Koncocoo

Best Weather

Cosmos
RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan’s collaborator, Ann Druyan, full color illustrations, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday “Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . He played a leading role in the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft expeditions, for which he received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and (twice) for Distinguished Public Service.
Reviews
"Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth. I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer."
"The last chapter of "Cosmos" asks "Who speaks for Earth?""
"There are also occasional earthly detours - evolution of life on earth, ancient greeks, the library of Alexandria, voyages of explorers, etc.The book also tries to bring up some philosophical questions, especially in relation to the possibility of other civilizations in the cosmos, and how a contact between us and them would happen."
"I have previously read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it."
"Modern science quickly discards old theories but it still holds truth to the narrative - of that there are many new stories yet to be told: and Sagan's Cosmos is a foundational one, connecting the blocks how the history of science propelled the age of discoveries that have culminated at his time in the shuttle program, the moon landing probes, the Voyagers program."
"Read this years ago in hard cover when first came out."
"But really, this book ignites a love for and connection to the cosmos unlike any other."
"I have not started the book so I can only go by the author's reputation so I expect to enjoy learning."
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Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
Using Cline's own telegrams, letters, and reports, the testimony of scores of survivors, and our latest understanding of the science of hurricanes, Erik Larson builds a chronicle of one man's heroic struggle and fatal miscalculation in the face of a storm of unimaginable magnitude. I braced myself from the monstrous winds, recoiled in shock at the sight of flailing children floating by, and shook my head at the hubris of our scientists who were so convinced that they had the weather all figured out. If there is one book to read as we enter a new millennium, it's Isaac's Storm , a tale that reminds us that there are forces at work out there well beyond our control, and maybe even well beyond our understanding." "There is electricity in these pages, from the crackling wit and intelligence of the prose to the thrillingly described terrors of natural mayhem and unprecedented destruction. Though brimming with the subtleties of human nature, the nuances of history, and the poetry of landscapes, Isaac's Storm still might best be described as a sheer page turner." "Erik Laron's accomplishment is to have made this great-storm story a very human one —thanks to his use of the large number of survivors' accounts—without ignoring the hurricane itself."
Reviews
"Isaac Cline was head of the Galveston Meteorological Bureau, nationally part of a behemoth bureaucracy tipping into corruption, hellbent on never mentioning the word "hurricane" as a threat to the great wheel of commerce."
"A great book on the big Isaac's storm that hit Galveston Texas long ago."
"I thought I should read about the 116 year old storm that basically started Houston. A great read."
"Setting the background for the story takes longer than needed, due to the author going off on some tangents that were one all necessary."
"Another extraordinary can't-put-it-down book from Erik Larson."
"Larson, the author of a number of great historical biographies (Thunderstruck, In The Garden Of Beasts), has done his research well and “Isaac’s Storm” is a wonderful painting of life at the turn of the century in a busy new Texan town complete with smells and elegant descriptions of the architecture and street furniture of the day."
"His exhaustive research brings an era in our history to life. .He brings in an early sailor extraordinaire, Christopher Columbus, who learned as much as anyone on earth the unique configuration of clouds and winds that predict storms. People in Galveston built magnificent homes on stilts directly into the serf."
"If you want to know what it was like to live through the hurricane, maybe not (though the part of the book covering it -- while proportionally slim in coverage -- is devastatingly effective and heartwrenching)."
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Best Climatology

Cosmos
RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan’s collaborator, Ann Druyan, full color illustrations, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday “Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . He played a leading role in the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft expeditions, for which he received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and (twice) for Distinguished Public Service.
Reviews
"Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth. I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer."
"The last chapter of "Cosmos" asks "Who speaks for Earth?""
"There are also occasional earthly detours - evolution of life on earth, ancient greeks, the library of Alexandria, voyages of explorers, etc.The book also tries to bring up some philosophical questions, especially in relation to the possibility of other civilizations in the cosmos, and how a contact between us and them would happen."
"I have previously read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it."
"Modern science quickly discards old theories but it still holds truth to the narrative - of that there are many new stories yet to be told: and Sagan's Cosmos is a foundational one, connecting the blocks how the history of science propelled the age of discoveries that have culminated at his time in the shuttle program, the moon landing probes, the Voyagers program."
"Read this years ago in hard cover when first came out."
"But really, this book ignites a love for and connection to the cosmos unlike any other."
"I have not started the book so I can only go by the author's reputation so I expect to enjoy learning."
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Best Fondue Recipes

