Published after Munz's death more than 25 years ago, A Flora of Southern California remains an essential tool for plant identification in this part of the state.

Neither this nor the Jepson Manual is a book for an unguided beginner. Amature botanists will find this (or any true flora) intimidating as they begin to work with it. But with persistence and, probably, a field course in plant identification, they will learn that no wildflower guide, even with its nice pictures, can substitute for a flora for its exhaustive coverage and (usually) objective, though often difficult, identification keys.

Botany students and professionals need to make accurrate identifications, and need all the help they can get. Picture books, the newer Jepson Manual, local or regional floras and lists and (ESPECIALLY) access to a reference collection all are essential. Don't overlook Munz!

I use them both every day, but if I were permitted only one reference source for my work in southern California (the deserts and the coastal region south of Santa Barbara), I would select Munz over the Jepson Manual.

Using Munz's keys in southern California, the user need sort through only about half the taxa that appear in the larger State floras, so identifications are faster. Further, many (but of course not all) of Munz's keys use better characters than those in the Jepson Manual. But it is Munz's descriptions of the plants' geographic ranges that make his book indispensable. He used text (rather than geographic codes as in the Jepson Manual) and place names in his descriptions. And for plants that are narrowly endemic to one area, he made that clear. While I do not object to the Jepson Manual's geographic codes, I have been seriously disappointed with its incomplete, inaccurrate, and unnecessarily vague geographic ranges.

Other useful features in Munz's work not found in the Jepson Manual are flowering seasons (shown as months, e.g., May-June) and chromosome numbers. The latter are especially useful when confronted with seeming intermediate specimens, to help resolve suspicions about hybridization.

Sadly, botany instructors and students seem to believe that the Jepson Manual (1993) rendered Munz's works (this and his larger California Flora of 1959, w/ 1968 supplement) obsolete. They have not. While much of the nomenclature has been changed in the newer work, only some of the revisions represent real improvements in taxonomy. Just as often, name changes are silly splits within obviously cohesive groups. And in botany, newer names are not necessarily "right." I would expect much of the taxonomy in the Jepson Manual to revert to that of earlier works in future floras.

....

Crammed into 1,086 pages is a fine reference work covering nearly every known vascular plant of Southern California. The book contains definitions of its geographical boundaries, an introduction to plant families, the main text, and concludes with a glossary prior to its index. In the index one will find both the common and scientific names.

In order to cover such a vast amount of material, Dr. Munz does not have long descriptions of each plant, rather he is brief but pertinent. The main identifying features are listed, and often a fine line drawing is available.

Dr. Munz is an expert in California botany, and it shows in this standard work. This is an essential tool for all those who need vital plant information for identification purposes.

The only flaw I find, is that he does not fully cite his references, which is needed to validate species reclassifications. This text should also be supplemented with newer works for information on newer species and the changes in some classifications. All in all a fine book, well bound and printed.

This is the best guidebook I've ever used. I've taken three trips to California - one to San Francisco, one to San Diego, and one driving the coast from LA to Seattle. Each time, I've used this book constantly. I've gotten some great bargains with his inexpensive hotel recommendations, his suggested itineraries are great guidelines, his maps are excellent. I wouldn't travel anywhere without one of the Fodor guidebooks.

It's a unique book with lot of illustrations and maps.

I was most interested in cabins for family trips in Northern California. This book has exactly what I was looking for. We've used its recommendations the last two summers and were very pleased. Tom Stienstra has easy-to-read descriptions of cabins and campsites, along with the important details. My only complaint is that the book is now three years old, and doesn't include websites. I'd like to see a new edition. But I still use the book and recommend it highly.

I bought this book hoping that it would give me a few suggestions for campsites in Marin County, since I have recently moved here. Within minutes I had found three campsites that I will be enjoying this summer and will easily find thanks to clear and concise directions. Tom Stienstra has an easy writing style to read and gives all the pertinent information to his readers about the sites he discusses. It is obvious that he loves the outdoors and wishes to not only spread this love, but his knowledge of great "easy" camping in Northern California and the beauty within this area that anyone can enjoy.

These two (Julie Sheer and Steve Hymon) know their stuff! Reading this book is like taking a fun romp through the best that Southern California has to offer. Written with a wicked sense of humor, with plenty of great personal anecdotes, this book will make you want to strap on the hiking boots asap and hit the trails. We particularly enjoyed the input from their numerous cohorts, like the boogeyboarding Canuck! If for no other reason, buy this book for the to-die-for chili recipe offered up on page 267.

Both thorough and well written, you can't go wrong with this one

I must admit, I am a wine novice who is still learning all the rules, etc., but this little guide is SO HELPFUL!! Not only does the author recommend varietals from every price range and geographical region, but he also helps break down grape type, appelations, etc in a quick and easy format. This book gets to the point and is so perfectly organized it really helps break it all down. I recommend it for those learning (like me) as well as the expert wine shopper. I just love it.

This guide has two things going for it - one, it is small enough to take along to the store, and two, it is well-balanced. Many wine writers carry their tastes too far, leading to books that are 80/20 red/white or somesuch. Jamal Rayyis lets you know his tastes (and i'm biased... i share his lack of enthusiasm for bombastic over-oaked California chardonnays, and his interest in unusual grapes from unusual places), but he doesn't insist that you share them. He has an eye for real bargains (like Eastern European wines), and his food matching advice, while necessarily brief, is always interesting and useful.

Highly recommended.

As a regular visitor to the Napa Valley for the past 10 years, it's easy to think that one has 'seen it all.'

