Wildlife Wars: My Battle to Save Kenya's Elephants

Customer Reviews:

Daunting management challenge--saving Kenya's elephants........2005-06-25

Anyone who has ever been to Kenya's extraordinary game parks to see the elephants, or dreamed of doing so, will be fascinated by this story of how these parks came to be the refuges they are and not the corrals for government-sanctioned poaching that they were. When paleontologist Richard Leakey took over the Department of Wildlife and Conservation in 1989, rampant corruption, theft, absenteeism, and a don't-care attitude were hallmarks within the department.

As Leakey tells us here, the Kenyan government lacked a real commitment to conservation, and the burgeoning population exerted pressure on national park borders, clearing land for farming and threatening wildlife, unimpeded. Poaching, patronage, a general ripoff mentality, and collusion between park rangers, politicians, blackmarketeers, and smugglers, were so interconnected and seemingly so ineradicable that the department resembled a many-headed hydra.

Tribal rivalries within Kenya, a porous border through which Somalian thieves made forays, and a lack of agreement between Kenya and neighboring African countries about the best way to conserve animals made this one of the most daunting management challenges imaginable.

In prose that is as direct and to the point (and sometimes as self-congratulatory) as he is, Leakey tells how he set up and managed a multimilliondollar corporation in a country in which everyone wants a piece of the pie, usually under the table.

As Leakey tells of cleaning up the department and conserving the elephants, the reader also learns about the economics of the ivory trade, the tug-of-war between immediate political realities and long-term goals, the role of the World Bank in African development, and the politicking involved in deciding what is an endangered species under the U.N.'s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It's a fascinating tale, equally intriguing to the lover of wildlife, the student of management, and the East African history buff. Mary Whipple

Wildlife Wars: My Battle to Save Kenya's Elephants

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Wildlife Wars: My Battle to Save Kenya's Elephants
Richard E. Leakey
Manufacturer: Pan Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUVS84

Book Description

This is an exact facsimile of the first guidebook of its kind to the full length of the famous Route 66, from Chicago to Los Angeles. It was first published in 1946. Route 66 is part of American history now, and this guide is useful for those who wish to follow the old road in lieu of driving on the interstate highways that have replaced it.

The book is divided into nine sections, corresponding to the journeys between stops by the average motorist. In addition, this structure makes the book useful to the traveler who wishes to follow only part of old US 66. Rittenhouse includes altitude and 1940 population figures for each town, with information on reliable garages, tourist courts (the forerunnerÂ's of todayÂ's motels), and other local attractions.

This fascinating piece of Americana recalls a day before the arrival of franchised restaurants and hotels, when travel still held some surprises. Anyone driving in the West or recalling a trip in the good old days will enjoy it.

Customer Reviews:

small.......2007-09-19

I will be traveling cross country and bought this for that purpose. It's smaller than I expected but I will use it as a reference.

A window to the past you travelling.......2006-10-05

First off, this book is not a map. It's a guidebook to Route 66 written in 1946. However, it's something you WILL want on any Route 66 trip. Why? Because you'll be passing ruins and dried-up blown-away towns, and this book was there before they blew away. This book will tell you what you're seeing now though the eye of "then".

Team this book up with the "Route 66 Adventure Handbook (3rd Ed) by Drew Knowles, and you'll really add something to your trip.

We used the "Adventure Handbook" to tell us what's in each town now, then referred to the Rittenhouse to see what each town used to offer many years ago. It was facinating! Some towns offered so much back in '46, and today there's nothing there, or very little. Other towns seem to not have changed much in 60 years. I give it 5 stars for the history it will impart to you along the way.

It's a cheap addition to anyone's arsenal for travelling Route 66, and one you really will be glad you had when you're done.

Fun historical kitsch guide.......2005-06-23

The road out west from Chicago to LA can be tedious at times, and this cheap and fun little guide was a great way to pass the time. It's an exact reprint of the 1946 first edition about HIghway 66. I was able to call out towns and gas stations that were now in a shambles or abandoned on the side of the road. Fun book, right price, and it made my trip more interesting.

