Plant Books

No hoaxes, no magic bullets, no promises. Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy, by John Boik, is an up-to-date, scientific compilation of the state of research in the field of natural products in cancer treatments. This book is very important due to the tremendous growth in both research and interest in natural compounds over the past several years. The author is able to explain the how and why of over three dozen compounds that have confirmed anti-cancer activity.

I just started reading this book. If you were wondering what supplements might help your cancer, and why, this is the one to get. I was always baffled by dosage, but it helps with that too. That's not to mention the great biological information on what cancer is and how it works. You can download this for twenty five dollars from the publishers website.

I loved this book. I've worked in oncology clinical trials for years. I picked up this book to review for a friend, and admit that I was initially skeptical. But it's a wonderful book, well researched, well thought out... I was really impressed. Made me remember that half of the stuff we put in patients today originally was discovered when the NCI screened natural compounds for anti-cancer properties. Let's hope that this reflects the future potential of cancer treatment.

This is simply an outstanding book. I loved it and think that it can help lots of people whose oncologists just don't get it. The subject matter is fairly technical for the layman, as it is written by a first-rate researcher in the field. I think that this book was written for people who are comforatable reading slightly technical material (e.g., the Scientific American crowd). The author's explanations are very detailed. It is one of the best basic references that I have on general cancer biology. In a few places, the author seems to assume that the reader has taken at least introductory or even organic chemistry. If you haven't taken chemistry, I would still buy it. It is packed with great information, some of it taken from the author's own research. Also, the literature references are very new and relevant to the subject matter. A few areas could have been explained a little more clearly (the explanation of drug synergy was not the book's strong point).

John Boik's Natural Compounds In Cancer Therapy is a meticulous, scholarly, comprehensive, invaluable review of the actions and potential clinical use of more than three dozens carefully selected natural compounds. Nearly 4,000 references are included as Boik comprehensively and systematically examines the actions, pharmacology, toxicology, and potential clinical use of natural compounds as anticancer agents in the biological processes involved in cancer progress. Also very highly recommended is Boik's earlier work, Cancer And Natural Medicine: A Textbook Of Basic Science And Clinical Research (0964828006, $...).

This is an exceptional book. I was intimidated by its size, but thought I'd just read the little part concerning the "cismontane" region which is southern California. I read the first line in that first chapter and was HOOKED! Schoenherr's writing is full of vitality and really draws a person in. I'll soon be taking a naturalist class at my local community college because I've found I really enjoy hiking and understanding the natural history in my area of southern California.

Discover the real world around YOU through this book, if you're visiting or living in California.

This book was an excellent resource for my research papers, and for my CA history classes. The details are wonderful! This book is a must read if you plan on majoring in History (in the state of CA) or if you are planning on teaching in California.

This well thought out introduction to the natural setting of California is a must for anyone that either lives in the state or is planning a visit. I used this book as a reference in a report I wrote on California's environment. The all emcompassing narratives about flora, fauna, geology, geography and the wonder of California, makes this book priceless! This is by far the most thorough book on California's native environment that I have seen. Augment this book with, Audobon's Guide to California, and you have a history, guide and interesting information about California to make any vacation or field trip into a journey of unfathomable wonder of California and the natural environment that most of us fail to take advantage of and appreciate. This book really is a must have for anyone who considers themselves a Californian.

I had to use this book for a class but was pleasantly surprised at how informative and easy to read it is. I have found myself being able to notice and point out rock formations and geology is not my strong suit. The author does such a good job that you could take this book, drive the length of the state and see each of the environments he writes about. I definitely recommend this book!

This book is a crucial reference for anyone interested in natural patterns, Southen California flora and fauna, and environmental design! Highly recommended! It should be on your shelf! How about we make it required reading for all California residents so everyone can appreciate the natural beauty and brilliance of this great part of the planet?!!

It was everything and more. Photos are outstanding. Better than others of the same subject matter. Wealth of ideas that can be used for other projects. A lot of extremely detailed photos.

This is an outstanding collection of underwater images, mostly macro images from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The photographic quality of the images is excellent.

