Abbey's Road  •  Edward Abbey NATURAL HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 198 PAGES Famed as a rascal, misanthrope and cantankerous lover of all things untamed, Abbey's writings reflect the beauty and spirit of wild places. They are also insightful and laugh-out-loud funny. This volume collects his explorations of varied locales around the globe, including the Sierra Madre of Mexico. If you like this book, we also carry Abbey's tribute to the American Southwest, Desert Solitaire. (DES04, $16.00)
All the Wild and Lonely Places, Journeys in a Desert landscape  •  Lawrence Hogue HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES Portrayed as bleak and inhospitable, the huge expanse of Anza-Borrego desert in the Southern California Rift includes palm canyons, mountains and sandstone gorges that have long been home to the Cahuilla and Kumeyaay peoples. Hogue looks at the notion of wilderness and its historic uses in this lively natural history of the region. (USW338, $30.00)
Anasazi America, Seventeen Centuries on the Road from Center Place  •  David Stuart CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2000 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES An engaging portrait of the Chaco Anasazi, an agricultural society which at the height of its power in the 11th century dominated much of the four corners region With maps, black-and-white photographs, extensive notes and bibliography. David Stuart, whose course on Ancient Mexico was the inspiration for this book, is a provocative, thoughtful guide to the development -- and eventual collapse -- of Chaco society. Highly recommended for visitors to Chaco Canyon and other messa sites in Southwest. (USW228, $19.95)
Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest  •  Stephen Plog  •  Amy Elizabeth Grey CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2008 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES An illustrated introduction to the people, ancient pueblos and cliff dwellings of the American Southwest, ideal for the traveler with an interest in the prehistory of the region. Organized chronologically, it features hundreds of maps, mostly black-and-white photographs, and site diagrams. (USW131, $24.95)
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Map  •  Wilderness Press MAP A detailed recreation map of California's Anza-Borrego State Park, at a scale of 1:162,000. (CAL117, $9.95)
Arches National Park Map  •  Trails Illustrated MAP A durable, topographic map of Arches National Park, Utah at a scale of 1:50,000. (USW163, $9.95)
Arizona and Four Corners Region Map  •  North Star Maps MAP A double-sided road map with Arizona on one side and the and the Four Corners region on the reverse. It includes Grand Canyon, Grand Junction, Flagstaff, Canyonlands and Arches National Park, all at a scale of 1:1,000,000. With information on local ghost towns, mining camps and other points of interest. (USW165, $3.95)
California, A History  •  Kevin Starr HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A lively short history in the excellent Modern Library Chronicles series, matching writers and subjects. (CAL204, $14.95)
Canyon Country Wildflowers  •  Damian Fagan FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 152 PAGES Published in conjunction with the Canyonlands Natural History Association, this comprehensive field guide covers 190 of the most commonly encountered wildflowers, shrubs and trees of the Four Corners area, including Canyonlands and Arches national parks. The straightforward descriptions are accompanied by color photographs, and habitat and range information. (USW155, $19.95)
Canyonlands National Park Map  •  Trails Illustrated MAP A durable, topographic map of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, at a scale of 1:62,000. (USW164, $9.95)
Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage  •  Robert Michael Pyle NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES A memoir of Lepidoptery, combing the entomologist-author's considerable knowledge of butterflies and their biology with a rambling road trip from British Columbia through the Southwest to Mexico. (MEX62, $14.00)
Compass Guide Arizona  •  Lawrence Cheek  •  Carrie Sears Bell  •  Michael Freeman  •  Kerrick James GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A personable and well written overview of Arizona's natural attractions, history, people, arts and architecture. Practical visitor information is accompanied by topical essays on Arizona's Hispanic heritage, cattlemen, miners, the Indian wars and literary excerpts by some of the state's best writers. Cheek introduces the guide with his own experience of moving to Tucson from Des Moines and his initial feelings of annoyance with the desert's bugs, climate and politicians. But his affectionate coverage of the state's canyons, mountains, deserts and forests proves that "in the end, this book is about falling in love." With detailed color maps and photographs. (USW121, $21.95)
Compass Guide Las Vegas  •  Deke Castleman GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Handsomely produced, illustrated and informative, this guide is an overview of the history, character and attractions of Las Vegas. It features archival photographs, literary excerpts, an extensive reading list and practical travel information. With suggested day trips and a hotel-by-hotel survey of the Strip. (USW247, $21.95)
