Product Description
For high school biology students and college zoology students, as well as for all students of nature, this coloring book teaches the structure and function of the major animal groups, from simple to complex. Brief, informative texts accompany each drawing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great dissection prep for middle school
I used the pages for the frog as a prep for dissection with seventh graders with limited English proficiency.Coloring was done together as a class with specified colors: ie. the entire digestive system was colored with colored pencils one organ at a time, sequentially, in pink. When finished, the entire organ system was easy to define. Other organ systems were, of course, colored using different colors.Students could not dissect until the coloring was completed satisfactorily.The result was that students knew what they were looking for and approximately where it would be found before they started.Even the foggiest student was successful in the lab. It took a lot of time, but it was definitely worth it.Specimens for dissection are extremely expensive but I felt that using this method, the students really learned something rather than just playing around with the lab.

Top of the Class
Years ago my daughter and I took a college zoology class together.We asked for permission to use this coloring book instead of participating in class dissection.Permission was given and my daughter and I made the highest grades in the class.

Amazing resource
This book sounds ridiculous, and I was mocked by my roommates for using it in college, but it taught me more than my Zoology professor and text book combined.A great resource for passing the tests as well as retaining the knowledge.

Great Learning Tool
This is a unique approach to learning Zoology. The coloring aspect allows people to really connect what they are reading to the actual structures and ideas in taught in classes. Don't be fooled though, the idea isn't to just run through coloring everything to your heart's content. Follow the directions given and read the reading pages before/while you color and you'll learn a lot while having a little fun as well. The other coloring books available are especially recommended if you are a biologist and want to learn a little more about fields of biology that you are maybe not focusing on in college, Marine Biology or the human brain for example.

a BIG help
I picked up this book for fun, and found it to be very useful in my Comparative Vertebrate Morphology Class in college.Great to learn all about different animals!Great as a gift for kids 12 & up. ... Read more

Product Description
Emphasizing the central role of evolution in generating diversity, this best-selling text describes animal life and the fascinating adaptations that enable animals to inhabit so many ecological niches. Featuring high quality illustrations and photographs set within an engaging narrative, Integrated Principles of Zoology is considered the standard by which other texts are measured. With its comprehensive coverage of biological and zoological principles, mechanisms of evolution, diversity, physiology, and ecology, organized into five parts for easy access, this text is suitable for one- or two-semester introductory courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Integrated Principles of Zoology
Something very weird happened I purchased the book but I never received the book, I tracked the book and it showed that it was already "delivered" then I contacted the seller and he told me he couldn't do anything about it. So I went and checked at the post office and they were able to help me out and they said they didn't know how but the book was sent back to the seller and I was never told so =( It was a really bad experience that I don't want anyone to go through

Great product!!!
I buy a zoology book for the university.I am from Puerto Rico and what I expected is to recieve the package within the last days of the period but it reach my house only in twoo weeks!!! very fast. Also, the book was in the conditions they offered me. I am very happy with my buy and I recommend it to everyone. Two thumbs UP!!!Muy complacido con mi compra!! Exito!!

As Advertised
The description said Brand New and it was still in the plastic wrap in great condition.

Not pleased with the return policy
I purchased this book for my son, which turned out to be the wrong book.After searching for how to return it, I successfully found a contact for this seller.I returned, following their direction, 5 weeks ago and have yet to receive my refund.Based on this, I would not recommend this seller.

Item as described.GREAT condition and price.
Very pleased with the quick shipment as well as the condition being as good as described.Excellent price! ... Read more

Product Description
Ruppert/Barnes’ best-selling introduction to the biology of invertebrates is highly regarded for its accuracy and strong research base. This thorough revision provides a survey by animal group, emphasizing evolutionary origins, adaptive morphology and physiology, while covering anatomical ground plans and basic developmental patterns. New co-author Richard Fox brings to the revision his expertise as an ecologist, offering a good balance to Ruppert's background as a functional morphologist. Lavish illustrations and extensive citations make the book extremely valuable as a teaching tool and reference source. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Book
I recently purchased the latest edition and have been studying it pretty closely. Its one of the best biology texts I have, good for building a foundation in understanding the structure and function of invertebrate taxa.It is not very heavy on the ecology, but even though I am an ecology grad student I don't really mind.It is more helpful for me to feel like I grasp the basics of what an organism is, before moving on to an explicit focus of how an organism functions in an ecosystem.I own the seventh edition, and from what I read in the introduction, it is a significant revision from the sixth.The classification system has been updated and 5 additional chapters that I amvery fond of have been added.These chapters focus on the conceptual significance of thematic changes in organism design - there is a chapter on the eukaryotic cell, on multicellularity, or the eumetazoa and the development muscles and nerves, on bilatera, and one other that I haven't gotten too.The chapter on protozoa (though limited in scope) did quite a lot to impress me that the strange animals like sponges and coral at the base of animal phylogeny are not at all strange when viewed in the context of their protist predecessors.

