Product Description
Every schoolchild learns about the mutually beneficial dance of honeybees and flowers: The bee collects nectar and pollen to make honey and, in the process, spreads the flowers’ genes far and wide. In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan ingeniously demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a
similarly reciprocal relationship. He masterfully links four fundamental human desires—sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control—with the plants that satisfy them: the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato. In telling the stories of four familiar species, Pollan illustrates how the plants have evolved to satisfy humankind’s most basic yearnings. And just as we’ve benefited from these plants, we have also done well by them. So who is really domesticating whom?Amazon.com 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.

In making his point, Pollan focuses on the relationship between humans and four specific plants: apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. He uses the history of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) to illustrate how both the apple's sweetness and its role in the production of alcoholic cider made it appealing to settlers moving west, thus greatly expanding the plant's range. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that "modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop." The tulipomania of 17th-century Holland is a backdrop for his examination of the role the tulip's beauty played in wildly influencing human behavior to both the benefit and detriment of the plant (the markings that made the tulip so attractive to the Dutch were actually caused by a virus). His excellent discussion of the potato combines a history of the plant with a prime example of how biotechnology is changing our relationship to nature. As part of his research, Pollan visited the Monsanto company headquarters and planted some of their NewLeaf brand potatoes in his garden--seeds that had been genetically engineered to produce their own insecticide. Though they worked as advertised, he made some startling discoveries, primarily that the NewLeaf plants themselves are registered as a pesticide by the EPA and that federal law prohibits anyone from reaping more than one crop per seed packet. And in a interesting aside, he explains how a global desire for consistently perfect French fries contributes to both damaging monoculture and the genetic engineering necessary to support it.

Pollan has read widely on the subject and elegantly combines literary, historical, philosophical, and scientific references with engaging anecdotes, giving readers much to ponder while weeding their gardens.--Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (199)

Interesting but too much philosophy
Pallens books are always thought provoking. It is hard to read one of them without wanting to plant a garden, or eat only organic, or protest the destruction of natural farming. This book is no different. It covers potatoes, apples, tulips and marijuana, and provides a discussion of the interaction of the species with humans, and the strange interconnection between plants and humans. The book is certainly interesting. I had no idea of how broadly apples vary from tree to seed. Nor the utter insanity of commercial potato farming. There is no doubt that as industrial agriculture has replaced small farms, the srpead of monoculture species is really doing a huge disservice to the planet and to mid and long term survival. When the book is focused on history, the plants, and the people involved with them, it is at its best. But, sometimes the author spends too much time conjecturing. As he heads further and further from the story and to thinking about the metastory, I found the book to become less interesting, in that meta-philosophy about meta-science is much less interesting than the underlying issues he discusses, so to me this diverted from the otherwise strong impact.

Regardless, the book is certainly worth reading, especially before you take your next trip to the grocery store.

Exceedingly Pleased
I was very pleased with the book I recieved.It came the day it was qouted as arriving.Plus the seller included a friendly thank you.I am exceedingly pleased with this seller.

This book personifies plants and makes all kinds of false statements
Plants don't make an evolutionary decision to throw their lot in with humans.Evolution is about the random mutations that occur and the survival of the fittest.This tries to pass itself off as science but what it really does is mislead people into believing that the result was planned.

True that it does encourage you to see things from a different angle, but it doesn't make any valid points in the direction of how plants "plan" their future....

nice story but some facts are fiction!
I'm reluctantly writing this review since, although I'm about to criticize the book/video in question for failing on accuracy/fact, I did enjoy the documentary.

I should make it clear now that I actually haven't read the book, but rather I've watched the documentary of the same name by the same author, which I doubt has much difference in wording and should have identical facts as well as conclusions.

Now to my point:

Although I enjoyed the doco(book?) and agreed with most of its "facts", when it came to discussing Cannabis I was appalled.
An interview with a semi-legal (obviously experienced) cannabis grower discussing cannabis evolution doesn't sound like a great idea to start with, but when that ignoramous's comments are repeated and backed up by other more qualified persons that should know better it becomes dissapointing to say the least.
The topic I'm referring to is the evolutionary change in cannabis of an increase in resin content, which is suggested in the doco to be due to the resins ability to capture pollen and hence fertilize the plant.
Well in fact ALL the pollen captured/trapped by cannabis resin (or any other plants resin to) is totally unable fertilize that plants stigma (female reproductive parts) and hence in any way aid that plants reproductive success.
This is totally logical and 100% successful in demonstration too.

Sadly it seems that an illogical and incorrect theory was put forawrd to explain a plant feature (external resin) who's function is still under debate in the scientifc community (probably more likely a natural fly-paper/bug-killer).

Personally I think it's better not to put forward a theory for the evolution of the sturctural function of a species if that theory's not even logically possible!

Strange
This book is well written but a bit strange.Mr. Pollen bases his premise thatplants manipulate mankind into shaping their future because of man's 4 desires. My son had to read it for college, so I picked it up.It is quite a "green" book with lots of progressive ideas. ... Read more

Product Description
Looking for a faster, easier, and fun way to identify plants? Botany in a Day teaches you the patterns method of plant identification, so that you can discover the wonderful world of plants around you, wherever you go.

Instead of trying to identify plants one-at-a-time, Botany in a Day give you a way to learn them by the hundreds, based on the principle that related plants have similar patterns for indentification, and they often have similar uses.

The one-day tutorial included in the text teaches you seven key patterns to recognize more than 45,000 species of plants worldwide. Master these seven patterns and you will be ready to use the included reference guide--Thomas J. Elpel's Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families of North America. Here you will find the patterns for indentification and the patterns of uses for the majority of plants across the continent.

Botany in a Day is used as a guide by thousands of individuals, plus herbal schools and universities across North America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Great book!
This book is awesome! Great for anyone. The line drawings really help. A little big for the field, but is still a good guide to have in your bookshelf.

Botany in a Day
Very interesting book! I am not really into the herbal aspect, but the family descriptions can be very useful. Of course, you can't identify all families with these few words, but it will do very well for the common families that one might reasonably expect to find in everyday study. The drawings are great. I greatly prefer drawings to photos when trying to identify anything. It will not be of very much to an "expert" botanist.

