The Great Lakes region has some good plant books already in use, noteably Plants of the Chicago Region, the flora bible for many. As a practicing wetland professional I am always on the lookout for references that make my life easier. This book really fits the need, while remaining accessible to non-professionals. By providing wetland habitat descriptions, as well as solid information on each family and species, the book really adds to the discussion of the Great Lakes flora. Illustrations in the book are detailed enough to serve as a diagnostic tool, enabling the careful reader to separate similar species readily by eye, as well as by technical detail, a feature lacking in some other regional plant reference books.

Far more comprehensive than most similar books for the Great Lakes and upper midwest. Considerably more accessible than the typical work with this breadth. It will be an excellent field reference for wetland professionals, plant ecologists and allied disciplines. The drawings are good quality, picking up key differences in appearance among groups such as the sedges - critical for professional users. I look forward t using it on my trips to wetlands in the northern midwest as both casual botanist and plant ecologist.

Anyone with an interest in the outdoors or natural history finds wonder and amazement in all organisms one comes across. Even the smallest of creatures holds fascination on those keen on natural life and many times will leave you wondering, 'What is that ??'. A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA by J. Reese Voshell, Jr. is a wonderfully complete introduction to the small organisms that we find in the shallows of our local freshwater ponds, lakes, creeks or streams. Beautifully illustrated by Amy Bartlett Wright, A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA is much more than the typical field guides on the market today. The first section of the book takes the reader through the ecology and fundamentals of freshwater biology and freshwater invertebrates. Well written in an easy to follow flow that is indicative of his 25 years of research and study, J. Reese Voshell, Jr. explains how to use this book and introduces the reader to the guidelines to effectively study freshwater invertebrates. The rest of the book is split into two parts, the first not too different from most field guides are the illustrated descriptions of 100 of the most common freshwater invertebrates with easy to follow distinguishing characteristics. This identification section is referenced by page to the third section that contains a detailed description on the distribution, habitat, biology and feeding habitats of each of the individual freshwater invertebrates. All written in an easy to follow format, A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA is a comprehensive guide and study tool, it is part field guide and part biology text, the combination of which is what makes this book unique and valuable. A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA is as complete a guide book as you will ever find or need.

A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA helps ordinary people find and name about 100 crustaceans, insects and worms, in shallow waters and without microscopes. Freshwaters are all inland waters, unaffected by sea tides and usually lacking in much salt. That means streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.

Freshwater invertebrates make up 70 percent of all known animals, microbes and plants. These skeletonless critters are important, in the food chain and to the environment. Some are scrumptious food, such as crayfish and river shrimp. All are hard-working environmentalists, earthworm-like in breaking down and cycling organic matter and nutrients. All are reality-checks to freshwater health. All are wake-up calls to changed living conditions, nature's temper tantrums, and pollution.

All are easy-to-know, too, because of this beautifully, one-of-a-kind illustrated, organized and written book. Illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright's artwork is outstanding. So is author J Reese Voshell, Jr's know-how. For he gives each invertebrate's breathing and feeding needs, life history, living space, movement, and stress level. In addition, he tells how to set up acceptable aquarium living for live catch.

Gravel can be on the bottom. But add stones, sticks, live plants, dead leaves, and bottom sediment, from where the invertebrates were caught. Water must be from where they were caught, too. It has fine detritus and microbe tidbits. Otherwise, a pump must bubble air in. That gets killer chlorine out of treated water.

An air stone letting out small amounts of air keeps down natural decay and smells. Likewise, it keeps water chock full of dissolved oxygen. So does a screen cover. Also, it keeps invertebrates from getting out.

Big chores are food and water. Take out what's not eaten within 24 hours. Change about 1/3 of the water every 2 weeks, if there's a lot of algae or scum.

The best bets are caddisflies, crustaceans, damsel and dragon flies, flat and segmented worms, mollusks, true bugs and flies, and water beetles. Specifically, those most likely to grow, from larvae into adults, are damsel and dragon flies. With my next stream quality monitoring, as soon as water levels go down, I'd like to start mine!

Duranti is a wonderful writer. There were passages so beautifully written that I had to put the book down and go for a walk. The story itself has wonderful potential, but it never really goes anywhere. Worse, once it gets where it does go, you are forced to realize that the characters are not really very deeply drawn. They are Kafka-like in that they seem more symbolic than real. They have no internal logic which makes some behavior reasonable and other behavior odd. I really have no idea why it ended as it did.

I am sure though, that people who like symbolically-driven stories will enjoy this. I will buy other books by Francesca Duranti because she is an amazing writer and because I think that maybe I just missed something crucial within the story which would have made it gel.

Fabrizio translates German books into Italian. One day he finds an unknown book by a little known Austrian writer. This is his chance now to create something original with his translation. Like any good translator, he gets involved with the thought process of the original author. But Fabrizio also gets involved with the life of the Austrian, who died in 1913. Frustration becomes resignation as he becomes the Austrian and thus slowly destroys himself.

Elegant and worthwhile reading.