One thing that bothered me at first about the book was that its all in black and white. Many invertebrates are really spectacular to look at, so my heart was a little heavy when I first flipped through the pages. I suppose this saves them money and makes the book more affordable, but the excellent line diagrams are probably more helpful in learning tissue and organ anatomy, so I've forgiven them. The diagrams are worth half the value of the book - you really need to see the structures you are reading about to understand them.

In short, its a great book, and I recommend it for the more hardnosed, curious type of student and enthusiast.

An Outstanding Textbook and Reference
This is the best invertebrate zoology textbook on the market, perhaps the best ever written. The authors are not content to merely present in fine detail the classification, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology of invertebrates, they present alternative interpretations and controversial opinions where these topics are concerned. In that way, invertebrate zoology comes alive as an active, important, and relevant field of study for understanding the ecology and evolutionary relationships of these organisms in a global setting. I highly recommend this book for a course of study or as a reference for Earth Science instructors who wish to solidify and deepend their knowledge and understanding of invertebrates.

The best invert book on the planet
This text is the most comprehensive yet easy to read book on invertebrates out there. Using an evolutionary approach, it begins with the simplest organisms and ends with the most complex. Reproduction, organ systems, and lifestyle are discussed in detail giving the reader a functional view of a continuum of simple to complex nervous systems, digestive systems and locomotive and reproductive life styles. This book explains invertebrate zoology using techniques and concepts that can be used to study most biology topics in a systematic fashion. It is a must own for any undergraduate or post graduate!!!

The ""Bible" of Invertebrate Zoology
A modern replacement of Libby Hyman's classic series, but, even so, is now beoming out of date because of the rapid advances in molecular biology. Dr. Barnes is deceased and I understand that Dr. Ruppert has no plans to update the book, a horrendous undertaking. Nevertheless, I know of no substitute for this fine text. Readers should also refer to Margulis & Schwartz "Five Kingdoms".

Sets the standard for Invertebrate Zoology texts
Ruppert and Barnes' text, now in its 6th edition sets the standard for invertebrate zoology texts.The authors provide adequate depth for undergraduate courses in invertebrate zoology, and good fodder for graduatestudents starting in the discipline as well.

There are outstandingcollections of line drawings in the text -- a method of illustration Iprefer to photographs for most instructional purposes.

There is goodcoverage of invertebrate animal groups, but, since it's published in 1994,there are a few places where the book is becoming dated.There is, forexample, no information about the Cycliophora, the latest invertebratephyla to be proposed.

I hope that there will continue to be neweditions of this text produced.I cut my teeth on the 3rd edition, andother editions have figured prominently as I have worked through mygraduate and professional careers.

Top-notch material.If you areconsidering which text to select for an invertebrate zoology course, I urgeyou to give this book a look. ... Read more

Product Description
Emphasising the central role of evolution in generating diversity, this best-selling text describes animal life and the fascinating adaptations that enable animals to inhabit so many ecological niches. Featuring high quality illustrations and photographs set within an engaging narrative, "Integrated Principles of Zoology" is considered the standard by which other texts are measured. With its comprehensive coverage of biological and zoological principles, mechanisms of evolution, diversity, physiology, and ecology, organized into five parts for easy access, this text is suitable for one- or two-semester introductory courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Didnt hear from him and now I have two books!!!
It took forever to receive it and would not respond to emails. I ended up having to buy a new book from the book store at my school which costed me $114!!!! YES!! This seler is NOT RELIABLE!!!!

Pleased
I was very pleased with the book that I received and I got the book within just a very few days. I would definitely order from this site again.

outdated
This book has outdated terminology and facts. If your school is using this book... too bad for you. It was the last semester my school was using this book when I took the course, and the professor had to correct a lot of this in lecture.

on time mailer!!! thank you so much ^__^
I was very happy at how quickly the shipper had sent my product. thank you for this. and also, thank you for the reasonable prices and for not false advertising. I am enjoying my book greatly. thanks again.

good job!
this book came to me in an orderly fashion and was in really good condition.thanks ... Read more

Product Description
The 8th edition of Zoology continues to offer students an introductory general zoology text that is manageable in size and adaptable to a variety of course formats. It is a principles-oriented text written for the non-majors or the combined course, presented at the freshman and sophomore level.

Zoology is organized into three parts. Part One covers the common life processes, including cell and tissue structure and function, the genetic basis of evolution, and the evolutionary and ecological principles that unify all life. Part Two is the survey of protists and animals, emphasizing evolutionary and ecological relationships, aspects of animal organization that unite major animal phyla, and animal adaptations. Part Three covers animal form and function using a comparative approach. This approach includes descriptions and full-color artwork that depict evolutionary changes in the structure and function of selected organ systems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Satisfied
I was very staisfied with this purchase.The book arrived in the condition described and delivery was timely.

