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)
Angle of Repose  •  Wallace Stegner LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a retired historian who plans to write the story of his grandparents and their life in the American West. With a deep knowledge of the region's history and lore, this novel is also the story of a man coming to terms with his family and himself. Much of the narrative takes place in California, Colorado and Idaho. (USW301, $16.00)
An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles  •  David Gebhard  •  Robert Winter ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 543 PAGES A newly revised edition of the classic architectural guide, with new photographs and sites including Frank Gehry's Disney Philharmonic hall. (CAL147, $24.99)
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)
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)
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)
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 Death Valley  •  Bill Cunningham GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES A compact guide to 20 popular day hikes in the 3.3 million-acre national park. (CAL179, $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)
Birding by Ear: Western North America  •  Richard Walton NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  CASETTE TAPE (USW444, $30.00)
Birding in the American West  •  Kevin Zimmer FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES An illustrated guide to finding and sorting out similar species of birds in the mountains, deserts and other habitats of the West. Zimmer provides plenty of useful information on individual species, including behavior, habitat and identification. Useful as a site guide, he includes detailed listings by state -- and suggestions of the best places to find individual species. With numerous black-and-white illustrations and photographs of similar species and sought-after birds. (USW404, $29.95)
The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife  •  Christopher W. Leahy  •  Gordon Morrison NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 1072 PAGES A handsome, fully illustrated survey of the birds of North America, organized A to Z, covering birds, bird biology, conservation and birdwatching. Published in cooperation with the American Birding Association. (NAM21, $19.95)
Bone  •  Fae Myenne Ng LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 194 PAGES A poetic, dreamlike novel that relates the story of two generations of a family in San Francisco's Chinatown -- as told through the wandering memories of Leila, an Asian-American woman in search of clues to explain her sister's suicide. (USW153, $12.95)
Bret Harte's Gold Rush, Outcasts of Poker Flat, The Luck of Roaring Camp, Tennessee's Partner and Other Favorites  •  Bret Harte  •  Reuben H. Margolin LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 178 PAGES In the 1860s and 70s, a former stagecoach messenger named Bret Harte dazzled the literary world with his tales of Gold Rush-era California. Even Twain and Dickens fell at Harte's feet. These 15 rough-and-tumble stories include some of the best he ever wrote. (CAL78, $13.95)
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)
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, America's High-stakes Experiment  •  Peter Schrag LITERATURE •  2006 •  HARD COVER A contemporary analysis. (CAL201, $35.00)
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, $19.95)
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)
City of Quartz, Excavating the Future of Los Angeles  •  Mike Davis HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES A grim portrait of racial, economic and social struggle in Los Angeles. Davis delves into the city's past to explain its contemporary troubles. (CAL146, $15.95)
Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest  •  Elizabeth Horn FIELD GUIDE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 179 PAGES From British Columbia to northern California, this is a handy photo-identification guide to coastal shrubs and wildflowers. It's divided into five habitats and organized by plant family. With 200 photographs. (PNW15, $14.00)
Compass Guide California Wine Country, California's Napa & Sonoma Valleys  •  John Doerper  •  Charles O'Rear GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES A comprehensive introduction to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, covering wineries both small and large. The listings are excellent and include helpful driving directions and regional maps, but what sets the book apart from other guides are the numerous evocative color photographs and informed essays on the history of the region and winemaking techniques. (USW171, $21.95)
The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park  •  Steven P. Medley GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES A compact guide to the park by the Yosemite Association, featuring practical information on activities, hiking trails, wildlife and history. With color drawings and photos, and dozens of detailed maps. Winner of the Best National Park Guidebook Award from the National Park Service. (CAL51, $12.95)
Continental Drift  •  James D. Houston LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES James D. Houston's acclaimed novel of the California experience unfolds on a Monterey ranch in the 1970s, amidst the reflected horrors of Vietnam and a populace gone amok. (CAL103, $15.95)
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)
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)
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)
Crossings, Photographs from the U.S.- Mexico Border  •  Tom Miller  •  Alex Webb CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES With gritty, evocative photographs by Alex Webb and illuminating commentary by colleague Tom Miller. (SWU179, $50.00)
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)
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)
Days of Gold, The California Gold Rush and the American Nation  •  Malcolm Rohrbough HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 569 PAGES This vivid, eyewitness history draws on diaries, letters, and other archival sources, letting the (mostly) men speak directly of the discovery of gold in California on the morning of January 24, 1848. Rohrbough shows, in vivid detail, the impact of the 49ers on the development of the west. (CAL155, $24.95)
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)
