Customer Reviews

Spectacular Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Spectacular National Parks)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I could have only one book about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, I would choose "Spectacular Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks." A striking, masterpiece of a book, its large format accommodates many panoramic photographs of outstanding compositional beauty and technical quality. The special features of five locations within Yellowstone, routes into Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park are well documented with essays and photographs. No ordinary coffee-table book, " Spectacular Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks" is exceptional for its substance. Well researched, the text is highly interesting and vividly written. Photographs, both historical and contemporary, are carefully selected to highlight, develop, and extend the written narrative. Of widely varying subject matter--vast landscapes, close-ups of thermal features, flora, and fauna among other aspects of the Ecosystem--photographs are remarkable for the number that are printed and for the rich documentation they provide. The significance of the Ecosystem for the relationship of humans and nature is made awesomely clear in this book. Photographs throughout the book make both the magnificent landscape and the presence of humans relating to the land immediate and tangible. This is a book for anyone who has seen Yellowstone or the Grand Teton National Parks and wants to re-experience the Parks in a deeper way. It is also a book for anyone who intends or hopes to experience the Parks and who wants to better understand their deep significance.

When I ordered "Spectacular Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks," I expected it to deliver superb photographs of park vistas, and it does. What really impressed me, however, is that the author went the second mile with terrific wildlife photos and with text that is well-written and well-researched. The text includes much historical background as well as commentary on the ecosystem by people who know what they are talking about.

I ordered this book soon after returning home from a visit to Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks. The book was prominently displayed in all the gift shops and hotels within the parks, but I didn't like the idea of having to cart this rather large book around and had no idea how I would pack it for the plane trip home. I guess I could have mailed it, but that would just have added to the fairly steep full-price the gift shops were already charging. I thought I might get a better price on Amazon and it would also solve my shipping problems. The online price was considerably less than retail and even better than I had hoped.

As I said, this book is big. It measures approximately 12x16 inches which makes the coffee table really the only place for it. It would really stick out on a bookshelf. The photographs inside are truly spectacular and need to be displayed in large landscape format. Many of the panoramic photos are folded over and once opened, extend well beyond the book's 12x16 inches. I am a photographer myself, so I have an appreciation for good photography. The images in this book are first-rate and would be proud to be author of any of them. The print quality is also excellent.

The book is well laid out with the text following a logical order documenting the history of the parks through to the present day. There are an abundance of maps, charts and other illustrations to compliment the narrative. I highly recommend this book.

The title of this book is fitting. Not only are the photos of the book wonderful and capture the many things offered by the parks, the book also provides wonderful information about the natural wonders.

I bought 2 books after visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National parks.
I have given one as a present to some friends that came from Sweeden to visit those 2 parks with us.
Each time I look inside the book it is as if I am transported back to those 2 fabulous parks.
You can buy this book inside the park but the cost is around $42.00

This book is very informative and has great pictures. I can not wait to visit Yellowstone now.

How could Yellowstone and the Tetons not be spectacular? They were in this book, but I was a little disappointed that the seller didn't let me know ahead of time that there were some minor publishing flaws. I didn't send the book back, and I would have bought it anyway at this reduced price, but I would have liked to know that there were a few creases on pages, etc.