Why the Adirondacks Look the Way They Do: A Natural History by Mike Storey

Sometimes the smallest, least polished, most hidden away books turn out to be the most useful. This is certainly not surprising, as even book publishers cannot explain the deeper reasons beneath come of the industry’s output. Suffice it to say that a lot of drek gets published and you wish you never bought it, just as you occasionally spot a work such as Why the Adirondacks Look the Way They Do: A Natural History by Mike Storey and wonder why it is so difficult to find so soon after it was published. FInd, that is, at a sane price. As of this writing the moderate sized paperback was listing for $40 or so on Amazon.

This book does not cover a lot of new ground. What it is, however, is one of the most straightforward, easy to understand and comprehensive introductions to the physical makeup of the Adirondacs that I have come across. This is the book I want to have on hand when I need to explain something to a child. Or an adult, for that matter.

Much of this stem from Storey’s life as a naturalist and educator. Who better to know what will best serve to illustrate and explain the concepts covered here. Better, he knows when to stop. Too much information is almost as bad as too little in this type of book, and he strikes the balance almost perfectly, covering a large variety of topics while neglecting none of the important concepts. The interrelationships of all the facets of Adirondack natural history are competently covered, and you are not left wondering at too many loose ends.

Geology, geography, glaciation, climate, natural succession of species, it is all laid out with simple but effective illustrations. This is a book to start with for anyone seeking to understand these mountains and lakes. Too bad it is not easer to find.