Compass Guide Nevada  •  Deke Castleman  •  Jeff Gnass GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES Castleman mixes literary excerpts with his own descriptions of Nevada, from ghost towns to Las Vegas to the vast natural territory in between in this comprehensive, literate guide to the state. With 200 color photographs, diagrams and maps. (USW223, $21.00)
Compass Guide Santa Fe  •  Lawrence Cheek GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 268 PAGES This wonderfully written handbook features outstanding color photography, detailed maps and in-depth information on the culture, history and attractions of Santa Fe. Cheek introduces the area's ancient Indian ruins, Pueblo arts, adobe architecture and Hispanic heritage, and provides some information on visiting the neighboring Taos. With archival photographs, literary excerpts and practical travel tips. (USW129, $20.95)
Compass Guide Utah  •  Tom Wharton  •  Gayen Wharton GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 347 PAGES This handsome guide features outstanding color photography, detailed maps and in-depth information on the culture, history and attractions of Utah. Thorough introductions to Utah's geology, the Anasazi, Spanish explorers and Mormon pioneers are provided along with practical travel information. Full of archival photographs and literary excerpts. (USW130, $21.95)
Death Comes for the Archbishop  •  Willa Cather LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 297 PAGES Based in part on the life of Bishop Jean Baptiste L'Amy, this classic novel of missionary life in New Mexico is rich in the texture of Old Santa Fe and New Mexican landscapes. Bishop L'Amy and Father Machebeut struggle to establish their church in the wilderness. (USW79, $11.95)
Desert Survival Skills  •  David Alloway GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A practical guide to survival in the desert, leavened by Alloway's sense of humor and own experience in the Chihuahuan desert. Topics include finding and conserving water, fire, shelter, weather, plant and animal resources, vehicle repair and first aid. (DES06, $24.95)
Discovering the Desert, Legacy of the Carnegie Desert Botanical Laboratory  •  William McGinnies BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1982 •  PAPER  • 276 PAGES A history of Sonoran desert research, this book is an engaging survey of the geography, ecology and climate of desert life in the American Southwest -- and especially of the pioneering work conducted at the Carnegie Desert Botanical Laboratory. With maps, diagrams and black-and-white photos. (USW103, $11.95)
Downcanyon, A Naturalist Explores the Colorado River Through the Grand Canyon  •  Ann Zwinger NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A vivid overview of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River, from Mile 0 at Lees Ferry to Mile 278 at Grand Wash Fault. Zwinger, clearly in love with the American West, interweaves geology, plants, animals and human history in her account, organized by season. She helpfully includes extensive notes for further reading. With line drawings and two maps. (USW11, $19.95)
Empire Express, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad  •  David Haward Bain HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 816 PAGES A magisterial history of the railroad that connected the East to the West -- and radically changed the face of America. It is quite a tale, featuring greed, corruption, disaster and many memorable characters. Based on exhaustive research, the detailed narrative jumps between Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroad Company. With photographs and maps. (USW135, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide California  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 630 PAGES A literate, visually rich guide to the Golden State, featuring color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of California's attractions with a particular focus on San Francisco and Los Angeles. It includes a well chosen section on hotels and restaurant. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (USW146, $30.00)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks  •  Tamara Martin  •  Erik Molvar GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 246 PAGES In addition to useful trail descriptions, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to Zion and Bryce National Parks gives an overview of the area's natural history, tips for no-trace camping and advice on navigating the area's unique terrain. (USW138, $16.95)
A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon  •  Stephen Whitney FIELD GUIDE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 268 PAGES A compact guide to the natural history of the Grand Canyon with 71 handsome color plates, maps and illustrations. Bring it along. (USW06, $19.95)
Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Los Angeles  •  Jeff Spurrier GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 262 PAGES (CAL191, $12.99)
The Gangster We Are All Looking for  •  Thi Diem Thuy Le LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES Told through the eyes of a young Vietnamese girl, this non-linear narrative is the tale of a family's desperate struggle to adjust to the alien culture of San Diego. Like her protagonist, Le and her father left Vietnam in 1979 by boat, ending up in Southern California. The author is currently a Radcliffe Fellow in Massachusetts. This is her first novel. (CAL175, $12.95)
