comprehensive field guide to the trees of Western United States, this volume packs lots of photographs to aid in cataloging and identifying the wide array of rare, locally abundant, and widespread trees. (USW225, $19.95)
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)
The Natural History of Big Sur  •  Paul Henson  •  Donald J. Usner  •  Valerie A. Kells NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER A natural history and guide to Big Sur, California with detailed information on specific sites and trails. (CAL62, $28.95)
Natural History of the Islands of California  •  Allan A. Schoenherr  •  C. Robert Feldmeth  •  Michael J. Emerson  •  David Mooney NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 408 PAGES A comprehensive survey of the ecology, geology and human history of California's coastal islands, including the Channel Islands, the Farallons and the islands of the San Francisco Bay. (CAL111, $55.00)
Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula  •  Jules Evens NATURAL HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES Evens weaves history, science and personal anecdote into an absorbing chronicle of one of the most biologically diverse places in North America. (CAL239, $24.95)
A Natural History of Western Trees  •  Donald Culross Peattie FIELD GUIDE •  1991 •  PAPER  • 751 PAGES A handsome facsimile of the 1950 classic, including the original wood engravings and a new introduction by Robert Finch. Not exactly a field guide, Peattie's book is scattered with anecdotes and information on aboriginal use, folk names, and economic value of each species. He offers rich full-length portraits of his favorite trees, including loving essays on the sequoias, redwoods, sitka spruces, douglas firs and western red cedars. (USW191, $21.00)
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 California and Southern Oregon Coast Map  •  Global Graphics MAP A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)
Northern California Map  •  National Geographic 1999 •  MAP A handy fold-up map of Northern California including San Francisco, at a scale of 1:600,000. (CAL04, $4.95)
Nothing Like it in the World, The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869  •  Stephen Ambrose HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Picking up where the award-winning story of Lewis and Clark (Undaunted Courage) left off, Ambrose tells how America, in the midst of the Civil War, built the Transcontinental Railroad. It took presidents, corporate giants, a work force roughly the size of the Civil War armies, and even Brigham Young to mount the most ambitious project of its age. Ambrose uses his considerable skill as a writer and his experience as a biographer to capture the energy, spirit and verve required to build the railroad. (USW224, $17.00)
Oaks of California  •  Bruce Pavlik  •  Pamela Muick  •  Sharon Johnson NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES Northern California is known for its magnificent tree populations, most notably the giant sequoia. Oaks are also abundant in the Golden State, and this natural history, full of color photographs, is a thorough introduction to the tree. (CAL63, $22.95)
On the Road  •  Jack Kerouac LITERATURE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Kerouac's now-classic account of his travels across 1950's America, famously presented to his publisher as one continuous 120-foot-long roll of paper in all its raw and unedited authenticity. (USA16, $16.00)
Our National Parks  •  John Muir  •  Richard F. Fleck NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 370 PAGES A collection of ten essays on the national parks of the west, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoia and General Grant. Six of the ten chapters are devoted to Yosemite National Park. Originally published in 1901. (USW272, $26.95)
Pauline Frommer's San Francisco  •  Jason Cochran GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES • COMING IN NOVEMBER A family-friendly, quirky, practical guide by the daughter of travel guru Arthur Frommer. Her motto: "Spend Less, See More." (SFO40, $17.99)
Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates  •  Paul Dallman NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 210 PAGES Richly illustrated, clearly written and engaging, this book is an ecological overview of the landscapes, plants and vegetation types found in Mediterranean climates. It's an eye-opening guide to California, Chile, South Africa, Australia and -- naturally -- the Mediterranean. (MED21, $35.95)
Point Reyes National Seashore  •  Tom Harrison Maps MAP A colorful, topographic map of Point Reyes National Seashore, at a scale of 1:48,000. (CAL58, $8.95)
Point Reyes, The Complete Guide to the National Seashore & Surrounding Area  •  Jessica Lage GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 249 PAGES A helpful guide to Point Reyes, featuring information about hiking and biking, kayaking, horesback riding and other activities. With an overview of the region's natural and cultural history. (CAL200, $15.95)
