"Naturalist Weidensaul has written a wonderful natural and ecological history of the Appalachian Mountain range, from its southern origins in Alabama to its terminus off Newfoundland at Belle Isle. Weidensaul's theme is change as he traces the mountains' geological origins from the Ice Ages through the incredible diversity and richness of pre-Columbian and Colonial days on up to the modern era. The strength of this book lies in the wonders Weidensaul finds in this familiar wilderness--in the lives of darters and mussels and the mystery of the forest bison. For all libraries in or near the region and an excellent choice for comprehensive natural history collections elsewhere."   --Beth Clewis, Library Journal.