The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Working in his garden one day, Michael Pollan hit pay dirt in the form of an idea: do plants, he wondered, use humans as much as we use them? While the question is not entirely original, the way Pollan examines this complex coevolution by looking at the natural world from the perspective of plants is unique. The result is a fascinating and engaging look at the true nature of domestication.

In making his point, Pollan focuses on the relationship between humans and four specific plants: apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. He uses the history of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) to illustrate how both the apple's sweetness and its role in the production of alcoholic cider made it appealing to settlers moving west, thus greatly expanding the plant's range. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that "modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop." The tulipomania of 17th-century Holland is a backdrop for his examination of the role the tulip's beauty played in wildly influencing human behavior to both the benefit and detriment of the plant (the markings that made the tulip so attractive to the Dutch were actually caused by a virus). His excellent discussion of the potato combines a history of the plant with a prime example of how biotechnology is changing our relationship to nature. As part of his research, Pollan visited the Monsanto company headquarters and planted some of their NewLeaf brand potatoes in his garden--seeds that had been genetically engineered to produce their own insecticide. Though they worked as advertised, he made some startling discoveries, primarily that the NewLeaf plants themselves are registered as a pesticide by the EPA and that federal law prohibits anyone from reaping more than one crop per seed packet. And in a interesting aside, he explains how a global desire for consistently perfect French fries contributes to both damaging monoculture and the genetic engineering necessary to support it.

Pollan has read widely on the subject and elegantly combines literary, historical, philosophical, and scientific references with engaging anecdotes, giving readers much to ponder while weeding their gardens. --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

Every schoolchild learns about the mutually beneficial dance of honeybees and flowers: The bee collects nectar and pollen to make honey and, in the process, spreads the flowers’ genes far and wide. In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan ingeniously demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a similarly reciprocal relationship. He masterfully links four fundamental human desires—sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control—with the plants that satisfy them: the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato. In telling the stories of four familiar species, Pollan illustrates how the plants have evolved to satisfy humankind’s most basic yearnings. And just as we’ve benefited from these plants, we have also done well by them. So who is really domesticating whom?

Customer Reviews:

A Fascinating Read.......2007-10-07

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan challenges the notion that mankind can control the natural world, subjugating plants to the will of the gardener. Through a discussion of four plants closely associated with human cultivation: apple, tulip, marijuana, and potato, Pollan demonstrates that organisms which possess traits desirable to the gardener have been able manipulate humans to cultivate them. Each plant has a different strategy for assuring that humans will continue to include it in their gardens. The apple, for example, is an extremely diverse species whose seeds contain millions of possible variations of both the fruit produced and the tree itself. Whether one is looking to make hard cider or munch on a crisp green fruit, the apple tree has the genetic code to produce the fruit humans look for.
In The Botany of Desire, Pollan focuses on the four plants mentioned above, placing each plant in a category, and explains how plants within that category possess characteristics which make them desirable to humans. The apple and other fruits appeal to our sense of taste, and, if fermented, our desire for inebriation. The tulip appeals to mankind's sense of beauty; marijuana, our desire to achieve an altered state of mind; the potato our need for nourishment and desire to genetically engineer crops. In short, each of these plants is successful in an evolutionary sense because it causes us to cultivate it.
Although Pollan's book is an intriguing read, I found it unsettling that he often rattles off facts and figures without citing a direct source, such as the assertion on page 219: "a potato farmer in Idaho spends roughly $1,950 an acre (mainly on chemicals, electricity and water)." Pollan does include a few pages of sources in the back of his book, but he could make a stronger argument that would stand up to academic scrutiny with the addition of endnotes.
In addition to a vast amount of research and traveling prior to writing this book, Pollan makes The Botany of Desire a quality literary work by using recurring themes to tie the four parts of the book together. Through returning to his garden at many points over the course of the book, Pollan is able to tie all four of his subjects into a common space. Approaching the reader as a fellow gardener gives him or her a sense of connection to Pollan and his garden. By the end of the book, I felt as though I knew Michael Pollan and his garden intimately. Another example of this continuity is Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. Dionysus appears in both chapters one and three, were Pollan relates him to cider, Johnny Appleseed, and mind-altering substances.
Overall, Pollan's clear style and journalistic narrative flows easily and keeps the reader entertained throughout the book. He makes effective use of descriptive details and personal experiences to relate to the reader as he argues his theme of plants manipulating humans to include them in their gardens. The Botany of Desire is a must read for anyone interested in how plants we encounter on a daily basis cause us to cultivate them around the globe.

