The Art of Photographing Nature  •  Art Wolfe  •  Martha Hill NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES An elegant how-to book, featuring over 250 photographs by renowned nature photographer Art Wolfe and insightful commentary by Martha Hill, a former photo editor at Audubon magazine. For people who want to go beyond the mechanics of picture taking, it explains many of the more subtle aspects of nature photography. (PHT02, $30.00)
Backroads of Northern California  •  David M. Wyman GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A photographic guide to the lesser traveled roads of Northern California. Featuring 100 dazzling color photographs and accompanying text by California native David Wyman, this book also covers the geology, history and main attractions of the region. (USW145, $21.95)
Basic Essentials Photography in the Outdoors  •  Jonathan Hanson GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  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. This would be a good first book for someone considering photography as a hobby. With diagrams and a few black-and-white illustrations. (PHT05, $7.95)
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 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)
Cadillac Desert, The American West and Its Disappearing Water  •  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. Originally published in 1986, the book was named by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best works of 20th-century non-fiction. (USW246, $18.00)
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)
Cannery Row  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 193 PAGES Based on memories of characters he met living in Monterey, California, this is Steinbeck's story of the denizens of Cannery Row, a group of good-natured bums, prostitutes and alcoholics. It's an often humorous, touching story of community and poverty. (USW150, $10.00)
Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage  •  Robert Michael Pyle NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES A memoir of Lepidoptery, combing the entomologist-author's considerable knowledge of butterflies and their biology with a rambling road trip from British Columbia through the Southwest to Mexico. (MEX62, $14.00)
Christopher Columbus and the Conquest of Paradise  •  Kirkpatrick Sale EXPLORATION •  2006 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A new edition of this wide-ranging and lucid portrait of the man and the legends surrounding him, originally published in 1990. Columbus is no hero in Kirkpatrick Sale's view but rather a sea-faring adventurer in search of glory, gold and god. (USA134, $15.95)
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)
Cowgirls: Women of the American West  •  Teresa Jordan CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1992 •  PAPER  • 309 PAGES The West is often portrayed as a land made by "Big Men" with big dreams. Ms. Jordan's delightful book is dedicated to those Bigger Women who were usually too busy running things to dream. The story of the western woman, past and present, is intimately recounted through the words of the women themselves. Rare photos of early frontierswomen help the reader to change long held images of the Old West, and interviews with contemporary cowgirls give insightful lessons into a woman's life on the range. (USW13, $19.95)
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)
Enterprising Women, 250 Years of American Business  •  Virginia Drachman HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES Drachman profiles the most important women in American industry, spanning the period from colonial times through the 20th century. Lesser-known entrepreneurs are here, as well as Mary Katherine Goddard, who published the first signed copy of the Declaration of Independence; Madame C.J. Walker, the daughter of former slaves whose hair-care products were the ticket to a better life; and Hazel Bishop, the inventor of "kissable lipstick." (GEN317, $39.95)
Eyewitness Guide California  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 630 PAGES A literate, visually rich guide to the Golden State, featuring color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of California's attractions with a particular focus on San Francisco and Los Angeles. It includes a well chosen section on hotels and restaurant. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (USW146, $30.00)
Eyewitness Guide San Francisco and Northern California  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps, and a synopsis of San Francisco and Northern California's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (USW147, $23.00)
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)
A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians  •  Robert Stebbins FIELD GUIDE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 533 PAGES This field guide covers reptiles and amphibians found from Northern Mexico to Alberta. With the variety of chuckwallas, whiptails and other localized lizards and snakes in Baja California, it is an indispensable guide to that region. Baja endemics are featured on four of the book's 56 plates. P.S. It's true that Santa Catalina Island has a rattleless rattlesnake -- although it's retiring and hard to see. With color photographs, newly revised range maps and very good descriptive information. (FG08, $22.00)
Fodor's San Francisco's 25 Best  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  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, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing -- all in a slipcover. (USW185, $11.95)
Gilead  •  Marilynne Robinson LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This long-awaited second novel by the author of Marilynne Robinson follows the fate of an Iowa minister. She weaves a fictional history of Kansas during the years of abolition. Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. (USW441, $14.00)
Gold Dust and Gunsmoke, Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen and Vigilantes  •  John Boessenecker HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES One of the most violent chapters of the American story is chronicled in this history of the California Gold Rush, as seen through the rampant criminal acts that characterized it. Through a series of anecdotes, historian and lawyer John Boessenecker explores the myths and truths behind this pivitol point in the history of California. (USW189, $21.95)