Catchy title, great book.
Botany in a Day seems like a little much for the every day person - how can all that time spent in the classroom be condensed into such a short and easy to read book?Well the answer of course is that it really can't, but this book sure seems to do a great job of giving you what you need, and doing it in a short and concise package.All that said I have to admit I have not had a chance to sit down and do anything but quickly thumb through it and put it on my to read shelf.But hey, I do plan to spend some time with it and expect that it will be some good time.

This book Changed My Life !!!
This is the most comprehensive, thoughtful, well written book I know of on plant identification and their subsequent utilization as a resource be it food, rope or medicine.I am in awe at the depth of experience the author has with the plants in the book.The grouping and classification is clear and interesting. The patterns used to identify are within reach of anyone, its as if I've been given a key to unlock some of the beautiful mysteries of nature. I have a deeper appreciation and understanding of nature. Now I am truly participating in nature.

So far it has allowed me to teach my kids (3 and 5) more about plants than I learned in 25 years! I love this book.

I appreciate the Medicinal Properties of Plants section which has enough detail for a chemist but is understandable to the layperson as well.The entire book is written like that; professional or layperson will get a profound lesson.Its like an entire course on wild plants but written in a reference manual style with a very personal touch.

This has given me a level of confidence I have always desired. Any human being should be given a copy of this book at birth!This should be in every library and taught in every school. If animals could read I would recommend it to them to. Peace

Awesome book, just buy it and start at the beginning!
I want to start by saying that This book is NOT a field guide for identification. The main thrust of this book is to teach you how to approach learning plants according to the patterns that they are named for and by. Botany in a day is an invaluable asset to any naturalist's arsenal of literature, especially someone who's a beginner, but also for those who are intermediate and advanced. With this guide you will be able to travel to unfamiliar parts of the world and make logical deductions about the kind of plants you find there, as to their variety and possible uses. And that is what makes this book so special, once you've learned about the different plant families you will be set free and I guarantee you'll never look at the plant world the same way again.

Botany in a Day is extremely nutrient dense. Most importantly you get the patterns of each family that make identification easy. On top of that you get medicinal, food and primitive uses of many species. Detailed sketches of some species and more importantly their parts ie;stamens, petals, sepals, etc. Plants are indexed separately both by common and scientific name. You get a tutorial at the beginning that explains a little about plants "evolution" and why plants are named and classified the way they are. This puts the whole plant kingdom in to context in a way that you can begin to wrap your mind around the way they're organized. There's also sections on plant compound groups such as volatile oils, glycosides and so on.

I wish I could get a copy of this for each of my relative's families. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to make sense of the plant kingdom, it will change the way you see the outdoors!

Edit 2.21.10: One thing I forgot to mention is that I was unimpressed with Elpel's stance on the use of marijuana. He, as an author and a person often proposes looking at life "With unbounded open-mindedness tempered by equally unbounded skepticism" But then he goes on to claim that many youth are led astray by the use of it. But I don't think that's the case at all, I think the mainstream mentality of our society is what leads the major part of the population to be vapid and materialistic when they would find a holistic life much more fulfilling. As a young a child growing up in the suburbs I lived life by the clock and was very stressed out because of it. marijuana forced me to slow down and take in the splendor and beauty of everything around us and, though not by itself only, marijuana caused me to love life, and realize what an incredible gift each second really is. While I know it's possible to abuse the substance, I do believe there are healthy uses for it as well. ... Read more

Product Description
A bestseller since its debut in 1990, this indispensable and handy reference has now been expanded and updated to include an appendix on plant taxonomy and a comprehensive index. Two dozen new photos and illustrations make this new edition even richer with information. Its convenient paperback format makes it easy to carry and access, whether you are in or out of the garden. An essential overview of the science behind plants for beginning and advanced gardeners alike.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Botany Made Easy
This book was recommended in the Master Gardener program. It is very readable with lots of useful photos and diagrams. It makes a difficult subject easy to understand.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Following the success of Anatomy for the Artist and Sketch Book for the Artist, Botany for the Artist teaches readers in step-by-step illustrations and expert narrative instruction how to master the art of drawing plants. Page after page of beautiful, detailed photographs complement Sarah Simblet s illustrations showing how an understanding of botany really helps you to draw plants; drawing classes provide a wealth of practical how-to advice; and pages from Sarah's own sketchbooks as well as inspirational master classes reveal how other artists-from 17th century masters to contemporary botanical illustrators-have portrayed plants throughout the years. This lavishly illustrated book will not only be the definitive guide for those wishing to master the art of drawing plants, but a sumptuous gift book for all those passionate about plants and how they are portrayed in art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Amazing resource!
Amazing resource, breath-taking imagery and photos. Excellent survey of Botany for the artist. This shouldn't be confused with a college level botany reference. This is botany for poets. But it covers the material a botanical illustrator must know without getting mired down.

I do wish they had covered a bit about the frequent confusion over tree identification and the tricky genetics that can baffle botanists as well as laymen. That really isnt much of a gripe to have.

Buy this book.

botany for the artist
This is a beautiful book, very inspirational and an excellent reference book. Amazon was very efficient in postage and packaging, was very happy.

A fully illustrated compendium of step-by-step illustrations and instructions
An art instructor at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, and at the Royal College of Art in London, Sarah Simblet draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in "Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants" to create a superbly organized and presented 256-page, fully illustrated compendium of step-by-step illustrations and instructions that will enable even the most novice of art students to produce accurate drawings of plants ranging from roots, stems and leaves, to flowers, fruit, cones, and seeds. Of special note is the opening chapters providing insights into the elements of such images, as well as to the materials and basic techniques required for producing them. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants" is especially recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Art Instruction reference collections.

Best of the Lot
I have many botanical art book but this one is the best. Easy to follow with great insights and tips.It goes without saying that it also a beautiful book. ... Read more

Product Description
An exciting new approach to learning about botany. Teaches the structure and function of plants and surveys the entire plant kingdom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Botany
The book "Botany Coloring Book" arrived in excellent condition, and the packing was excellent to prevent any damages to the book.I am enjoying the information and plan to use color pencils to color the parts of the plant to gain a better understanding of the subject matter.Thanks!