Too much information.......2007-09-16

Started out liking the chapter on Apples, less the next and so on. It seemed like I was getting the same story in each chapter only more elaborate and wordy.

Just buy this book........................2007-09-05

I am not a botanist.Yet. But the study of evolution is quite an exciting journey, made more exciting by the mind melting,eloquent ideas posed by Mr. Pollan. Bought the audio book version, and I can't stop listining to it. From the story of Johnyy Appleseed, to Holland in search of the history of Tulips, the Amazing Marijuana Plant, and the control of the Potato. Seemed random to me. Not any more. Incredible book.

We are the world.......2007-08-31

Pollan's book is a vivid reminder of how intricately human society is woven into the ecological framework of the planet and in particular that of plants. His descriptions of how our societies have affected and been affected by just four plants opens up a series of thought-provoking questions to mull over the next time you find yourself in a garden, at the dinner table, or taking a walk outdoors. It's written with sensitivity towards those he disagrees with, and this gentle touch makes the story he's relating much more effective at prompting you as reader to engage. The weakest part of the book is the chapter on Tulips, but that is hard to criticize since the chapters on apples, marijuana and potatoes are so good.

Read this Book!

human psychology in the garden.......2007-08-02

Human psychology from the plant's perspective? Yep. That's precisely the topic of this book. When our ancestors began breeding plants to serve our desires they inevitably laid those desires bare in the phenotypes in their gardens. Pollan is impressively aware of many current themes in evolutionary biology (e.g., the function of sexual reproduction), and admirably willing to tell a story with the patience and breadth it deserves (hence four 100-page chapters instead of the usual one hundred, A.D.D. 4-page chapters). This book is not for everyone, but if you have intellectual curiosity about why some plants have come to dominate our world, this book will give you many answers and even more tools. There's nothing better I can say about a book.

Average customer rating:

A "MUST HAVE" for any Botanical Art Enthusiast or Artist

Complete Book Of Fruits & Vegetables
Francesco Bianchini , and Marilena Pistoia
Manufacturer: Crown Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517520338
Release Date: 1985-06-05

Customer Reviews:

A "MUST HAVE" for any Botanical Art Enthusiast or Artist.......2002-11-26

This book, illustrated by Marilena Pistoia, is an invaluable addition to the library of botanical artists or lovers of botanical art. There are 110 paintings depicting 400 plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices...all beautifully painted and reproduced. Some of the fruits are so realistic they almost make your mouth water.

The composition and combinations of the fruits and vegetables used in the individual paintings is very imaginative and complimentary in shape, form and colors.

Book Description

Biochemistry Molecular Biology of Plants is a major contribution to the plant sciences literature, superbly edited by three distinguished scientists, Bob B. Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem, and Russell L. Jones, with contributions from more than 50 world-renowned scientists. With over 1,400 pages, 1,100 full-colour original drawings and 500 photographs this work qualifies, in the words of the Science reviewer, as:

"an essential reference for practicing plant biologists and for the increasing number of scientists from other disciplines who are entering the field of plant biology. To exploit fully the wealth of new information provided by the genome projects and to integrate the metabolic, regulatory, and signal transduction pathways of complex organisms, biologists will require a solid command of biochemistry and physiology. For this reason, the publication of Biochemistry Molecular Biology of Plants could not have come at a more opportune and auspicious time."