The Grapes of Wrath (20th Century Classics)  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 612 PAGES The epic tale of the Joad family and their journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a new life in the new promised land. It's a story of desperation, tragedy and spirit, wonderfully detailed in its portrayal of rural America in the 1930s. Considered one of the greatest works of literature on the Great Depression, it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. (USW151, $14.00)
Insight Guide National Parks, Western United States  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER 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)
John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide  •  John Shaw REFERENCE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES An updated edition of Shaw's guide to taking better photographs of plants, animals and landscapes. The book offers solid advice on equipment, and basic techniques, highly recommended as the best reference for the wildlife photographer. This revised edition includes the complete range of newer films, and more attention to autofocus and autoexposure. Apart from any attention to equipment and technique, he cautions that to be a better photographer, you need to become a better naturalist. Like many nature photographers, Shaw uses a Nikon and Fujia Velvia film -- and has a Web site: johnshaw.com. (PHT01, $24.95)
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 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)
Mendocino and Other Stories  •  Ann Packer LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES True to its title, the short story "Mendocino" opens with a young woman driving northward on Highway 1 along the Pacific. These ten memorable slice-of-life stories, which originally appeared in The New Yorker and Ploughshares, recount the lives of ordinary people in unusual situations in Northern California. (CAL192, $13.95)
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  •  Kim Weir GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 1000 PAGES A comprehensive guide to northern California, with a wealth of practical information and coverage of local history, culture and nature. From San Francisco and Sacramento to Yosemite and the Napa Valley, this is a great choice for those traveling throughout the northern half of the Golden State. (CAL60, $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 Tahoe  •  Ken Castle GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 247 PAGES A practical guide to Lake Tahoe and surroundings from the reliable Moon Handbooks series. Written by a local expert, it includes helpful information on accommodations, activities and attractions, along with historical and cultural tidbits. (CAL97, $17.95)
Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape  •  Galen Rowell NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Originally published in 1985 and updated for a 10th anniversary edition by the Sierra Club, this book is still the single best introduction to landscape photography and, particularly, the challenges of photographing mountains. Rowell presents 80 of his most spectacular images, divided according to visual content. Each chapter illustrates a theme or technique, supplemented by a short personal essay. Like any good workshop, the book will both inspire and instruct fellow photographers. There's no photographer at work more sensitive to the magic of Alpine glow than Galen Rowell. (PHT06, $29.95)
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 United States Atlas for Young Explorers  •  National Geographic REFERENCE •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) This colorful guide is chock full of readable information for kids. With color-coded maps of each state and region of the U.S., tables and statistics, and 250 photographs, drawings, charts and graphs, this is an ideal atlas for young travelers. (USA93, $24.95)
Native Universe, Voices of Indian America  •  Clifford E. Trafzer ANTHOLOGY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 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, $40.00)
The Natural History of Big Sur  •  Paul Henson  •  Donald J. Usner  •  Valerie A. Kells NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER A natural history and guide to Big Sur, California with detailed information on specific sites and trails. (CAL62, $28.95)
Natural History of the Islands of California  •  Allan A. Schoenherr  •  C. Robert Feldmeth  •  Michael J. Emerson  •  David Mooney NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 408 PAGES A comprehensive survey of the ecology, geology and human history of California's coastal islands, including the Channel Islands, the Farallons and the islands of the San Francisco Bay. (CAL111, $55.00)
Nature Noir, A Park Ranger's Patrol in the Sierra  •  Jordan Fisher Smith BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2005 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES The memoir of a park ranger on duty in the river canyons of the Sierra Nevada, a region ultimately drowned by the building of a dam. (CAL187, $13.95)
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, $80.00)
Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map  •  Global Graphics MAP A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)
Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map  •  Global Graphics MAP A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)
Northern California Map  •  National Geographic 1999 •  MAP A handy fold-up map of Northern California including San Francisco, at a scale of 1:600,000. (CAL04, $4.95)
Oaks of California  •  Bruce Pavlik  •  Pamela Muick  •  Sharon Johnson NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES Northern California is known for its magnificent tree populations, most notably the giant sequoia. Oaks are also abundant in the Golden State, and this natural history, full of color photographs, is a thorough introduction to the tree. (CAL63, $22.95)
Out of Work, A History of Wage-Earning Women in the United States (20th Anniversary Edition)  •  Alice Kessler-Harris HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A historical examination of the changing role of women in the workplace in the United States. Kessler-Harris focuses on class, race and ethnicity, the relationship with men in the workforce with respect to gender inequalities, and the transformation of the perceived role of women in society, from mothers and homemakers to wage laborers. With a new Afterward by the author for the 20th anniversary edition. (GEN318, $24.95)
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)
