Customer Reviews (2)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1924
I have recently become interested in and perhaps even enamored of John Muir, so am on a search for his letters and books.I came across this huge book, and thanks to the ability to Search inside the book at Amazon.com, I discovered that this book was originally published in two volumes in 1924.I don't know if that makes any difference to the reader, but in my case my grandfather has those books, so I probably will read those instead of this one.I think the fact that this is a reprint should have been mentioned in the Review above.

First-rate
I bought this book after hearing a lecture by Edward Renehan at the Union League Club in NYC. Renehan is the biographer of Muir's friend and associate John Burroughs, and in the course of his lecture he recommendedthis edition as a good, solid, representative volume of Muir's prose. Thatit is, and I'm happy to join Renehan in recommending it. -- Alfred Roosein ... Read more

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This single-source guide to selected biographical dictionaries and directories gives complete bibliographic information along with price and a critical evaluation for each entry. ... Read more

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"Since it was first published in 1981, The Battle for Butte has remained the most sophisticated account of the events in Butte and the best treatment of the influence of copper in the political history of Montana." -- from the new Foreword ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

- As good as history gets
This is a highly readable and well-researched account of what must be one of the most fascinating towns in the United States.As anyone who has visited Butte can attest, the town possesses a cultural richness andidiosyncratic character unmatched anywhere in the US west, maybe the wholecountry, and Malone's book captures this nicely.I particularly enjoyedthe discussion of political machinations in Montana around the turn of thecentury, which make today's politics look anemic by comparison.If youhave any interest at all in Montana/western history, political economy,mining or politics, I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

Good read about town "ugly as sin, and just as fascinating."
Butte, Montana, has a rich history with storiesthat just seem too preposterous to be true!("Copper Camp" written in 1930's is good example).

Michael Malone, a historian at Montana State inBozeman, must have felt the same way. He did some good, scholarly research, and found out that manyof the wild tales WERE true!

The book is VERY readable, almost like a novel, filled with some wild stories about how the three "Copper Kings" (Butte's version of "Robber Barons") worked, wheeled, dealed, cheated, competed andconspired to make as much money as they could from "the richest hill on earth."

In the mix are many stories about the everydayButte residents, who, to this day, are actuallyfriendly, big-hearted people...who put theirhearts and backs into the building of the town.

Butte, Montana truly is "as ugly as sin" (quickly verified by any who has been there), "and just as fascinating." ... Read more

Product Description
Technology, people, e-workplaces: these are the elements thatfast moving organizations use to meet changing business requirementsby using technology to invent new business processes, to re-alignorganizational structures, and to implement new management practices.Moreover, it has become apparent in today's global informationeconomy, the most critical--indeed the primary--resourcethat distinguishes market leaders from everyone else is human talent!Countries, communities, and organizations are suddenly very interestedin developing the human capacities that will allow them to compete ina networked world. Successful growing organizations have placed thecombined development of information technology and human resources astheir top priority. With the help of human resource professionals, organizations mustgrasp the pertinent aspects of both people and technology issues tocreate an effective e-workplace. These issues occur at theintersection of the disciplines of computer science, operationresearch, and human resource development. Because these issues arecomplex, they can best be understood through cross-disciplinarycollaboration among experts who approach them from a range ofperspectives. Human Resource Development and InformationTechnology: Making Global Connections presents just such acollaborative effort from leaders in the field. This book describesthe changes that are occurring as technology plays a more central rolein human resource development. It compares methods and tools thatorganizations can use to create their own practices for developingtheir most critical resource--people! In addition, the authorspose a set of interesting research questions that will help us furtherexplore how countries, local communities, and organizations builddynamic systems for developing a sustained competitive advantage withhuman talent. ... Read more

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This collection of biographies describes twelve women conservationists who helped change the ways Americans interact with the natural environment. Their writings led Americans to think differently about their land—deserts are not wastelands, swamps have value, and harmful insects don’t have to be controlled chemically. These women not only wrote on behalf of conservation of the American landscape but also described strategies for living exemplary, environmentally sound lives during the past century. From a bird lover to a "back to the land" activist, these women gave early warning of the detrimental effects of neglecting conservation.