This book is meticulously organised and richly illustrated, useful both for teaching and for reference. The multi-authored work provides a contemporary view of its subject, including molecular biology, cell biology, and plant physiology, integrated around the themes of:

compartmentation
cell reproduction
energetics
metabolism
development

Read the words of the reviewer in CELL:

"The great strength of this book is that it has integrated its three major components (molecular biology, cell biology, and plant biochemistry) in each of the 24 chapters, resulting in a comprehensive analysis of a multitude of specific topics."

Who should buy this spectacular new text?

Plant biologists and scientists in related fields

Professors in departments of plant biology, plant biochemistry, plant physiology, and related fields

Graduate and upper-level undergraduate students of plant biology

Researchers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agribusiness industries

A CD-ROM of all illustrative matter in the book is available separately.

Customer Reviews:

love it.......2006-11-10

This book has the basis of Molecular and cell Biology that make you well armed. It has great pictures too. The biochemistry also is awesome, you'll find all the pathways you want. I even not gonna sell it after i graduate. I prefer keep it.

Best Plant Biol. book out there.......2005-11-17

I am a PhD candidate in Plant Sciences and I work with both applied and basic researchers who work on all aspects of plant biology/agriculture etc. Everyone I work with and myself included feel that this is the best single plant biology text. It is a few years old now so some of the mol. biology will be outdated, and a couple of examples have since been proven to be different than described in the book, but this is minor. This is for the adv. undergrad or graduate student and if you are a graduate student in plant biology you should have this book-it is very expensive, but nearly every post-doc/grad student I know has a copy. Get the hardcover it will hold up better.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants.......2004-03-26

Mr. !!!
>
> I am Brazilian and I am student of Post-Graduate in Agronomy, no conditions. I do like the books:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants
Author: Robert Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem, Russell L. Jones
(Paperback)
Usually ships in 1-2 weeks
Our Price: $124.95

However, I do not have acquire in the BRAZIL. Thus, I would like to know if you could help me, sending for me this books.
I thank your attention and I wait to be able to count on the your
contribution.

Yours truly,

Roberto Cunha

Street Address = Rua Dr. Milton Bandeira nº 34 ap 306
City- Viçosa
Province/State - MINAS GERAIS
Postal Code/Zip Code - 36570000
Country - BRAZIL
Evening Telephone Number - 0 31 31 38923607

Explanations not very comprehensive.......2003-07-15

The text covers a wide variety of plant molecular biology which is convienent. However the explanations are often very vague and do not connect with each other. When reading a paragraph you are often left with unanswered questions and the next paragraph may not connect with the previous paragraph at all. Not at all recommended for the beginner or undergraduate.

Comprehensive.......2001-10-12

This text book is astoundingly comprehensive. It covers all aspects of plant biochemistry and is written for the advanced undergraduate or graduate student. Great resource as reference material.

American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants

Average customer rating:

Just what I was looking for
American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
A must for any gardener
Great housewarming gift!
American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia

American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
Christopher Brickell
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)
American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening
American Horticultural Society Pests and Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying and Treating Plant Problems
American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques
American Horticultural Society Pruning & Training (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)

ASIN: 0789419432

Amazon.com

Collecting contributions from 100 distinguished horticulturists, the handsome and lavishly illustrated American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is a truly definitive gardening reference. With its 1,092 tiny-print pages, this may not be the book to tuck into your pocket as you weed and mulch, but what this encyclopedia lacks in portability, it certainly makes up for in scope. Hardy and tender plants, heirloom varieties and the latest hybrids--they're all accounted for here, with growing tips and background information about native habitats and ornamental features. You'll also find a fascinating section about botany, as well as information about basic gardening techniques such as mulching, staking, pruning, propagating, and protecting plants for winter. But the encyclopedia's main attraction is the individual plant entries--more than 15,000 of them, embellished with 6,000 full-color photographs and illustrations. From the visual glossary of leaves to the map of growing regions, The American Horticultural Society A-Z of Garden Plants provides an unsurpassed wealth of botanical information, making it the yardstick by which all other gardening references must be measured.

