Howard Miller and Samuel Lamb had forestry careers, but were partial to the oaks. Their book has three major parts: history and uses of oaks, oaks of the East, and oaks of the West. Very helpful in identification are the keys, for each section of oaks. The authors often trekked hither and you in search of each species to photograph the oak and its leaf, acorn, and bark. Accompanying each is an informative chapter of description, and details of identification, growth habitat, and excellent range maps. They mention ways each species is useful and unique from the other oaks. Did you know a northern red oak near Sheffield, Illinois was used as a surveyors point to lay out the Rock Island Railroad in 1851?