The “King of Sting” describes his adventures with insects and the pain scale that’s made him a scientific celebrity. Silver, Science (Adult Non-Fiction) Foreword INDIES Award 2017 Entomologist Justin O. Schmidt is on a mission. Some say it’s a brave exploration, others shake their heads in disbelief. His goal? To compare the impacts of stinging insects on humans, mainly using himself as the test case. In The Sting of the Wild, the colorful Dr. Schmidt takes us on a journey inside the lives of stinging insects. He explains how and why they attack and reveals the powerful punch they can deliver with a small venom gland and a “sting,” the name for the apparatus that delivers the venom. We learn which insects are the worst to encounter and why some are barely worth considering. The Sting of the Wild includes the complete Schmidt Sting Pain Index, published here for the first time. In addition to a numerical ranking of the agony of each of the eighty-three stings he’s sampled so far, Schmidt describes them in prose worthy of a professional wine critic: “Looks deceive. Rich and full-bodied in appearance, but flavorless” and “Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking over flaming charcoal with a three-inch nail embedded in your heel.” Schmidt explains that, for some insects, stinging is used for hunting: small wasps, for example, can paralyze huge caterpillars for long enough to lay eggs inside them, so that their larvae emerge within a living feast. Others are used to kill competing insects, even members of their own species. Humans usually experience stings as defensive maneuvers used by insects to protect their nest mates. With colorful descriptions of each venom’s sensation and a story that leaves you tingling with awe, The Sting of the Wild’s one-of-a-kind style will fire your imagination.

In vivid detail this atlas takes account of fifty of the most dangerous animals on earth.

With restaurant and accommodation options for a range of budgets, this travel guide also contains complete coverage of State and National Parks and Seashores. Added benefits include a comprehensive activities section; historical, cultural and political background; itinerary suggestions for short and long term travelers; and more. Full color.

Completely revised and updated, Let's Go: California is your insider's guide to the Golden State. Let's Go's forty-five years of travel savvy deliver the practical facts you'll need, from navigating L.A.'s freeways to finding the hottest nightlife. Expanded coverage of national parks, beaches, hiking, and skiing get you out of the city, while listings in the alternatives to tourism chapter show you how to make a difference or become a movie star. Whether you'd rather trek Yosemite's backcountry trails or sample California cuisine in Berkeley's gourmet ghetto, Let's Go can lead the way.

Features annotations for more than 6,200 works in the main volume (2007), and more than 2,400 new titles in three annual supplements published 2008 through 2010. New coverage of biographies, art, sports, Islam, the Middle East, cultural diversity, and other contemporary topics keeps your library's collection as current as today's headlines.

Explore the beauty of Northern California’s natural landscape with this guide to 80 of the best easy-to-walk day hikes located throughout Northern California. From hikes just outside of San Francisco to long strolls in the Sierra Nevada, here are the 80 best easy day hikes in Northern California, perfect for aging baby boomers, seniors, those traveling with small children, and anyone else interested more in a stroll than a climb. Hikes include: Lady Bird Johnson Grove • McCloud Falls Trail • Pomo Canyon Trail • Table Rock • South Yuba Independence Trail • Tomales Point Trail • Purisima Redwoods Loop • Sardine Lakes Trail • Devils Postpile • Rainbow Falls • and more! Written in a personal but informative tone by outdoors expert Ann Marie Brown, The Creaky Knees Guide Northern California is a perfect resource anyone can use to explore the beauty of Northern California without breaking too much of a sweat. In addition to a full-trip description, each hike includes: • Clear, up-to-date driving directions • Elevation gains • Topographical map • Mileage and estimated hiking time • Trail conditions, effort level, best season, map references, exploring options, access, permits required, and where to find more information. Other titles in Creaky Knees easy hike series include Creaky Knees Oregon, Creaky Knees Washington, and Creaky Knees Arizona.