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Science
"Greenberg s breezy, engaging style weaves history, politics, environmental policy, and marine biology." --New Yorker
In American Catch, award-winning author Paul Greenberg takes the same skills that won him acclaim in Four Fish to uncover the tragic unraveling of the nation s seafood supply telling the surprising story of why Americans stopped eating from their own waters.
In 2005, the United States imported five billion pounds of seafood, nearly double what we imported twenty years earlier. Bizarrely, during that same period, our seafood exports quadrupled. American Catch examines New York oysters, Gulf shrimp, and Alaskan salmon to reveal how it came to be that 91 percent of the seafood Americans eat is foreign.
In the 1920s, the average New Yorker ate six hundred local oysters a year. Today, the only edible oysters lie outside city limits. Following the trail of environmental desecration, Greenberg comes to view the New York City oyster as a reminder of what is lost when local waters are not valued as a food source.
Farther south, a different catastrophe threatens another seafood-rich environment. When Greenberg visits the Gulf of Mexico, he arrives expecting to learn of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill s lingering effects on shrimpers, but instead finds that the more immediate threat to business comes from overseas. Asian-farmed shrimp cheap, abundant, and a perfect vehicle for the frying and sauces Americans love have flooded the American market.
Finally, Greenberg visits Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the biggest wild sockeye salmon run left in the world. A pristine, productive fishery, Bristol Bay is now at great risk: The proposed Pebble Mine project could under-mine the very spawning grounds that make this great run possible. In his search to discover why this pre-cious renewable resource isn t better protected, Green-berg encounters a shocking truth: the great majority of Alaskan salmon is sent out of the country, much of it to Asia. Sockeye salmon is one of the most nutritionally dense animal proteins on the planet, yet Americans are shipping it abroad.
Despite the challenges, hope abounds. In New York, Greenberg connects an oyster restoration project with a vision for how the bivalves might save the city from rising tides. In the Gulf, shrimpers band together to offer local catch direct to consumers. And in Bristol Bay, fishermen, environmentalists, and local Alaskans gather to roadblock Pebble Mine. With American Catch, Paul Greenberg proposes a way to break the current destructive patterns of consumption and return American catch back to American eaters.
The Washington Post:
"Americans need to eat more American seafood. It s a point [Greenberg] makes compellingly clear in his new book, American Catch: The Fight for our Local Seafood...Greenberg had at least one convert: me.
Jane Brody, New York Times
Excellent.
The Los Angeles Times
If this makes it sound like American Catch is another of those dry, haranguing issue-driven books that you read mostly out of obligation, you needn t worry. While Greenberg has a firm grasp of the facts, he also has a storyteller s knack for framing them in an entertaining way.
The Guardian (UK)
A wonderful new book
Tom Colicchio:
"This is on the top of my summer reading list. A Fast Food Nation for fish. "
On a scorching July afternoon in 1878, at the dawn of the Gilded Age, the moon's shadow descended on the American West, darkening skies from Montana Territory to Texas. This rare celestial event--a total solar eclipse--offered a priceless opportunity to solve some of the solar system's most enduring riddles, and it prompted a clutch of enterprising scientists to brave the wild frontier in a grueling race to the Rocky Mountains. Acclaimed science journalist David Baron, long fascinated by eclipses, re-creates this epic tale of ambition, failure, and glory in a narrative that reveals as much about the historical trajectory of a striving young nation as it does about those scant three minutes when the blue sky blackened and stars appeared in mid-afternoon.
In vibrant historical detail, American Eclipse animates the fierce jockeying that came to dominate late nineteenth-century American astronomy, bringing to life the challenges faced by three of the most determined eclipse chasers who participated in this adventure. James Craig Watson, virtually forgotten in the twenty-first century, was in his day a renowned asteroid hunter who fantasized about becoming a Gilded Age Galileo. Hauling a telescope, a star chart, and his long-suffering wife out west, Watson believed that he would discover Vulcan, a hypothesized intra-Mercurial planet hidden in the sun's brilliance. No less determined was Vassar astronomer Maria Mitchell, who--in an era when women's education came under fierce attack--fought to demonstrate that science and higher learning were not anathema to femininity. Despite obstacles erected by the male-dominated astronomical community, an indifferent government, and careless porters, Mitchell courageously charged west with a contingent of female students intent on observing the transcendent phenomenon for themselves. Finally, Thomas Edison--a young inventor and irrepressible showman--braved the wilderness to prove himself to the scientific community. Armed with his newest invention, the tasimeter, and pursued at each stop by throngs of reporters, Edison sought to leverage the eclipse to cement his place in history. What he learned on the frontier, in fact, would help him illuminate the world.
With memorable accounts of train robberies and Indian skirmishes, David Baron's page-turning drama refracts nineteenth-century science through the mythologized age of the Wild West, revealing a history no less fierce and fantastical.
