Tom Brown's Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness [Paperback]

Tom Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1987 | Series: Field Guide

This is the sixth handbook by Tom Brown, Jr., the director of the world-famous Tracking, Nature, and Wilderness Survival School. Like the other volumes in this popular series, Tom Brown's Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness takes the reader on a fascinating journey into nature's mysteries and magic, and presents a treasure trove of knowledge, insight, and anecdotes. Tom Brown, Jr. shows readers how to open their eyes to the surprising abundance of natural beauty that can be found in the urban and suburban landscapes of backyards, local parks, highway medians, and even windowsill flower boxes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Brown, the author of many nature books, discusses familiar wilderness areas but pays most attention to suburban and city "wildernesses." These include abandoned lots, drainage ditches, hedgerows and, particularly, the lawn. This last, he states, actually is "a sea of life more complicated and intricate than any of our larger realms. . . . It is constantly awash in the motion of life, a grand provider of food, always a source of wonder and beauty." Interspersed with his examinations of habitats are descriptions of specific creatures to observe. He notes, for example, that the shrew has a breathing rate of 850 times a minute and eats three to four times its body weight daily, explaining its need to beand its reputation asan efficient, voracious hunter. Brown remains an enthusiastic, infectious observer of nature who will help readers notice more of the world around them. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The "forgotten wilderness" of the title can be found simply by looking with a new awareness at lawns, abandoned lots, and parks. Brown shows the reader that there is more wildlife to be found in cities than is commonly thought. Weasels, skunks, foxes, birds, and a number of other animals have all managed to adapt to life near humans. Brown does a fine job of explaining where to find these creatures, describing their habits and favorite haunts. Fans of Brown's other works will enjoy once again the engaging style and captivating tales of a man who lives his life close to nature. Readers are bound to come away with a new appreciation of nature and of the variety of wildlife to be found just outside their doors.Randy Dykhuis, Grace A. Dow Memorial Lib., Midland, Mich.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425097153
• ISBN-13: 978-0425097151
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Brown, Jr is America's most acclaimed outdoorsman, and a renowned tracker, teacher, and author. When Tom was only seven, Stalking Wolf (Grandfather), an Apache elder, shaman and scout, began coyote teaching Tom in the skills of tracking, wilderness survival, and awareness. After Stalking Wolf's final walk, Tom spent the next ten years wandering the wilderness throughout the America's with no manufactured tools--in most cases not even a knife--perfecting Grandfathers skills and teachings. Tom came back to "civilization" and began looking for people interested in all that he had learned, but found none. He felt lost and confused until a local sheriff who knew Tom called him in to track a lost person. Tom found the missing person and, in the process, found his Vision.
Over the next few years Tom earned his reputation as "The Tracker" by finding lost people, and fugitives. He has since worked with many law enforcement agencies, throughout the United States and internationally, on cases involving abducted children, lost hunters and hikers, and fugitives. He wrote about his experiences in a book titled The Tracker, which was published in 1978. Soon after, Reader's Digest ran a condensed version of Tom's story and included information on the Tracker School. That was over thirty years ago, and today Tom Brown Jr's Tracker School http://www.trackerschool.com is teaching people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Since the success of The Tracker, Tom has authored 16 books on tracking, awareness, nature observation and survival, including, Grandfather, The Vision, The Way of the Scout and a series of field guides, which have sold well over a million copies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the urban naturalist., April 16, 1998

By 

Kim Cabrera "Naturalist and Tracker" (Weott, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tom Brown's Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness (Paperback)

If you live in the city or suburbs and can't get away to explore nature, this is the book for you. It tells you where to look in your own backyard to find wild animals. There are good descriptions of the species that might be found in each particular environment. I found it useful in helping me identify the places in the city frequented by animals we wouldn't expect to find there. If you're an urban naturalist, I recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Brown's Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness, August 31, 2001

By 

Eleanor Norton (Buffalo Grove, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Brown's Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness (Paperback)

An excellent book for your children or grandchildren to learn that there is something more to life than computer games. It will show them that patience is a virtue. The author shows his enthusiasm and love for nature and the creatures God has created.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opener., October 9, 2008

By 

Tyson L. Rice - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tom Brown's Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness (Paperback)

Along with the original Field Guide to Wilderness Survival, this is my favorite in the series. After reading about the ants I spent months trying to learn to track them. Finally, I achieved success after watching an ant walk across the top of a dusty outdoor water heater.
I still can't do it on concrete though.
It probably sounds stupid to some people, but it made me happy.