Abbey's Road  •  Edward Abbey NATURAL HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 198 PAGES Famed as a rascal, misanthrope and cantankerous lover of all things untamed, Abbey's writings reflect the beauty and spirit of wild places. They are also insightful and laugh-out-loud funny. This volume collects his explorations of varied locales around the globe, including the Sierra Madre of Mexico. If you like this book, we also carry Abbey's tribute to the American Southwest, Desert Solitaire. (DES04, $17.00)
Adventuring in the California Desert  •  Lynne Foster GUIDEBOOK •  1997 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A guidebook for active, outdoor-oriented travelers looking to explore the desert regions of Southern California. With ample coverage of the nature, culture and history of Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and other popular destinations. Filled with maps and practical information on getting around. (CAL73, $18.95)
Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest  •  Stephen Plog  •  Amy Elizabeth Grey CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2008 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES An illustrated introduction to the people, ancient pueblos and cliff dwellings of the American Southwest, ideal for the traveler with an interest in the prehistory of the region. Organized chronologically, it features hundreds of maps, mostly black-and-white photographs, and site diagrams. (USW131, $24.95)
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Map  •  Wilderness Press MAP A detailed recreation map of California's Anza-Borrego State Park, at a scale of 1:162,000. (CAL117, $9.95)
Ask the Dust  •  John Fante  •  Charles Bukowski LITERATURE •  1979 •  PAPER  • 165 PAGES The story of Arturo Bandini, who moves to Los Angeles with the intentions of becoming a famous writer. Written in the 1930s, it's an oft-forgotten classic of a confused young man scraping by in an unwelcoming city, and trying to hold onto his impossible dreams. It follows "Wait Until Spring, Bandini" but stands alone as an utterly convincing piece of narrative fiction, that can be read on its own. (CAL14, $15.00)
Best Easy Day Hikes Anza-Borrego  •  Bill Cunningham  •  Polly Burke GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES A compact guide to 20 popular day hikes in the 60,000-acre desert park. (USW337, $6.95)
Best Easy Day Hikes Joshua Tree  •  Bill Cunningham GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 87 PAGES A compact guide to 25 popular day hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, including trail descriptions and sketch maps. (CAL170, $6.95)
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)
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)
The Big Sleep  •  Raymond Chandler LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 231 PAGES The classic crime novel that inspired the classic movie and introduced the world to its most famous hard-boiled detective, Philip Marlowe. Here is a journey into the dark underworld of 1930's Los Angeles from the master of the genre. (CAL17, $13.95)
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)
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)
Building the Getty  •  Richard Meier ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 204 PAGES An account of the commissioning and building of Los Angeles' Getty Center, written by the architect who designed it. Meier charts the full course of the monumental project, but he also charts his own life, looking back as far as his childhood and the burgeoning of his interest in architecture. (CAL21, $25.95)
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, A History  •  Kevin Starr HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A lively short history in the excellent Modern Library Chronicles series, matching writers and subjects. (CAL204, $14.95)
Canyon Country Wildflowers  •  Damian Fagan FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 152 PAGES Published in conjunction with the Canyonlands Natural History Association, this comprehensive field guide covers 190 of the most commonly encountered wildflowers, shrubs and trees of the Four Corners area, including Canyonlands and Arches national parks. The straightforward descriptions are accompanied by color photographs, and habitat and range information. (USW155, $19.95)
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)
City of Nets: A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940s  •  Otto Friedrich HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES Extensively researched and engaging, Friedrich's history of Hollywood in the 1940s is full of anecdote and insightful commentary. It's a detailed social history that looks at the glamour and corruption of L.A. with a keen intellectual eye. Part of Friedrich's trilogy of urban social histories that includes "Before the Deluge, A Portrait of Berlin in the 1920's" (GER11). (CAL29, $25.95)
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)
Compass Guide Las Vegas  •  Deke Castleman GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Handsomely produced, illustrated and informative, this guide is an overview of the history, character and attractions of Las Vegas. It features archival photographs, literary excerpts, an extensive reading list and practical travel information. With suggested day trips and a hotel-by-hotel survey of the Strip. (USW247, $21.95)
Compass Guide Nevada  •  Deke Castleman  •  Jeff Gnass GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES Castleman mixes literary excerpts with his own descriptions of Nevada, from ghost towns to Las Vegas to the vast natural territory in between in this comprehensive, literate guide to the state. With 200 color photographs, diagrams and maps. (USW223, $21.00)
