The Southwest: New Mexico and Arizona

The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America

by Jake Page

Featuring glorious color photos and maps throughout, this new edition of the Smithonian Guide to Natural America covers the parks, wilderness preserves, nature sanctuaries and scenic wonders to be found in Arizona and New Mexico.

Genres: Travel, Nature, Reference, Nonfiction, Natural History

286 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 1995

About the author

Jake Page was a celebrated editor, science writer, and novelist who made complex topics accessible through wit and clarity. Though he never studied science formally, his role editing Natural History Books at Doubleday sparked a lifelong passion for explaining science to general readers. As science editor and columnist at Smithsonian magazine, he wrote with elegance and humor on a wide range of subjects, from aspirin to Zane Grey. Page authored dozens of books, including works on birds, earthquakes, and Native American history. His fascination with the American Southwest led to a mystery series featuring a blind sculptor-detective. Collaborating with his wife, photographer Susanne Anderson, he produced detailed cultural studies like Hopi and Navajo. His major nonfiction achievement, In the Hands of the Great Spirit, traces 20,000 years of American Indian history. Whether exploring anthropology or writing fiction, Page championed curiosity, clarity, and the belief that science was too important to remain only in expert hands.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Southwest: New Mexico and Arizona is a guidebook with gorgeous pictures and better than expected text by Jake Page (who also wrote some of my favorite mysteries-The Deadly Canyon, Stolen Gods, and The Knotted Strings-featuring a blind sculptor as detective and set in New Mexico). If I were not obsessed with New Mexico (and hoping to someday live there) I undoubtedly would have passed on this book but I'm grateful I did not. The text minutely describes the geography of New Mexico and Arizona, along with some tidbits of history and other interesting information. The maps are extremely helpful and the pictures stunningly complement the text. I began to feel as though I were actually there!

A very pleasant reading-as-vacation diversion. I especially recommend it to anyone actually interested in visiting these places.

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than your average guide book. Beautifully illustrated with clear concise descriptions of all the best sights, including villages as well as National Parks. The nice thing about combining the two states is including those great places that lie on either side of the border like Canyon deChelly, Shiprock, Monument Valley, and one of my favorite places in the four corners area Hovenweep. Great book to have along even if you know your way around. The maps and directions are easy and correct (trust me, some books really get it wrong).

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is informative, with excellent, often spectacular, photography.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guide to Natural America is not as fun to read as Historic America, but still a good place to start when exploring a new area. The pictures, as always, are amazing!