It is a fascinating book. Many of the images record extremely rare animals and unusual events: all kinds of mating; anemones capturing and eating starfish; lionfish hunting in packs; fish with strange jaws gaping; nudibranchs hunting each other, etc.

One of the really nice features of this book is the way it lays out 12 or 24 different variants of a theme juxtaposed together on a page: 24 different colour variations of the same nudibranch, or 12 variants of the beautiful patterns on the tails of mantis shrimp. These displays are beautiful and fascinating.

This is a wonderful gift for a scuba diver or for anyone with an interest in the underwater world. The experience is a lot like chatting with an experienced marine biologist and photographer in the bar after a good day's diving. I've done almost a thousand dives, but while reading Steene's book I kept gasping "I didn't even know that fish did that!"

You just have to see it to believe it. It is the most amazing underwater photography I have ever seen. Fantastic!!! It's the perfect coffee table book for ocean lovers.

Roger Steene's "Oceanic Wilderness" is a fantastic book because the photos are of such high quality. There are amazing photos of many kinds of shrimps, crabs, worms and other invertebrates. I liked it because is was NOT full of endles photos taken while the diver was lying on the bottom looking up at the surface and the passing schools of fish. There are a limited number of such photos that one can look at without becoming bored.
If you've never bought a coral reef book for your library, then you must buy this one - forget the rest this is the best!

great book. as a scuba diver you see lots of different and strange fish and other creatures.you dont even touch on what all this book shows.its really interesting to know that you might see one of these if you know where to look.the book is put together well and the colors are great.its a good conversation book.great for the coffee table.

I have read many books about how to grow, but this book really shows you how to make your bud the best! If it weren't for this book I would have never known how the best bud is supposed to be grown. Thanks Soma for your tireless efforts.

Lots of useful information. Not a complete growers guide but definitely a help. It's a great addition to my collection of gardening guides.

I own almost all the books pertaining to this particular subject. I found this book to be very helpful. Although it is smaller than almost all of the other ones, its packed with invaluable information. Unlike the majority it depicts the journey of one man and his way of doing things instead of giving you a million different ways on how to. This book is a phenomenal addition to a collection for beginners and experts alike. I rest in hopes that he will write another book.

Excellent material and a wealth of information. I would highly recommend adding this to your library.

This book was a good read. Everything I want to know about growing and cultivating my plants was there. Along with some great tips for my plants and thier health.

After numerous trips to Florida and parts of the Caribbean I had developed a homesickness for the exotic. I bought the book and read it three times before gaining enough confidence to act. Two windmills, a mexican fan and one washingtonian later, I'm seeing surviving palms in my yard. If you're looking for good science for gardening, this is your book.

very informative book for gardeners who like to grow plants that are not common to their zone. David has already made all the mistakes, and tells you what really works.

David Francko has done his research through trial-and-error and has written a great book, listing palms and plants that may grow in your region with a little TLC.

This not only told me how to grow warm weather plants in cold climates, it taught me basic gardening principles as well backed by experimental data. It also thoroughly explained the concept of the microclimate and how to create one, which is necessary to grow, for example, a Mexican Fan Palm in Greenville, SC (the reason I bought the book). Even though the author is a PhD, it is very easy to understand. This is a must for anyone wanting to grow palm trees and other warm weather plants in cooler areas to show off to the neighbors and be the talk of the neighborhood.

Just finished Dr. Francko's book. Can't wait until spring to start out "tropical" garden here in Ohio. On our way back from a South Carolina vacation my 5year old asked for a palm tree. Now I know what to do, where to plant it, how to take care of it, and the places to get it.

Zen of Watering Your Garden
This is a terrific book. I t helps one tailor their garden or gardens to their circumstance with the goal not really an architectual wonder but a place or places of solitude and sanctuary and pleasantries.

I believe that one does not have to have an elaborate garden but can with even a plant or a few plants obtain the peace that nature can provide. I too have tried to convey this in my book the Zen of Watering Your Garden. Matt Cohen

If you have been gardening for a while and still do not have the results you want, this might be the book for you. I am a self taught gardener of 17 years and have purchased many gardening and landscaping books. This book is by far the best one I have bought. It is very easy to read, and explained all the gardens elements so simply I couldn't believe it. It helped me figure out (very quickly} exactly what has always bothered me about my garden. The chapter on plant selecting does not specify the zone.