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)
The Control of Nature  •  John McPhee NATURAL HISTORY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A bestseller in the classic McPhee tradition, this book explores our generally feeble attempts to combat all-powerful nature. Interweaving solid science, interviews and observation, he chronicles the army corps of engineers and their efforts to control the Mississippi, Icelanders and their attempts to control the flow of a volcano, and Angelinos and how they cope with the ever-present threat of seismic destruction. A national treasure, no one explains geology and geologists like McPhee. Like most of his work, these vintage essays originally appeared in the "New Yorker." (NAT01, $16.00)
Crabgrass Frontier, the Suburbanization of the United States  •  Kenneth T. Jackson HISTORY •  1987 •  PAPER  • 472 PAGES An historical account of one of the most important developments in American history: the rise of suburbia. Jackson is a learned scholar steeped in his subject matter, but this is nonetheless a very accessible page-turner. Though such a term may not often be applied to a foot-noted professorial work, this classic is deeply informed by a passionate sense of dignity, civility, and humanity. Beyond its considerable sociological value, this book asks what it means to be American and, indeed, what it means to be human. A must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the United States of the 21st Century. (USA15, $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)
The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, And Other Stories  •  William Saroyan LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 270 PAGES The most famous Armenian-American writer of the 20th century, William Saroyan first gained recognition for this collection of short stories, many of which are concerned with Armenian families living in and around Saroyan's home town of Fresno, California. (USW210, $14.95)
Day Hikes Around Santa Barbara California, 46 of the Best  •  Robert B. Stone GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 104 PAGES A guide to nature hikes in the Santa Barbara area. The hikes, which range in length and terrain, are each illustrated with a map. (CAL112, $11.95)
The Day of the Locust  •  Nathaniel West LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES Considered the classic novel on the tragic life behind the scenes of Hollywood's golden age, this is the story of a scene designer and his experiences with a group of marginalized performers in Los Angeles. West died young, and this is considered his masterpiece, a frightening, comic attack on the industry of entertainment and glamour. (CAL34, $6.99)
Desert Survival Skills  •  David Alloway GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A practical guide to survival in the desert, leavened by Alloway's sense of humor and own experience in the Chihuahuan desert. Topics include finding and conserving water, fire, shelter, weather, plant and animal resources, vehicle repair and first aid. (DES06, $24.95)
Discovering the Desert, Legacy of the Carnegie Desert Botanical Laboratory  •  William McGinnies BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1982 •  PAPER  • 276 PAGES A history of Sonoran desert research, this book is an engaging survey of the geography, ecology and climate of desert life in the American Southwest -- and especially of the pioneering work conducted at the Carnegie Desert Botanical Laboratory. With maps, diagrams and black-and-white photos. (USW103, $17.95)
Eastern Caribbean Cruise Tour Guide  •  Coastal Cruise Tour Guides 2000 •  MAP A handy guide and booklet that unfolds to a six-foot-long full color map. Designed for the ship-based traveler, it features historical background, visitor attractions and maps of all the islands from Puerto Rico to Trinidad. (CRB135, $15.95)
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood  •  Peter Biskind ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 506 PAGES A salacious, gossipy and utterly readable account of the rise and fall of the "New American Cinema" of the 1970s. No matter what one thinks of Biskind's opinions of the major players in Hollywood (he backs them up with piles of quotes drawn from hours of interviews), you have to appreciate his kinetic style and ability to tell an epic story of hedonism, greed and creative genius. The main characters in the tale read like a laundry list of Hollywood elite, from Warren Beatty, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Speilberg, to Martin Scorsese, Robert Towne and George Lucas. (FLM06, $18.00)
Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster  •  Mike Davis NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 484 PAGES A wild look at the multitude of environmental dangers that threaten Los Angeles. Davis details the possibilities and realities of floods, fires and earthquakes -- as well as the occasional attack from a swarm of killer bees. He centers his arguments on the fact that L.A. is too concerned with commercial growth, that it's a city whose design and development has not taken into account the ecological threats that surround it. (CAL18, $15.95)
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)
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)
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)
Fishwatcher's Field Guide Baja California, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco  •  Idaz Greenberg FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PLASTIC CARD A double-sided, full-color waterproof card featuring illustrations of commonly-encountered reef fishes. (BJA31, $7.50)