The main part of this work covers six historical figures who pioneered in their thinking and writing about the environment: Mary Austin, Florence Merriam Bailey, Rosalie Edge, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Helen Nearing, and Rachel Carson. A later chapter gives portraits of six post–World War II conservationists: Faith McNulty, Ann Zwinger, Sue Hubbell, Anne LaBastille, Mollie Beattie, and Terry Tempest Williams. The work covers a broad range of conservationist concerns, including preservation of deserts and old growth forests, wildlife protection, wetlands maintenance, self-sufficient sustainable ways of producing food, and pollution control. A conclusion examines where conservationists have picked up after Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) and gives conservation ideas for our time. An appendix lists the published writings of the twelve conservationists. ... Read more

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A collection of writings and a journal of the late Howard Zahniser. Zahniser was the executive director of the Wilderness Society and the author and chief lobbyist for the 1964 Wilderness Act that created the National Wilderness Preservation System. His son, Ed, edited this collection with commentary by George Davis, Paul Schaefer, and Douglas W. Scott. ... Read more

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One of the four elements of classical antiquity, water is central to the environment of our planet. In Life's Matrix, Philip Ball writes of water's origins, history, and unique physical character. As a geological agent, water shapes mountains, canyons, and coastlines, and when unleashed in hurricanes and floods its destructive power is awesome. Ball's provocative exploration of water on other planets highlights the possibilities of life beyond Earth. Life's Matrix also examines the grim realities of depletion of natural resources and its effects on the availability of water in the twenty-first century.Amazon.com Review
Billed as "A Biography of Water," Life's Matrix wouldseem to have taken on a nearly insurmountable challenge. Yet authorPhilip Ball, science writer and consulting editor for Nature,covers the very interesting chemistry and physics of the substance andour species' long relationship with it without losing thereader--after all, each of us is mostly made of the wet stuff. Fromthe ancients' conception of water as an element, recognizing itsimportance and primacy among terrestrial matter, to our currentunderstanding of the intricate dance of hydrogen bonds that give waterits unique, life-giving properties, Ball always finds the right angleto keep the story compelling. Chapters covering the nuts and bolts ofwater, which the reader might reasonably expect to be a bit dry,consistently remind us of its crucial role in so many aspects of ourlives, from ocean currents to irrigation to tears. Some of thecutting-edge scientific reports are weirdly fascinating--the discoveryof several different conformations of liquid and solid water and theirodd behavior will provoke plenty of brow-furrowing, even if none of uswill ever find ice-nine cubes in our cocktails at happy hour. The bookcloses with the now-obligatory look at what a mess we've made of thebook's subject when seen as a natural resource, and offers potentialshort- and long-term solutions. Facing these issues is vital if wewant to remember "Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink" asgreat poetry rather than apocalyptic prophecy. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Dive into the magical world of water: a strange and fantastic substance
I could not imagine how a biography of something inanimate could be written, but surprisingly the "life" of water is quite amazing. The book starts by explaining how the constituents of water were formed shortly after the Big Bang; first helium and by combining to itself, other light elements like hydrogen were formed. Later under more extreme conditions of heat and pressure heavier elements like oxygen were created: water could now see the light. Then the book goes on to explain how water could have reached the Earth and how it is present in other parts of our solar system. Water is or has been present on all planets and moons, (there is some small amount even in the sun); some have lost it through evaporation others keep it frozen on their surfaces, so that most of the sun's energy is reflected back from its white surface, making the frozen state perpetual.

The special conditions that make our planet a blue planet sparkled with some white areas (clouds and ice) are explained, as well as the hydrological cycle and the greenhouse effect together with their implications on global climate, warming and glaciations. Some space is devoted to the discovery of water's constituents and their names (oxygen and hydrogen) as well as to the decomposition of water by electrolysis and to the formation of water by ignition of hydrogen.

Special physical and chemical properties of water are explained like the fact that water is heavier than ice, meaning that ice has a lower density (the molecules are more separated than in water), because of water's hydrogen bonds. A better explanation of phase transitions can be found in Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another. The polarity of water (which accounts for hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules that help shape proteins and therefore cells - for more on this I strongly recommend Life Itself: Exploring the Realm of the Living Cell), its dissolution capacity (which makes water the universal solvent) and its calorific capacity make water the "matrix of life". Learn how life could have emerged and also how organisms cope with dehydration (freezing means ultimately also dehydration). Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Microbial Evolution is an excellent complement to this book and Investigations deals with the chemistry of the formation of life but in an extremely difficult way.

The biography would not be complete if it would not mention the present day threats to our magic liquid (salinization and contamination) as well as its uneven distribution on the globe. Another five star hit from Mr. Ball!

Perfect condition.
it was exactly what I expected. The book was just like new. Very pleased with the transaction.

