Field Guide to Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras of the East Coast of North America (Wild Nature Press)

I admit from the start that I am a field guide nerd. Especially with guides about vertebrates, I will buy one even if it is about group that I may never see in the wild, *if* I think it is exceptionally well made. I love the beauty of high quality photography and, even more so, illustration, and the information is generally more reliable than what's online. I also just like well-designed and constructed books. I have seen a few guides that might equal this one, but I have never seen better.I should also mention that I am far, far from being an expert in sharks, rays, and chimaeras. So I guess it's possible (in theory) that Princeton could have put a tremendous amount of work and talent into a book written by people with excellent credentials but still somehow don't know what they are talking about. In my experience, that can happen occasionally in very lucrative or politicized subjects. But with field guides the chances are virtually zero, so I will leave this topic with only a nod in its direction.Like many of the guides in this series, this one shows an exceptional understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of both photography and illustration, and uses each to their best advantage. It also manages to maximize the amount of information on each page while doing so with exceptional elegance a and clarity. Take a look at the preview and you'll get some idea, although the standard Amazon format for previews doesn't give it the chance it deserves.An unfortunate side effect of this book is that it makes you realize just how little actually goes into many guides in its price range--or even a much higher range. I've been collecting guides like this for over forty years now, and very, very few even come close in terms of the quantity and (beyond a reasonable doubt) quality of information, along with elegance, clarity, and beauty of execution--even at a much higher price. It might seem like a big financial gamble for Princeton to put so much time and money into a book that is for a decidedly niche market. But while no one is going to get rich off of books like this, the secret known to few in the publishing industry is that high quality books for niche enthusiasts will, generally, attract buyers long after lesser works have been forgotten. With any justice, this books has decades ahead of it.

This book is amazing. It's so detailed and beautifully illustrated. The only problem with it is the pages smell very badly to my sister. I think they smell good, but sensory issues come in different "flavors" and hers cannot handle the smell. She was so excited about this book but she can barely even touch it, let alone go through it. She describes the smell as "chemical" rather than a usual book smell.

This is my fourth book by this author and the art work that Mr Dando: Amazing!