Lifestyles Nature & Architecture: Casas en la Costa Mexicana

Book Description

Seventeen spectacular homes nestled on the Pacific coast of Mexico are featured in gorgeous detail in Pacific Coastal Homes. These homes represent some of the best work of noted architects such as Fernando de Haro, Enrique, Zozaya, Manuel Mestre, and Marco Aldaco. Sections cover Natural Impressions -- entrances and exteriors; Interior Style -- living rooms and dining rooms; Intimate Spaces -- bedrooms and bathrooms; and Outdoor Life -- pools and terraces. In the introduction are images from Careyes, where the palapas architecture was first used for these types of homes. 200 color photographs are featured.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful & Lush.......2006-11-02

A beautifully photographed collection of dreamy paradise escape homes, as well as a great source of ideas for developing our own corners of the world. The paper and printing is high quality and vibrant.

Inspiring photos.......2003-05-26

We are considering a move to pacific Costa Rica (As the native ex-patriots call it "Hawaii for half the price") and this book is loaded with design ideas. In every way this book is a gem and I look and buy architectural design books quite frequently... this one blew me away. I often look at books on contemporary Mexican design as well as books with an Asian theme; Thai, Bali and Ibiza, Greece, in general homes with a coastal or tropical feel and with lots of mystery and sun. This book fulfils my requirements and without any waste. Some books will have a few great photos and alot of duds thrown in. Either photos that don't radiate much excitement or drama or are of mundane ho hum same same you have seen elsewhere and probably better. Or shots of mediocre furnishings ... This book firstly doesn't have one wasteful photo and it displays some of the great contemporary (Mexican) architects who you may want to design your next home... furthermore, it was wonderfuly edited so that you feel a great flow thoughout. You will also be impressed with some of the textiles and ideas for built in furniture. These homes have drama, mystery, and reflect a wonderful coexistence with the majesty of this beautiful coastal rocky terrain. They are homes which truly integrate into the surrounding nature with great respect for their environment rather then being ostentious monstrocities. These homes have a Wow factor as they are commanding but have subtle grace at the same time.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

Average customer rating:

BURY MY HEART ! (the truth of how our government "won" the west)
A Wake-up Call for Americans
Original Eye-Opener
A great book
bury my heart at wounded knee

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
Dee Brown
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Trail of Tears
Lakota Woman
Black Elk Speaks
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation

ASIN: 0805066691

Amazon.com

First published in 1970, this extraordinary book changed the way Americans think about the original inhabitants of their country. Beginning with the Long Walk of the Navajos in 1860 and ending 30 years later with the massacre of Sioux men, women, and children at Wounded Knee in South Dakota, it tells how the American Indians lost their land and lives to a dynamically expanding white society. During these three decades, America's population doubled from 31 million to 62 million. Again and again, promises made to the Indians fell victim to the ruthlessness and greed of settlers pushing westward to make new lives. The Indians were herded off their ancestral lands into ever-shrinking reservations, and were starved and killed if they resisted. It is a truism that "history is written by the victors"; for the first time, this book described the opening of the West from the Indians' viewpoint. Accustomed to stereotypes of Indians as red savages, white Americans were shocked to read the reasoned eloquence of Indian leaders and learn of the bravery with which they and their peoples endured suffering. With meticulous research and in measured language overlaying brutal narrative, Dee Brown focused attention on a national disgrace. Still controversial but with many of its premises now accepted, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee has sold 5 million copies around the world. Thirty years after it first broke onto the national conscience, it has lost none of its importance or emotional impact. --John Stevenson

Book Description

Now a special 30th-anniversary edition in both hardcover and paperback, the classic bestselling history The New York Times called "Original, remarkable, and finally heartbreaking....Impossible to put down"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is Dee Brown's eloquent, fully documented account of the systematic destruction of the American Indian during the second half of the nineteenth century. A national bestseller in hardcover for more than a year after its initial publication, it has sold almost four million copies and has been translated into seventeen languages. For this elegant thirtieth-anniversary edition -- published in both hardcover and paperback -- Brown has contributed an incisive new preface.Using council records, autobiographies, and firsthand descriptions, Brown allows the great chiefs and warriors of the Dakota, Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, and other tribes to tell us in their own words of the battles, massacres, and broken treaties that finally left them demoralized and defeated. A unique and disturbing narrative told with force and clarity, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee changed forever our vision of how the West was really won.

Customer Reviews:

BURY MY HEART ! (the truth of how our government "won" the west).......2007-10-10

I first read Dee Brown's book, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (1970) as a college assignment. It changed the way I looked at America/our country, America/our history, and America/our land. The book is subtitled "An Indian History Of The American West", and focuses on the period of 1860 to 1890. This was after "The Trail Of Tears" of the 1830s, when the Cherokee, Choctaw, and other Indian nations were forced against their will to evacuate the eastern United States and move west. The book covers the Apaches, the Navajo, the Cheyenne, the Nez Percez, and the Sioux, among others. The wars, the injustices, and the sad fate of men, women, and children who died trying to pack up and move their lives yet once again. Brown doesn't portray the Indians as saints, either, but only as people with limited resources who, too many times, trusted the promises of a government that would, time and time again, go back on it's word, and forcibly humiliate them. Brown also points out that sometimes the Indians overreacted by attacking innocent non-military settlements. Mostly the book is a concise account of the real Manifest Destiny story, and it expels the myths of the old American History 101 textbook, and the romantic Hollywood cowboy/injun-fighter version of our history. It's a tragic and cruel story, really. It's the true story of the progress of one generation of people at the expense of a civilization. Unfortunately that progress was paved with broken promises, injustice, and lives forever lost.