A good accurate science book
It's amazing what you can find on the internet. In contrast to what an earlier review suggests this is a very interesting, well written and scientifically accurate book. If you want to read a book about the importance and uniqueness of water then this is the one for you.

I stressed its accuracy as despite the claims nuclear fusion at room temperature is not a reality (why don't we all have palladium teacups powering our laptops) and the memory of water is far from proven (primarily because the proponents can't work out how it forgets)! The New Scientist is not a peer-reviewed journal (and nor should it be as speculation and opinion are important parts of what it does) so quoting an article is no proof at all.

The only query I have is why this book was renamed "Life's matrix" for the American audience. Has no one heard of H20 (its UK title) over there?

Fascinating, but error prone
Full of quotations of classics and poetry, written as literature with wonderful similes and metaphors, this "Biography of Water" roams from ancient civilizations to outer planets. The middle third was the most satisfactory, with details of the various forms of ice, how organisms cope with freezing, and what makes water so unusual. Explanations of its hydrogen bonding patterns and how they might change to make ice less dense than liquid water, and the funny shrinkage of water above its melting point and are all interesting. The many functions of water in biological systems, right down to the molecular level are given, and there are a number of cleverly done diagrams.
Ball's major blunder in this middle part was his complete failure to explain what holds normal liquids together, that is, what are the van der Waals forces (p165)? This leads to an absurd reason for the cohesion cell membranes, where the hydrocarbon tails of lipid bilayers are said to be held together merely by their repulsion of water (p253). Most college chemistry texts do better on both counts (including Linus Pauling, "General Chemistry", 3rd ed., 1965). The UV light from the sun is presented as detrimental only (p235). Ball seems unaware that vitamin D is formed from the action of UVB on cholesterol in the skin, and that there is less cancer the closer humans live to the equator. In recounting all the effects on the development of life (atmospheric composition, heat, cold, nutrients), Ball ignores the contribution of 10 times the radioactivity the Earth now has in promoting chemical reactions and mutations long ago (see T. D. Luckey, "Radiation Hormesis", 1991).
More minor problems are speaking of a vacuum "sucking" (p240), the pH of stomach acid as 1 rather than 1-3 (p247), missing the true function of the Glomar Challenger as a submarine salvage vessel (p47), a confusion of the effect of pressure on a melting point by comparing with the effect of pressure on the the boiling point of water (p51), implying that the reaction of sulfur dioxide with water gives sulfuric acid (p101) rather than sulfurous acid, and that paraffin wax has a viscosity anywhere near as low as 15 centipoises (p282).
It is when Ball enters the realm of politicized science that serious misinformation flows. Water vapor is by far the most important greenhouse gas and human activities add plenty of it to the atmosphere by irrigation, burning methane which puts 2 molecules of water into the air with just 1 of carbon dioxide, of burning gasoline, jet and diesel fuel, unlike p66. See "Hot Talk, Cold Science" by S. Fred Singer.Cold fusion has been replicated in half a dozen laboratories; the reality of the effect cannot be dismissed by ignoring the publications and merely listing ones that do not show the effect) (p307). See "Excess Heat" by Charles G. Beaudette, 2001.Memory effects in water at really high dilutions are real (see Lionel Milgrom, New Scientist, 11 Jun 03). Homeopathy effects were demonstrated against placebo in trials (BMJ 1991;302:316-323), all contrary to p334.
Read this "chocolate and cherry syrup coated" book at your own risk.

--Joel M. Kauffman 20 May 04

Thorough, interesting and multifaceted
Wow.At first having noted the author's vita on the cover, I wasn't certain that an individual trained "only" in chemistry and physics could adequately write a book that was "obviously" about geology.As I read on, however, I realized that Phillip Ball's intention really was to write a "biography of water" as the subtitle suggested.The book in fact contains information about water from almost every perspective: from the origins of its constituent elements oxygen and hydrogen in cosmological processes to it's social and political effects in the modern world.The book covers it all.Because I have almost a complete degree in geology, I enjoyed most particularly the geological effects of water including its effects on geomorphology, its impact on glacial formation, its effect on climate and ocean physics, etc.The author lost me a little in his discussion of the chemistry and physics of the substance, but I still found what I understood of it very instructive.Water's function in the evolution of life and in the biochemistry of cellular metabolism was also interesting to me since I enjoy studying evolution-paleontolgoy and earth history were my major focus in studying geology--and I also am a nurse caring for patients whose fluid and electrolyte status arises from the cellular effects of water.