Fodor's Los Angeles' 25 Best  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A shirt-pocket guide to Los Angeles, this slim book includes an excellent map of the center of the city and essential information on its highlights, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing -- all in a slipcover. (USW186, $11.95)
The Fragmented Metropolis: Los Angeles, 1859-1930  •  Robert M. Fogelson  •  Robert Fishman HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 362 PAGES An in-depth, scholarly history of urban development in Los Angeles, from its beginning as an agricultural village to its emergence as one of the country's major cities in the early 20th century. The author, an expert on urban studies, displays how the development of Los Angeles helped dictate the urbanization of other American cities. (CAL28, $22.95)
Gathering the Desert  •  Gary Paul Nabhan NATURAL HISTORY •  1985 •  PAPER  • 209 PAGES An ecologist with a particular interest in the origins of foodstuffs, Nabhan interweaves ethnography, biochemistry, natural history and journalism to document traditional uses of 12 Sonoran desert plants: the creosote bush, palm, mescal, sandfood, organpipe cactus, amaranth, tepary bean, chile, devil's claw, panicgrass, and wild gourds. (USW120, $19.95)
The Getty Center: Richard Meier & Partners  •  Richard Meier  •  Michael Brawn ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES Part of the "Architecture in Detail Series" this is a photographic tour of the Getty Center and it's surroundings, a useful and colorful account of one of the most famous examples of contemporary architecture. (CAL25, $29.95)
Hearst Castle, The Biography of a Country House  •  Victoria Kastner  •  Victoria Garagliano  •  George Plimpton ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES An illustrated history of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst's estate at San Simeon. Kastner focuses on the 28-year collaborative relationship between Hearst and San Francisco architect Julia Morgan. With 150 color plates. (CAL56, $50.00)
Hill Guide Santa Barbara & the Central Coast  •  Kathleen Hill  •  Gerald Hill GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES A homegrown guide to Santa Barbara and surroundings from two longtime residents of California, both practical and personal in its delivery of travel information and regional background. It focuses on out of the way places, food and cultural attractions. (CAL115, $14.95)
The Hours  •  Michael Cunningham LITERATURE •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 230 PAGES A hard cover edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning (and magnificent) novel by friend of Longitude, Michael Cunningham. The book interweaves three tales, one in 1950's Los Angeles, another in contemporary New York, and the final in London (or outside) in the 1920's. Each echoes Virginia Woolf's masterpiece, Mrs. Dalloway. This is simply a marvelous read: deep, dark, yet wondrously full of hope. (NYC72, $23.00)
In Nevada: The Land, the People, God, and Chance  •  David Thomson HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A highly original, captivating social history of the state, including the extraordinary spectacle of Las Vegas, organized as a series of literary snapshots told in the first person. A travelogue of sorts, Thomson pieces together an astute, well written and researched portrait of Nevada. Wonderful. (USW213, $14.00)
In Search of the Old Ones, Exploring the Anasazi World of the Southwest  •  David D. Roberts ARCHAEOLOGY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 271 PAGES An exuberant, engaging account of archaeological adventures in the desert Southwest. Roberts, a contributing editor at Men's Journal with a fondness for the outdoors, travels throughout the four corners region, talking with the locals and visiting ancient sites. He investigates the factors that may have led to the demise of the Anasazi civilization -- and looks into longstanding controversies such as the reputation of Richard Wetherill, and whether the Anasazi committed acts of cannibalism in warfare. (USW157, $14.00)
Insider's Guide to San Diego  •  Eva Shaw GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 396 PAGES A practical guide to travel in San Diego, covering the attractions of the city in detail, as well as touching on its historical and cultural heritage. A nice trip planner and useful tool for getting around, it also features black and white photos and maps. (CAL91, $18.95)
Insight City Guide Los Angeles  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 302 PAGES Full of color photographs, this handsome guide to Los Angeles introduces its history and culture through a series of short essays. It also contains sections of practical travel information. (CAL19, $16.95)
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)
Ishi, Last of his Tribe  •  Theodora Kroeber BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1973 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS Kids in California inevitably read this book in school, and for good reason. As an elegy for a lost way of life and a lesson in Native American history, it's extremely appealing. Theodora Kroeber relates the life story of Ishi, the last Yahi Indian to survive the arrival of white settlers in California, who was reputedly starving when a white family discovered him hiding in their slaughterhouse in 1911. He was subsequently "adopted" by the anthropology department of the University of California, where Kroeber debriefed him. For this children's book, she embroidered the story a bit, fleshing out Ishi's youth and putting thoughts in his head, but it still qualifies as a classic true story. Ages 12 and up. (CAL100, $6.50)
