Everybody Needs A Rock written by Byrd Baylor and illustrated by Peter Parnall is among my top ten favorite children's books and, if pressed to make a choice, I might say that it is my all-time favorite. My first exposure to the book was back in the 70's in one of the gift shops at one of the Smithsonian Museum branches in Washington, DC. I didn't buy it at the time, but its simple story and wonderful illustrations made an impact on me and stuck in my head. Here was a book about someone like me; here was a book about someone with a deep appreciation for rocks. The young lady in the book also had deeply felt personal values. The drawings reminded me of some of my own sketches and they said so much with so few lines and such a simple, earthy color scheme. I would forget the title and then rediscover the book in the 80's as I was finishing up my training as a geologist and then as a high school science teacher. Recently, my Mom gave me a blow-up of a picture taken of me in Badlands National Park in 1966. In the picture, I am 7 and I am sitting on the side of a rocky hill looking intently at a small rock. The picture reminds me of Rule Number 3 from the book:

Bend over. More. Even more. You may have to sit on the ground with your head almost touching the earth. You have to look a rock right in the eye.

If you know a child with a deeper than average appreciation of nature who is little bit misunderstood, give them a little validation by giving them a copy of this fantastic book. I'm still looking for the perfect rock, but, in my opinion, Everybody Needs A Rock is close to a perfect children's book.

After reading this book to my fifth grade students they all find their our favorite rock and value it among their most prized possesions. The reverence and care that they shower upon their rock is unbelievable. Only Byrd Baylor could inspire that kind of compassion through such simple prose.

This book has beautiful artwork (amazing line drawings) and neat words. But its ideas apply to more than just rocks. There's something in it about the rock search being a very personal thing, and I found that applied as much to househunting as rock hunting. Get it for anyone you love.

I found & read this book along with "Diamond Ring Buying Guide" by Renee Newman. Fred Cuellar really gives you insight on how diamonds are rated "The 4 C's" and gives you suggestions on what to look for based on what type of buyer you are. I found his inside information on what goes on in the diamond buying/selling business very helpful. He also provides you with questions to ask a Jeweler to interview them and see if they are a legitimate company to deal with. I like his no-nonsense approach and recommendations of pricing for different cuts, clarity and color. One thing the book lacked was actual pictures for examples. I found Renee Newman's book "Diamond Ring Buying Guide" was excellent in providing color/B&W picture examples but Fred's book was better laid out in educating the reader. After reading Fred's book and looking at Renee's pictures, I felt very confident in going into a jeweler to look at diamonds. In fact, once I went into a jeweler for the first time and explained in detail what I was looking for, I was treated completely different than the other customer's. The sales rep brought out the manager, and both of them treated me with respect. In fact, make sure you use Fred's example of asking the manager if they would GIA certify the diamonds. This tells you alot about the jeweler you are doing business with.

This author comes with a resume that would make him a king in some small European nations; all kidding aside he is a diamond expert who has imparted his extensive knowledge to the reader with panache and ease. I could not put this book down. I was able to read it in one night and I feel totally capable of walking into a jewelry store and buying a diamond with the knowledge that I'm not getting ripped off. He has even added checklists for choosing your perfect diamond and picking a reputable jeweler. The only thing I found missing were pictures of different things to look for, such as diamonds that have been laser treated, the color scales, kinds of inclusions and blemishes as they look under a 10X loupe which is the instrument used to detect defects in a diamond. It is a good book as an adjunct to other books that might not be as easily read and clear in the technical presentation.

This was recommended to us by a friend and my boyfriend claims that it has been very useful in helping him to make educated decisions about settings and stones in making the big purchase!

Who'da thought coal could be so interesting?

Written in a very engaging, not-dry manner.

Good ammo if one is opposed to the use of this foul fuel.

Seek clean alternatives.

I moved back to the United States after living for about 8 years in Manchester, England. Even today, you can still identify the effects of coal in Manchester--from the many chimneys around the Northern landscape, to the coal-blackened Victorian warehouses. When I bought a house there, I pulled-up carpets that covered wood floors since 1911, and I myself was covered with coal dust that accumulated over the decades. Finally, in the North of England, you still have a few coal mining villages and towns that have very strong cultures. So I was aware of coal when I lived there, and had become curious.