Awesome book!
Got it for my zoology class. It has so much good information. I bought it used and it was in perfect condition.

Good Book for the price
I am taking Zoology next semester and my school book store offers it at $140 which is ~ $30 more expensive than Amazon :) Here, I found a more reasonable price for the book. It's brand new as advertised. Nothing to complain :) Thank you Amazon

Zoology textbook in GREAT condition.
I received the Zoology book within 2 days after ordering it. The condition of the book was as good as new. Great choice everything in the process went smoothly. ... Read more

Product Description
Michael Allaby has thoroughly revised this bestselling volume, offering the most authoritative and up-to-date zoology dictionary available today. Allaby covers all aspects of the study of animals in more than 5,250 clearly written entries--many new to this edition, including alarm pheromone, Fick's laws, manometer, and synanthrope. Illustrated with many line drawings, the book defines terms from animal behavior, evolution, earth history, zoogeography, genetics, and physiology, provides full taxonomic coverage of arthropods and other invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, and introduces new material on behavioral ecology and conservation biology. In many entries, he recommends web links, which are kept up to date through the Dictionary of Zoology's companion website. Finally, the book includes detailed appendices covering the universal genetic code, endangered animals, the geologic time scale, and SI units. An invaluable dictionary for students of zoology and the related fields of biological and biomedical sciences, A Dictionary of Zoology is also ideal for amateur naturalists and anyone with an interest in animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

must have for zoo ed
This is a great tool for anyone taking a class or just really interested in anything zoological. It saved me many hours looking up words on the internet. The dictionary of zoology is clear, concise and thorough. I wish i had purchased it sooner.

Zoology Dictionary Review
Very helpful. Has every word you could think of that has to do with zoology. Also, it includes species and genus names and tells what the different parts of the words mean in Greek or Latin which is VERY helpful for those trying to memorize names. ... Read more

Product Description
Thomas Henry Huxley PC, FRS (1825-1895) was an English biologist. He was instrumental in developing scientific education in Britain, and fought against the more extreme versions of religious tradition. He had little schooling, and taught himself almost everything he knew. Remarkably, he became perhaps the finest comparative anatomist of the second half of the nineteenth century. He worked first on invertebrates, clarifying the relationships between groups that were previously little understood. Later, he worked more on vertebrates, especially on the relationship between man and the apes. Another of his important conclusions was that birds evolved from dinosaurs, namely, small carnivorous theropods. This view is widely held today. The tendency has been for this fine anatomical work to be overshadowed by his energetic controversial activity in favour of evolution, and by his extensive public work on scientific education, both of which had significant effect on society in Britain and elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
Zombie Zoology an Unnatural History: Severed Press has assembled a truly original anthology of never before published stories of living dead beasts. Inside you will find tales of prehistoric creatures rising from the Bog, a survivalist taking on a troop of rotting baboons, a NASA experiment going Ape, A hunter going a Moose too far and many more undead creatures from Hell. The crawling, buzzing, flying abominations of mother nature have risen and they are hungry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Zoo of Death
Zombie Zoology is a great anthology that will appeal to animal-lovers and animal-haters alike. One of the best things about this anthology is that it includes a lot of species that have rarely, or never, been zombified in print: baboons, cats, mooses (meese?), chimpanzees, cockroaches, birds, sheep, horses, kangaroos, pit bulls, moa, and mosquitoes. The selection of authors is just as diverse, from illustrious luminaries like Tim Curran, Anthony Giangregorio and Brian Pinkerton to rising stars like J. Gilliam Martin, Wayne Goodchild, Hayden Williams, and William Wood. It's kind of like Resident Evil. The levels of violence and disturbing imagery are nice and high, just the way you like them. It's gross and frightening. It's also well-written and fascinating. Purchase this gruesome menagerie. I loved it, and so will you.

Refreshing twist on the genre
This is a very interesting departure from the usual human zombie read.I was disappointed to see that the authors are not listed anywhere in the book description, so to give credit where credit is due:

- "Monkey House" - Tim Curran
- "The Yule Cat" - Ted Wenskus
- "Lucy" - Eric Dimbleby
- "Loss of Vector" - William Wood
- "One Man and His Dog" - Wayne Goodchild
- "Why The Wild Things Are" - Carl Barker
- "Two Days Before the End Of The World" - Ryan C. Thomas
- "Gift Horse" - J. Gilliam Martin
- "The Roo" - Anthony Wedd
- "Dead Dog Tired" - Anthony Giangregorio
- "The Rising" - Hayden Williams
- "SWAT" - Brian Pinkerton