The Presidio, From Army Post to National Park  •  Lisa M. Benton HISTORY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 277 PAGES The story of the Presidio and its transformation from military post to national park when it joined the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1994. Benton analyzes the military and cultural history of the park, and discusses the significance of the urban park to our national parks system. (CAL54, $29.95)
Quiet Odyssey, A Pioneer Korean Woman in America  •  Mary Paik Lee  •  Sucheng Chan BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1990 •  PAPER The autobiography of an inadvertent explorer -- Mary Paik Lee, who in 1905 became one of the first Korean-born children in America. Lee chronicles the early years of Korean immigration with insight, humor and dignity, neither underestimating her struggles or martyring herself. (USW397, $16.95)
Recommended Country Inns, West Coast  •  Julianna Belote GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A listing of 339 top picks of the region's best inns, from California to Washington. (PNW76, $16.95)
Redwood National and State Parks, An Introduction to Familiars Plants and Animals  •  James Kavanagh FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PLASTIC CARD  • 12 PAGES A fold-out plastic card featuring illustrations of plants and animals, highlighting the most common species. (CAL228, $5.95)
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)
Rough Guide San Francisco Directions  •  Mark Ellwood GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A volume in the series Rough Guide Directions, this slim and colorful guide to San Francisco quickly orients the reader to attractions and practicalities. With public transportation maps, local maps, and a basic fold-out full city map, as well as concise descriptions. Bundled with the printed guide is a full-text e-Book on CD-ROM, both PC and Mac compatible, and downloads to hand-held devices. (SFO17, $10.99)
San Francisco  •  Kevin Starr  •  Santi Visalli ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A lively portrait of the city in 100 color photographs. With an accompanying essay by Kevin Starr, California State Librarian and a San Francisco native. (SFO22, $22.50)
San Francisco Architecture  •  Sally Byrne Woodbridge ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER Subtitled, An Illustrated Guide to the Outstanding Buildings, Public Artworks, and Parks in the Bay Area of California. (SFO27, $24.95)
Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast, An Illustrated Guide to Northern California, Oregon, Washington & British Columb  •  Eugene Kozloff FIELD GUIDE •  1983 •  PAPER  • 370 PAGES A comprehensive handbook to the marine life found along the northern Pacific coasts of North America with 700 illustrations, many in color. Organized by habitat, it's an excellent reference to more than 650 species found on rocky shores, sandy beaches, marshes and around floating docks in Puget Sound and surrounding waters. Originally published in 1973 and often revised. (PNW60, $29.95)
Sequoia/King's Canyon Map  •  Trails Illustrated MAP A topographic map of Sequoia National Park and King's Canyon at a scale of 1:112,000. Published in conjunction with National Geographic. (CAL72, $11.95)
Sierra Nevada Natural History  •  Tracy I. Storer  •  Robert L. Usinger  •  David Lukas FIELD GUIDE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES An old-fashioned comprehensive guide to 750 species of mammals, plants, insects, fish, birds and amphibians throughout the Sierra Nevadas, first published in 1963. With 200 line drawings and 500 new color photographs. (CAL53, $24.95)
Sierra Nevada, The Naturalist's Companion  •  Verna Johnston NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 241 PAGES This portrait of the Sierra Nevada has been a favorite among naturalists since it was originally published in 1970. Recently updated to reflect ecological research, it's a lyrical tour of the wildlife, plants and landscapes of the Sierra by Vera Johnston, a respected biologist, ornithologist and wildlife photographer. Johnston also writes of the Native Americans, residents, explorers and scientists of the Sierra. With 50 color photographs, 10 drawings and nine maps. (CAL46, $21.95)
The Silverado Squatters  •  Robert Louis Stevenson LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 100 PAGES A classic account of Calistoga and the Napa Valley. Stevenson vividly describes the characters he meets while wandering the region, where he and his new wife had settled for nine months in a bunkhouse of an abandoned silver mine in the late 1800s. (CAL01, $10.95)
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)
