Best books by genre: Outdoors & Nature

Frederick C. Selous’s work, written at the urging of President Theodore Roosevelt, contains many of his most keen observations about life and wildlife in Africa. Fascinating not only as a period piece, Selous's thoughts are remarkably prescient about the state of game in Africa even today. Though it was written before the rise of the commercial poaching that has ravaged so much of the continent, the book gives an excellent insight into the need to carefully observe, record, and interpret the ecological signs found in the wild. Easy and lively in style, the tales told within encompass everything from dietary habits of hyena to the effects of sleeping sickness on agriculture.

This little volume, originally published in the middle of the nineteenth century, is devoted to the art of trout fishing. The author, W. C. Stewart, offers a detailed account of nearly all the aspects of trouting, beginning with the explanation for fishermen up to the discussion various types of wood for making fishing rods. The book gives examples of fish’s food, numerous sorts of worms, lampreys, the suitable weather for fishing, experiments with the angles and other useful information, such as best means of filling a basket in May. Never herefor there was such a book, which provided a full-length account of trout fishing. Though the book was written in the language of the time, it remains very informative today, since a lot of described techniques have hardly changed.

John Burroughs was a very prolific writer known as the author of more than thirty books and as the founder of a new genre in literature called the nature essay. Born in the Catskill Mountains, from his childhood he was carried away with the beauty of the nature and later depicted it in his novels. The Breath of Life is a bright example of such genre which teaches simple people to love and appreciate nature. Although it was published in 1915 but it does not seem to get old and would be equally interesting for modern readers.

Under the above title, rather more than twenty years ago, Col. Irby produced a modest little octavo volume which at once secured a high position in ornithological literature. It treated of the natural history of the north - western portion of Morocco, from Tangier southwards to a little beyond Larache, and for about twelve miles inland, beyond which excursions were in those days difficult, not to say dangerous; while on the Spanish side the area embraced was far wider, comprising the country between Cadiz, Gibraltar, Malaga, Granada, Cordova, Seville, and down the Guadalquivir to the great marshy delta of that river. Birds, their habits and modification, with the dates of arrival and departure in the case of migrants the results of several years' experience formed the principal feature; but there was a great deal of valuable information about mammals, reptiles, and other subjects in the work, and it became a handbook for the naturalist traveler in the South as much as the book of reference for the student at home.

Andrew J. Blackbird was an American Indian by origin who spent most of his life living in Michigan with other American Indians. In History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan he attempts to open readers' eyes on their life and problems. He includes the description of culture, traditions and legends of his people as well as the impact made by Christian missionaries. The author pays attention to the role of American government in preserving American Indian original believes. Besides, here we find the account of activity of University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University where researchers study the way of life of Native Americans. The book is highly recommended for those who are interested in the history of American Indians in the middle of the 19th century.

North American Birds Eggs covers 768 species and contains life-sized black and white illustrations of eggs, photos of nests and drawings of birds.

By an American writer of the nineteenth and early twentieth century Francis Marion Crawford.
He was the author of over forty novels, most of which were in the style of disposable romances popular at the time; stories of the horror and occult, for which the author is best is remembered today.

This book was originally published in 1898. "The Peckhams' observations are precise, and their prose is simple and light. No nature-faking or unfounded anthropomorphism is to be found in their writing. A science classic that can be read with pleasure even today.

Lectures by Lieutenant Ernest G. Draper, Head of the Department of Navigation, includes: Piloting, Dead reckoning, Celestal navigation.

In his book “Life shortening habits and rejuvenation” he author aimed to show, on the basis of examples drawn from nature, that each of the Almighty's creatures is destined by Him to do good. He discusses all life shortening habits and tells the ways to avoid them. Also he explains what is good for our health and long life.