On a scorching July afternoon in 1878, at the dawn of the Gilded Age, the moon's shadow descended on the American West, darkening skies from Montana Territory to Texas. This rare celestial event--a total solar eclipse--offered a priceless opportunity to solve some of the solar system's most enduring riddles, and it prompted a clutch of enterprising scientists to brave the wild frontier in a grueling race to the Rocky Mountains. Acclaimed science journalist David Baron, long fascinated by eclipses, re-creates this epic tale of ambition, failure, and glory in a narrative that reveals as much about the historical trajectory of a striving young nation as it does about those scant three minutes when the blue sky blackened and stars appeared in mid-afternoon.
Lauded as a "sweeping, compelling" (Wall Street Journal) work of science history, American Eclipse tells the story of the three tenacious and brilliant scientists who raced to Wyoming and Colorado to observe the rare event. Dedicating years of "exhaustive research to reconstruct a remarkable chapter of U.S. history" (Scientific American), award-winning writer David Baron brings to three-dimensional life these competitors--the planet-hunter James Craig Watson, pioneering astronomer Maria Mitchell, and the ambitious young inventor Thomas Edison--to thrillingly re-create the fierce jockeying of nineteenth-century American astronomy. With spellbinding accounts of train robberies and Indian skirmishes, the mythologized age of the Wild West comes alive as never before. An "enthralling" (Daniel Kevles) and magnificent portrayal of America's dawn as a scientific superpower, American Eclipse depicts a young nation that looked to the skies to reveal its towering ambition and expose its latent genius.
On a clear morning in July 1804, Alexander Hamilton stepped onto a boat at the edge of the Hudson River. He was bound for a New Jersey dueling ground to settle his bitter dispute with Aaron Burr. Hamilton took just two men with him: his "second" for the duel, and Dr. David Hosack.
As historian Victoria Johnson reveals in her groundbreaking biography, Hosack was one of the few points the duelists did agree on. Summoned that morning because of his role as the beloved Hamilton family doctor, he was also a close friend of Burr. A brilliant surgeon and a world-class botanist, Hosack--who until now has been lost in the fog of history--was a pioneering thinker who shaped a young nation.
Born in New York City, he was educated in Europe and returned to America inspired by his newfound knowledge. He assembled a plant collection so spectacular and diverse that it amazes botanists today, conducted some of the first pharmaceutical research in the United States, and introduced new surgeries to America. His tireless work championing public health and science earned him national fame and praise from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander von Humboldt, and the Marquis de Lafayette.
One goal drove Hosack above all others: to build the Republic's first botanical garden. Despite innumerable obstacles and near-constant resistance, Hosack triumphed when, by 1810, his Elgin Botanic Garden at last crowned twenty acres of Manhattan farmland. "Where others saw real estate and power, Hosack saw the landscape as a pharmacopoeia able to bring medicine into the modern age" (Eric W. Sanderson, author of Mannahatta). Today what remains of America's first botanical garden lies in the heart of midtown, buried beneath Rockefeller Center.
Whether collecting specimens along the banks of the Hudson River, lecturing before a class of rapt medical students, or breaking the fever of a young Philip Hamilton, David Hosack was an American visionary who has been too long forgotten. Alongside other towering figures of the post-Revolutionary generation, he took the reins of a nation. In unearthing the dramatic story of his life, Johnson offers a lush depiction of the man who gave a new voice to the powers and perils of nature.
Create the perfect training environment for your puppy with these simple steps! The American Kennel Club (AKC) is much more than just a few events that showcase the most skilled canines in the country. The AKC offers advice on everything from feeding and training your dog to caring for them throughout their lives. They have taken that know-how and put it into a puppy training manual that emphasizes common sense caring for puppies from before the dog arrives at its new home through its exciting and high-energy puppyhood. Whether dog owners are new and just learning the ropes of training a puppy or experienced owners that need a tune-up in all things puppy, Train Your Puppy Right offers something for everyone. For new dog owners, the book is a must. It shows how to best prepare the living space for the new pet as well as several life skills every dog owner should know and practice. These include: *How to prepare your home into a puppy-proof living space before the new arrival gets into everything *How to create a safe, inviting, and comfortable living area that your puppy can thrive and grow in *How to introduce the puppy to the rest of the family, including other pets and children *How to feed the puppy and what types of food it needs to grow up healthy and strong *Puppy grooming techniques to ensure comfort and promote good health *Simple yet complex training techniques *Advice on curbing unwanted or self-destructive behavior *Advice on troubleshooting common behavioral problems with your puppy *How to prepare the puppy for vet visits. For experienced owners, the book offers reminders of how to best position the puppy and the owners for success. As with children, raising a puppy often requires remembering the things you already know or have experienced, which makes The American Kennel Club's Train Your Puppy Right invaluable even to seasoned pros at dog training. There is not much a puppy can do that this book does not cover. Perhaps best of all, though, is that the book is not overcomplicated. The advice is easy to digest, and the various strategies, tactics, and tricks included are presented in simple language with easy-to-follow instructions. If you are looking for the easiest and most effective way to train your puppy, The American Kennel Club's Train Your Puppy Right is the book you need today. About the American Kennel Club: The organization was founded in 1884 and registers over one million dogs each year. The club sponsors over 22,000 events each year, including confirmation shows, agility events, obedience trials, and hunting and field competitions.
