The Common Spiders of the United States

"The Common Spiders of the United States" by J. H. (James Henry) Emerton is an early 20th-century science book designed to educate everyday people about spiders in the United States. Seeing a lack of easy-to-understand resources, Emerton wanted to correct common fears about spiders and show their importance in nature. The book starts by introducing the reader to this idea and explains that the book will describe common types of spiders and include pictures to help identify them. Emerton highlights how important it is to learn about spider bodies, how they act, and where they live, setting the stage for a closer look at different spider families and what makes them unique.