We have been following Ms. Easton's garden writings for years in newspapers, magazines and her other acomplished manuscripts Artists In Their Gardens and Plant Life. We have found her writings to be both informative and entertaining, a hard combination for many authors but critical to the reader. Her newest book, A Pattern Garden, weaves a rich tapestry of information and soulful thinking. The garden is a place of sanctuary and highly personal. Ms.Easton takes the essential 14 "patterns" of our gardens and helps us clarify their role and importance. She offers us tools to both strengthen and personalize an existing garden and lay the foundation to build a new one. In reading this book we felt empowered to try new things and be adventuresome. It also gave us a greater understanding and enjoyment of our own garden.

Besides all the practical information offered, A Pattern Garden is a must read for anyone who wants to have a greater appreciation of their connection with the garden, nature, and the role it plays in their life.

Whether one is an experienced gardener, or new to this world, Valeries's book explores all the nuances of garden design as well as practical information on gardening. All of this is enhanced by the exquisite photographs.

Thanks to Val Easton's new book, A Pattern Garden, I'll be happily adding mysterious destinations and some fanciful surprises to my old garden this summer. Fun!

This is such a good book; it's informative, beautiful (inspiring photography), but best of all are it's suggestions and encouragement for gardeners to turn their yard space into intriguing areas where they and their families will love spending outdoor time.

I used this book for the Astoria to Lincoln City section. It did direct me to a couple of places I simply would not have found. I'd buy it again, though it's not perfect. Surprisingly few photos. And a star rating, or a better indication of "can't miss" vs. "just nice" would offer the time-constrained traveler more guidance.

The level of detail about where to park, where to look for the best framing of the scene and even where to position a tripod is super. Proof-of-the-pudding will be in the near future when I actually visit the coast with this book by my side.

Planning our first trip to the Oregon Coast for photography. This book is making the planning much easier. The author's knowledge of the Coast and his enjoyable writing style are great. We've just about got our trip planned according to the author's suggestions. He mentions not only sites we've found in other guides, but a few new ones. I've found his suggestions on where to go when, and where not to spend time to be extrememly helpful.

I loved this book! The author shares many great secrets for finding out-of-the-way places to photograph. If you are looking for a book on technical how-to photograph, get another one. This book is all about location.

This book was amazingly specific in directions of how to best view an incredible scenery. It was great more for its direction of where to go, park, or stand than the photography tips. The author gave great detail such as tips for how to find the best parking lots, how to avoid the tourist packed spots, and how to find unmarked trails to find fantastic angles in isolation. We used it as our primary guide for three days down the coast and really loved it. Note that the order of the book is generally north to south.

Sarah Anderson and Jane Kelsey provide an insightful and engrossing overview of the world of careers with plants. The breadth and depth of the various career portraits are impressive, and speak to readers of all ages. The authors' non-patronizing and earnest tone makes the book an enjoyable read. This book is a must-have for young scientists and plant enthusiasts!

I concur with the vivid enthusiam being shared in these reviews for Ms. Kelsey's book and the loss to the world of plant-literature of Ms. Kelsey's retirement from the written word. If there could ever be written prose that comes close to the perfection of Ms. Kelsey in Plants, however, it is undoubtedly the review of Plants written by a brillant New York Critic, Ms. Amy Listerman (see review below). Ms. Listerman, in her poignant and moving critique of Plants, touches to the very soul of Kelsey's style and influene. Ms. Listerman is not swayed by the pulls of the masses, like the blossoming seedling Herb from Alaska or our mystery readers from NYC and Oxford. Ms. Listerman, by referring to her own wasted-by-non-plant-pursuits youth, is a critic not to be overlooked in the rush to, quite deservingly, praise Ms. Kelsey. Ms. Kelsey is, after all, a peach (or so we hear from various sources).

A lot of career information was packed into just 96 pages. Written in an easy-to-read style, "Plants" gives young people a chance to review many career choices for those who enjoy working with plants. The reader is offered a variety of choices of careers requiring PHD, MS, BS, or little education. The authors interviewed culturally diverse people with a variety of life stories to tell. They included information on salary, getting started, and education required. This book is a must for high school career centers and junior high libraries.