Botany Teacher
I ordered this book to provide reinforcement for my Botany class's Histology Unit. I already own the Biology and Zoology editions. These science coloring books are an excellent tool to add to your classroom. I would also recomend them to any post secondary student who is studying Botany.

GREAT!
This is a great product!It was very helpful when it came time for me to study for my tests!I would reccommend this to anyone taking a college botany course.The book came quickly and in excellent condition as well.

The Botany Coloring Book
I am presently enrolled in a Botany course at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA.This book was recommended as a study guide.I found it to be excellent in helping me to visually understand the inner workings of plants. Great coloring book, too.

Botany Coloring Book
I found this extremely helpful for a Botany For Gardener's course I am taking.Even though it seems to take a long time to color each page, it really helps to visualize the material and remember it more easily. ... Read more

Product Description
Cannabishas been cultivated for 10,000 years.In recent times, marijuana has undergone more genetic experimentation and cross-breeding than during the previous 10,000 years.This remarkable hybrid development was accomplished by thousand of individuals new to any kind of farming.Marijuana Botanyoffers accurate information about all aspects of cultivation.It explains how quality is affected by climate and environment; identification and desirability of female plants; consideration for cultivating sinsemilla; THC production and peak potency; producing desirable plants year after year. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A excellent book on breeding rather than growing
This is an excellent book if you are interested in marijuana botany and propagation. It is not the best book if you are looking for general information on how to grow marijuana--although cloning techniques like air-layering are covered well.The main benefit of this book is the detailed description of now to selective fertilize plants for seed propagation.It shows, for example, how to use bags to fertilize some of your female flowers while leaving others unfertilized.

If you are interested in developing seed this is a must read. If you just want to grow feminized seed and clones you probably don't need this book. You'd be better off with Marijuana Grow Basics: The Easy Guide for Cannabis Aficionados or if you want a DVD Learn to Grow Medical Marijuana: When You're Allowed As Few As 6 Plants and Every Plant Is Precious

There are many excellent drawing in black and white showing botanical details if you are interested in marijuana botany.

If you'd like a good scientific look at cannibis...
Then this book is for you!

If you're looking for a how-to guide for growing hydro, or any peticular method.. please look elsewhere.The name says it all... its a Botony book, not a growers guide.

Great reference for those of you who want a really technical review!!!

Retired
This book, as compared to others on the same subject, is lacking content and substance. I would not recommend it to anyone if they are really interested in learning from the material.
Don in CO

Great book for the breeder
This is a great book for the marijuana breeder as it goes over everything as far as genes go. Het/homozygous explanation. Like said in the Reviews, THIS IS NOT A GROW BOOK, this book is for people truly interested in the genetics of breeding their own strain. Also I am a firm believer that someone needs their own experiences to say something is better than the other. That being said, I have not read any other books on the subject but as far as I know the only other book is by DJ Short and I have not had a chance to read it yet (but I do own it) and I would probably say that Marijuana Botany has more information but may not be better than DJ Short's.

Old but still good
This is a good book about the marijuana plant itself but is a bit dated. Still if you want to learn more about breeding and plant physiognomy then this is a good choice. ... Read more

Product Description
Newly updated, Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology, Fourth Edition provides an current, thorough overview of the fundamentals of botany. The topics and chapters are organized in a sequence that is easy to follow, beginning with the most familiar (structure) and proceeding to the less familiar (metabolism) then finishing with those topics that are probably the least familiar to most beginning students (genetics, evolution, the diversity of organisms, and ecology). The diversity and systematics are organized on a cladistics basis.An emphasis on natural selection throughout the book allows the instructor to incorporate analysis of diversity of structures and metabolisms into every subject.Believing that a knowledge of evolution by natural selection is essential for understanding biological structure and processes, the author works throughout the text to convey how powerful a concept natural selection is. Beginning with Chapter 1, selective advantage and fitness are referred to or discussed in every chapter and on almost every page. Natural selection is covered in detail in Chapter 17 after students have become rather sophisticated in their knowledge of plants and botanical phenomena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Review
Wow that was a super fast delivery, and the product was as described thank-you very much.

Fabulous
This book was just what I asked for at a great price. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Great delivery!
My shipment came very fast and the book was in brand new condition. I would definitely purchase from again.

Useful introductory book in Botany
One of the most useful book in botany to beginners. The author one of the most botanist(and plant anatomist)in recent time.

The review by Tony Rpince was of the purchase, not the text
Sorry Tony, sounds like you got burnt by a seller.
Botany by Mauseth is a great introductory text - not a note book. ... Read more

Product Description
Outlines of Lessons in Botany, Part I; from Seed to Leaf is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Jane H. Newell is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Jane H. Newell then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description

This easy-to-use book helps you acquire a wealth of fascinating information about plants. There are 130 pages with text, each facing 130 pages of beautiful illustrations. Each page is a separate subject. Included is a coloring guide for the realistic illustrations. The illustration pages are composed of scientifically accurate line drawings with the true sizes of the plants indicated. Using colored pencils and the authors’ instructions, you can color the various plant structures to stand out in vivid clarity. Your knowledge of plants increases rapidly as you color the illustrations.

There is a balanced selection of subjects that deal with all kinds of plants. However, the emphasis is on flowering plants, which dominate the earth. Drawings show common houseplants, vegetables, fruits, and landscape plants. They also show common weeds, wild flowers, desert plants, water plants, and crop plants.

Botany Illustrated, Second Edition, has three sections. An Introduction to Plants gives you facts on everything from cells to seeds. The Major Groups section is from fungi to algae, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. In Flowering Plant Families are magnolias to asters, and water-plantains to orchids, with the families of major interest included. You will find plants used for food, ornamentals, lumber, medicines, herbs, dyes, and fertilizers, whether wild or poisonous, or of special importance to our Earth’s ecosystem.

Topics that will be of interest to you include:

• Why leaves ‘turn’ color in autumn
• How certain plants devour insects
• How a flower develops into a fruit with seeds
• Why some plants only flower at certain times of the year
• How water, nutrients, and sugars move within a plant, including tall trees
• How flowers are pollinated
• The ‘inside’ story of how plants manufacture their own food
• How plants are named and classified
• How vines ‘climb’
• Why ‘pinching’ makes plants ‘bushy’
• How plants reproduce sexually
• Why shoots grow towards light
• How specific leaf colors can indicate specific mineral deficiencies

Botany Illustrated, Second Edition,  is especially easy to use because of its great flexibility. You can read the text and look at the drawings, read the text and color the drawings, or just enjoy coloring the drawings. No matter where your interests lead you, you will quickly find your knowledge of plants growing! Thus, this beautiful book will be of great value to students, scientists, artists, crafters, naturalists, home gardeners, teachers, and all plant lovers.