A Wake-up Call for Americans .......2007-09-05

I just (July 2007) acquired my new copy coming from Amazon. I lost my old copy in 1995. I was not naive about politics and government in 1995. Any scintillas of trust in politics and government,are now gone for even more different reasons. This book seems to keep me awake and keeps my ears wider open to what can happen in this country and this world. It is not just about the shameful and bloody acts in our westward expansion. The word "treaty" from these times is a joke. I can also see more about international expansions. America makes large wrongs, as do other countries do to their own people in history. My heart feels buried because Americans, we, made such innumerable, horrendous and cruel acts. This book remains to me as a great "jolt" to my consciousness. He put together a great example of what America did do to the Native American Peoples. Look at the status of the Native American Peoples who are left today.

Original Eye-Opener.......2007-08-03

This book was and contines to be a wake-up call to the asleep teaching of American History. Especially that of Native Americans and most notably our utter ignorance of our history with Latin America.

A great book.......2007-07-01

Bury my heart at wounded knee is a oustanding account of native american history. Very informative and captivating, piquing my interest in native american's. The words tell of a people heroic,caring,hospitable, and understanding almost pushed to the point of annihilation at the hands of conquistadors,whites and others. Sadness,anger,hate, and sympathy are just some of the feelings brought out by reading this book. If you want an unflinching account of native american history this a great place to start.

bury my heart at wounded knee.......2007-06-27

I was told to read this book as i like to read about american history. this is one of the best book i have read. dee brown really did a lot of backgroud work on it .

Geology of the American Southwest: A Journey Through Two Billion Years of Plate-Tectonic History

Average customer rating:

The big geologic picture on a land where geology dominates the view
Geology of the American Southwest: A Journey Through Two Billion Years of Plate-Tectonic History

Geology of the American Southwest: A Journey Through Two Billion Years of Plate-Tectonic History
W. Scott Baldridge
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Travelers Guide: To The Geology Of Colorado Plateau
Pages of Stone: Geology of Grand Canyon & Plateau Country National Parks & Monuments
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Grand Canyon Geology
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ASIN: 0521016665

Book Description

Scott Baldridge presents a concise guide to the geology of the Southwestern U.S. Two billion years of Earth history are represented in the rocks and landscape of the Southwest U.S., creating natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Death Valley. This region is considered a geologist's "dream", attracting a large number of undergraduate field classes and amateur geologists. The volume will prove invaluable to students and will also appeal to anyone interested in the geology and landscape of the region's National Parks.

Customer Reviews:

The big geologic picture on a land where geology dominates the view.......2007-04-03

The title of this book says it all. The story begins two billion years ago and follows the formation of the continental crust of what is now the southwestern US. It then follows that chunk of land to the present, as supercontinents form and disintegrate, island chains collide, and mountains rise and fall. Unlike so many books about the geology of the southwest, Baldridge focuses on the plate tectonics behind the processes. This approach allows the reader to understand the "why" behind advancing and retreating seas, uplifts, faults and volcanoes. The geographic area studied is the southwest, although the Colorado Plateau seems to gather the most attention. It is seen in a broad geological context that includes what happened in places like Death Valley, the Rio Grande Rift and Southern Rocky Mountains. Baldridge places his explanation in standard geologic time, but his chapter breaks are in locations driven by the regional geology, not the standard hierarchy. For a Grand Canyon example, the Chuar and Tonto groups are a single chapter, a fresh (and justifiable) perspective. The story that comes through is a "life story" of the southwest, in which a reader can see the region's geology evolve, illustrating how events in its past shape its response to new conditions.

The book's broad scope means that the history of individual rock layers are often not there - indeed, many layers are not even mentioned (although the fame of Grand Canyon's rock column is evident, most of ours are). The layers serve to illustrate a "story line" driven by the forces acting on the land, they do not break the story into pieces because of what is (or is not) preserved in today's exposures. In developing this evolutionary presentation, Baldridge has to sort through many, often conflicting, hypotheses. He does a good job of finding common threads. In many cases, he presents different mechanisms but concludes with the salient points that seem to be areas of agreement or with the conditions that a solution must explain.

This book is not for the geologically faint of heart. It assumes a pre-existing general understanding of plate tectonics and other geological principles. It is not the place to learn how plate tectonics works, but is the best place I have found to understand how plate tectonics worked on the Colorado Plateau. It will not tell you how the Grand Canyon was carved, how Monument Valley formed, what makes the Supai Group red, or other specific questions. But it does provide the vast historical panorama against which such questions can be asked. From a degree of technicality, it is less technical than Beus and Morales' Grand Canyon Geology, but certainly well beyond Price's Introduction to Grand Canyon Geology. In the preface, Baldridge says his target audience is "upper level undergraduates and graduates." I would expand this to include anyone with a real interest in the Colorado Plateau, and who wants the "big picture" only hinted at in most treatments of the region (like Baars' The Colorado Plateau: A Geologic History). For readers with a more casual familiarity with geology, it could be a difficult read, but the rewards are great for a comprehensive understanding of the area's history.

I liked it - a lot!

Geology of the American Southwest: A Journey Through Two Billion Years of Plate-Tectonic History.......2006-11-10

An excellent introduction to the geology of the American Southwest, including most of the Colorado Plateau in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, as well as parts of California (in particular Death Valley), Nevada, and Texas. All chapters devote considerable space to a discussion of the plate tectonic settings and paleogeography of the geologic period under consideration. The tectonic settings and processes are of central importance in understanding the amazing and extensive rock record being described. This book contains a host of useful maps, stratigraphic and correlative diagrams, and crisp images of many rock formations discussed in the text. For example, a figure on page 170 I found particularly useful displays a cross section of the famous Jurassic sedimentary rocks spanning the Arizona-Utah border (which is equally applicable to southwestern and far western Colorado), showing schematically but clearly the complex horizontal and vertical relationships, including unconformities, of the major Jurassic rock units present in what can be at times a confusing area of geological terrain. The geology of many of the National Parks and Monuments in the American Southwest, particularly Grand Canyon National Park, is interwoven very nicely with the overall theme and level of the book. All in all, a very useful reference covering 2 billion years of Earth history in this part of the United States, particularly appropriate for undergraduates and graduate students studying geology and the Earth sciences. An extensive bibliography, cited frequently in the text, provides many points of introduction to the supporting literature, and opportunities for further exploration. Undergraduates who plan on participating in a geology field camp in the American Southwest will no doubt benefit by reading this book before their departure.

