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Basic Essentials Photography in the Outdoors


by Jonathan Hanson

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 65 PAGES

Intended for your backpack, this slim guide outlines the essential knowledge needed to take pictures from what camera to buy to how to take better pictures. (PHT05, $8.95)

The Best of the West, An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West

The Best of the West, An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West


by Tony Hillerman

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 528 PAGES

A campfire collection of unforgettable portraits of the West, this anthology takes in travelers, homesteaders, Navajos, government officials, pioneers and authors as diverse as Meriwether Lewis, John Steinbeck and Edward Abbey. (USW87, $18.99)

Between Pacific Tides

Between Pacific Tides


by 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. Each intertidal zone is discussed in depth, augmented by black-and-white photographs and diagrams. (FG34, $32.95)

Cadillac Desert, The American West and Its Disappearing Water

Cadillac Desert, The American West and Its Disappearing Water


by Marc Reisner

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 582 PAGES

A definitive history of water development in the American desert -- and a now-classic chronicle of wrong-headed policies and misadventures controlling the great rivers of the West. (USW246, $18.00)

California Fault, Searching for the Spirit of a State Along the San Andreas


by Thurston Clarke

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 417 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A good natured portrait of the Golden State. (CAL33, $12.95)

California, A History

California, A History


by Kevin Starr

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A lively short history in the excellent Modern Library Chronicles series, written by a renowned historian. (CAL204, $14.95)

Cannery Row

Cannery Row


by John Steinbeck

  • LITERATURE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 193 PAGES

Based on memories of characters he met living in Monterey, including his good friend the marine biologist Ed Ricketts, this is Steinbeck's story of the good-natured bums, prostitutes, alcoholics and other denizens of Cannery Row. (USW150, $15.00)

Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage

Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage


by 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)

Compass Guide Coastal California

Compass Guide Coastal California


by John Doerper | Galen Rowell

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 397 PAGES

This compact guide is an excellent overview of coastal California, with particular emphasis on history, nature and visitor attractions. (CAL38, $21.00)

Continental Drift


by James D. Houston

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 337 PAGES

A novel about a California family shaken by war abroad and crime at home. (CAL103, $15.95)

Cowgirls: Women of the American West

Cowgirls: Women of the American West


by Teresa Jordan

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 309 PAGES

The story of the western woman, past and present, is intimately recounted through the words of the women themselves. (USW13, $19.95)

Empire Express, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad

Empire Express, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad


by 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. (USW135, $30.00)

Eyewitness Guide California

Eyewitness Guide California


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 660 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. (USW146, $30.00)

Eyewitness Guide San Francisco and Northern California

Eyewitness Guide San Francisco and Northern California


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. With excellent maps. (USW147, $25.00)

A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes

A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes


by William Eschmeyer | Earl Herald | Howard Hammann | Roger Tory Peterson

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

An illustrated field guide to the fish found in Pacific coast waters. (FG45, $20.00)

A Field Guide to Western Birds

A Field Guide to Western Birds


by Roger Tory Peterson

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 512 PAGES

A field guide to the birds west of the Mississippi, featuring color plates of each species. (FG18, $19.95)

A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians

A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians


by Robert Stebbins

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 533 PAGES

The definitive field guide, with a special section on Baja's endemic species. (FG08, $22.00)

Fodor's San Francisco's 25 Best

Fodor's San Francisco's 25 Best


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

A shirt-pocket guide to San Francisco, this slim book includes an excellent map of the center of the city and essential information on its highlights. (USW185, $12.99)

Gold Dust and Gunsmoke, Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen and Vigilantes


by John Boessenecker

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

A history of the California Gold Rush, as seen through the rampant criminal acts that characterized it (USW189, $21.95)

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath


by John Steinbeck

  • LITERATURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 612 PAGES

Steibeck's epic, Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of the Joad family and their journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a new life, wonderfully detailed in it portrait of rural life in the 1930s and a classic novel of the road. John Ford made it into a movie. (USW151, $16.00)

Insight Guide U.S. National Parks West

Insight Guide U.S. National Parks West


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 413 PAGES

This superb guide offers a thoroughly illustrated, informative overview of the national parks of the western United States, including Arches, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest. (USW181, $24.99)

The Literature of California, Vol. 1

The Literature of California, Vol. 1


by Jack Hicks | Al Young | James D. Houston | Maxine Hong Kingston

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 653 PAGES

A best-of anthology of California writing, pre-1945. (CAL102, $29.95)