A great book overall, although some stories were definitely superior to others.My personal favorites were "The Yule Cat"and "Why the Wild Things Are".I would definitely recommend to any fan of horror in general and zombie horror in particular! ... Read more

Product Description
From the rivers and streams to the mighty ocean, God filled the Earth's waters with animals great and small. Upon His Word, enormous whales sprung into being. At His command, billions of plankton leapt to life. On that day, millions of creatures like the strapping sea turtles, the skulking sharks, the delightful dolphins, and the soaring squid gladly joined their fellow sea animals. How joyously crammed with excitement was the fifth day of earth's existence. Apologia's newest elementary science book will take you and your family on an exploration into the wonders of the swimming creatures made on the fifth day of Creation. You'll begin with a big splash from the whales and dolphins, then spy on seals and meet manatees before swimming with the sea turtles, snakes, and salamanders. You'll even peek in on the primeval plesiosaraus and its pals. You'll uncover the world of crabby crustaceans, sea snails, clams, and their soft bodied friends like the octopus, squid, and nautilus. You'll consort with corals, find flowers that devour plankton, see stars and feathers that walk, leap and roll, and discover dollars that disappear in the sand and sponges that clean more than you might think. The creatures your student studies will come to life as your student creates replicas of them and adds them to his Ocean box - a miniature hand-crafted aquarium. As always, each lesson ends with an experiment or project reinforcing the scientific method and the concepts studied. Among other experiments and projects, your student will try on blubber, investigate a shark's ability to sense electrical currents, explore how whales can hear sounds that come from far away, and learn through experimentation which creatures make the best fossils. No matter how near or far you live from the ocean, you and your students will wonder at God's design in the amazing aquatic animals He formed and fashioned on the fifth day. Slip on your scuba gear, and come explore with us! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

we're all learning and having fun
My children are 5, 7, and 9.We are reading the Zoology 2 book together and I am learning just as much as the kids are learning.We are always excited for the next days lesson.The zoology themed vocabulary words are a bit hard for my 5 year old but she is still learning and able to participate on her level.The reading can get kind of long for her but I think it is actually recommended for children over 6.She is able to grasp the concepts as long as we are patient to explain them and listen to her interpretation of them.It is easy enough to differentiate for ability level. I definitely recommend thisbook.

Exploring Creation With Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day
I purchased this for our homeschool science library.Any child interested in ocean life would be pleased.My children came to me weekly with new discoveries they had made while reading the book.

Science Explained Excellently
For elementary aged children, this is an excellent science book. The children have commented that it is easy to understand and explains scientific principles in a fun and easily assimilated manner. The ocean box study in this book is a giant collaborative effort that will enrich your child's knowledge of all ocean animals and plant life. On another note, the experiments are easy to do with your child and it fosters independent thinking. They have to get their materials and perform the experiment with you watching from a distance offering guidance.It's a fantastic study and goes right along with the Charlotte Mason method.

In depth, Christian Science
This book is in depth but not too extensively for a 3rd grader. It is complete saturation of swimming creatures. Activity ideas match and instill knowledge. Recommended.

the best elementary science curriculum ever
As a homeschool mom with a passion for science, I have spent way too much money on science curriculum over the years, most of which has been boring and virtually useless. This book was the shining exception, and we're now working through the whole series with my son. I wish it had been out when my older children were in the elementary range.
VERY DETAILED - more so than most younger elementary children will be likely to remember, but also VERY READABLE, so they will stay engaged and remember more than might be expected for their ages. This would be very useful for teaching multiple children at different ages - younger ones will stay interested, while older ones will have their needs for more information satisfied as well.
Written from a creationist viewpoint, and strongly supports this view with helpful and informative tidbits throughout.
... Read more

Product Description
Emphasizing the central role of evolution in generating diversity, this best-selling text describes animal life and the fascinating adaptations that enable animals to inhabit so many ecological niches. Featuring high quality illustrations and photographs set within an engaging narrative, Integrated Principles of Zoology is considered the standard by which other texts are measured. With its comprehensive coverage of biological and zoological principles, mechanisms of evolution, diversity, physiology, and ecology, organized into five parts for easy access, this text is suitable for one- or two-semester introductory courses. ... Read more

Product Description
Zoology is the story of Henry Elinsky, a college flunk-out who takes a job at the Central Park Zoo and discovers that becoming an adult takes a lot more than just a weekly paycheck. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Unbelieveable...
Destiny, do we have control or is it just by accident?High school graduation is supposed to open the road to new beginnings.That's what Henry Elinsky thought, but his first year at college was a disaster.Now, back at his old high school and helping dad with music class, it's definitely the pits.Life just doesn't appear fair and understanding from others seems impossible!Family dynamics and hidden problems leave Henry wondering which way is up.Breaking into the adult world seems to present some real challenges, but this is just the beginning.

