Every once in a while a book comes along that defies categorization. Such is the wonderful slithering conundrum that West Rutland author Jon Furman poses for booksellers with his "Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York."Its title and 208 extensively footnoted pages argue for placement on the shelf with other nature guides. But there are easily a half dozen reasons Furman's book deserves a much wider readership, not the least its stunning cover photo of a yellow morph timber rattler, its fierce glare through yellow-slitted eyes striking us - as it were - with fear, fascination and repulsion.

. . . Furman, an experienced naturalist and writer, provides a fresh look at the often sensationalized but frequently misunderstood timber rattlesnake . . . . Aside from the literature, Furman relies heavily on his own observations andthose of a wide variety of experts, both professional and amateur, to give a lively account of this species . . . Recommended.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that defies categorization. Such is the wonderful, slithering conundrum that author Jon Furman poses . . . with his Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York. What Furman has crafted . . . is nothing less than a remarkable snake stew, a blend of history book, field trip, old-fashioned yarn, ecological and biological study, mythology, and sociological treatise . . .

Furman's book is a great read, covering the life history of timber rattlesnakes, as well as a host of fascinating stories of the timber rattlesnake populations in four specific counties: Essex, Warren and Washington counties in New York and Rutland County in Vermont.

This a well written interesting treatise on the timber rattlesnake bounty system in the Northeast. It includes good summaries of the life history of the snake, its bite and the treatment for it, and the effects of bounties on the populations of the reptile. I highly recommend it to persons interested in the snake and conservation of Northeast wildlife in general.