AA Gill is Away  •  A. A. Gill TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES In Britain, AA Gill is a household word, as an exceedingly popular restaurant and media critic for the Times of London. He hates to travel, but his readers love it when he does, because he so frequently comes back with a hilarious, intricately observed report. This book is a collection of those essays. The range is staggering -- included are reports from famine-plagued Sudan, Tokyo, Scotland, Tanzania and the Kalahari, and Los Angeles where he investigates the adult-film (AKA porn) industry. Gill manages to be both very funny and very moving throughout this book: no mean feat. One caveat: despite the introduction written specifically for an American audience, these essays remain very British, with a fair amount of mystifying slang. (TVL76, $14.00)
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)
The Architecture of John Lautner  •  Alan Hess ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES An illustrated overview of the life and work of John Lautner, apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright and leading figure in the architectural modernist movement of the mid-20th century. (GEN280, $29.95)
The Architecture of R.M. Schindler  •  Elizabeth A.T. Smith ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES A visual survey of the avant-garde California architect's works. The five scholarly essays study his contributions to architectural legacy of Los Angeles and early twentieth-century modernism. The volume covers his early work in Vienna, his apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright, and his independent projects through his death in 1953. With 257 illustrations, including 107 full-color plates. (CAL149, $65.00)
Basin and Range  •  John McPhee NATURAL HISTORY •  1990 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES McPhee's illuminating account of travels in the company of geologist Kenneth S. Deffeyes along Route 80 from Utah to California, a volume in his four-book series on North American geology. After this book, you'll never look at this austete landscape -- or a roadcut, quite the same way again. McPhee is a genious at exploring the things we often take for granted -- in this case, how simple road cuts expose aeons of earth's history. (GEO13, $14.00)
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)
Beverly Hills, 1930-2005  •  Marc Wanamaker HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES Film historian Wanamaker, owner of Bison Archives, one of the largest archives of historic photographs in Southern California, selected this wonderful collection of vintage photographs depicting the evolution of Beverly Hills from the Great Depression through its long association with Hollywood for this volume in the Images of America series. (CAL212, $19.99)
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)
Butterflies through Binoculars, The West  •  Jeffrey Glassberg FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 374 PAGES A photographic identification guide to butterflies found throughout the western United States, from the Mississippi to the Pacific. Range maps and 625 color photos are included, along with short descriptions, information on biology and conservation, and other facts helpful to spotting and identifying butterflies. (BUG11, $24.95)
Compass Guide 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)
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)
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)
Death Valley and the Amargosa, Land of Illusion  •  Richard E. Lingenfelter HISTORY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 662 PAGES An exhaustive history of Death Valley and the Amargosa River, up through 1933 when it was made a national park. Author Richard E. Lingenfelter discusses in detail the myths and folklore that were inspired by and helped shape the region. Filled with illustrations, maps and documents. (CAL10, $34.95)
Death Valley National Park  •  Fred Hirschmann  •  Randi Hirschmann  •  Mark Schlenz NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES One hundred and six color photographs of death Valley by landscape photographers Fred and Randi Hirschmann. It's a good overview of the park, especially recommended for travelers with a camera. (CAL13, $19.95)
Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film  •  Peter Biskind ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES Biskind's follow-up to "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls," this time depicting the American independent film movement of the early 1990s in salacious, gossipy detail. (FLM14, $26.95)
The Dream Endures, California Enters the 1940s  •  Kevin Starr HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A close look at California in the 1930s and the transition from the Great Depression into "the good life." Its the fifth part in Starr's multi-volume cultural history of California, Americans and the California Dream. (CAL151, $24.95)
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)
Embattled Dreams, California in War and Peace, 1940-1950  •  Kevin Starr HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 386 PAGES The sixth part in Starr's multi-volume cultural history of California, Americans and the California Dream. This book tackles impact of World War II on the Californian society and economy. (CAL150, $19.95)
Explorer Los Angeles, The Complete Residents' Guide  •  Explorer Publishing GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 510 PAGES A comprehensive practical guide to the region. It also includes a healthy amount of historical, natural and cultural information. (CAL248, $24.95)
