Editorial Review

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.Read more

Reviews (125)

Readable copy and interesting hypothesis.
A long book on botany if you are up to it. For a more compact and lively study try The Story of the Apple.

An engaging piece of practical history

A Three Hundred Page Sleeping Pill
I was given three months to read this book, and each time I picked it up I threw it down in disgust.Between the none-stop Johnny Appleseed referances to the Collegian's Guide to Growing Pot, it is amazing I got through it.I am convinced he was once a Columbian drug lord. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. History    4. Human-plant relationships    5. Life Sciences - Botany    6. Nature    7. Plants    8. Plants - General    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Nature / Plants   

Reviews (22)

Northeast Weed Bible
This book is absolutely the best on weeds of the Northeast. This is a must forthe library of every gardener or landscaper. It is easily readable, yet has the depth for those who need greater information about the subject. Easily, the most practical format, and it has a detailed index for cross referencing between the common and taxonomic. It also includes a chart on grasses.

Usefull reference book for weeds
I am a member of the Master Gardeners of Harford Co. Maryland.
Answers to "what's this? what's that?" but not all of them
I love this book!I had to have my own copy after seeing one in use at the Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener booth at last year's 4-H Fair.It doesn't ID everything that I find growing around my property, of course, and I definitely agree with S.C. Watson's wishes for information on edibility and invasiveness.Still, this is a terrific book.
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Subjects:  1. Canada, Eastern    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Identification    5. Life Sciences - Botany    6. Nature    7. Northeastern States    8. Plants - General    9. Regional - General    10. Weeds    11. Horticulture    12. Northeastern & North Atlantic states    13. Pest control   

Reviews (6)

A lot of text but many unanswered questions
I take no issue with Christian Ratsch. He is a prolific writer and someone with influence in the world of ethnobotany. However, I want to write a valuable and honest review here. This book is enormous. I know of no other book worth buying that contains as many plants as this one (in relation to a mind enhancing context). In this regard, the book is highly valuable. There are also plenty of photos which give it an artistic quality.
All in one place.
Save time and research.This book is huge and packed.Has information on just about any natural drug source legal or not.This book is so big and packed full of information it would be hard to ever get tired of thumbing through this book.

Perfect
This book is absolutely essential for anyone interested in the topic of entheogens and their use/history. Buy it now! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Encyclopedias    4. Ethopharmacology    5. Healing - General    6. Herbal Medications    7. Life Sciences - Botany    8. Medical Anthropology    9. Nature    10. New Age    11. Pharmacodynamics    12. Plants - General    13. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    14. Psychotropic plants    15. Botany & plant sciences    16. Drug-induced states    17. Medical / Drug Guides    18. Pharmacology    19. Reference works   

Reviews (3)

Fantastic
Take a really dry subject and turn it into a book I couldn't put down!
Wonderful book for intuitive understanding of the subject
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
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.
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Subjects:  1. Flowers    2. Life Sciences - Botany    3. Nature    4. Nature / Plants    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Plants - General    7. Plants   

Reviews (7)

Native Plants of NE
Excellent book for those of us in the NE States and are gardeners. This book is particularly good for people moving into the area.

great resource
A local nursery owner had recommended this bood as a guide in helping me landscape my new yard. The information is great and the pictures are extremely helpful. It offers a lot of variety and not your everday-popular plants/shrubs. I'm looking forward to having things my neighbors don't even know about!

Well worth buying for native plant enthusiasts
This is alot more than a seed catalog read.I enjoyed the Professor's introduction, in which he shares a great deal about many plants in the book, his favorites, why, and how they work in his own garden.Not particularly applicable to me personally was a good deal of information on ecosystem types in the Northeast and wetland information.
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Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Native plant gardening    3. Native plants for cultivation    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Northeastern States    7. Plants - General    8. Regional - Canada    9. Regional - New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)    10. Nature / Plants    11. Nature   

Reviews (17)

Less than stellar
I was disappointed to find that there was no useful information contained therein. While the pictures were very well done there were no colloquial names to help identify species.