Freese's book is an excellent and engaging history of the history of coal and its relationship to the history of three nations: The United Kingdom, the United States, and China. She writes exceptionally fluidly, with, at once, broad sweeps and minute details that keep you both interetsed and informed. She also has a lovely dry sense of humor. Her chapter on Manchester, by the way, is excellent.

The book isn't academic (to her credit), but nor is it a vapid popular account. Instead, Freese has written a book that does the nearly impossible in that it is well-researched, historically accurate, engaging almost, but not, to the point of being chatty. I couldn't put it down. What it lacks, by way of an academic angle, is a discussion of what else had been written in the past about the history of coal, as well as a theoretical approach. This is hardly a criticism because that really isn't the intention of this book. In fact, believe the book would have suffered had she taken this approach.

I agree with another reviewer who suggested that Freese didn't know how to end the book--although I did find her discussion of alternatives to coal to be compelling. There are two typos in the book that evaded the copy editor, but otherwise this book is a small masterpiece. You will enjoy it.

Coal doesn't leap to one's mind as a terribly interesting topic, now does it? This book, however, proves fascinating from start to finish. It depicts the commodity's influence on human survival, suffering, and industrial growth in a captivating presentation. Looking at coal's history provides fresh insights into parts of history we're already familiar with. I've literally lost sleep over this book - couldn't put it down!

While the book reads more like a high school textbook, for the inquisitive mind, the information imparted more than makes up for it. Learning the principle of doubling time and it's portent for future populaiton growth and resource depletion, alone is worth the price of the book. The information presented in the book is sobering and thought provoking, and not a little depressing.
Let's all hope that technology can deliver us from most of the doom and gloom presented in the book. As a geologist I was familiar with the limitations on our mineral resources but did not construct the relational scenarios that were presented in the book. The "oil interval" of earth history is overlooked by most people even in the sciences. It's far reaching implications points out the severe case of myopia from which our society suffers. The fact that we comsume 60% of our soon to be precious oil for the luxury of being able to run to the convenience store for a pack of gum is also sobering. Buy the book impart the information to your kids.

A very depressing book but a very important one if the author is correct. It covers resources of all types: water, metals, oil, arable soil, etc. as it relates to the various economies and lifestyles throughout the world. At the rate resources are being used up, in particular oil and gas, the standard of living outside of the Persian Gulf state could be materially affected in the next 50 to 100 years.

Read it at your own risk: it's going to paint a bleak picture of future mineral resources.

A book I pass around alot! If you are concerned about Earth's natural resources and our future, this is a must read. The author explains the coming world production peak in conventional oil and the facts of dealing with finite resources.

Don't be surprised by the problems we face just around the corner in the new century in energy, minerals and water.

When I received this book in 1996,it was the most complete and updated,non-technical book available on dinosaurs,so at that time,much of the information contained was new to me and accurate. After that year,my interest in dinos sank and did not returned until quite recently,so I did not had my eyes focused on paleontology. But when I read about new dinosaur discoveries on the net,like the feathered Sinsauropteryx,the value of this book sank immidiatley.
For example,Seismosaurus is no longer considered the world`s longest dinosaur - it has been replaced by Argentinosaurus. And T-rex is neither considered the world`s largest meat-eater any more - it has been replaced by two others as well.
So,if you want an accurate book,this is not the right one.
It will provide the dinosaur-loving children the wrong information!
But now,I won`t let this review be occupied only by the negative comments. It does have some light sides too!
For example,it provides very usefull information on dinosaur classification. Each group (theropods,sauropods,ornithopods,armored & ceratopians)is presented in detail,with a few species from each,the theropods beeing represented by most. All of the most popular are presented in at least two pages,some times five. Some of those are Iguanodon,T-rex,Triceratops,Stegosaurus,and Apatosaurus.
There are lots of good illustrations of skeletons,as well as drawings of what they might looked like in life,and at last,models of them.There is also some fast facts corner on each dinosaur. Here,the most important facts are covered,like size,when it lived,family and order,distribution,food,etc.
At the back of the book,there is also a quite accurate index of all 638 dinosaur genera described at that time,and if there are any synonyms,like Dynamosaurus,there is always a "=" which refers to the right name of the dinosaur.
So,my final word about this book is,it is great,but wait until there comes out a revised edition before buying it.
But if you want a suitable book,not too childish or not to technical either,this is the perfect one!

