The Cactus Handbook

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, but material is dated
Review: This book was the first cactus book that I acquired, some years ago. It's an excellent book, but the material is somewhat dated and it's a bit deep at times, especially to a layman. There is a short section on cacti physiology and care and the book contains some very nice drawings. However, the style is rather dry, and this may come across to some as boring. Content-wise, it's solid. The book is packed with high-quality pictures and short descriptions of individual species. Plants are arranged according to families, but this may disconcert some people who expect alphabetical ordering for easy reference. The names of many genus and species of cacti are also incorrect, since the naming of cacti plants is still in a flux. Some genus seem to be missing or are under-represented, but in view of the size and scope of the book, the author has done a tremendous job. If you don't mind its shortcomings and the fact that it is dated, this is a good book to acquire and add to your collection.