Cascade-Olympic Natural History: A Trailside Reference [Paperback]

Daniel Mathews (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Raven Editions; 2 edition (March 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962078212
• ISBN-13: 978-0962078217
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for every library!, December 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cascade-Olympic Natural History: A Trailside Reference (Paperback)

A Second edition of a classic. Mathews created a field guide that is a must have for every PNW adventurer. As a park ranger I find myself reaching for it daily to answer questions. The writing is suberb and one finds oneself reading it by the fire on a cold winter day just because. I give this book as a gift more than any other item.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Sets the standard for nature guidebooks., December 5, 2000

By 

T. K. Schonhoff (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cascade-Olympic Natural History: A Trailside Reference (Paperback)

Most of us who enjoy nature have relied upon "bird books" or other guides to the species at one time or another as we inquire about our surroundings. These dull but thorough reference books often make their topics LESS interesting, quelling the interests that they're supposed to serve. We look up our bird, animal or plant and then move on having learned little more than its Latin name. Ugh.

This book shines like a beacon to future nature writers as it uses every description as the basis for a prosaic mini-essay; rewarding curiosity with enlightenment, fascination and delight. Imagine a reference book so enticing to read that you can't stop reading with just one description. Instead, the object of your curiosity serves as a mere starting point in the book; the first page of what often becomes a genuine sit-down-and-read-it experience.

If every nature writer put this much love into their topics, the trails would be overrun with enthusiastic hikers. Here's hoping that the author visits your neck of the woods soon, and provides you with the same exuberant writing he's given us here in the Pacific Northwest.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun to Read!, December 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cascade-Olympic Natural History: A Trailside Reference (Paperback)

I also have ordered this as a gift for several this year, including the revised edition for myself. Definitely not just a reference book but a great read also. I actually read the whole book,rather than just saving for information on specifics, when I got my first copy years ago.