A very good book. The book provides a lot of info on dinosaurs. the A to Z section gives brief descriptions of many dinosaurs. I especially love the page about spinosaurus

My 3 year old son and I have been poring over this book ever since he got it three weeks ago. The illustrations and photos are absolutely fabulous. Each page contains a wealth of information about each of the 50 or so featured dinosaurs, and an extensive index in the back provides a small blurb about hundreds more.

We go through several pages a night, reading different portions of each page, learning about a different aspect of each dinosaur. My son has already memorized where his favorite dinosaurs reside in the book, and the book is sturdy enough to handle his rapid and not-to-gentle page-turning.

I know this one will be a favorite for a long time. I recommend it for anyone of any age who loves dinosaurs.

Ms. Capehart blends easy-to-understand information on which vitamins may be used to remedy everyday health issues with entertaining real-life stories of people who have successfully followed her recommendations. She combines known information about the functions of various vitamins with information on their practical application to relieve various discomforts. The index is especially good, allowing one to pinpoint specific information in a short amount of time. An informative, easy read, written in a refreshing style for this subject matter.

This book not only contains "prescriptions" that use vitamins to aid and/or cure ailments, it's fun to read and easy to follow!

Most articles about vitamin and herb therapy tout the vitamins and herbs. This one gives step-by-step instructions on how to use them.

I applied one of the treatment plans (for allergies and asthma) and am a believer. I've had allergy shots; I've spent a fortune on drugs; I moved to the desert. This is the first time I've had relief that lasts.

Thank you, Ms Capehart !

My wife and I found this a very helpful book of practical vitamin advice. Ms. Capehart's practical advice, based upon her actual experiences with vitamins, is straight forward and understandable. We found the novel format intuitive and well indexed. We thought enough about this advice to have shared it with friends and relatives alike. The book is quite readable, and we particularly liked the select anecdotal stories of life's experiences from this courageous author's life. Best of luck to Ms. Capehart with her next useful book.

I do not feel this book is specific enough regarding values of stones for a beginner such as myself, especially for less-expensive stones.

Now in an updated second edition, Gemstone Buying Guide by experienced and professional gemologist Renee Newman is an authoritative, useful and "user friendly", no-nonsense guide to evaluating, identifying, and caring for colored gems, ranging from pearls and opals, to moonstone, topaz, turquoise, and more. Vibrant color photographs throughout add visualization to the tips, tricks, and techniques skillfully described in the text. If you are buying or selling any kind of gemstone then give Renee Newman's Gemstone Buying Guide is "must" reading.

If you are looking for a brief, concise, easy to read book that spells out the basics for gem buying, this is for you. It also has some lore and some of the most beautiful photographs of gems I have ever seen. Inexpensive and useful.

Matthew Hart's "Diamond" provided an interesting and entertaining glimpse into the world of the diamond trade. Rather than giving a detailed treatment of the geology of diamonds and the history the diamond business, the author covers these in broad strokes, while highlighting key people and events that have shaped the diamond industry worldwide. More attention is given to recent events (nineties through to present), especially the diamond discoveries in the Canadian Arctic. Overall, it is a very readable book. However, I was quite disappointed by the utter lack of even a passing mention of man-made diamonds. I know there is an interesting story behind the development of the technology for making synthetic diamonds, and the impact they have had on the diamond industry.

After hearing a bit about the cable-based feature exposing the incredible monopolistic hold De Beers has on the diamond industry and the associated corruption, crime and cruelty associated with diamond mining and the inherent competition, I became acutely aware that the bobbles adorning our fingers, wrists, necks and ears came at a very high price--human as well as financial. To my surprise, I ran across DIAMOND and hoped it would delve deeper into this mysteriously clandestine industry. Matthew Hart unravels the mystery quite well.

Hart has a leg up on most journalists penning a book on this trade. His position as editor of the industry trade magazine, "Rapaport Diamond Report," provides him with the expertise to report on this cabal industry as well as the background and knowledge to impart the history of the diamond trade. However, Hart does the reader one better by being a genuinely gifted storyteller.