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101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker
101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker
My other slow cooker books are collecting dust!
Lazy Recipes with Prepared Food
Simplicity - How to cook out of your pantry

101 Things to Do with a Slow Cooker
Stephanie Ashcraft , and Janet Eyring
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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101 More Things to do with a Slow Cooker
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ASIN: 1586853171

Book Description

From the New York Times best-selling author of 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix! comes 101 Things to Do with a Slow Cooker! Call it a slow cooker, a crockery cooker, or your best friend, the popularity of these handy machines has exploded recently, and "Mrs. 101" Stephanie Ashcraft has stepped up to the plate (or bowl, or serving tray) with an amazing collection of timesaving recipes. From South of the Border Pot Roast to Hearty Vegetable Soup to Cherries Jubilee, now anyone can make hearty, healthy dishes for the whole family the "throw-n-go" way-simply throw several ingredients into the slow cooker, get on with life, and come home to a kitchen filled with the aroma of real home cooking. 101 recipes for main courses, side dishes, desserts, and more are included, along with suggestions for how and what to serve with each dish, time-saving meal preparation tips, and easy modifications to fit your families tastes. Stephanie Ashcraft, New York Times best selling author of 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix, is a full-time mom who has created and collected recipes for years. She also teaches a monthly cooking class for Macey's Little Cooking Theater. Janet Eyring's interest in learning how to cook healthy, inexpensive meals without living in the kitchen inspired her to write a cookbook that relied on the ease of the slow cooker. She also teaches cooking classes at Macey's Little Cooking Theater.

Customer Reviews:

101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker.......2007-09-17

Very disappointed with cook book. Nothing exiciting or new. If you are a slow cooker user you came up with these recipes on your own and have been using them for years. Most call for simple and few ingredients which is the best part of the book.

101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker.......2007-05-24

I purchased "101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker" as a gift. The recipes looked so easy and so good that I may have to order one for myself!

My other slow cooker books are collecting dust!.......2007-01-19

This is one of the best slow cooker books I've come across. The recipes are simple, tasty, and best of all - most have very few ingredients. I love to cook, but as a busy mom, I'm tired of recipes calling for 15 ingredients. Those recipes are fine for the weekends - this book is GREAT for the busy workweek.

I didn't realize until now that there is a whole series of these books - "101 Things to do with a ___________." Here I come!

Lazy Recipes with Prepared Food.......2007-01-07

The point of a slow cooker is to prepare something in one dish from wholesome ingredients and be done with it. Instead, the author has taken this to an extreme new low. There is no excuse to suggest recipes that combine canned chili and Velvetta cheese and actually consider that a slow-cooker recipe... not to mention even to consider that food!

If like me, you like to cook using top grade ingredients from scratch (mostly) then this is NOT the book for you. Processed ingredients like Chedder Cheese Soup, Chili, Spaghetti Sauce, Minestrone soup, Velveeta cheese, taco seasoning mix, bouillon cubes, jarred salsa, onion soup mix, canned chicken, cranberry sauce, scallopped potatoes from a box, salad dressing and even cake mixes are considered as proper ingredients for recipes in this book.

Personally, I have no problem when a recipe might include ingredients like Chicken broth, barbecue sauce or even onion soup mix, but this book really exaggerates. This is hardly "from scratch". Unless you really need a recipe to tell you to put pork chops and a jar of barbecue sauce together... skip this book.

Simplicity - How to cook out of your pantry.......2005-12-12

I love this book for what it is - a collection of simple recipes. Most of the ingredients are items you have in your pantry or freezer. It is a great book for the end of the week when you have not been to a grocery store in days. And the recipes are yummy. So if you are looking for a long list of ingredients and many steps of preparation this is not the book for you. If you want a book where in five minutes you can make a meal from your pantry this is the perfect choice.

Average customer rating:

101 Cake Mix Recipes
PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Fun little book
THE BEST COOKBOOK FOR BAKING EVER!
OK book

101 Things to Do with a Cake Mix
Stephanie Dircks Ashcraft
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Cakes | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1586852175

Book Description

Move over Betty Crocker--101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix will amaze your friends and leave them Jell-O green with envy! From Snickers Surprise Cookies to Christmas Rainbow Poke Cake, it's the best thing to happen in the kitchen since your last romantic rendezvous! So what are you waiting for? Grab a cake mix, whip up some goodies, and throw some flour on your face so it looks like you spent days in the kitchen.

Customer Reviews:

101 Cake Mix Recipes.......2007-09-25

The first of 2 booklets.
Good basic recipes taken a step further.
Easy to use.
I love the spiral binding, it's easy to keep open.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.......2007-07-30

THERE ARE SOME NICE RESCIPES, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING SOME OF THEM, BUT IT IS A VERY PLAIN AND SIMPLE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES, AND IF THE CAKES COME OUT DELICIOUS, THEN IT WILL BE WORTH IT...BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT....PLAIN, SIMPLE,AND DELICIOUS!!

Fun little book.......2007-03-21

The recipes in this book are fun and easy to follow. The spiral binding allows the book to lay flat - no worrying about trying to prop the book open to read the recipes. I even rediscovered one of my favorite cake recipes that my grandmother used to make (and found out it was incredibly simple). I recommend it if you like cakes (and other sweets, since you can make more than just cakes) or love to bake.

