Pet Books

I've looked at many of the recent books on digital macro photography, and this is the only one that devotes most of its space to macro. Too many that claim to be about macro or close up photography (e.g. "The Magic of ..." by Meehan) largely rehash guides to digital photography in general. Hoddinott does some of that too. I could have done without the "post processing" chapter at the end. But fortunately Hoddinott keeps the book mostly focussed on the subject promised in its title. He gives sensible advice that ranges from the moderately technical to the openly mundane. The latter includes surprisingly helpful suggestions about what time of day and where to find subjects suitable for macro. This is an introductory book that even pros could learn a few things from. One of the most unusual and admirable features: he shows his own mistakes and how he corrected them (though I suspect the mistakes were deliberate). Finally, his own photos (often of quite ordinary subjects)are imaginative, some even stunning.

Se trata de una obra bien estructurada con fotos de calidad y algun que otro consejo interesante. Bien por el capitulo dedicado a texturas y el de "post-camera processing" como pequeño resumen para consultas rapidas.
Por lo demas se trata de una obra para aficionados que deseen dar sus primeros pasos en macrofotografia. No es un trabajo para amateurs mas avezados.En cualquir caso: recomendable.

The cover of this book alone drew me to buying it and I get all happy inside every time I look at it. Macro is a joyful hobby, particularly bugs, and for me, dragonflies are the most exquisite of creatures. I am lucky I live in a state that has a ton of dragonfly varieties... This is a great book, really good info on digital cameras and equipment, techniques, and ideas. If I had to recommend one macro book, this would be it.

This is truly an in-depth book on close-up photography. It focuses on techniques for getting great pictures of subjects from very close distances. It's approach is simple enough that a beginner can understand, yet goes into enough depth that anyone could learn from it. Although Nikon equipment is featured, I found lots of good tips that apply to my Canon EOS 40D as well.

A good companion to this book is Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography. If you have both, you'll own everything you need to begin taking wonderful macro pictures.

Hands down this is without a doubt the most in-depth book on digital photography that has been written to date. It has improved my skill level by 90% . I was a novice dital photographer before reading this book and today I am able to accomplish the results of the professionals. Buy this Book !!! ... you deserve the best.
Happy shooting !

The Cat Bible reads like a text book and isn't something I see us keeping. I'd rather have a cat guide that was easier to read and proivded information in a cleaner manner.

While I've had cats before, this book is incredibly valuable. We just got a new kitten and found great info on training him with techniques we've never considered before. I recommend this for anyone getting a kitten regardless of your history of having cats.

I bought this book hoping to find good, practical advice about owning my first cat. Instead, I found the book to be extremely condescending and preachy. Rather than giving truly practical advice about cat-related matters, I was treated to Ms. Hotchner's personal diatribes on issues such as declawing, cat food, spaying/neutering, etc. I would have vastly prefered a more dispassionate discussion of the pros and cons of these issues rather than Ms. Hotchner's one-sided opinions.

Good but it lacks some schematic drawings of a cat's anatomy.

Sandra

This is a handy-dandy guide to almost everything you need to know about your cat. It covers everything from kitten behavior to most common medical problems. If you're looking for a guide specifically on how to raise a kitten or what to do in a medical emergency, I'd go with something else. This is more of a guide on basic questions you might have for your cat. It covers a lot of areas , but nothing too terribly in depth. I recommend it for general feline questions.

Wonderful book if you're trying your hand at dog grooming. I've saved a lot of money in groomer's charges by learning to upkeep my own pets from this book. Easy to read and understand and is a "keeper" if you want to venture out on your own in dog grooming.

Ordered this together with a CD on dog grooming. It arrived in a reasonable amount of time in good condition. It was somewhat helpful, but probably could have done without it. The CD, of course, was better at illustrating grooming technique.

I bought this book and All-Breed Dog Grooming book. It is word for word the same book. Buy this book if you like both - it is half the price.

