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YOSEMITE
More Books
Basic Essentials Photography in the Outdoors
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. This would be a good first book for someone considering photography as a hobby. With diagrams and a few black-and-white illustrations.
(PHT05, $8.95) |
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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, $18.99) |
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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, $32.95) |
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The Big Year, A Tale Of Man, Nature, And Fowl Obsession
Mark Obmascik
NATURAL HISTORY
2011
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, $15.00) |
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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) |
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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) |
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California Fault, Searching for the Spirit of a State Along the San Andreas
Thurston Clarke
CULTURAL PORTRAIT
1997
PAPER
417 PAGES
COMING IN
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) |
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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) |
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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, $15.00) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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, $30.00) |
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Eyewitness Guide California
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. 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) |
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Eyewitness Guide San Francisco and Northern California
Eyewitness Guides
GUIDEBOOK
2011
PAPER
336 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, $25.00) |
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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) |
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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) |
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A Field Guide to Western Birds
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) |
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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) |
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Fodor's San Francisco's 25 Best
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, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing -- all in a slipcover.
(USW185, $12.99) |
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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) |
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The Grapes of Wrath
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, $16.00) |
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Guide to the John Muir Trail
Kathy Morey
Elizabeth Wenk
GUIDEBOOK
2007
PAPER
112 PAGES
A point-to-point guide to the 211-mile John Muir Trail, enhanced by 28 topographic maps.
(CAL208, $17.95) |
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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, $24.99) |
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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, $14.95) |
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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, $29.95) |
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Moon Handbook Northern California
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. 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, $19.95) |
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Moon Handbook Tahoe
Ken Castle
GUIDEBOOK
2009
PAPER
288 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) |
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Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape
Galen Rowell
NATURAL HISTORY
2011
PAPER
224 PAGES
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 more sensitive to the magic of Alpine glow than Galen Rowell.
(PHT06, $29.95) |
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The Mountains of California
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. Published in 1894, it's a romantic introduction to California's mountains.
(USW368, $13.95) |
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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) |
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National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Jon Dunn
FIELD GUIDE
2011
PAPER
576 PAGES
From Alaska to Baja California, this field guide published by the National Geographic Society, now in its sixth 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 sixth edition, bigger and better than ever, includes 23 new species, 300 new illustrations, innovative migration and subspecies maps, and a handy quick-find visual index.
(FG09, $27.95) |
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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) |
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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, $29.95) |
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Natural History of the Islands of California
Allan A. Schoenherr
C. Robert Feldmeth
Michael J. Emerson
David Mooney
NATURAL HISTORY
2003
PAPER
502 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) |
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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, $26.95) |
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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, $14.95) |
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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) |
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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. Two Sides. 32x18 inches.
(USW459, $4.95) |
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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) |
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Off the Wall, Death in Yosemite
Michael Ghiglieri
Charles Farabee
EXPLORATION
2007
PAPER
608 PAGES
The oddly fascinating and instructive compendium of "Gripping Accounts of All Known Fatal Mishaps in America's First Protected Land of Scenic Wonders." It's Grand Canyon river guide Ghiglieri's sequel to Over the Edge, his account of 600 deaths in Grand Canyon. Writtenmw with former National Park Service superintendent Farabee. Read it as a guide to preventing accidents (and do not go wading above a waterfall!).
(SWU235, $24.95) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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, $16.00) |
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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) |
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Rough Guide Yosemite
Paul Whitfield
GUIDEBOOK
2008
PAPER
280 PAGES
A comprehensive guide to Yosemite in the hip, literate and very infomative Rough Guide style.
(CAL242, $19.99) |
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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. Two Sides. 19.5X26 inches.
(CAL80, $8.95) |
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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) |
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Sequoia/King's Canyon Map
Trails Illustrated
MAP
A topographic map of Sequoia National Park and King's Canyon at a scale of 1:112,000. Published in conjunction with National Geographic. Two Sides. 38x26 inches.
(CAL72, $11.95) |
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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. Two Sides. 36x24 inches.
(CAL98, $4.95) |
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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, $18.99) |
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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, $24.95) |
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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) |
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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) |
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Top Trails Yosemite
Jeffrey P. Schaffer
GUIDEBOOK
2007
PAPER
383 PAGES
Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or a backpacking trek, you'll find them all is this round-up of 46 "must-do" Yosemite hikes.
(CAL299, $16.95) |
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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, $14.00) |
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Trains of Discovery, Railroads and the Legacy of the National Parks
Alfred Runte
HISTORY
2011
PAPER
128 PAGES
A thoroughly revised and expanded successor to Alfred Runte's Trains of Discovery: Western Railroads and the National Parks, the new edition now includes protected landscapes and historical sites east of the Mississippi made possible or influenced by railroads: the Hudson River Valley; Delaware Water Gap; Harpers Ferry; Indiana Dunes; Gettysburg; Steamtown; and Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia National Parks. 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) |
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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, $16.95) |
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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, $16.95) |
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Yosemite Wildlife
James Kavanagh
FIELD GUIDE
2007
PLASTIC CARD
A handy, laminated fold-up card featuring 140 birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.
(USW499, $5.95) |
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