The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Working in his garden one day, Michael Pollan hit pay dirt in the form of an idea: do plants, he wondered, use humans as much as we use them? While the question is not entirely original, the way Pollan examines this complex coevolution by looking at the natural world from the perspective of plants is unique. The result is a fascinating and engaging look at the true nature of domestication.

In making his point, Pollan focuses on the relationship between humans and four specific plants: apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. He uses the history of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) to illustrate how both the apple's sweetness and its role in the production of alcoholic cider made it appealing to settlers moving west, thus greatly expanding the plant's range. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that "modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop." The tulipomania of 17th-century Holland is a backdrop for his examination of the role the tulip's beauty played in wildly influencing human behavior to both the benefit and detriment of the plant (the markings that made the tulip so attractive to the Dutch were actually caused by a virus). His excellent discussion of the potato combines a history of the plant with a prime example of how biotechnology is changing our relationship to nature. As part of his research, Pollan visited the Monsanto company headquarters and planted some of their NewLeaf brand potatoes in his garden--seeds that had been genetically engineered to produce their own insecticide. Though they worked as advertised, he made some startling discoveries, primarily that the NewLeaf plants themselves are registered as a pesticide by the EPA and that federal law prohibits anyone from reaping more than one crop per seed packet. And in a interesting aside, he explains how a global desire for consistently perfect French fries contributes to both damaging monoculture and the genetic engineering necessary to support it.

Pollan has read widely on the subject and elegantly combines literary, historical, philosophical, and scientific references with engaging anecdotes, giving readers much to ponder while weeding their gardens. --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

Every schoolchild learns about the mutually beneficial dance of honeybees and flowers: The bee collects nectar and pollen to make honey and, in the process, spreads the flowers’ genes far and wide. In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan ingeniously demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a similarly reciprocal relationship. He masterfully links four fundamental human desires—sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control—with the plants that satisfy them: the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato. In telling the stories of four familiar species, Pollan illustrates how the plants have evolved to satisfy humankind’s most basic yearnings. And just as we’ve benefited from these plants, we have also done well by them. So who is really domesticating whom?

Customer Reviews:

Too much information.......2007-09-16

Started out liking the chapter on Apples, less the next and so on. It seemed like I was getting the same story in each chapter only more elaborate and wordy.

Just buy this book........................2007-09-05

I am not a botanist.Yet. But the study of evolution is quite an exciting journey, made more exciting by the mind melting,eloquent ideas posed by Mr. Pollan. Bought the audio book version, and I can't stop listining to it. From the story of Johnyy Appleseed, to Holland in search of the history of Tulips, the Amazing Marijuana Plant, and the control of the Potato. Seemed random to me. Not any more. Incredible book.

We are the world.......2007-08-31

Pollan's book is a vivid reminder of how intricately human society is woven into the ecological framework of the planet and in particular that of plants. His descriptions of how our societies have affected and been affected by just four plants opens up a series of thought-provoking questions to mull over the next time you find yourself in a garden, at the dinner table, or taking a walk outdoors. It's written with sensitivity towards those he disagrees with, and this gentle touch makes the story he's relating much more effective at prompting you as reader to engage. The weakest part of the book is the chapter on Tulips, but that is hard to criticize since the chapters on apples, marijuana and potatoes are so good.

Read this Book!

human psychology in the garden.......2007-08-02

Human psychology from the plant's perspective? Yep. That's precisely the topic of this book. When our ancestors began breeding plants to serve our desires they inevitably laid those desires bare in the phenotypes in their gardens. Pollan is impressively aware of many current themes in evolutionary biology (e.g., the function of sexual reproduction), and admirably willing to tell a story with the patience and breadth it deserves (hence four 100-page chapters instead of the usual one hundred, A.D.D. 4-page chapters). This book is not for everyone, but if you have intellectual curiosity about why some plants have come to dominate our world, this book will give you many answers and even more tools. There's nothing better I can say about a book.

