Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature

Amazon.com

Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy uses a seemingly infinite array of purely natural materials, from snow and ice to leaves, stone, and twigs in the creation of his one-of-a-kind sculptures. Unlike such artists as Christo and Michael Hiezer, whose works leave definite marks on the landscape, Goldsworthy's approach is to interrupt, shape, or in some other way temporarily alter or work with nature to produce his fragile, mutable pieces. To create "Broken Icicle," for example, Goldsworthy was only able to work on the sculpture in the early morning, when temperatures were below freezing. As with most of his works, ultimately, the materials used to create this piece returned to their natural state, leaving no trace of the artwork's existence save for the stunning photos in this book.

Customer Reviews:

Noteworthy.......2007-10-22

I plan to acquire more Andy Goldsworthy albums. His photo art calms the mind, eyes and soul...look at it while listening to your favorite calming music!

Awe inspiring photography from the master of nature........2007-09-17

This is classic Andy at his finest. A must have for your coffee table, bookshelf or any tucked away corner or your home. Fantastic intro book to get anyone to know Andy and his work. A great gift. Pick up a few for yourself.

Beautiful.......2007-07-30

This is a beautiful and original look at nature as art. Gorgeous photos and well put together, insightful commentary by the artist.

Absolutely superb.......2007-07-12

I cannot reccomend this book enough. It is one of the freshest and most unique photo / art books I have ever seen. Goldsworthy's ideas are rock solid and the book will amaze anyone with even the slightest desire to see good art.

When I had lost all hope ..........2007-05-12

I have tried to find Andy Goldsworthy's 'Ice and Sno' for quite a few years without any luck. I had already given up on ever finding it again at a reasonable price when this new title appeared. This books contains photographs of Andy's many and various creations, including quite a few in ice and snow. I am really happy with it!

The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next

Average customer rating:

Good, intelligent, understandable wrting
Cuts through the hype
A superb overview of the state of theoretical physics.
Scientific progress is never cut and dried
physics from many angles

The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next
Lee Smolin
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618551050

Book Description

In this groundbreaking book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that physics—the basis for all other science—has lost its way. The problem is string theory, an ambitious attempt to formulate "a theory of everything" that explains all the forces and particles of nature and how the universe came to be. With its exotic new particles and parallel universes, string theory has captured the public"s imagination and seduced many physicists. But as Smolin reveals, there"s a deep flaw in the theory: no part of it has been proven, and no one knows how to prove it. As a scientific theory, it has been a colossal failure. And because it has soaked up the lion's share of funding, attracted some of the best minds, and penalized young physicists for pursuing other avenues, it is dragging the rest of physics down with it. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin charts the rise and fall of string theory and takes a fascinating look at what will replace it. A group of young theorists has begun to develop exciting new ideas that are, unlike string theory, testable. Smolin tells us who and what to watch for in the coming years and how we can find the next Einstein. This is a wake-up call, and Lee Smolin—a former string theorist himself— is the perfect person to deliver it.

Customer Reviews:

Good, intelligent, understandable wrting.......2007-10-20

A very good book; nicely written. Gives one (of the Laity) a small feeling for the beauties of high energy particle physics and the elegance of the so-called Standard Model. The book then goes on, at some length, to define and, at least partially discredit, the Next Big Thing in Science: String Theory in its multiple versions.

Judging from many of the reviews that I scanned, the book has been carefully read (and thoroughly dissected, praised and/or criticized) by persons of substantial scientific credentials. But there have also been some excellent commentaries from persons who, though not scientists, are intelligent appreciators of complex issues. I think of myself as one of these (Yes: I have read "The Elegant Universe" and "Not Even Wrong". Understood some of both.)

And yet, as important as a Demonstrable Theory of What It All Means is, I cannot see where it will change the beliefs and perceptions of millions and millions of the believers in the great religious works such as the Holy Bible or the Koran. It will NOT make any difference to the Faithful of the World's Religions.

So the concern that a Unification Theory may not put the notion of Intelligent Design to rest is, for many, many souls, not simply an issue for Physics, but--far more important--an issue for the highest, most cerebral reaches of Philosophy. This, to that huge population of Believers, is of no consequence.

To me, such a Theory would be most welcome, for I believe in science and mathematics and sweet rationality. I have the feeling after completing this excellent work, that that is not going to happen anytime soon (Something like waiting for a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis.)

Bottom Line: Give the book a try.

Naf Los Altos

Cuts through the hype.......2007-10-13

This is an excellently written book, very easy to read,and with only one typo that I noticed. It starts with an excellent overview of physics from a technical point of view, without getting too technical,but a good basic understanding of physics is really needed to grasp what he is writing about, and shows the authors grasp of the technical issues, and then gets into a philosophical view of the state of physics and science generally. As an interested observer of science I have certainly noticed the lack of really big discoveries in the last twenty years or so, and this book confirms my view. Also being more of a creative thinker,rather than a conformist, a 'seer' as the author describes it,I can totally relate to the problems faced by people seeking a career in science, and the need to conform to currently popular programs and research where economic imperitives take precedence over original thinking,or even fundamental work, and where universities operate to build an image to attract students based on hype over substance. Its what put me off a career in science, and a university education, as I'm not interested in doing what others want in return for money,career,etc. The authors comment about some of the best scientists of the past being wealthy enough to support themselves in doing as they pleased is a very important point in showing that creative people are wasted if forced to do the work others want done in order to survive. Which basically leaves only those who want to conform and have an easy life and easy career path, who want to be technical experts rather than big thinkers or explorers of new concepts. It excludes most risk takers and entrepreneurs from a career in science,as you would end up bitter and unsatisfied. This book really just confirmed alot of what I thought, what should be common sense. And it makes an important point that only a few people think creatively,so it would not cost alot to employ these people and take a risk on them, in the hope that long term they will produce big things, while delivering very little of measurable worth in the short term. The book also goes into the sociology of science and scientists. Something I realised along time ago to my suprise was that scientists suffer from all the normal human flaws of bias and blindness, tribalism,etc that average people do,and often end up in religious type devoutness to their beliefs or tribe. I would have thought science would not attract such people, but it does,as the authors experience shows in confirming what I beleived just from watching science shows on TV,etc. Science would be an excellent career if not for the fact it suffers from the same B.S. that afflicts most human organisations and puts people like myself right off getting involved at all. The author is smart enough to realise that science must attract talent and compete with others for it,and his criticisms are done out of love for science and physics,not hate. It is interesting to see how carefully he treads in crisicising others, which just goes to show how religion-like science had become, and how risky it is to be a heretic, which so goes against what science should stand for,like open debate, constant questioning of all beleifs,etc, when ego's start getting in the way you might as well do something else, as its no better than any other politics or belief system. If you care about science this book raises many important points ,although I suspect it will find an audience with those that sympathise with its views and have no effect on those that need to learn from it most,as they will have closed minds and take all criticism as an attack to be defended against.A very enjoyable read.