New York, New York, Glimmer and glitz, a place where starting over can take unexpected turns.Henry is invited to spend the summer with his brother David in the Big Apple and can't wait for the adventure to begin.Dad thinks it is great, mom is afraid he's avoiding college.Uncle Walter is just his emotional self.Once Henry's settled in, next stop Central Park Zoo, and a job interview.

Nervous but determined, Henry nabs a job at the children's zoo. There is nothing cool about shoveling animal dung and washing out cages but his responsibilities become enjoyable in a mindless sort of way.Sometimes Henry finds more comfort in talking to a hairy "friend", than with unpredictable, closed minded, emotionally stressed humans!The Zoo becomes a refuge from the disappointments and trials that plague Henry's struggle to reach his dreams.

Is love in the air?When Henry meets Margaret, matters of the heart take unpredictable turns and alter his thoughts for the future. Close encounters or just accidental meetings? It's a summer romance, or is it?

Each day, Henry faces situations testing his ability to adjust, grow and learn from his choices.Accidents, family emergencies, and poor decisions may leave Henry up the creek with out a paddle.

Zoology is a small glimpse into the day to day events, thoughts, and dreams of a young man struggling to find meaning and purpose, in his upside down life.

Okay book
I like Dolnick's writing style and he provides a realistic account of an aimless 19 year old's experience in NYC, dealing with the disappointment of unrequited love, working at a job that is not a career, and dealing with changing family dynamics. However, being inside the main character's head gets depressing and boring after a while. I wanted to know more about his parents' marital problems, which are never fully explained. His love for a woman who is obviously not interested becomes tedious. Also, something must have happened with Newman. It's hard to believe that he would not have been found one way or another and that he never would have found out.

Zoology
by Jacob Soiffer
Ben Dolnick's Zoology portrays the coming-of-age of college flunkout Henry Elinsky. Written in 2007, Zoology allows the reader to sentimentally connect with how many of today's young adults face the world. Henry, from his time in Maryland to his job at the Central Park Zoo, struggled to set his own goals for his life and give it direction. He struggles through a broken love affair, a scandal at the Zoo, the blackout of 2003, a feud with his successful Brother's girlfriend, and many other obstacles along his way, until, finally, he finds what he really wants to do. Zoology is an accurate and moving depiction of a confused teenager taking his first step into manhood.
After dropping out of College and spending several months dying of boredom in his Maryland hometown, Henry Elinsky receives a letter from his affluent and successful Brother, David, inviting Henry to come live with him, in an apartment building on New York's West Side. Henry immediately takes the offer, and David sets him up for a job at the Central Park Zoo. Dolnick writes with a comic, childish tone, giving the reader alternating bouts of frenzied, childlike happiness and love-torn depression. Henry's crush on Margaret, a girl from Oregon visiting her relatives in New York for the summer, dominates his mind throughout the summer. His grudge against his brother's prim girlfriend cause a growing rift in the apartment, and David must take a side. Through what is probably both the best and the worst summer of his life, Henry Elinsky begins to discover who he really is.
Zoology, Ben Dolnick's first novel, is both moving and funny. Although Dolnick overuses many clichés, his writing remains lively, funny, and intriguing, though at many points very silly. Zoology is a quick read, and a fun one at that, and I would recommend it to readers of all ages, especially those who have witnessed or gone through the troubling age of eighteen.

Kept Me Entertained
I read most of this novel in one day.It seemed more like someone's journal entries than a novel, and I feel like the entirety of the book could have been condensed into three blog posts; that is to say, nothing much really happens.I did, however, give it two stars instead of one, because part of its strength is just that - nothing much really happens, and yet I was entertained.

Dolnick's language is fluid for the most part, with occasional oddities thrown in that made me think, "What does that have to do with anything?"But again, that's the point - the book is written in the first person, so we're going to get peeks into his thoughts, which will lend itself to being a bit odd.

SPOILER ALERT:One thing I found interesting towards the end was Margaret's letter/story about Newman.What seems like a confusing and meaningless little story could mean something far deeper, couldn't it?Does the very name New-man have something to do with it?I see a parallel between Henry and Newman.

Newman spends life in New York city zoo, behind bars, trapped.One day escapes, hops aboard ship, feels intense freedom, gets lonely, jumps into ocean, adapts to new environment, starts new life in water without thinking of his time on land again.

Henry spends summer in New York city zoo, trapped in a life of confusion.One day escapes out of the city into an "ocean" of a world, adapts to new environment, lives new life without thinking of his time with Margaret again (remember this is Margaret's version of "Newman's" story)

In other words, Marageret's letter is not just a meaningless story, it's her way of telling Henry that he's going to be OK without her; he'll find a life of freedom and forget all about his life "on land" i.e., his summer in New York city.