Gathering the Desert  •  Gary Paul Nabhan NATURAL HISTORY •  1985 •  PAPER  • 209 PAGES An ecologist with a particular interest in the origins of foodstuffs, Nabhan interweaves ethnography, biochemistry, natural history and journalism to document traditional uses of 12 Sonoran desert plants: the creosote bush, palm, mescal, sandfood, organpipe cactus, amaranth, tepary bean, chile, devil's claw, panicgrass, and wild gourds. (USW120, $19.95)
The Great Taos Bank Robbery, And Other Indian Country Affairs  •  Tony Hillerman LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES Nine fast-reading short stories based on daily life in contemporary New Mexico, written by the author of best-selling mysteries set in the Southwest. (USW132, $13.00)
Hiking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks  •  Bill Schneider GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 226 PAGES A comprehensive guide to the hiking trails and backcountry roads of Canyonlands and Arches, published in cooperation with the National Park Service. With a section on trip preparation, black-and-white photographs and maps. (USW154, $16.95)
In Nevada: The Land, the People, God, and Chance  •  David Thomson HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A highly original, captivating social history of the state, including the extraordinary spectacle of Las Vegas, organized as a series of literary snapshots told in the first person. A travelogue of sorts, Thomson pieces together an astute, well written and researched portrait of Nevada. Wonderful. (USW213, $14.00)
In Search of the Old Ones, Exploring the Anasazi World of the Southwest  •  David D. Roberts ARCHAEOLOGY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 271 PAGES An exuberant, engaging account of archaeological adventures in the desert Southwest. Roberts, a contributing editor at Men's Journal with a fondness for the outdoors, travels throughout the four corners region, talking with the locals and visiting ancient sites. He investigates the factors that may have led to the demise of the Anasazi civilization -- and looks into longstanding controversies such as the reputation of Richard Wetherill, and whether the Anasazi committed acts of cannibalism in warfare. (USW157, $14.00)
Insight Guide National Parks, Western United States  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER A volume in the award-winning Insight series, this guide is noted for its wonderful photography, superb production and informative short essays. It is a thoroughly illustrated, comprehensive guide to the national parks of the western United States, including Arches, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest. (USW181, $24.95)
Journey to the High Southwest, A Traveler's Guide to Santa Fe and the Four Corners of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah  •  Robert Casey GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 578 PAGES An outstanding guide, featuring first-hand observations and step-by-step narrative accounts of travel by auto, raft, or foot throughout the Four Corners, including the Lowry Pueblo Ruins, Canyonlands, Monument Valley and Taos. With an extensive overview of the history and culture of native cultures. Eighth edition. (USW08, $19.95)
The Laughing Boy  •  Oliver La Farge LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 193 PAGES This Pulitzer Prize-winning 1929 novel sets the love story between Laughing Boy, a proper Navajo youth, and Slim Girl, raised at an Indian school, against the setting of a fast disappearing way of life in the American Southwest. An ethnographer and archaeologist, La Farge captures the flavor of the landscapes and ways of life in Northern Arizona in the early 20th century in this evocative short novel. (USW240, $10.95)
Mendocino and Other Stories  •  Ann Packer LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES True to its title, the short story "Mendocino" opens with a young woman driving northward on Highway 1 along the Pacific. These ten memorable slice-of-life stories, which originally appeared in The New Yorker and Ploughshares, recount the lives of ordinary people in unusual situations in Northern California. (CAL192, $13.95)
Mojave National Preserve Map  •  Trails Illustrated MAP A detailed map of Mojave National Preserve, at a scale of 1:125,000. Features very good topographical relief. (USW250, $11.95)
Moon Handbook Coastal California  •  Kim Weir GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 744 PAGES A practical guide to the Californian coast by veteran Moon Handbook writer Kim Weir, which features information on food, accommodations and attractions. (CAL189, $21.95)
Moon Handbook Northern California Wine Country  •  Philip Goldsmith GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A comprehensive, no-nonsense guide in the popular series, with good background information about history, culture, and popular attractions. (CAL198, $16.95)
Moon Handbook Northern California Wine Country  •  Philip Goldsmith GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A comprehensive, no-nonsense guide in the popular series, with good background information about history, culture, and popular attractions. (CAL198, $16.95)