Fascinating perspective on plants and people.......2007-07-24

Michael Pollan has written a terrific four-part look at the relationship of plants and people. He examines four human desires - sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control - and plants that have satisfied those desires - the apple, the tulip, cannabis and the potato. He includes philosophy and history, retraces Johnny Appleseed's route, and has a frightening tour of commercial potato fields in Idaho (you may never eat another french fry after you read this section!) All in all, a fascinating and educational look at the relationship of people and plants.

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World

Average customer rating:

A tour around the best gardens in the world
The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Great Private Gardens of the World
The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Big book, big gardens, big budgets

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Dominique Browning , and The Editors of House & Garden
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Gardens in the Spirit of Place
The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World
English Gardens of the Twentieth Century: From the Archives of Country Life
Great Gardens of the World: In Search of Paradise
Robert A. M. Stern: Houses and Gardens

ASIN: 0393059391

Book Description

A celebration in words and breathtaking images of thirty-five landscapes created for private clients by today's preeminent designers.

This is a time of renewed originality in garden design. The last twenty years have seen a lucky confluence of money and talent lavished on gardening, and the results are surprising, enchanting, sometimes even controversial. The range of possibilities suggested by these thirty-five gardens is extraordinary: from Jacques Wirtz's undulating beech hedges that recede mysteriously into the mist to Penelope Hobhouse's latest interpretation of the traditional English garden, to Martha Schwartz's Texas creation of red, yellow, and pink painted garden rooms.

These hidden masterworks of modern gardening are unlocked for us by the authority, experience, and resources of House & Garden magazine. Every page is an invitation to explore landscapes that have never before been seen by the public—and may never be seen again. International in scope and lavish in its production, this book is the last word on the state of design in the garden world. 340 color photographs.

Customer Reviews:

A tour around the best gardens in the world.......2007-05-08

This book is huge and a most for garden reference. It's organized in seven chapters that will impress all kind of taste:

The New Classicism: Magical gardens from places such as NY, Spain, Germany...+
The New Traditionalism: Enchanting pictures from NY, IL, France, Japan...+
The New Naturalism: Beautiful gardens from NY, Idaho, France, Arizona, England.
The Plantsmen: Magnificent proposals from New England, California, The Netherlands...+
Personal Visions: NY, California, and Texas
The Cottage Garden Reinvented: Lovely gardens from England, France and Ireland.
The New Modernism: The best and trendiest gardens of California.

You'll be able to see some of the best gardens from places such as Arizona to Japan. Some of my favorites gardens where from England, The Netherlands and France.

The text is pleasant to read and full of details no only about the flowers portrayed but also to the architect and artist that created such beauty. The balance of text and picture is excellent. The quality of the pictures is excellent, full pages pictures trout the book. House and Gardens did a tremendous job and it's absolutely clear that the took at least ten times the number of pictures in the book since you'll only see the best angle and light possible for each picture.

The only con is the lacks of tropical gardens since most part of the book are focus on the northern hemisphere.

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-05-07

Wow! This book is incredible, a treat for the eyes and imagination!

Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-01-29

This is a beautiful book anyone would be pleased to have. The quality of the photos is splendid. Most enjoyable.

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-01-03

Book is really interesting and has a lot of beautiful full-page photographs. Makes a great gift for everybody, not only for gardening fans!

Big book, big gardens, big budgets.......2006-02-28

This coffee table book features private gardens and estates of the wealthy who have the funds to hire the most talented garden designers in the world to realize their visions. Most of the gardens featured are in the U.S. although a few are in England and Japan. Chapters are divided by varying styles, such as classicism, traditionalism, naturalism, cottage garden, modernism, etc. It is an eclectic collection, from minimalist elegance to lush romantic woodlands. Sculptures, art work, water features and stone work are a feature in many.

Chapter names tout the garden designer which includes such talents as Patrick Chasse, Dan Pearson, Jacques Wirtz, Dan Kiley, Piet Oudolf, Martha Swartz, Sarah Raven, Christian Louboutin, Isabelle Greene, Penelope Hobhouse, Topher Delaney and Steve Martino. The owners of the gardens are rarely mentioned (with the exception of actors Brad Pitt and Tim Curry and a few others). Although the text is often stuffy and oft-putting, the photographs alone are reason enough to purchase the book. This beautiful book is wonderful for garden dreamers who will find gardens such as these unattainable.

Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants

Average customer rating:

very practical information
Great book, lots of good ideas and beautiful pictures....
The best
Friendly and useful
A great book for beginners

Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants
William Cullina
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Orchids for Dummies
Taylor's Guide to Orchids: More Than 300 Orchids, Photographed and Described, for Beginning to Expert Gardeners (Taylor's Gardening Guides)
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids
Ortho's All About Orchids (Ortho's All About Gardening)
Botanica's Orchids: Over 1200 Species (Botanica's Gardening Series) (Botanica's Gardening Series)

ASIN: 0618263268

Book Description

Orchids are the largest family of plants in the world. With 30,000 known species, you could acquire a different orchid every day for eighty years and still not grow them all. Back in the realm of reality, readers of this beautiful book can quickly and easily find the orchids that are right for them -- which ones will thrive on a windowsill, which prefer artificial lights, and which need a greenhouse; which are for beginners, which for experts. And you can pinpoint the species within a particular genus that are the best ones to start with. Once you select your orchid, William Cullina's authoritative guide explains what to do to keep it alive and healthy. Featuring more than two hundred color photographs, Understanding Orchids covers everything you need to know to grow orchids successfully, whatever your level of interest or experience. With improved tissue-culture techniques making orchids more affordable, and the Internet making them readily available to consumers, growing orchids is more popular than ever: membership in the American Orchid Society has more than doubled in the last fifteen years. This is the book orchid fans have been waiting for.

Customer Reviews:

very practical information.......2007-09-19

This book has alot of practical information and has much more detailed culture information about many different orchid families, also has information about small orchid families that I have not found in any other book about orchids.This book also gives step by step instructions on how to repot or divide several different types of orchids including paphiopediliums and Phrags.

Great book, lots of good ideas and beautiful pictures...........2007-02-10

I am an amateur orchid grower and have read a variety of books on the subject. So far, this is the best book I encountered and the most comprehensive. Not only that, it is a work of art, printed on high quality of paper. The pictures are outstanding and so is the carefully written text. This book is also just loaded with inexpensive ideas on various small projects that you can do to improve your results. If you are going to get one book on orchids, this should be it!

The best.......2007-02-06

I believe that this is the best book out there on orchids. Mr Cullina covers the important and often allusive culture issues confronted in growing orchids in real depth. He provides thoughtful, comon sense explanations for his reccomendations that go way beyond those found in other books I have read on the subject. The second half of the book details the cultural requirements and rates the difficulty level of 100 species of potential interest to growers with experience levels from beginner to expert. Much more than a coffee table book, Understanding Orchids is a valuable reference that belongs in every orchid enthuiast's library.

Friendly and useful.......2006-11-20

As a relatively new orchid grower, I found this to be one of the most useful books for a beginner. In addition, it is written is a very accessible, friendly style, with many examples of the author's struggles to succeed with orchids. I highly recommend it!

A great book for beginners.......2006-11-05

I bought this book as I was starting into the hobby of Orchids. The book is extremely informative on the basics and attempts to discuss common problems people have with Orchids. The most interesting sections are those on potting mediums and the individual orchid varieties commonly found at florists or even the grocery store.

biggest problem with the book is that it seems to convey the idea that any of the solutions will work which is not the case. Successful orchid growing requires an understanding through trial and error of what will work in your home. There are some basic tenants for everyone; however, they get lost in the details.

All in all, it's a great reference book and I would strongly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Art"full" Wings.
But Where do Caterpillars Come From?
Color,color,color!
A Life's Journey
Toddlers and Babies, too!