A superb overview of the state of theoretical physics........2007-10-12

What a superb book. Lee Smolin starts by sketching our progress towards a unified theory, and then critically examines the claims of string theory to be the best contender for that throne. Having demolished our fuzzy belief that string theory has been somehow "proven," he then weighs in on the other candidates for a unified theory, namely quantum gravity and its cousins. These turn out to be little better supported by experimental evidence. The technical concepts are clearly presented, sans equations, as developments in a story peopled with fascinating characters: the great theoretical physicists of the last 50 years. As a non-math person, I found this narrative a positive pleasure to read. In comparison to other authors of books on physics for the lay public, Smolin really knows how to tell a story, without skimping the science.

The real depth of "The Trouble With Physics" becomes apparent when Smolin pulls back to focus on physics itself. Facing the fact that the academy is a human enterprise like any other, he subjects it to the same bold criticism that he applies to scientific concepts. Here are eyeopening revelations about the culture of conferences, recommendations, networks, and above all, the economic pressures that subtly favor "craftspeople" at the expense of "seers." It's a sorry indictment of our universities, the triumph of self-interest over vision, and Smolin explicitly includes himself in the great mass of insincere careerists who choose a safe research program over a risky one, to the detriment of scientific progress. One gets the sense that this book is, for the author, an atonement for having shortchanged his own creativity as a younger man.

But we the readers are the beneficiaries of Smolin's decision to lay all bare. I have read literally dozens of books on physics and cosmology, and this is the first one that has presented the human side of the story as a CONTEXT, rather than in a series of postage-stamp portraits. Smolin shows that tribalism and rent-seeking do as much to shape science as any ideas. It is a lesson that will lend an extra savor, and a much-needed depth of perspective, to every science book I read in the future.

Scientific progress is never cut and dried.......2007-10-08

Lee Smolin presents a harsh critique of the last 30 years in theoretical physics, written by one of its practitioners. He makes the excellent point that science is a human activity like anything else. Progress is always hard to predict; scientists can and do get caught up in dead ends. Smolin thinks string theory is one such dead end, and makes a good case for it.

I think that, if anything, Smolin is a little too gentle on the field. The development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs left a tremendous impression that big money put into physics would bring big results. In recent years that hasn't happened. There are so many unanswered questions out there in science, so many important fields where solutions are desperately needed. When I consider the construction and operation of particle accelerators and other high-tech equipment, I can't help but think of the huge cost. The same amount of cash invested elsewhere might have brought much more in the way of useful results.

I am the mother of a 10-year-old boy attending public school. His instruction sometimes seems to me like a mishmash of well-meaning educational reforms that have been implemented with little or no testing to see if they worked or not. I am frankly disgusted by the quality of most research in the area of education--sample sizes too small, no proper controls, subjects followed for too short a time, etc. The cost of operating a single particle accelerator for six weeks probably exceeds all the funding for educational research around the world for the entire year. Yet which has the most potential for making major progress? Maybe it's time to back off on funding big physics projects for a while.

I would also like to point out that the building and use of instrumentation for high-energy physics is highly dependent on cheap fossil fuels. The future supply of such fuels is by no means guaranteed. The peak oil problem appears to be largely ignored by high-energy physicists today, but has the potential to significantly affect their ability to conduct experiments.

I really enjoyed Smolin's chapters on looking for seers rather than technicians in science. I especially liked his description of how unconventional scientists have built a career without a university job. Smolin points out that a typical professor spends a majority of his week on teaching, grant proposals, administrative tasks, and the like, leaving a surprisingly small amount of time available for actual research. Having a day job outside the field is not as big a hurdle as it might seem.

I tend to agree with Smolin that the big advances of the future are likely to come from completely unexpected directions. I can't wait to see what they are.

physics from many angles.......2007-10-05

This book provided several discussions pf physics and quantum theory. its good because the author speaks of the history the the originators of physics theory and the current champions of thought.

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature

Average customer rating:

Good ideas but a little tough to digest
Essential for philosophers or students of the social sciences
Psychology as a Hard Science
Among the most important books I've read
Very Knowledgeable

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature
Steven Pinker
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142003344
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Book Description

In The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading experts on language and the mind, explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. With characteristic wit, lucidity, and insight, Pinker argues that the dogma that the mind has no innate traits-a doctrine held by many intellectuals during the past century-denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces objective analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of politics, violence, parenting, and the arts. Injecting calm and rationality into debates that are notorious for ax-grinding and mud-slinging, Pinker shows the importance of an honest acknowledgment of human nature based on science and common sense.

Customer Reviews:

Good ideas but a little tough to digest.......2007-10-10

This book has some solid ideas, but they get lost in the wording. If the author wasn't trying so hard to use his SAT vocabulary, then I'm sure the book would've been at least a bit more fluent. It seems to be targeted towards a very academic background, and makes references to advanced topics in several areas of scientific research. All in all, an interesting read if you have the necessary background and the time to decrypt it. For me, that wasn't possible.

Essential for philosophers or students of the social sciences.......2007-10-10

I was a bit surprised to like this as much as I did. I found Pinker's The Language Instinct unsatisfying. Perhaps because it tried to be both an introductory text to linguistics and a polemic in favor of Chomsky's perspective on the field. (A lot of textbooks in linguistics had this failing for a few decades, but I digress...)

Pinker shows he understands why so many people, particularly intellectuals in the social sciences and advocates for social justice, hold tightly to the "blank slate." He understands how crude appropriations of Darwinism led to American and Nazi eugenics, racism in myriad forms, and the like. For all the many topics he addreses, he deals with the empirical research on both sides of the issue. But he also deals with the motivations behind believing one or the other perspective, and shows that a careful understanding of the science of human behavior--or even truly opening our eyes to what we see iin day-to-day life--is liable to be far more conducive to achieving our goals.

That said, he doesn't always acknowledge the large degree of variability in human taste and experience. For just one example, he attributes the failure of modernist artistic forms to their creators' believe that aesthetic desire could be reshaped at will. Yet, he says, we like pastoral landscapes because that was an ideal, sought habitat in our past. Yet he offers as a modernist failure the art of Jackson Pollock. whose work I happen to like. I do agree that our tastes can't vary completely freely, but they do appear to vary more than he allows.