Wonderful artifact of the dawn of automobile travel.......2000-08-05

This reproduction of the original 1946 guide to Route 66 is an invaluable companion for any trip on the Mother Road. Not only does it give you a feel for what the road was like at the dawn of America's love-affair with automobile traffic, but it gives you a feel for the psychology of those pioneers who attempted to drive the Route.

While we're now accustomed to well-marked Interstates with easily located on and off ramps, early cross-country routes were less highway and more stitched and patched collections of local roads, filled in with connectors and dotted with small towns. The map was, in essence, the route itself. Following these early routes was not trivial, and drivers had to take caution not to find themselves stranded without food, lodging or fuel.

Rittenhouse's guide was the first comprehensive effort to assuage fears of long-distance car travel, and provide a mile-by-mile guide to services and sights along Route 66. While most of the sites (and most of the services) he documents are long-gone, the sense of wonder that is Route 66, and the thrill of coasting into the cities through which it threads, remains fully intact. No one should drive Route 66 without a copy of this in the glove box. Doing so would rob your of a good deal of the road's history.

Note to West Coasters: though the book is arranged from Chicago to LA, it can just as easily be read backwards for the Eastbound trip.

A fabulous read and a better drive!.......2000-07-25

This book reads like a good fireside friend, or an uncle, or even Tom Snyder in his famous Roadside Companion. It's a wonderful spin back in time to the period just before "Getting your kicks" became the American pastime, and provides a postcard view of the towns, cities and countryside that was America not so long ago. As an 8-time veteran of Route 66 roadtrips (and all within the last 5 years), I have to admit I'm chomping at the bit to get back out on the road and try to find traces of some of the landmark places and hamlets Rittenhouse has recorded in this highly usable travel guide. Kudos to the U of New Mexico Press for reissuing this book as a facsimile of the original (no updates save for a warm intro to the new edition by the author himself!), and doing so at a very accessible price point. A must have for any 66 roadie's collection.

66 sights on Route 66: A guide book to Gallup, McKinley County, and Indian Country

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66 sights on Route 66: A guide book to Gallup, McKinley County, and Indian Country
Sally W Noe
Manufacturer: Gallup Downtown Development Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006P0I7Y

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A Guide Book to Highway 66
Jack D. Rittenhouse
Manufacturer: Univ of New Mexico Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000K3PKJS

Book Description

Recent years have seen numerous appropriations of Thomas Aquinas 's work by a range of theologians, from liberal Catholics to the creators of radical orthodoxy. Responding to this upsurge of interest, this book goes straight to the heart of the contemporary debates about Thomism.Author Mark Jordan focuses on the concept of authority, both in terms of Aquinas 's own attitude to authority and how the Church authorities have used Aquinas to shore up their own position. He shows how to read Aquinas from, into and against theological authorities, and argues for future readings of Thomas which are substantially different from those which have gone before.

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Titanic
Excellent for kids who love to read

Titanic (Scholastic History Readers)
Victoria Sherrow
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439267064

Book Description

This is a simple recounting of the Titanic's tragic story. The text describes the chronology of events, and discusses the investigation that followed the disaster. The final pages discuss Robert Ballard's discovery and exploration of the wreck of the Titanic. Sidebars introduce real people who were aboard the Titanic, including the captain, who went down with his ship.

Customer Reviews:

Titanic.......2005-03-11

People thought the Titanic was unsinkable but people were wrong! The book, Titanic, by Victoria Sherrow is a true story about the building and sinking of the world's largest ship, the Titanic.

The Titanic was the world's biggest ship at the time. People that thought it was not going to sink. There were 2,208 passengers on board. The Titanic sank because the captain said to go faster and they crashed into an iceberg. Some people lived, some people died. This book tells the story how people were killed, rescued or survived.

This is a third person story. The word choice was just right for a fourth-grader. It was an easy to follow, well-written book. I think other kids would like to read this book.