Now in its fifth year, the AKC Meet the Breed(r) event, which takes place each fall in New York City, is a spectacular forum for the public to meet different breeds of dogs (and cats) in the furand to talk to experts of each breed. This publication, authorized by the American Kennel Club, proves to be an accurate, reliable buyer s guide to assist potential new owners in their selection of the right breed.
In addition to color photographs of an adult and a puppy, breed profile include an official description of the breed with specifics of size, temperament, coat, and color, along with a brief history of the breed in its homeland and the United States. As an introduction to many familiar and lesser known breeds, The American Kennel Club s Meet the Breeds offers buyer s information on how to find and select a puppy plus contacts for each breed club s rescue programs. The profiles also include expert advice on grooming, training, activity level and exercise requirements, which new owners will find valuable in helping them make a decision about which breed best suits their lifestyles and expectations.
The book begins with an introductory chapter titled Are You Ready to Be a Dog Owner?, which briefly describes the responsibilities of dog ownership, as well as the specific qualities of the breeds categorized in each of the seven AKC Groups (Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding). Summary boxes in this chapter list the various characteristics of the dogs in each group.
The 199 breeds featured in the book are arranged alphabetically, and the profiles begin with the breed s year of AKC recognition and group classification. A resource section includes recommended books, periodicals, websites and AKC programs that new owners will find useful and informative. The book is fully indexed.
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Updated to reflect all the latest taxonomic data, American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America is the complete photographic guide to the 657 species of birds found in the United States and Canada.
Ideal for the armchair bird enthusiast or dedicated bird watcher, this book includes stunning full-color photographs revealing 657 individual species with unrivaled clarity. The 550 most commonly seen birds are pictured with plumage variations, and images of subspecies and information on similar birds are provided to make differentiation easy, from game birds and waterfowl to shorebirds and swifts to owls, flycatchers, finches, and more. You can even discover which species to expect when and where with up-to-date, color-coded maps highlighting habitation and migratory patterns.
Written by a team of more than 30 birders and ornithologists with expertise in particular species or families, and produced in association with the American Museum of Natural History, this updated and refreshed edition of American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America is the ultimate photographic guide to every bird species in the United States and Canada.
Written by a team of more than 30 birders and ornithologists, each an expert on certain species or family bird groups, "Birds of North America" brings a whole new level of expertise to the birder's library, all in one category-killing volume. Information on behavior, nesting, and habitat, omitted from many field guides, is included throughout, while books on behavior don't include the wealth of identification information, in as accessible a format, as does this book.
Profiling more than 350 of the most commonly seen birds in eastern North America, this handy photographic field guide brings each species to life on the page.
From the American black duck to the snowy owl to the American Goldfinch, high-quality photographs capture the beauty of these birds and, coupled with concise text, make identification in the wild quick and effortless. Detailed illustrations show typical plumage, comparing juvenile and adult, male and female, and appearance during the winter and summer months. No matter when you want to go birdwatching, American Museum of Natural History: Pocket Birds of North America, Eastern Region can help you locate where a certain species can be seen throughout the entire year, even during migration season.
Created in association with the American Museum of Natural History and produced in a compact and easy-to-use format, American Museum of Natural History: Pocket Birds of North America, Eastern Region is the perfect field companion for bird enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience.
America's Great Plains once possessed one of the grandest wildlife spectacles of the world, equaled only by such places as the Serengeti, the Masai Mara, or the veld of South Africa. Pronghorn antelope, gray wolves, bison, coyotes, wild horses, and grizzly bears: less than two hundred years ago these creatures existed in such abundance that John James Audubon was moved to write, it is impossible to describe or even conceive the vast multitudes of these animals.
In a work that is at once a lyrical evocation of that lost splendor and a detailed natural history of these charismatic species of the historic Great Plains, veteran naturalist and outdoorsman Dan Flores draws a vivid portrait of each of these animals in their glory--and tells the harrowing story of what happened to them at the hands of market hunters and ranchers and ultimately a federal killing program in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Great Plains with its wildlife intact dazzled Americans and Europeans alike, prompting numerous literary tributes. American Serengeti takes its place alongside these celebratory works, showing us the grazers and predators of the plains against the vast opalescent distances, the blue mountains shimmering on the horizon, the great rippling tracts of yellowed grasslands. Far from the empty flyover country of recent times, this landscape is alive with a complex ecology at least 20,000 years old--a continental patrimony whose wonders may not be entirely lost, as recent efforts hold out hope of partial restoration of these historic species. Written by an author who has done breakthrough work on the histories of several of these animals--including bison, wild horses, and coyotes--American Serengeti is as rigorous in its research as it is intimate in its sense of wonder--the most deeply informed, closely observed view we have of the Great Plains' wild heritage.
