The California Naturalist Handbook provides a fun; science-based introduction to California’s natural history with an emphasis on observation; discovery; communication; stewardship and conservation. It is a hands-on guide to learning about the natural environment of California. Subjects covered include California natural history and geology; native plants and animals; California’s freshwater resources and ecosystems; forest and rangeland resources; conservation biology; and the effects of global warming on California’s natural communities. The Handbook also discusses how to create and use a field notebook; natural resource interpretation; citizen science; and collaborative conservation and serves as the primary text for the California Naturalist Program.
#942753 in Books imusti 2009-04-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .90 x 6.00l; 1.20 #File Name: 0520260988360 pagesUniversity of California Press
Review
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful. accessible and informativeBy AlI found this book accessible and informative. Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine; which may be why he has a very readable and enjoyable writing style. This subject is at times dense; dry and difficult but Shermer is never tedious or boring. He does a good job of showing us who Mark Weber; David Irving (an epilogue devoted exclusively to the latter is in the 2009 expanded edition); Bradley Smith and others are and suggests motives for their claims the Holocaust is greatly exaggerated.Shermer offers a very fair and accurate assesment of the claims of the so-called Revisionists; then proceeds to refute them. He references many documents; went to the camps; and conducted many interviews: he got to know the leading revisionists in person. Thus; he gets into primary sources; which earns my respect. He offers a very strong if not water tight argument that the Holocaust has not been exaggerated. He explains his theory of a "convergence of evidence"; which explains that; just as there's no smoking gun to prove evolution; many different facts; from many different sources; lead to conclusions such as evolution and the Holocaust both happened.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Great writing great subjectBy Michael SanderGreat writing great subject0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Deniers denied undeniablyBy CustomerNot exhaustive by any means; but Shermer raises critical questions points that haven't been satisfactorily handled by the deniers.