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)
East of Eden (20th Century Classics)  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 602 PAGES Steinbeck's sprawling epic of two families -- the Trasks and Hamiltons -- living in the Salinas Valley of California. Covering the period from the Civil War to World War I, this is a retelling of the early chapters of Genesis, a story of connected families and their violent destinies. (USW152, $16.00)
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)
El Dorado, Adventures in the Path of Empire  •  Bayard Taylor TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A wildly popular contemporary account of the California gold rush, originally published in 1849. Taylor's wonderful book includes his voyage to California, and life both in the frontier town of San Francisco and out in the mining camps. He traveled throughout the new American territory from San Francisco to the Sierras at the behest of Horace Greeley, attending the state constitutional convention and interviewing countless Californians. (USW367, $18.95)
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)
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)
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)
Exploring Point Reyes: A Guide to Point Reyes National Seashore  •  Phil Arnot  •  Elvira Monroe GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Now in its seventh edition, this guide to Point Reyes National Seashore is a compact introduction to the park, with natural history, geography and plenty of information on trails and hiking. Written by an avid hiker in the region, it is illustrated with maps and photographs. (CAL57, $10.95)
Eyewitness Guide 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)
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)
Falcon Guide, Hiking the Sierra Nevada  •  Barry Parr GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A practical guide to hiking in the Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite, Sequoia and King's Canyon. It features descriptions of 96 hikes, maps, black-and-white photographs, and practical information. (CAL71, $19.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Yosemite National Park  •  Suzanne Swedo GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 230 PAGES In addition to useful trail descriptions, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to Yosemite National Park gives an overview of the area's natural history, and advice on navigating the area's beautiful scenery. (CAL41, $14.95)
Farewell to Manzanar  •  Jeanne W. Houston  •  James D. Houston BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1981 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's classic memoir of her childhood years in Manzanar, the Southern California internment camp that housed 10,000 Japanese --Americans during World War II. As a portrait of the experience of internment, it's unsurpassed -- and it also reveals much about the Japanese experience in California in the last century. (CAL93, $6.99)
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)
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)
The French Laundry Cookbook  •  Thomas Keller  •  Deborah Jones FOOD •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 325 PAGES This lavish volume collects 150 recipes from The French Laundry, Thomas Keller's four-star Napa Valley restaurant (considered by many to be the best restaurant in the U.S.). With 200 color photographs by Deborah Jones and a $50 price tag, it's the ultimate souvenir of a trip to Napa. The very brave returned tourist may actually attempt to cook from the book, which presents each recipe exactly as Keller himself prepares it in the restaurant's kitchen (right down to the fresh duck fat, imported truffles and 10-liter tureen). The rest will be satisfied to gaze and remember. (CAL76, $50.00)
Frommer's Irreverent Guide to San Francisco  •  Arthur Frommer GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES In addition to usual general travel information, this guide provides insiders' tips on places to visit, shop, sleep, eat or just hang out. (CAL02, $12.99)
Frommer's Memorable Walks in San Francisco  •  Arthur Frommer GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 180 PAGES As one of the nation's most interesting and walkable cities, San Francisco was begging for a guidebook that mapped out its landmarks and neighborhoods. This edition of the Frommer's series does just that -- it contains 12 routes with detailed directions, handy maps, and historical info for well paced walks through scenic San Francisco. (CAL08, $12.99)
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)
Garlic is Life, A Memoir with Recipes  •  Chester Aaron FOOD •  1996 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A man's obsession with garlic drives him into Sonoma County where he tries to make it as a garlic farmer. This humorous tribute to the pungent plant and life in Northern California is enhanced by a series of recipes, all teeming with garlic. (CUL02, $16.95)
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)
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)
Glaciers of California  •  Bill Guyton SCIENCE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 223 PAGES A primer on glaciers and glaciation in California. Geologist Bill Guyton explains how glaciers form and work, and the history of California's glaciers and mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada. Well written, the book includes accounts of early explorers, many illustrations and a 100-mile glacier tour in the Sierra Nevada. (CAL44, $18.95)
Gold Dust and Gunsmoke, Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen and Vigilantes  •  John Boessenecker HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES One of the most violent chapters of the American story is chronicled in this history of the California Gold Rush, as seen through the rampant criminal acts that characterized it. Through a series of anecdotes, historian and lawyer John Boessenecker explores the myths and truths behind this pivitol point in the history of California. (USW189, $21.95)
The Golden West, Hollywood Stories  •  Daniel Fuchs LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES This marvelous collection of stories and essays from Sunny California, many originally appearing in The New Yorker and Commentary capture the spirit (and personalities) of Hollywood in the heyday of the studio era in the 1930s and 1940s. The collection includes Dearm City (1937), The Golden West (1954) and West of the Rockies (1971), a novella set in the 1950s. Fuchs, like many screenwriters, was a transplanted New Yorker and he loved the landscape, glitz and optimism of the place. (CAL188, $16.95)