Probably the most important messages in the book, however, are those regarding conservation and utilization of water resources.Certainly the information about the disparity of water availability and quality between the western and 3rd world countries, between urban and rural use, and between countries and states that have competing interests in a particular watershed were very enlightening.It was surprising to learn that part of the problems of the Middle East revolve around water availability and use.These issues certainly provide previews to future problems that will almost certainly arise globally in the not too distant future!

A very thorough, interesting and multifaceted book. ... Read more

Product Description
From its humble beginnings in 1956, to triumphant concerts in Europe and at the Midwest Clinic, the Northshore Concert Band has led an existence full of twists and turns, adversity and tenacity. How did this group of eleven American Legion musicians evolve into one of the most influential adult bands in history? Follow the story of John Paynter, Barbara Buehlman, and other important musicians as they guide the Northshore Concert Band on the path to excellence. ... Read more

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Despite his status as a scion of one of the wealthiest and most famous families in the United States and an enormously successful businessman in his own right, Laurance S. Rockefeller is unknown to all but a small circle of Americans. Yet while he has been neither Vice President nor Governor nor chairman of the world's largest bank, his contribution to society has been at least as great as that of his more famous brothers.

In Laurance S. Rockefeller: Catalyst for Conservation, noted historian Robin W. Winks brings Laurance to the forefront, offering an intimate look at his life and accomplishments. While Rockefeller has played a vital role in the business world as one of the most astute venture capitalists of our time-providing seed money for, among other endeavors, Eastern Airlines, Intel Corporation, and Apple Computers-his driving passion throughout his life has been the environment. In addition to the millions of dollars he has donated and the numerous conservation organizations he has helped to found, he served under five consecutive presidents in environmental advisory capacities.

Perhaps most significantly, Rockefeller served under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy as chairman of the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (ORRRC), brilliantly orchestrating an assessment of the recreation and conservation needs and wants of the American people and the policies and programs required to meet those needs. The reports issued by the Commission represent a groundbreaking achievement that laid the framework for nearly all significant environmental legislation of the following three decades.

Winks uses a combination of historical insight and extensive access to Rockefeller and government archives to present the first in-depth examination of Laurance Rockefeller's life and work. His deftly argued and gracefully written volume explains and explores Rockefeller's role in shaping the transition from traditional land conservation to a more inclusive environmentalism. It should compel broader interpretation of the history of environmental protection, and is essential reading for anyone concerned with the past or future of conservation in America.Amazon.com Review
From early childhood, Laurance S. Rockefeller was deeply interested in nature and conservation. Influenced by his family's long history of philanthropy, Rockefeller has used his considerable fortune to support environmental goals, even making conservation and historical preservation his life's work. Now 87, he is the subject of Robin W. Winks's biography, Laurance S. Rockefeller: Catalyst for Conservation. Over the years, Rockefeller has donated undisclosed millions of dollars to support national parks and establish historic sites. Winks suggests that his greatest contribution, however, was the time he spent as chairman of the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission in the 1950s. During that time, many of the programs in place today that protect against pollution and designate federally protected wilderness areas were first proposed. Winks's sympathetic portrayal of an old-school philanthropistprovides insight into both the conservationist movement in Americatoday and the life of an extraordinary man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Blueprint for conservation
This book provides depth of insight into the heart and soul of man who made decisions based on their impact on future generations. It describes a thoroughly conservative approach to conservation. The author clearly explains that protection of great landscapes, or meaningful places, isn't accomplished simply by legislative action. Anyone with passion and foresight can make a difference. Mr. Rockefeller certainly had financial advantages and influence above that of ordinary citizens. What is extraordinary is that he simply could have acquired trophy properties to keep to himself; but he recognized the power of place and its potential impact on all. We, and all future generations of Americans owe him a great debt of gratitude. His conservation legacy is shared by all of us.

Anyone who cherishes nature, or who works or volunteers for conservation organizations, needs to read this book.

... Read more

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Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, paralleling Roman Catholics, have all recently made attempts at reforming and updating their respective calendars to reflect their present understanding of saints and their celebrations. Going one step further, renowned liturgical theologian Philip Pfatteicher here seeks to provide a common calendar.