Waiting for Wings
Lois Ehlert
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Where Butterflies Grow (Picture Puffins)

ASIN: 0152026088

Amazon.com

Lois Ehlert, beloved illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and many other bold, beautiful picture books has outdone herself with this gorgeous (seriously breathtaking) celebration of butterfly metamorphosis. "Out in the fields, eggs are hidden from view, / clinging to leaves with butterfly glue. / Soon caterpillars hatch. They creep and chew. / Each one knows what it must do." As the gentle rhyme unfolds, we turn the small, partial pages that form the larger spread of fabulous foliage in this lush, oversized book. Before our eyes, the eggs turn to caterpillars, the caterpillars to cases, the cases to lovely butterflies. "They pump their wings, get ready to fly, then hungry butterflies head for the sky." The colors become increasingly dazzling, each butterfly springing to life with Ehlert's color-soaked cut-paper magic. Several pages of background material conclude the book, labeling different kinds of butterflies at different stages of development, from the buckeye butterfly to the painted lady to the monarch. A "Butterfly Information" page clearly labels butterfly anatomy and answers basic question about these fascinating fluttery insects, a "Flower Identification" page showcases butterfly-attracting flowers such as the purple coneflower (echinacea), phlox, and lantana, and the last page offers a few pointers on growing a butterfly garden. (Ages 3 to 6) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Every spring, butterflies emerge and dazzle the world with their vibrant beauty. But where do butterflies come from? How are they born? What do they eat--and how?
With a simple, rhyming text and glorious color-drenched collage, Lois Ehlert provides clear answers to these and other questions as she follows the life cycle of four common butterflies, from their beginnings as tiny hidden eggs and hungry caterpillars to their transformation into full-grown butterflies. Complete with butterfly and flower facts and identification tips, as well as a guide to planting a butterfly garden, this butterfly book is like no other.

Customer Reviews:

Art"full" Wings........2007-06-29

Lois Ehlert takes you on a colorful, intriguing story about the life cycle of a butterfly. Excellent for art students at any level! Text is simple enough for preschoolers and can be enjoyed through the elementary grades. Enjoy this exciting trip through nature and its wonders!

But Where do Caterpillars Come From?.......2006-09-12

This is a beautiful and very clever book. Pages are cocooned within larger pages, with individual illustrations blending seamlessly into the background illustrations. Like the natural world itself, this book rewards the patient observer, with rich details on the surface and others folded in more subtly. Your kids will be focused in on a little book within the big book, as the caterpillar goes on its journey. It makes the launch to the story within the bigger background pages all the more dynamic, striking as the shift from Kansas to Oz.

It starts with the eggs "hidden from view,/ clinging to leaves with butterfly glue." As we turn the pages of a little book enshrouded in the bigger book, we see the caterpillars hatch, "each one knows what it must do," and we follow the path to metamorphosis. Ultimately, the reader will be rewarded with multiple beautiful butterflies launching up towards the sky, a nice Lepidopterian metaphor for the developmental adventures in store for our little ones. It's a good job of story-telling when we know exactly where the story is going but still find ourselves awestruck.

Finally, as if Ms. Ehlert hadn't done enough, we get several pages at the end on butterfly identification, with information on colors, wingspans shown in actual size, the corresponding caterpillars that precede the butterflies, and the like. We get flower information, and then tips on growing your own butterfly garden. Nice stuff.

Get this book, drill it for a few night-night times, and then take your toddlers to a butterfly pavilion to see the real deal. Good times.

Color,color,color!.......2006-03-20

As usual, Lois Ehlert stimulates and educates the young reader about the mysteries of caterpillars to butterflies. Not only are the colors absolutely stunning, she provides factual information about different species. This book was a fabulous preparation for my classroom of small children as they watched their own caterpillars prepare for their magical transformation!

A Life's Journey.......2005-07-27

Waiting for Wings is a picture book showing the life cycle of a butterfly. The story uses tantalizing pictures and simple words to explain how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The book takes the reader through the stages of the caterpillar's life. Once the caterpillar has become a butterfly the story changes to how a butterfly lives its life. The illustrations pull the reader into this book. The print is large and easy to read for young reader. The text also rhymes for two pages at a time. As the caterpillar grows the pages become larger, until the butterfly hatches. As the butterfly begins its flight the pages are full size. The illustrations and page sizes are wonderful for young readers. This book also contains identification pages on butterflies and the flowers they eat.