In any case, those who feel they are adamantly opposed to any concrete notion of human nature, particularly the one offered by evolutionary psychology, need to thoughtfully read this book. If they come away still disagreeing, their disagreement will be far more informed.

Psychology as a Hard Science.......2007-09-10

Pinker reviews it better than I can in his introduction:
"When it comes o explaining thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock. To acknowledge human nature, many think, is to endorse racism, sexism, war, greed, genocide, nihilism, reactionary politics, and neglect of children and the disadvantaged. Any claim that the mind has an innate organization strikes people not as an hypothesis that might be incorrect but as a thought it is immoral to think."

Among the most important books I've read.......2007-08-22

Pinker provides a lucid explanation of the current state of knowledge on genetic influence on human behaviour and definitively debunks the "blank slate" idea that our culture and environment is the dominant factor.

I gained a real understanding of how humanity can behave in such apparently strange and arbitrary ways, and Pinker's exploration of the implications of this was well-reasoned and thought provoking.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to understand human behaviour better.

Very Knowledgeable.......2007-05-13

A book on different subjects surrounding people, society, and especially how the genetic makeup of a person has a significant effect on who he/she is in that society. The book also analyzes how those innate predispositions sometimes do not make sense with current government policies as well as some mass public opinion. The author supports his opinions with scientific research and touches on subjects such as conservatives/liberals, art, feminism, violence, and parenting and often provides controversial views. For example, the author does not believe that violence on television has any significant effect on violence in society because most violent people are genetically "programmed" to be violent. He also analyzes many of the genetic predispositions with regard to evolution and selection for fitness such as women being better at language and humanities skills, in order to be better child raisers, and men being better at mathematical and spatial abilities so they could be better hunters.

Average customer rating:

An Awful Edition, Full of Typos
philosophy as social science
Misadvertised/mis-linked to different edition
A thought-provoking book
Great Principles on Understanding, Emotions, & Morals

A Treatise of Human Nature
David Hume
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198245882

Book Description

A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-40), David Hume's comprehensive attempt to base philosophy on a new, observationally grounded study of human nature, is one of the most important texts in Western philosophy. It is also the focal point of current attempts to understand 18th-century philosophy. The Treatise first explains how we form such concepts as cause and effect, external existence, and personal identity, and to form compelling but unconfirmable beliefs in the entities represented by these concepts. It then offers a novel account of the passions, explains freedom and necessity as they apply to human choices and actions, and concludes with detailed explanations of how we distinguish between virtue and vice and of the different kinds of virtue. Hume's Abstract of the Treatise, also included in the volume, outlines his 'chief argument' regarding our conception of, and belief in, cause and effect. The texts printed in this volume are those of the critical edition of Hume's philosophical works now being published by the Clarendon Press. The volume includes a substantial introduction explaining the aims of the Treatise as a whole and of each of its ten parts, extensive annotations, a glossary of terms, a comprehensive index, and suggestions for further reading.

Download Description

It is therefore certain, that the imagination reaches a minimum, and may raise up to itself an idea, of which it cannot conceive any sub-division, and which cannot be diminished without a total annihilation. When you tell me of the thousandth and ten thousandth part of a grain of sand, I have a, distinct idea of these numbers and of their different proportions; but the images, which I form in my mind to represent the things themselves, are nothing different from each other, nor inferior to that image, by which I represent the grain of sand itself, which is supposed so vastly to exceed them. What consists of parts is distinguishable into them, and what is distinguishable is separable. But whatever we may imagine of the thing, the idea of a grain of sand is not distinguishable, nor separable into twenty, much less into a thousand, ten thousand, or an infinite number of different ideas.

Customer Reviews:

An Awful Edition, Full of Typos.......2007-10-05

If you are looking to buy Hume's Treatise of Human Nature, buy another edition. In addition to making poor font choices, this edition's editors have let an unconscionable number of typos slip through. There are so many, perhaps as many as one per page, that sometimes Hume's meaning is obscured, and reading is made difficult.

philosophy as social science.......2006-11-25

Hume's `Treatise on Human Nature', the book, which, in the report of the author "fell stillborn from the press", and yet remains of continuing interest to us four centuries hence, is, among all else, the primordial exposition of a systematic psychology in the West. Hume's elevation of "the passions" ("Reason is and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.") and centralization of intentionality in the study of ourselves, are as significant contributions to the modern turn, more specifically, the transition to late modernity, as are the fruits of his more notorious skeptical detachment and trenchant empiricism and naturalism. Of all the so-called classical empiricists, none prefigures those characteristically late modern naturalist, positivist, analytic, and, to an extent, pragmatist, and even (surprisingly) existentialist outlooks as clearly as Hume. Also, the profound impact of Hume, the social scientist, on social organization and social forms is indisputable. In this work, Hume fathers the concept of rule utilitarianism (he was the original modern occidental utilitarian), the most influential articulation of which is found in the U.S. Constitution, established little more than a decade after his death in 1776.

The celebrated Selby-Bigge/Nidditch edition is, for the general reader or undergraduate, at under $5, still a terrific value. Why? First and foremost, the Index: among the best ever! Hume is complex. While his initial presentation is often (intentionally, I'd say) disarmingly direct, the justifications for and commentary on the ramifications of his assertions often engender and weave into vast and subtle conceptual patterns, which meander over a 662 page corpus of text. The index locates and situates the basic concepts and allows the individual to structure the reading. Incredibly useful -- as one may not wish to read all of Hume or all of Hume at once! More likely, the prospective reader is searching for a very specific concept or issue, and the precise and comprehensive Index makes penetration of what is in many places a difficult and arcane text quite doable.

Misadvertised/mis-linked to different edition.......2006-02-24

This was not the edition I wanted, as follows: I initially found the desired edition, including a photo of the cover, followed the links for available copies, including this one which I purchased (which, BTW, did not have a photo of cover, but I assumed it was same edition as on the initial page). Was dismayed to receive this different edition. It matters because it was for a friend's college course. Professors often reference pages in the assigned edition, which do not correspond to another edition's page numbering. Please minimize such confusion by more accurate advertising (include a cover photo on every linked page, to ensure it matches the initial one) or more accurate linking--i.e. don't show a specific search result but then link to other books that are not the same one, unless again, there are cover photos or other info displayed to distinguish them.