THE BEST COOKBOOK FOR BAKING EVER!.......2006-07-07

I tell you what, this cookbook RULES. I got married with ZERO skills in the kitchen, and I married a man who loves good baked goods. I was like "Sheesh! HOw do I learn how to make yummy stuff, when I haven't clue one how to begin, & we're broke.... it's not like I can experiment with expensive ingredients & make a bunch of mistakes & turn out gross cakes."

THIS BOOK was my total salvation & I am not kidding! I literally use it EVERY WEEK. I have had this book for probably 4 years and I have developed A GREAT reputation as an EXCEPTIONAL breads & cake baker!! NO KIDDING.

I bring refreshments at church every other week for after service, & people RAVE about my stuff & can't wait until I am Treats Lady the next time.

YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY the corn bread. It is THE EASIEST thing in the WORLD to make; my children can make it. And it tastes soooooooo good! The loaves bake up so pretty; I even give it as gifts. One lady was like "What makes this SO GOOD? DO you put cream in it? butter?" NOPE! NEITHER!

And I don't give ANYONE my recipes from this book OR give this book as a gift. because the recipes are SO EASY that it would blow my cover as a great baker! I just tell everyone the recipe is a SECRET whenever I bring a super-good treat somewhere!!

My mother in law is a total from-scratch cook & does all recipes the LONG way. EVEN SHE cannot duplicate the results I have gotten from THIS BOOK!

EASY! FUN! And I have NEVER had a recipe flop from this book.
YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY IT! YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!!!

OK book.......2006-05-07

I love to bake but found this book to be missing some very important features. The number of servings per recipe is not included along with other important measurements. The cooking times are also way off for some of the recipes. It's a good book for creative ideas.

Average customer rating:

Corps of Discovery - a truely American Story
A courageous book!
excellent
a compelling narrative of a courageous American's contribution
A little up-and-down in its narrative

Undaunted Courage
Stephen E. Ambrose
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

The Journals of Lewis and Clark (Lewis & Clark Expedition)
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ASIN: 074347788X

Amazon.com

A biography of Meriwether Lewis that relies heavily on the journals of both Lewis and Clark, this book is also backed up by the author's personal travels along Lewis and Clark's route to the Pacific. Ambrose is not content to simply chronicle the events of the "Corps of Discovery" as the explorers called their ventures. He often pauses to assess the military leadership of Lewis and Clark, how they negotiated with various native peoples and what they reported to Jefferson. Though the expedition failed to find Jefferson's hoped for water route to the Pacific, it fired interest among fur traders and other Americans, changing the face of the West forever.

Book Description

In this sweeping adventure story, Stephen E. Ambrose, the bestselling author od D-Day, presents the definitive account of one of the most momentous journeys in American history. Ambrose follows the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Thomas Jefferson's hope of finding a waterway to the Pacific, through the heart-stopping moments of the actual trip, to Lewis's lonely demise on the Natchez Trace. Along the way, Ambrose shows us the American West as Lewis saw it -- wild, awsome, and pristinely beautiful. Undaunted Courage is a stunningly told action tale that will delight readers for generations.

Customer Reviews:

Corps of Discovery - a truely American Story.......2007-09-10

In this day of relentless boredom for most people, this book provides a venue for the imagination to travel in time that has almost been forgotten. The details of what went on before and after the "Corps of Discovery" allow the reader to understand more than the trip itself. This view from the balcony allows the reader to have closure on the leaders, members of the crew, and the adventure. If you are thinking of trying a new direction in life, read this book to see what others have gone through to explore a new frontier. You will find that the trials, discovery of wonders, and strengthening of your character can be very rewarding.

A courageous book!.......2007-07-03

Undaunted Courage is a comprehensive account of the Lewis and Clark expedition that was exhaustively researched and written by Stephen Ambrose. It will take time to read but you won't be disappointed. There are interesting stories and facts all along the way and it will give you a good slice of Amrerican History from that period.

excellent.......2007-06-24

This book is primarily about Meriwether Lewis and his role in the
expedition across the continent. Stephen Ambrose is phenomenally gifted in bringing history to life.
He sticks very close to the sources and only occasionally takes detours to make conjectures
about things about which the historical record is silent. Despite this the
book is a real page-turner. While Ambrose does an excellent job in describing the ups and downs
of the expedition, I do think that it is a very worthwhile reading the original journals.
I have only read excerpts, however, I believe they surpass even this book. Also, the recent PBS documentary
shows many of the locations described in this book. It is well narrated definitely worth seeing.

a compelling narrative of a courageous American's contribution.......2007-06-21

Many know the overall story of Lewis and Clark. Yes, those two strapping chaps who traversed across our country with that teenage Indian girl before anyone else did. Indeed, before reading Stephen Ambrose's near 600-page book "Undaunted Courage" I doubted how much truly "interesting" detail could exist in their journey. After seeing a few History Channel specials, I was convinced I knew the gist of their journey more than most, and felt that was probably sufficient. What else was there to really consider? As it is with most detailed historical nonfiction I read, I was surprised instantly. Not only did this book provide an intense examination of exploration in early 19th century America, but it is, in general, the most intriguing, intense, suspenseful, joyous, depressing, and inspiring book I've read in a long time. How Ambrose is able to exude such a variety of emotions in his writing I hope to one day discover. How Lewis was able lead people and conquer unknowns so successfully while fading so tragically I doubt I will ever be able to comprehend.

The book's title comes from a characteristic given to Meriwether Lewis both during childhood by a schoolmate, and, after his death, by Thomas Jefferson. It may seem strange that two friends of Lewis so separated from each other at such separate times in Lewis' life would choose the words "undaunted courage" to describe him, but if one is to simply observe the broadest aspects of Lewis' personality, such a description would only be expected. Indeed, the book is more of a biography of Lewis' life and his "undaunted courage" than a historical account of the journey itself. Certainly Ambrose dives into great detail of the journey, but it is always done through Lewis' eyes. The book begins with Lewis' childhood and ends with his death, giving the legendary expedition only about 3/5 of the book's content. This is not a downside by any means.