This is a fine little book on African hunting. It is a bit outdated. As such some of the names of places and animals which have changed in the past 40 years will leave some readers wondering. All in all though it is fine reading. Covers many species, such as the smaller antelopes, which are commonly overlooked in safari books. This book is suitable for younger readers interested in African hunting, or hunting in general. It's small size and easy reading style make it particularly apealing to the teen and pre-teen reader, but do not take this to mean it is a kid's book. It's not!
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I've read a number of African hunting and adventure classics including titles by F.C. Selous, Carl Akley and others. Alexander Lake was a comparative late-comer to Africa (early 20th century) but his respect and love for the people and wildlife he writes about are evident. His writing style is authentic, without varnish or too much introspection. The sense you get from this book is that Lake was a man of action who started out as a pragmatist wanting to make some money out of his adventure, but ended up being fundamentally and unexpectedly changed by Africa. The book is filled with fascinating anecdotes of a wild African world which no longer exists. Those of you who enjoyed Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa will find this book equally authentic and personal but less sophisticated in tone. This is a great read that will leave you with a vivd sense of place and time, and a feeling for what Alexander Lake and the Africa of his day were like. If you are an African hunting/adventure buff, you will enjoy this read a great deal.

This book isn't really specific as to the locations of gold in the Lake Superior area, but rather allows the reader to explore the area and hopefully find gold. It's a short book that can be read in a few hours and will at least enlighten you on the geology and small-time prospecting of gold.

Any amateur looking to get started in the field of prospecting. It doesn't tell them where to look but more how to look. Coming from a family of gold prospecters. His dad, John N. Dwyer who wrote Summer gold. This book is great for anyone who wants to learn how to prospect, or anyone looking for a great book

Barrons in general, does a great job in presenting thier information in a concise and clear manner. Even beginners will have no problem following along in this 'pocket reference' publication. Do not let the price or size of the book sway you. It is packed with all of the pertenent information. Tanganikan cichlids are wonderful fishes and barrons does an excellent job of intoducing all of the husbandry techniques needed to keep these fish happy and healthy. One drawback is that more experienced aquarists or ichthyologists might find the book lacking in some of the detailed areas. Although overall, you pretty much can't go wrong when purchasing this book

Mr. Smith covered all the bases with this book. From giving an educational step by step way to set up and maintain an African cichlid tank. he offers good quality pictures of a wide variety of fish with a very informational care and breeding for each fish. I recommend this book to all interested in keeping these fish.

This is an excellent general reference text. Can not say enough about the excellent content of this text. But it is need of an edition update with information for lake mapping and restoration. Dr. C.L. Nelson of St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN has an excellent small text on physical limnology for the mapping aspect. This book does do an excellent job on the biological aspects of limnological work.

The book contains a lot of information related to lakes. It's a complete work about the conditions on this systems. Include a study about the performance of the ionic particles in this systems. It's a suitable book for students like me, to understand the freshwater ecology.

Definitely worth the price and the book does its job of helping you identify tree species of Michigan. Offers additional in-depth information about the anatomy of leaves, twig cross-sections, fruit, wood characteristics and uses. Most of which is more than average readers will probably want to know, but is interesting reading none-the-less. All I wanted was a reference to ID the trees on my property.

I was pleasantly surprised that the book also includes information on vines and shrubs, but was quickly disappointed when I discovered that this section offered no illustrations or pictures of either - only text descriptions.

Contrary to the front cover, the book has no photographs! Another bummer. All species are represented by illustrations only, but at least I can honestly say the drawings seem extremely accurate and have great detail.

My four-star rating is also due to the incomplete shrub and vine sections. I realize that this is a "tree" book and that adding such information is a plus, but the writer(s) should have stayed consistent and included illustrations for these as well. Trying to identify features by descriptions only is tedious and really seems to take away the joy of the whole adventure. Too bad, it would have been the "icing on the cake".

I recommend buying this book as a main reference and suggest finding supplement information via the web. There are endless sites that offer much of the same information for free, but carrying this book into the woods would certainly be more convenient than lugging a stack of print outs.

If you need to help your kid with the perennial leaf collection or if you just want a handy field guide for trees, I have found none better than Michigan Trees. I own a well worn copy of the 1978 edition and it is so popular among friends I am ordering another to loan out.

I received this book for Christmas 2001. Had been looking forward to it as I've always been interested in the roadside attractions of MN, ND, and the upper midwest. This is an excellent book that not only covers the gigantic roadside statues in MN, but also a number of unique events and places--such as the "Museum of Questionable Medical Devices" in MPLS.

My only complaint regarding the book is that the photos are in black and white. Color would've added a lot to the book (including a higher price, I'm sure). Also, I would've like to have seen more than just one poto for several of the icons--e.g., the picture of the Frazee turkey burning down is great, but how about a picture of the new one? Also, the black duck (Blackduck, MN) is the old one, what about the new one? How about that "famous" picture of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker standing in front of the black duck?

Regardless of these minor complaints, the book is full of great information about the attractions, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. In fact, I have made a couple more purchases for friends. It makes a wonderful gift for those interested in travel, those who have visited MN, or ex-patriots of the state. It also serves as a great compliment to the book "Roadside America", for it's added information about each statue/attraction.

My husband and I brought this book with us on a trip to Minnesota in April 2002. We are sure glad we did! This book lists so many great roadside attractions. We stopped and saw a giant fiberglass walleye, Frank Lloyd Wright's gas station, the Jolly Green Giant, a giant hockey stick, a huge dala horse, the spam museum and multiple other fascinating sights listed in this book. That made our trip so memorable. Our friends loved seeing our pictures. Using the book, we were even able to plan day trips from Minneapolis to hit several sites. I only wish we'd had time to see it all! A must-buy book for a traveler in Minnesota.