I bought this to learn how to groom by Cavalier King Charles and Shih-Tzu after disasterous experience with so called professional groomers. It provided many good basics but greater detail was expected from a book for beginners

My order came when I was told it would, and it arrived in great shape. I will order from this company again when I need another book.

A very insightful and informative volume of addressing various breeds' grooming expectations. Covered are the types of tools and even suggestions on chemical hair products that would enhance and attain the styles described.

The illustrations should have been more descriptive, using slides of steps, rather than rudimentary colored images of subjects with arrows showing direction of cut. In many cases, the depictions of certain breeds are not very accurate; some are even clumsily drawn.

Lastly, each breed's coat and classification has a purpose, regardless of the dog being a pet or an active service, hunting, working, herding, pulling, or performing animal; the history of grooming cuts should have been rationalized and justified beyond the standards of the show ring.

Don't purchase this book unless you are a botanist. It is very difficult to understand and the layout impossible to follow.

I loved this book! It has very in-depth information. I've always had problems with algae in my planted aquarium and this book explains several reasons why this occurs and how to prevent it. It explains, in detail, nutrient requirements, lighting options, ways that fish and invertebrates interact with plants, and which plants are best for beginners. It explains complicated information with clear diagrams. Finally, there is a great list of plants with photos and info.

The only negative thing I can say is that this book is probably not the best for someone who only wants one or two plants in their aquarium and is looking for a simple introduction. This book isn't very simple, but it does offer clear explanations of many topics relating to growing plants in your aquarium.

I found this book very informative when I was setting up my 75 gallon Discus aquarium. Thanks to the information, pictures and various expamples it gave, I gained the knowledge to pick the way I wanted to set up my aquarium and what plants would be the better choices for the lower ph, higher temp. water used for Discus. Very good read.

This is a very good all round book for aquatic plants from the substrata , to light requirments etc etc. This book even give basic gardening requirments and arranging to have a healthy and attractice garden in your aquarium .

This is a beautiful book with many high quality pictures of the plants. Overall it has well organized content but some informations are just not specific enough. For example, how much CO2 to dose to your tank is appropriate? How much Gh is a water soft or hard? How much time it normally takes to "cycle" a tank? No introduction on the pros and cons of different CO2 reactors types. Some answers may not be trivial but at least general guide line should be provided to be any useful.

Linda's books open up a new world to many readers. Her insights and experiences are (for want of a better word) deep and thought provoking. I love her work and encourage anyone to explore it.

This is an awesome book with beautifuly illustrated cards, all with horses. If you love horses and want to investigate some ideas about healing yourself and get insight into yourself this is a must have. I love it!

This is an excellent tool that I use in Psychotherapy. You do not have to enjoy horses to use the 40 beautifully illistrated cards and explore the short chapter associated with the card. I have used it in career counseling as well as groups for people with conflictual self and relationships. This book has also assisted me in discovering what"gifts" that I bring in my life as well as what "challenges" I may have within me. This book is in a nicely done case in order to keep everything together. It is highly recommended as a reference tool for self or others. I have had all my friends pick their cards and I copied the pages for them to refer back to. I have now purchased as many books as I can find from this author and I will continue to explore her scope of self discovery using the horse as our guide.

These cards and the book make a great option for Tarot readers who want to branch out into different forms of reading for clients that are turned off by the old witchy reputation of the traditional tarot. The archetypes are well thought out. I have yet to master the different meanings and it will take study but I really welcome it. Many people are more open to horses than they are to other people!

I ordered these cards because I was planning to buy a set for a friend who is a horse-lover. This is not a traditional tarot deck, but instead a deck defining different aspects of life and offering a unique lens for looking at these aspects. There isn't any skill involved in using these cards (just pick a card in the morning or lay out 3 if asking a particular question) but they seem to offer insights at first use. The first question I asked this deck involved a relationship and I pulled card 6, "Rivalry" which described two people in a partnership wanting to dominate when it could be a more cordial relationship. I was able to discuss this insight with my partner. This deck lends itself to meditation, and is definitely the kind of deck you can use for deeper insights about a situation. It is not the kind of deck for "yes or no" answers. Also, the explanatory chapters on each card goes for several pages so be prepared to sit and read a while when you pull your card, as there are no quick answers in this deck. The book makes interesting reading on its own. The cards are beautifully drawn and perfect for any horse lover. If you want a deck of "wisdom" cards to look at daily, these are very suitable. There is so much wisdom to be drawn from horses, and with evocative cards such as "Kairos," "Merlin's Spirit," "Keeper of the Mysteries," "Maste of Sadness," and others, these cards and book allow a deeper look at any issue you might be facing. These cards will not tell you what to do. They will give you a new view of your situation with alot of food for thought.