A thought-provoking book.......2005-04-03

Another book I read while getting my BA in Philosophy at UCLA. Hume, and not Freud, is sometimes credited with being the father of modern Psychology. Read this book, and you'll understand why.

Great Principles on Understanding, Emotions, & Morals.......2005-03-23

According to David Hume, the mind and body are integral units, with one unable to exist or operate without the other. There are no "innate" ideas, nor logically a priori knowledge, only sense impressions that arise out of direct experience of the five senses and concomitant sense ideas that arise in the imagination. The imagination (i.e., mind) then makes associations. From these various sense impressions and ideas, the imagination commingles the ideas with inferences from resemblance, contiguity, and causality. Examples: The imagination relates one sense impression and its concomitant sense idea with another when they share similar characteristics or resemble one another, such as in shape, height, weight, distance, proportion, color, etc. The imagination associates one sense impression and its concomitant sense idea with another when they are in close contiguity, such as proximity in time, place, situation, connection, succession, etc. Lastly, the imagination associates one sense impression and its concomitant sense idea with another when there appears to be some cause and effect, for example when one turns on a wall switch, and a light appears, or one turns a key in an ignition, and a car starts, or other causal inferences. Only from the sense ideas and impressions, commingled with the imagination's inferences of resemblance, contiguity, and causality, can any opinion or belief or knowledge be known. The difference between an opinion, belief, or knowledge is only one of degree, namely, how strong, convincingly, and lively (Hume uses the word "vivacity") the senses, their ideas, and the inferences work themselves out in the imagination. Generally, knowledge is reserved only for the strongest of degrees of inference, such as those verifiable and not refutable by inferential (cf., deductive) logic or experimentation; all else is either opinion or belief. But no knowledge, no matter how often repeated and examined inductively, is absolute; all knowledge, like opinion and belief, is contingent. For "absolute" knowledge once held the earth to be flat, to be the center of the universe, and non-rotating. Even Einstein's Theory of Relativity had to be revised by a Special Theory of Relativity. We still don't understand how the universe can be "full" and still "expanding," yet both are true (so far!). Only knowledge, belief, and opinion derived from the senses, their ideas, and imaginative inferences have merit; all other "imaginations," such as the deductive existence of a "God" or Supreme Being, absolute morals, or correct emotions, are merely speculative imaginations, and ultimately all such speculation leads to nothing more than myth or superstition, false dogmas, and irrational beliefs.

The passions, better known as either sensations or emotions, are derived from sense experience as well and are derived from the other sense impressions and sense ideas. Sensations are those experiences that arise within the imagination itself, based on something the body itself produces, such as hunger, pain, thirst, pleasure, and uneasiness. Emotions are those experiences that arise from the sensations and sense impressions and their concomitant sense ideas. The four principle emotions are: (1) Pride, and its opposite (2) Humility; (3) Love, and its opposite (4) Hatred. Pride and Love are desirable, whereas Humility and Hatred are undesirable. All other emotions are derived from, or are in one degree or another, always reducible to these four. Beauty, for example, is the love of something well-figured and loved for its own sake, while ugliness is something disfigured or ill-figured and hated. Anger is a form of hatred, while happiness is a form of either Pride or Love or both. Jealousy is a form of hatred (of another), while compassion is a form of Love. All emotions, when considered in their origins, have these four emotions as their foundation; it's all a matter of degree and kind.

There is no absolute morality; no moral principle can be deductively arrived at (except to be pure speculation). Morals can only be inferred from the two principles of (1) maximize pleasure and (2) avoid pain. These principles are natural inclinations of the body itself, not derived from logic or reason (i.e., speculation), but by verifiable experimentation, inferred from experience itself, especially the emotions of pride, humility, love, and hatred. We like to be loved, we despise to be hated, so we do those things that maximize these natural inclinations, because we want pleasure and to avoid pain, and they alone are what count as "moral." All virtue is that which brings us pleasure; all vice is that which brings us pain. For example, we are just to one another, not because we ought to be, but because we desire that being just toward others will merit other's affection, whereas being unjust will cause others to avoid us; the first is pleasurable, the latter is painful. We respect each other's property because it brings us mutual pleasure to enjoy the fruits of our own labor, whereas it causes us pain to have our property taken from us. The origin of government is from the experience where doing things socially imparts pleasure, whereas doing things in isolation causes pain. No one is an island, is true. Warding off an enemy as an individual forces the individual to bear all the weight, thus causing pain. Fighting the enemy together fosters our mutual interests (i.e., pleasure), and allows all to participate in the fruits of individual endeavors. We benefit from mutual cooperation, which good government ought to foster, whereas we lose and experience pain when we try to fight all battles by our own selves. There really is benefit in "numbers," to having more people in favor of the things we collectively sponsor and work hard for, and are opposed to those things that oppress. Showing how "each person benefits by collective effort" is how to operate good government; showing "how each person loses by individual effort alone" is another good reason for government. Government's sole function and purpose is to advance the collective cooperation, wherein each individual ultimately flourishes (and brings pleasure).

Average customer rating:

Great writing from the old curmudgeon
Abbey's season in the wilderness ages well...
Solid writing about the Utah desert
"Resist much, Obey little"
Desert Solitaire

Desert Solitaire
Edward Abbey
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345326490
Release Date: 1985-01-12

Amazon.com

With language as colorful as a Canyonlands sunset and a perspective as pointed as a prickly pear, Cactus Ed captures the heat, mystery, and surprising bounty of desert life. Desert Solitaire is a meditation on the stark landscapes of the red-rock West, a passionate vote for wilderness, and a howling lament for the commercialization of the American outback.

Book Description

"A passionately felt, deeply poetic book. It has philosophy. It has humor. It has its share of nerve-tingling adventures...set down in a lean, racing prose, in a close-knit style of power and beauty."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOKREVIEW
Edward Abbey lived for three seasons in the desert at Moab, Utah, and what he discovered about the land before him, the world around him, and the heart that beat within, is a fascinating, sometimes raucous, always personal account of a place that has already disappeared, but is worth remembering and living through again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Great writing from the old curmudgeon.......2007-08-20

I think this is far and away Abbey's best book. The prose is careful, precise, thoughtful. In my first year teaching, I would read a short section of this book every morning before climbing into the trenches, to remind myself what beautiful prose could be--regardless of the subject matter. (As an animal lover and vegetarian, I still have a hard time with his description of beaning the rabbit.) The book, I think, is definitely a "guy" book--but that's how my taste in reading goes, so I loved it back then, still love it today.