Hart lays out the basic foundation and history of diamond geology and its shrouded history. From yarns about hustlers and theives to the geological formations known as pipes, Hart imparts the beauty and dark side of the trade. And, as mentioned, Hart casts his line into the vast monopoly known as De Beers. He explains how De Beers has managed to control the flow of diamonds not only to the wholesale "site" markets but, more recently, to the retail market as well. We learn how the Oppenheimer family has ruled this industry with an iron fist and a deft touch. Further, and strangely to this reader, we learn the origins of the De Beers name...a totally unexpected twist.

Hart informs the reader of great finds and great adventures. He focuses on several large diamonds discoveries - an 81-carat pink from the jungles of Brazil and the discovery of Canada's first major diamond mine. One of the more adventurous stories is that of Eira Thomas, a 24-year-old female geologist who played a major role in the Canadian find. We learn of the painstaking 3-year study and comiseration prior to the actual cutting of the 599-carat Centenary diamond as well as the discovery of the 3,107-carat Cullinan diamond (the largest "rough" on record). Hart even takes the reader behind the scenes to an advertising agency where a mentally exhausted executive, in a 11th-hour blitz of creative brio, coins the enduring phrase "A Diamond is Forever."

Hart is engaging, cogent and very well informed. Anyone wanting to learn more about this industry and the mysterious wonder of the "beautiful rock," will find this book fascinating reading.

Like hard, everlasting roses, there are hundreds of shades of red diamonds alone, from "water" pink to vivid red. As Matthew Hart's Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession skillfully recounts, gemstone diamonds inhabit a diffuse, subtle palette of hues, as well as displaying such values as weight, shape, and clarity. Similarly, any book that covers the storied history of diamonds will have its own gleam and character, low on some qualities and high on others. Diamond begins with the recent discovery of a "large pink" in a Brazilian riverbed. The find sends miners, dealers, consultants, and investors into a frenzy over a paper packet, the contents of which cause economic and aesthetic ripples as far away as Toronto, Johannesburg, and London. The book then moves through various aspects of diamond lore - the significance of legend in the value of a diamond; the chain of ownership from mine shaft to display case - and on to science, entrepreneurism, and corporate tectonic shifts in the vast diamond trade empires of India, Brazil, and Africa. There is also the sheer romance of the whole enterprise, deftly conveyed in the sections on the spoils of queens and the booty of thieves. Hart wisely avoids those aspects of diamonds that long ago lost their lustre - thankfully, we're spared zircon-like insights into Marilyn Monroe movies - and instead brings passion and thoroughness to such unlikely dramas as the role of helicopters in Northern Canadian mineral exploration and the contemporary pressures on the hermetic, overlord-like De Beers cartel. But straying from the mine face can be a tricky business, particularly when it comes to the links between the diamond industry and official corruption. Hart's considerable political insights into the diamond trade sometimes fail by omission - for example, during a discussion of the role of diamond profits in the agonies of Sierra Leone, readers may wonder why Hart omits a wider look at the century-long exploitation of black African workers in the mines. Still, there's more than enough fire and ice in Diamond to satisfy the connoisseur in all of us.

When I took Geology in college, I loved the course. I only had one problem. It was very difficult for me to identify rocks and minerals in the field. If I had had this pocket field guide, the course would have been a snap.

Now, I enjoy taking my children to study outcroppings, and this book will be a great addition to our investigations.

First, the photographs are stunning. In fact, any temptation I might have had to develop my own samples is set aside by having these wonderful images to use.

Second, the information is detailed and thorough. There is a lot about the crystalline structure of each mineral, the hardness, and many tests that are specific to that particular mineral. There is a very good section that describes how to apply the hardness tests (I always had trouble memorizing that area for some reason). There is plenty of good safety information for how to use the various acids that can be employed to identify minerals. Everything is nicely summarized so it is easy to find.

Third, all those subtle distinctions about various kinds of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks that used to puzzle me are very clear here. Whew!

Fourth, the book has great directions for locating good spots to examine rocks.

Fifth, you also receive a wonderful description of the equipment you need, and ways to use it safely.

Whether you think you like rocks or not, you should give this book a try. It will open up a very interesting world full of ways to locate and identify interesting rocks and understand the stories they can tell. As a result, you will have immensely more understanding of the world around you.

