Ecology: A Pocket Guide, Revised and Expanded [Paperback]

Ernest Callenbach (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520257197 | ISBN-13: 978-0520257191 | Publication Date: September 3, 2008 | Edition: 1

Offering essential environmental wisdom for the twenty-first century, this lively, compact book explains more than sixty basic ecological concepts in an easy-to-use A-to-Z format. From Air and Biodiversity to Restoration and Zoos, Ecology: A Pocket Guide forms a dynamic web of ideas that can be entered at any point or read straight through. An accessible, informative guide to achieving ecoliteracy, it tells the story of the amazing interconnectivity of life on Earth and along the way provides the ecological understanding necessary for fighting environmental degradation. This new edition has been updated throughout and features five new essays on the topics of biotechnology, global warming, migration, smell, and tourism.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Everyone talks about the weather, the old saw has it, but no one can do anything about it. Similarly, it seems, we all talk about environmental problems, but few of us seem able to propose rational solutions to such matters as global warming and deforestation. Ernest Callenbach, the author of the futuristic novel Ecotopia, aims with this little primer to increase our ecological literacy, and thus our ability to act on pressing environmental problems with a better informed vision. Beginning with his homespun rendering of the principal laws of ecology ("All things are interconnected. Everything goes somewhere. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Nature bats last.") Callenbach shows that all environmental relationships are reciprocal, and that if you tinker with one element of an ecosystem--by, say, removing trees from a rainforest--you are likely to alter other elements as well, more often than not for the worse. His lively entries cover the basic chemistry of air, the usefulness of bacteria (from which, Callenbach reminds us, all life forms descended), the ecosystemic effects of industrial pollution, and the principles of sustainable city design--all in the space of 150 pages. This slender, well-written volume serves as a welcome brush-up course for environmental activists and as an introduction for beginning students of the ways of the physical world. --Gregory McNamee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An environmental science program would do well to put this volume into the hands of each student and teacher."--Nsta Recommends

"Each entry is a small gem. . . . Callenbach's short essays are enjoyable and thought-provoking reading."--Science Scope

"Enjoyable and thought-provoking."--Science Teacher

"Lively compact book. . . . A dynamic web of ideas that can be entered at any point or read straight through."--Life After 50

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (September 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520257197
• ISBN-13: 978-0520257191
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it., January 18, 2012

By 

Terry A. Johnson "reptilist" (Clifton, az United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ecology: A Pocket Guide, Revised and Expanded (Paperback)

I enjoyed this little primer very much. It touches on various terms heard bandied about these days and gives insight as to what is really meant or implied. It is a not a complex text book, it is a small reference paperback that refreshes basic concepts in ecological thought. I appreciated the progressive thinking behind each chapter's expression.

1 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great, February 15, 2010

By 

C. Prober - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ecology: A Pocket Guide, Revised and Expanded (Paperback)

Book was sent quickly and was in great condition. Would do bussiness with this business/person again.

1 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars arrived in perfect condition, February 18, 2009

By 

Chuck Bell - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ecology: A Pocket Guide (Paperback)

This book arrived in perfect condition and right on time. I was very happy with the overall experience of this transaction and will certainly conduct business in the future with this seller.