This book really reminded me what a special place the Napa Valley is, and how much there is to discover. Visitors and locals alike will find something new and interesting that they simply must try.

Take this book with you to the Valley, or read it before you go and find your new 'must try' discovery.

This is a must have for anyone visiting or living in the Napa Valley. Well organized and cleverly composed. I found it most useful for locating the rare-to-find places and foods that make the Napa Valley so unique. It makes a great gift for all the food lovers in your life.

Henry Kiyama created this terrific book in the 1930's, chronicling the lives of four young Japanese immigrants and their struggle to find work and acceptance in San Francisco at the turn of the century. It was unearthed and translated into English, giving us all the rare privelege of a glimpse into the immigrant experience of that era. Drawn in a simple and lighthearted style and told with insight and depth, Kiyama, along with the rising popularity of Japanese Anime and Manga, reinforces the notion that comics are not just for kids anymore. A great read for a comic lover, a hyphenated-American or anyone interested in the multihued experience of our country.

If you're not used to reading comics, this will seem rough and not particularly funny. Readers more familiar with the form will recognize that this book is more subtle and better crafted than your typical comic.

It's of special interest to Japanese Americans and others interested in the immigrant experience in the USA.

Reading David Masumoto's Epitaph for a Peach changed the way I viewed peaches. While I always liked peaches, Masumoto's passion for peaches elevated them to the top of the fruit ladder. However, I felt that he had reached the end of that genre. How much more was there to say about peaches and peach growing? I was wrong. Four Seasons and Five Senses is a wonderful book which deepens my affection of peaches and enhances my knowledge of the process.

He has grown so much as a writer since Epitaph for a Peach. He's able to bring to life the love of farming, the excitement about organic peaches, the anxieties about the market and weather, the sensuality of eating luscious fruit, the uncertainty of prices, and the difficulty of the labor. He breaks the stereotype of ignorant farmers. He connects peach farming with such diverse subjects as chamber music, migrant labor, and entomology.

I did not want the book to end.

Having tasted Masumoto's peaches also helps for they truly are amazing. I recommend the book to anyone who appreciates good food, wants to know about the experience of organic farming, and is interested in whole process of getting a peach to market.

Reading David Masumoto's Epitaph for a Peach changed the way I viewed peaches. While I always liked peaches, Masumoto's passion for peaches elevated them to the top of the fruit ladder. However, I felt that he had reached the end of that genre. How much more was there to say about peaches and peach growing? I was wrong. Four Seasons and Five Senses is a wonderful book which deepens my affection of peaches and enhances my knowledge of the process.

He has grown so much as a writer since Epitaph for a Peach. He's able to bring to life the love of farming, the excitement about organic peaches, the anxieties about the market and weather, the sensuality of eating luscious fruit, the uncertainty of prices, and the difficulty of the labor. He breaks the stereotype of ignorant farmers. He connects peach farming with such diverse subjects as chamber music, migrant labor, and entomology.

I did not want the book to end.

Having tasted Masumoto's peaches also helps for they truly are amazing. I recommend the book to anyone who appreciates good food, wants to know about the experience of organic farming, and is interested in whole process of getting a peach to market.

"Frank Lloyd Wright's California Houses," by Carla Lind, is one of a series of "mini-books" by the author, each of which focuses on a particular facet of this great architect's work. This volume focuses on a remarkable group of homes designed by Wright between 1917 and 1927.

Like other volumes in this series, this book combines a brief but informative text with a wealth of full-color photos. Lind also includes a bibliography, a chronology, black-and-white historical photos, and sidebar quotes from various sources.

The photos of the California houses capture many interior and exterior details. These marvelous homes reflect the spirit of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico and Central America; in fact, they look like modern versions of ancient Mayan temples. It is amazing to look at the patterned concrete blocks, the innovative use of glass, and the other distinctive features of these homes.

Wright's California homes are majestic, yet inviting buildings that have a timeless beauty and grace to them. This little book is a wonderful tribute to these great homes.

The book is so specific that just by reading it you could build the exact same house on your own in no time! Extensive info on all the residences including furniture set-ups. Lots and lots of quotes from the master himself. Descriptives will take you on a virtual reality tour.

For those interested in decision theory, the author does a sterling job of tracing the impacts that different approaches to decision-making, by different parties, has on the development of a complex and unique mixed use project:

"But like it or not, the power to make these final decisions rested with the various public bodies overseeing the compliance with the city's regulations" (p.106) "It was that an architectural decision had been made by a political body that appeared to care little about archictecture..." (p.105) "Still undecided, however, was the shape of the atrium. This delay was having troubling consequences for the entire construction schedule because the city refused to issue a demolition permit until it saw the final design drawings..." "The developers knew they were unhappy with the atrium but they did not know why" (p.154) "They bungled it because they wouldn't do anything without having three decisions" (p.184) "The debate over the colour of glass dragged on for months" (p.202) "Mancini said he would take the matter under advisement. He was not ready to make a decision on the spot" (p.209) "While Johnson applauded group decisions intellectually, he felt strongly that there was not always a 'right' decision for every dilemma" (p.229")

The book clearly articulates the dialogue between the different decision-making parties and makes for an interesting case study.

My students - this was, for years, the best-liked textbook in Berkeley real estate courses - saw this well-written history of an actual commercial development as a sure-fire hit movie. We selected the cast - not too difficult: incompetent and corrupt contractors, sublimely ignorant city officials, totally dense bankers, a brilliant artist who got ripped off, shady lawyers, venal professors - well, they lost forty million dollars or so. Reporter Frantz covered the (subsiding) ground with hearty humor but without serious libel. The reader is supposed to do the numbers.