Ambrose's detailed description of Lewis' childhood, family, education, connection to Jefferson, and military history is not only valuable in understanding Lewis' complex personality, but is beneficial in understanding how Lewis was able to manage the expedition so well. From the very beginning there is a sense, as Ambrose hints at, that Lewis' upbringing prepared him for the unknown journey ahead better than anyone could've planned. The implicit vocational thoughts that come to mind are intriguing to say the least. Ambrose's pre-expedition account doesn't stop with Lewis biographical detail and, alongside his outline of Lewis' evolution from boy to man, he examines the economic and political aspects building up to the expedition from America's infancy to its firmer nationalism. This sort of context is not only helpful, but is essential for understanding the fair-weather friendship between the American people and the expedition before, during, and after the expedition. Details given, like Lewis' firm Democratic-Republican politics, may not appear a necessary issue in understanding the men as they pursue the landscape on the expedition, but in the pre- and post-expedition situations there is high relevance to Lewis' political relations with Jefferson as well as the influential Federalist voices at the time.

After outlining the events leading up to the expedition, Ambrose dives into the detailed planning Lewis put into the journey, his uniting with Clark on the Missouri River, and their party's expedition to and from the Pacific. Ambrose's narrative abilities had, up to this point, done well enough with the biographical and political context, but now, along with the heavy use of Lewis' highly narrative journals, they completely satisfied my reading wants. With the amount of Lewis' journals used in the narrative of the journey, one could even see the book as being written by both Ambrose and Lewis. Given that Lewis may be an even better narrative writer than Ambrose, the book is enhanced to the highest level of narrative historical nonfiction one could ask for. Accounts are always detail-abundant, and mostly firsthand in their variety of descriptions: relations with Indians both peaceful and bloody; songs sung and issues chatted around the bonfire; unique imagery of the plains, Rockies, and Pacific costal forests; hunting expeditions chasing and being chased by grizzlies; feasting on elk and buffalo; starving and scraping by on horse meat and roots; arguments turned to whipping and tribunals. Nearly every aspect one could want in an adventure is given with enough narrative vigor to turn its historical detail to an inspirational asset. Ambrose covers all sides of every account he is able to attain and after it all I felt as though I knew not only Lewis, but Clark and the rest of the party's members. I knew who was a good hunter and who wasn't. Who complained and who was helpful. Who Lewis liked and who he didn't care for. These are the types of details that make you feel a part of something (and to feel a part of the Core of Discovery is no boring trip).

After experiencing both the emotional peaks of success and the devastating disasters, I felt as though I didn't want the trip to simply return and have the book end. Perhaps Ambrose understands his ability to foster intrigue, because most of the detail he delves into post-expedition would probably feel unnecessary and boring without the companionship and connection to Lewis that is developed in the book. While the last leg of Lewis' life as a politician and national hero is probably the most emotional and depressing of the book, this section would not seem so intense and personal without understanding Lewis' somewhat supernatural vitality and leadership skills exhibited up until his return. Therefore, Ambrose wraps the book up in a successful manner I would think impossible, given the complexity of Lewis as a person. I felt as though every aspect one could inquire of Lewis was covered with such comprehensiveness and wrapped up with such clarity that even the most emotionally disappointing instances were covered in full by the artistic and historical impression Ambrose impressed. The reality of it all felt more inspiring than anything.

The book is quite long and took me a considerable amount of time to "plow through", but it never felt tiresome given Ambrose's ability to convey a wealth of information in a way that is concise with its detail and both paced and climactic. I recommend this book for any American whether or not you are interested in history. It reads better than any modern fictional novel would, but it is valuable in the way it describes the type of courage and determination that this country was built on and the fact that that brand of courage was not just some author's fabrication. It is by the daring and courageous efforts of men like Lewis and Clark that we are allowed to enjoy a country not only free from countries like Britain, Spain, and France, but one that ranges from coast to coast and from sea to shining sea.

A little up-and-down in its narrative.......2007-06-05

I have two favorite historians: David McCullough and Stephen Ambrose. When trying to describe their differences to my husband, I told him that David Ambrose is a tweed jacket with patches, a snifter of brandy and a roaring fireplace. Ambrose is a shot of whisky, jeans and flannel and an audience around a campfire. I appreciate Ambrose's style, for the most part, and knowing that he actually retraced most of the voyage in doing his research leaves me in awe of him. But the nature of this narrative is rather up-and-down, particularly working up to the party setting off from St. Louis. I recognize that the pre-journey preparations were important to telling the tale, but I got the idea that he was rather bored with it, and as a result the details weren't too compelling. I had to keep setting the book aside and coming back to it. But once he got to the story of the exploration itself, the momentum picks up, and so does his writing style. I appreciated his use of the actually writings of the Captains, but there were a few places where their entries were used too frequently in place of him conveying their story in a possibly more riveting style. But over all it was a well-written book, and I would recommend it to anyone that I already knew was interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The Ultimate Wyoming Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia

Average customer rating:

Wyoming Why?
Good Resource for travelers
The only guide to Wyoming you'll need
A Very Helpful Travel Guide
ultimate wyoming atlas and travel encyclopedia

The Ultimate Wyoming Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia
Michael Dougherty
Manufacturer: Ultimate Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Scenic Driving Wyoming
Wyoming Off the Beaten Path, 5th (Off the Beaten Path Series)
The Ultimate Montana Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia, 2nd Ed.
Hidden Wyoming: Including Jackson Hole and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
The Ultimate Idaho Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia: The Essential Reference Guide to the Gem State (Ultimate Guide Books)

ASIN: 1888550120

Book Description

The most complete guide to the Cowboy State in print. 129 maps, 60 maps of towns and cities, over 1,100 restaurants, over 550 motels, every public and private campground, over 200 guest ranches and resorts, over 130 bed and breakfasts, vacation homes and cabins, over 200 outfitters and guides, airports, more than 270 fisheries, 100s of National Trail points of interest, 49 public golf courses, 100s of museums and historical sites, hot springs, hikes, over 65 scenic drives and side trips, more than 50 ghost towns, downhill and cross country ski areas, gas stops, hundreds of attractions, 1,000s of photographs, weather information for over 60 locations, information on every city and town, 1,000s of things to do, 1,000s of addresses and phone numbers. Complete sections with maps for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Includes free photo CD-ROM of 100s of screensaver sized photos.

