The Southwest Inside Out: An Illustrated Guide to the Land and Its History

Wonderful book!!!! Everything you want to know about the beauty and wonder of the Southwestern USA.

This is a great mix of fantastic photography and well-themed chapters on a variety of subjects, that can be informative for anybody from a first-time visitor to a long-term resident or even a native. For example, there's a welter of geological information on types of rocks and rock formations, how bajadas, sand dunes and other formations are created, and more. Along with that is climatolgical and geographic information on the different deserts, and subdeserts within the Sonoran, in this country. Elsewhere, you get information in brief on the location of the different prehistoric Indian inhabitants, dinosaur and other fossils in the area, and yet more on canyon. rock and other formations. A good coffee-table type book.

Very few books offer the balance of stunning photography of our glorious land with creative layout and insights into the natural sciences, especially the Earth sciences. In the past few years, as a native of the east, I have used this book to help me explore the magnificent landscapes of my new home. Mr. Wiewandt and Ms. Wilks have captured the beauty of this region in a book that is truly unique. As a souvenir of the heart of the "desert" southwest and as a planning resource for the inquiring travel, this book excels. Thomas McGuireEarth Science Author & EducatorCave Creek, AZ"If we intend to live on this planet... we truly need to understand how it works."

Tucked within the pages this unusual new book is a custom-made 15" x 20" multi-color map of America's "Greater Southwest." The map, like the book, focuses on desert and canyon country of southern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and portions of Colorado, Texas, and northern Mexico.At the map's center is a spot called Four Corners, the point where New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah meet. And at the top of the map, you'll see an enlarged view of southern Utah that features the many remarkable natural wonders located between St. George and Moab. This is Desert Solitaire country, as fans of author Edward Abbey know so well.Over 300 miles from Four Corners, author/photographer/educator Tom Wiewandt lives in the Tucson Mountains, near Saguaro National Park in the Sonoran Desert. I met him at a pot luck dinner for the Arizona Native Plant Society, and was instantly impressed by his tales of dodging electrocution while taking photos of the area's powerful summer "monsoon" lightning storms.Imagine my surprise two days later when a review copy of The Southwest Inside Out arrived, complete with award emblems for prizes this volume has already received. Five jaw-dropping minutes spent leafing through its pages convinced me that nature lovers worldwide need to know about the book.------------------------------------------------------------------------The Southwest Inside Out delves into the geological origins of stunning landscapes that abound in this part of the world, clearly written for those of us who are curious but have no formal training in the earth sciences. But this book is much wider in scope: it offers a holistic overview that integrates scenic wonders with pre-history, plant and animal ecology, Native American mythology, recent history, and travel tips. The lively, informative text is fully indexed and cleanly organized with side-bars for easy reading. Each page has been designed for maximum impact by the talented Carol Haralson, who deserves special mention. Wiewandt's photos are sensational, and no lesser adjective will suffice. Seven major subject areas bring this far-ranging section of the United States into sharp focus. My favorites are:* DUNES, with their austere majesty, hosting rugged, idiosyncratic life forms;* WHERE WATER COMES AND GOES, explaining how horrible floods and devastating droughts will always be beyond our control;* STORIES IN STONE, including charts and photos that place such creatures as trilobites, dinosaurs, and saber-tooth cats throughout the region.Within each of these chapters are gorgeous landscape and nature photos, well-researched information, plus numerous illustrations and original maps. Check out Wiewandt's splendid photo gallery for sample pictures like those in his book. You can download photos from the website, but remember to respect his copyright.------------------------------------------------------------------------Tom Wiewandt is a native to the American Southwest and has led photograp

As one who finds the Southwest, particularly the Colorado Plateau, to be the most beautiful, thought-provoking, and inspiring place on Earth, I purchased this book with a great deal of anticipation. A cursory review at the Arches N.P bookstore revealed that the photography was excellent, even sublime. The collection of photographs avoids the trite, road tourist views in good measure, and presents the topics from a fresh, seldom-visualized viewpoint. The sections on slot canyons, hoodoos, and natural bridges were particularly entertaining. The textual treatment was less impressive, dwelling in most part on fundamental things any roadie would glimpse. I would have preferred a more detailed discussion on the "why" of the formations and features. So far as gaining a deep understanding of what has made the Southwest the world's premier geological wonderland, other books may be more appropriate. This being said, I was nonetheless enchanted by the book. I have visited every national park, most of the national monuments, and many of the out-of-the way marvels. So have the book's authors and I am impressed with their care of the subject. Especially for the first-time visitor to the Southwest, I would count the book an essential read.