The anthropology of turquoise (Vintage Publishing)

In this invigorating mix of natural history and adventure, artist-naturalist Ellen Meloy uses turquoise -- the color and the gem -- to probe deeper into our profound human attachment to landscape.From the Sierra Nevada to the Yucatan to the Bahamas, Meloy's uncommon vision makes us look anew at everything from ancestral mountains to motel swimming pools, and introduces us to Navajo grandmothers as well as Persians who consider turquoise a literal lifesaver. Throughout, she invites us to appreciate the endless surprises in all of life, and celebrates the seduction to be found in our visual surroundings.