Sierra Nevada Natural History (California Natural History Guides) (Turtleback)

~ (Author), Robert L. Usinger (Author), David Lukas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Over 750 easily understandable (for the lay reader) yet scientifically accurate descriptions are accompanied by excellent drawings and a section of 24 color plates. -- American Scientist --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

The magnificent and much-loved Sierra Nevada, called the "Range of Light" by John Muir, is the dominant feature on the California landscape. First published forty years ago, this handbook has become an enduring natural history classic, used by thousands to learn more about virtually every aspect of this spectacular mountain range--from its superb flora and fauna to its rugged topography. Comprehensive yet concise and portable, the book describes hundreds of species: trees and shrubs, flowering plants and ferns, fungi and lichens, insects and fish, amphibians and reptiles, and birds and mammals. Now completely updated and revised, it will continue to be the essential guide to the Sierra Nevada for a new generation of hikers, campers, tourists, naturalists, students, and teachers--everyone who wants to know more about this unique and beautiful mountain range.
* Describes more than 750 of the species most likely to be encountered with more than 500 new color photographs and 218 detailed black-and-white drawings
* Includes engaging and accessible introductory sections on Sierra Nevada topography, climate, geological history, and human history
* The compact, updated species accounts make identification easy, provide informative remarks on ecology and life history, and note which species are threatened or endangered

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Product Details

• Turtleback: 592 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 2 edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520240960
• ISBN-13: 978-0520240964
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #293,043 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Classic, May 23, 2000

By	Paul Galioni "pgalioni" (Susanville/Nevada City, CA, USofA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sierra Nevada Natural History: An Illustrated Handbook (Paperback)

This is the book that took me through too many nights, and early morning units of biology and on into my Masters Studies. A quick reference book that has most of your common everythings on it -- it gets you into a ballpark and usually that is close enough for almost everyone. Plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, insects --- it is all here in one place and the big bonus is that it weighs about 300 pounds less than a set of professional reference books. If I could take only one book with me camping or hiking in the Sierra, this would be the one. And don't forget your 5x and 10x Loupes.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful guide, November 9, 2006

By	J. Parks - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bought this book for some friends, and they've gotten quite a bit of use out of it for identifying trees and wildlife in the numerous parks in the Sierra Nevada near where they live. Sounds like a winner to me.

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, September 1, 2009

By	D. Rubitski "goldentexture" (CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book arrived in good timing and in very good condition. Price was awesome and great for my college course