Customer Reviews:

Wyoming Why?.......2007-08-23

Bought this book for a recent trip from Boulder, CO to Yellowstone. Thought I would want to find something to look at along the way. There is nothing there.

Ok, almost nothing. There was a nice Thai restaurant in Rawlins, which we found by driving around in Rawlins, but that is pretty much it between the entrance to Grand Teton park and the Colorado border.

The Grand Tetons, Jackson, and Yellowstone are great. The red rock vistas are pretty. But there is nothing worth seeing on the way.

So, if you are visiting those parks in the west, get some books on those, but don't bother with this.

Good Resource for travelers.......2006-11-04

This book is filled with lots of information that will be useful to our many visitors.

The only guide to Wyoming you'll need.......2006-04-11

I shall be visiting Wyoming later this year, and this book (and its accompanying website) has proved to be invaluable in planning my trip. Everything you'll ever need to know about the state is here - maps, accommodation, restaurants, shopping and much more. I particularly like the detailed histories of the various Wyoming towns that are included - not something that you'll find in the usual guide books.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anybody planning to visit Wyoming, and even if you're not planning a visit but are just interested in the state it is still well worth reading.

A Very Helpful Travel Guide.......2006-03-05

This book has all the information you could possibly need if you were travelling to Wyoming and my husband is thrilled we bought it. The maps inside are great, but since we prefer the larger ones, we will get them for free from the Wyoming visitor's bureau. If you're travelling to Wyoming, this is a definite must have and a one-stop source for all your information and travel needs.

ultimate wyoming atlas and travel encyclopedia.......2006-03-03

This book does have a lot of information. I was hoping to find out what each town was like today, not back in the 1800's. I was interested in finding out what each town offered as far as shopping, schools, hospitals, etc... Instead it is more of a history lesson.

The Pacific Crest Trail: California (Pacific Crest Trail)

Average customer rating:

You can't beat this guide
The Best Guide For The PCT
The Quintessential Bible for PCT Hikers
Your Best Trail Friend

The Pacific Crest Trail: California (Pacific Crest Trail)
Ben Schifrin , Thomas Winnett , and Ruby Johnson Jenkins
Manufacturer: Wilderness Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Pacific Crest Trail Data Book: Mileages, landmarks, facilities, resupply data and essential trail information for the entire Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada
Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon And Washington: From The California Border To The Canadian Border (Pacific Crest Trail)
Pacific Crest Trail Hiker's Handbook: Innovative Techniques and Trail Tested Instruction for the Long Distance Hiker
The Pacific Crest Trail: A Hiker's Companion
The Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California (Pacific Crest Trail)

ASIN: 0899971784

Book Description

The authoritative guide for planning a trip along the California section of the Pacific Crest Trail. This is the first of two books in our Pacific Crest Trail series. Both have complete 2-color topographic maps and comprehensive descriptions, including mileages and elevations. Trail descriptions and maps are divided into several sections, convenient for people who only want to hike a portion of the trail. Each section introduces up-coming scenery, possible hazards, supply locations, and mileages between major points. Includes information on the history of the trail as well as the geology and natural history you will encounter.

Customer Reviews:

You can't beat this guide.......2004-02-24

I enjoy all of the Schaffer books because they are accurate, fun to read and reliable. This book has little chapters on the PCT, and the descriptions of each part of the trail are a total delight. So often these hiking books neglect to tell you how to reach the trailhead and oftentimes they don't provide detailed instructions (I mean this for section or day hikers of the PCT). Schaffer never makes this mistake. You will not need a separate map to locate any of the sections of the trail, his maps and written instructions are first-rate. In fact, there is even a nifty fold-out map sewn into the rear pocket so you can tote it along on any of your journeys. Equally interesting is that this book doesn't merely give elevation gains, difficulty ratings and desriptions of the trail conditions. These are vital to know, but Schaffer also includes little bits of information of what kinds of wild flowers you will encounter, birds, wildlife and other little nuggets neglected in other guides.

The book is supposed to be mainly for thru-hikers of the PCT, but there are many trails here that can be used for day hikes. These trips will be in the 10-16 mile range and any strong hiker can easily do these hikes in one day. If you do choose to go the entire PCT, Schaffer describes water sources, camping sites and addresses whether bears or marmots might be a problem for you. Most importantly, he tells you where to find water and whether the water source is reliable throughout the whole year.

I can't recommend this guide highly enough. Even if you're an armchair hiker, you'll derive many hours of vicarious joy from this guide.

The Best Guide For The PCT.......2002-06-06

I bought this book & another book, kept this one and returned the other. I haven't seen a better guide to the PCT.

The Quintessential Bible for PCT Hikers.......2000-11-16

This book, along with its Oregon-Washington Second Volume, is a MUST-read for anyone planning their own trip along all or part of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail guide provides a wealth of information such as mileage, water-stops, trail conditions, tips, maps, and even locations (including addresses!) of post-offices and other along-the trail stop-overs for re-supply. PCT hikers often carry this book with them in their packs and reference it often. More weight-conscious thru-hikers will cut or tear the book apart into sections (it's conveniently divided into a long series of trail sections between stop-overs) and ship the abbreviated guides back to themselves at towns along the journey.

Combining years of research and tens of thousands of miles of first-hand trail experience, the authors have done an outstanding job in allowing future backpackers access to the information they need to plan their own epic adventures. The book usually comes with an pamphlet included to keep you posted on any updates and changes to the trail since the book's latest release (which I believe there have been six such releases since its initial publication in '73).