Island of the Blue Dolphins  •  Scott O'Dell LITERATURE •  1971 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS Winner of the 1961 Newbery Medal, this is the gripping story of a courageous American Indian girl left abandoned by her tribe on an island off the California coast. Recommended for children ages 12 and up, Karana's struggle to survive is riveting. (PAC78, $6.99)
The J. Paul Getty Museum and Its Collections: A Museum for the New Century  •  John Walsh  •  Deborah Ann Gribbon ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A well-illustrated overview of the J. Paul Getty Museum, it's history and varied collection of art, written by the museum's director and chief curator. With a chapter on J. Paul Getty's life. (CAL26, $40.00)
Joshua Tree National Park Map  •  Trails Illustrated MAP A hiker's map, printed on tear-resistant, waterproof paper, covering the park at a scale of 1:80,000. (CAL171, $11.95)
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)
L.A. Confidential  •  James Ellroy LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES James Ellroy's modern noir thriller, a densely plotted yarn in the style of Raymond Chandler. Made into a critically acclaimed film, this page-turner follows three very different detectives, who are caught up in a scheme that involves gangsters, public officials and prominent figures in the entertainment industry. (CAL35, $14.95)
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)
Los Angeles A to Z, An Encyclopedia of the City and County  •  Leonard Pitt  •  Dale Pitt REFERENCE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 600 PAGES A big, handsomely produced reference and guide. The Pitt husband-and-wife team (Leonard a professor and Dale a freelance writer and editor) cover the personalities, history and complicated geography of the city in this helpful reference, a well organized and fascinating introduction filled with information not found in the typical tourist guides. Complemented by over 300 illustrations. (CAL20, $31.95)
Los Angeles City Center Map  •  Borch Maps MAP A laminated, flexible map of the city center of Los Angeles at a scale of 1:65,000. (CAL37, $8.95)
Los Angeles Map  •  Rand McNally Maps MAP A map of Los Angeles and vicinity at a scale of 1:285,000. (CAL36, $4.95)
The Los Angeles River: Its Life, Death and Possible Rebirth  •  Blake Gumprecht NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 380 PAGES A history of the Los Angeles river, a once large and healthy water source that has been dammed up and paved over for the sake of urban development. The author looks at how the river has had a profound effect on the construction of the city and how it has ultimately been destroyed by the urban creation, as he sets out a plan for conservation and future restoration. (CAL32, $21.95)
The Love of the Last Tycoon  •  Matthew J. Bruccoli  •  F. Scott Fitzgerald LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 169 PAGES Fitzgerald's unfinished novel about a young movie producer trying to make his name in Hollywood's great studio system. Edited and newly restored from original notes and drafts by Matthew J. Bruccoli, one of the top scholars of the author's works. (CAL16, $14.00)
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)
Masterpieces in the J. Paul Getty Museum: Drawings  •  Getty Trust Publications ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES Published by the Getty Trust this volume illustrates and describes the greatest drawings in the museum's collection, including the work of da Vinci, Raphael, Goya, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian. (CAL22, $22.50)
Masterpieces in the J. Paul Getty Museum: Paintings  •  Getty Trust Publications ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES Published by the Getty Trust this volume illustrates and describes the greatest paintings in the museum's collection, including the work of Masaccio, Mantegna, Breughel, Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. (CAL24, $22.50)
Masterpieces in the J. Paul Getty Museum: Photographs  •  Getty Trust Publications ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES Published by the Getty Trust this volume illustrates and describes the 50 greatest photographs in the museum's collection, including the work of Man Ray, Alfredo Stieglitz, Carleton Watkins, Walker Evans and Julia Margaret Cameron. (CAL23, $22.50)
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)
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)
Moon Handbook Southern California  •  Kim Weir GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 679 PAGES Whether you are traveling on a budget or a spending spree, Kim Weir has tips on a wide range of accommodations, restaurants and entertainment options. This insider's insight explores the entire Southern California region, from Mammoth Mountain to the Mexican border. (CAL39, $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)
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)
A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert  •  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 650 PAGES Written with the general reader in mind, the many contributors to this book cover the ecology, flora and fauna of the Sonora in dozens of short articles. Written by the staff of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, it's an encyclopedic, overview of the region and its biodiversity. The book includes 35 color illustrations, 25 black and white photographs, and 450 line drawings useful for identification. (BJA26, $31.95)
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)
Natural State, A Literary Anthology of California Nature Writing  •  Steven Gilbar ANTHOLOGY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES Divided by ecological region, this book is a literary tour of California's unrivaled natural diversity, featuring essays and excerpts by such great writers as Barry Lopez, Gretel Ehrlich and John McPhee. Gary Snyder provided the afterword. (CAL101, $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)
