Customer Reviews

Natural Wonders of the Jersey Pines and Shore

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I am very grateful to see a book of this caliber published, showing the side of Southern New Jersey that I have known and loved for my entire life. The photographs are marvelous, and
the book is a great ambassador for the area!

Bob made me homesick for crabbing in Motts Creek, walking through the fall colors of Batsto and summer night drives from Egg Harbor City to Sweetwater.

I may not agree with Mr. Petersons' idealistic views of our founding fathers I do agree there is more to living in New Jersey then the view from Newark airport has to offer and think he did a incredible job in expressing his passion for his home state.

I would highly recommend this beautiful book to anyone who grew up in Southern New Jersey. If you have moved out of state as I have and people tell you how they "were in Jersey once" and preceed to tell you what a cesspool they thought it was because they landed in Newark you can whip out this book and say "Yo, This is where I GREW UP." It probably will not stop all the Soprano jokes or imitations of what they think people from Jersey sound like when they speak, but it will show them how beautiful South Jersey is in words as well as pictures.

Natural Wonders Of The Jersey Pines And Shores by the late educator, journalist, historian, and sportsman Robert A. Peterson (1956-2003) covers a diversity of topics drawn from the unique Pine Barrens and coastal ecosystems of New Jersey including the flora, fauna, geological formations, and natural forces of the area. Much of the material was adapted from his regular newspaper column in "The Egg Harbor News". The informed and informative text is wonderfully enhanced with the nature photography of Michael A. Hogan and Steve Greer. This posthumous publication of Robert Peterson's Natural Wonders Of The Jersey Pines And Shores is a welcome contribution by a gifted writer whose "insatiable curiosity about nature and history" make the New Jersey Pine Barrens and beaches a truly engaging read from beginning to end for the non-specialist general reader as well as the student of nature's ecosystems, as well as a welcome contribution to American Ecological Studies and Environmental Studies library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

As a frequent visitor to Southern New Jersey, I am always amazed and delighted by the wonderful scenery and history that can be enjoyed there. Reading "Natural Wonders of the Jersey Pines and Shore" has enhanced those perceptions and has added so much more to my depth of understanding about the area. Robert Peterson does a fantastic job both educating and entertaining the reader with all sorts of insights and stories which capture one's imagination. Beyond the text, however, some of the best parts of the book are the amazing photographs mainly taken by Michael Hogan (with some additonal photographs by Steve Greer.) Michael has done an outstanding job of photographing the varied topics in unique ways which allow the reader to enjoy each adventure with him, bringing the area to life even if you have never visited it yourself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves nature, photography or New Jersey!