Poet of the Appetites, The Lives and Loves of M.F.K. Fisher  •  Joan Reardon BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2005 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES "When I write of hunger," MFK Fisher said in 1990, "I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth and the love of it and the hunger for it." Fisher chronicled her love for food and travel in more than 30 books over 50 years. Reardon researched Fisher's personal letters and interviewed family and friends to create this biography of the woman who John Updike called the "poet of the appetites." (GEN316, $15.00)
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird  •  Phillip Hoose NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) An engaging and well-researched history of the ivory-billed woodpecker, and the struggles surrounding its survival. It's a suspenseful and entertaining book about modern conservation and environmental issues for middle-school readers, featuring John James Audubon and others. The bird, only recently rediscovered, once ranged across the southeastern United States. With black-and-white photographs throughout. (BRD30, $21.00)
Recommended Country Inns, West Coast  •  Julianna Belote GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A listing of 339 top picks of the region's best inns, from California to Washington. (PNW76, $16.95)
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)
Roadside Geology, Northern and Central California  •  David D. Alt  •  Donald Hyndman GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 369 PAGES Designed for the roadside traveler, this series explains in detail the geologic history of each of the western states as seen through the window. These books are a great introduction to basic geomorphology and how the dramatic landscapes were formed. Each section is organized around a particular route, with black-and-white photographs complementing the amazingly detailed geologic maps. The highly readable text lets you know exactly how and when that butte on the horizon was formed and how it fits into the larger geologic picture. (USW188, $20.00)
San Francisco Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A laminated, folded map of the city center of San Francisco at a nice scale of 1:13,000. (CAL80, $7.95)
Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast, An Illustrated Guide to Northern California, Oregon, Washington & British Columb  •  Eugene Kozloff FIELD GUIDE •  1983 •  PAPER  • 370 PAGES A comprehensive handbook to the marine life found along the northern Pacific coasts of North America with 700 illustrations, many in color. Organized by habitat, it's an excellent reference to more than 650 species found on rocky shores, sandy beaches, marshes and around floating docks in Puget Sound and surrounding waters. Originally published in 1973 and often revised. (PNW60, $29.95)
Sierra Nevada/Lake Tahoe Area Map  •  AAA Publishing MAP A colorful road map of Lake Tahoe and surroundings, at a scale of 1:251,000. It includes Reno, Virginia City, Carson Valley, Shenandoah Valley and Pyramid Lake. (CAL98, $4.95)
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)
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)
The Tahoe Sierra, A Natural History Guide to 112 Hikes in Northern Sierra  •  Jeffrey P. Schaffer GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 402 PAGES A guide to trails and hikes in the Tahoe Sierra region, featuring topographic maps and practical information to help you prepare for anything from dayhikes to more demanding backpacking adventures. (CAL96, $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)
Tortilla Flat  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 174 PAGES The first of Steinbeck's novels set in the Monterey Peninsula of California, a tale of Mexican-Americans in the run-down district of Tortilla Flat. Thematically based on Arthurian legend, this is a short, episodic story, filled with a colorful cast of characters. (USW149, $12.00)
Trains of Discovery, Western Railroads and the National Parks/Collector's Guide  •  Alfred Runte HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A celebration of the romance of rail travel, this book features wonderful period advertisements, archival and modern photographs, showing how the railroad contributed to the development of the National Park System. An illustrated tribute to American railroads and national parks, featuring period advertisements, posters and memorabilia of Glacier, Grand Canyon and Denali National Parks. (USW56, $19.95)
The Verb to Bird, Sightings of an Avid Birder  •  Peter Cashwell NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 269 PAGES A memoir of the birding life, its pleasures, obsessions and pitfalls. Based in the Carolinas (where he teaches English), Cashwell recounts in these essays the birds he's encountered, the why and wherefores of the birding life and some very entertaining anecdotes. Along the way, Cashwell traces his own development from casual novice to life lister (with a desire to see all the birds of North America). (BRD26, $14.95)
The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley  •  Jonathan Swinchatt  •  David G. Howell FOOD •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 229 PAGES California-bound wine connoisseurs will appreciate the informative no-stone-left-unturned scientific approach to the analysis of Terroir (i.e. soil but much more than that) in the Napa Valley. This is the third book on wine in the Napa by Swinchatt and Howell. (CAL190, $35.95)
The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley  •  Jonathan Swinchatt  •  David G. Howell FOOD •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 229 PAGES California-bound wine connoisseurs will appreciate the informative no-stone-left-unturned scientific approach to the analysis of Terroir (i.e. soil but much more than that) in the Napa Valley. This is the third book on wine in the Napa by Swinchatt and Howell. (CAL190, $35.95)
Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey  •  Lillian Schlissel HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 278 PAGES A fascinating, well researched selection of women's diaries and journals from the Wild West, including vivid accounts of buffalo hunts, Indian raids, childbirth under difficult circumstances, geological wonders and a telling amount of inward trepidation. With black-and-white photographs throughout. Schlissel collected hundreds of diaries and memoirs for this history of pioneer women's experiences, the thesis of which -- that women and men experienced westward expansion differently -- is less remarkable than the details which lead to that conclusion. Schlissel quotes generously from her primary-source documents (and appends a long section of more excerpts). It's compulsively readable stuff. (USW395, $14.95)