I'm planning my own thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, and after much of my own extensive research through countless other books and guides, I still come back to this one for the information I need to plan my own greatest adventure to date. Be sure the check the Oregon & Washington volume of the guide as well, written by the same authors in the exact same format.

Your Best Trail Friend.......2000-05-01

I have used this book since 1980 to hike all or part of the PCT. It can make or break your trip. The most important info is where to find water. Some souces are difficult to find, but this book will lead you to it. The amount of info,maps, water, landmarks, milage,trail conditions, suppy points, etc., make this book a must on any hike along the PCT. If you don't have it with you, you're a lost soul.

Salmon Without Rivers: A History Of The Pacific Salmon Crisis

Average customer rating:

Peter Morrison
Great read
Pacific Northwest Salmon History Book
A captivating, human, informed book
Save the salmon and us

Salmon Without Rivers: A History Of The Pacific Salmon Crisis
James A. Lichatowich
Manufacturer: Island Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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King Of Fish: The Thousand-Year Run Of Salmon
The Behavior And Ecology Of Pacific Salmon And Trout
A Common Fate: Endangered Salmon and the People of the Pacific Northwest
Atlas of Pacific Salmon: The First Map-Based Status Assessment of Salmon in the North Pacific
Field Identification of Coastal Juvenile Salmonids

ASIN: 1559633611

Amazon.com

The image of salmon battling upstream through whitewater cataracts to spawn in their birthplace is integral to any happy vision of the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, because they face more insidious obstacles than swift currents, few people today actually witness this remarkable spectacle. Armed with exhaustive research and an ability to synthesize his findings into a concise, readable indictment of the status quo, Jim Lichatowich, a fisheries scientist for 30 years, traces the sudden decline of Northwest salmon populations following the onset of Euro-American settlement. He points a finger at the usual suspects: logging, mining, damming, grazing, irrigation, commercial fishing, and development. Moreover, he cites the political establishment for a failure of nerve. Since the shift from a Native American "gift" economy based on sustainability to a profit economy based on self-interest and short-term financial gain, the historically resilient salmon have met one adversary after another, with little or no help from the legal apparatus charged with their protection. In fact, federal and state governments have responded to the deepening crisis mainly by building fish hatcheries up and down the West Coast. Contrary to the beliefs of entrenched bureaucrats and sport fishermen, says Lichatowich, hatcheries have merely diluted the gene pools of wild stocks while allowing resource extractors to continue their multifarious operations and politicians to shirk their responsibilities. In 1960, for instance, after decades of declining runs, the Washington Department of Fisheries reported, incredibly (and characteristically), that new advanced management techniques would soon result in "salmon without a river"--more welcome news to those who would continue to exploit these iconic fish and their habitat. At the dawn of the 21st century hundreds of hatcheries still operate, yet Northwest salmon populations have decreased 95 percent.

Lichatowich is a learned and persuasive advocate for wild salmon. He's also eloquent, as in this description of his first visit to the Columbia River's Grand Coulee dam:

As I sat there wondering and swatting mosquitoes, the face of the dam lit up. It was the start of the nightly laser show.... Appropriately, the lasers sent a series of large green dollar signs floating through the darkness. Then a series of laser salmon swam across the face of the dam. Here were the ideal salmon, I thought, the fish that fit perfectly into our worldview. We have complete control over them--press a button and they appear; press another and they change from green to red; press another and they swim over the dam. Salmon and dams are compatible--as long as you are not particular about the kind of salmon.

So what to do? Lichatowich opines that we need a new "worldview," one that places natural resources within a context of respect and sustainability. He looks to state and federal governments to enforce the protections already granted by laws like the Endangered Species Act. And he sees evidence that public perceptions may be changing on such issues as habitat conservation and biodiversity; breaching four dams on the lower Snake River to aid fish passage would have been unthinkable even in the early 1990s. Whether this new worldview can save salmon in time is another question. --Langdon Cook

Book Description

"Fundamentally, the salmon's decline has been the consequence of a vision based on flawed assumptions and unchallenged myths.... We assumed we could control the biological productivity of salmon and 'improve' upon natural processes that we didn't even try to understand. We assumed we could have salmon without rivers." --from the introduction

From a mountain top where an eagle carries a salmon carcass to feed its young to the distant oceanic waters of the California current and the Alaskan Gyre, salmon have penetrated the Northwest to an extent unmatched by any other animal. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the natural productivity of salmon in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho has declined by eighty percent. The decline of Pacific salmon to the brink of extinction is a clear sign of serious problems in the region.

In Salmon Without Rivers, fisheries biologist Jim Lichatowich offers an eye-opening look at the roots and evolution of the salmon crisis in the Pacific Northwest. He describes the multitude of factors over the past century and a half that have led to the salmon's decline, and examines in depth the abject failure of restoration efforts that have focused almost exclusively on hatcheries to return salmon stocks to healthy levels without addressing the underlying causes of the decline. The book:

describes the evolutionary history of the salmon along with the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest over the past 40 million years
considers the indigenous cultures of the region, and the emergence of salmon-based economies that survived for thousands of years
examines the rapid transformation of the region following the arrival of Europeans
presents the history of efforts to protect and restore the salmon
offers a critical assessment of why restoration efforts have failed

Throughout, Lichatowich argues that the dominant worldview of our society -- a worldview that denies connections between humans and the natural world -- has created the conflict and controversy that characterize the recent history of salmon; unless that worldview is challenged and changed, there is little hope for recovery. Salmon Without Rivers exposes the myths that have guided recent human-salmon interactions. It clearly explains the difficult choices facing the citizens of the region, and provides unique insight into one of the most tragic chapters in our nation's environmental history.

