Product Description

The magnificent and much-loved Sierra Nevada, called the "Range of Light" by John Muir, is the dominant feature on the California landscape. First published forty years ago, this handbook has become an enduring natural history classic, used by thousands to learn more about virtually every aspect of this spectacular mountain range--from its superb flora and fauna to its rugged topography. Comprehensive yet concise and portable, the book describes hundreds of species: trees and shrubs, flowering plants and ferns, fungi and lichens, insects and fish, amphibians and reptiles, and birds and mammals. Now completely updated and revised, it will continue to be the essential guide to the Sierra Nevada for a new generation of hikers, campers, tourists, naturalists, students, and teachers--everyone who wants to know more about this unique and beautiful mountain range.
* Describes more than 750 of the species most likely to be encountered with more than 500 new color photographs and 218 detailed black-and-white drawings
* Includes engaging and accessible introductory sections on Sierra Nevada topography, climate, geological history, and human history
* The compact, updated species accounts make identification easy, provide informative remarks on ecology and life history, and note which species are threatened or endangered

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55182 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Turtleback
• 592 pages

American Scientist
Over 750 easily understandable (for the lay reader) yet scientifically accurate descriptions are accompanied by excellent drawings and a section of 24 color plates.

From the Inside Flap
"In this single, portable volume there is enough information to satisfy the most voracious naturalist, whether Sierra resident or visitor, while also providing a wealth of useful illustrations (maps, line drawings, color photos) to assist in field identification. This is the book that can easily go backpacking with the plant enthusiast, birder, or butterfly collector."--Bruce Pavlik, Series Editor, California Natural History Guide Series and author of Oaks of California

"Storer and Usinger's Sierra Nevada Natural History is the only book that covers so many aspects of this region's natural history in a compact form. I am thrilled to see that David Lukas has made the careful revisions necessary to update this classic book and make it even more useful and comprehensive. I plan to take it on every hike."--Edward C. Beedy, author of Discovering Sierra Birds

From the Back Cover
"In this single, portable volume there is enough information to satisfy the most voracious naturalist, whether Sierra resident or visitor, while also providing a wealth of useful illustrations (maps, line drawings, color photos) to assist in field identification. This is the book that can easily go backpacking with the plant enthusiast, birder, or butterfly collector."-Bruce Pavlik, Series Editor, California Natural History Guide Series and author of Oaks of California "Storer and Usinger's Sierra Nevada Natural History is the only book that covers so many aspects of this region's natural history in a compact form. I am thrilled to see that David Lukas has made the careful revisions necessary to update this classic book and make it even more useful and comprehensive. I plan to take it on every hike."-Edward C. Beedy, author of Discovering Sierra Birds

Customer Reviews

A useful guide
Bought this book for some friends, and they've gotten quite a bit of use out of it for identifying trees and wildlife in the numerous parks in the Sierra Nevada near where they live. Sounds like a winner to me.

A True Classic
This is the book that took me through too many nights, and early morning units of biology and on into my Masters Studies. A quick reference book that has most of your common everythings on it -- it gets you into a ballpark and usually that is close enough for almost everyone. Plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, insects --- it is all here in one place and the big bonus is that it weighs about 300 pounds less than a set of professional reference books. If I could take only one book with me camping or hiking in the Sierra, this would be the one. And don't forget your 5x and 10x Loupes.