The New Book of Festivals and Commemorations picks up on renewed interest in the saints and other heroic figures of faith: apostles and martyrs, historical figures including artists, musicians, and scientists, and such modern men and women as Dag Hammarskjõld. Including Festivals, Lesser Festivals, Commemorations, and optional memorials, each entry comprises a brief biography and bibliography, a related reading, a hymn suggestion, and a prayer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very Good guide to Protestant subjects in the Church Year
There are two things about which you must be clear of with this book. The first is that it's heritage is thoroughly Lutheran, so you will find many references to Protestant figures wuch as the Wesley brothers, Philipp Melanchthon,William Tyndale, and Count Zinzendorf, as well as the 'biggies', Luther and Calvin. The second is that contrary to the subtitle, this book does not contain an exhaustive list of 'Saints' recognized by the Catholics. For that, I suggest you go to David Farmer's 'Oxford Dictionary of Saints'.

Otherwise, as someone who writes regularly on the Christian year and on Christian subjects, this book has found a place of honor, within easy arms reach of my keyboard, as I refer to it every week. I suspect the book is even more useful to those who have responsibilities for weekly messages, as this volume gives a wealth of information about most of its figures, many of which neither the average Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, or even Catholic has ever heard of, but should.

For the short run, there is a brief biography for most figures, about what you may find in an entry in the Wikipedia (except for the really important figures). But even better, there are quotes from books either by or about each figure.

For the long haul, there are bibliographical references, with at least two or three volumes cited for biographies or, for thinkers such as Kierkegaard, references on his work. There are Propers for the service and even suggestions for hymns, readings, and prayers appropriate to the subject. Almost all hymns appear in either the Lutheran Book of Worship or Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

I have seen other books on the Christian calendar, but this is by far the most useful for Protestants.

Excellant resource
In Lutheran Service Book, published by Concordia Pubilshing House, several years ago, there is a page of commemorations of saints.As a seminary student who has and interest in both liturgy and the church father, it seemed ideal to have worship services for these commemorations.However, there was no lectionary available for these commemorations.Pfatteicher's book provides a resource for that.However, this is not only a resource for LCMS church members.It is also a source for ELCA, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Reformed, and other various traditions.I contend it is an excellant resource for Pastors of the reformation to inform its members of the faithful Christians of the past.

Essential and Ecumenical Basic Building Blocks for worship
Excellent resource for the professor, busy pastor, or student doing research, any and all who plan and lead worship.Essential and ecumenical profiles of the saints and scriptural texts that complement each for feasts, festivals, and commemorations that will inspire and augment those whose job or vocation it is to inspire others in the gospel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Needed more sizzle---
I thought this book was somewhat interesting.But when she got to the part of meeting her husband it needed more graphic details and more sizzling excitement.Pretty bland. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

John Muir, Naturalist, Inventor
I'm lucky enough to have some property near where John Muir's family built their home in Marquette County, Wisconsin. Our local Historical Society is featuring "The Year of John Muir" for 2010, so I thought I'd get this book to help me get a better idea of Muir and his life.

What a guy! Not only considered the father of the Sierra Club, he became friends with Teddy Roosevelt and tirelessly campaigned to start the National Park System. He was a dedicated student and WALKED more than 60 miles one-way from his farm home to classes at the early UW-Madison. His dorm room was filled with his collection of plants, stuffed creatures and his inventions. One of them was a hand-built, wood device that acted as a conveyor system for his textbooks. The books were attached and he had the device set up so that it brought a book up, the book opened, he read/studied for a predefined period of time, then the device re-activated and brought the next textbook up.

His family life was on the tough side; his father was very strict, but I think it helped John appreciate nature and being outdoors all the more.

A unique approach to the telling of John Muir's life
If you don't know much about naturalist John Muir, don't start with this book.First, read one of his own works -- like _My First Summer in the Sierra_ -- and then proceed to a tribute like _The Pathless Way: John Muir and American Wilderness_ by Michael P. Cohen.

Finish those two, and then you'll have the background information needed to appreciate _The Heart of John Muir's World_.The author obviously read a ton of correspondence to and from Muir family members and friends in order to glean insights into the lives of everyone close to John, as well as John himself.You'll find details here not common to other biographies, with a particular focus to the lifestyle the Muirs made for themselves in central Wisconsin.You'll realize how close the Muir brothers and sisters were, in spite of eventually settling in as varied locations as Virginia, Kansas, Nebraska, and California.You'll understand how all of them held an appreciation of nature beginning with the time that they grew up and worked on the family farm -- and that John's ideas about preserving wild areas began right there, too.On three different occasions during his lifetime, John looked into buying and setting aside part of the Wisconsin landscape that he loved, so that it could be enjoyed by others as he had seen it as a child.But either the deals fell through, or the current owners refused to sell.In spite of those setbacks, a small John Muir Memorial Park now stands in Marquette County, Wisconsin, while John's larger contribution to us and to future generations is half a continent away, in Yosemite National Park.