Book Description

More than 15,000 plants in 6,000 photographs and illustrations.

The AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is the most comprehensive, detailed, and lavishly illustrated guide to garden plants ever published. With authoritative coverage of more than 15,000 ornamental plants, accompanied by nearly 6,000 full-color photographs, it is destined to become the essential reference work for all gardeners, from novice to expert. Plants are arranged alphabetically by their botanical names for fast, straightforward access. All names are completely up to date, and previous names (synonyms) appear as cross-references throughout. Any plant can be located quickly, even if the current botanical name is unfamiliar or not known. Detailed plant profiles, prepared by an international team of more than 40 expert contributors, describe growth habit, leaf and flower anatomy, plant height and spread, geographical origin, and hardiness. A concise introduction to each genus provides essential details of botanical family, native habitat, number of species, and the ornamental qualities for which the plants are grown, together with succinct advice on cultivation, propagation, and pests and diseases. Specially commissioned photographs closely integrated with the plant descriptions, capture the beauty of nearly 6,000 plants. The full diversity of growth habits within a genus is shown wherever possible, and special close-up panels illustrate the range of flower colors and shapes. A comprehensive introduction and glossary guide beginners and experienced gardeners alike to a greater knowledge and understanding of the key elements of plant classification, anatomy, and cultivation.

Customer Reviews:

Just what I was looking for.......2007-08-23

I am very pleased with my choice of many horticultural books that are on the market. It has all of the information that I was looking for and more. Yes, it is pretty hard to haul around the garden, but worth it!

American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.......2007-08-10

I just purchased 3 more of this book because it is so complete and great that my 3 children keep borrowing mine.

A must for any gardener.......2007-07-15

I had been admiring this book at my local library for quite a while and was surprised to see it offered through Amazon at a great price. This book has wonderful photos of each plant (and species) as well as detailed information, which makes identifying plants so much easier than with any other gardening book out there. If there is one draw back, it would have to be the weight. With over 1100 pages, it is not a book to carry around the garden.

Great housewarming gift!.......2007-03-24

This book works best if paired with The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Each book stands on it's own but the two together give total information and abundant photos. I bought one set for new homeowners about to plan their first yard and bought another set for myself. Even after gardening for many years, these books provide answers to questions that come up every gardening season.
The books are substantial in weight as well as information.

American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia.......2007-01-12

This is an excellent source of information about plants and the photographs are wonderful.

The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California

Average customer rating:

The Best Technical Review of California Plants
Good Reference and Learning Guide
Not for the uninitiated
Excellent, but not for beginners
from what i've seen of this book i would like to buy one.

The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California

Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary
The Jepson Desert Manual: Vascular Plants of Southeastern California
Grasses in California (California Natural History Guides)
Trees and Shrubs of California (California Natural History Guides)
The Ecology of Plants, Second Edition

ASIN: 0520082559

Book Description

First published in 1925, Willis Linn Jepson's Manual of the Flowering Plants of California has been a standard reference for teachers, students, and naturalists. Since that time, hundreds of new species have been identified and botanical investigation has become more sophisticated. Now Jepson's philosophy of making such information available to all is again realized in this new volume, which includes a wealth of material accumulated over the past decades.
With contributions from two hundred botanists across North America, this is the most comprehensive resource and identification guide to nearly eight thousand varieties of native and naturalized California plants. The means to identify plants (using key traits and illustrations) is accompanied by special information such as horticultural requirements, endangerment, toxicity, weed status, and notes on the management of sensitive species. Identification keys have been designed for ease of use, and terms have been simplified and illustrated, making the new Manual the most authoritative field guide for the expert and amateur alike.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Technical Review of California Plants.......2003-03-06

There is no easy way to identify a plant to species, but if it is in California it is far easier to use this volume than the others. Although it was written in 1925, the line drawings are for me priceless. Be advised that names change in 75 years even if plants do not, you will need a modern flora to reference the old name. HIGHLY recommended, but technical.