Pacific State Wildflowers  •  Theodore F. Niehaus  •  Charles Ripper FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES This Peterson field guide covers 1,492 species of wildflowers found from British Columbia to Baja California, from the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean. Sorted by color, type and flower arrangement, the species descriptions include field marks, flowering season, habitat, range and scientific names. With drawings and some color illustrations. (USW192, $19.00)
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)
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)
Red Tiles, Blue Skies: More Tales of Santa Barbara from Adobe Days to Present Days  •  Steven Gilbar  •  Dean Stewart ANTHOLOGY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 179 PAGES Arranged chronologically, this anthology of writing on Santa Barbara -- most of it fiction -- contains many pieces that have been long out of print. Covering from Spanish colonization to the 1990s, it's a history of the city as told through its literature. Follows "Tales of Santa Barbara" (CAL106). (CAL107, $12.95)
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)
San Jacinto Wilderness Map  •  Tom Harrison Maps MAP A map of the San Jacinto wilderness area of southern California, at a scale of 1:42,000. (CAL172, $8.95)
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse  •  Patricia Gebhard  •  Kathryn Masson ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES An architectural study of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, illustrated with color photographs. (CAL116, $16.50)
Santa Barbara Map  •  MapLink MAP A traveler's map of Santa Barbara at a scale of 1:16,500. Published in Santa Barbara. (CAL114, $4.95)
Santa Barbara Style  •  Kathryn Masson  •  James Chen ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 207 PAGES A photographic tour of Santa Barbara's gardens and architectural treasures, highlighting the Native American influences along with the predominate Spanish Colonial style. (CAL109, $50.00)
A Short History of Las Vegas  •  Barbara Land  •  Myrick Land  •  Guy Louis Rocha HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 200 PAGES • COMING IN This oversize paperback is a brief history of Las Vegas, tracing the gambling mecca's roots back to its early settlers. It covers the city's Mormon pioneers, first builders, mobsters, entertainers and tycoons. (USW243, $15.95)
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)
Southern California EasyFinder  •  Rand McNally Maps MAP A laminated, fold-up map of Southern California at a scale of 1:1,600,000. (CAL125, $7.95)
The Spanish Frontier in North America  •  David Weber HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 579 PAGES Here's the definitive history of the Spanish colonial period in America, from the settlement of St. Augustine in Florida to the missions of New Mexico. This splendid volume provides an understanding and appreciation of this 500-year-old cultural legacy -- and the role it has played in the American experience. Weber interweaves Spanish colonial, Native American and "Anglo" history in this fascinating account of what was once a "Spanish" frontier. (NAM01, $30.00)
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)
Stories from Where We Live, The California Coast  •  Sara St. Antoine  •  Paul Mirocha  •  Trudy Nicholson LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) An anthology of writings about coastal California -- wonderfully useful as a young person's guide to people, nature and place. It includes Native American myths, poems and songs, historical accounts and modern short stories, as well as black-and-white drawings and maps. Ages 9 to 14. (CAL94, $10.95)
Tales of Santa Barbara, From Native Storytellers to Sue Grafton  •  Steven Gilbar  •  Dean Stewart ANTHOLOGY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 179 PAGES A collection of fiction and traditional stories about the Santa Barbara area. Native American mythology, folktales from early European settlers, and modern detective yarns all find their way into the mix. (CAL106, $12.95)
Those Who Came Before, Southwestern Archaeology in the National Park System  •  Robert Hill Lister  •  Florence C. Lister ARCHAEOLOGY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 238 PAGES An overview of Southwest archaeology, focusing on national parks or monuments. It covers Hohokam, Mogollon and Anasazi sites. (USW156, $16.95)
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)
Tucson Southeast Arizona Map  •  North Star Maps MAP A map of Southeast Arizona covering Saguaro National Park, Tucson and the Chiricahua Mountains. (USW123, $3.95)
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)
Walk Santa Barbara  •  Cheri Rae  •  John McKinney GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES A useful guide to walks in the city of Santa Barbara and surroundings. (CAL110, $14.95)
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)
William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles  •  Catherine Mulholland BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2002 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A biography of William Mulholland, the man who led the project of bringing water to Los Angeles. Written by his granddaughter, who seeks to dispel what she believes are common misconceptions about him, this is a comprehensive portrait, drawn from a vast amount of archived materials. (CAL31, $21.95)
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)