Dip Into Something Different: A Collection of Recipes from Our Fondue Pot to Yours
Create a perfect night out by gathering friends and family around a pot of warm melted cheese, chocolate or a cooking style eager to add flavor to your favorite dipper.
Reviews
"I love The Melting Pot."
"Wonderful recipes!!"
"Our daughter loved this book."
"Gave two of these for gifts to my son and his wife."
"One of my favorite places to eat for date night."
"It was a gift!"
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Best Water Supply & Land Use

Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition
"The definitive work on the West's water crisis." "Essential background reading for anyone who cares about the drought ravaging the West and the region's prospects for changing course before it is too late." Resiner captures Western water history in Cinemascope and Technicolor. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, it spans our century-long effort to moisten the arid West. Anyone thinking of moving west of the hundredth meridian should read this book before they call their real estate agent." "A revealing, absorbing, often amusing and alarming report on where billions of [taxpayers'] dollars have gone-- and where a lot more are going .
Reviews
"This is a timeless work detailing the history of water wealth and distribution in the West."
"Man this book is encyclopedic, with all that implies."
"While the editing causes some revisiting of projects ant times, this book gives a clear picture of the technical, economic, political, and bureaucratic forces surrounding the largest group of public works in American history."
"I recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand the history of the water "crisis" or has the least bit of interest in our nation's history!"
"It is not a perfect work: the author occasionally allows his passion to overwhelm his recounting of the facts, and it detracts from both his case and the flow of the book."
"It's easy to call all cities in the American West "cancers", and state or imply how and how much the West should've been settled, based on 20/20 hindsight and without thought for where settlers could've gone if every inch West of the 100th meridian had been settled only by a very limited number of environmentally prophetic, conscientious stewards."
"Between this book and the "King of California" a very concise history of water in the lands west of the Mississippi and then west of Sierra Nevada Mountains is painted and highlighted with political and bureaucratic bumbling that has lead to the "crisis" that lives on today."
"Although written in 1986, revised and updated in 1993, it is a useful source of history and a means of understanding how we got ourselves into the difficulties we are now facing."
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Best Rivers in Earth Science

Cosmos
RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan’s collaborator, Ann Druyan, full color illustrations, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday “Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer. “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday. shimmers with a sense of wonder.” — The Miami Herald “Sagan dazzles the mind with the miracle of our survival, framed by the stately galaxies of space.” — Cosmopolitan.
Reviews
"Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth. I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer."
"The last chapter of "Cosmos" asks "Who speaks for Earth?""
"There are also occasional earthly detours - evolution of life on earth, ancient greeks, the library of Alexandria, voyages of explorers, etc.The book also tries to bring up some philosophical questions, especially in relation to the possibility of other civilizations in the cosmos, and how a contact between us and them would happen."
"I have previously read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it."
"Modern science quickly discards old theories but it still holds truth to the narrative - of that there are many new stories yet to be told: and Sagan's Cosmos is a foundational one, connecting the blocks how the history of science propelled the age of discoveries that have culminated at his time in the shuttle program, the moon landing probes, the Voyagers program."
"Read this years ago in hard cover when first came out."
"But really, this book ignites a love for and connection to the cosmos unlike any other."
"I have not started the book so I can only go by the author's reputation so I expect to enjoy learning."
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Best English Standard Version Christian Bibles

