Florida's Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber

I'll just be one more chiming in that this book is worth getting if you plan to spend any time on the coast of Florida and want to learn what you'll be seeing when you do. Since moving back to the Atlantic side of south Florida I've been spending a lot of time at the beach. I've developed a fondness for shell collecting and that's what led me to eventually find this book. I needed a good shell identification guide. I almost bought another book, but an Amazon reviewer recommend this book over the other I was about to buy, so out of curiosity I checked out the review page which was nothing but 5 star review after 5 star review. What impressed me was seeing that it covers the entire gambit of everything and anything a person may find at the beach, from shells to corals, sponges, jellyfish, land and water animals, plant/tree life, seabeans and seeds and even drift item that commonly wash ashore. And more! The opening chapter is devoted to explaining the anatomy of a beach and all its components, which is very informative. I bought it for the shell identification guide primarily but it's been great for everything else. As others have mentioned it's full of photographs on every page, a corresponding map telling you where in Florida you'll tend to find each particular item and during what season, and is a well organized, easy and fun to read high quality book. It's a must-own resource if you visit Florida beaches and like to learn about what you're surrounded by. And as far as I can tell, every shell I've found so far was in the book. And it was nice to learn exactly *why* one of my fave beaches is always a milky seagreen color, versus others that tend to be a rich blue green. :D It's all in here.

Excellent book! Take this with you on your next trip to a Florida beach!Packed with information! Plants, animals, and things I have never heard of! Warrants at least a 6 star rating!

FIVE STARS!!!! (Though it deserves ten!)I've lived along coasts all my life. I grew up peering into the tidepools of the Pacific, looking over the edge of docks, and wandering along the West Coast's beaches from San Diego to the San Juans. I've spent the last 30 years on the Gulf Coast with visits to the southern Atlantic beaches. Beachcombing is one of my great joys, and my shelves are full of guides to flora and fauna. When the Witherington's guide arrived yesterday, I sat down with it...and by the end of the evening, I'd read it cover to cover. I'll be tucking it in my beach bag, and using it as a constant companion. It's just that good. What sets this guide apart from others is its clear organization, graphic clarity, conversational tone, and concise information-packed descriptions.If you live in Florida and love the beach, buy this book. You will learn about all the forces that shape the beach environment, from tides and weather to human incursions. AND you'll find a clearly illustrated comprehensive guide to virtually everything you could discover washed up in, on or near the sand, along the inner and outer coasts. If you've ever picked up a bit of flotsam, or stooped over a mysterious blob on the beach, and wondered, "What is this?", this guide will tell you. Dr. Witherington's background in biology zoology is apparent, as he provides fascinating insights in every entry. Ms. Witherington's design and illustrations make it a visual feast.This is the second edition. I hope the Witheringtons will continue to revise and update this gem. Perhaps future editions will tell us about the long term effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill, and give us more beach quests for Northwest Florida.

Great reference book. I referred to it all the time after a day of shelling in Southwest Florida.

I recently moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama from Iowa. and enthough this is a Florida book there is sooo much information pertaining to all gulf living. Detailed pictures and explanations from shells, wildlife in and around the water, wave patterns and causes, sand patterns, tides etc., etc. I am very happy with this purchase, it does not disappoint!!!

Great read and very interesting . Nature at its best when it comes to little creatures making the shell . Pictures are very informative.

There's something nice about being able to compare types of shells or birds in a book, rather than online. This book has EVERYthing Florida beach related. Whenever I had a question, such as "Are there aardvarks around here?" - the book gave me answers (and photos). I like the little map of Florida above each item which shows a colored outline of where in Florida it is common (or rare). Because the book is so expansive, covering everything from sea grass to sea glass, it is very heavy. I've come to love it, though, and I'll keep carrying with me every time I visit Florida.