Abbey's season in the wilderness ages well..........2007-06-11

Edward Abbey reflects and reports on a summer he spent as a ranger at Arches National Park in Utah. At that time, Arches was in a pre "industrialized park" state. Desert Solitaire is his tale of adventures and his book of memories. Below is a sprinkling of quotes to give you a taste, a flavor, of what you can expect.

"Every man, every woman, carries in heart and mind the image of the ideal place, the right place, the one true home, known or unknown, actual or visionary" (p. 1).

"... I have personal convictions to uphold. Ideals, you might say. I prefer not to kill animals. I'm a humanist; I'd rather kill a man than a snake" (p. 20).

"Don't actually care for ants. Neurotic little pismires" (p. 30).

"We need more predators. The sheepmen complain, it is true, that the coyotes eat some of their lambs. This is true but do they eat enough? I mean, enough lambs to keep the coyotes sleek, healthy, and well fed. That is my concern" (p. 35).

"We are kindred all of us, killer and victim, predator and prey, me and the sly coyote, the soaring buzzard, the elegant gopher snake, the trembling cottontail, the foul worms that feed on our entrails, all of them, all of us. Long live diversity, long live the earth!" (p. 38-39).

"An increasingly pagan and hedonistic people (thank God!), we are learning finally that the forests and mountains and desert canyons are holier than our churches. Therefore let us behave accordingly" (p. 60).

"A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled surfaces. We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it" (p. 148).

"'Ralph Newcomb', I say, 'do you believe in God?'
'Who?' he says.
'Who?'
'Who.'
'You said it,' I say" (p. 180).

"'Newcomb, for godsake where do we come from?'
'Who knows?'
'Where are we going?'
'Who cares?'
'Who?'
'Who'" (p. 185).

"But the love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need - if only we had the eyes to see. Original sin, the true original sin, is the blind destruction for the sake of greed of this natural paradise which lies all around us - if only we were worthy of it" (p. 190).

"What does [the desert] mean? It means nothing. It is as it is and has no need for meaning. The desert lies beneath and soars beyond any possible human qualification. Therefore, sublime" (p. 219).

"I am almost prepared to believe that this sweet virginal primitive land will be grateful for my departure and the absence of the tourists, will breath metaphorically a collective sigh of relief - like a whisper of wind - when we are all and finally gone and the place and its creations can return to their ancient procedures unobserved and undisturbed by the busy, anxious, brooding consciousness of man" (p. 300).

Enjoy. Abbey is a writer first, a naturalist second. He takes liberties as necessary to tell his story, so this only seems like an autobiography. Obviously, he was less concerned then about "political correctness." I suspect he would be as irreverent today.

Solid writing about the Utah desert.......2007-06-07

What makes this a highly readable book is the author's revelations about his own feelings and shortcomings. It made me feel like I was there in the desert with him.

"Resist much, Obey little".......2007-04-29

It's been almost 40 years since Desert Solitaire hit the bookshelves; and perhaps it is more appropriate reading now than it was in 1968; certainly "Industrial Tourism" has come to pass.

This book is not gibberish from some "eco-hermit", whatever that is. Yes, old Cactus Ed is cranky and contradictory, full of hyperbole at times. This is his stamp as a prose-poet and unsurpassed storyteller; if you don't get this, you may be reading the wrong books.

Abbey's iconoclastic philosophy of conservation over human "progress" has rendered Desert Solitaire as a true environmental classic. This book is most likely sitting on many home bookshelves between The Mountains of California and A Sand Country Almanac.

Ed Abbey was well steeped in philosophy and literature; when he muses on the civilization vs. culture subject, you can see the meld of anarchism and german existentialism occuring. His impassioned rants reflect his love of the solitary places - landscapes unscathed by that "turbo-monkey" known as man. The humor is as dry and sharp as the the landscapes he describes: episodes with his pet gopher snake; the search for a dead tourist; and the idiocies of The National Park Service.

Like many authors, Abbey's non-fictional writing outshines his fictional stuff. Hands down, Desert Solitaire is his finest work: Rough, Tough, and Combative. This classic is a must read if you are of the "Resist much, Obey little" mindset. Infinite thanks, Cactus Ed . . .

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

Desert Solitaire.......2007-03-08

A classic that should be read by all thinking Americans who care more for our country than they do about the exploitation of the earth for temporary gain.

Modern Roses XI: The World Encyclopedia of Roses

Average customer rating:

Dry as Sawdust & a Paucity of Photos
Book needs more pics; CD needs better search capabilities
The ultimate reference work on roses
Review of Modern Roses XI and CD-Rom

Modern Roses XI: The World Encyclopedia of Roses

Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0121550532

Book Description

This work, published previously by the American Rose Society (ARS), represents a listing of all officially registered rose cultivars globally. It will supersede the previous edition, Modern Roses X, published in 1993. Modern Roses XI contains descriptions for more than 25,000 roses. The book features 28 color plates and includes a CD-ROM of the entire work which makes searching easy.

Key Features
* Updates the only official registry of all rose cultivars around the workd
* Describes over 25,000 roses
* Includes a comprehensive list of roses with historical and botanical importance, including all modern international rose registrations
* Features "Old Garden Roses at Sangerhausen" together with an article on this unique rose repository
* Includes unregistered roses commonly used in commerce
* Incorporates a report on classification of roses and a report on the registration process of roses

Customer Reviews:

Dry as Sawdust & a Paucity of Photos.......2006-09-01

This 638-pages work, published previously by the American Rose Society (ARS), is THE nitty-gritty dig for serious rose growers, plant science researchers; those involved with academic and industrial settings, horticultural nurseries, botanical gardens, and informed amateur enthusiasts. There are descriptions for more than 25,000 roses along with a sparsely populated (28) group of token photographs. The current edition is list priced at $130.00 and includes a CD.

Book needs more pics; CD needs better search capabilities.......2002-07-03

I bought this book and CD in the hopes of being able to identify several rose plants that my husband had rescued from the city's bulldozers. It is not designed for an amateur like me who needs pictures and drawings. I am less interested in the parentage of roses than I am in what the terms "semi-double, reverse, exhibition form, cupped" mean. Some roses did not even have the color of the bloom listed. The CD is great if you know the name of the rose you wish to search for, but cumbersome if you do not. Yes, you can search based on characteristics of a rose, but it's not easy. For example, there are no drop-down menus for options on search criteria. A search for a red rose with a "strong" fragrance yielded no results; "intense" fragrance did. When the results are shown, there is no number count on how many roses fit the criteria, and when you select one rose from the results to view, you must re-perform the search to look at another one. It's extremely frustrating. There are pictures of roses on the CD, but the search result listing does not show you which ones have pictures and which do not. Help is limited to FAQ's (with only two questions listed) and an email address. There is no online method for updating the program so there is no hope of this version becoming any better. ...