ESV Study Bible
The ESV Study Bible was created to help people understand the Bible in a deeper way. And click on these images to see samples of the detailed and authoritative historical illustrations included in the ESV Study Bible : GolgothaHerod's TempleTemple ComplexTemple Mount "Retaining the majesty of language with the clarity of thought, the English Standard Version is a grand accomplishment."Dr. Ranald Macaulay,Christian Heritage, The Round Church, Cambridge"After preaching out of the same version for over 10 years, I switched to the ESV Bible. "Eric J. Alexander,Retired Pastor, St. George's-Tron Parish Church, Scotland"At last a translation that majors on accuracy, combined with a modern, fluent style.
Reviews
"(For a much fuller version of this review, covering more topics/texts, visit my website by searching for "Dwight Gingrich" and "NIV Zondervan Study Bible."). DIFFERENCES: It appears to me that the ESVSB is somewhat stronger than the NIVZSB in these areas: Charts, maps, illustrations, historical information, and general apologetic or bibliological articles. A comparison of the introductions to Exodus shows that the one in the ESVSB is slightly longer (six pages to the NIVZSB’s five), with more attention given to the historical reliability of the book and to its literary features. The similarities here outweigh the differences, but I give the ESVSB the blue ribbon for visual helps and breadth of topics addressed in articles. Creation – Henri A. G. Blocher. Sin – Kevin DeYoung. Covenant – Paul R. Williamson. Law – T. D. Alexander. Temple – T. D. Alexander. Priest – Dana M. Harris. Sacrifice – Jay A. Sklar. Exile and Exodus – Thomas Richard Wood. The Kingdom of God – T. D. Alexander. Sonship – D. A. Carson. The City of God – T. D. Alexander. Prophets and Prophecy – Sam Storms. Death and Resurrection – Philip S. Johnston. People of God – Moisés Silva. Wisdom – Daniel J. Estes. Holiness – Andrew David Naselli. Justice – Brian S. Rosner. Wrath – Christopher W. Morgan. Love and Grace – Graham A. Cole. The Gospel – Greg D. Gilbert. Worship – David G. Peterson. Mission – Andreas J. Köstenberger. Shalom – Timothy Keller. The Consummation – Douglas J. Moo. While I disagree with minor points in some of these articles, I find myself agreeing with a much higher percentage of what is said here than with what is said in most systematic theologies. I have a niggling question about the place of such essays in a study Bible (how many readers will really find and benefit from this content in their specific moments of exegetical need? They teach that both divorce and remarriage are “possible but never ideal” (NIVZSB, p. 1969) in cases where one marriage partner engages in “sexual immorality” (Matt. On the other hand, the NIVZSB takes a more rigid stance than the ESVSB on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16: “There are only two options for a divorced woman: (1) remain unmarried or (2) reconcile with her husband.” It acknowledges regarding verse 15 ("the brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances”) that “it is often suggested that this allows a deserted Christian spouse to remarry” but states that “this interpretation is not plausible.”. Homosexuality: Both study Bibles state clearly that homosexual relations are sinful. Nonresistance and Relationship to Government: On Matthew 5:38-48 the NIVZSB says that “Jesus is prohibiting retaliation for wrongs experienced.” It explains that a slap on the cheek is “a common Jewish insult by a superior to a subordinate, not an aggressor’s blow.” (p. 1939). The ESVSB presents this position much more clearly: “Jesus is not prohibiting the use of force by governments, police, or soldiers when combating evil… One should not return an insulting slap, which would lead to escalating violence. In the case of a more serious assault, Jesus’ words should not be taken to prohibit self-defense…, for often a failure to resist a violent attack leads to even more serious abuse.” This difference is also evident in places like Romans 12-13, where the NIVZSB gently questions whether governments have the right to administer capital punishment, while the ESVSB suggests one way believers can "overcome evil with good" is through military or police force. This is remarkable, given that Sam Storms, a strong continuationist, was chosen to author an essay on “Prophets and Prophecy.” In this article he only vaguely hints at his own position by some present-tense references to prophecy. ), ending thus: “However one understands the extent of the atonement, this passage clearly teaches the free and universal offer of salvation to every single human being; ‘desires’ shows that this offer is a bona fide expression of God’s good will.” On this Timothy verse the NIVZSB suggests that “what God ‘wants’ may be hindered by lack of human faith.” This last statement opens the door to non-Calvinistic interpretations (but does not demand them). At Exodus 20:8-11 the ESVSB makes no Christian application, while the NIVZSB mentions that the Sabbath “anticipates the experience of rest through faith in Christ” (p. 155). The NIVZSB's “Exile and Exodus” article presents one perspective strongly: “As the only perfectly obedient Israelite...—a faithful remnant of one—Jesus (not the unbelieving nation) is the sole heir of all of the covenantal promises made to Abraham, Israel, and David... Life everlasting, a land flowing with milk and honey, a posterity as numerous as the stars, a perpetual reign over all creation, and uninhibited access to the Father’s presence all belong exclusively to him” (p. 2661). However, both Bibles (perhaps especially the ESVSB) also suggest multiple times that seeing a future role for an ethnic Israel is a legitimate interpretative approach. On the other hand, it seems slower to affirm some of the more fundamentalist ideas of evangelicalism (things such as capital punishment or a special plan for the future of ethnic Israel), it feels slightly more cautious as it affirms some points of evangelical doctrinal dispute (inability of true believers to fall from the faith, distinct gender roles in the church), and it is sometimes slower to pick sides at all regarding what the text means for today (the Christian and the military)."
"I love this study Bible."
"For my personal, at-home study though, I prefer the HCSB Study Bible in print form, for its close proximity of body text and commentary on the same page, as well as for its features of quality maps and word definitions and usages."
"The only con I can think of for this study bible is that it is heavier and bigger than most bibles, making it a bit harder to carry to and from church, bible studies, and classes."
"It has many helps and resources such as introductions to books, history of the 400 years (between OT and NT), references, maps (not just in the back of the bible but throughout), footnotes, many many helps. I have had many bibles (in many versions) over the years but this ESV Study Bible is my absolute favorite for reasons mentioned."
"I just received the indexed study bible, and the indexed pages are completely off except for Genesis and the Concordance."
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Best Geography