Good Reference and Learning Guide.......2002-04-29

This is an excellent guide. Very comprehensive, however you must have formal education in botany and plant ID in order to effectively use the guide to key plants to genus and or species. Not recommended for the average person. Just people who are plant nerds!

Not for the uninitiated.......2001-01-13

This book is an excellent botanical key listing a huge number of plants. It is not your average "audubon" guide, since it requires you to key out the plant in question using botanical systematics. Definitely a good reference book, but hard to use casually to find out what that tree is in your front yard!

Excellent, but not for beginners.......2000-07-15

This is an excellent book covering thousands of species of flowering plants of California. The book does contain a brief introduction to keying plants and a glossary of plant terms, but despite these features, I believe that the beginner would find this book difficult to use. It's size and complexity can be intimidating, and without color pictures (which aren't always accurate, but helpful for the beginner) it can be a frustrating experience for the novice.

from what i've seen of this book i would like to buy one........1998-11-11

I really haven't had a chance to read this book, but what I've seen so far it is very informative. I work for USDA FOREST SERVICE and this book is here at work. The problem is I would like to have one of my own, so I'm now in the process of looking for it at our book store in town. If they do not have it, possibly they could order it for me. If not I will travel to the next larger town to accomplish my mission. I will get this book one way or another.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region (Eastern)

Average customer rating:

Great Guide that is ALMOST Perfect
helpful
Great Book
Information Packed
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region (Eastern)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region (Eastern)
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field Guide)
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The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (Audubon Society Field Guide)

ASIN: 0394507606
Release Date: 1980-05-12

Amazon.com

For the untrained observer, it can be quite a challenge to sort out the many trees that make up a stand of older forest in, say, New England or the Ozarks. This well-illustrated guidebook, covering 364 species, comes to the rescue with photographs organized in several ways: by, for example, the shape of the leaf or needle, by the fruit, by the flower or cone, and by autumn coloration. Following one visible characteristic or another, the reader can narrow the range of possibilities, then turn to an informative text that describes a tree's physical characteristics, habitat, and range. Many of the species covered are relatively rare, such as the "stinking cedar" of the Georgia-Florida border; others are locally abundant, such as the paper birch of the boreal forest, used to make ice-cream sticks; still others, such as the smooth sumac, are widespread. The guidebook also covers ornamentals introduced from other continents, such as the Chinese privet and Mahaleb cherry. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Tree peepers everywhere will enjoy these two guides which explore the incredible environment of our country's forests-including seasonal features, habitat, range, and lore. Nearly 700 species of trees are detailed in photographs of leaf shape, bark, flowers, fruit, and fall leaves -- all can be quickly accessed making this the ideal field guide for any time of year.

Note: the Eastern Edition generally covers states east of the Rocky Mountains, while the Western Edition covers the Rocky Mountain range and all the states to the west of it.

Customer Reviews:

Great Guide that is ALMOST Perfect.......2007-08-18

I have always liked the Audubon Society Field Guides. This particular guide is great in the amount of color photos for sometimes easily identifying species in all seasons, whether from the fall leaves, bark, summer leaves, and the fruit it produces. Also the organization of the guide is very good. My cons below are NOT enough to prevent me from recommending this guide. Compared to other guides it's still the best.

CONS: The amount of information in the back is not always consistent. Also there still isn't always an easy way to differentiate some of the similar species (e.g. Oaks). In other words the pictures and/or the descriptions are not enough to distinguish like species.

helpful.......2007-07-03

Very much help for figuring out what trees we have and we have a lot. Pictures are very nice and cross reference if you aren't totally sure of what you are looking at. Very handy size too

Great Book.......2007-06-27

Every tree and every leaf that you can think of is in this book. Great clear pictures and the information is great. So glad I purchased this book for my husband. The equivalant to bird watching. Tree watching.

Information Packed.......2007-05-17

My new hobby is woodturning bowls so I bought this book to help me identify trees that supply my wood. Once I learned how to search the material, this book has been great fun and very useful. I take it with me when I walk my dog around the neighborhood to identify trees.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region (Eastern).......2007-02-04

Product received in great condition and very useful.

Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary

Average customer rating:

Very helpful, clear, and concise
Must have for anyone interested in botany/biology
Good resource for Botany students
Great Book
Just what i needed

Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary
James G. Harris , and Melinda Woolf Harris
Manufacturer: Spring Lake Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification
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ASIN: 0964022168

Book Description

Plant identification employs an extensive and complex terminology. Professional botanists often need several years in the field to master this terminology, and it presents a daunting obstacle to the student of botany.

The meaning of most botanical terms, however, is immediately apparent when an illustration is available. That is the purpose of this volume. Plant Identification Terminology provides over nineteen hundred clear illustrations of terms used in plant identification keys and descriptions. It also includes definitions for more than twenty-seven hundred taxonomic terms.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful, clear, and concise.......2007-09-07

This book is extremely useful for looking up strange botanical terms. It has definitely come in handy in my Taxonomy of Flowering Plants class. I definitely recommend it.

Must have for anyone interested in botany/biology.......2007-04-16

I work as a biologist, and this book is a must have for anyone who is interested in plants. Professionals or amateur botanists/biologists who have to key plants out need to own this handy desk reference.

Good resource for Botany students.......2007-03-24

This glossary is a very good aid for Botany classes especially if keying (identifying) plants. Keying is tough even when a professor is standing there telling you what the miriad of terms mean. A large research paper was made much simpler with this book. One problem arises in the fact that many botanists have different definitions for the same term, so at times glossaries need to be tailored to specific scientists.

Great Book.......2007-03-03

I wish I had this when I first started learning about plant identification. It is much easier to understand the native tongue when have an idea of a taxonomists lexicon. Nearly every entry in the 'plant dictionary' has a nice clear illustration further helping the reader. Plant ID is not easy, but better to go into it prepared with this sort of tool.

Just what i needed.......2007-02-07

it was the exact book a needed for class and looked and worked great.

Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification

Average customer rating:

Excellent Resource!
botany in several months
Fantastic
Wonderful book for intuitive understanding of the subject
Teaches the patterns method of plant identification

Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification
Thomas J. Elpel
Manufacturer: HOPS Press, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary
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ASIN: 1892784157

Book Description

Looking for a faster, easier, and fun way to identify plants? Botany in a Day teaches you the patterns method of plant identification, so that you can discover the wonderful world of plants around you, wherever you go.

Instead of trying to identify plants one-at-a-time, Botany in a Day give you a way to learn them by the hundreds, based on the principle that related plants have similar patterns for indentification, and they often have similar uses.

The one-day tutorial included in the text teaches you seven key patterns to recognize more than 45,000 species of plants worldwide. Master these seven patterns and you will be ready to use the included reference guide--Thomas J. Elpel's Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families of North America. Here you will find the patterns for indentification and the patterns of uses for the majority of plants across the continent.

Botany in a Day is used as a guide by thousands of individuals, plus herbal schools and universities across North America.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource!.......2007-10-01

Botany in a Day provides an excellent overview to field botany. By learning plant characteristics by family, the reader can more quickly identify their plant by identifying the patterns each plant family presents. The book provides a page or two (or more!) on dozens of the most common families in the northern half of the US. Each plant family section contains additional information about the plant genera represented in this family. The keys to plant families allow the reader to quickly determine what section to turn to. This book is best coupled with a plant field guide to individual species that is grouped by family. You can use the Botany in a Day information to narrow your selection to the family and the field guide to identify the specific species.

I highly recommend this book to both lay and professional people who work with plants.

botany in several months.......2007-03-16

This book lays out the general approach through which a beginner can make sense of the vast amount of information he or she faces in learning botany. I found it most helpful.

Fantastic.......2006-07-19

Take a really dry subject and turn it into a book I couldn't put down!

Tom Elpel's style is right on target and his book is turning into a constant companion for my outings!