Toddlers and Babies, too!.......2004-05-24

I have a three year old daughter who must be read to before sleeping. I also have a three month old baby girl who is often in the bed with us while we read. Often, the baby is restless and cries before we finish our books. Waiting for Wings is a fabulous solution. I find this interesting AND educational for my toddler. In addition, the colors are bright and contrasting, allowing my baby to be entertained while the book is read.

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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In Search of Lost Roses
American Rose Society Encyclopedia of Roses
Graham Stuart Thomas Rose Book

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

Nick Brandt depicts the animals of East Africa with an intimacy and artistry unmatched by other photographers who choose wildlife as their subject. He creates these majestic sepia and blue-tone photos contrasting moments of quintessential stillness with bursts of dramatic action by engaging with these creatures on an exceptionally intimate level, without the customary use of a telephoto lens. Evocative of classical art, from dignified portraits to sweeping natural tableaux, Brandt's images artfully and simply capture animals in their natural states of being. With a foreword by Alice Sebold and an introduction by Jane Goodall, On This Earth is a gorgeous portfolio of some of the last wild animals and a heartfelt elegy to a vanishing world.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful photography.......2007-09-27

I bought this book as a gift for someone who had just visited East and South Africa. They were thrilled with the absolutely beautiful photography and the memories it evoked of their trip.

Just Stunning.......2007-08-31

I own many, many photography/art books and this one without a doubt is my favorite.

The photography is simply stunning. Brant shoots his work on medium format infrared film and that is a great combination to use.

Don't even think about not getting this book, just do it.

Africa, my love.......2007-06-27

Having travelled extensively in Africa and being a keen photographer myself, I was happy to find this title in one of the Dutch photography magazines. The book is apparently not for sale in Holland, so I bought it at Amazon's.
My collection of photography books consists mainly of black and white photography. I am sure buyers will love the images in this book as much as I do, allbeit some pictures are a bit over the top, due to the infrared film used. Nevertheless the photos are just overwhelming; it feels like standing there yourself!
Next to 'The Great Migration' by Carlo Mari (which has a different approach) and 'Pink Africa' (also by Carlo Mari, and obviously in color) this book is among my favorite books on wildlife in Africa!

Images of untold beauty and magnificence........2007-05-31

Nick Brandt is one of the most talented and sensitive photographers of the 21st century.
His vision and technique is unmatched.
The patience involved in capturing these sometimes rare creatures is incredible let alone to produce such aweinspiring images.

Moments of recognition!.......2007-02-18

Great photo's of, for us, familiar parts of Africa. Shows the game in a different light.
Every new page is an inspiration! Not only for photografers but for travellers also.

Erik
The Netherlands

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World

Average customer rating:

we can save the world
Should be Required Reading
Mushrooms can be interesting.
Mushrooms as spirit teachers
An Inspiration and Idea Generating Book!

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
Paul Stamets
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Vegetables | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms
Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home
Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook: Easy Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation
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Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World: An Identification Guide

ASIN: 1580085792

Book Description

More mushrooms, less pollution! Yes, you heard right: growing more mushrooms may be the best thing we can do to save the environment. Microscopic cells called "mycelium"—the fruit of which are mushrooms —recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What fungi expert Paul Stamets has discovered is that mycelium also breaks down hydrocarbons —the base structure in many pollutants. So, for instance, when soil contaminated with diesel oil is inoculated with strains of oyster mushroom mycelia, the soil loses its toxicity in just eight weeks. In MYCELIUM RUNNING, Stamets discusses this revolutionary trend in mushroom cultivation and provides tips for choosing the appropriate species of fungi for various environmental purposes.

Customer Reviews:

we can save the world.......2007-09-11

This book is so fascinating, if u even have the slightest interest in mushrooms, or any type of fungi then this is the book to get. Paul stamets answers any question anyone would ever have about fungi, and who would have thought that mushrooms, play such an important role in mother nature. You will be stunned by the information in this book. So if u want a good read with lots of facts and lots of very interesting information then this is the book for you.