American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America
• A New Republic Best Book of the Year • The Globalist Top Books of the Year • Winner of the Maine Literary Award for Non-fiction • Particularly relevant in understanding who voted for who in this presidential election year, this is an endlessly fascinating look at American regionalism and the eleven “nations” that continue to shape North America. —The Wall Street Journal “[ American Nations ] sets itself apart by delving deep into history to trace our current divides to ethno-cultural differences that emerged during the country’s earliest settlement.” —The New Republic , Editors’ Picks: Best Books of 2011 “Provocative reading.” —News and Observer “In American Nations , [Colin Woodard] persuasively reshapes our understanding of how the American political entity came to be. [A] fascinating new take on history.” —The Christian Science Monitor “ American Nations by journalist-historian Colin Woodard is a superb book. There is much to grapple with in this well-written book.” —The Portland Press Herald “[F]or people interested in American history and sociology, American Nations demands reading. Louis Dispatch “[I]f you want to better understand U.S. politics, history, and culture American Nations is to be required reading. By revealing this continent of rivals, American Nations will revolutionize the way Americans think about their past, their country, and themselves and is sure to spark controversy.” —The Herald Gazette “Woodard persuasively argues that since the founding of the United States, eleven distinct geographical ‘nations’ have formed within the Union, each with its own identity and set of values.” —Military History Quarterly “Colin Woodard offers up an illuminating history of North America that explodes the red state-blue state myth. Woodard’s American Nations is a revolutionary and revelatory take on America’s myriad identities, and how the conflicts between them have shaped our country’s past and mold its future.” —MaineBusiness.com “One of the most original books I read in the last year. During my five years as an Ambassador in the United States, I spent a lot of time studying the voting patterns of different states and reading American history, and I have to say I find Woodard’s thesis to be fully borne out by my own observations.” —John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland “Woodard offers a fascinating way to parse American (writ large) politics and history in this excellent book.” —Kirkus (starred review) “Provocative.” —Publishers Weekly “[W]ell-researched analysis with appeal to both casual and scholarly readers.” —Library Journal.
Reviews
"Whereas the first two-thirds were well-reasoned and well-supported, the last third devolved into stereotypes and generalities, and contained more than a few downright errors, particularly concerning the modern Deep South and Greater Appalachia. I could list at least a half-dozen factual errors in his presentation concerning the practice and influence of Evangelical Christianity in the Bible Belt, for instance, but would rather not bog down this review with nit-picking."
"This is a case when culture and history play direct role in our today's life."
"I've lived in four of these nations (New York, Boston, Portland, Utah/Wyoming) and experienced three of them through reading the novels of James Lee Burke (New Orleans, Appalachia, Idaho). Now that I've returned to the Northeast I find the very sophisticated people living here to be also very provincial in the sense of not being able to see the other "nations" from the inside. The Catholics prominent in the Republican Party (Roger Ailes, head of Fox News; Rick Santorum, Paul Ryan would be totally alien to the Catholic-Irish-Yakee-Durch culture I knew growing up."
"I am an amateur historian so topics like this catch my attention. He backs his claims up by examining voting records and statements by government officials."
"An eye opening look at our population."
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Best Geology