Excellent for kids who love to read.......2003-09-01

Our 6 year old son is one who loves to read and discover new things. He finds the story and pictures in this book quite fascinating, and goes back to it all the time. We are looking at getting the other ones in the series. The photo's are very impressive and hold his interest. It works for him better than those easy readers with color drawings. If your child loves to learn about things of the past, then he will not be disappointed with this one.

Madam C. J. Walker (Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers)

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Madam C. J. Walker (Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers)
Catherine Nichols
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Business & Money | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Management & Leadership | Women & Business | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 051624941X

EGYPT Scholastic History Readers (Scholastic History Readers)

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EGYPT Scholastic History Readers (Scholastic History Readers)
Stephen Krensky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ancient | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0439271959

Book Description

Examines life in ancient Egypt, including the importance of the Nile River, and the daily life of both nobles and commoners. Several major pharaohs are discussed, as well as various gods and religious beliefs, especially those having to do with the preparation of a body for the afterlife.Hieroglyphs are included, and a sidebar highlights the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.

An Aquinas Reader: Selections from the Writings of Thomas Aquinas

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Notable and Worthwhile Reader
Up to date and comprehensive
A more balanced view of this book
Sliced and Diced Aquinas
Not well designed as an introduction to Acquinas.

An Aquinas Reader: Selections from the Writings of Thomas Aquinas
Mary Clark
Manufacturer: Fordham University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Medieval Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 082322029X
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Book Description

This new edition of An Aquinas Reader contains in one closely knit volume representative selections that reflect every aspect of AquinasÂ's philosophy. Divided into three section Â- Reality, God, and Man Â- this anthology offers an unrivaled perspective of the full scope and rich variety of AquinasÂ's thought. It provides the general reader with an overall survey of one of the most outstanding thinks or all time and reveals the major influence he has had on many of the worldÂ's greatest thinkers. This revised third edition of ClarkÂ's perennial still has all of the exceptional qualities that made An Aquinas Reader a classic, but contains a new introduction, improved format, and an updated bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Notable and Worthwhile Reader.......2005-09-10

This reader is aimed for the graduate student or seminarian studying Philosophy of the Human Person.

This particular edition (maroon cover) is slightly different from the edition with the green cover. Section one on Reality is an historical study of St. Thomas's thought on ESSE. When 'An Aquinas Reader' was originally published (1972) that question of what St. Thomas meant by ESSE was a big deal in Thomsitic circles. Sr. Mary discovered that most college metaphysics professors were not interested in following St. Thomas's thought on ESSE as his life and work progressed, but simply on he topics of 'What is metaphysics?' and other foundational stuff. So she changed section one. Sections 2-5 are virtually unchanged.

The entire book enjoys coherence. Sr. Mary uses headings for each section and gives the source, so that if one so desires, one can go back to the original text and read it in its entirety. In fact, she would encourage anyone and everyone to read the original. The Reader is really a sourcebook to help students understand Thomas and introduce us to a wide range of his works.

Up to date and comprehensive.......2003-10-09

Mary Clark's revision of the Aquinas reader offers the most up to date and comprehensive selection of Aquinas' texts currently available. Especially notable is the way this revision includes principal texts from Aquinas' writings on participation, the centrality of which is now accepted in Continental Thomist studies and is increasingly understood here in the North America (cf. Norris Clarke, John Wippel, et. al.). Highly recommended.

And despite what a previous reviewer said, Mary Clark's introductions and explications are wonderful.

A more balanced view of this book.......2001-01-02

I have just finished this book. I just took five minutes to tell the customers of Amazon that it is very interesting. It is well presented by Mary Clark with very interesting introductions to the five chapters. This presentation really makes St Thomas Aquinas very readable today. What the Saint focuses on is so important and so relevant to our understanding of our modern world and yet he wrote in the 13th century. When I read the book I tried to always think about how it applies to my life today. Don't be put off by reviews that sound a little bit over the top and too harsh.

Sliced and Diced Aquinas.......2000-01-02

This is an unfortunate example of the sort of thing which academics produce and then force undergraduates to wade through. The author has found all the similar passages in Aquinas' many works and has collected them together in snippets varying from a paragraph to two to three pages in length. This results in great repetition, and the beauty of the sweeping logical development which is presumably present in the original, is lost.