The ultimate reference work on roses.......2001-09-05

If you love roses and if you want to know about the full range of rose varieties that you may encounter at your local nursery or in mail order catalogues, this volume is essential. The expense is justified in part by the CD-ROM, which gives you the ability to search the underlying database at will. I enjoyed the pictures (although they don't match other works like Botannica) as well as the articles on famous European rose gardens. In any work of this magnitude there are bound to be errors (e.g., Meilland's Michelangelo is yellow, not pink), but the overall accuracy is very impressive. If you are only dabbling in rose growing, this encyclopedic work is probably more than you need. But if you are crazy about roses, you will be crazy about this book.

Review of Modern Roses XI and CD-Rom.......2000-05-16

This edition of Modern Roses takes a giant step up from the last one! (MR10) By including *all* roses that could be reasonably well-documented, the usefulness of this reference has increased dramatically. In addition, the inclusion of a CD-ROM with great search capabilities is FANTASTIC.

Of course... as with any book of this nature... there are still a few errors in description, etc. However, this is very minor, compared to the volume of information contained.

Book Description

"A colorful reinterpretation…. Stewart's wit and profluent prose make this book a fascinating read."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Philosophy in the late seventeenth century was a dangerous business. No careerist could afford to know the reclusive, controversial philosopher Baruch de Spinoza. Yet the wildly ambitious genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who denounced Spinoza in public, became privately obsessed with Spinoza's ideas, wrote him clandestine letters, and ultimately met him in secret.

"In refreshingly lucid terms" (Booklist) Matthew Stewart "rescues both men from a dusty academic shelf, bringing them to life as enlightened humans" (Library Journal) central to the religious, political, and personal battles that gave birth to the modern age. Both men put their faith in the guidance of reason, but one spent his life defending a God he may not have believed in, while the other believed in a God who did not need his defense. Ultimately, the two thinkers represent radically different approaches to the challenges of the modern era. They stand for a choice that we all must make.

Customer Reviews:

Philosophy for the Mass.......2007-10-17

The book is aptly named, except for the fact that it includes "the fate of God in the modern world". God seems to survive despite our best attempts to rationalize her out of human experience(Spinoza) or act so badly that no one would want to believe in a God who had ardent followers like Leibniz. Anyway, I found the book to be a "good read", but I am interested in these philosophical musing. Those readers who have little background in relatively "modern" philosophy might get lost in the intellectual discussion of the major protagonists' thought, but the narrative is fascinating. I enjoyed reading about these fellows' lives and how they intersected on so many levels. Whether the author intended this or not, Spinoza seems to get the nod for "best in philosophy" and "best person" awards. Leibniz becomes the sore "loser" with a prideful chip on his shoulder. Apparently, Leibniz never ate humble pie?

Baruch Wins by a Knockout!.......2007-08-30

So many reviews already! Mine will be brief. Matthew Stewart's exegesis of Spinoza is brilliant, the clearest I've ever encountered, and should be taken as a challenge from the past by all adherents of "Intelligent Design". Leibniz is portrayed less sympathetically, indeed as a bit of an intellectual opportunist, as if Voltaire had not already convinced all the world that "Pangloss" was a hapless fool. Even if you, dear reader, are utterly indifferent to the theological/philosophical issues of the 17th C (which are still with us), you may well find this book as sprightly and engrossing as any historical novel.

Of Course We Should Care!.......2007-08-18

If you are honest enough to ask "why do I exist?" or "is there a God?" then you should care. These "old philosophers" affirm the enduring and ever-present tension between the power of reason to understand and the necessity of faith (or an approximation of such) to carry on and to cope. It is rational to struggle with such notions, irrational not to. To peer under the context and understand the motivations, personalities, and failings of those who rose to intellectual heights is to assure oneself of an appreciation of how the greatest of us have sought answers. To suppose such things not worth a care is to sleep through life.

Do we really care what old philosophers have to say?.......2007-05-18

The book is quite readable for the layperson. It is historically interesting, especially the interplay of notables of the era. There is too much repetition of the basic philosophic positions of the principals. The philosophy of both men has for the most part been dicarded by modern thinkers. It would be more interesting if the author had spent more space explaining how more latter day thinkers appraise the contributions of Leibniz and Spinoza. On the whole it was good. R Stageman

Opposing Views on Religion.......2007-05-14

On the back of the paperback's cover, the author, Matthew Stewart, is described as philosopher having sold off his consulting business to live a life of contemplation in Santa Barbara. Intriguing and interesting! Stewart has woven together the ideas and story behind two very distinct minds and world viewpoints. A life of contemplation has been very good for him.

Spinoza, the heretic, lived a simple life not seeking luxury or fame. His atheistic view of an inanimate God is largely viewed as the start of modernity. Leibniz was everything Spinoza was not. He was paragon of superlatives. Fashion-conscious, materialist, well-educated, and overly ambitious seemed to be intrigued with the ideas of Spinoza. After recognizing the consequence of Spinoza's ideas, he defended traditional beliefs. Leibniz was largely forgotten by the world after his death, even though he invented calculus at roughly the same time as Newton and influenced the philosophy of Kant.

I do wish the author took the time to use modern words when presenting some of the philosophical concepts. The language of the late 1600s and early 1700s is hard to conceptualize. For example, Leibniz postulated that the universe is composed of countless conscious centers of spiritual force or energy, known as monads. What the heck is a monad? A small complaint in an otherwise wonderfully executed and researched book.

Force of Nature (Troubleshooters, Book 11)

Average customer rating:

Force of Nature just isn't
3.5 stars--loved half of it, anyway
average at best
Overkill
Hit on the head with 'gay is great'

Force of Nature (Troubleshooters, Book 11)
Suzanne Brockmann
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345480163
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Book Description

Hard-driving suspense and intense passion are the hallmarks of bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann’s pulse-pounding thrillers. In her tales of daring, danger, courage, and desire, men and women of action fight fiercely, love deeply, and time after time raise the bar for adventure to new heights. Brockmann’s latest novel is no exception.

Florida private investigator and ex-cop Ric Alvarado’s life is spiraling out of control. His beautiful new girl Friday, Annie Dugan, is far more interested in fieldwork than filing, and despite Ric’s best efforts to ignore the attraction, sparks are flying between them. Then one of Ric’s clients turns femme fatale and tries to gun down an innocent man. Thanks to quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, Ric comes to the rescue, only to learn he’s done a very good deed for some very bad people.