Should be Required Reading.......2007-07-16

This book is incredible. If more people read this book, there could be an ecological revolution.

The reader will not go a page in this book without a "What?? No Way!!" kind of moment. I found myself laughing simply at how amazingly effective and important mushrooms can be.

Mushrooms can help save the world. "Mycelium Running" should be a high school textbook.

Mushrooms can be interesting........2007-03-24

I took my last science course about 40 years ago and had forgotten how interesting science can be. This book is not light reading and some people will probably not get past the first few pages but I really enjoyed it. I found tons of new information on mushrooms in spite of the fact that I studied mushrooms in college (until my father decided science was not for girls and convinced me to go to Law School. Yep, those were the good old days.) You will enjoy it as long as you take into account that it is a scientific book, perfect for geeks.

Mushrooms as spirit teachers.......2007-01-10

Stamets is THE authority on the power of mushrooms and all the amazing things they can do. From cleaning up toxic oil spills to providing nourishment Stamets clearly writes with passion. I love it and have shared the book with many others, many of whom were blown away!

An Inspiration and Idea Generating Book!.......2007-01-03

This is a very well written and organized book, using this has enabled us to do some really wonderful things on our own property and inspired us to do even more. Mr. Stamets has done more to enlighten people about the benefits of fungi than anyone else and in a way that makes it fun and interesting. Will open your eyes to a whole new world.

Average customer rating:

beautiful gardens
Buy this one used
Stunning
DISAPPOINTED!!!
A gorgeous, gorgeous book

The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World
Alain Le Toquin
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Gardens in the Spirit of Place
Great Gardens of the World: In Search of Paradise
English Gardens of the Twentieth Century: From the Archives of Country Life
Gardens in Time

ASIN: 0810955849

Book Description

Gardens are unique creations, reflecting not only the landscape, flora, and climate of their environments but also the heritage-the history, architectural styles, and influences-of the cultures that made them. From the fountain gardens of the Iranian desert to the whimsical "Garden of Cosmic Speculation" in Scotland, from the Zen gardens of Buddhist temples to the Impressionist gardens in Giverny, the huge variety of gardens around the globe is a testament to our age-old desire to tame and refashion nature.

In The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World photographer Alain Le Toquin celebrates the diversity of these manmade landscapes, capturing 31 of the greatest public and private gardens on five continents, including Majorelle in Morocco, the Versailles gardens outside Paris, the Keukenhof flower show park in The Netherlands, and the Huntington Gardens in California. With more than 150 images and 12 gatefolds featuring spectacular panoramic photographs, this gorgeous book will captivate travelers and garden admirers alike, and will inspire gardeners themselves with fresh ideas for design, horticulture, and use. AUTHOR BIO: Alain Le Toquin, a former specialist in ornithology and animal ecology at the Natural History Museum in Paris, has been a photographer specializing in both culture and nature for more than 20 years. Jacques Bosser, a writer and translator for design and photography books, was a contributor to Abrams' The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World. Michel Baridon leads a history and research group for the French National Council of Parks and Gardens. He has published several books on gardens.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful gardens.......2007-07-09

I got this as a gift, but I did scan through it and its full of beautiful garden pictures.

Buy this one used .......2007-07-02

I did enjoy the book and many of the photographs were a pleasure -- however, I was SO glad I bought it used from an Amazon reseller. I would have been really annoyed if I paid anything close to list price. I felt this book did a surface job both with pictures and narratives. It left me wanting more, but not in a good way. Also, it probably should be called "The Most Beautiful Garden STRUCTURES in the World" -- because garden structures dominate the photographs. Criteria for choosing "the most beautiful" also unclear.

Stunning.......2006-11-18

I'm not sure why the previous reviewer did not like this book. I thought the photographs were absolutely beautiful, vibrant, and clear. Each garden was photographed from several different angles. The photos take up entire pages and several are on fold-out pages for a panoramic view. The book is printed on quality paper and is quite heavy. I bought this book as a gift for my Mother but I enjoyed looking through it several times before I finally giftwrapped it.