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America  •  National Geographic FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 502 PAGES From Alaska to Baja California, this field guide published by the National Geographic Society, now in its fifth edition (with tabs!), is the one to carry. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages. The scale of the maps changes with the range of the bird, which means you get a more detailed regional map for those birds with a restricted range. This fully revised fifth edition features nearly 700 color range maps, bigger and better than ever. (FG09, $24.00)
Natural History of the Islands of California  •  Allan A. Schoenherr  •  C. Robert Feldmeth  •  Michael J. Emerson  •  David Mooney NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 408 PAGES A comprehensive survey of the ecology, geology and human history of California's coastal islands, including the Channel Islands, the Farallons and the islands of the San Francisco Bay. (CAL111, $55.00)
A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert  •  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 650 PAGES Written with the general reader in mind, the many contributors to this book cover the ecology, flora and fauna of the Sonora in dozens of short articles. Written by the staff of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, it's an encyclopedic, overview of the region and its biodiversity. The book includes 35 color illustrations, 25 black and white photographs, and 450 line drawings useful for identification. (BJA26, $31.95)
Neon Nevada  •  Sheila Swan  •  Peter Laufer ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1994 •  HARD COVER  • 112 PAGES An illustrated chronicle of over 100 neon signs that have been produced and displayed in Nevada, the neon capital of the world. The accompanying text explains the history of neon making, and neon's place in Nevada culture. With photos from 1977-78, and the 1990s, when neon enjoyed a renaissance. (USW257, $39.95)
The New Encyclopedia of the American West  •  Howard R. Lamar REFERENCE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 1320 PAGES A massive -- and entertaining -- reference to the West, featuring more than 2,400 entries and 600 illustrations. From prehistory to today, it includes historical and geographical overviews, trivial tidbits, biographical sketches of major figures, and commentary on art and literature. Compiled by Yale professor Howard R. Lamar, it's the most comprehensive single volume of its type. (USW416, $80.00)
North Central New Mexico Map  •  High Highroad Maps MAP A map of North Central New Mexico at a scale of 1:500,000, covering Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, Ghost Ranch, Bandelier, Las Vegas and Chimayo. (USW125, $3.95)
Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map  •  Global Graphics MAP A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)
Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map  •  Global Graphics MAP A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)
Patterns of Culture  •  Ruth Benedict  •  Margaret Mead CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2006 •  PAPER  • 290 PAGES Essential reading for any anthropologist, this pioneering book compares and contrasts three cultures: the Kwakiutl (Pacific Northwest), Zuni (American Southwest) and the Dobu Island culture (Papua New Guinea). With a preface by Margaret Mead. (PNG10, $15.00)
Pueblo Indians of North America  •  Edward P. Dozier CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1983 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Having spent his life among the Pueblos in Hopi towns in Arizona and Taos settlements in New Mexico, Dozier writes the story of their adaptation to a changing physical and political environment in this scholarly profile. (USW234, $19.95)
Pueblo Profiles, Cultural Identity Through Centuries of Change  •  Joe S. Sando  •  Regis Pecos HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 296 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A history of the origin and development of the 19 Pueblo Nations, which are scattered across northern New Mexico from Gallup and Taos to Albuquerque. Sando includes profiles of key pueblo leaders, maps and many black-and-white photographs. (USW238, $14.95)
Roadside Geology Arizona  •  Halka Chronic NATURAL HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER  • 321 PAGES Designed for the roadside traveler, this book explains in detail the geologic history of Arizona as seen through the window. It's a great introduction to basic geomorphology and how the dramatic landscapes were formed. Each section is organized around a particular route, with black-and-white photographs complementing the amazingly detailed geologic maps. The highly readable text lets you know exactly how and when that butte on the horizon was formed and how it fits into the larger geologic picture. (USW122, $18.00)
San Diego Architecture from Mission to Modern: A Guide to the Buildings, Planning, People and Spaces That Shape the Region  •  Dirk Sutro ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A full-color, compact guide to the best examples of San Diego's distinctive 20th-century architecture. With photographs of each featured building, neighborhood maps and brief descriptions. The author is a San Diego-based critic, radio host, columnist and writer. Published by the San Diego Architectural Foundation. (CAL176, $24.95)