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America (National Audubon Society Field Guides (Paperback))
Includes a guide to mineral collecting and a list of rock-forming minerals.
Reviews
"All around encompassing book."
"Grandson loved this and will take it on our next gem mining trip."
"I'm in love with this book!"
"The best rock and mineral book around!"
"new and as good as my old one."
"Very informative."
"bedstand read, very fun to read."
"very good book ."
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Best Cartography

Great Maps (Dk Smithsonian)
From Ptolemy's world map to the Hereford's Mappa Mundi, through Mercator's map of the world to the latest maps of the Moon and Google Earth, Great Maps provides a fascinating overview of cartography through the ages. Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary College, University of London.
Reviews
"Great Maps, just like it says!"
"As a map lover, I dived into the stories behind each map."
"I love maps and this book is one of the best in that it breaks down large maps into smaller parts so that details can actually be seen and read."
"Really interesting book, great imagery and a lot of stuff to learn about."
"Great coffee table book."
"The volume is an exquisitely illustrated study of the development of maps."
"Just to clarify, while this book is full of colored pictures, the maps are not in great detail."
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Best Mineralogy

Gem: The Definitive Visual Guide
A dazzling visual guide to precious and semiprecious stones, organic gems, and precious metals that showcases beautiful, specially commissioned images as well as science, natural history, mythology, and true stories of adventure and discovery. "Feast your eyes on the most beautiful encyclopedia of jewelry you will ever find."
Reviews
"Good prchase."
"I have done many appraisals and this is a good reference to have."
"Awesome, fun, light reference for everything jewelry."
"Love this gorgeous book and purchased more for gifts."
"Super, Super cool and interesting and fascinating book!"
"Hello, It's an amazing book!"
"Lovely photographs and great information."
"A wonderful gem reference book."
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Best Geophysics

Essentials of Geology (11th Edition)
With the renowned readability of the Lutgens/Tarbuck/Tasa team, the Eleventh Edition of Essentials of Geology continues to enhance both the approach and the visual presentation that has made this text a best-seller. Lutgens and Tarbuck published their first college text, Earth Science, in 1976. Not only do Tarbuck, Lutgens, and Tasa work well together creatively; they also enjoy spending time in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Tasa’s New Mexico studio.
Reviews
"As a student in my first geology course, I find this book amazingly helpful. And there are a few places where technical terms that are not universally used (a problem in geology in general) could be identified with other equivalent terms that the student will encounter elsewhere."
"This book, with over 500 pages of text, is an excellent reference for all things related to geology."
"Pleasantly surprised to find an ebook access code in it, it allowed me to read either 11th or 12th edition online -- Yay!"
"It may have been the teacher, but the Geo-science class I took with this book changed my life."
"I'm taking the class simply to satisfy a lab credit, but I've found that I'm actually becoming engrossed in some of the science behind rock formations and the development of our planet."
"Helped convey the teachers lessons and provided great insight into real world scenarios."
"Comprehensive book with fluent language and high-quality images."
"Very well written and excellent illustrations."
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Best Seismology

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883
Simon Winchester, New York Times bestselling author of The Professor and the Madman , examines the legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcano-island of Krakatoa, which was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly forty thousand people. “Brilliant...One of the best books ever written about the history and significance of a natural disaster.” (New York Times). “Supremely well told: a fine exception to the dull run of most geological writing.” starred Kirkus Review (Kirkus Review (starred review)).
Reviews
"Winchester's book covers the history of the region, especially as a Dutch colony and gives a good working description of plate tectonics and the history of that discovery. At times it seemed to be a bit slow paced and there were a few times I wondered why the author had chosen to spend so much effort on points that probably needed little coverage."
"Simon Winchester's style takes concentration to read."
""Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded is in essence a scientific book, but written in the style of popular science that the general public is able to understand and to enjoy. As Winchester has had experience relevant to the events described in the book, his personal experience and injections of anecdote add color and extra details, such as his discussion of his excursions in Greenland as relevant to the reversal of the poles, which relates to Krakatoa and the magnetic stripes on the bottom of the seafloor. In addition, the book effectively presents the events of August 27, 1883 not simply as the majority of people remember it - the catastrophe that slaughtered tens of thousands in one blow - but as a calculated and quantifiable result of plate tectonics as it fits within the contexts of Dutch colonization and trading."
"What clung to my mind the most was that Krakatoa is NOT gone since this is a Subduction Factory, constantly drawing in source materials for the "Next" Krakatoa, which appeared and was nicknamed Son of Krakatoa, as mentioned in "National Geographic" in their article about the Angry Gods of Indonesia. For the lastest quake reports in your area go to: [...] , click the link at the top of the page that refers to Earthquakes, then follow the top link on the next page generated. Before 2009 we were having no more than 20 quakes per day but that has gone up to as high as 200 or more quakes daily throughout the world. The fact that stone buildings that had stood across from Krakatoa for hundreds of years were devastated in ONE wave is enough to beg homage to the great Earth Mother ... the fact that the sound wave went around the planet SEVEN times is incredible ... and the tsunamis that followed were gigantic. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in watching the current developments as 2012 comes up to speed, or is interested in the history of the Dutch and the East Indies Company, or how volcanoes are created and how Krakatoa was NOT your average volcano ... nor will be Krakatoa Jr. Buy this book and have your children read it when you are done."
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Best Atmospheric Sciences

