Natural History is, as it claims a visual guide, perhaps not the ultimate, but close and not everything almost. Its chapter on fish seems a little lean, but most will not notice. It is a big heavy, over 7 pounds, coffee table book. It does have some stunning pictures and lots of colored illustrations. Most of what it includes are sections on each page with coloured charts, pictures, and illustrations of many elements of the natural world rocks, ferns, a variety of snails, birds of prey it is filled with almost any living thing you could think of. The maps are well done and it will do much to clear up any confusion one has on classifications. You could even accomplish much identification yourself of rocks and birds using its clear pictures. Read more…

W. W. Norton is pleased to announce that The Norton Book of Nature Writing is now available in a paperback college edition. The definitive anthology of nature writing in English, this book has been significantly expanded and is now accompanied by a field guide of valuable resources for both teachers and students. A picture tells a thousand stories, but the one it doesnt tell is how the shot was made. Barbara London and John Uptons Photography is an all inclusive look at the craft of photography. This book will help any amateur move up a few notches, and it serves as a refresher course for professionals as well. Read more…

In his introduction to this superb anthology, McKibben (The End of Nature) proposes that environmental writing is Americas most distinctive contribution to the worlds literature. The collected pieces amply prove the point. Arranged chronologically, McKibbens selection of more than 100 writers includes some of the great early conservationists, such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and John Burroughs, and many other eloquent nature writers, including Donald Cultross Peattie, Edwin Way Teale and Henry Beston. Read more…