What's more telling is Henry's dislike of the story and his fixed ending: "Surely Newman doesn't float off and nibble seaweed and live happily ever after.I felt utterly certain about this." (pg.287)He doesn't like Margaret's version of his life; it's too happy, too perfect.

Are the last few pages where Henry crosses the water to save an animal a weak, meaningless ending, or is he telling us something more about the water metaphor?"What a strange place for a life to start," Henry says in the last paragraph (pg.291), as he stands immersed in water, much like New-man as he began his new life.

Whether Dolnick intentionally placed these metaphors, whether they seeped in subconsciously, or whether this reader is looking much too deeply into a simple story, it's something to think about.

Wonderful
Mr. Dolnick is a great writer.Every paragraph he describes something in such a way that you think, "Of course, why didn't I think of that?That's exactly right."Thoroughly enjoyable to read someone with such talent. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great addition to my book collection
This is an old and rare find.An amusing and educational book for any generation.

From a-BER-ant to zoh-AHL-uh-jist
Mr. Elster explains how he was sensitized from a young age to the careful use and pronunciation of words.His special interest led him to produce this book and a sequel ("Is There a Cow in Moscow?).The core of his efforts is an alphabetical guide to selected words that are commonly mispronounced.Each entry provides the preferred pronunciation.Many entries go far beyond this and provide some explanation of the word's origin and evolution, a discussion of alternative pronunciations, and witty chatter or anecdotes about the particular unit of language.The book is worthwhile on several levels, and yet troubling in several important ways.

First, it provides an eye-opening and entirely useful guide to better speech through better pronunciation.Second, it opens up the world of words in new ways to the uninitiated, including the tug-of-war battles that go on under the surface for control of our language.In addition, the book motivates the reader to pay better attention to how he or she speaks, which has a huge impact on how others perceive us.

How is it troubling?Well, unless you were raised by English teachers or sticklers for accurate speech, you will realize that you have been laying verbal eggs all your life by repeating pronunciation errors you learned first from family and friends and never bothered to check out in the dictionary.You may begin to despair that your errors are so ingrained you'll never get it right.If that were not enough, you'll begin to realize that if you DID clean up your act and say words the "right" way, many people will assume either that you're saying them wrong (so common are the mispronunciations) or else you acting affected.What is a person to do?

Mr. Elster does come to the rescue.He suggests that you do your best and pay attention to the way you say words, but not obsess about it.He realizes that every time we open our mouths and speak a word, we are voting in the great ongoing language referendum.If enough people decide to say a word a particular way, the more popular dictionaries will eventually follow, leaving only the language purists to complain.

So, we have here a book that is fun, useful, thought-provoking, clever, and well-researched.If it ultimately causes you to be more careful and deliberate about how you speak, it will help you speak in a way that reflects well on your obvious intelligence, illustrated by your decision to acquire Mr. Elster's unique book(s).

This book should be standing next to your dictionary on the shelf.
This is a book which, unfortunately, many people don't know about but would do well to have in their collection.Mr. Elster appears to have researched the words covered in the book very well, and he tells the history of many of them.A pattern that quickly becomes evident is how some words are continuously mispronounced for many years, whereby eventually the erroneous pronunciation can become the standard - resulting in dictionaries adopting them over the correct traditional pronunciations.Some people may think this is no big deal, that we can just keep changing our language according to how most people say things, even if they're just plain wrong.To me, there's something really sad about that.This book is so valuable because it captures most of the words that are most often violated, and it makes a point of what's happening.Probably the best example in the book is the word "flaccid".When you read what Elster says about it, you realize how wrong it is to say it any other way than "FLAK-sid".After many years, the incorrect way of saying it became standard, because not enough people give a damn enough to buy a book like this and start caring about how they speak their own language. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book, your children will begin exploring the dynamics of flight and animal classification, understanding why the design we see in these incredible creatures points us to our Creator God. Then, get ready for the exciting adventure of learning about birds. Your children will learn how to attract various bird species to your yard and identify them by looking at their special physical characteristics, diverse nests, & interesting domestic practices. They will also learn the anatomy and the glorious design that enables birds to do remarkable things. The text contains actual experiments on the preferences and habits of the birds your children see. These experiments further enrich the learning experience. After becoming amateur ornithologists, your children will explore the world of chiropterology, which is the study of bats. They will be able to intelligently share with others the value of bats in our world while exposing the misconceptions that most people have regarding these docile creatures of the night. Your children will then investigate entomology, the study of insects. They will learn to scientifically classify insects they find in their yard by a simple glance at their wings and other important characteristics. In addition to designing experiments with flies, crickets, darkling moths, and caterpillars, they will also learn how to attract and catch insects for scientific study. When your children complete this study of zoology, they will never view nature in the same way again. Their eyes will be open to the different species that live in their midst, enjoying and understanding nature to the fullest. Vacations will become educational experiences as they notice birds and insects inhabiting the areas they visit. By learning to keep a field journal, they will notice unusual circumstances or sudden increases in bird or insect populations. They will become true scientists as they come to know nature and the fascinating world that God created. Grades K-6. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Kids retain knowledge
My kids enjoy how the author "talks" to them.It's written in a conversational style, which engages their attention.

