Rattlesnake: Portrait of a Predator

Rating:
Summary: YESSSSS!
Review: As a novice herpetologist with some rattlesnake experience, I found this book to be just awesome! The photography is spectacular, but then so is the subject. I think Mr. Rubio has done his homework, and well. The book is informative without the pretensions one normally encounters and covers all facets of rattlesnake fact and lore. Although I am a bit more critical of the rattlesnake roundups, I think the book portrayed them with accuracy. Kudos to the author!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful look at a fascinating subject.
Review: I have always been fascinated by rattlesnakes, ever since living in the heart of California's rattlesnake country as a young lad. This book covers the subject in loving and fascinating detail, with loads of superb photographs which splendidly support the excellent text. These are magnificent and beneficial animals and the author does a superb job of writing about them.

My only criticism of the book is that it spends a lot of time dealing with human activities as regards rattlesnakes, such as the notorious "rattlesnake roundups," which the author rightly explains to be unconscionable predations by man against innocent and essential creatures. I would have rather seen even more space devoted to a pure scientific study of rattlers. But this is a minor quibble, and many will doubtless disagree with me because these sections are very well done and interesting.

The book's scientific discussion of rattlesnakes is very interesting. These are amazing creatures and the author plainly is highly motivated by the subject. This book is a labor of love in which the reader will delight to share.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in rattlers.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent photography and information, imprtant contribution
Review: I received a copy of this excellent book as a gift this past Christmas. Finally I was able to put it down and I wanted to support this book.The Photography is unbeleivable and the information is presented clearly and without the stuffy know it all attitude of many other authors. I get the sense he wants the reader to understand and appreciate the material without making it too complex. This is an excellent choice for beginning herpetologists. I have been to several of the locations mentioned in the text and the book reminded me of my own experiances with these magnificant animals. I would highly recommend this book to all those intersted in rattlesnakes.

Rating:
Summary: Thank you
Review: I would like to thank all of you who have read my book. A second printing with some minor changes and corrections is due out shortly. A new photo has been added, and some color corrections have been made. I am researching for an eventual revised edition, and would like to have any information you might think might be useful. Thanks again.

Rating:
Summary: killer photography and incredibly well written
Review: This book contains some of the most fantastic photography ever done of rattlesnakes, as well as a thoroughly-researched text which makes the latest scientific information available to everyone with an interest in snakes. Very entertaining and readable.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, great info, great photography
Review: This book is a good resource for those who are interested in rattlers without being interested enough to read Klauber's treatise on the subject. The information is sound, and goes into fair depth, although at times I felt that a more scholarly less pop tone would have worked better. Still the author did what he set out to do; produce a great work on rattlesnakes that was accessible. It's easily worth reading, and is very informative. Although much of the info you can get from Klauber, there are many cases where Rubio has provided useful and worthwhile revisions/changes/additons to material (medicinal significance, the ecological effect of roundups, taxonomy etc.). These make the book more than a contemporary rehash of Kaluber's masterpiece.
The text alone would be worth the price of the book; the photography makes the book a steal. This man knows how to take pictures; some of the best photos of rattlers I've ever seen (and I've seen and taken several) are here. I borrowed this book from a library, expecting something that was little more than an update on Klauber; however, this work stands alone very well, and is informative--I intend to buy it. The photos are on par with any herp photography I've ever seen, and are impressive and useful; almost worth the price of the book themselves. This book is a must have, and well worth the time and money that one must invest to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent work!
Review: This book is an excellent piece of work, and a great follow-up to Klauber's earlier work. It is very interesting to read, and provides a great amount of valuable and accurate information concerning all aspects of rattlesnakes. As this book is interesting to both the rattlesnake curious as well as the professional herpetologist, it is a must for any Crotalus/Sistrurus enthusiast, and one that receives my recommendation.

As some of the other reviewers have already noted, the photography that is displayed in this book is absolutely stunning. Many of the pictures are some of the best ever published, and that fact alone makes the book worth its price.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on rattlers since Klauber's "Rattlesnakes"
Review: This is undoubtedly one of the best zoological books I've ever read. The photographs are superb and the text is both enlightening and understandable. This book along with Klauber's has opened a whole new world to me that was previously very dim and mysterious. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystery and excitement of venomous snakes.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on rattlers since Klauber's "Rattlesnakes"
Review: This is undoubtedly one of the best zoological books I've ever read. The photographs are superb and the text is both enlightening and understandable. This book along with Klauber's has opened a whole new world to me that was previously very dim and mysterious. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystery and excitement of venomous snakes.