I also suggest that you read up on plate mechanics as well, so that you understand more about how the landscape is formed before erosion takes over. The combined knowledge of these two areas will greatly add to your understanding and appreciation of evolution.

Get in touch with the physical world around you as foundation knowledge!

I am new to the study of geology and have found this book to be indispensable in identifying rocks and minerals in the field. It even has a few tips at the beginning about how to do tests, and each mineral suggests tests to further aid in identifying them. It has also been a great reference when reading texts about geology. I use it to look up the rocks and minerals mentioned there. Very helpful for later field study. The least I can say is: buy this book, it is EXCELLENT!!

Rockhounds, Crystal Healers, Students- here it is! The photos & scientific information are "just what the doctor ordered". A perfect addition to a library or guide for a collecting expedition. Also, an EXCELLENT way to see all those stones you keep reading about in texts.

This book is definitely a great resource to have when you're buying a diamond. I picked this up near the end of my search, so I had come to know most of the basic diamond information like acceptable table ranges, clarity and color ranges. The photos were extremely helpful because no other source I have come across provides you with full color close ups and defections of inclusions. What's a knot, feather, facet? What do they look like? Are they bad?

*Princess Cut*
I was looking for a princess cut diamond (the square one) and unfortunately this book mostly focuses on rounds. That's important insofar as the acceptable table and depth proportions are slightly different for princess cuts (FYI-get below 80%, around 70% is even better). Don't disregard the dimensions! At first I only judged size by carat weight, but a lot of that weight can sit below the diamond-hence you want a lower depth percentage. For example, a 2.0 carat princess cut that's 7.11 x 7.14 will look bigger than a 2.30 carat that's 6.69 x 7.30. With princess cuts, you also want to be as square as possible-anything with a length to width ratio bigger than 1.04 starts looking rectangular.

Another thing to keep in mind is the difference in Gemological Certificates. I found out early that an EGL G SI1 is just not the same as a GIA G SI1. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples here. There should never be a $1000 difference in price for the same cut, color and clarity. I found GIA much more consistent and rigid than EGL and eventually just ruled out the EGL certified diamonds. Try it yourself: ask to see the same size, color and clarity in GIA and EGL, 9 times out of 10 the GIA is more colorless and has fewer inclusions.

...

It's amazing how Newman makes diamond learning so easy and fun. She outlines what to look for when buying all types of diamonds, and gives clear, concise explanations of all the price factors, not just the 4 C's. Then she illustrates her points with lots of helpful photos. You'll learn things about diamonds from this book that you won't find elsewhere.
But this book is more than just a top-notch diamond book. It helps you choose the right ring mounting and setting style for your needs. It gives tips on buying custom-made rings and it has information on gold and platinum that I haven't seen elsewhere.
I've been to a lot of jewelry stores, but none were able to explain diamonds as well as this book. In fact, if you read this book, you'll know more about diamonds than many of the salespeople. You'd be making a big mistake if you bought a diamond without first reading the Diamond Ring Buying Guide. It helped me save a lot of money

Unlike diamond websites, this book isn't trying to sell you diamonds. It just lays down the facts about what to look for when buying diamonds and rings.

Newman's book is loaded with color pictures and info that you won't find on the Internet. For example:
1. Lots of close-up photos of diamonds with different clarity grades to help you learn to judge clarity yourself
2. Microscope photos of diamond inclusions.
3. Close-up photos of diamonds with a variety of cutting defects as well as examples of well-cut round and non-round diamonds. These pictures are far more helpful than diagrams I've seen on the Internet.
4. Diamonds of different colors and color-grades
5. Pictures showing how to detect diamond imitations along with tests for spotting fakes
6. Close-up photos of fracture-filled and laser-drilled diamonds and good info about diamond treatments
7. A wide variety of settings and ring styles from basic solitaire rings to unusual designer styles
Thanks to Newman's book, I was able to understand what I was looking at when jewelers showed me diamonds through their microscopes. And contrary to what one reader wrote, Newman doesn't make it sound like every jeweler is out to cheat you. She just helps you know when you've found a good jeweler and a good diamond. This book is worth far more than it costs. Don't go diamond shopping without it.