Santa Fe Indian Market, Showcase of Native American Art  •  Bruce Bernstein  •  Mark Nohl ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1993 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES A celebration of Santa Fe's most famous traditions, the annual Indian Market, with 400 color photographs. With text by Smithsonian anthropologist Bruce Bernstein. (USW230, $34.95)
A Short History of Las Vegas  •  Barbara Land  •  Myrick Land  •  Guy Louis Rocha HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 200 PAGES • COMING IN This oversize paperback is a brief history of Las Vegas, tracing the gambling mecca's roots back to its early settlers. It covers the city's Mormon pioneers, first builders, mobsters, entertainers and tycoons. (USW243, $15.95)
Smithsonian Handbooks Birds of North America, Western Region  •  Fred J. Alsop, III FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 752 PAGES An illustrated handbook and field guide to birds found west of the Mississippi. Describing 700 birds in all, this book dedicates a page to each species, with digitally enhanced photographs and silhouette drawings, range maps, and concise descriptions of behavior, habitat and conservation. Introductory chapters provide helpful background on basic terminology and bird-watching techniques. (USW415, $25.00)
Southwestern Utah Map  •  Utah Travel Council MAP A map of southwestern Utah at a scale of 1:375,000, covering Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. (USW124, $4.95)
The Spanish Frontier in North America  •  David Weber HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 579 PAGES Here's the definitive history of the Spanish colonial period in America, from the settlement of St. Augustine in Florida to the missions of New Mexico. This splendid volume provides an understanding and appreciation of this 500-year-old cultural legacy -- and the role it has played in the American experience. Weber interweaves Spanish colonial, Native American and "Anglo" history in this fascinating account of what was once a "Spanish" frontier. (NAM01, $28.00)
Talking With the Clay, The Art of Pueblo Pottery  •  Stephen Trimble  •  Tom Ireland ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1987 •  PAPER  • 116 PAGES A portrait of the Pueblo people as revealed through pottery traditions. With 75 photographs and insightful text. (USW235, $17.95)
Those Who Came Before, Southwestern Archaeology in the National Park System  •  Robert Hill Lister  •  Florence C. Lister ARCHAEOLOGY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 238 PAGES An overview of Southwest archaeology, focusing on national parks or monuments. It covers Hohokam, Mogollon and Anasazi sites. (USW156, $16.95)
Tucson Southeast Arizona Map  •  North Star Maps MAP A map of Southeast Arizona covering Saguaro National Park, Tucson and the Chiricahua Mountains. (USW123, $3.95)
Wild Plants of the Pueblo Province, Exploring Ancient and Enduring Uses  •  William Dunmire  •  Gail Tierney FIELD GUIDE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A plant ecologist and an anthropologist teamed up to write this accessible guide to the diverse plant communities of the Pueblo people, a rich source of information on the plants and human ecology of the high deserts and mountains of New Mexico and surrounding regions. With a laminated paper cover and sturdy spine, this book is meant to be taken in the field. With color landscape photos and individual drawings of 60 important plants. (USW09, $22.50)
The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley  •  Jonathan Swinchatt  •  David G. Howell FOOD •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 229 PAGES California-bound wine connoisseurs will appreciate the informative no-stone-left-unturned scientific approach to the analysis of Terroir (i.e. soil but much more than that) in the Napa Valley. This is the third book on wine in the Napa by Swinchatt and Howell. (CAL190, $35.95)
The Winemaker's Dance, Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley  •  Jonathan Swinchatt  •  David G. Howell FOOD •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 229 PAGES California-bound wine connoisseurs will appreciate the informative no-stone-left-unturned scientific approach to the analysis of Terroir (i.e. soil but much more than that) in the Napa Valley. This is the third book on wine in the Napa by Swinchatt and Howell. (CAL190, $35.95)
Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey  •  Lillian Schlissel HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 278 PAGES A fascinating, well researched selection of women's diaries and journals from the Wild West, including vivid accounts of buffalo hunts, Indian raids, childbirth under difficult circumstances, geological wonders and a telling amount of inward trepidation. With black-and-white photographs throughout. Schlissel collected hundreds of diaries and memoirs for this history of pioneer women's experiences, the thesis of which -- that women and men experienced westward expansion differently -- is less remarkable than the details which lead to that conclusion. Schlissel quotes generously from her primary-source documents (and appends a long section of more excerpts). It's compulsively readable stuff. (USW395, $14.95)