Customer Reviews:

Peter Morrison.......2005-09-11

This is a must read book for anyone interested in salmon, rivers and the ecology and history of the Pacific Northwest. Excellent information and a good read.

Great read.......2005-08-02

This is an excellent book that documents the history of salmon, how native Americans viewed them and how modern Americans view them. It focuses on why the pacific northwest is facing a salmon crisis, and our failed attempts to replace what we have lost. Great read for anyone who is concerned about environmental issues.

Pacific Northwest Salmon History Book.......2003-12-02

Salmon Without Rivers is a great book of historical facts. It includes many issues like; original salmon locations/populations, "Economy over Environment" issues, and the ineffectiveness of large decision making commissions/agencies. However, with all his good background information the book does not propose any solutions nor investigates today's coastal human communities as they relate to the salmon and/or habitat.

A captivating, human, informed book.......2001-01-16

As a freelance author writing a piece about salmon for a California-based magazine, this book was indispensible and eye-opening. It is unfailingly sensitive and intelligent about salmon, discussing the fish as fellow creatures in the "natural economy" in which we all live, rather than as mere commodities in the "industrial economy" that has transformed the West in the last 150 years. It is fascinating about the geology that shaped the salmon's environment, the evolutionary history of the fish, the relationship between Native Americans and salmon in the Northwest, and it provides a detailed history of the many factors that have led to the salmon's decline, including habitat destruction, misbegotten hatchery programs, overfishing, dams, mining, grazing, irrigation. If you like to read books about ecology, the creatures of the earth, fish, or the Northwest--you can't go wrong. This is a wonderful book.

Save the salmon and us.......2000-12-24

A thoroughly researched and impassioned presentation including the history of salmon, their decline, why billions of tax dollars in restoration efforts have had paltry returns, and insights into the where we should go from here. A complex issue is examined from many perspectives in an easy to read and compelling book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in salmon.

Ghosts in the Wilderness: Abandoned America

Average customer rating:

If this book appeals to you.....BUY IT!!!
Abandoned but thankfully not forgotten.

Ghosts in the Wilderness: Abandoned America
Tony Worobiec , and Eva Worobiec
Manufacturer: Artist's and Photographers' Press Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Ghostly Ruins: America's Forgotten Architecture
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North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer (North Carolina Atlas and Gazetteer)

ASIN: 1904332080

Book Description

Over a 7-year period, Tony and Eva Worobiec, two of the greatest photographers of all time, traveled the dusty paths of rural America, particularly in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming. The fruits of their journey are pictures so poignant and evocative of the American West that they are the photographic equivalent of a Steinbeck novel. Each amazing photo vividly reveals the struggle for survival, of a disappearing way of life, in the forgotten countryside and backroads of the U.S. In the often harsh and unforgiving landscape, the Worobiecs shot affecting and beautiful pictures of abandoned farms, schools, gas stations, grain elevators and tractors, diners, and trucks.
Tony's pictures are large format, shot in black and white, and then hand tinted. The results resemble postcards from the 1950s. Eva shoots directly in color for a more starkly modern aspect. Both achieve magnificent, and ultimately emotionally touching, results.
Along with the photographs are the words of the remaining residents, who speak sadly of better times, the friends and neighbors for whom things didn't work out, and of their own, once-flourishing piece of abandoned America.
This remarkable achievement is both an exquisite photography book and a commentary on the American way of life.

Customer Reviews:

If this book appeals to you.....BUY IT!!!.......2007-05-20

This book is nicely made, of excellent 'physical' quality and full of fantastic images. If you are looking for images with the depth and gravitas' of the Westons or Ansel Adams look elsewhere, but as a lighter form of visual interest the images do not disappoint. I have not gotten around to reading the extensive text, but it too looks well thought out and intriguing. Yes there are a lot of photographs depicting cars and some are arguably 'samey' but there are LOTS of images full stop. A fantastic (large) inspiring book that will be treasured not only by monochrome photographers but the curious adveturer type possibly considering a similar project. It certainly resonated with me. The ideal browse when I am tired of 'intense' photography and need something more casual and thinking about going 'walkabout'.

Abandoned but thankfully not forgotten........2003-12-31

Fortunately for a lot of photographers abandoned man-made America seems to be just about everywhere and what a visual treat it produces. This handsome, large (check out the dimensions in the Product Details above) book of photos is a cut above the usual offering though. Rather than shoot the predictable broken and rusty commercialism everywhere the Worobiec's had the great idea of capturing one particular area of the Nation, the northwest. Here the railroads were the catalyst to opening up the landscape with towns created about every ten miles or so to service track and train. Predictably many of these settlements lacked natural resources and decent farmland so it was inevitable that the weather, depression, and technical advances in transport made so many of these towns uneconomic and many folk just left.

What I find amazing is the nature of the leaving. Many photos show inside abandoned houses still with kitchen units, phones, furniture and personal effects. Page sixty-five shows a wall calendar for July 1959 in a house in Wildrose, Nebraska and as the caption explains these were useful indicators to reveal the date of the owner's departure. Sometimes the Worobiec's found small schools abandoned, as the photo on page 117 shows, the floor awash with textbooks. As expected there are many photos of abandoned vehicles (possibly thirty-six was just a bit too many) surrounded by vegetation, rich pickings nowadays for collectors, I bet.

Another reason why I like this book is because 'Ghosts in the Wilderness' is not just a collection of photos but a travelogue as well, six chapters have lively and interesting essays about the social and economic aspects of the area. These words give more meaning to the poignancy of the images.

The printing and design is excellent, the photos are mostly one to a page with generous white, black and light grey backgrounds. I do have a criticism of the production though, the last five pages show all the photos as thumbnails with the relevant technical details, all this information could easily have been accommodated on the page with the photo and so avoid having to keep turning to the back.

I think the Worobiec's have done a wonderful job producing a book of regional photography. Oh yes, thank you Mark and Sarah who gave me this lovely book as a Christmas present.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

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