I always wished my cats could talk so I'd know what they were thinking. Now I can understand them a little better. Written in an easy to read humorous style this is good resource as well as a good read. If you're a cat lover you might also enjoy "A Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers."

Pam is excellent in her understanding of the social hiarchy of felines. This book has been a life saver in a family of 6 cats.

This is THE book to read if you want to get inside your cat's brain. Once you read it, you will learn how to better understand your pet. Informative facts and advice to be found inside. The author's definitely done a good job on this one!

This book is a most excellent book for new kitty parents, and also has info useful for old kitty pros. I currently care for 7 cats, and have been owned by cats for quite some time now, but I've learned a lot from Pam's books. My first was Psycho Kitty.

While I was a volunteer with our local humane society I always recommended "Think Like A Cat" to first time kitty adopters. It has all the prerequisite instructions for those who know nothing about cats and are about to be owned by their first kitty...or even the second or third...

In general it was alright. But some of her ideas were too bizarre. You can't teach a cat to come! And her idea of giving cat treats to get them to learn new things? Okay but if you have a cat who needs to lose weight that is not the best thing to be encouraging. Cats are not children. You can't reward them and then decide one day not to anymore. Also, the idea that if you don't play everyday with your cat that you are going to somehow ruin them? Please. I don't play with my cat every day and he is just fine. Also the idea that you have to give your cat the "Right" toys? They are CATS, not children. My cat has several "Inanimate" toys and he doesn't seem bored. Plus many of these interactive toys are not cheap and the fishing rod type toys break.
For the person who said cats belong outside? Maybe so.But I live in an apartment and letting my cat outdoors is out of the questions.
I skipped many parts of the book because my cat does not have those issues. And as for the litter box? I own an automatic one which she seems to frown on and I love it. It is so much easier to clean. If my cat has any problems I can still tell.
Shoe me a cat that can learn to sit and stay and I will show you a frog who can talk!

Hard to believe this book would ever go out of print, or that the author apparently wrote nothing else. I got this book when it first came out, and periodically reread it -- and I'm not even a cat person. A wonderful book, beautifully written, about life, love, loss and renewal. Get a copy, this one is a jewel that shouldn't be missed.

Lyrical, poignant, tender, this is a book clearly written by a cat lover. A slim memoir of her time as an veterinary research assistant in the oncology department of NYC's Animal Medical Center, the author is above all hopeful, despite the inevitable early demise that awaits most of her patients. She knows that while the doctors may not be able to cure the cancers of their feline patients, they can certainly improve the quality of life, allowing the cats to live out their lives as happily as medically possible. Highly recommended.

...this time I felt the need. Of all the books I read after my sweet black cat, Flash!, died a year and a half ago, this one meant the most. Ever since my sweet boy passed away at the ripe old age of 11 (old for a cat with FIV, I was told), I searched for a book like this one...someone who feels as I do, and Samantha Mooney captures this. My heart aches when I think of Christmas without him...spring without him...he was alive just a little while ago...where did he go? What happened to him? Ms. Mooney seems to be the only writer that shares these thoughts with me, and so this book helped me tremendously. If you're mourning a loss as deep as ours, please don't hesitate...treat yourself to this book.

No exaggeration here, this book is quite possibly the best book I've ever read - and I've read a LOT of books. I probably average 100-150 books per year and this book stands out like a shining beacon of what a book should be.