The Grapes of Wrath (20th Century Classics)  •  John Steinbeck LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 612 PAGES The epic tale of the Joad family and their journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a new life in the new promised land. It's a story of desperation, tragedy and spirit, wonderfully detailed in its portrayal of rural America in the 1930s. Considered one of the greatest works of literature on the Great Depression, it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. (USW151, $14.00)
The Great Garlic Book, A Guide With Recipes  •  Chester Aaron FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A garlic farmer's loving reference to the plant that has kept him fed over the years, featuring recipes, little-known garlic facts and color photographs, showing off some of the rarer varieties. (CUL03, $16.95)
A Guide to Marine Invertebrates, Alaska to Baja California  •  Daniel W. Gotshall FIELD GUIDE •  2005 •  PAPER This second, revised edition of Gotshall's invaluable field guide features full color photographs and brief descriptive information on 285 species of Pacific inshore and subtidal marine invertebrates. Species information has been updated for this new edition, which also includes 35 additional species. (BJA40, $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)
Highway 99, The Literature of California's Great Central Valley  •  Stan Yogi ANTHOLOGY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES An anthology of poetry, prose and photographs from the Great Central Valley, whose local highway -- #99 -- still connects the vineyards in the northern valley to the orange groves south of Fresno, even as the larger, faster interstate becomes the through traffic's road of choice. Most of the book's contributors are living writers and artists who call the valley home, but there are also selections by such canonical greats as John Muir, John Steinbeck and William Saroyan. (CAL92, $16.00)
Hiking Death Valley  •  Michel Digonnet GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 542 PAGES A comprehensive guide to hiking in Death Valley, written by a veteran traveler and adventurer in the region. With 65 topographic maps, and hundreds of options for walks and scenic drives, it provides thorough coverage for independent travelers. With details on wildlife, safety tips and histories of the mines, ranches and ghost towns found throughout the park. (CAL68, $19.95)
Hill Guide Sonoma Valley, The Secret Wine Country  •  Kathleen Hill  •  Gerald Hill GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A homegrown guide to the Sonoma Valley from two longtime residents of the area, both practical and personal in its delivery of travel information and regional background. (CAL84, $15.95)
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)
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)
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)
An Island Called California, An Ecological Introduction to Its Natural Communities  •  Elna S. Bakker NATURAL HISTORY •  1984 •  PAPER  • 484 PAGES An introduction to the ecology and wildlife of the Golden State, this volume is filled with photographs illustrating a variety plants, animals and geological features found throughout the deserts, forests and coastline of California. (CAL11, $22.95)
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)
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 Land of Little Rain  •  Mary Austin  •  Terry Tempest Williams NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 107 PAGES In this turn-of-the-century desert hymn, Austin -- a writer and naturalist who accompanied her husband on assignment to Death Valley in the 1890s -- finds a vibrant ecosystem where her forbears saw wasteland. An illuminating natural history, this slim book is also a meditation on things spiritual and an activist report on race relations in the desert. Originally published in 1903, this Penguin Nature Classic edition includes an introduction by fellow desert rat Terry Tempest Williams. (CAL66, $13.00)
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)
Lonely Planet California  •  Andrea Schulte-Peevers GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 736 PAGES A practical, comprehensive guide in the popular series. (CAL134, $21.99)
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)
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)
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)
Mac's Field Guide to Northern California Wildflowers  •  Craig MacGowan FIELD GUIDE •  PLASTIC CARD This double-sided, laminated card features color drawings of the wildflowers commonly found in northern California. It's waterproof and small enough (7.5" by 11.5") to slip into your backpack. (CAL05, $4.95)
Mac's Field Guide to Yosemite National Park: Birds and Mammals  •  Craig MacGowan FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PLASTIC CARD This double-sided, laminated card features color drawings of the birds and mammals commonly found in Yosemite National Park. It's waterproof and small enough (7.5" by 11.5") to slip into your backpack. (CAL48, $4.95)
The Maltese Falcon  •  Dashiell Hammett MYSTERY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 217 PAGES Set in San Francisco, this is Dashiell Hammett's classic story of Sam Spade, the archetypal hard-boiled detective who unravels the web of murder and betrayal surrounding a stolen black bird statue. (CAL06, $12.95)
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)
Marine Mammals of the Eastern North Pacific  •  Sea Grant Alaska  •  Pieter Folkens FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PLASTIC CARD  • 8 PAGES A convenient, 8-panel waterproof card illustrating 50 species of whales, dolphins, sea otters and pinnipeds found in the North Pacific from Alaska and the west coast of North America to Hawaii. It's handsomely illustrated, and includes full-color panels with typical behaviors, whalewatching guidelines and identification tips. Co-sponsored by the Alaska Whale Foundation and the University of Alaska Sea Grant Program, It's an excellent, weatherproof identification guide. (ALA143, $8.95)
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)
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 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)