Creationist claptrap
A sample of the claptrap from this book, on page 122, "Some scientists think that the dragons in the Bible and in certain legends were actually pterosaurs that people saw with their own eyes."If you believe this nonsense shame on you!If you feed this crud to your children, shame on our society!

Great science book for all ages
You will love all the Apologia sciences books. My kids and I learn so much from them.

Engaging, ultra-informative, and covers far more than expected
I was skeptical of the idea of spending an entire year with my son studying birds. We had already done the zoology 2 book in this same series (yes, out of order, but it worked), so I gave it a try. What a great book. It covers far more than birds. Insects and bats are given huge sections of the book as well.
Like all of the books in the series, this book went into greater depth than early elementary students may be equipped to retain, but holds their interest and meets the informational needs of both younger andolder elementary students. Fascinating, colorful, and very informative. It is refreshing to find science books for young children that are a pleasure for an adult to read as well. This is a shining example of what science books can be. Most science books for young children are boring,
overly simplified, and tedious. This series in the exception.

An excellent elementary science book
Flying Creatures of the 5th day is full of quality material for instilling a love of learning.My sons ages 8 and 11 can grasp the info by my reading aloud or reading on their ownand then talking about the topic, observing outdoors, and keeping their journals with illustrations. They really retain the information.I appreciate the Godly presentation of the flying creatures! ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated by William Harvey ... Read more

Product Description
Principles-oriented introductory zoology text for non-majors or combined majors/non-majors (freshman-sophomore level). An introductory general zoology text that is manageable in size and adaptable to a variety of course formats ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Errors have persisted through several editions.
This book has decent pictures for use in a zoology laboratory.However, there are rampant errors, particularly with respect to incorrect labeling.The problem is likely in the formatting, rather than errors on the part of the authors.The names of structures are seemingly correct, but the lines point to the wrong structures in many cases.Most significantly, I personally know professionals who have provided the publisher with detailed accounts of the errors, simply because they are academics who care about student learning.That was two editions ago . . .; nothing has changed. As usual, it is all about money, and I guess it takes money to pay someone to correct problems. Apparently, there is not a problem paying folks to go around universities trying to sell books. Surely I'm preaching to the choir here. Use this book if you must. If you have the time to take your own pictures and label them, that would be better.

Detail Pictures
This manual has amazing detail pictures on every single page. The only objection that i have is that is not a step-by-step manual. It does ilustrates very well the animal and all their organs but it doesn't tells you how to do the same. After all it is just a Photographic Atlas. But a have to say the picture cuality and the detail that you can appreciate are pretty amazing. I actually love it. ... Read more

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An introduction to marine biology takes young readers on a whale watch, guides them through a visit to a salt marsh estuary, and shows them how to set up their own salt-water aquarium. ... Read more

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Humans falling by the wayside? Impossible! Or is it? Dougal Dixon answered that question 15 years ago with this fascinating "zoology of the future"--a survey in words and gorgeous illustrations of the animals who might take the place of humans. Provocative and utterly unique, this new edition of "After Man" entrances those who have marveled at the future visions of Michael Crichton. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Hardly perfect, but this colorful, original book captures the imagination. Recommended
50 Million years after the decline of man, the world's geography has changed and a whole new variety of animals have evolved to inhabit its ecosystems. Bookended by summaries of evolutionary science, the heart of After Man is a fictional, colorful overview of the animal species of the future. The book's scientific summaries are dry, although useful and fairly succinct, and some animal designs grow repeditive--but for the most part Dixon's invented species are sometimes impressive, sometimes clever, but almost always intriguing, and so After Man is a book to capture the imagination and despite its faults is a fascinating, absorbing read. I recommend it.

Man After Man may have been written to be After Man's cousin, but that sequel is far inferior, dragged down by an emphasis on genetic engineering, repetitive humaniod creatures that fail to capture the reader's imagination, and underwhelming art. Rest assured, this book has none of those weaknesses. I first read it as at thirteen; a decade later I'm more aware of its faults--primarily that the lagomorphs which have replaced ungulates grow repetitive in design and ecological role, but also that the scientific summaries are dry and too transparently alluded to in the theoretical evolutions--but After Man remains the fascinating, creative book that it was all those years ago. Dixon's science may not be solid (I wouldn't know), but his imagination intrigues. Well illustrated, succinctly described, familiar enough to feel real yet alien enough to fill the mind with wonder, the creatures in After Man simply fascinate, and that makes the book enjoyable and memorable. It's hardly perfect, but it's certainly worth a read.