Song for the Blue Ocean, Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas  •  Carl Safina NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 458 PAGES A grand tour of our blue planet, divided geographically, this book is an excellent resource -- fascinating to read and full of hope. It combines a personal journey, hundreds of interviews with fisherman and scientists around the world, and a tour of important watery habitats. (OCE09, $18.00)
Sonoma Valley Viticultural Map  •  Sonoma County Grape Growers Associa 1998 •  MAP Published by the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, this colorful topographic map shows the valley in wonderful detail, at a scale of 1:64,000. It's perfect for touring the vineyards. (CAL85, $12.50)
Stairway Walks in San Francisco  •  Adah Bakalinsky GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 136 PAGES Tour guide Bakalinsky leads 27 ascents (and descents) throughout the city, elucidating history and architecture en route, in this classic guide. (SFO07, $16.95)
Steal This Book  •  R. Crumb  •  Abbie Hoffman LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 308 PAGES Part revolutionary manifesto, part tongue-in-cheek how-to manual for the counterculture, Abbie Hoffman's book was a bestseller in 1971 and remains a defining statement of the Yippie movement. Illustrated by comic book artist R. Crumb. (USA113, $15.95)
Steep Trails  •  John Muir  •  Edward Hoagland NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 279 PAGES A collection of John Muir's essays and letters spanning 29 years of his life. In this volume, Muir describes his wanderings throughout the West, including Mount Shasta, Salt Lake, San Gabriel, Nevada, the Grand Canyon, Oregon and Washington. (USW277, $14.95)
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)
Sweet Thursday  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 260 PAGES A sequel to "Cannery Row," Steinbeck's second ode to Monterey's flophouses sees the return of Doc and other memorable characters. (CAL141, $14.00)
Tales of the City  •  Armistead Maupin LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES The first of Maupin's six "Tales of the City" novels -- which began life as a newspaper serial and ultimately inspired a hit television series -- chronicles the lives of the residents of one fictitious apartment house in 1970s San Francisco. An observant portrait of an era, this comedy of manners is an excellent entertainment. (SFO05, $14.00)
Time Out San Francisco  •  Time Out GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES An up-to-date guide on what to do and where to go by the people who publish Time Out Magazine. (SFO30, $19.95)
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)
To Yosemite and Beyond, Writings from the Years 1863-1865  •  John Muir NATURAL HISTORY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 171 PAGES A selection of letters, journals and articles by Muir covering his Yosemite years. With an introduction by the editors who compiled this posthumous collection, notes and a section of letters and biographical writings about Muir by travelers and others who first met him in Yosemite. Muir died before he was able to write the next volume of his autobiography covering this important period. (CAL45, $12.95)
Tortilla Flat  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 174 PAGES The first of Steinbeck's novels set in the Monterey Peninsula of California, a tale of Mexican-Americans in the run-down district of Tortilla Flat. Thematically based on Arthurian legend, this is a short, episodic story, filled with a colorful cast of characters. (USW149, $12.00)
Trains of Discovery, Western Railroads and the National Parks/Collector's Guide  •  Alfred Runte HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A celebration of the romance of rail travel, this book features wonderful period advertisements, archival and modern photographs, showing how the railroad contributed to the development of the National Park System. An illustrated tribute to American railroads and national parks, featuring period advertisements, posters and memorabilia of Glacier, Grand Canyon and Denali National Parks. (USW56, $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)
Verdi at the Golden Gate, Opera and San Francisco in the Gold Rush Years  •  George Whitney Martin  •  Lotfi Mansouri MUSIC •  1993 •  HARD COVER  • 321 PAGES A musical history of San Francisco in the 19th century, focusing on the popularity of opera (and especially Verdi) in the period following the gold rush. (SFO14, $55.00)
The Vineyard  •  Idwal Jones  •  Robert Mondavi LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 285 PAGES Evocative of the seasons in the Napa Valley, this novel traces the fate of Alda Pendle, a viticulturist's daughter who becomes a viticulturist herself. Along the way, the reader imbibes much of the early history of California winemaking. M.F.K. Fisher called the book "as heartening as wine to read". Robert Mondavi wrote the foreword. (CAL104, $16.95)