DISAPPOINTED!!!.......2005-07-28

I love gardens. So, I was excited about receiving this book. The photos weren't as beautiful as I thought they would be. I wanted to return the book. I wish I had. I'm glad Amazon did not charge the list price of $60.00. I would have returned it for sure.

A gorgeous, gorgeous book.......2005-02-16

Le Toquin photographs gardens from around the world, including Iranian oases, Italien grottos, English topiaries, and Versailles in winter. The photographs are gorgeous and there are numerous fold-out pages with panorama shots that give a feel for the garden as a whole. The choice of locations highlights the wide range of spaces that are encompassed within the definition of a garden (including one with no plants whatsoever). The accompanying text provides summaries of the histories and predominant features of each garden, but the amazing photographs are what really makes this book shine.

Landscape Plants for Dry Regions: More Than 600 Species from Around the World

Average customer rating:

Even Landscapers use this one as a reference guide
Landscape Plants for Dry Regions is a winner!
Great reference for beginners
Best book for choosing plants
One of the Best Dry Region Plant Guides

Landscape Plants for Dry Regions: More Than 600 Species from Around the World
Warren D. Jones , and Charles Sacamano
Manufacturer: Fisher Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Home & Garden | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Plants for Dry Climates: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy
Low-Water-Use Plants for California & the Southwest
Arizona Gardener's Guide
Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes
Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide

ASIN: 1555611907

Book Description

This is the definitive guide to landscaping in the Southwest. Co-author Warren Jones is responsible for introducing several now-common plants to Southwest landscape professionals and gardeners. This book includes plants with tremendous potential in arid regions but that have never been used in Southwest landscapes before.

Includes: Trees, Shrubs, Groundcovers, Vines, Cacti, and Succulents and how to use them for: Privacy, Shade, Shelter, Climate control, Erosion control, and Beauty.

Contents: An A-to-Z guide to the landscape potential of more than 600 plants that thrive in dry regions. Each plant is listed in a chart format that includes: Scientific name(s) Common name(s) Description Landscape value (how to maximize the plants best qualities in your landscape) Sun, soil and water requirements Cold hardiness Growth rate and size Specific problems Full-color photos that illustrate the plant full grown, as well as special features, such as bloom or leaf close-ups, or the different growth stages of the plant Professional and amateur landscapers, landscape architects, new-home buyers, college and university students, serious gardeners, landscape design and horticulture students, staffs of nurseries, arboretums and botanical gardens will all benefit from owning a copy of Landscape Plants for Dry Regions.

Customer Reviews:

Even Landscapers use this one as a reference guide.......2007-03-25

This book is great, especially if you happen to have at least a little background in landscape. There are probably too many plants in this book and it is arranged alphbetically by Latin names, but the pictures and descriptions make this book a must have for gardeners and landscapers. It is probably most useful to those planting in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California (most of these plants won't be available outside these areas). Having a little knowledge to begin with will help you know which plants in the book are rare or generally unavailable. That being said, all of the best performing desert trees and shrubs, etc. are in this book. The book also gives descriptions of plants and how and where to use them (or where not to use them). In summary, this book will help you set up a desert oasis or pure desert landscape in your yard.

Landscape Plants for Dry Regions is a winner!.......2006-08-10

I own several desert landscaping and gardening books and this book is by far the best of the bunch. It is organized according to species alphabetically, which makes it easy to look up plants. It is comprehensive...I have never failed to find the specific plant, bush or tree I am researching. Plus, full color photographs of each plant make it easy to pick and choose for visual effect.

Great reference for beginners.......2002-05-03

We're building a new home in Arizona and this book has served as a wonderful guide to my husband and myself in the planning of our landscaping. The photos are clear and great examples of what the plants will look like. Plants are listed alphabetically by scientific name, but there's a handy cross-reference in the back to make it easier. The most helpful tool is under each plant's description where it clearly lists possible problems and maintenance needed. One thing I wish it did include are citrus trees, but I suppose they were left out because they are not native plants (but then again, I didn't think palms were either, and they are listed).