Mendocino and Other Stories


by Ann Packer

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

These ten memorable slice-of-life stories, which originally appeared in the New Yorker and Ploughshares magazines, are set primarily in northern California and recount the lives of ordinary people in unusual situations. (CAL192, $13.95)

Moon Handbook Coastal California


by Kim Weir

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 550 PAGES

A practical guide to the Californian coast by veteran Moon Handbook writer Kim Weir, good features information on food, accommodations and attractions. (CAL189, $19.95)

Moon Handbook Northern California

Moon Handbook Northern California


by Kim Weir

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 560 PAGES

A comprehensive guide to northern California, with a wealth of practical information and coverage of local history, culture and nature. (CAL60, $19.95)

Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape

Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape


by Galen Rowell

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

The 25th anniverary edition of Rowell's landmark book, featuring 80 spectacular images, divided according to visual content. Each chapter illustrates a theme or technique, supplemented by a short personal essay. (PHT06, $29.95)

The Mountains of California

The Mountains of California


by John Muir

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 281 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. (USW368, $13.95)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (Western Region)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (Western Region)


by Elbert L. Little | Angelo Lomeo

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1980
  • PAPER
  • 862 PAGES

This volume packs lots of photographs to aid in identifying the wide array of rare, locally abundant, and widespread trees. (USW225, $19.95)

The Natural History of Big Sur


by 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, $29.95)

Natural History of the Islands of California


by Allan A. Schoenherr | C. Robert Feldmeth | Michael J. Emerson | David Mooney

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 502 PAGES

A survey of the ecology, geology and human history of California's coastal islands. (CAL111, $55.00)

The New Encyclopedia of the American West


by Howard R. Lamar

  • REFERENCE
  • 1998
  • HARD COVER
  • 1320 PAGES

A massive -- and entertaining -- reference to the West. (USW416, $85.00)

Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map

Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map


by 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 and Southern Oregon Coast Map

Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map


by 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)

Oaks of California


by Bruce Pavlik | Pamela Muick | Sharon Johnson

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 184 PAGES

A natural history of the oak in California. (CAL63, $22.95)

The Oxford History of the American West


by Clyde Milner | Carol A. O'Connor | Martha A. Sandweiss

  • HISTORY
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 872 PAGES

A collection of wonderfully written essays by 25 contributors on the cultural and environmental history of the American West. With color illustrations and period photographs. (USW02, $29.95)

Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates

Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates


by 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. (MED21, $35.95)

Roadside Geology, Northern and Central California


by David D. Alt | Donald Hyndman

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 369 PAGES

Designed for the roadside traveler, this book explains in detail the geologic history of California as seen through the car window – a great introduction to basic geomorphology and how the dramatic landscapes were formed. (USW188, $20.00)

San Francisco Map

San Francisco Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2006
  • MAP

A laminated, folded map of the city center of San Francisco at a nice scale of 1:13,000. (CAL80, $8.95)

Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast, An Illustrated Guide to Northern California, Oregon, Washington & British Columb


by Eugene Kozloff

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1983
  • PAPER
  • 370 PAGES

A guide and handbook to nearshore marine life from British Columbia to San Mateo, California. (PNW60, $29.95)

Sequoia/King's Canyon Map

Sequoia/King's Canyon Map


by Trails Illustrated

  • MAP

A topographic map of Sequoia National Park and King's Canyon at a scale of 1:112,000. (CAL72, $11.95)

Song for the Blue Ocean, Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas

Song for the Blue Ocean, Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas


by 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, $18.99)

Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat


by John Steinbeck

  • LITERATURE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 174 PAGES

First of his Monterey novels, Steinbeck peoples his tales of life in run-down Tortilla Flat with a colorful cast of memorable characters. (USW149, $14.00)

Trains of Discovery, Railroads and the Legacy of the National Parks

Trains of Discovery, Railroads and the Legacy of the National Parks


by Alfred Runte

  • HISTORY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

An illustrated tribute to American railroads and national parks, featuring period advertisements, posters and memorabilia of Glacier, Grand Canyon and Denali National Parks. (USW56, $24.95)

The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley


by 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. (CAL190, $45.00)

The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley


by 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. (CAL190, $45.00)

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey


by 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. (USW395, $16.95)

 

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.