If you're not content with simply knowing that he was a naturalist, the founder of the Sierra Club, and a major instigator for the creation of the U.S. National Parks system, you'll find more about John Muir's day-to-day world in this book.And when you finish, you will understand that the subtitle "Wisconsin, Family, and Wilderness Discovery" refers to the three great loves of his life. ... Read more

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Provides a source of concise information on the major figures in environment and conservation. Contains biographical listings of 1,300 individuals worldwide, who were chosen basedon the editor's research and recommendations of the IUCN (The World Conservation Union), WWF International, the United ... Read more

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Profiles the lives and work of environmentalists from around the world--including Robert Redford, Paul Butler, Lily Venizelos, Michael Werikhe, and others--who have been chosen by the United Nations for the Global 500 Roll of Honor. Original. ... Read more

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During his lifetime Charles Waterton was famous for his eccentricities, but also for his achievements and his opinions. A Yorkshire landowner, he was a notable Victorian figure who turned his park into an animal and bird sanctuary. He was an explorer of tropical rain forests in South America and became an authority on the poisons used by the South American Indians. He was also a taxidermist and published many books, numbering Darwin, Dickens and Roosevelt among his readers. Above all, he was a conservationist who fought to protect nature against the destruction and pollution of Victorian industrialization. The author draws on his surviving papers and seeks to counter the distorted view of him as a mere eccentric. Instead she seeks to reinstate him as the first conservationist of the modern age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive and accurate depiction of Grey Owl.
"The life and history of Grey OWL, without Donald B. Smith, is only conjecture." Donald, without a beat takes the reader, from the get go, into a detailed , informative , and throughly documented decription of thelife of Archibald Stansfeld Belaney. Like a bible to a preacher, this workis replete with fascinating and delightful insights into a most remarkablecharacter who did, in fact, realize a fantacy. The story of Grey Owl iscomplex, full of adventure, and quite exciting. Like most men he had somepeculiar behavior traits; however, Donald Smith does a sensitive andobjective analysis which offers the reader the opportunity to make up hisor her mind as to the motives and desires of Grey Owl's heart, mind andinner spirit. The book is so well documented it brings to mind the thoughtthat this work is a masterpiece, and if one has the opportunity toexperience the Canada that Grey Owl describes, he or she will come toappreciate, the effort put forth by the author is a work, couched in love;e.g., every question I have raised in the pursuit of the Grey Owl Saga, canbe found directly or by implication in this book. I was so moved by it Icontacted the author personally.If one desires, especially if he or shehas read any or all of Grey Owl's books, to know the facts concerning anyand all aspects of his life (G.O.), simply read, and have handy Donald'sbook, as it will guide you to a deeper appreciation of Grey Owl and hismarvelous accomplishments. I am a better person for having read 'From theLand of Shadows' five times. Rich Gralewski, Pres. Jelly Roll EnterprisesSanta Barbara, Ca. USA ... Read more

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This book presents the biography of a forester and philanthropist devoted to bringing the benefits of forests to all people. Despite humble beginnings, Joseph E. Ibberson pursued his vision persistently, working hard at an early age and saving his meagre earnings to finance his professional forestry education. In his work with the Pennsylvania's Bureau of Forestry, he brought about many innovations that modernised the management and preservation of the state's valuable forestland. Having acquired wealth through wise investments, he later donated large properties as conservation areas and endowed professorial chairs in forestry at Penn State. This is the success story of a man with a mission to preserve the state's most valuable resource. ... Read more

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Tranquilize your mind for a few minutes when you read one of Raffauf's short stories or articles. Sometimes humorous, once in a while frustrating and occasionally about his Plain friends, but never vulgar or in bad taste. Enjoy reading about the observations of his animals and the earth as he walks the land, tries to outwit wild intruders and predators and interpret the actions of his creature companions.

Richard Raffauf writes about returning to nature and a simpler way of life closer to the earth. He raises sheep and chickens on his 18-acre farm in Berks County, PA. Canada Geese visit each year and he raises Koi in his ponds. Discover the joy and wonder Raffauf feels when witnessing the birth of a new lamb. Read about real life visits from predators in the chicken coop and the ponds. Enjoy the exploits of Jean and Red, Border Collies, his sheepdogs and constant sidekicks.

Frequently Raffauf includes photographs of his animals and their newborn, activities around the farm and the lifestyle of the Amish and Mennonite friends who have long before the author discovered this simple, pleasurable lifestyle. ... Read more