Suddenly Ric finds himself deep undercover with Annie, working for notorious crime boss Gordon Burns. One mistake from Ric’s painfully inexperienced partner and they’re both dead.

FBI agent Jules Cassidy’s life isn’t in much better shape. For years the FBI has been trying to prove Gordon Burns’s ties to terrorist activity. Now, thanks to Ric and Annie, Jules has found a way into the lion’s den. But in the course of his investigation he comes face-to-face with Robin Chadwick, the charismatic but self-destructive and closeted movie star for whom Jules feels a powerful attraction. Robin’s in town promoting his latest film–and Gordon Burns is a star-struck movie buff.

With Robin and Jules’s help, Ric and Annie are soon entrenched in Burns’s organization, surrounded by killers who may already have executed an FBI infiltrator. Before long the couple realizes that many more lives besides their own will be at stake if they make a false move. As the heat between them reaches dangerous levels, so do the risks they’re willing to take–in the line of duty, for the sake of loyalty, and in the name of something that runs even deeper.

Customer Reviews:

Force of Nature just isn't.......2007-10-14

This is my first Suzanne Brockmann book and I was really excited about starting it. I did finish it, but could have put it down at any point. I doubt I'll read anymore of her books. The story was pretty good, the characters could have been good but the book as a whole was just plain weak. It seemed like ever conversation between the characters was an excuse to bring up "gay-ness" which added nothing to the story. I figured out pretty quick who was gay and who wasn't - and the gay characters were by far the most interesting, not because of their orientation, but because they were obviously the most developed. It just felt like Ms. Brockman was more interested in writing about being gay than she was in telling a good story.

3.5 stars--loved half of it, anyway.......2007-10-11

First, let me say I think Brockmann is one of the very best writers of romance out there. Her characters have depth, she understands motivation, and is a really good stylist, given the genre. I just discovered her about two months ago, and I've plowed through the entire Troubleshooters series in record time. Now I'm rereading my favorites. Loved Sam, liked Alyssa (she's less developed as a character, but I love the sharpshooting angle), loved Max and Gina, Stan and Teri, Tom and Kelly. Less thrilled with Joan, from Into the Night--I thought she was pretty unlikable as a character, and the romance with Muldoon wasn't really believable. Too much attitude, not enough heart, I thought. My favorite of all the stories, I think, is Hot Target, because I loved both Jane and Cosmo to pieces and I adore Jules. I think he's humane, smart, and as confused about things as most of us are. I can tell the author has a real soft spot for him, too--not surprising given that hr beloved son is gay. I have no problem with gay characters and romances--love comes in all shapes, sizes and seasons. What I was REALLY disappointed in in this book was the hetero romance. Neither Ric nor Annie seemed real or even interesting to me. Ric's a latin hunk, Annie has a wide caboose. That's all I remember about either of them. Frankly it seems that they are only there to provide hetero "cover" of Brockmann's real interest: Jules and Robin. I suspect the Jules-Robin story was the one she really wanted to tell, and Ric-Annie were just place-holders. They were nowhere near as developed as any of her other characters,and when you take away the SEAL/Troubleshooter context, there wasn't much to interest me about their story at all. BORING. I sincerely hope she banishes them to the hinterlands of the Troubleshooters world. I am much more interested in Sophia-Decker-Dave, or maybe Gilligan or Lopez...anything but these two!
That said, a few words about Jules and Robin and her handling of the gay love affair. I love them both as characters, and I'm looking forward to their nuptials (yeah, I really don't get why people are so wiggy about gay marriage. Committed relationships make for stable societies. Ergo, more of them are good. Get over it). My only objection: why do all the gay characters have to be so gorgeous? This is a real stereotype--surely there are gay men who are average-looking. I mean, there are. I know some. I guess she's trying to hold feminine interest by describing their perfect cheekbones and ripped abs, but really, come on. One of my favorite stories was about Stan and Teri--perfect woman and homely guy who's so much more inside. Can't she do that with gay characters as well? Well, that said, I can't wait to read more about the Troubleshooters and their world. Maybe Ric and Annie can spend the next few books in "an undisclosed location," though!

average at best.......2007-10-09

Worth reading, but stop by your local library. Not really worth the price, she's done much better work before.

Overkill.......2007-10-08

I've been a longtime fan of Brockmann's work, but Force of Nature showcases her weaknesses rather than her strengths.
Nearly all her characters now think and speak with the same limited vocabulary, heavily peppered with contemporary slang and profanity. Character voices are interchangeable, not distinct.
Another weakness of the storytelling is the over emphasis on political and social viewpoint. The reader, even one who shares the author's outlook, may begin to feel lectured.

\

Hit on the head with 'gay is great'.......2007-10-01

I like Jules, I really do. But I felt Ms. Brockmann focused way too much on homosexuality in this book. It was like repeatedly getting hit on the head with a 2x4 that gay is great. It would have been helpful to have the blurb say that this book largely focused on Jules and his love life. Then readers can make an informed choice on whether or not to indulge.

Average customer rating:

Modern Biology
Terrible
Excellent --I mean outstanding in every way.
Learned A lot--But Hated Learning
Frustration

Modern Biology
Albert Towle
Manufacturer: Holt Rinehart and Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0030177448

Customer Reviews:

Modern Biology.......2007-10-18

I am a biology teacher and I have advanced degrees in Biochemistry. I really dislike the textbook "Modern Biology" by Towle. In my experience some topics are placed in the least opportune places. Thus while the topic of redox reactions is introduced in Chapter 2, there is no real tie-in to anything else until Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration in later chapters. I would prefer leaving the explanation of Redox until Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration are discussed. Similarly, the topic of enzymes and catalysis are brought up before the student is introduced to proteins. I just don't see the logic with which topics are organized.

Terrible.......2005-03-13

I'm a high school Biology student, and this is the textbook our teacher's using. This book is terrible due to the fact that it expects you to blatantly memorize all of the material in it; I mean, the content is presented in the most terrible way possible, making it utterly useless for you to understand what you're reading before you memorize it. In the Chemistry chapters, I reverted to referring to an IGCSE textbook because of how bad the explanations were.
If you want a better Biology textbook, look elsewhere.

Excellent --I mean outstanding in every way........2004-06-30

I have two unrelated degrees, and had only high school biology. I use this book for self-study. It is perfect. Its long list of reviewers gave me confidence in its lessons.

