The Nature Handbook: A Guide to Observing the Great Outdoors

No mere field guide, The Nature Handbook invites readers to see the natural world in a new way, with an emphasis on patterns rather than on species. Approximately 500 color photographs help make the more than 200 patterns apparent and recognizable for readers, and each pattern is accompanied by a detailed description and a brief list of sources. Williams has organized the volume in the three main sections, covering plants, animals, and habitats. These sections are then connected through discussions of the relationship of size and shape, adaptations, distribution patterns, behavior, and diversity of life. Each chapter has cross-references to related topics.

Ernest H. Williams, Jr. is Leonard C. Ferguson Professor and Chair in the Department of Biology at Hamilton College (NY). He is co-author of The Butterfly Book and editor and co-author of A Marsh for All Seasons.