Africa's Vanishing Wildlife  •  Chris Stuart NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES Profiling wildlife found all over the continent, this sixth book by the prolific husband-and-wife team features outstanding color photography, great maps and a well considered analysis of prospects for the future of individual species. (AFR43, $45.00)
African Obsession, The Life and Legacy of Carl Akeley  •  Penelope Bodry-Sanders BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1998 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE An insightful biography of Carl Akeley, the biologist and conservationist at the American Museum of Natural History responsible for the Hall of African Mammals. Written with great verve and authority, this book is now available in a revised paperback edition. It follows Akeley on his expeditions throughout East and Central Africa, capturing his fascination with turn-of-the-century Africa. (AFR52, $14.95)
Amazon: Floods of Fortune  •  Michael Goulding NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES A masterful survey of the people, culture, ecology and economy of a threatened wetland. Most international attention has focused on the Amazon's upland forest. This excellent book looks instead at the Amazon flood plain, an immense region, partially settled and of commercial importance. The region is a mosaic of seasonally flooded ecosystems with unique rain forest, savannah and diverse wildlife. This book offers an illustrated, up-to-date analysis of the forest, its ecology, history of exploitation and environmental pressures. (AMZ06, $29.00)
Amazonia: Man and Culture in a Counterfeit Paradise  •  Betty Meggers CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1995 •  PAPER A groundbreaking study of cultural adaptation in the Amazon, first published in 1971. The book looks at common patterns and ways of life among independent aboriginal groups along the river and in the forest. It gives a brief account of each society, focusing on common adaptations to an impoverished environment that limit social complexity and population density. Revised and updated for this new edition, the book makes a strong argument that any plans for the region that fail to take into account the ecological realities of the Amazon are doomed to fail. (AMZ47, $17.95)
American Sportsmen and the Origins of Conservation  •  John F. Reiger HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 338 PAGES A scholarly history of the role of hunters and fishermen in the formation of environmental policies and conservation in the U.S. (USA101, $24.95)
The Aye-Aye and I  •  Gerald Durrell NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE The engaging and extremely amusing story of a serious scientific effort to retrieve, and help save, the rare aye-aye of Madagascar, an unusual mammal bearing a certain resemblance to E.T. Durrell is at his best in a story that roams from market to forest, but never loses sight of the ultimate aim of saving this endangered species. (MAD10, $15.00)
Belize, Travellers' Wildlife Guides  •  Les Beletsky FIELD GUIDE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 492 PAGES An all-around field guide intended for the curious traveler, this book features color illustrations of 200 commonly encountered birds, 50 mammals, 150 coral reef creatures and 80 species of reptiles and amphibians. It also includes a good introduction to Belize, its natural history and conservation. (BLZ04, $27.95)
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian, John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West  •  Wallace Stegner EXPLORATION •  1992 •  PAPER  • 438 PAGES The classic, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of explorer John Wesley Powell by the great Wallace Stegner, first published in 1954. It's both the stuff of high adventure and an insightful look at the politics of development in the American West. Chosen as one of 13 enduringly significant books by Audubon Magazine. (USW78, $16.00)
The Brazilians  •  Joseph Page CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 540 PAGES A clear and compelling introduction to the country, covering politics, history, economics, culture, and character. The turmoil and ecological destruction in the Amazon basin is discussed in one of the many thought-provoking chapters. (AMZ16, $22.95)
Breaking New Ground  •  Gifford Pinchot BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1998 •  PAPER  • 522 PAGES The autobiography of Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946), the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service. It includes many of his pioneering ideas about conservation. (GEN323, $50.00)
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)
Contested Terrain, A New History of Nature and People in the Adirondacks  •  Philip G. Terrie HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A history of conservation efforts in the Adirondacks, the first wilderness area designated by the U.S. Government in the 19th century. Philip G. Terrie's book negotiates the heated debates surrounding the huge park clearly and thoughtfully. (NYS17, $19.95)
Costa Rica's National Parks and Reserves  •  Joseph Franke GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 237 PAGES A practical guide to the flora and fauna of Costa Rica focusing on its parks and preserves. It features profiles of Costa Rica's 40 protected areas, including sketch maps, practical directions and trail information. With introductory chapters on travel and natural history. (CAM04, $18.95)