Customer Reviews (9)

Great for the beginner
I have been looking for a book that addresses the basics of Botany for a long time. This book immediately explains and divides the plants into divisions, class, and families. I know there are literally thousands of families but they showed a good many common ones.I use the book to help me identify plants. It also helps me to draw them in my pen and ink sketches.

Great Book but Defective Printing
I took this book out of the library and thought it was so terrific that I immediately ordered one for myself. Problem was, the pages are printed wrong, so that the page that should appear on the left is on the right and vice versa. You can tell right away because the page numbers are way in the inside corner by the binding instead of being on the outer edge. The pages are still in the correct order. However, when you get to the plant family descriptions, the illustration is supposed to be on the right and the description on the left as you hold the book open. Instead, the illustrations are printed on the back of the same sheet of paper as the descriptions.This means, for example, the Pea Family illustration appears next to the Dogwood Family description. So don't buy this book from Amazon. When I returned the first defective book, they sent me another defective one. Obviously they have a pile of them in the warehouse, and they don't check to be sure the replacement is OK. Too bad, because this is such a well-written book.

A really good book for the basics.
This book includes well drawn pictures of cell biology, as well as botany. All of the structures are easy to distinguish. I will be using it with another book in place of my biology text this winter term. The two together were less than half the price of the big biology text I had been using. It looks really good!

If you like to color and flip pages...
My father used to remark, when offered coffee with cream, "If I wanted a milkshake, I would have asked for one." My (equally snide) remark concerning this book: "If I wanted a coloring book, I would have asked for one." As such, it is a nice one, with simplified outline drawings suitable for coloring. The information presented is fairly basic but well presented. The problem is that the information page for each set of drawings wound up on the obverse side of the drawing page, rather than side-by-side in a double page spread. This makes it so inconvenient (flipping back and forth to see the drawings, then the information), that the book is almost useless as a learning device.Seeing unrelated information and drawings side-by-side is quite confusing. And, of course, the price is a bit high.

botany illustrated
This is an excellent coloring book with outstanding detail. Just be aware you need to purchase colored pencils. I spend an hour each evening coloring a few pages. Its a great learning tool!. ... Read more

Product Description
Botany for Gardeners offers a clear explanation of how plants grow.

> What happens inside a seed after it is planted? > How are plants structured? > How do plants adapt to their environment? > How is water transported from soil to leaves? > Why are minerals, air, and light important for healthy plant growth? > How do plants reproduce?

The answers to these and other questions about complex plant processes, written in everyday language, allow gardeners and horticulturists to understand plants "from the plant's point of view."

A best-seller since its debut in 1990, Botany for Gardeners has now been expanded and updated, and includes an appendix on plant taxonomy and a comprehensive index. Two dozen new photos and illustrations make this new edition even more attractive than its predecessor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

B for G
Great little book.
Well illustrated with both diagrams and photographs.
Takes me back to the happy days of college Botany.
Clearly written and very readable.

Botany for Gardeners
I very much enjoyed reading this book for an evening course I am taking in horticulture. It is written at just the right level for a course for serious students who are many years past biology but still remember the basic concepts. The pictures and examples are excellent.

Read my mind
I have long been fascinated by the microscopic world that produces our ability to survive and reproduce.Much has been written about the physiology of humans, but much less about how plants "work."I hold an awed view of cellular processes and I think the author of this book shares my sense of wonder about life processes.I heard words like xylem in HS biology, but never understood how a Redwood is able to move water up its "stalk."Now I think Ido.The author explains plant physiology in an understandable, but rigorous manner.

It's one of the books I like to savor, a chapter at a time from root growth to leaf function.If you are awed by how plants have such dominance and diversity you will like this book, gardener or not!

Mike Oren

Make no mistake this is a science book not a garden book
Botany for Gardeners by Dr. Capon is a wonderful addition to any gardener's library but most likely will find its way into many Master Gardener's libraries before a gardener's library.I am both and I also have degrees (many years ago) in botany, chemistry, and engineering.A person that gardens for the joy and love of plants may not find this book interesting or useful unless they are seeking more knowledge about what makes a plant stand up, turn color in the fall, use the CO2 in the air to make its food.That said, for those who are Master Gardeners or botany students this is an excellent find.
Botany is fairly simple compared to the harder sciences but it is still science none the less. The Master Gardener class requires a section on botany and some presentation may be so complex they become a wasted few hours for a person without a science background.What is unique about this book, as opposed to a standard botany text book, is that Dr. Capon has simplified rather complex processes without losing any of the science behind the process.Believe me when I say a basic botany book for college courses is way more complicated than this, although not always better in terms of the learning process.
The book itself is remarkable for the stunning photography.One does not need to be a scientist to appreciate how remarkable the cross sections of plant parts are, and how much they reinforce the text.I will be putting together a PowerPoint Presentation for my counties Master Gardener program as we are losing our long time professor that has taught this part of the program for years.He could speak with a few slides and great knowledge.It will be hard to replace him but I hope by using Dr. Capon's book I can simplify botany for Master Gardeners and help them to gain an appreciation for the wonders of this world at the macro and microscopic level.
For those of you who just love to garden and do not care what a bud looks like or want to wade through scientific names, check this book out from your library and just look at the stunning photos.It may encourage you to want to know, what does make a tree stand up!
Thank you Dr. Capon for a well done book.

not a casual read!
I'm reading this because it is required for my botany class. while much of it is certainly interesting, it is not a casual, fun, book to read. I can't imagine an ordinary gardener (like me) reading this just for fun. It's highly technical full of apical meristems, xylem, phloems and the like. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for the introductory-level course in Economic Botany, this edition offers more emphasis on key topics like biotechnology and ethnobotany. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Comprehensive
This book is a comprehensive introduction to the botany of economically important plants.Approximately half the book is devoted to food plants, with separate chapters for temperate fruits, tropical fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables.In each of these chapters, a basic botanical description is provided for each major crop as well as snippets of information about this history or culture usage of the crop.The remainder of the book covers non-food uses of plants, with chapters devoted to spices, herbs, and perfumes; vegetable oils and waxes; hydrogels, latexes, and resins; medicinal plants; psychoactive drugs and poisons; stimulating beverages; alcoholic beverages; fibers, dyes, and tannins; wood, cork, and bamboo; ornamental plants; and economically important uses of algae.The text, especially in the later chapters, also explains how the plants are processed to form the finally product and includes numerous diagrams as well as pictures.The book includes suggested readings, a glossary, and an index, but it does not have study questions.The authors note that they saved money by not using any color photos, since they are so readily available on the Internet, but it would have been nice to point readers to specific sites to view such pictures if they so wished.