I find it plain and understandable. The explanations and definitions could not be made simpler. Superbly illustrated, the book also makes good use of boldface type and color. When a new term is introduced, its pronunciation is given right there, and selected useful etymologies are given in the margins.

It begins with an overview of biology and the basics of scientific method, experimentation, what a hypothesis is, inference and theories, microscopy, etcetera. Then there is a GREAT review of basic chemistry, and the book logically progresses into biochemistry, cell theory, reproduction, and on "up." There are no gaps; everything is built on what came before.

It is concise yet interesting because it cites quick examples. For example, the section on vacuoles explains how these intracellular toxic waste containers can be beneficial to the plant: "For instance, the poisons that certain acacia trees have in their vacuoles provide a defense against plant-eating animals." No chapter is without such examples that cite particular organisms to make a point. Where warranted, there is longer, intelligent discussion of organisms that don't clearly fall on one side of the fence. For example, there is a paragraph on how Volvox (a green algae) exhibits properties of both unicellular and multicellular organisms.

There are interesting ecology sidebars on topics such as rain forests, global warming, and acid rain. Ecology is also not forgotten in the main text.

The questions at the end of each chapter are also well thought out: There are sections of straightforward multiple choice, short answer, and vocabulary questions. Then there is a "Test Your Thinking" section with clever, fun questions that require one to reflect on the material rather than just regurgitate answers from rote; these questions often involve material from previous chapters, but are never vague nor require knowledge of something that was not presented before.

It is complete. All 1100 pages considered, I am honestly at a loss for anything unfavorable to say. Too much to list here. It is so well done that I was dumbfounded to see any negative remarks at all!

Learned A lot--But Hated Learning.......2004-06-09

This book really goes in depth in information on all aspects of Biology. However, as a student, I have found that it is extremely difficult to learn from without the direct aid from a biologist or teacher. The vocabulary is over extravagent for a teaching book, and the section review questions badly organized and tiresome. The pictures and diagrams did help me to learn a lot however, because it combined visual along with analytic learning. Overall, I have learned a lot, but had a hard time learning it. And I may well forget this within a few weeks.

Frustration.......2003-11-06

This book is not organized logically and provides an inappropriate level of detail in some areas while offering only very basic information in others. As a novice teacher, I find it frustrating. The section and chapter review questions are also too ambiguous. Students have a hard time determining what exactly questions are asking. I am frustrated by this book. It doesn't work for me or my ninth grade students. I give it two stars because I DO like the writing excercises and "Biology in Progress" sections.

My Side of the Mountain (Puffin Modern Classics)

Average customer rating:

A Can't Put Down Book
Sam Gribley got so lucky in this book
By: Nicholas MB 5th grade My Side of the Mountain
Yeah for Sam Gribley
My Side of the Mountain 1959

My Side of the Mountain (Puffin Modern Classics)
Jean Craighead George
Manufacturer: Puffin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142401110

Amazon.com

Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival. In a spellbinding, touching, funny account, Sam learns to live off the land, and grows up a little in the process. Blizzards, hunters, loneliness, and fear all battle to drive Sam back to city life. But his desire for freedom, independence, and adventure is stronger. No reader will be immune to the compulsion to go right out and start whittling fishhooks and befriending raccoons.

Jean Craighead George, author of more than 80 children's books, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves, created another prizewinner with My Side of the Mountain--a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Hans Christian Andersen Award Honor Book. Astonishingly, she wrote its sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, 30 years later, and a decade after that penned the final book in the trilogy, Frightful's Mountain, told from the falcon's point of view. George has no doubt shaped generations of young readers with her outdoor adventures of the mind and spirit. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Terribly unhappy in his family's crowded New York City apartment, Sam Gribley runs away to the solitude—and danger—of the mountains, where he finds a side of himself he never knew.

Customer Reviews:

A Can't Put Down Book.......2007-10-21

When I first picked up this book,I just could not put it down! It's true there is no straightforward plot, but I really, really enjoyed it. After reading it(I also read the second book)I was more appreciative of nature and became very interested in trees and plants. I liked reading about what Sam did to live off the land. I wanted to run away and do the same! This was a spectacular book, yet I am still looking for a fictional survival book where the main character knows ABSOLUTELY nothing about surviving, and where he/she does not have luck as do many of the main charcters in other stories. But this was one of the best books I have ever read.

Sam Gribley got so lucky in this book.......2007-10-07

I realize this book has already been anointed as a great children's book, and a great book for boys, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. My 14-year-old son loved this book when he read it in elementary school, and my 9-year-old daughter is loving it in fourth grade presently.

That being said, the people at Puffin dodged the issue of a child in the wilderness by making a cover where Sam looks like a teenager instead of the 11 or 12-year-old he looks like in Jean Craighead George's illustrations. There were numerous occasions in the book where Sam could have been seriously injured or killed, and George just blurbs or whooshes past them.

The back cover said Sam was terribly unhappy with living in New York City, but the book doesn't suggest that anywhere

I was impressed with the level of natural knowledge Sam possessed, and I was impressed that my children could come up with plausible ways that he acquired this knowledge. I considered the bit about hunger having an intelligence to be particularly clever.

Maybe the moral of the story is that as a parent, I could tell my kids without fear of contradiction that they are nowhere near as knowledgeable regarding the wild as Sam Gribley was, and that Sam was rather lucky in a few spots.

By: Nicholas MB 5th grade My Side of the Mountain.......2007-09-26

My Side of the Mountain is a very catching book it had me jumping out of my seat the whole story!. It told you some facts about the wild and also it had a sad story of a kid living off the land. I learned alot of facts about the Catscill Mountains too. I think evrey outdoor kid should read this thrilling book. Its truth, fiction and wildlife mixed! This is truly one of my favorite books. READ THIS BOOK!

Yeah for Sam Gribley.......2007-09-14

My Side of the Mountain is a great book. Jean Craighead George must have spent a lot of time in the forest. Her descriptions of the landscape and anecdotes regarding the animals are vivid. The only thing that doesn't ring true is the fact that a young kid goes and lives on his own in the wild and no adults appear to be concerned. A very enjoyable read.

My Side of the Mountain 1959.......2007-08-15

Plot Kernel - A young boy runs off to live in the Catskill Mountain wilderness, taking nothing but a penknife, a ball of cord, an axe, $40, and some flint and steel. He fashions a home within a standing hemlock tree, makes clothing out of animal skins, and eats only what he can catch or harvest from the Earth. He trains a falcon to hunt, and lives with it for an entire year.

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