Florida's Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber Paperback – May 1, 2017

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.

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.

As a native coastal Floridian, I grew up in awe of the sea and all of its wonder. I was hooked after my first shelling expedition at the tender age of two. Since then, my curiosity to learn about all things in, on, and near the water has been insatiable. I'm now 52 and just discovered this book and I've been so impressed with it that I sent it to my brother (also an amatuer enthusiast). This book is full of gasp-inspiring facts that I sincerely never knew. The best part is that this brilliant couple has put everything into easily readable and understandable bits, even when explaining complex things like ecosystems. They break down everything into categories, I found this helpful and convenient for referencing purposes. It helps the reader to understand where to find things, what to look for and when to look for it. The descriptions of anatomies of beaches to mollusks and everything in between is not only fascinating, but understandable. I feel like it has rekindled my passion for the sea in a way that speaks to my inner child, but as an adult living in a complicated world. And if you're the beach enthusiast that is also into beach/beach wildlife conservation, even on a small scale, then please get a copy. Entertaining (a few bits of dry humor here and there), informative and down right essential as a beachgoer in Florida. I highly, highly recommend this book!

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!

I recently moved to Florida and initially was looking for a book to learn about and identify seashells. I happened upon this one- and couldn't be happier with this purchase. This not only identifies shells, but wildlife, and other living things in or around beaches. I have enjoyed educating myself on my new surroundings and can't recommend enough. If you are curious about beach animals, plants, shells, etc. than this is the book for you.

Love this book. Exceptional layout, with clear large photos and clearly written descriptions. Even my toddler grandkids can find the objects we collected on the beach in this book's layout. A great reference book to have on hand during your beach vacation.