Overall, the text is fairly complete, although there are a few omissions and sloppy errors.For example, I was quite puzzled over lack of coverage of the entire ribes family in the temperate fruits section.Perhaps currants and gooseberries aren't well known in the US today, but they were in the past, and they are certainly important in Europe.In the vegetable section, the authors note that spinach is a good source of folic acid and they suggest that "It may have been the folic acid . . . as well as the iron that helped give Popeye his energy."Unfortunately, they didn't critically examine spinach as a source of iron; it is well known today that many other vegetables have much more iron and that the iron in spinach is not as readily absorbable as that found in other vegetables.Such cursory treatment will ensure that readers who are not aware of the limited value of spinach as a source of iron will continue to be misinformed.Rather than treating such subjects so briefly, it would have been better to set the facts straight.In addition to these minor problems, there were a few strange typos that should have been caught, especially in a third edition, such as "Uzbeckistan", and mis-converting Celsius to Fahrenheit "Deciduous trees on the south and west sides . . . reduce temperatures as much as 5 C to 5.5 C (41 to 42 F) inside."Wow!Those are some trees!

Aside from these small limitations, the book might be useful as a textbook for an undergraduateeconomic botany class.It might also be of interest to garden enthusiasts, although it's rather dry reading.

Practical and Beautiful.
What might at first glance appear to be your basic botany book actually doubles as a beautiful "coffee table" book with the most splendid artwork you will ever see.Display it proudly. Use it wisely.Kudos mostespecially to M. Ogorzaly, her work is most impressive out of the bunch ofdistinguished collaborators! ... Read more

Product Description
The Cannabis Breeder's Bible offers real-world, professional techniques for breeding primo pot and gives precise growing information for 60 popular marijuana varieties. The book covers new hybridization techniques, international seed law issues, protecting new breeds or strains from knockoff artists, shipping seeds and clones, breeding lab designs, product testing, primordial cannabis, landrace and lost strains, common mutations, and more. This useful guide also features a wealth of photographs, instructive illustrations, and in-depth interviews with breeders and seed bank professionals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Beyond the fertilizer!
Over the last few years I have read several publications that covered the topic of growth and harvest. I have also read a plethora of articles on grow room construction and infrastructure for a good grow and a healthy garden.

This said, I have never seen a publication so in-depth and concise in regards to plant biology, genetics and reproduction.

I have had to go back to my old volumes and brush up on my knowledge just to get my mind around the fundamentals of this book. Not for hobbyists!

This is a very professional and easy to understand publication that I would recommend to any serious breeder or ANY flora whatsoever!

grow you good thing. Sadroc 75

The Cannabis breeders bible
I think this is a really good book for people who understand horticulture and have been growing for a long time and want to expand. It is however no good for the first time or novice who may get confused with the scientific nature of the book.

ok info
I bought this book with the hopes of learning something about genetics, and I learned that the author should devote some time to reading "marijuana botany" by Robert Connell Clarke.Unfortunately "The Cannabis Breeders Bible" is not a "definitive guide to marijuana genetics" the book is more like recycled garbage from a bunch of other grow books.It does nothing to explain the real deal with breeding like identifying strains that are compatible and in turn can breed.He puts it in a manner saying all you have to do is find a male and find a female and voila you have seeds.Any good cannabis breeder knows this is not the truth.Anyone looking at this book should just buy "Marijuana Botany" and leave it at that. The Cannabis breeders bible did nothing more than waste my time.

Not For The Beginner
This is an excellent resource on cannabis genetic's and how cannabis genetic characteristic's are utilized from the male and female plants.. IT IS NOT FOR THE BEGINNER wanting to learn how to grown cannabis, it is for experienced growers and designed for the advanced grower or anyone interested in cannabis genetic's to create their own variety of cannabis. If you do not have the time to understand how genetic's worknor do not understand basic chemistry about genetic's, this book is not for you. Verl McCown, GG

Very comprehensive!
I Lightly read part of this book when i first began to read about cannabis. Boy oh boy was it a handful. This is a very advanced book. If you are simply a toker then i wouldn't suggest this book, but if you are an advanced grower/breeder this is for you.

I would suggest reading other grow material and particularly greens grow bible before diving into this book.

I will have to read it again now that i am a little more knowledgable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Student Approved!
This atlas has been VERY helpful as an additional study tool in my botany/fungi/algae class!Highly Recommended.

Great book.
The book has great pictures and hold a lot of information.Shipping was fast.

Wonderful guide book.
Great guide book to have with you during a botany lab.The color photos and the brief descriptions get you on your way to understanding what you're dealing with while working on dissection or looking at slides.

Super
This book was a tremendous help in identifying plants for my Botany class.The pictures are clear and accurate. I would recommend buying for any plant course!

Great Price/Buy
The three book deal (textbook, lab book, and photography reference book) all new- all less than $200.
Great buy. Would do it again in a heartbeat. ... Read more

Product Description
This profusely illustrated reference guide offers students and nature lovers a fundamental understanding of all plant life, from the tallest trees to tiny fungal growths. It explains plant formation, growth, and reproduction, both in the wild, and in cultivated fields and plant nurseries. Cross-section illustrations show the parts of fruits and flowers and explain seed germination. Plant life is also presented within the larger context of the Earth's ecosystem. The influence of climates is shown with focus on how plant life differs in desserts, rain forests, and temperate zones. Plants are seen as sources of food, as floral and garden decoration, as wood for lumber, and even as fiber for the manufacture of cloth and rope. The book is filled with photos, artwork, and easy-to-read diagrams and charts, all in full color. It makes a fine reference book for classrooms and school libraries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Guide
This atlas provides a brief, very well illustrated overview of botany. It's useful as a quick reference guide for adults as well as a teaching tool for students. I'm using this book as an intro to botany with my kids, in conjunction with lots of hands-on experiments and gardening activities. It's the best resource I've found, especially for the price! Highly recommended.