Costa Rica, Travellers' Wildlife Guides  •  Les Beletsky FIELD GUIDE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES This outstanding book is a field guide to the natural history of Costa Rica, featuring 350 color illustrations of commonly encountered birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Introductory chapters cover habitats, parks and conservation in Costa Rica. It's an all-around handbook, noteworthy for its color plates. (CRC11, $27.95)
Costa Rican Natural History  •  Daniel Janzen NATURAL HISTORY •  1983 •  PAPER  • 832 PAGES A thorough, prize-winning source reader on all aspects of the natural history of Costa Rica as edited by the iconoclast ecologist Daniel Janzen. This hefty book contains review articles by 174 contributors on birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, geology, climate, ecology and vegetation. It's illustrated, remarkably well written -- and rewarding for the serious general reader. While its audience is tropical ecologists working in Costa Rica, many of the plants and animals described exist throughout Central America. The format of the book invites selective reading on areas of particular interest. The species-by-species accounts are especially recommended. (CAM05, $49.00)
Cry of the Kalahari, Seven Years in Africa's Last Great Wilderness  •  Mark Owens  •  Delia Owens BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1985 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A thoroughly readable version of Born Free, set in Botswana (and just as weepy about the animals). This is the book that got the Owens family thrown out of Botswana, in part because of their opposition to fencing the land (which is good for farmers but, in their opinion, bad for wildlife). While their approach to conservation is controversial, there's no doubt that the Owens are dedicated to the wildlife of southern Africa -- and are very good writers. It's a great tale, one that has inspired several television documentaries, not to mention a sequel. (SAF13, $16.00)
The Diversity of Life  •  E.O. Wilson NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 424 PAGES This world tour by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist and author E.O. Wilson is wonderfully readable: an insightful, candid and elegant story of the evolution of life on our planet. With a focus on ecosystems, the book chronicles the rich diversity of species and how they came about. It catalogs the history of mass extinctions -- and presents a forceful argument that, unless we take care, our species may precipitate the greatest single episode of extinctions. Beautifully illustrated, this lyrical book is a celebration of life. Ed Wilson is a member of WWF's Board of Directors. (CON02, $17.95)
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)
Encounters with the Archdruid  •  John McPhee CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1990 •  PAPER  • 245 PAGES Originally an essay for the "New Yorker," McPhee profiles accomplished (and militant) environmentalist David Brower as he takes on a geologist, a developer (who opines that environmentalists are just latter-day Druids who "sacrifice people and worship trees), and the Secretary of the Interior. McPhee, per usual, avoids stereotypes as he presents a full, complex portrait of the people and the issues. (NAT47, $15.00)
The End of the Game  •  Peter Beard  •  Paul Theroux NATURAL HISTORY •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES Originally published in 1965, this landmark book contributed to the general awareness of conservation in Africa. Beard documents, with dozens of paintings, and over 300 modern and historic photographs, the history of explorers, missionaries and big-game hunters in Africa. (AFR09, $39.99)
The Everglades Handbook: Understanding the Ecosystem  •  Thomas E. Lodge NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 228 PAGES An accident of geography, the Florida peninsula extends from the North American temperate zone south to the Caribbean tropics. The ecosystem the Everglades shelters is unique -- a complex mosaic of habitats all dependent on underground water. Lodge describes in detail the environments, plants and animals, along with conservation challenges. The book is a comprehensive introduction. (EGL02, $54.95)
The Everglades, River of Grass  •  Marjory Stoneman Douglas NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 448 PAGES A classic, historically important work on conservation and natural history. In 1915 Marjory Stoneman Douglas moved to Miami, then a town of 5,000 inhabitants. A lifelong advocate of the Everglades, environmentalist and writer, Douglas published this wonderful, prophetic book, which was instrumental in establishing Everglades National Park. This 60th Anniversary edition includes an afterward by journalist Michael Grunwald. (EGL01, $19.95)
Field Notes from the Northern Forest  •  Curt Stager NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 329 PAGES Combining the latest in scientific literature with his own observations, Sager offers 20 natural science essays exploring the lives of the animals, plants and fungi commonly encountered in the forests of eastern North America. (USE03, $19.95)
Forces of Change, A New View of Nature  •  Smithsonian Inst. NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES The companion volume to a permanent exhibit hall at the Smithsonian Institution, this illustrated book features provocative essays on the future of our planet by great writers and visionaries, including Daniel Botkin, David Quamman, John McPhee, Stephen Jay Gould, Lynn Margulis and many other great writers and visionaries. Published in cooperation with the National Geographic Society. (CON16, $40.00)
Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism  •  Chad Miller BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2004 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A biography of the groundbreaking first chief of the U.S. Forest Service and a history of the birth of conservation at the turn of the 20th century. President Theodore Roosevelt, naturalist John Muir and pioneering feminist Cornelia Bryce (Pinchot's wife) all figure prominently. (GEN322, $27.50)
Gorillas in the Mist  •  Dian Fossey NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 326 PAGES Fossey's highly personal, detailed account of the ecology and behavior of the mountain gorilla based on her 13 years among "the greatest of the great apes." These highly endangered gorillas are restricted to just six extinct volcanoes in the Virunga mountains, an area 25 miles long and only 6-12 miles wide. She describes habituating her study group. Having named the animals, she follows the life history, diet and sex life of each, offering insight into both the study animals and researcher. Originally published in 1983. (UGD05, $15.00)
Gray Whales, Wandering Giants  •  Robert H. Busch NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES Busch chronicles not just ecology and evolution of but also conservation, mythology and lore in this well-illustrated natural history of the gray whale. With 80 color photographs, including many underwater. (BJA14, $19.95)
Horn of Darkness, Rhinos on the Edge  •  Carol Cunningham  •  Joel Berger NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A lively account of field work, combining adventure, natural history and thoughtful commentary on the plight of the severely endangered black rhinoceros in Namibia. Berger and Cunningham, a husband-and-wife team, were invited to study the impact of Namibia's controversial program to de-horn the rhinos, a novel approach to controlling poachers. (NMB07, $45.00)
In the Dust of Kilimanjaro  •  David Western NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 250 PAGES Published in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kenya Wildlife Service and written by its former director, Western writes eloquently of his immersion in the natural history and cultures of Kenya. (EAF48, $24.00)
In the Rainforest, Report from a Strange, Beautiful, Imperiled World  •  Catherine Caufield NATURAL HISTORY •  1984 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES This investigative journalist deftly combines good basic information on the ecology of the world's rain forests, a report on thorny conservation issues and a sympathetic treatment of indigenous inhabitants through masterly prose. In this fact-filled book, we travel with Caufield to some of the most spectacular and endangered places on earth: the rain forests of Africa, Central and South America, India, the Philippines and Indonesia. Originally published in 1984, this is still an excellent survey of rainforest ecology and issues worldwide. (FST01, $16.00)
In the Shadow of Man  •  Jane Goodall  •  Stephen Jay Gould  •  David A. Hamburg NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Goodall's popular account of studying chimpanzees in Tanzania. First enlisted by the legendary scientist Louis Leakey, Goodall has gone on to do almost half a century of revolutionary primate research. This book, which is followed by "Through a Window," tells the story of her early years with the chimps and her monumental discoveries concerning primate behavior. Complemented by 80 photographs. (EAF74, $15.00)
Insight Guide Amazon Wildlife  •  Huw Hennessy  •  Hans-Ulrich Bernard GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES An illustrated guide to the region, its wildlife and conservation by an international team of biologists and photographers. It covers biogeography, habitats, animal groups and conservation problems in a series of short essays. Several chapters are devoted to the people of the region and to a country-by-country survey of the river's features. It also includes some practical travel information and a short checklist of mammals and birds. (AMZ03, $22.95)
Jaguar, One Man's Struggle to Establish the World's First Jaguar Preserve  •  Alan Rabinowitz NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 378 PAGES A vivid portrait of conservation in Central America, interweaving tales of research and adventure with an excellent chronicle of the author's successful efforts to establish the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve in Belize. A classic, originally published in 1986, this edition includes a new epilogue by the author on the human cost of relocating the Maya who had been living in the region. (BLZ11, $29.95)
Last Chance to See  •  Douglas Adams  •  Mark Carwardine NATURAL HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 222 PAGES A whirlwind visit to remote habitats around the world by two wonderfully entertaining traveling companions. Sponsored by BBC radio, Douglas Adams and Mark Cowardine traveled to Zaire, New Zealand, China, Mauritius and other far-flung places in search of endangered animals. Often hilarious, this book is also a portrait of threatened animals. This is such a wonderfully entertaining and informed book, we can forgive its focus on charismatic species. Adams is the author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Cawardine, a biologist, has been a staff zoologist for World Wildlife Fund. (CON04, $14.95)
The Last Panda  •  George Schaller NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 291 PAGES The great naturalist George Schaller spent almost 5 years in the wild in Sichuan province studying the panda in the 1980s. This book is both his description of the great panda in nature, and an eloquent plea for how to save the species in the wild. With 16 color plates. (CHN24, $15.00)
Lemurs of Madagascar, Conservation International Tropical Field Guide  •  Russel Mittermeier  •  Ian Tattersall  •  William R. Konstant  •  David M. Meyers  •  Roderic B. Mast  •  Stephen D. Nash FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 520 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE • COMING IN JUNE A superb, illustrated field guide to the 71 species and subspecies of lemurs of Madagascar, including fine introductory sections on lemur evolution and conservation. Each lemur is illustrated with a photographs and line drawing, range maps, natural history and conservation information. Second edition. (MAD11, $25.00)
Living Fossil, The Story of the Coelacanth  •  Keith Stewart Thomson NATURAL HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Thomson relates the remarkable discovery of the long-thought-extinct fossil fish in the deep waters of the Mozambique channel and Comoros Islands. It's a great story and engaging account of the biology and conservation of a living fossil. (BST09, $9.95)
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)
The Man Who Planted Trees  •  Jean Giono  •  Michael McMurdy LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES • FAMILY The inspiring story of Elzeard Bouffier, a shepherd turned tree-planter who single-handedly reforested a desolate region of southern France in now-towering oak and beech. Told with affection and lyrical simplicity by novelist Giono, the story was first published by "Vogue" magazine in 1954 as "The Man Who Planted Hope and Grew Happiness." (ALP12, $10.00)
Moose  •  Valerius Geist  •  Michael H. Francis NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A natural history of the moose, by one of the leading authorities, Valerius Geist. Their migration, social interactions and mating rituals are all covered, along with issues concerning their natural habitats and conservation. The informative text is complemented by wonderful color photographs. (BST56, $21.95)
Myth and Reality in the Rain Forest, How Conservation Strategies are Failing in West Africa  •  John F. Oakes NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 338 PAGES A survey of national parks and conservation throughout West Africa. Oakes, who has worked on conservation projects in Africa and India, uses West Africa as a case study to argue against the prevailing notion that wildlife is best protected through small-scale community development. Of primary interest to conservationists, it also offers an interesting theoretical perspective for travelers to the region. (WAF11, $25.95)
The Myth of Wild Africa  •  Jonathan Adams  •  Thomas McShane NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 290 PAGES Thomas Lovejoy called this book essential reading. It's a no-holds-barred attack on old-style conservation in Africa provocative, fascinating and dead-on. The authors, associated with the World Wildlife Fund, explode the romantic fallacy of an untouched continent where animals roam freely in sanctuaries. The relationship of wildlife -- and the people who share the continent with them -- is central to the future of conservation. (AFR15, $22.95)
A Neotropical Companion  •  J.C. Kricher  •  Mark Plotkin NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 536 PAGES A tropical primer aimed at the motivated general reader. It's a systematic overview of the ecology, habitats, animals, plants and ecosystems of Central and South America. For those not put off by Latin names and concepts like Batesian mimicry, this handbook is a great introduction to the region. (GPS11, $29.95)
Never Cry Wolf  •  Farley Mowat LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 246 PAGES • FAVORITE A laugh-out-loud funny account of wolf research and government folly set on the barren lands of northern Manitoba. Mowat, a Canadian national treasure, based the book on his own experiences as a wildlife biologist. It's our favorite of his many books. (BST34, $12.99)
Ocean's End, Travels Through Endangered Seas  •  Colin Woodard  •  Paul Ehrlich NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Author Colin Woodard traveled the world, studying the diverse oceanic environments and threats to conservation, such as pollution, global warming and harmful fishing practices. He weaves science, personal experience and interviews into a convincing call to action. (OCE43, $15.00)
Of Tigers and Men  •  Richard Ives NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A haunting tale of a man's quest to encounter tigers in the wild, and to understand the meaning of the threat of the tiger's extinction. Ives visits the forests of India, Thailand, and Sumatra, and many of the "tiger-men" who have devoted their lives to saving tigers. His quest entails a growing realization that the tiger may be doomed. It is a beautifully written story, providing not only a sense of the life of tigers and those who care about them, but also describing an unusual and moving personal journey. (IDA30, $12.50)
Off the Beaten Path, Stories of Place  •  Lisa Weinerman Horak  •  Joseph Barbarto ANTHOLOGY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 262 PAGES The Nature Conservancy invited prize-winning writers to visit one of their North American preserves, or write from memory, letting the place spark the story. Among others, this collection includes contributions by Rick Bass on Montana, Rita Mae Brown on the Chesapeake and Norman Maclean on the Blackfoot River. (CON19, $24.00)
Once a Wolf, How Wildlife Biologists Brought Back the Gray Wolf  •  Stephen R. Swinburne  •  Jim Bradenburg NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Villainized in folklore and literature and considered a bloodthirsty threat to children, sheep and cattle, the grey wolf was nearly wiped out in North America by the 1930s. Swinburne documents conservationists' efforts to reintroduce grey wolves to the ecosystems of Yellowstone and New York State. With color photography, for kids ages 9-12. In the excellent series, Scientists in the Field. (USW112, $16.00)
One With Nineveh, Politics, Consumption and the Human Future  •  Paul Ehrlich  •  Anne Ehrlich NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 376 PAGES A trenchant examination of overpopulation, overconsumption and the state of the world's natural resources from two Stanford professors whose writing has sparked debate for decades. (NAT76, $40.00)
Orangutans, Wizards of the Rain Forest  •  Anne E. Russon NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES An illustrated introduction to orangutans as written by a psychologist and primatologist specializing in the Red Ape. Covering scientific history, habitat and behavior, Russon offers a good overview of Asia's only great ape for the general reader. She concludes with a call for redoubling conservation efforts. The text is much enhanced by 100 color photos. (BST52, $24.95)
Out of the Channel, The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Prince William Sound  •  John Keeble  •  Natalie Fobes HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES First published in 1990, this book has been updated to reflect the impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, ten years after the event. Keeble includes material on the cause of the ship's grounding on Bligh Reef, the fate of Captain Hazelwood, the effects of the spill on the region's wildlife and humans, the 1993 fisherman's tanker blockade, and Exxon's response to the spill. Considered to be one of the most devastating ecological disasters of the twentieth century, the Exxon oil spill continues to raise questions about oil shipping procedures and environmental protection. (ALA86, $14.00)
Przewalski's Horse, The History and Biology of an Endangered Species  •  Lee Boyd  •  Katharine Houpt NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 313 PAGES The story of the only truly wild horse, long extinct in their natural habitat of China and Mongolia, mostly focused on what has been learned from captive rearing programs. Written for zoo managers and wildlife scientists, this book will appeal to general readers with a special interest in horses and wildlife management. This is a Print-On-Demand title, and may take 3-4 weeks to receive. (MGL12, $22.95)
The Rain Forests of Home, Profile of a North American Bioregion  •  Peter Schoonmaker  •  Bettina von Hagen  •  Edward Wolf NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES A detailed biological, cultural and historical portrait of the coastal rain forest. The result of a multidisciplinary conference, it's a gold mine of facts, figures and descriptive information on the region by a diverse group of experts. The short chapters on geology, climate and vegetation are particularly good. Written primarily for environmental planners, this book offers much to the seriously interested general reader. (PNW08, $50.00)
The Rarest of the Rare, Vanishing Animals, Timeless Worlds  •  Diane Ackerman NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES This collection of six essays includes Ackerman's insightful commentary on the migrations of the monarch butterfly, as well as wonderfully written chapters on the Golden Tamarin, Hawaiian monk seal and other animals. The second collection by this wonderful writer and reporter, Ackerman once again artfully interweaves travel and natural history to capture the spirit of endangered places and animals and those who would preserve them. (BST26, $12.95)
Reading the Mountains of Home  •  John Elder NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 253 PAGES Using Robert Frost's poem "Directive" as a companion on a journey through the woods of Vermont, John Elder (a professor of English and environmental studies at Middlebury College) weaves scholarly analysis with reflections on the cycles of loss and recovery in his own life and in nature. Elder explains that not all ecological destruction is intrinsically wrong. After all, the hard-wood forests that were lost to small farms are now replaced by blazing maples, suggesting that the communities of man and nature are compatible, and wilderness is capable of renewal. It's an eloquently written book of memoir, literary criticism and natural history. (USE55, $20.50)
The Redrock Chronicles, Saving Wild Utah  •  T. H. Watkins NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES A natural and human history of the Colorado Plateau, and most specifically southern Utah, illustrated with photographs. Watkins, a professor and frequent traveler in the Southwest, explores the complex geology, human settlement and modern issues concerning the region. Enchanted by the beauty of the area, he also makes a genuine plea for conservation. (USW267, $29.95)
Requiem for Nature  •  John Terborgh NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES • FAVORITE A passionate and thoughtful plea for conservation of the rain forest from a noted biologist. John Terborgh's view of the fate of the rain forest, threatened by constant economic demands, can be quite dismal, but his informed arguments and his unwavering devotion to biodiversity are more than welcome. With a new preface by the author. (FST07, $29.50)
Return of the Whooping Crane  •  Robin W. Doughty NATURAL HISTORY •  1989 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES The story of the whooping crane's recovery from the brink of extinction. Lavishly illustrated, this book presents crane biology, historical anecdotes and conservation efforts of scientists. Doughty also documents the wild flock migrating between Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. With character sketches of individual birds, color photos, maps and summary tables. (TEX18, $24.95)
Rough Waters, Nature and Development in an East African Marine Park  •  Christine J. Walley NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES A scholarly account of the establishment of Tanzania's Mafia Island Marine Park, taking in issues of conservation, local peoples and political tensions. (EAF129, $25.95)
A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There  •  Aldo Leopold NATURAL HISTORY •  1968 •  PAPER  • 228 PAGES Leopold memorably opens this much-loved, essential collection of essays on land and nature and his farm in Wisconsin, first published in 1948, with the statement: "there are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot." The book has lost none of its power or beauty over the years. (NAT02, $15.95)
The Sea Around Us  •  Rachel Carson NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES An illustrated commemorative edition of Carson's influential, hugely popular paean to the sea and the interconnectedness of nature, featuring 130 color photographs. Carl Safina provides the forward. (OCE05, $49.95)
Sea Change, A Message of the Oceans  •  Sylvia Earle NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 354 PAGES A tribute to our watery planet -- and real-life adventure story by Sylvia Earle, a World Wildlife Fund national council member and diving pioneer. In this book she introduces us to marine biology and recounts her many exploits underwater. Former chief scientist of NOAA (the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), Earle has become our ambassador-at-large for the world's oceans. Using many examples of contemporary threats to the health of the world's oceans in this lively book, she takes us to the fish markets of Tokyo, sight of the Valdez disaster in Prince William Sound, and to the Persian Gulf. The book concludes with a detailed, constructive plan of what we must do to preserve our ocean resources. (OCE01, $13.95)
Sea of Slaughter, A Chronicle of the Destruction of Animal Life in the North Atlantic  •  Farley Mowat NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES This massively researched book documents human exploitation of the marine resources of the North Atlantic, including a blow-by-blow account of the extinction of the Great Auk, a long chapter on the Basque whaling industry and much information on the cod. This influential book was originally published in 1984. (OCE07, $16.95)
The Shadow of Kilimanjaro  •  Rick Ridgeway TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Lucky Ridgeway, he got to walk across Kenya, albeit in the company of armed park rangers, while the rest of us tool around in mini-vans and Toyotas. The veteran of high peaks, Antarctica, the Amazon and other formidable destinations recounts his walk from Mount Kilimanjaro across Tsavo National Park to the Indian Ocean in the company of Iain Allan (and an armed guard). It's a perceptive overview of Kenya, its wildlife and conservation by an appreciative observer. He weaves history, philosophy and thoughtful observation into this marvelous account. (EAF61, $17.00)
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)
The Song of the Dodo  •  David Quammen NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 700 PAGES This far-ranging book is part travelogue, part natural history essay and an excellent example of science reporting. Not just a book of intellectual adventure, it is a superb, detailed overview of the science of island biogeography. A talented writer and formidable researcher, Quammen is a master at explaining complex evolutionary phenomena with humor, wit and understanding. In this book, Quammen takes us from university offices to the rain forests of Brazil, the island of Komodo in Indonesia, among the lemurs in Madagascar and, perhaps most memorably, to the island of Mauritius where the dodo once roamed the forest floor. Eight years in the making, Song of the Dodo is a masterwork: forceful, clearly written and engaging. (CON05, $22.00)
Soul of the Tiger, Searching for Nature's Answers in Southeast Asia  •  Jeffrey A. McNeely  •  Paul Spencer Sochaczewski NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A wide-ranging meditation on the role of animals and nature in the complex human societies of Southeast Asia, originally published in 1988. The authors wax philosophical -- and sometimes blackly humorous -- about conservation issues throughout the region. They argue for effective community-based conservation building on traditional relationships between people and the environment (SEA02, $18.95)
Stinging Trees and Wait-A-Whiles: Confessions of a Rainforest Biologist  •  William Laurance TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 184 PAGES A scientist's memoir from the 1980s at Millaa Millaa in the tropics of Queensland, detailing the rigors of field research and the joys of discovery. But this is more than a discussion of scientific procedure and natural history, it is also a portrait of his colleagues, the story of conflicts with locals over conservation efforts, and most of all, an outsider's account of life in northeastern Australia, in the small towns and forests just outside of Cairns. The end of the book contains chapters on his travels in Papua New Guinea. With black-and-white photos and series of color plates. (AUS90, $25.00)
Through a Window, My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe  •  Jane Goodall NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES The now-classic account of Jane Goodall's research into the life of the chimpanzee on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, offering insight into field work, animal behavior and conservation issues. (EAF42, $16.00)
Tongass, Pulp Politics and the Fight for the Alaska Rain Forest  •  Kathie Durbin NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES An environmental history of North America's largest temperate rainforest -- and the shenanigans that resulted in throwing open the region to commercial logging. Durbin, a journalist, weaves hundreds of interviews in this blow-by-blow campaign against Ketchikan Pulp in Alaska's era of pulp. (ALA105, $19.95)
Track of the Tiger, Legend and Lore of the Great Cat  •  Maurice Hornocker NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 120 PAGES A celebration of the tiger, this handsome book edited by Siberian tiger biologist Maurice Hornocker presents thoughtful short essays by conservationists and 75 color photographs. (BST19, $30.00)
Water, The Fate of our Most Precious Resource  •  Marq de Villiers NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES An examination of the world's water supply and the global impact of its mismanagement. Giving water its due as our most important natural resource, de Villiers argues that while water supplies are still high, ill-advised irrigation practices are wreaking havoc on the environment. (NAT57, $16.00)
Why Big Fierce Animals are Rare, An Ecologist's Perspective  •  Paul Colinvaux NATURAL HISTORY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A classic published more than 20 years ago, these essays illuminate basic ecological questions of the distribution and abundance of plants and animals. (NAT14, $19.95)
Wilderness, Earth's Last Wild Places  •  Russel Mittermeier  •  Cristina Mittermeier  •  Norman Myers NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 576 PAGES A gorgeously illustrated, authoritative report on 37 endangered and significant natural regions around the world, published in conjunction with Conservation International. The wilderness regions featured include the Amazon, Congo and deserts of North America. More than a reference tool, this oversize book celebrates the diversity of our planet in both text by a range of experts and 300 color photographs. To qualify as wilderness, the areas included must have 70 percent or more of their original vegetation, cover at least 10,000 square kilometers, and have fewer than five people per square kilometer. (CON12, $75.00)
Wisdom of the Elders, Sacred Native Stories of Nature  •  David Suzuki NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 274 PAGES A global look at the relationship of people and nature. Organized thematically, each vignette juxtaposes western and native perspectives on ecology, land use and spirituality. It includes traditional tales of the Sioux, Hopi, and Navajo peoples. (GEN156, $19.00)
The Wolf, Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species  •  David Mech NATURAL HISTORY •  1970 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A classic overview of the ecology of the wolf by David Mech, a well known biologist who has done much of his field work on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian North. (BST35, $19.95)
Yosemite, The Embattled Wilderness  •  Alfred Runte NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 319 PAGES A well researched critique of the management of Yosemite National Park and the national park system itself. Runte reveals how developers' interests have been fixed on the commercial growth of the park, rather than the preservation of wildlife and plant species. (CAL50, $14.95)