National Audubon Field Guide:

I take this (as well as the Peterson Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers) with me on all my wildflower hunting trips. The extensive color photos are extremely helpful for identifying wildflowers. Flowers are organized by color. This has by far more real flower pictures than the Peterson Field Guide.

This book is an amateur rockhounds must have. Having been through at least ten other titles, This one offers the most in depth, yet easy to understand information. It contains a 230 page section of photographs which are categorized by color, then by formation. Ending out this section they have included several pages containing before and after photographs of select minerals shown in the rough,then as a gem. Below each photograph is a corresponding page number to the mineral description. The mineral description section includes information on the native elements that make up each mineral, Color and Luster description, Hardness, Cleavage, Specific gravity, Crystal formation, Best field marks, Similar species, Environment in which it may be found,and where in North America they occur. For beginners who may not understand what these identifying features mean or how to go about using them, they should refer to Part 1 in the guide, A Guide To Mineral Identification. Here the authors thoroughly cover each physical property, and the way each can be used in the process of identification. Once familiar with each identifying feature, the Descriptive Key To Minerals section located directly after the photograph section will be your next stop. Using your new found knowledge about the rock or minerals physical properties is made simple in this section. This key is categorized by color. Under each color section the minerals are arranged by increasing hardness which is then broken down by quality and cleavages. Each description also includes other identifying features and a reference to the page that contains the full classification information. For the pro-amateur to expert rockhound, I would recommend The Descriptive Key to Minerals section to be their first stop. Though what I have described up to this point would be quite thorough in its own right, I should mention the section located in the back of the book which is dedicated solely to Rocks. This area contains approximately 30 pages of photographs, including their corresponding page number to its classification information page. Part III and IV, contain information on tools and techniques, mineral environments, a rock and mineral glossary, and a listing of rock forming minerals. For the curious, it also includes a list indicating each illustrated specimens place of origin. I would recommend this book to not just the rock, mineral enthusiest but to anyone. Each mineral is referenced by and to all pages containing corresponding information, making it a simple process to learn as much as the book has to offer. In my opinion, the photographs alone make this book one of the most enjoyable rock, mineral guide I have used. At this low price, it is one of a kind.

I am no more than a door-step astronomer. I want to identify all the constellations, understand some basics about the planets and stars, and be able to see the International Space station (ISS) and other satellites. I want to grasp the fundamentals about earth's orbit and relationship with the Sun and other planets including the moon, and if, in learning all this I get a thirst for more complex things, then I will move on. I have about ten books on astronomy and the stars, and own a small beginner's telescope. I also use Starry Night Backyard on the PC which is excellent. I bought the Audubon Field Guide after seeing excellent write-ups on Amazon and I was not disappointed. Great detail, fantastic colour photos and a sturdy, pliable plastic cover that bends to fit your pocket or bag. I like the idea of having colour photographs of the constellations as well as the traditional charts by Wil Tirion. There are great sections on how to observe, how to use a telescope, a glossary of terminology and details of the star-gazers year. All in all an excellent, all-round reference manual, better than any of the others I already own and I recommend it to anyone from beginner to Patrick Moore.