An informative guide
I find the Essential Atlas of Botany to be an informative guide.With a total of 96 pages, this English-language edition was released in 2004.This guide has helped me to gain a better understanding of plant life.There are ten sections:plant anatomy, plant physiology, reproduction, ecology and evolution, algae, fungi, plants, plants and their environment, wild plants and humans, and plants for production.Within these sections are specifics--examples of these are leaves, photosynthesis, asexual reproduction, plant communities and ecosystems, microscopic algae, the higher fungi, mosses and liverworts, deciduous forests, edible wild plants, and gardens.Accompanying the text are helpful color illustrations and photos.The guide also includes a foreword, a contents section, an introduction, and an alphabetical subject index.I recommend this useful guide. ... Read more

Product Description
This wonderful book uses the classical and Charlotte Mason methodology to give elementary school students an introduction to God's incredible world of plants. Narration and notebooking are used to encourage critical thinking, logical ordering, retention, and record keeping. Each lesson in the book is organized with a narrative, some notebook work, an activity, and a project. The activities and projects use easy-to-find household items and truly make the lessons come alive! They include making a "light hut" in which to grow plants, dissection of a bean seed, growing seeds in plastic bags to watch the germination process, making a leaf skeleton, observing how plants grow towards light, measuring transpiration, forcing bulbs to grow out of season, and forcing pine cones to open and close. Although designed to be read by the parent to elementary students of various grade levels, it is possible for students with a 4th-grade reading level to read this book on their own. Grades K-6. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Fantastic!
My daughter is reading this book on her own at seven years old. She loves it!

A Nice Way To Explore Science
It took me a while to actually pick this book up and use it with my kids.When I did, I was pleasantly surprized.With multiple ages of elementary age children, it was a nice way to study a subject together (which you just can't do with readers and math).I or my eldest would read several paragraphs then have someone tell back what they understood from the passages as we went along.I tended to break up the lessons with the appropriate activities or notebook pages rather than wait until the end of the chapters.The author has free downloadable notebooking pages on her website (there are also several companies who produce fun notebooking pages/games/activities to go with the appologia science series). The author gives choices of experiments to do that use common household items (there again there are companies who sell kits with all the experiment items included to make this easier for the parent).My children loved doing these projects.I have to say that I'm a big fan of nature walks and exploring science hands on.. the notebooking lended itself to this perfectly.I truly was amazed at what my children were able to retain (and use in casual conversations months after the fact!).Notebooking was an idea we had not tried in our schooling, but we have been won over by doing our science notebooks.Looking back over their notebooks (sketches, pictures, stories, experiments, journaling, etc.) has been a highlight of our school year.

We have already purchased our next science book written by Mrs. Fulbright to use this upcoming school year.

LOVE IT
This is our first experience with one of Fulbright's science books, but it will not be the last.We all learned so much about our world and our God.The depth of the subject and the style it was written in made this study totally enjoyable, and we couldn't wait to learn more.Who would have thought that plants are so interesting?The kids seemed interested and thoughtful and I was totally fascinated.We can't wait for Astronomy!

Excellent Botany Primer
We used this book last year for elementary Science, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Exploring Creation with Botany is a great introduction to the topic of plant life and nature study. We continue to use it, even after the school year was over, and my youngest daughter (age 8) has read it to herself several times in the last year because she loved it so much. Now, when we see plants and trees at a nursery or while on a walk, everyone can answer basic questions about that plant or tree.

From A Kid That Uses Apologia Elementary
My name is Windsor and I'm using my mom's account with permission.
I wanted to say something about this book. I really like it because I can understand it. I had to do this kind of science again this year because I didn't understand it last year in Abeka. I really like doing the projects with my mom and sister. Science is so cool and I really like how the book sounds in my head when I read it or my mom reads it to me. It's kind of like hearing somebody that really knows how to explain something say stuff that I need to know. I keep a notebook and am learning to draw cool nature stuff. I just wanted to say thank you to Mrs. Fulbright for writing something I can understand. Thank you. From Windsor a 9 year old science learner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Phototgraphic Atlas of Botany and Guide to Plant Identification
An excellent supplemental reference to other technical plant identification works.Pictures are crisp and clear.With this book one is able to review key diagnosic characteristics used for all plant families and then compare details with excellent pictures from each family.

A great resource
THis is an outstanding resource in an easy to use format.The book is well designed with a wire binder so you can use it and fold it without harm to the book.

Photo atlas of botany and guide to plant identification
I have struggled to learn some botany since retiring in 2004. I find this book uniquely helpful in connecting botanical descriptions with the corresponding aspects of the plants being described. The book has excellent photos of just the right features of the plants, and it has the right level of explanation.

Good resource
Great book to id plants by family.Pictures and diagrams excellent - only problem is size - not usable in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
"In the relatively recent past, all humans had to be skilled practical botanists in order to survive; we had to know which vegetables would hold up during winter storage, which herbs to use for specific illnesses, how to prepare plant fibers for weaving, and how to select the right woods for construction or cooking fires. We now forget many of the daily interactions with plants that were taken for granted during the past three centuries."
—From the author’s preface

In this fascinating book, celebrated author Judith Sumner rescues from the pages of history the practical experience and botanical wisdom of generations of Americans.Crossing the disciplines of history, ethnobotany, and horticulture—and with a flair for the colorful anecdote—Sumner underlines a part of the American story often ignored or forgotten: how European settlers and their descendents made use of the "strange" new plants they found, as well as the select varieties of foods and medicines they brought with them from other continents. From "turkie wheat" (corn) to "tuckahoe" (a Native American source of starch), Sumner describes the transition from wonderment to daily use, as homesteads were built upon and prospered from the plants of the New World.