Without melodrama or saccharine-laced manipulations, the author manages to successfully illustrate the pain, no, the agony, of watching a beloved animal slip away. She shows the behind the scenes anguish and dedication of those who care for and strive to better the lives of our furry children. Nowhere have I seen animal-human relationships portrayed with such tenderness, sincerety and respect without a trace of the maudlin.

Ms. Mooney does not proselytize nor does she moralize, yet somehow she manages to bring forth a sense of the divine and everlasting bond possible with a special animal. She gives the sense also that however difficult, life does go on and that somehow, it must.

One other important note about this book - With her words, her attitude, and her wisdom, Ms. Mooney does a better job than could 12 trained counselors at helping to appease any guilt a companion person may have at any decisions made out of love for an animal.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever loved an animal or even anyone who has simply had a friendship with one. This book speaks to a level rarely seen or addressed in a simple paperback book.

In law school, in a cinder block dormitory, Samantha Mooney's cats were a surrogate animal family for me, but such a tragic family, since death came sooner for them than for most of our pets. This was one of the very few books I carried home with me and I have never let it go in all the intervening years. If we must acknowledge that we are destined to outlive most of our pets, again and again we need a book to remind us to cherish their lives but not tether them to hopeless life when they are ready to let go. Many animals have shared their lives with me in the years since I graduated. This is the book I turn to when that sad day comes around for each of my animals in turn.

I first saw this book advertized in the AAA magazine we receive. They encouraged readers to order it from Barnes and Noble. $5 cheaper at Amazon! Looks good. Haven't traveled with the pet yet using this book.

I purchased this book to start a new adventure in our lives of traveling with our yorkie/chinese crested mix dog. The book was easy to use, but found that you still need to call ahead to verify that the hotel still accepts pets. We found several that weren't listed that did and some that said they did that no longer were. However, it made life easy having it all in one book. Even when reaching a hotel that no longer accepted pets, they were quick to tell you which of the competitors did. We also discovered that west of the Mississsippi, places are more dog friendly. Ohio is terrible for taking a dog with you. Albuquerque, NM and Santa Barbara, CA are the friendliest.

It's ok, not a complete list, misses quite a few hotels that I stay at that I know takes pets.

My husband and I just returned from our trip to Tennassee and then to Florida. We stayed in hotels the entire time and we found them all by this book, its an essential and the ratings are so very helpful. I would recommend this to anyone traveling with their dog.

I wish I would have known about this book years ago. I can't tell you the number of times we have pulled into a motel - exhausted - only to be told "we don't take pets"! Included in this book are the rates, exact locations, exit numbers, phone numbers, motel ratings, discount information, and much more. Everyone with a pet needs this book. Your pet will love you!!!

My girlfriend and I have only read the first few chapters and already learned a lot from the book. I believe some of what the author explains is redundant.

Material inside is a bit dated, but it has the right idea to get the job done.

My husband and I are "cat people" and never thought of owning a dog until our children wanted one. I realized most of the work with training a puppy was going to be the parents responsibility and I wasn't sure I was ready. I bought this book 6 months before I made my decision. The book is very straight forward and addresses everything you need to know about house training dogs. We brought our puppy home when he was 8 weeks old. I bought everything on the must have lists and followed everything exactly. By 4 months old he was completely house trained. He's now 8 months old and we couldn't ask for a better situation. He even rings a bell by the back door to signal he needs to go out to "potty". I highly recommend this book.

This book has been very helpful since we are first time puppy owners. I would suggest that if you are thinking about getting a puppy that you should get this book first, read through it and then get the puppy. We did it the other way around and if you buy the book first it will alleviate a lot of frustration as a puppy owner.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering a puppy.

Lora Verni, a certified dog trainer with many years of experience, gives us the advantage of her expertise with this simple, yet highly effective book on house training puppies (and adult dogs who aren't 100% trained).

She guarantees that if you follow her steps, that you will have a house trained dog within one month--I found the book so effective that my dog was trained within 3 weeks!

This book, in simple and easy-to-read chapters, tells you exactly what to do to get your dog to "perform" on command, how to praise him when he's right, and how and when to correct him if he needs it.