Good supplemental book
I own about a dozen mushroom books and have recently added this one to my collection. "Shooming" can be a dangerous pursuit and, like almost all are aware, absolute identification is required. I don't think I would personally feel competent with this book alone, nor any other for that matter. I feel there are better books but these are very heavy monstrosities. This one, like a few, can be carried into the field while the larger, more definitive guides await at home, or in the car. The pictures are good but I prefer a "Peterson Guide" type approach to indicate what, exactly, I should be looking for. My only other personal objection is that I prefer a guide that uses their Latin name since this knowledge will be more easily transferable from one book to another.
A poor choice
I purchased this book becase it said Audubon.Thus I expected much more than I received. I was hoping to identify a few mushrooms I had found in my area.After spending a great deal of time, I was able to identify none.There are far better pictures available in other books.For instance the picture of the Shaggy Mane does not look at all like the Shags I have collected and eaten.All in all, a waste of money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Fungi    3. Identification    4. Mushrooms    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. United States    8. Botany & plant sciences    9. Nature / Mushrooms    10. North America    11. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (1)

An excellent reference on native perennials
This A-Z encyclopedia features over 600 species of native plants for the American gardener. All of the plants included here are perennials which are available to purchase in nurseries and mail-order catalogs. This was the author's major criteria for inclusion and some popular plants were omitted because they are not easily obtainable in the trade.
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Subjects:  1. Flowering Plants (Angiospermae)    2. Flowers - Annuals    3. Flowers - Perennials    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Home Gardening    8. Native plant gardening    9. Native plants for cultivation    10. North America    11. Ornamental Plants    12. Plants - General    13. Reference    14. Botany & plant sciences    15. Gardening / Flowers / Perennials    16. Gardening: plants   

Subjects:  1. Floriculture    2. Flowering Plants (Angiospermae)    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Life Sciences - Horticulture    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Plants - General    8. Science    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Gardening: plants    11. Science / Botany   

Reviews (10)

Good book for setting up grow area
5 different gardens, from small to large, are profiled here.Many great ideas.Highly recommended.

Small book with some garden designs
Five easy gardens is what you are buying here and is exactly what you get to see. This book is suitable for anyone who wants to see how some other growers do it. Cervantes goes to Europe to interview and photograph growers. He then uses the information they give him to write a book about how they grow. Interesting.

Great for the small timer
Jorge Cervantes, Mel Frank and Ed Rosenthal to the literate (not quite stoned out of thier head smoker) these names should mean something, these three guys have not only writen books that have recieved international recognition but have grown crops that have won yearly at the Cannibis Cups, all you people who say you read and review High Times, please take a break from your swag stuff and do some reading.This book is full of info for the first timer and those who want to start and stay on a small scale, if you just want to know how to start this will get you there, but if you are going to hang with the big boys get off the porch and start studying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. House Plants & Indoor    5. Plants - General    6. Techniques    7. Drugs    8. Marijuana   

Subjects:  1. Botany (Specific Aspects)    2. General    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Plants - General    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Science / Botany    8. Seeds   

Reviews (1)

The moss "bible"
This is a very comprehensive set.This is a very useful key with invaluable drawings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. East (U.S.)    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Mosses    5. Mosses (Musci)    6. Nature    7. Plants - General    8. Botany & plant sciences    9. North America    10. Plant life: general    11. Reference works    12. Science / Botany   

Reviews (5)

A cute guide to trees for kids and parents alike...
My kids find the Fandex format easy to use, and the information on them accessible. We have several, and they're fun for all of us to use together. Disappointment
I was very disappointed with this "book."I felt the variety of trees found in this collection to be far too minimal.If you plan on learning about trees in the winter, good luck.The primary method for identification is based on leaves.Although you can identify trees based on bark, etc. it would take hours with this manual. Also, it is far to bulky and awkward to comfortably carry along on a hike.

a stroke of genius
I read a lot of field guides, and the format of this one is a stroke ofgenius.You match the leaf to the die cut leaves at the top of the"book" and you're well on your way.My kids also adore it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Identification    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Nature/Ecology    6. North America    7. Pictorial works    8. Science & Nature - Trees & Forests    9. Trees    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Forests & Trees   

Subjects:  1. 1830-1886    2. Botany    3. Catalogs and collections    4. Dickinson, Emily,    5. Flowers    6. Gardening    7. Knowledge    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Plants    11. Plants - General    12. Type specimens    13. Botany & plant sciences    14. English    15. Nature / Plants    16. Plant life: general    17. Poetry & poets: 19th century    18. USA   

Reviews (8)

an excellent text
This is an excellent introduction to plant pathology and the kind of book one tends to hold onto to use as a reference after finishing their coursework.I have known plenty of graduate students who've held onto their copies, and I've really never heard any serious criticisms of this book.The coverage is broad, and it will serve as a useful, interesting and highly readable reference for those with interests in bacteriology, virology, mycology, botany and a variety of other fields that overlap with aspects of plant pathology.Typically when I rate textbooks I am fairly harsh because the cost is generally high while contents often leave much to be desired.In my opinion this book is an exception, and I think the cost reasonably reflects the value of the information contained.