A word of warning to anyone who would approach Aquinas: read your Aristotle first.

Not well designed as an introduction to Acquinas........1999-04-06

This book suffered from three weaknesses, the first of which may be idiosyncratic. 1. A "reader," I presumed, would be an introduction to Acquinas, one I could read without attending a class. Not so. This book assumed a lot of familiarity with Acquinas's terminology and intellectual heritage. 2. The book is organized by topics, with brief excerpts from Thomas's works yanked out of context to fit the editor's topic selection. A sequential selection from Thomas's principal writings would have better preserved the integrity of the works and allowed the reader better to follow Thomas's reasoning. 3. Finally, the editor needed an editor. Her writing is cumbersome. She seems to have forgotten how to write a simple declarative sentence.

Customer Reviews:

this book is a gem;great teaching text........2003-01-21

Indiana-based Hackett Publishing is a leading press for the humanitites disciplines.They specialize in producing inexpensive paperback editions of classic philosophical and literary works,as well as quality materials to support humanities teaching.Pojman's(pronounced "poy-man") ethics text/anthology does not disappiont us fans of Hackett.The book is .. a 333-page text paperback. It is divided into eight parts,such as relativism,egoism,values,utilitarianism,deontology,virtues,and religious morality.The text can be taught in Pojman's order,or the instructor can "jump around" at will as each part is autonomous.
There is a nice balance of thinkers from across the tradition.
Ancient and modern thinkers included are
Plato,Aristotle,Aquinas,Mill,Hobbes,Kant,and others.Contemporary writers include Ayn Rand,James Rachels,Derek
Parfit,Johnathan
Bennett,W.D. Ross,and Alasdair
McIntyre.

Book Description

This book introduces readers to Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay--the first men to reach the peak of Mount Everest. Difficult climbing conditions on Everest--rough terrain, cold temperatures, and high altitude-- are explained. Various types of climbing equipment are discussed, as well.Reaction to the conquest of Everest came from all around the world. Hillary and Norgay both used their fame to improve conditions for the people of Nepal.

First Thanksgiving (Scholastic Reader: Level 3 (Turtleback))

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Very good, yet simple Thanksgiving book

First Thanksgiving (Scholastic Reader: Level 3 (Turtleback))
Garnet Jackson
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0606346643

Book Description

Learn about the Pilgrim's arrival in the new world, their harsh first winter, and their relationship with Samoset, Squanto, and other Native Americans. The book culminates in the great harvest feast shared between the English and the Natives, which has now come to be known as the first Thanksgiving.

Customer Reviews:

Very good, yet simple Thanksgiving book.......2005-11-19

I have a three year old, and this story is just right for her. It is simple enough that it keeps her attention, but it provides details such as why the Pilgrims left England, the harsh winters they had to endure, the different tribes of Native Americans they encountered and became indebted to, and it explains the harvest feast and why the pilgrims were thankful. I recommend this if you want something that gives a simple yet not overly simple explanation of the first Thanksgiving.

Book Description

Following their first publication, the acclaimed "Benzin, Young Swiss Graphic Design," Swiss editors and designers Michel Fries and Thomas Bruggisser have now approached 12 single-minded European designers with a very tempting offer: complete artistic freedom to create and design an entire chapter in "Super - Welcome to Graphic Wonerland," a welcome carte blanche to explore the weird and wonderful recesses of their own minds.

United in this vision, the participants (e.g. Goldenmasters, Lis/Rev, Matthias Schweitzer, Reala) display surprising, hidden talents - even Norm reveal a decidedly playful side.

From concept art (a pre-tourism embassy round-up by Abake), via an exquisitely illustrated list of alternative Top Tens (Reala) to photographs of a well-thumbed notebook (roughly edited by covering painfully intimate passages with hands), every project tells its own story.

Featuring a sharp selection of intensely personal, peripheral, expansive and edgy projects between illustration and graphic design, Super's 336 pages race through styles, paper types and techniques like there's no tomorrow.

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