In some chapters, she tells the reader that if they've understood the just-presented information, that they need to go back and read it again. She urges the whole family to be in on the house training routine--not just one "in-charge" family member.

She emphasizes crate training and why this is extremely important in training dogs not to "go" anywhere but their appropriate and special "spot".

All in all, if you haven't raised a dog in a while and are feeling the need for some pointers, this book will give you those and then some. In the conversational tone in which it's written, you will feel as if you're being given tips by a friend.

I would recommend it for anyone bringing home a new puppy, or an older dog who is "not sure" about it all.

For someone who is just learning about homeopathy in general, this book not only gave me a good introductory understanding of homeopathy overall for pets and people, but also gave me some great tips and helpful knowledge that I was able to put to use right away with my sick cat. I was able to find the best way to treat my cat with homeopathy with the help of this book and my vet.

It's good for reference. A little difficult to self diagnois your pet and not always easy to find the treatment for a specific problem in the book.

AFTER REVIEWING OTHER BOOKS & BUYING ANOTHER BOOK (that was poorly written) I WAS RELIEVED TO READ THIS. HOMEOPATHIC CARE FOR CATS & DOGS GETS RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER. INDEX IS GREAT, NICE LISTING OF HOMEOPATHIC SUPPLIERS THERE PHONE, FAX & WEB SITES ( I had wondered where to get supplies but that answered it for me.) YOU ONLY RECEIVE NEEDED INFORMATION. NICE GUIDE FOLLOWS WITH EASY TO FIND REMEDIES. INCLUDES INFO ON HOW TO DECIDE YOUR ANIMAL NEEDS HOMEOPATHY OR IS IT TIME TO SEE THE VETERINARIAN. IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOUR LIMITS. I PROMISE YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.

I purchased this book along with 3 others to educate myself as to various diets and medical care of my pets. I found this one so far to list anything about heartworms in cats. I live in Oklahoma and we have a lot of mosquitoes and have had 2 dogs that contracted heartworm but we've never had a cat contract it and we've had cats live to be 14, 16, and 20 years. I had my suspicions about the necessity of giving heartworm medication to a cat and Dr. Hamilton pretty well answered my questions about it in two sentences on page 332, "This is a serious disease that primarily affects dogs (it is rare in cats, despite claims by the preventive manufacturers)." and, "I do not recommend their use (preventives) in cats, as the incidence does not warrant the drug use in my opinion." Overall, I found it's a very professional yet understandable book for those of us who wish to take care of our beloved pets through more natural means.

I'm not wild about this book. While I'm sure there's some good information in here, I haven't found it yet. What I have found are opinions that I find difficult to swallow.

For example:

Don't vaccinate your pets. Hmm. I understand there might be reasons to stay away from vaccinating pets, as there are for not vaccinating children. However, I also understand that if I want to board my dog, or take him to the local dog park, or take him to the groomer, or have my vet come within ten feet of him, I need some evidence that this dog has, in fact, been vaccinated. I don't see a practical way around this in this book.

He says vaccinations weaken the species by allowing weaker animals to survive. My neutered dogs aren't contributing to the gene pool anyway, so I don't understand this argument.

Then there's the thing about feeding your dog only raw meat, because dogs in the wild don't have someone cooking for them. Okay, fine. Dogs in the wild don't have veterinarians, nor do they sleep on a human's couch. If we're going to take this thought to its logical conclusion, we shouldn't have pets at all. And if we should have pets, why on earth would I want to risk their getting infected with E. coli? Or does this raw meat thing assume that I kill it myself rather than buy it?

He says that a lot of meanness in dogs comes from the rabies vaccine. He cites no studies, offers no data, just says that from what he's seen, this is true. I'm sure I don't see anywhere near as many dogs as the author, but come on, I have yet to see a dog made mean by vaccines. Show me a reproducible study.

There may be some valuable information in this book, but it's colored by these unsupported "facts", so it's hard to tell what's good information and what's not. There are better books on the subject. Buy one of them.