Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World, here turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions.  Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Kurlansky's kaleidoscopic history is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

John Muir’s ebullient spirit and love of nature infuse these accounts of visiting Yosemite Valley, Kings Canyon, sequoia groves, and Mount Whitney. Blending keen observations of flora, geography, and geology, the natural forces that shape the landscape, and the changing seasons, Muir paints a timeless portrait of the wilderness he called “the Range of Light, the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain chains I have ever seen.” Also included are visits to two famous Cascades peaks, Mount Shasta and Mount St. Helens

A substantial revision of an already successful text, the Third Edition of Essentials of Geology combines an accurate and engaging narrative with exceptional visual and pedagogical elements. The optional, free package item includes the two-page guide from the text and a worksheet for each chapter’s Google Earth™ Geotour. It is supported by a complete learning and teaching package. Innovative media, such as Geotours—which take students on virtual field trips using Google Earth™—make it possible for instructors to bring real-world geology to life in the classroom. Perfect as homework, lab, or extra-credit assignments, the workbook asks students to observe and measure real-world geologic sites, thereby deepening their understanding of important concepts in the textbook. Using high-resolution satellite and aerial photography, Google Earth™ creates spectacular 3-D images of the planet’s surface. Appearing in the book as two-page spreads, Geotours provide students with free and open access to this powerful resource—with links to over 200 real-world geologic sites that illustrate concepts from every chapter of Essentials of Geology. Map overlays, figures, and photographs from the text and beyond further promote learning by helping students make connections between textbook lessons and real-world geology. Geotours make great lecture launchers or can be assigned as homework, lab, or extra-credit assignments using the worksheets that coordinate with each chapter in the text. Geotours are accompanied by a complete, innovative media package with 3-D cinema-quality simulations that bring difficult concepts to life; over 60 animations; film clips; course-ready PowerPoint lecture outlines; Clicker Questions, and more.

With its strong focus on readability and illustrations, this trusted best seller makes an often-complex subject more accessible for readers like you. It offers a meaningful, non-technical survey that is informative and up-to-date for learning basic principles and concepts. For the Tenth Edition, the text’s design and figures have been updated, and the chapter on climate change has been revised significantly.

"Beautifully written and meticulously researched."—St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This updated study of the economics, politics, and ecology of water covers more than a century of public and private desert reclamation in the American West.

Exploring Geology by Reynolds/Johnson/Kelly/Morin/Carter is an innovative textbook intended for an introductory college geology course, such as Physical Geology. This ground-breaking, visually spectacular book was designed from cognitive and educational research on how students think, learn, and study. Nearly all information in the book is built around 2,600 photographs and stunning illustrations, rather than being in long blocks of text that are not articulated with figures. These annotated illustrations help students visualize geologic processes and concepts, and are suited to the way most instructors already teach. To alleviate cognitive load and help students focus on one important geologic process or concept at a time, the book consists entirely of two-page spreads organized into 19 chapters. Each two-page spread is a self-contained block of information about a specific topic, emphasizing geologic concepts, processes, features, and approaches. These spreads help students learn and organize geologic knowledge in a new and exciting way. Inquiry is embedded throughout the book, modeling how geologists investigate problems. The title of each two-page spread and topic heading is a question intended to get readers to think about the topic and become interested and motivated to explore the two-page spread for answers. Each chapter is a learning cycle, which begins with a visually engaging two-page spread about a compelling geologic issue. Each chapter ends with an Investigation that challenges students with a problem associated with a virtual place. The world-class media, spectacular presentations, and assessments are all tightly articulated with the textbook. This book is designed to encourage students to observe, interpret, think critically, and engage in authentic inquiry, and is highly acclaimed by reviewers, instructors, and students.

Explore the last wilderness left on Earth. From mangrove swamp to ocean floor, mollusc to manatee, Atlantic Conveyer to Hurricane Katrina, unravel the mysteries of the sea. Marvel at the oceans' power and importance to our planet - as the birthplace of life on Earth, a crucial element of our climate, and as a vital but increasingly fragile resource for humans. You will discover every aspect - from the geology of the sea floor and the interaction between the ocean's and atmosphere - to the extraordinary diversity of marine life. Dive in for an awe-inspiring view of a world few of us have experienced. A beautiful visual essay celebrates the drama of the sea, while stunning illustrations and the latest satellite-derived maps explain and illuminate each natural process and phenomena. It includes an inspiring introduction by Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques. Dramatic, thought-provoking, and revealing, "Ocean" shines a bright and revealing spotlight into the depths of the last wilderness on our planet.

Youngsters learn about 30 of nature’s most awesome predators in this entertaining and educational coloring book. Easy-to-read captions, along with the dinosaur’s name and its phoneticized spelling, accompany pictures of apatosaurus, tyrannosaurus, stegosaurus, triceratops and other prehistoric creatures.