Best book for choosing plants.......2001-09-30

All plants discussed have a color photo right next to the text, and the text provides all key information in specific format. This makes it easy to compare plants, or find specific information about a plant you're interested in. The book goes into detail on different varieties also, e.g. there are color pictures and text on each of several varieties of mesquite - very helpful when you're trying to choose the right one for your landscape. A very few of the photos are poor quality, but any picture here is worth a thousand words. This is the only book I have seen for this climate (I live in Phoenix) that attempts to provide this volume of information with full color photos. Definitely worth the money.

One of the Best Dry Region Plant Guides.......2000-12-14

I bought this book because I wanted a landscape that is in harmony with the region in which I live. I also wanted to be as efficient as possible in using water to irrigate my plants. This book has been enormously helpful in accomplishing these goals - I also like the fact that it has allowed me to access information about new plant releases on the internet. This is a useful textbook of options and information for anyone who lives in a dry region and enjoys plants.

The Osha: Secrets of the Yoruba-Lucumi-Santeria Religion in the United States and the Americas : Initiation, Rituals, Ceremonies, Orishas, Divination, Plants, s

Average customer rating:

Good Book
Mixed feelings
The Osha
Very thorough
The Osha

The Osha: Secrets of the Yoruba-Lucumi-Santeria Religion in the United States and the Americas : Initiation, Rituals, Ceremonies, Orishas, Divination, Plants, s
Julio Garcia Cortez , and Julio Garcia Corlez
Manufacturer: Athelia Henrietta PR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Tribal & Ethnic | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Comparative Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Diloggun: The Orishas, Proverbs, Sacrifices, and Prohibitions of Cuban Santeria
The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts
Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa: A West African Spiritual Tradition
Obi: Oracle of Cuban Santeria
Santeria: The Religion: Faith, Rites, Magic (World Religion and Magic)

ASIN: 1890157228

Book Description

The Osha examines a religion. (not a cult) practiced by hundreds of thousands of people in different countries principally Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Latin America and most recently the United States. The Osha provides the stories, history, types and manner of divination, the procedures of vestment, names of the deities and everything which is part of the Yoruba/Santeria Religion. A bold work of great intimacy with "The Religion."

Customer Reviews:

Good Book.......2007-01-18

What a wonderful Book to start out with when you are new to the religion!

Mixed feelings.......2007-01-18

Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it is very thorough; on the other hand, there are bits and pieces that are not considered accurate in my lineage, and overall it seems to be a bit misogynistic. I guess my biggest concern has to deal with the section regarding the Asiento/Santo/Kariocha ceremony. While I can appreciate the author's desire to remove the secrecy element from the religion, there is something to be said for maintaining a degree of mystery, that allows an individual to experience something without preconceived notions. All I can say is that I am grateful that I had already been crowned before I read this book, and that I would discourage any uninitiated godchildren from reading this book simply because I wouldn't want to possibly ruin the joyful surprise and spiritual enlightment that can only come from an unbiased mind when presented with the Divine.

I would certainly recommend this book -- perceived errors and all -- to those who have already been initiated with their Santo, while cautioning others to practice self-restraint and to skip over those sections that deal with assorted initiations that they, themselves, have not yet received.

Respectfully,

Elaine Hall

The Osha.......2006-11-10

Great book. A lot of detail. Great for anybody who wants to learn.

Very thorough.......2006-02-23

This book on the religion is extremely and very thoroughly written. The amount of detail that is in this book is a very good introduction for any neophyte who has recently been initiated into the religion and I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in learning about the Lukumi or who needs to be educated on certain topics. However, any book written on the religion always leaves out information that is supposed to be kept secret and I am glad not ALL of the information was revealed. Nevertheless, it is a great read and interesting information has been written.

The Osha.......2005-07-13

I found it very informative, it explains way too much on my religion but, in part it is good, like that people get a better and total impression of what it is all about and that we do not worship the devil, but orishas whom were once on earth. The writer did a good job in the translation of the original book.

I would also like to have the spanish version which I had, and lent it to someone, but it never came back to me. I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know when it will be available or if there is a used one that someone wants to sell.
Thank you.

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