Virtually no aspect of "practical" botany is ignored in these pages, from dyestuffs to household herbs and from timber harvests to holly wreaths. It is a remarkable story of the interdependence of plants and the American home. Historians, herbalists, home gardeners, and ethnobotanists will find American Household Botany a treasure trove of original research and insight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

American Household Botany Review
AN excellent history of useful botanicals as developed and/or brought to the shore of America. I have enjoyed it very much and hope that my loaned-out copy cames back to me ;-).

More reviews of this superb book
Read what many other reviews have had to say about this book -

"Well documented, authoritative, eminently readable, and a good resource for several disciplines."
--Joann Karges, Sida, Contributions to Botany, September 2005

"The subject as presented here is more than a factual history; it places these plants in the daily activities of people, from chores to rituals, and anchors them in a realistic landscape that has room for beauty as well as utilitarian function."
--Kim Long, Bloomsbury Review, May 2005

"Sumner is an accomplished storyteller who weaves together fascinating information about plants and people."
--Linda Askey, American Gardener, May/June 2005

"Readers will discover many intersting tidbits about the geographical origins, folklore, and uses of particular plants. ... Readers will gain a good general introduction to plant science and discover the multitudinous ways in which plants play a part in people's lives."
--D. H. Pfister, Choice, March 2005

"Historians, herbalists, horticulturists, ethnobotanists, cooks and home gardeners will find many items of interest written in a delightful and useful manner in this comprehensive book."
--Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, October 2004

"American Household Botany is a great way to while away an afternoon. Each page is permeated with an abundance of fascinating facts and figures. ... [It] will amaze, delight, and inform."
--Lynette Walther, Camden Herald, July 29, 2006

"History underground is unearthed in Judith Sumner's latest contribution to American studies. ... isn't nearly as dry as its title implies. In fact, the subject matter can get a bit dirty."
--Suzanne Moore, Wichita Falls Times Record News, April 3, 2005

"It makes a great gift for anyone who loves history or gardens or both."
--Mary Ann Newcomer, Idaho Botanical Garden, Spring 2005

"The book traces the history of the immigrant's dependence on these unknown resources and provides a very well written lively history of the settler's numerous ways of coping with and utilising plants."
--Michael Heinrich, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, March 2005

"A sprightly tome, well written, and well researched, covering a range of topics... fascinating."
--Marvin J. Caldwell, Taxon, February 2005

"Historians, herbalists, ethno-botanists, and even home gardeners will find [this book] a treasure trove ... an absolute joy to read."
--Larry Cox, Tucson Citizen, February 10, 2005

"It is a remarkable story of the interdependence of plants and the American home. Historians, herbalists, home gardeners, and ethnobotanists will find American Household Botany a treasure trove of original research and insight."
--Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation Newsletter, Winter 2005

"The book begins with foods cultivated by Native Americans, then discusses garden plots of European settlers that provided wood, fiber, and textiles. It gracefully merges history, ethnobotany, and horticulture, all spiced with colorful antecdotes."
--American Herb Association Quarterly Newsletter, Winter 2005

"She has gathered often quite obscure information from a huge number of both primary and secondary sources for American Household Botany in order to tell utterly fascinating tales of ethnobotanical history."
--HortIdeas, December 2004

"Engaging and enlightening."
--Ilene Sternberg, Wilmington News Journal, December 16, 2004

"This is a treasure of original research and insight."
--Russell Studebaker, Tulsa World, December 11, 2004

"A fun and hearty read."
--Marion Owen, UpBeet Gardener Newsletter, December 3, 2004

"Sumner's findings make interesting reading."
--Suzanne Hively, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 7, 2004

A fabulous book.
In this fascinating book, celebrated author Judith Sumner rescues from the pages of history the practical experience and botanical wisdom of generations of Americans. Crossing the disciplines of history, ethnobotany, and horticulture--and with a flair for the colorful anecdote--Sumner underlines a part of the American story often ignored or forgotten: how European settlers and their descendents made use of the "strange" new plants they found, as well as the select varieties of foods and medicines they brought with them from other continents. From "turkie wheat" (corn) to "tuckahoe" (a Native American source of starch), Sumner describes the transition from wonderment to daily use, as homesteads were built upon and prospered from the plants of the New World.

Virtually no aspect of "practical" botany is ignored in these pages, from dyestuffs to household herbs and from timber harvests to holly wreaths. It is a remarkable story of the interdependence of plants and the American home. Historians, herbalists, home gardeners, and ethnobotanists will find American Household Botany a treasure trove of original research and insight.

Not sure about this
This is a book on a fascinating topic, but the book does not really bring the topic to life. The illustrations are quite limited, and certainly are not the strong point of the book: the book relies on its text. The text does cover a lot of ground, touching on many topics, but explains nothing in any depth.

Skimming through the book I notice things which hit me unpleasantly, although it would be an overstatement to say I am noticing serious errors. Maybe somebody will like this style of writing? I am unsure. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Out of print book. Quick Delivery.
This book was hard to find or buy in book stores in australia. I found the seller reliable and provided the book in perfect condition and the delivery was quick.

Essential Spatial, Narrative, and Geographic Theory
Book Review: Paul Carter's The Road to Botany Bay: An Exploration of Landscape and History.

The Skinny: Buy this out-of-print book right now before they are all gone. Who? Everyone, but especially anyone who works with narrative, history, landscape, colonialism, empire, and even linguistic theory.

This masterful work by Paul Carter revisits Australia's beginnings. Carter rejects previous Australian histories because they fail to understand the founding and exploration of Australia as one of the primary mechanisms of the colonial enterprise. Reframing Australian history in terms of the how explorers experienced (and dealt with their experiences of) Australia, Carter is able to show how even the simple act of naming attempted to incorporate Australia into the European imagination. Thus, explorers of the inner continent used imported Western geographical terms to describe Australia's unique environments. Early narratives of exploration, such the famous voyage of Capt. James Cook, demonstrate this point very well and are extremely enjoyable to read. Take this passage as an example:

Almost the greatest barrier to Australia's spatial history is the date 1788. On the one side, anterior to and beyond the limits of Australian 'history', lies a hazy geo-historical tradition of surmise, a blank sea scored at intervals down the centuries by the prows of dug-outs, out-riggers and, latterly, three-master; it is a 'thick horizon', a rewarding site of myth and speculation. But it lacks substance....

