The Southwest Inside Out: An Illustrated Guide to the Land and Its History [Paperback]

Thomas Wiewandt (Author), Maureen Wilks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

NATURAL WONDERS EXPLORED AND EXPLAINED . . . an authoritative, user-friendly guide to awe-inspiring landscapes of the Greater Southwest (desert and canyon country of southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico, western Texas, Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado). Lavishly illustrated with 315 color photographs, 33 illustrations, and 7 maps, including a customized 15"x 20" tear-out road map. The text blends travel tips, Native American legends, prehistoric and historic vignettes, and non-technical explanations of earthly processes and events that have shaped the land, people, and wildlife. Included are attractions as familiar as the Grand Canyon and those as unfamiliar as musical dunes and dinosaur tracks.

The writing is informative without being academic, suitable for all adults and students in junior high and up. And the back-matter is packed with resources to help outdoor adventure-seekers plan their trips: 136 helpful websites, annotated listings for 63 books and 109 scenic attractions (including notable sites outside the parks), and a comprehensive index.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

With award-winning geologist Wilks, Wiewandt (Cactus Flowers, The Hidden Life of the Desert) continues to document the beauty of the Southwest through stunning color photographs and engaging text. Over 300 color photographs of such natural features as sand dunes, arches, and canyons along with the plants and the animals that inhabit the region are supplemented by a text that provides explanations on how many of these natural features were formed. Highlighted boxes contain interesting facts about the region (e.g., flood of the century, deepest canyon, and five types of volcanoes). An annotated bibliography, a 12-page annotated list of parks and other notable geological sites, several maps, and a list of web sites are provided for travelers (to view sample pages go to www.wildhorizons.com). Useful for the student as well as the tourist, this illustrated guide is highly recommended for all public libraries. John McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

". . . a labor of love that took more than 12 years to produce. And the quality shows." -- Albuquerque Journal, December 20,2001

". . . travel tips, legends, history, prehistory, ecology, and geology in an enticing blend that is always interesting, always eye-catching." -- LAPIDARY JOURNAL, June 2001

". . . visual delight and encyclopedic treasure, even for veteran desert dwellers accustomed to first-rate natural histories and Arizona Highways photography." -- TUCSON WEEKLY, Oct. 4, 2001

"The authors have a pleasing knack for presenting surprising information . . . . useful to travelers . . . a stunning visual delight." -- THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, August 12, 2001

"Useful for the student as well as the tourist, this illustrated guide is highly recommended for all public libraries." -- LIBRARY JOURNAL, Sept. 1, 2001

"[For] an introduction to the real Southwest . . .[it's] probably one of the best books . . . published in many years." -- Top Picks for Southwest Books of the Year 2001, December 14, 2001

A new take on the Southwest...a breath of fresh air...a steal at $24.95. -- The Independent, Gallup, NM, 30 May 30 2001

The authors have a pleasing knack for presenting surprising information.... useful to travelers...a stunning visual delight. -- The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 August 2001

Useful for the student as well as the tourist, this illustrated guide is highly recommended for all public libraries. -- Library Journal, 1 September 2001

[T]ravel tips, legends, history, prehistory, ecology, and geology in an enticing blend that is always interesting, always eye-catching. -- Lapidary Journal, June 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Pr; First Edition edition (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879728036
• ISBN-13: 978-1879728035
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,084,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive book, but-----, March 6, 2002

By 

Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Southwest Inside Out: An Illustrated Guide to the Land and Its History (Paperback)

As one who finds the Southwest, particularly the Colorado Plateau, to be the most beautiful, thought-provoking, and inspiring place on Earth, I purchased this book with a great deal of anticipation. A cursory review at the Arches N.P bookstore revealed that the photography was excellent, even sublime. The collection of photographs avoids the trite, road tourist views in good measure, and presents the topics from a fresh, seldom-visualized viewpoint. The sections on slot canyons, hoodoos, and natural bridges were particularly entertaining.
The textual treatment was less impressive, dwelling in most part on fundamental things any roadie would glimpse. I would have preferred a more detailed discussion on the "why" of the formations and features. So far as gaining a deep understanding of what has made the Southwest the world's premier geological wonderland, other books may be more appropriate.
This being said, I was nonetheless enchanted by the book. I have visited every national park, most of the national monuments, and many of the out-of-the way marvels. So have the book's authors and I am impressed with their care of the subject. Especially for the first-time visitor to the Southwest, I would count the book an essential read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Art and science come together...., April 9, 2003

By 

Thomas F. Mcguire (Cave Creek, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Southwest Inside Out: An Illustrated Guide to the Land and Its History (Paperback)

Very few books offer the balance of stunning photography of our glorious land with creative layout and insights into the natural sciences, especially the Earth sciences. In the past few years, as a native of the east, I have used this book to help me explore the magnificent landscapes of my new home. Mr. Wiewandt and Ms. Wilks have captured the beauty of this region in a book that is truly unique. As a souvenir of the heart of the "desert" southwest and as a planning resource for the inquiring travel, this book excels.

Thomas McGuire
Earth Science Author & Educator
Cave Creek, AZ

"If we intend to live on this planet...
we truly need to understand how it works."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great multidimensional overview of the Southwest, January 21, 2006

By 

S. J. Snyder "De gustibus non disputandum" (Various, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Southwest Inside Out: An Illustrated Guide to the Land and Its History, 2004 Edition (Paperback)

This is a great mix of fantastic photography and well-themed chapters on a variety of subjects, that can be informative for anybody from a first-time visitor to a long-term resident or even a native.

For example, there's a welter of geological information on types of rocks and rock formations, how bajadas, sand dunes and other formations are created, and more. Along with that is climatolgical and geographic information on the different deserts, and subdeserts within the Sonoran, in this country.

Elsewhere, you get information in brief on the location of the different prehistoric Indian inhabitants, dinosaur and other fossils in the area, and yet more on canyon. rock and other formations.

A good coffee-table type book.