Review Bill Bright, ex editor, Language in Society Mesthrie's outline is well thought out, and he is a sound scholar. ... a volume that meets high scholarly standards, and will be of great usefulness to readers seeking a reference book in sociolinguistics.
Added by: Maria | Karma: 3098.81 | Non-Fiction | 22 January 2009
17
A fascinating story of what it takes to survive and a great character study of the type of person who can/would do it. Tom lived the lazy island life but wasn't satisfied and finally went out to pull a Robinson Crusoe (at the age of 50!). And this was in the 50s. He had no satellite phone to get him out in an emergency, no doppler weather reports, no Honda(tm) generator. On top of that, he had no safety net. Off the regular shipping channels, he had no scheduled visits, just some random people who happened to pass by and say hi. It was just his skill, determination and a great knowledge of island living that allowed him to survive and thrive. His daily struggles (from pesky hermit crabs up to life threatening injuries) are a fascinating peek into a life most people will never experience. After you finish it, be sure check out Wikipedia and the web for more information (and pics) on his life after this book. An amazing read that ends much too quickly.
From Earth's two longest rivers, which flow through African deserts and Amazon jungles, to Siberia's great Yenisei-Angara river system, which drains into the Arctic Ocean, this appealing new book vividly brings the world's great waterways into focus. Students will discover how these rivers came to exist, their place in history, what makes each unusual, and current environmental challenges. "In the Field" sidebars cover such topics as monitoring salinity, measuring flow, drilling for oil, ice breakers in action, and more. Photographs, line illustrations, a scientific glossary, and resource listings for further information handsomely supplement the text.
An authoritative and encouraging guide to SCUBA diving for the beginner or intermediate enthusiast, this book contains expert advice and step-by-step illustrations on how to perfect key skills, how to buy and maintain equipment, what the different diving options are, and where to find classic dive sites around the world.
This book focused on the history of diving, diving fundamentals, diving physiology, equipment, techniques, natural history, and diving sites. It did all these things pretty well. There was great detail in some things, like how wet suits work to keep you warm, and less in others, such as specifics of great dive sites of the world.
Readers will enjoy the over 60 description of popular dive locations, sorted by continent. Each, of course, with pictures, statistics, and relevant information. Sections on underwater life are equally interesting, with great pictures and many interesting facts and tidbits.