Carter is talking about Cook's journey--and suggesting that Australia's history prior to its discovery by the west is largely unrecoverable in historical terms--but it is lyrical and playful. This is probably because Carter also happens to write poetry, which is fairly evident throughout the text because of his sensational metaphors. His writing is sometimes repetitive, but he attacks Australian history from multiple angles, which often means revisting earlier material in creative ways. Creativity is the key here, for this work has too many intriguing theoretical contributions to list here. This volume is jam-packed with insights and observations that specialists and generalists will enjoy. Let me highlight what I believe is the most significant theoretical contribution that can easily be taken away from this volume: the distinction between explorers and taxonomists. Explorers approach a new land as something new and outside their experiences. When the map says "Here be dragons," they are eager to find out if they're there. Explorers are open to discovery, finding something genuinely new. Taxonomists, on the other hand, hope to incorporate whatever new items they find into their pre-existing taxonomy. This is, of course, the central point of Carter's text. Taxonomists are locked into seeing the world through European eyes. They fail to account for the new on its own terms. They can only bring what they already know. Australia is not a "new place," but one which has merely been extended into the West's geography. In other words, taxonomists are cheeky little monkeys who don't play nice with Australia.

Carter frames this history through an analysis of landscape and space, which makes this work essential reading for anyone who wants another work of theory to build from. If you've already read Keith Basso's Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and Language Among the Western Apache, then this should be next on your list. Carter's contribution will change the way you think about history, landscapes, places, names, colonization, empire, exploration, and Australia. Grab a copy of this seminal out-of-print book before they all disappear! ... Read more

Product Description
A clear, nontechnical explanation of how plants work, and our bestselling book. It succeeds in explaining the complex processes of plant growth, functions, adaptation, responses, and reproduction in simple language. As the author intended, the gardener can come to understand a plant "from the plant's point of view." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great book to start with for all plant people
This is a very informative book. Covers all the basics of plant life. The chapters are in an odd arrangement but can be read in whatever order one wishes without becoming lost. The language is not too technical but offers a great deal of information in a fairly slim book. I used it as a horticulture student. It would be of use to anyone wanting a basic understanding of plant life,reproduction etc.

no title
Absolutely fascinating book, written with an obvious awe and love of the plant kingdom.Pictures are great; so are drawings.Author makes very clear what can be a complicated subject.Really renews one's love of gardening.Included are a few practical hints as well.Tells how plants are constructed and how they grow; all about each part of a flower; what happens to water after roots draw it from the soil; a most readable explanation of photosynthesis, why gardeners prune, all about stems and roots, what happens inside seeds, etc.I really learned a lot.Especially about why certain gardening practices are beneficial to plants - why we do the things we do, and the true miracle of life that plants are.We exist because of the life of plants.

"Botany for Gardeners" is not for every gardener
I found this book to be helpful as a overview type coverage in botany, but it left a lot to be desired. It was not written for gardeners as the title may imply.This is a rather heavy text for the ordinary gardner, and not enough for a Botany student.I found the text to be poorly arranged, with poor chapter content.This is a text that would be good for a gardener that is really interested in learning more, but leaves a lot to be desired in some of the explanations.

Cheaper Isn't Alway Better
After all of these years the editors of this book have neglected to correct the glaring errors of the original.The theories of botany have advanced since the orginal book was written but you'll find no evidence here.From the glaring errors in taxonomy and basic plants scinece you just don't want to buy this book unless you find it used at a garage sale.

Not really for gardeners
I love gardening, reading, and science, so I was very hopeful when I saw the title of this book.The title sounds very interesting.This book left me disappointed.It felt like work to read.There were interesting tidbits about plants, but they were buried in mind-numbing details.
Opening the book at random I find this quote:
"The chemical name for natural auxin, produced by plants, is indole-3-acetic acid, or IAA. Several synthetic substances (naphthaleneacetic acid, or NAA; 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D, etc.), having auxin-like effects when applied to plant tissues, have been studied and are used commercially."
Fortunately, the entire book isn't written this way, but there are way too many sentences just like this one. ... Read more

Product Description
Caught stealing a lady's bonnet in Cornwall, England, in 1786, 19-year-old Mary Broad is sentenced to seven years' incarceration on a prison ship bound for Australia. Amid squalid, dangerous conditions below decks, Mary fights for her life and her dignity ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Truly Great Escape
There are several reasons why I strongly recommend this book to adults and younger readers. First is the simplicity and clarity (maybe authenticity is a better word) of the writing. I felt as if Mary Bryant were talking rather than being talked for. The Hausmans allow her spirit and courage to come through in a way that keeps the sadness or difficulty of the events of Mary's life from overwhelming the story.The story rings true historically, especially with the conditions on the "death" ships and life in the colonies. Knowing that the story is true brings not only Mary alive, but also the richness and complexity of life in the late 1700's. I am in awe of the Hausmans' research, their skill, perseverance and creativity.

If someone were to say that the content of the story (imprisonment, cruelty, death) is too "heavy" for juvenile readers, I would respond that the handling of Mary's character lifts the story out of the realm of defeat and disaster. Childrenlook for stories that are honest about the scariness of the world but also show them how they and/or the spirit can triumph. Importantly in this story, the triumph or survival comes from who Mary is, not from some external magic potion.The fact that Mary is a true historical person and not fictional is also important, especially since the story itself is so very readable--it lets kids see that real people and real life are interesting and exciting, that history is made of real people just trying to get back home.
Adolescent girls need (yearn) to read about real heroines like Mary, not the psuedo-women who are really just macho men with breasts who are passed off as heroines in movies and TV. There is just a real need for stories like Mary's to be told with the love and quality with which the Hausmans told Mary Bryant's story. As Boswell worked hard to free the real Mary, so the authors have freed the historical Mary.

A journey into adulthood and family life
In 1786 19-year-old Mary has been sentenced to hang for stealing a lady's bonnet - but instead finds herself on a prison ship bound for Botany Bay in Australia. Told in the first person, this tells of her struggles on the ship, her new life on land, and her journey into adulthood and family life. ... Read more