A unique window on the floral wonders of the Mediterranean world The Mediterranean - a land of blue skies, warm sunshine, rugged mountains and azure seas. Yet this familiar image conceals another Mediterranean - a secret landscape populated by a dazzling variety of wild flowers and plants, from spectacular orchids and ancient olive trees to delicate snowdrops and hardy cacti. Following on from their widely acclaimed Flora of the Silk Road, Chris and Basak Gardner present a stunning selection of 600 of the finest wild flowers that grow in the Mediterranean regions of the world. Travelling across five continents - Europe, North America, Africa, South America and Australia - the authors reveal the rich botanical profusion that makes up the flora of the Mediterranean regions of the world. For each region, a succession of the most outstanding flowers is featured, from the spectacular and exotic to the beautiful yet familiar, with each plant presented in its natural habitat. Beginning with the countries of the Mediterranean Basin, the reader is taken along the rugged Atlas Mountains, through Andalucia and Italy, to arrive at the amazing botanical richness of Greece, southern Anatolia and Jordan. In California and Chile the journey is through flowering deserts, snow-capped peaks and towering forests of redwood and monkey puzzle trees, beside a coast lapped by the Pacific Ocean. The ancient landscapes of Southern Australia provide a truly remarkable assemblage of astonishing flora, whilst the Western Cape of South Africa is home to an unimaginable diversity of flora. The accompanying text provides descriptions of the species, plant families and their distribution, as well as offering guidance to those wishing to photograph plants in the wild. With 600 stunning colour photographs, and presenting a breadth of flora never before brought together in a single volume, the authors offer a unique window on the floral wonders of the Mediterranean world.

An illustrated guide to the most spectacular floral region on earth The Silk Road - a name that has enchanted for centuries. Yet a well kept secret, even today, is that this fabled route linking Europe with Asia is also the most spectacular floral region on earth. Chris and Basak Gardner offer a unique pictorial celebration of the plants and scenery to be found along its 5,000 miles. Embracing Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Central Asia and China, more than five hundred of the finest wild flowers are depicted together with the beautiful landscapes in which these botanical paradises are found. With an accompanying text giving descriptions of the species, plant families and their distribution, as well as information on photographing plants in the wild, this unique book will amaze and delight not only those with an interest in the spectacular and legendary landscapes that form the Silk Road but also plantsmen and horticulturalists worldwide.

Top executives support The Valuation of Information Technology "This is the first book which I have seen that places corporate decision-making on a logical and quantitative basis. Decisions which have traditionally been done by the ‘seat of the pants’ are subjected to the same rigorous analysis as is routine in the hard sciences. I think this book strikes off in a completely new direction and deserves to be read by anyone contemplating a career in business." —Dr. Mel Schwartz, Nobel Laureate in Physics 1988 and Professor Emeritus, Stanford and Columbia Universities "An insightful, rewarding evaluation of information technology—with the aim being the creation of shareholder value. Chris Gardner’s detailed work shows how powerfully constructive and destructive the forces of innovation can be. Mastering information technology is the key to twenty-first-century commercial success. This book is a driver toward that mastery." —Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool (Fool.com) "Finally, a clear set of tools for those of us who are trying to find a path through a jungle of complexity. Chris Gardner has clearly and crisply provided a road map of rationality to help direct our path through a chaotic world of accelerating change." —Peter Sprague, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Wave Systems, and former Chairman of National Semiconductor "The Valuation of Information Technology provides a practical, step-by-step approach for analyzing the attractiveness of an information technology system.… Highly recommended." —Derek R. Reisfield, Vice Chairman, Luminant Worldwide, and formerly President, CBS New Media, Chairman, Marketwatch.com, and Member of the Board, Sportsline USA "Information and technology are transforming commerce and challenging traditional valuation methods. The Valuation of Information Technology builds a bridge between familiar valuation, grounded on customer value, revenue, cost, and earnings contributions all on the one side, and the returns available in the new information technology context on the other. With these tools, added to thoughtful application and judgment, you will be a wiser leader investor, and consumer." —Stephen B. Bonner, President and CEO, Cancer Treatment Centers of America "Chris Gardner’s book comes at the right time for many businesses which can no longer afford the guessing or the hip-shooting that has been the solution algorithm in many companies. He points out the systemic thinking that is possible and the discipline that is required to tackle the issues in a sound, responsible, and competitively superior way." —Dr. Rainer Famulla, Partner, Andersen Consulting "The Valuation of Information Technology tackles the tough problem of defining the value of new technologies company shareholders using integrated analytical techniques. The methodologies presented in the book are essential to any successful new business development. I highly recommend it." —Dr. Khasha Mohammadi, President, e-Networks, and formerly of Bell Labs "Clearly we have entered an era where many organizations are making ‘bet the company’ investment decisions in information technology and the Internet. Unfortunately, many of these investments are made on an emotional basis alone. The Valuation of Information Technology provides a significant advance in our ability for making these decisions on a more thoughtful, analytic basis." —Frank Ostroff, Author of The Horizontal Organization "For the first time, The Valuation of Information Technology marries corporate finance with technology marketing to create a technology decision guide focused on what matters most—shareholder value." —Jim Szafranski, Marketing Manager, Tut Systems

Millions of people-many of them younger than we care to believe-are living in the aftermath of a heart attack, and it is vital for them to learn how to reduce the risk factors for subsequent heart problems. This unique and important book offers advice to survivors of a heart attack and also to those trying to prevent the onset of a heart attack. Contributors include not only distinguished medical professionals but also eleven individuals who either participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program or designed a program of their own. The patients-men and women of varied ages and ethnic backgrounds-relate their own histories, providing insight into the many faces of heart disease and inspiration and hope for other heart attack survivors. The book includes: * risk factors * diets, diagnosis, and treatment * ways to prevent angina from becoming a heart attack * strategies for reversing coronary artery disease * guidelines for choosing a cardiac rehabilitation program * a description of cardiac rehabilitation in action