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)
The Mountains of California  •  John Muir TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES The classic account by the pioneering conservationist of Yosemite and lesser-known regions of the Sierra Nevada. Muir's tribute includes his commentary on the glaciers, geology and natural history of the region. Published in 1894, it's a romantic introduction to California's mountains. (USW368, $13.00)
My First Summer in the Sierra  •  John Muir  •  Galen Rowell NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 269 PAGES A facsimile edition of Muir's original account of his first summer in Yosemite and surrounding High Sierras. Based on his youthful notebooks of the summer of 1869, Muir did not publish the book until 1911. (CAL47, $10.00)
Napa Stories, Profiles, Reflections and Recipes from the Napa Valley  •  Michael Chiarello  •  Janet Kessel Fletcher  •  Steven Rothfeld CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 312 PAGES The author of "The Tra Vigne Cookbook" serves up this delightfully readable profile of Napa wines and winemakers. Chiarello chronicles the origins of various wineries, the vineyard families, the struggles of the early days, the development of new varietals, the current winemaking climate and prospects for the future. He introduces many behind-the-scenes players as well as the big names. With 150 photographs. (CAL77, $55.00)
Napa Valley, The Ultimate Winery Guide  •  Antonia Allegra  •  Richard Gillette GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES A slim oversize guide to Napa, written by an award winning food and wine writer, and illustrated with a regional map and 150 color photographs. It includes information on the history, locations and tasting hours at 30 local wineries. (USW167, $19.95)
Napa, the Story of an American Eden  •  James Conway HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES James Conway, a journalist and oenophile, is an informed and perceptive guide to the Napa Valley, the heart of the United States wine industry. He expertly combines history, personal anecdote, wine criticism and social commentary into a definitive portrait of a place overflowing not only with cabernets and chardonnays, but also with genuine connoisseurs, scores of dilettantes, feuds, scandals, and plenty of money. (USW169, $16.00)
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)
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)
National Trust Guide San Francisco  •  Peter Booth Wiley GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A primer on San Francisco's history, culture and architecture, this volume bridges the gap between tourist guide and serious history. With 200 archival and modern photographs, 20 neighborhood walking tours and maps, it's an informative companion. (SFO06, $24.95)
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 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)
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, $85.00)
The New York Times Traveler's Guide to Art Museum Exhibitions 2005  •  Susan Mermelstein GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 500 PAGES A guide to 350 U.S. museums and their scheduled exhibits for 2005 written by a team at the "New York Times." With information and dates for traveling exhibitions. (NYC32, $17.95)
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 and Southern Oregon Coast Map  •  Global Graphics MAP A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)
Northern California Map  •  National Geographic 1999 •  MAP A handy fold-up map of Northern California including San Francisco, at a scale of 1:600,000. (CAL04, $4.95)
Nothing Like it in the World, The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869  •  Stephen Ambrose HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Picking up where the award-winning story of Lewis and Clark (Undaunted Courage) left off, Ambrose tells how America, in the midst of the Civil War, built the Transcontinental Railroad. It took presidents, corporate giants, a work force roughly the size of the Civil War armies, and even Brigham Young to mount the most ambitious project of its age. Ambrose uses his considerable skill as a writer and his experience as a biographer to capture the energy, spirit and verve required to build the railroad. (USW224, $17.00)
Oaks of California  •  Bruce Pavlik  •  Pamela Muick  •  Sharon Johnson NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES Northern California is known for its magnificent tree populations, most notably the giant sequoia. Oaks are also abundant in the Golden State, and this natural history, full of color photographs, is a thorough introduction to the tree. (CAL63, $22.95)
On the Road  •  Jack Kerouac LITERATURE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Kerouac's now-classic account of his travels across 1950's America, famously presented to his publisher as one continuous 120-foot-long roll of paper in all its raw and unedited authenticity. (USA16, $16.00)
Ordeal by Hunger, The Story of the Donner Party  •  George Rippey Stewart HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 392 PAGES Incidents of cannibalism always make for intriguing, if not morbid, true life tales, and the granddaddy of them all is the story of the Donner Party. This definitive volume fills in the details of that doomed voyage, drawing on diaries of the few surviving pioneers who struggled through the desert only to find themselves trapped in the snows of the Sierra Nevadas. Don't be deterred by the subject matter, this book is much more gripping than gruesome. (USW414, $14.95)
Our National Parks  •  John Muir  •  Richard F. Fleck NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 370 PAGES A collection of ten essays on the national parks of the west, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoia and General Grant. Six of the ten chapters are devoted to Yosemite National Park. Originally published in 1901. (USW272, $26.95)
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)
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 Weekend, The Architecture and Design of a Midcentury Oasis  •  Alan Hess  •  Andrew Danish ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 180 PAGES A nicely illustrated survey of mid-century modern in Palm Springs, including famous houses by Richard Neutra, R.M. Schindler and other icons. With text by architectural critic Alan Hess and 260 color photographs by collector An