Miss Anderson and Miss Kelsey's book on careers in botany is a wonderful snapshot of a variety of avenues people working with plants have taken. Both informative and captivating, interviews with men and women working in the field of botany bring children and adults a first-hand glimpse of the character of their work. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in plants or gardening. Two green thumbs up!

This book is a true American classic. Plants demonstrates the tremendous maturation process Ms. Kelsey has experienced since her original work, Science. Written in lucid prose, Plants demonstrates Ms. Kelsey's masterful grasp of English language and ability to express complex concepts with the uptmost clarity. Through her heartwarming tales examining the lives of several complex characters, Ms. Kelsey has guarenteed Plants' position among the most beloved of American novels. Memories of Patrick Elvander's enduring love of Botany, and Justus von Liebig's life-long sacrifice and struggle culminating in the invention of Liebig's Extract will remain with Plants' readers and shape their lives. Ms. Kelsey's work is truly a masterpiece to be shelved alongside Faulkner, Austen, and Dickens, and will be a valuauble tool in classrooms for decades to come. It is a tragic loss to the English language that Ms. Kelsey has discarded her pen for other pursuits, but fortunately she has blessed us with a glimpse her brilliance. Ms. Kelsey's brief career will remain an enigma for years to come as literary historians debate what masterpieces she could have produced had the obvious talent manifested in Plants been cultivated in other works.

Having failed to buy a Sierra Club Calendar before they were sold out at all of our local bookstores, I turned to Amazon and they came through, with a reduced price and prompt delivery

I buy one of these every year. I have had to buy an Audubon Society one a couple of times, but much prefer the Sierra Club calendar. The pictures are gorgeous and make me want to get out and explore the beauty. I like the section in the back for notes because it gives me space to write down all the phone numbers and addresses of doctors, schools, work, etc. so that I have it all handy. I will definitely continue to buy these as long as they make them!

I have for many years obtained a copy of the Sierra Club Engagement Calendar. It fits my needs perfectly.

I love the Sierra Club Engagement Calendars. It's perfect for me as a business calendar.

I decided to get this calendar to keep track of major appointments. I have always loved the pictures from the sierra club so this fits my needs perfectly. On one page are the photos for each week which are amazing and in great color detail. The other side has the week and there is adequate spacing to note down major appointments. If you need more space or like to see your daily schedule broken up by hour this is not the book for you.

As usual the photos in this calendar are spectacular. I like the info on holidays and cycles of the moon. I have used this form of calendar for years - keeping all personal and social info in one place. I go through and add birthdays, anniversaries, engagements to the calendar for the entire year. It helps meet deadlines for sending gifts or cards to friends and family. I also record the tasks I do in my job every day. This is very helpful in writing reviews, reports and in keeping my resume up to date. I also tape in invites, programs, tickets, etc. - resulting in a great journal. It's fun to go back over the years to 1974 when I started working and enjoy the year all over again.

This is just the perfect calendar for a person with just a few appointments per day. The photos are fantastic. I would give it full marks but some of the extra pages at the back have been eliminated. Those included pages for addresses and phone numbers. Now that information has to be put in under "Notes" which means not enough room for one's notes.

Once you become accustomed to an egagement calendar that starts very logically with Monday and finishes with the weekend, you will never go back!

I use this as my appointment book and I keep it by the phone. I get one every year and have never been disappointed with the photographs. It is a nice size to keep on my counter by the phone and it has plenty of room to write. When I am talking on the phone I enjoy looking at the beautiful photography that I can really get lost in. I think it is a good price for such a practical and beautiful item with so many amazing photographs.

Every year I purchase a new Sierra Club Engagement Calendar. One year I purchased an Audubon Society Engagement Calendar because I could not find the Sierra Club one, and although it was nice, it didn't begin to compare to the Sierra Club images. The weekly format is easy to navigate with plenty of room to write your day's scheduled activities, plus small enough to tote around with you if you please, all the while getting a great new picture to look at every week. I sometimes cut out the pictures and frame them to put on my desk.