Virgil Thomson, Composer on the Aisle  •  Anthony Tommasini BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 605 PAGES A comprehensive biography of the American composer and critic. The author, a New York Times music critic, was also a personal friend of Thomson's. (MUS22, $30.00)
Western Coastal Birds  •  Raymond Leung  •  James Kavanaugh FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PLASTIC CARD A fold-out, laminated field guide featuring illustrations of almost 150 species commonly found along the Pacific coast of the U.S. This pocket-size guide is a handy tool for quick identification on the beach or on the trail. (USW390, $5.95)
Where San Francisco Cityguide  •  Where Magazine GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 64 PAGES A sturdy pocket guide to city neighborhoods, hotels, shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, cultural events and other top sights, helpfully keyed to overview maps and featuring a detailed downtown PopOut map. (SFO37, $9.95)
Wild God of the World, An Anthology of Robinson Jeffers  •  Robinson Jeffers LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A collection of pieces from Carmel, California's Robinson Jeffers, the prolific poet from the first half of the 20th century. (CAL142, $19.95)
The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley  •  Jonathan Swinchatt  •  David G. Howell FOOD •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 229 PAGES California-bound wine connoisseurs will appreciate the informative no-stone-left-unturned scientific approach to the analysis of Terroir (i.e. soil but much more than that) in the Napa Valley. This is the third book on wine in the Napa by Swinchatt and Howell. (CAL190, $35.95)
Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey  •  Lillian Schlissel HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 278 PAGES A fascinating, well researched selection of women's diaries and journals from the Wild West, including vivid accounts of buffalo hunts, Indian raids, childbirth under difficult circumstances, geological wonders and a telling amount of inward trepidation. With black-and-white photographs throughout. Schlissel collected hundreds of diaries and memoirs for this history of pioneer women's experiences, the thesis of which -- that women and men experienced westward expansion differently -- is less remarkable than the details which lead to that conclusion. Schlissel quotes generously from her primary-source documents (and appends a long section of more excerpts). It's compulsively readable stuff. (USW395, $14.95)
The World Atlas of Wine  •  Hugh Johnson  •  Jancis Robinson FOOD •  2007 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES An invaluable, illustrated guide and atlas, covering wine-producing regions around the world. This revised fifth edition takes in new grapes, new wines and new wine-producing regions. Although France is given emphasis, California, Spain, Italy, South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and other regions are also well covered. With hundreds of color photographs, illustrations and excellent full color maps (which vary in scale according to region). (GEN244, $50.00)
Yosemite  •  Ansel Adams NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 112 PAGES A handsome collection of Ansel Adams' photographs of Yosemite National Park. The 66 photographs include portraits of Moon and Half Dome, Clearing Winter Storm, and El Capitan. (CAL49, $21.99)
Yosemite National Park Map  •  Trails Illustrated MAP A detailed, topographic map of Yosemite National Park, shown at a scale of 1:100,000. It's printed on tear-proof and water resistant tyvek. (CAL40, $11.95)
Yosemite National Park, A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and its Trails  •  Jeffrey P. Schaffer GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A detailed trail guide with a separate full-color topographic map at a scale of 1:125,000. Divided into two sections, the book includes both a 50-page overview of the geology, ecology and human history of the park, and descriptions of 100 hikes. This is the fourth revised edition of the 1978 original, an excellent resource for planning and guide. (CAL105, $20.00)
Yosemite, an American Treasure  •  Kenneth Brower NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 200 PAGES An overview of Yosemite National Park, presented in the style of National Geographic style with 120 color photographs and text by Kenneth Brower. A volume in the National Geographic Park Profiles series. (CAL43, $15.00)
Yosemite, The Embattled Wilderness  •  Alfred Runte NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 319 PAGES A well researched critique of the management of Yosemite National Park and the national park system itself. Runte reveals how developers' interests have been fixed on the commercial growth of the park, rather than the preservation of wildlife and plant species. (CAL50, $14.95)
Zagat San Francisco/Bay Area Restaurants  •  Zagat Survey GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER