Wildlife Warrior: Steve Irwin: 1962 - 2006, a Man Who Changed the World
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • This book should be RATED R, not for Christians or kids
  • An Honest and Fair Read
  • Could have been a little better, but hey
  • Steve Irwin, a Man Who Changed the World
  • Gone but never forgotten
Wildlife Warrior: Steve Irwin: 1962 - 2006, a Man Who Changed the World
Richard Shears
Manufacturer: New Holland Australia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Adventurers & ExplorersAdventurers & Explorers | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
WildlifeWildlife | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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  1. He Changed Our World - Steve Irwin Memorial Tribute He Changed Our World - Steve Irwin Memorial Tribute
  2. Steve Irwin: The Incredible Life of the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin: The Incredible Life of the Crocodile Hunter
  3. The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin
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ASIN: 1741105528

Book Description

Steve Irwin's sudden and tragic death made headline news around the world. Shock and grief followed. He was a giant and the world has lost a man of heroic proportions: the Crocodile Hunter touched and change lives everywhere. Wildlife Warrior charts Steve Irwin's amazing life - from his childhood in Victoria, Australia, through his work in the wilderness and his zoo. It follows his story into marriage and his fame on the world stage as he took every opportunity to spread the word about wildife conservation. He was a natural historian, whose passion will be remembered long after the world has paid its final respects. A percentage of the proceeds of this book will be directed to ensuring the survival of wildlife around the world.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars This book should be RATED R, not for Christians or kids.......2007-09-27

Steve Irwin was a great man. This book has language in it that could have been left out. I wish I could return the book because I couldn't read all of it and it is something that I can never share for the language. There was no warning of this so beware.

5 out of 5 stars An Honest and Fair Read.......2007-08-24

While I agree the book was written in a bit of a disorganized style, and some wording in sentences made me have to re read some to get the sense of it, I am Thoroughly enjoying the read, I'm almost done with it. Its Fair, esp. the part about Steve supposedly putting his baby in danger nearly feeding him to the crocs as so many put it.. I am a huge fan of Steve and Terri, and I KNOW how much he loves his family, I NEVER was worried or shocked, as I understand him and his thinking.. he'd NEVER take a chance of any kind with his children, family, friends, co-workers. Richard wrote about all of it fairly and honestly, which I appreciated, and felt he is also a fan too with a fondness for the man. Richard is an award winning writer, so I did enjoy the book. Some nice pictures in it.
First time using Product link, its for the new book by Terri Irwin herself, titled "Steve and Me" - not sure I did it right.Steve and Me: Life with the Crocodile Hunter

5 out of 5 stars Could have been a little better, but hey.......2007-07-03

This book is mainly clips based on articles/personal opinions from many 3rd hand sources, and did seem maybe just a little disorganized, but not bad at all. I would still recommend this book highly for the mere fact that you get a good look into the life and chronicles of Steve Irwin. Sadly the book also discusses what his future plans were, and how tragic it was he died before he could finish them. His death was a terrible loss to the world.

5 out of 5 stars Steve Irwin, a Man Who Changed the World.......2007-02-09

A wonderful look at the life of a truly great man.

5 out of 5 stars Gone but never forgotten.......2007-01-16

A wonderful account of Steve's life from someone that dearly loved the man and his work. We should never forget Steve and what he stood for and continue caring and believing in what he did.
Birds, Beasts, and Relatives
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Another book of lovely excursions to the island of Corfu
  • Good product
  • Menagerie
  • Another fix of Durrell family fun
  • My family and other animals
Birds, Beasts, and Relatives
Gerald Durrell
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
MemoirsMemoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
WildlifeWildlife | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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  1. My Family and Other Animals My Family and Other Animals
  2. A Zoo in My Luggage A Zoo in My Luggage
  3. Menagerie Manor Menagerie Manor
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  5. The Whispering Land The Whispering Land

ASIN: 0142004405
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Book Description

Part coming-of-age autobiography and part nature guide, Gerald Durrell's dazzling sequel to My Family and Other Animals is based on his boyhood on Corfu, from 1933 to 1939. Originally published in 1969 but long out of print, Birds, Beasts, and Relatives is filled with charming observations, amusing anecdotes, boyhood memories, and childlike wonder.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Another book of lovely excursions to the island of Corfu.......2007-09-24

This is another wonderful books of Gerald Durrell's memories of his time on the island of Corfu prior to the Second World War. He takes us back to another time and place before the world changed for good.

Each chapter is a separate story and rememberence of those days when as a young man he marvels at not only the natural world around him, but also the various people he encounters and learns to appreciate. It is easy to get lost in one of these stories and feel like you are there with him on a hot summer day with his faithful dogs tagging along beside him.

I recommend this book to anyone who not only loves nature, but also can appreciate a time gone by when people were different and even strangers were looked as guests. This book is one that I intend to read again and again in the coming years and will appreciate the stories just much each time as the first time.

5 out of 5 stars Good product.......2007-08-16

The books arrived in perfect condition and in very good time. I am completely satisfied.

4 out of 5 stars Menagerie.......2003-10-07

Gerald Durrell is the younger brother of Lawrence Durrell. The island of Corfu lies off of the Albanian and Greek coastlines. The family settled there to escape the deary English weather.

Gerald's mother fought a losing battle with the Greek language. The family members became familiar with all of the peasants in the region. Gerald had a tutor named George who was an adept of fencing and an adult scientist friend named Theodore.

Gerald visited the rock pools while his sister swam. Margo's sun bathing bothered a church functionary, a monk. Gerald sought permission to follow a fisherman, to accompany him in his boat when he fished at night. The fisherman used a trident to catch scorpios.

There was a myrtle forest near the family's house. Gerald received a rich dark brown donkey for his birthday. The donkey was used by Gerald to transport things. Larry brought home friends, artists and writers, and brought home an artist who could play the accordian, Sven.

Theordore had told a countess that Gerald, who was a fairly young boy at the time, was a naturalist and had a number of pets. The countess offered to give him a white owl who had an injured wing. Gerald went to fetch it and to meet her on his donkey.

He wanted to add baby hedgehogs to his menagerie. When he went away for a weekend his sister overfed them and they died. The book is joyous and colorful. The snippets above are used to give the reader a sense of what to expect.

4 out of 5 stars Another fix of Durrell family fun.......2001-02-06

I eagerly read this after "My Family and Other Animals" (which I had enjoyed immensely). It contains stories which were omitted from "My Family" and while the offerings were still magical and wonderfully well-written and sometimes hilarious (especially the story about the turtle), it lacked the memorability of its predecessor. There was also no real structure in the order of the stories, this is more of a miscellaneous collection.

5 out of 5 stars My family and other animals.......2000-02-29

I read Gerald Durrell's books 10 years ago, while I was still living in Romania. I loved his books from the first page to the last and literally I couldn't put them down until I finished them. The best humour I ever met in books! His stile is unique. I am planning on reading all of them again in English. I would recommend them to anyone!
The Gardener's Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Native Plants
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Five stars are simply not enough.
The Gardener's Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Native Plants
Valda Paddison
Manufacturer: Godwit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
RegionalRegional | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Canada | Middle Atlantic | Midwest | New England | Pacific Northwest | South | Southwest | West
By PlantBy Plant | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Begonias | Berries | Bonsai | Cacti | Citrus Trees | Clematis | Dahlias | Ferns | Grapes | Grasses | Greens | Hostas | Hydrangeas | Irises | Lavender | Lilacs | Lilies | Magnolias | Orchids | Palm Trees | Peppers & Chiles | Roses | Tomatoes | Tulips
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ASIN: 1869620437

Book Description

New Zealand's unique and diverse native flora includes hundreds of outstanding garden plants—from imposing specimen trees such a kauri and rimu, through the vast array of shrubs and herbaceous plants with admirable forms, foliage and flowers, to graceful grasses and quirky, mat-forming groundcovers.

The Gardener's Encyclopedia of New Zealand Native Plants brings together for the first time over 1000 species, hybrids, and cultivars in a highly illustrated, user-friendly, encyclopedic volume. Over(Nearly?) 1000 color photographs, arranged according to the plants' attributes and uses in the garden, include examples of landscaping possibilities as well as numerous plant portaits. The accompanying A to Z gives detailed descriptions, cultivation and propagation information. There are also lists of plants with desirable features or for particular situations.

Yvonne Cave's stunning photographs and Valda Paddison's authoritative text combine to make a comprehensive and unique book that will be welcomed by gardeners, horticulture professionals, botanists and conservationists.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Five stars are simply not enough........2003-10-10

I ordered this book and was amazed and enthralled by it from the moment I cracked the cover. What a find. I had no idea New Zealand had such wonderful plants. I wish the section on Alpine Wildflowers was more thorough but it wasn't bad. It could use information on cultivation, hardiness, and availability and the book would be perfect. I want to grow some of these plants so bad it isn't even funny. I fell in love with this book and would never part with it. It will remain a cherished part of my library as it would be with yours. Don't pass up the opportunity to get this one. It is well worth the money.
I am a botanist and work for a nursery. I have an extensive library, mostly on the area where I live but I love plants from all over the world. Especially if the plants can survive my climate. I got some good information and photographs from this book. I am not kidding when I said I was amazed. I fell in love with in in the first few pages.
John Muir: The Eight Wilderness Discovery Books
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Want a detailed description of a snow-banner? the nut-pine?
John Muir: The Eight Wilderness Discovery Books
John Muir
Manufacturer: Diadem Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

WildlifeWildlife | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Natural HistoryNatural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
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  3. The Wilderness World of John Muir The Wilderness World of John Muir
  4. John Muir : Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays (Library of America) John Muir : Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays (Library of America)
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ASIN: 089886335X

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Want a detailed description of a snow-banner? the nut-pine?.......1997-08-01

Or numerous other natural phenomena? Come browse Muir's collection of books. Yes, browse the 1,030 pages which comprise his writings. This book is excellent for the student of nature because his descriptive writing takes you to the high Sierra, the redwood forests, the 1,000 mile trek through Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. You are there and you want to be THERE! While much of the description was written over 100 years ago, the magnificence of a Sequoia, the humidity of a Florida swamp and the curiosity of a Douglas squirrel is still REAL today. A true travelogue for nature lovers and mountainmen wannabes alike
3 Among the Wolves: A Couple and Their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Fantastic Read
  • Wolves are beautiful creatures; this is a beautiful book.
  • Remarkable----Page Turner
  • A Fascinating Read
3 Among the Wolves: A Couple and Their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild
Helen Thayer
Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1570614792

Book Description

Helen and Bill Thayer, accompanied by their part-wolf, mostly Husky dog, Charlie, set out on foot to live among wild wolf packs — first in the Canadian Yukon and then in the Arctic. They eventually set up camp within 100 feet of a wolf den, and are greeted with apprehension at first. They establish trust over time, because the wolves accept Charlie as the alpha male of the newly arrived "pack."

The Thayers discover the complexities of wolf family structure, including how pups are reared and how the injured are tenderly cared for. They view the intricacies of the hunt firsthand — how ravens direct wolves to prey in exchange for carrion — as well as the wolves’ finely honed survival skills and engaging playfulness. Readers observe the ways Helen and Bill model pack behavior and how they address an unforeseen event: the Arctic wolves attempt to lure Charlie to join them.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Read.......2007-07-16

This book was incredible, and is definantly my favorite non-fiction book. This book is great for anyone who has a slight intrest in nature. It helps if you think wolves are awesome as I do.

5 out of 5 stars Wolves are beautiful creatures; this is a beautiful book........2006-02-28

This book is my second literary experience with Helen Thayer and her dog Charlie following her 2002 book "Polar Dream," in which the pair join together as Ms. Thayer became the first woman (and oldest person at 50) to walk and ski solo (not counting Charlie) to the Magnetic North Pole. In this adventure her husband Bill joins the pair as they spend a year living with wolves in the wild above the Arctic Circle. It's easy to see why the National Geographic Society/National Public Radio has named Ms. Thayer one of the great explorers of the 20th Century. Her stamina and perseverance are phenomenal. The trio infiltrates the Richardson Mountains in Canada's Yukon Territory in search of the greatest villains in all of children's literature. After struggling through most difficult terrains, they come upon a family of wolves and spend months living in a tent within the animals' sight studying the social interplay of these beasts. Completing this phase of their adventure, they sadly leave this family and trek further north into the shifting and dangerous ice of Beaufort Sea to discover the wintertime interplay between wolves and polar bears, considered by many to be the most dangerous of all wild animals. After this near-death adventure, they ski back to the Mackenzie Delta and set up housekeeping next to another group of wolves. The hardships and danger the three faces on a daily basis are amazing to contemplate. The payoff from this book is two-fold. First, the scientific data discovered for the first time. But maybe more importantly is the realization that these creatures are truly magnificent and caring individuals, and anyone who reads this book with an open mind will forever despise hunters who slaughter entire packs by shooting them from low flying airplanes. Ms. Thayer makes it crystal clear that wolves deserve to be part of the world community. There is a bit of repetition in the book. I only need to be told once that the northern lights are called aurora borealis or that animals burrow under the snow were it is a few degrees warmer than above. But that's nit picking. There is also repetition in the telling of their studies, but that captures the flavor of their scientific existence, so is acceptable. To enhance this telling, dozens of pictures taken during this adventure are sprinkled throughout. All outdoorsmen, naturalists, and animal lovers will treasure this book.

5 out of 5 stars Remarkable----Page Turner.......2004-06-03

A true story of two people, their wolf-dog and their amazing adventures with wild wolves in Canada's far north tundra and frozen ocean.
Helen Thayer, a recipient of many awards and honored by the White House, is a veteran world wide explorer over many years. She and her husband explore the world's remote places seeking material to add to their highly successful educational programs which I and fellow educators nationwide use in classrooms.
Her writing and lectures have inspired people of all ages in many countries. I had the pleasure of meeting this dynamic 66 year old, five feet two inch woman after she spoke at a national corporate convention in Florida.
This is a true life experience of living among wild wolf packs in which Charlie, her Inuit dog who once saved her life from a polar bear attack, is the story's star. Just as POLAR DREAM was, this new book is well written with vivid description that takes you on this remarkable journey. This very different approach to wolf study is a welcome addition to our knowledge of these animals. We see the close relationship of many species of animals sharing wild wolf habitat, and at times depending on each other.
Her first book, POLAR DREAM, tells of her adventure with Charlie when she became the first woman to walk alone pulling her own sled without dog teams or snowmobiles to the Magnetic North Pole.
This exciting story and THREE AMONG THE WOLVES are on the same informative, page turning level. The observation of wild wolf family life, their ability to adjust their survival skills, the raising of the pups and even the concern over an injured family member show close observation and remarkable intuitive understanding of wolf behavior. Of course beloved part-wolf Charlie is the reason for the success of the year long project as the author readily acknowledges.
The story is fast moving and flows smoothly from one chapter to the next. Also beautifully descriptive, compassionate and in places humerous. The numerous photos add to the account. A valuable addition to the story are the descriptions of the various animals the Thayers' encountered who share wolf habitat. An excellent addition to anyones book shelf.

5 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Read.......2004-05-12

I collect books about wolves. This book is different with a new perspective both fascinating and informative.The author, explorer Helen Thayer,her explorer husband, and their Inuit dog Charlie of the best selling book, "Polar Dream" fame,(the author's book about her first ever by a woman to walk alone to the magnetic North Pole)lived a year with wild wolves above the Arctic Circle summer and winter. The author tells us "it would have been impossible without Charlie.He was the bridge we needed to cross the gap that allowed us to live alongside wolves and share their lives."
Charlie, part wolf, was quickly accepted. His human pack was accepted shortly afterward. The affectionate nature of wolves, their interaction with other animal species, even polar bears, that's not well documented elsewhere, is truly enlightening. The escapades of the mishievious pups are adorable as is their care and teaching by the adults.
The amusing episodes, the highly emotional times and the valuable information makes this book a winner. Beautifully written, vivid description, allows the reader to share this amazing and unique experience.
The reader soon knows each wolf, its personality, and its role in family life as if the reader were right there with the author.
A true winner in wolf literature.
The Last River Rat: Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Last River Rat
  • Most Honest Accounting of "A River Rat"
The Last River Rat: Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild
J Scott Bestul
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Nature WritingNature Writing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
WildlifeWildlife | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0896587495

Book Description

Kenny Salwey is a modern-day American hermit who has lived most of his life in the Mississippi river bottoms, coming to know the river ecosystem with an intimacy unavailable to most. Now, Kenny shares his love of, and knowledge about, the mighty river. "The Last River Rat" is a seasonal look at Kenny’s unique life. Each chapter covers a month of Kenny’s year and starts by detailing his activities--such as deer hunting, ginseng digging, or mushroom picking--and closes with one of Kenny’s own "Rat Tales": his personal thoughts on various aspects of his way of life, such as the importance of dogs or memories of other river rats with whom he has crossed paths. Through Kenny--a true naturalist who provides sage advice about living off the land and protecting the river’s ecology--and "The Last River Rat", you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Last River Rat .......2006-03-27

I have never met Kenny, but after reading this book, it seems as though I have known him most of my life. I grew up on a farm in Winona County in the 50's and 60's hunting and fishing every chance I had. Reading chapter after chapter, from my experiences which are a bit different, but similar, than Kenny's, I relived part of my life again and many of the phrases found in the book jogged my memory nicely. I spent four years at Winona State and did my share of fishing below the dam and wandering around some of the backwaters on the Wisconsin side of the river amid much of the wildlife Kenny encountered. Each almanac chapter, as well as the Rat Tales, are filled with information and feelings that only a true naturalist could convey. This book is a facinating account of a river rat's calendar year and all the beauty and excitement in and around the Mississippi River from one month to the next. A must read for anyone who lives in this area or wishes they did.

5 out of 5 stars Most Honest Accounting of "A River Rat".......2002-06-15

I have known Kenny since 1980, although I've only started reading this story I am extremely comfortable with the pace and grace Mr. Bestul uses. Kenny is everything the book says he is a very hard working, deliberate, honest, kind and caring person, without a mean bone in him. I've shared stories and bread with Kenny, and he really is the type of person you would like to know personally. Mary Kay's illustrations are graceful and a pleasure to view alongside this wonderful story.
In my opinion this book is a must for any outdoorsman, or for a quiet read next to a fire. I sincerely hope you enjoy Kenny's story as much as I am.
Rogue River Journal: A Winter Alone
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Hot and cold
  • Rogue River Journal: A Winter Alone
  • Great story...
  • We're never alone, even when we're by ourselves
  • It's all about remembering
Rogue River Journal: A Winter Alone
John Daniel
Manufacturer: Shoemaker & Hoard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

AuthorsAuthors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1593761058

Book Description

In November of 2000, after the presidential election but before the final results had been handed down by the Supreme Court, John Daniel climbed into his pickup, drove to a remote location in Oregon's Rogue River Canyon, and quit civilization. The strictures were severe with no two-way human communication — not even with his wife — and no radio, no music, not even his cat. He would isolate himself in a cabin sure to be snowed in soon after his arrival, intent on hearing no human voice but his own until spring thawed the road. This experiment in solitude was an attempt to clarify his identity while pursuing daily life without the distractions of the world at large. Daniel had spent a week or two alone before, but this would be an entirely new challenge, and as he drove off into the mountains he felt a fear-tinged freedom. Rogue River Journal chronicles his journey in solitude, a season of memory, and his search for a coherent place to stand on the earth.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Hot and cold.......2006-11-25

The book has four themes: journal and musings while in the Oregon wilderness, auto biography, and father's biography. It's tough to write an interesting journal - face it, most lives aren't that interesting. Daniel has led an interesting life, but not that interesting. I enjoyed spending time with him in the wilderness, became bored with his reflections on his self-absorbed youth, and had to go for my own solitary walk to escape his musings on current politics - sorry, not interested in ruminations on Bill Clinton and Monica, the decriminalization of drugs, and the merits of Bush and Gore.

The sections on his father and the labor movement were fascinating and hope that Daniel can work through the emotional issues enough to write a full, more dispassionalte biography.

There are plenty of great nuggets to mine here, for example his experience as a choker in Washington forest, and having many fathers, that make the book worth reading. But often I could almost hear Franz Daniel saying, that's enough John, now get out and DO something.

5 out of 5 stars Rogue River Journal: A Winter Alone.......2006-10-02

I was encouraged to read this book by the cover quote from Mary Oliver and was rewarded appropriately. A beautifully written, thoughtful journey of self discovery. And a special gift at the end for anyone exploring their own path in becoming a writer, the author offers insight and direction that resonates as true.

5 out of 5 stars Great story..........2006-08-25

This is a great 'get-away' book. It conveys what it must really be like to be alone in the wilderness for months, in a beautiful place, and the journey of a person's thoughts without the distractions of modern life. It also is a powerful story about the author's relationship with his father. Highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars We're never alone, even when we're by ourselves.......2005-08-01

I loved this book, and I'm glad the author brought us along on his journey. I have often wondered what it would be like to take off for awhile, and leave the bustle of everyday life behind.

From reading I discovered that I would never really be alone, because all of the people that I have been fortunate to know have shaped my life. They are part of me, and hopefully I am part of them. Our friends and family are there in spirit all of time - good and bad. It all makes up a portion of the fabric which is us, which makes nothing bad. It's all good.

The natural setting for the adventure is top-notch, and I do plan on exploring the Rogue River. I certainly need to bring my fly-rod.

Thanks for sharing your life with us, John.

4 out of 5 stars It's all about remembering.......2005-06-06

Poet and nonfiction writer John Daniel spent four and a half months living by himself in a cabin in the Rogue River canyon of southwestern Oregon. Though his original intent was to go there to write, he did some nature observation and terrain exploration as well. He chose to make his retreat during the winter of 2000-2001, beginning just after election day. We who were stuck back here in civilization can only envy his self-made cocoon of quiet, blissfully removed from the incessant media analysis of the Bush-Gore-Florida quandry. We can merely shake our heads, remembering.

Memory comes into play quite a bit here. After taking care of his immediate needs and taking in the natural world around him, Daniel spends much of his alone time considering the past. Or two pasts, really: his father's and his own. Something he sees or thinks about at the cabin will remind him of something else from the past, and he follows that tangent. He writes about his father and traces the man's work in the American labor movement as well as his struggle with alcoholism. At the same time, he reveals much about his own life and about growing up in a 1960s culture that was both anti-Vietnam and pro-drugs. "Rogue River Journal" is as much about Daniel's voyage of self-discovery as it is a temporary escape from society. By the end of his sojourn, it seems as if he has come to terms with all of it: his relationship with his father, his own varied and sometimes illegal activities of his younger days, his writing career, even the choice to enforce this self-imposed confinement. Daniel gets *very* personal, yet this is not a pure autobiography. It's funny, it's sad, it's thought-provoking, it's Life.

Daniel writes, "I thought I might find two books here -- one about the experience of solitude, the other the story of my coming of age and my father. From the start though, the two wanted to loop and weave together, and I saw no reason, and see none now, to discourage their union." (p. 301) The result honors both men. Obviously Franz Daniel passed the story-telling gene onto his son John. He has a knack for offering vivid descriptions and the tales to go with them, knowing just when to bring one segment to a temporary close so that we'll want to turn the page to discover what happened next. Baby Boomer readers will have no problem reminiscing on their own, inspired by Daniel's candid ruminations. This book is more contemplative than most "Walden" wannabees.

John Daniel uncovers two truths for us: We need occasional solitude in order to understand who we are as individuals. And we also need distance from the past in order to comprehend its contribution to our personalities and lives. Thanks for the reminders, John!
Aldo Leopold: A Fierce Green Fire
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • An fascinating biography
  • Great book, great length, very interesting
  • A lightweight treatment of a heavyweight thinker
  • One of the best biographies I've ever read of this great man
Aldo Leopold: A Fierce Green Fire
Marybeth Lorbiecki
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:
  1. The River of the Mother of God: and other Essays by Aldo Leopold The River of the Mother of God: and other Essays by Aldo Leopold
  2. Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work
  3. Aldo Leopold and the Ecological Conscience Aldo Leopold and the Ecological Conscience
  4. The Essential Aldo Leopold: Quotations and Commentaries The Essential Aldo Leopold: Quotations and Commentaries
  5. For the Health of the Land: Previously Unpublished Essays And Other Writings For the Health of the Land: Previously Unpublished Essays And Other Writings

ASIN: 0762736631

Amazon.com

Aldo Leopold (1886-1948) is revered among environmentalists and naturalists for many reasons: as an officer of the U.S. Forest Service, he was instrumental in formulating policies that helped protect wildlands and wild animals; as an activist, he helped found the Wilderness Society and other public-interest organizations; and as a writer, he crafted a number of fine, philosophically charged essays and books, including his famous memoir, A Sand County Almanac. Marybeth Lorbiecki's overview of Leopold's life addresses each of these contributions in turn, and it does a good job of explaining why Leopold's influence should endure today. Of added interest are the many photographs Lorbiecki has discovered in family and government archives, images that help flesh out a figure who has, in ecological circles, become something of a saint--and, as a result, a little unreal. Curt Meine's Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work addresses Leopold's work in greater depth, but readers seeking a sense of his many contributions, and why they matter, will find much of value in Lorbiecki's well-written pages. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Aldo Leopold, author of the classic A Sand County Almanac, founder of the field of wildlife management, and originator of the national wilderness system, is revealed in this short, illustrated biography by Marybeth Lorbiecki.

Leopold dedicated his life to answering the question: "How do we live on the land without spoiling it?" And his work and writings inspire millions of people in their continued pursuit of the answers.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars An fascinating biography.......2002-01-25

I've been a long-time fan of Leopold's A Sand County Almanac. In reading it again recently, however, I realized how little I knew about Leopold's background. Lorbiecki's biography is a well-written introduction to one of the great 'fathers' of conservation.

Leopold's career truly ran the gamut, from foresty to public relations to writing to academia. But beyond his work life, Lorbiecki illustrates the importance family played for Leopold, both in shaping his values from childhood, and in the devotion he later showed to his wife and children.

I'd strongly recommend that anyone interested in Leopold, and more generally in the history of American land and game conservation, to give A Fierce Green Fire a try.

5 out of 5 stars Great book, great length, very interesting.......2000-01-28

I don't agree with review #1. As a long time Leopold reader and having read Curt Meine's book, I think this treatment of Leopold is great for an introduction to the great man's life and work. This is the kind of book which makes you think about how you live, and what you can contribute to the greater good. Not an encyclopedia on Leopold, but a great intro.

2 out of 5 stars A lightweight treatment of a heavyweight thinker.......1999-04-13

As someone who is intimately familiar with the work of Aldo Leopold I was quite diappointed with this book. Although there are no glaring inaccuracies with the biography there is one obvious problem with it. A far far superior treatment of Leopold's life and work has already been written. Curt Meine's book "Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work" is such a better treatment of both Leopold's 'life and work' that Lorbiecki's book never needed to be written. "A Fierce Green Fire" is a superficial treatment of one of the most, if not the most, profound thinkers of our time and cannot hold a candle to Meine's book. If Leopold enthusiasts really want to learn about Aldo Leopold I would suggest Meine's book--don't cheat yourself.

5 out of 5 stars One of the best biographies I've ever read of this great man.......1997-06-21

Being an environmentalist and teacher I have long been acquainted with the work of Aldo Leopold. This book, while unstinting in praise for the man, lets his life work speak for itself. I was impressed by three things: One, the depth of his feeling for sustainable landscape, whether used or preserved. I had somehow believed that his revelation with the dying wolf was the beginning of his environmental conscience, but it was there almost from the beginning. Two, the evolution of his feeling for the preservation of wildlife. Although he was a hunter all his life, his feeling toward "predators" took a 180 degree turn during his life, as did the nation's, eventually. Finally, we see the handicaps he labored under, from an early severe illness to problems in later life, that makes his accomplishments even more impressive. I am often put off by biographers because they feel that every day in the life of their subjects mush somehow be accounted for. By what looks like severe editorial restraint, she allows her book to flow like an exciting novel. I have already bought extra copies for friends working with the enviornment and will probably do more
Marina Silva: Defending Rainforest Communities In Brazil
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Marina Silva: Defending Rainforest Communities In Brazil
    Ziporah Hildebrandt
    Manufacturer: Feminist Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
    WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
    NonfictionNonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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    GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    Ages 9-12Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    NonfictionNonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    ASIN: 1558612637

    Book Description

    Since her girlhood as a poor rubber-tapper's daughter in Amazonia, Marina Silva has understood that bulldozing the rainforest for development hurts not only the indigenous peoples living there, but destroys natural resources needed by Brazil and the whole world.

    Overcoming extreme prejudice, Marina attended university. She joined the reform party of Chico Mendes and demonstrated against deforestation. Elected to Brazil's Senate, the "miracle of Acre" successfully legislated rainforest preservation, defending her people against poverty and protecting their way of life.

    Marina's work has generated worldwide recognition, including the Goldman Environmental Prize. This first-ever biography of the courageous leader introduces children to another inspiring woman role model.

    Ziporah Hildebrant is author of numerous books for children.

    Barefoot-Hearted : A Wild Life Among Wildlife
    Average customer rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    • Don't bother
    Barefoot-Hearted : A Wild Life Among Wildlife
    Kathleen Meyer
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | History | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
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    MontanaMontana | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: B000FUO0H4

    Amazon.com

    Memoirs by urbanites who homestead in the country and learn hard lessons in the bargain are many, but few attain the depths of a Walden or Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Readers of those books will want to spend time with Kathleen Meyer's sometimes playful, sometimes somber Barefoot Hearted, which brings a resolutely modern sensibility to some ancient problems--among them, how to live with the creatures on whose homes humans have intruded, and how to learn the arts of self-sufficiency.

    Meyer, the author of the indelicately titled but highly useful How to Shit in the Woods, recounts how she and her partner set about making an old Montana barn into a fit home. The job was daunting, she learned: in winter, the place was so cold that she had to bundle up in gear befitting an Antarctic explorer, no easy garb for, well, performing certain functions. And, she found, the barn and its environs had become a shelter for many animals, some of which she welcomed (among them bats and, strangely, skunks), some of which she reluctantly waged war against (specifically a never-ending army of mice). She sets those challenges against a thoughtful, ongoing discussion that touches upon important philosophical issues: the responsibilities of those who live on the edges where civilization and wilderness meet, and the responsibilities of humans to preserve what little of wild nature is left in a time of wholesale extinction and slaughter.

    Wise, literate, and often moving, Meyer's memoir is required reading for anyone contemplating a move to places beyond the avenue--and for anyone who values a good story well told. --Gregory McNamee

    Book Description

    "The Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train ended in Cody in a dismal, torn-down drive-in movie theater. Before setting up the corral, we were forced to clear away shards of glass, bent nails, broken lumber. My prairie skirt and petticoats hung ragged and clay-caked, and under a droopy Stetson my frizzled hair appeared at once greased and starched beyond human recognition. A cloud, a sort of vaporousness, redolent with fresh acrid sweat on top of powerful stale sweat, hung thickly about me. Laced, as it was, with a woman's sweet musky secretions, and all gone past ripe, oddly it was a pungency I savored. Such goaty piquance, though, was cause to be shunned in any town setting.

    The look of my world had changed. Gone were the high-dollar designer clothes and the zipping around fabled Marin County in a candy-apple-red 1966 Mustang convertible. It was true that I unfailingly sought the ironies in life and, with a kind of dual personality, shifted easily through incongruencies such as town strolls in high heels and backcountry hiking in bare feet; the bucket seats of a classic automobile and the broken-down bench of a beater truck. It was only during the years that Iíd worn white overalls, taped drywall, and come home every night much like Charles Schulz's Pig Pen, flaking a cloud of dried white mud bits onto the rug, that I'd felt moved to keep my fingernails painted red. Now I was to slip farther than ever planned toward one end of my seesaw and then, incredibly, by conscious design, inch out even farther."
    --from Barefoot-Hearted

    With more than 1.5 million copies in print, Kathleen Meyer's groundbreaking international bestseller, How to Shit in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art, has been widely embraced by the outdoor community and has found its way into myriad places: national parks, outdoor leadership schools and scout-troop headquarters, the camp tents of those who have discovered that it is amusing out-loud reading, and the bathroom-literature baskets of households around the world.

    Now, from the Rocky Mountain West, Meyer brings us Barefoot-Hearted: A Wild Life Among Wildlife, a coming-into-the-country story told with the frank, dry humor and sharp research of her first book. The country, in this case, is Montana's tall, reaching landscape with its ever underfoot wild critters; the on-tenterhooks territory of a new romantic relationship; and the pressure cooker that is our precarious global imbalance. Meyer finds herself in midlife standing out under yawning skies, surrounded by sagebrush and cactus, having fallen for the Irish charm of itinerant farrier Patrick McCarron. As partners, they travel across three mountain states with draft horses and a covered wagon and then set up housekeeping in a seventy-five-year-old dairy barn.

    In this primitive structure, the author rapidly discovers she's living with troops of mice, a nursery colony of seventy-five bats, sexually fired-up skunks, and more flies than in a pig shed. She tells of a freakish season that or-phaned seventy-seven bear cubs, an unusual fly-fishing trip on a famed blue-ribbon trout stream, the visitations of moose, and the discovery of a den of wolves.

    Meyer's prose is original and inspired, playful yet provocative. She carries us vividly back to the settlers' old West while pondering modern-day dilemmas, those of fitting into this fast hurtling world, of determining amid the earth's rising extinctions of species, whose planet it is, and of managing to stay empowered residing with a man who "stands six feet six and beats steel on an anvil for a living." A personal chronicle of conscience and a love story of rare and quirky dimension, Barefoot-Hearted catapults readers into new realms of thought, deftly guided there by Meyer's sense of the ironic, the randy, and the humorous.

    Download Description

    Meyer narrates a madcap adventure of hand-to-hand combat with nature when her earth-loving sensibilities take her to Montana where she and her farrier spouse purchased an 82-year-old barn.

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Don't bother.......2004-08-23

    Don't bother with this one. Basically an autobiography, the author's life is not book-worthy.

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