Gold standard for general phytopathology.
I have been out of Phytopathology since the fall of 1971.Over the years I have; from time to time; skimmed journals like Mycologia and Phytopathology.So the old urge came back and I bought this text on the recommendation of a friend.
Besttextbook on Plant Pathology
This is by far the best reference on the subject of Plant Pathology.It will be useful not only to plant pathologists, but to other plant scientists and biologists as well.George has done an excellent job in bringing his now famous textbook up to date.I have many books on Plant Pathology; this is by far the best.The fifth edition includes many new pictures and drawings to illustrate the concepts relating to diseases of plants.Plus many new sections dealing with the state-of-art of this science.George says this will probably be the last edition he will write.What a way to cap such an illustrious career! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Life Sciences - Anatomy & Physiology    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Plant diseases    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. Plant pathology & diseases    9. Science / Botany   

Subjects:  1. Acetic acid    2. Acetylcoenzyme A    3. Life Sciences - Biology - Microbiology    4. Metabolism    5. Microbial metabolism    6. Microorganisms    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Microbiology (non-medical)    10. Science / Zoology    11. Zoology & animal sciences   

Reviews (6)

Super book
Great reference book!Gives you all the information you need to propagate--nurserymen to laymen.

A book by a pro for the professional propagator
I propagated woody plants as a sideline business for a number of years and considered this book THE source.For many species, specific concentrations for rooting hormones are specified.This is invaluable information since for many plants there is an optimal concentration and using a higher or lower concentration of reduces rooting success rates as well as root development.

MichaelDirris the Absolute Expert in Plant Propagation
Dirr has done all the research and you reap all the rewards. Hisconclusions are backed up by many scientific studies by various individualsand groups.The first part gives a summary of the diferentpropagation methods and the second part has very detailed data on specificspecies.I save hundreds of dollars each year by propagating by ownsouthern magnolias, red tip photinas, and navel oranges.This is, byfar, the best book on propagation out there!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Horticultural Crops    4. Plants - General    5. Propagation    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Techniques    8. Trees    9. Woody plants    10. Agriculture & Farming   

Subjects:  1. Classification    2. Dicotyledons    3. Flowers    4. General    5. Life Sciences - Biology - General    6. Nature    7. Plants - General    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Botany & plant sciences    11. Science / Botany    12. biodiversity    13. plant taxonomy    14. systematic botany   

Reviews (17)

Not quite as good as the medicinal
The pictures aren't good enough to make identification easy.Good information if you have another book to identify the plants with.

perfect choice
As usual the Petersen Guide did not disappoint me. It's exactly what I wanted for plant identification

excellent reference
I have always had high regard for anything pertaining to Roger Tory Peterson, in regards to nature he is the best naturalist.
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Subjects:  1. Botany (Specific Aspects)    2. Canada, Eastern    3. East (U.S.)    4. General    5. Identification    6. Life Sciences - Botany    7. Middle West    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Plants - General    11. Reference    12. Wild plants, Edible    13. Botany & plant sciences    14. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    15. Nature / Plants   

Reviews (3)

Instant Guide to Trees
Real good drawings of tree leaves, needles and buds. Not any information on tree height (feet), bark or soil conpatibality. Good for beginners.

An Instant Guide toTrees
When I got my book in the mail my face instantly went pale.It was not what I had hoped for, though my third grader will love it .The drawings/graphics are well done, but rarely any size data (how big is the leaf you're looking at for example) and not a single scientific name in sight.I think adults will tire of the book easily for there's not enough detailed infromation.If you have ever tried to distinguish a black oak from a red oak this book is not for you. At last, for $3.99 it's a good deal for your kids.

Excellent Handy Tree Identification Guide
This book was better than two other far more expensive books on tree identification that I recently purchased from Amazon.com.Excellent color graphics and a section to distinguish between/among other trees with similar leaves.One shortcoming is that the entire tree(s)were only identified with shadow outlines instead of using the same color graphics that distinguished the identification of leaves/needles/berries, etc.Another would be the absence of an outline map of the US showing where the trees are found.Instead, there's a written description of the regions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bargain Books    2. Canada    3. General    4. Identification    5. Nature    6. Pictorial works    7. Trees    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. United States    10. Reference / General    11. Sale Books   

Reviews (1)

Permaculture Tour-de-force!
If you are a home gardener who has ever stopped to wonder whether permaculture was useful to you, you need to read these books. If you are an intermediate to advanced permaculturist, you will revel in these books. If you want to understand how a single individual with a garden can make the world a better place, you need to read these books.
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Subjects:  1. Climatic - Temperate    2. Ecology    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Plants - General    7. Techniques    8. Trees & Forests - General