The Explorer's Guide to Death Valley National Park  •  T. Scott Bryan  •  Betty Tucker-Bryan GUIDEBOOK •  1995 •  PAPER  • 382 PAGES A comprehensive practical guide to Death Valley, detailing day hikes and local attractions, and introduction to the human and natural history of the region. Excerpts from the logs of early travelers and explorers and the author's own observations offer a personal view into the national park. (CAL67, $23.95)
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)
Falcon Guide, Hiking California's Desert Parks  •  Bill Cunningham  •  Polly Burke GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 374 PAGES In addition to useful trail descriptions, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to the deserts of Southern California gives an overview of the area's natural history, and advice on navigating the rugged terrain. It includes hikes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Death Valley, Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park. (CAL74, $19.95)
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)
Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Los Angeles  •  Jeff Spurrier GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 262 PAGES (CAL191, $12.99)
Frommer's Los Angeles Day by Day  •  Garth Mueller GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A compact shirt pocket guide, ideal for a short visit, featuring remarkably good suggestions for everything from food to hotels, neighborhoods and shopping. With a separate foldout map of the city center. (CAL249, $12.99)
Frommer's San Diego Day by Day  •  Mark Hiss GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A compact shirt pocket guide, ideal for a short visit, featuring remarkably good suggestions for everything from food to hotels, neighborhoods and shopping. With a separate foldout map of the city center. (CAL250, $12.99)
The Gangster We Are All Looking for  •  Thi Diem Thuy Le LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES Told through the eyes of a young Vietnamese girl, this non-linear narrative is the tale of a family's desperate struggle to adjust to the alien culture of San Diego. Like her protagonist, Le and her father left Vietnam in 1979 by boat, ending up in Southern California. The author is currently a Radcliffe Fellow in Massachusetts. This is her first novel. (CAL175, $12.95)
Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley  •  Robert P. Sharp  •  Allen F. Glazner NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 329 PAGES This volume describes the geological features one will find in Southeastern California, from the Sierra Nevada to the eastern border of the state. It focuses on the rich landscapes and rock formations of the Death Valley region. (CAL12, $18.00)
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)
In Search of a Living Architecture  •  Albert Frey ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES Renowned modernist architect Albert Frey discusses his design philosophies in this short, wonderfully illustrated essay, first published in 1939. (GEN278, $55.00)
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)
Inventing the Dream, California Through the Progressive Era  •  Kevin Starr HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER  • 391 PAGES A historical portrait of California at the turn of the century, with a particular focus on the emergence of the Southern California culture. Its the second part in Starr's multi-volume cultural history of California, Americans and the California Dream. (CAL152, $34.00)
Iron, Erecting the Walt Disney Concert Hall  •  Gil Garcetti  •  Frank O. Gehry ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES This photographic survey chronicles the construction of the monumental structure. Gercetti concentrates on the innovative ironwork required to build the concert hall. (CAL148, $39.95)
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)
The Little Sister  •  Raymond Chandler MYSTERY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 250 PAGES Sleuth Philip Marlowe soon discovers that his new case is more complicated than his beautiful and mysterious client had led him to believe, as he becomes entangled in the dangerous and glamorous world of Hollywood filmmaking. (CAL258, $12.95)
Los Angeles, The Architecture of Four Ecologies  •  Reyner Banham  •  Anthony Vidler ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 275 PAGES An architectural history of Los Angeles. Banham reads the cityscape in order to understand how Los Angeles has adapted to its environment of beaches, freeways, flatlands and foothills. (CAL145, $22.95)
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)
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)
Miss Lonelyhearts & the Day of the Locust  •  Nathanael West LITERATURE •  1969 •  PAPER West's two classic short novels, one set in New York and the other in Hollywood, dramatically depict the destructive forces of modern American life. The Day of the Locust is the classic novel on the tragic life behind the scenes of Hollywood's golden age. (CAL259, $12.95)
Mobil Travel Guide City Guide Los Angeles  •  Mobil Travel Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • COMING IN JANUARY Celebrating 50 years, these practical guides feature the same Mobil star rating system. (CAL257, $17.95)
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)
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America  •  National Geographic FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 502 PAGES From Alaska to Baja California, this field guide published by the National Geographic Society, now in its fifth edition (with tabs!), is the one to carry. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages. The scale of the maps changes with the range of the bird, which means you get a more detailed regional map for those birds with a restricted range. This fully revised fifth edition features nearly 700 color range maps, bigger and better than ever. (FG09, $24.00)