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
Using Cline's own telegrams, letters, and reports, the testimony of scores of survivors, and our latest understanding of the science of hurricanes, Erik Larson builds a chronicle of one man's heroic struggle and fatal miscalculation in the face of a storm of unimaginable magnitude. As barometers plummet and wind gauges are plucked from their moorings, Larson (Lethal Passage) cuts cinematically from the eerie "eyewall" of the hurricane to the mundane hubbub of a lunchroom moments before it capitulates to the arriving winds, from the neat pirouette of Cline's house amid rising waters to the bridge of the steamship Pensacola, tossed like flotsam on the roiling seas.
Reviews
"I enjoyed reading about the story about the terrible hurricane that hit Galveston Texas in 1900. If you have an interest in learning about the history of weather forecasting, then this is the book for you. If you have an interest in the social history of the United States around 1900, then this is a good book to read."
"Extensive notes and references give sources for every word the people say or write, and for every fact stated--but there's nothing dry about this history; even if you already know about the Galveston Storm, this book is a page-turner."
"I live a short distance from Galveston and wanted to know more about the great storm."
"I would recommend this and his other books--Devil in the White City, Dead Wake, In the Garden of Beasts--whole heartedly."
"I was totally caught up in this section and "felt" the hurricane and "felt" the agony and "felt" the despair."
"Larson's ability to place the reader in the midst of a place and time is amazing, and his ability to translate the experience of being in the midst of a storm that happened before any of us were alive makes the terror, sadness and desperation come alive in a way that even today's movies can't equal."
"Isaac Cline was head of the Galveston Meteorological Bureau, nationally part of a behemoth bureaucracy tipping into corruption, hellbent on never mentioning the word "hurricane" as a threat to the great wheel of commerce."
"If one has been to Galveston they find a beautiful coastal city full of mansions and lovely Victorian houses and cottages."
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Best Natural Disasters

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
Using Cline's own telegrams, letters, and reports, the testimony of scores of survivors, and our latest understanding of the science of hurricanes, Erik Larson builds a chronicle of one man's heroic struggle and fatal miscalculation in the face of a storm of unimaginable magnitude. As barometers plummet and wind gauges are plucked from their moorings, Larson (Lethal Passage) cuts cinematically from the eerie "eyewall" of the hurricane to the mundane hubbub of a lunchroom moments before it capitulates to the arriving winds, from the neat pirouette of Cline's house amid rising waters to the bridge of the steamship Pensacola, tossed like flotsam on the roiling seas.
Reviews
"I enjoyed reading about the story about the terrible hurricane that hit Galveston Texas in 1900. If you have an interest in learning about the history of weather forecasting, then this is the book for you. If you have an interest in the social history of the United States around 1900, then this is a good book to read."
"Extensive notes and references give sources for every word the people say or write, and for every fact stated--but there's nothing dry about this history; even if you already know about the Galveston Storm, this book is a page-turner."
"I live a short distance from Galveston and wanted to know more about the great storm."
"I would recommend this and his other books--Devil in the White City, Dead Wake, In the Garden of Beasts--whole heartedly."
"I was totally caught up in this section and "felt" the hurricane and "felt" the agony and "felt" the despair."
"Larson's ability to place the reader in the midst of a place and time is amazing, and his ability to translate the experience of being in the midst of a storm that happened before any of us were alive makes the terror, sadness and desperation come alive in a way that even today's movies can't equal."
"Isaac Cline was head of the Galveston Meteorological Bureau, nationally part of a behemoth bureaucracy tipping into corruption, hellbent on never mentioning the word "hurricane" as a threat to the great wheel of commerce."
"If one has been to Galveston they find a beautiful coastal city full of mansions and lovely Victorian houses and cottages."
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Best Rocks & Minerals

Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals (Smithsonian Handbooks)
Created in association with Smithsonian Institution, this authoritative guide features more than 500 rocks and minerals.
Reviews
"Great book for beginner like myself."
"Both my husband and myself have enjoyed this book!"
"Good book, a little smaller then I was expecting but a nice read."
"Always a great buy!"
"A nice book for grandsons."
"Excellent book - great pictures and descriptions."
"Great photos and great book all way around."
"Rock tumbling....lots of family fun."
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Best Environmental Science

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan’s compulsively readable portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examination of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generations to come. In an age when dire problems like the Flint water crisis or the California drought bring ever more attention to the indispensability of safe, clean, easily available water, The Death and the Life of the Great Lakes is a powerful paean to what is arguably our most precious resource, an urgent examination of what threatens it and a convincing call to arms about the relatively simple things we need to do to protect it. “Dan Egan’s deeply researched and sharply written The Death and Life of The Great Lakes . nimbly splices together history, science, reporting and personal experiences into a taut and cautiously hopeful narrative. early acclaim, [ The Death and Life of the Great Lakes ] is easy to read, offering well-paced, intellectually stimulating arguments, bolstered by well-researched and captivating narratives.”. - Lekelia Danielle Jenkins, Science. “This book feels urgent to policymakers and laypersons alike.”. - Kerri Arsenault, Literary Hub. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is an engaging, vitally important work of science journalism.”. - Eva Holland, The Globe and Mail. “Dan Egan has done more than any other journalist in America to chronicle the decline of this once-great ecosystem, to alert the public to new threats, and to force governments to take remedial action.”. - Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment, Special Merit citation.
Reviews
"He makes a cogent argument that the Great Lakes are left open to the import of more invasive species in small ship ballast tanks, which are the only ones which can still get through the St. Lawrence Seaway, and these ships bring less than 2% of foreign cargo into the United States. Bottom Line: That cargo could just as easily be off-loaded to trains and trucks at our seaports at very little extra cost."
"If you like having fresh water to drink from the Great Lakes or live near one of the "HOMES," this book is for you."
"I live near the great lakes and have been a big fan of all the shore lines."
"A well-researched book that should be required reading for every Michigander."
"Having lived,vacationed and traveled around the Great Lakes most of my life, I have gained a much deeper understanding and appreciation for these spectacular inland seas."
"Any midwesterner drawing water from the Great Lakes will appreciate this thoughtful and well-researched book."
"Sad reading about one calamity after another to the Great Lakes."
"Should be forced read for every person associated with making decisions that cover the Great Lakes."
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Best Earthquakes & Volcanoes

The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet
New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice In the bestselling tradition of Erik Larson’s Isaac’s Storm , The Great Quake is a riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history -- the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega -- and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how and why it took place. HENRY FOUNTAIN has been a reporter and editor at the New York Times for two decades, writing about science for most of that time.
Reviews
"Another main character is Kris Madsen, the teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Chenega, a village that was hard hit by the earthquake. The author hints early on that much of the damage -- and most of the casualties -- were not due to the roiling landscape of the earthquake, but of the tsunamis that followed. The author recreates almost minute-by-minute where villagers in Chenega and other Alaskan coastal villages were when the earthquake hit, and what their ultimate fates were."
"A fast-paced read about one of the biggest U.S. natural disasters of the 1960s that many have never heard about or have gotten."
"It covers the history of the quake, the history of the research surrounding the quake, and the history of plate tectonics."
"Well written and scientific part is understandable for the everyday person."
"If you are interested in the personal stories of the participants-both victims and scientists it is a good read."
"Fountain builds the tension by introducing us to all the "characters" - scientists and citizens who witness or investigated the largest earthquake in modern history. The Great Quake is a fascinating mix of geology lesson and human interest, and the reader learns about not only the event, which is an earthquake so massive that it was felt across the globe, but about what it means for us and the world we live in."
"Human and scientific story told with skill."
"Very interesting book, learned much new in it."
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