Fun, But Where's the Science?
The illustrations are nice, but After Man only touches on one period of time in the future. The books also doesn't explain the scientific basis for its speculations very well. Some of the animals are also rather implausible (especially the flightless bats).

A clever evolutionary fantasy
Dougal Dixon's "After Man" is an entertaining evolutionary fantasy. Dixon wonders how the world will look like 50 million years into the future. His scenario is actually quite simple: humanity have disappeared after first killing off most specialized animal species. Naturally, farm animals such as pigs and cows also die out shortly after humanity. After millions of years, the near-empty world is filled with new creatures, descended from animals humanity regarded as pests: rats, rabbits, starlings, crows and the mongoose. Humans never managed to eradicate them, and free from human interference they evolve into countless new species.

"After Man" is really a book about evolution. Indeed, the first chapters aren't about the future, but about Earth's evolutionary past and present. I think Dixon's wanted to educate the public about evolution and its mechanisms, and realized that a fanciful book about possible future animals would sell better than yet another dry tome about Neandertals or selfish genes. At least in terms of sales figure, Dixon was successful.

Here in Sweden, "After Man" was heavily promoted by Swedish media in 1982, when the Swedish translation was published. I believe they even mentioned the book on the national evening news! I also remember that the book was extremely expensive, and that my father really hated it. (He sounded like the negative customer reviewer T.Peoples on this product page.) In my father's opinion, Dixon's book was ridiculous and too speculative, and for some reason he particularly hated the Horrane, in the belief that it was a hybrid tiger of some sort. Still, I managed to talk my parents into buying me a copy. Incidentally, the name of the fantasy animals are really silly in the Swedish translation. They often sound frivolous, and I suspect many Swedes bought the book for the comic effect, which is considerable. Thus, the bat (fladdermus) has been turned into a gibberish mouse (pladdermus), and the puffin (lunnefågel) is morphed into a moody bird (lynnefågel). The original English names, all things considered, are more normal!

What makes "After Man" so compelling is that the book isn't *that* speculative and far-fetched. Most of the evolutionary changes conjured up by Dixon are perfectly believable, even a bit conservative. Many of his futuristic animals are simply "improved" versions of present animals: beavers that are more efficient swimmers, bats with even better eco-location, and brood parasitic magpies. Dixon's main idea - that animals like rabbits, rats or starlings will survive humanity - isn't very far-fetched either. In Dixon's post-human world, rabbits have evolved into large, deer-like creatures, rats have turned into wolfish predators, and the birds of prey turn out to be strong-billed starlings. More fanciful, perhaps, is the Vortex, a whale-like creature that's actually a highly evolved penguin! The least believable chapter takes us to Batavia, an imaginary group of volcanic islands in the Pacific where bats have evolved into monsters. But then, 50 million years is a very long time... I remember that Swedish media were particulary fascinated by the Night Stalker.

I haven't read Dixon's later works, but apparently he left moderation behind, becoming more of a science fiction writer. Nothing wrong with that. Still, I prefer the clever evolutionary fantasies of "After Man".

Extraordinary projection on future zoology
Is a shame we are the only species in the rational process of extincting ourselves, but this projection is call for hope for life in the planet, with a rational thread of thought, perfect drawings and wording.

Highly recommended for bringing an otherwise dry subject to life.
This book delighted our daughter with all its unknown monsters. With minimal intervention from us, she was able to grasp the possibilities of the theory of evolution, without even realising she was being educated.

This book is fun and educational. Highly recommended for bringing a dry subject to life.

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Product Description
Using the popular phylum-by-phylum approach and both live and preserved commercially available specimens, this comprehensive collection of 25 lab exercises in the structure and function of invertebrates allows readers to discover hands-on how the animals actually work. Throughout, readers make observations, conduct investigations, and ask and answer questions. Features phylogenetic descriptions, simple geological time scales, etymon for each phylum name, simple pronunciation guide for scientific names, and abundant illustrations.The Protozoans. Phylum Porifera. Cnidaria. Phylum Ctenophora. Phylum Platyhelminthes. Phylum Nemertea (Rhynchocoela). Phylum Gastrotricha. Phylum Rotifera. Phylum Acanthocephala. Phylum Mollusca. Phylum Annelida. Phylum Nematomorpha. Phylum Nematoda. Phylum Onychophora. Phylum Tardigrada. Phylum Arthropoda. Phylum Sipuncula (Sipunculida). Phylum Phoronida. Phylum Bryozoa. Phylum Kamptozoa (Entoprocta). Phylum Brachiopoda. Phylum Echinodermata. Phylum Chaetognatha. Phylum Hemichordata. Phylum Chordata.For anyone interested in the structure and function of invertebrates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

review
The item was shipped quickly, was used so there was a lot of wear and tear ... Read more