Native Universe, Voices of Indian America  •  Clifford E. Trafzer ANTHOLOGY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES This anthology of personal and historical essays, as well as over 300 color illustrations of Native American art, is being published to accompany the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. It includes selections from several modern Native American writers, including Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie. (USA95, $22.00)
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 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)
No Laughing Matter  •  Peter Guttridge MYSTERY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 277 PAGES The first book in the popular Nick Madrid series. A naked woman falls -- or is pushed -- from atop a hotel during the gentle journalist's trip to the Montreal Just For Laughs festival. To solve the mystery, Madrid, a self-deprecating, yoga-loving British journalist, must search the streets of Edinburgh and the secrets of Hollywood. (CND256, $13.00)
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)
Palm Springs Modern, Houses in the California Desert  •  Adele Cygelman  •  David Glomb ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 191 PAGES A photographic tour of the architectural treasures (and oddities) of Palm Springs. Cygelman, a former editor at Architectural Digest, documents 19 homes built from the 1930s to the 70s, including modernist masterpieces and celebrity palaces. The accompanying color photographs by David Glomb are exceptional. Richard Neutra's Samuel and Luella Maslon House in Rancho Mirage, featured in the book, was torn down by its new owners in 2002. (CAL128, $50.00)
Palm Springs Oasis  •  Greg Lawson NATURAL HISTORY •  1989 •  HARD COVER  • 69 PAGES A small collection of color photographs of the deserts and canyons surrounding Palm Springs. (CAL130, $19.95)
Palm Springs/Desert Springs Map  •  Rand McNally Maps MAP A road map of Palm Springs and surrounding communities at a scale of 1:32,000. (CAL133, $4.95)
Palm Springs: The Landscape, the History, the Lore  •  Mary Jo Churchwell CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 234 PAGES Mary Jo Churchwell depicts the desert community of Palm Springs over the last 150 years, reveling in eccentric anecdotes and inspiring landscapes. With equal doses of history, nature and personal reflection. (CAL132, $25.00)
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)
Playback  •  Raymond Chandler LITERATURE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES This screenplay-turned-novel is Chandler's final work, in which hard-boiled PI Marlowe is trailing a beautiful redhead suspected of murder. Chandler's setting is based on the actual La Jolla (aka The Jewel of San Diego), where the author spent his last years. (CAL177, $12.95)
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)
Ron Jeremy, The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz  •  Ron Jeremy BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2007 •  HARD COVER (GEN382, $25.95)
San Diego Architecture from Mission to Modern: A Guide to the Buildings, Planning, People and Spaces That Shape the Region  •  Dirk Sutro ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A full-color, compact guide to the best examples of San Diego's distinctive 20th-century architecture. With photographs of each featured building, neighborhood maps and brief descriptions. The author is a San Diego-based critic, radio host, columnist and writer. Published by the San Diego Architectural Foundation. (CAL176, $24.95)
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 County Map  •  AAA Publishing 2003 •  MAP A folded street map of Santa Barbara and surrounding cities, at a scale of 1:250,000. (CAL124, $3.95)
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)
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)
Somewhere in Time  •  Richard Matheson LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A supernatural romance set in San Diego's historic Hotel Del Coronado. A man travels back in time a century in order to woo a celebrated actress whose portrait captivates him. Originally published as "Bid Time Return" in 1975, and later made into a cult film starring Christopher Reeves. (CAL127, $14.95)
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)
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)
Streetwise San Diego  •  Streetwise MAP A laminated tourist map of San Diego at a scale of 1:18,000. (CAL126, $6.95)
Surfer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Surfing  •  Doug Werner SPORT •  1999 •  PAPER An introduction to surfing for beginners with a focus on basic technique and safety. It also includes information on gear, etiquette and the history of the sport. Second Edition. (GEN329, $11.95)
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)
Time Out Los Angeles  •  Time Out GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES An up-to-date guide on what to do and where to go by the people who publish Time Out Magazine. (CAL199, $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)
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)
Wallpaper City Guide Los Angeles  •  Wallpaper Magazine GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER A stylish, thin (it fits in your back pocket) city guide compiled by the design magazine Wallpaper's local reporters. Well-organized, with chapter tabs, many photographs and of-the-moment recommendations. (CAL203, $8.95)
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)
Where Los Angeles 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. (CAL217, $9.95)
Where San Diego 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. (CAL218, $9.95)
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)