Wonderful book for intuitive understanding of the subject.......2006-04-09

In the opening chapter, this book presents a wonderful simplified story of the evolution of plants, from a single cell to modern complex flowers. Both children and adults can gain a unique, intuitive understanding of this process from this explanation. My compliments to the author. He describes each plant family with interesting anecdotes and high quality line drawings. It's the first plant book whose lack of photographs didn't matter. Great tips for identifying families and individual plants have helped me enormously. Bravo!

Teaches the patterns method of plant identification.......2004-12-09

Any interested in plant identification should consider Botany In A Day: The Patterns Method Of Plant Identification as an important guide. Thomas Elpel (Director of Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School, Pony, Montana) deftly teaches the patterns method of plant identification, providing a method for learning about groupings of plants based on the idea that related plants have similar patterns for identification, and similar uses. Black and white line drawings accompany descriptions of different plant families and their identification processes.

Average customer rating:

Very good but also accessible
Excellent!
Great reference book with lots of nice photos

Plant Biology
Linda E. Graham , Jim M. Graham , and Lee W. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0130303712

Book Description

This book focuses readers on the function of plants and the role they play in our world. The authors emphasize the scientific method to help readers develop the critical thinking skills they need to make sound decisions throughout life. This focus on how plants work and the development of critical thinking skills together support the ultimate goal of developing scientific literacy. This book is organized around the themes of DNA science, global ecology, and evolution. The key concepts discussed in the book are molecules, cells and microbes; plant structure and reproduction; and, plant diversity and the environment. For anyone interested in botany (plant biology).

Customer Reviews:

Very good but also accessible.......2005-12-21

Well written - a very clear and good account of plant biology and the various concepts involved. Very good illustrations. I'm pleased to say that the chemistry aspect of plant biology is not as overwhelming (or as heavily emphasized) as it can be in some books, that are of a comparable educational level.

Excellent!.......2004-11-18

OK, so I may be a little biased, but I took Linda Graham's general botany class last year, in which this book is followed to the letter. Although I didn't read the book thoroughly, Professor Graham's lectures covered everything in it. I enjoyed learning the material in this book, as is covers a wide spectrum of things about plants. Although the last couple of chapters (dealing with conservation of resources, etc.) were a bit tedious at times (since it's all stuff that has been pounded into our heads for years), the rest of the book is excellent. A nice blend of pictures, examples, and explanations.

Great reference book with lots of nice photos.......2003-07-31

I've known many biology textbooks, but this has the nicest and best photos you could ever find. Though this book mainly aims for non-majors, I, a botany graduate student, still find it very useful and informative. Highly recommend this for people who want to know about general plant biology, but have been intimidated by heavy, thick textbooks.

Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology Series: Lasers and Lights: Volume 2: Text with DVD (Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology)

Average customer rating:

Lost order!!!
THE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT PROCEDURES

Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology Series: Lasers and Lights: Volume 2: Text with DVD (Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology)
David Goldberg
Manufacturer: Saunders
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416023879

Book Description

Introducing a new title in the Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology Series! This breakthrough reference presents up-to-the-minute, practical guidance on the use of lasers for skin rejuvenation, resurfacing, and hair removaledited by one of the top laser surgeons in the world, Dr. David Goldberg. Succinctly written and lavishly illustrated, this resource focuses on procedural how to's and offers step-by-step guidance on proper techniques, pitfalls, and tricks of the trade. An accompanying DVD shows clips of key techniques so readers can implement the newest procedures into their practice immediately.

Customer Reviews:

Lost order!!!.......2007-05-31

I have ordered 5 books on one setting. I have received 4 of them in 2 different shipments, but the last one is lost out there somewhere.(I was told that it would arrive before 23/5/07) I tried to track down where my order is but failed to locate it, any help that you guys can offer?
The above comment applies to Volume 2 of the Procedures series which I am yet to receive.

THE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT PROCEDURES.......2007-02-17

Cosmetic surgery laser books are a dime a dozen. This does not apply to this book. Its marvelous.

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