2 comments about From Squaw Tit to Whorehouse Meadow: How Maps Name, Claim, and Inflame.

1. No "Nigger" has been on the US map for fifty years, and most instances of "Squaw" and "Jap" were eliminated shortly thereafter, but we still have the occasional "Wop" or "Chink". You may not even know what a toponym is (it is simply a name for a place), but cartographers not only use toponyms, they try to get them right, and they don't mean to offend anyone, but sometimes they do. The offense isn't always ethnic; it might be international or personal or salacious. You might think that toponymy (the study of toponyms) would be a fairly dull academic endeavor, and surely this is the case most of the time. However, _From Squaw Tit to Whorehouse Meadow: How Maps Name, Claim, and Inflame_ (University of Chicago Press), professor of geography Mark Monmonier shows just how contentious map naming and renaming can be. The book is an academic reflection on problems humans make for themselves in their busy name-finding (and name-calling) efforts, but with its illustrations of problems in naming, it is also a greatly amusing book.
   
   It is hard to blame the original mapmakers. People attached names like Nigger Pond, Chinks Peak, or Squaw River because that is the way settlers talked. Then the mapmakers and surveyors came in, and "conscientiously but uncritically recorded local usage." The U.S. Board on Geographic Names handles requests to change objectionable names. In 1963, every cartographic instance of "nigger" was eliminated. Thus, "Niggerhead Point" which had appeared on a map of Port Bay in upstate New York could not stand. The solution for 1963 was to substitute the then current replacement term so that the feature became "Negrohead Point". Monmonier writes, "In the early 1960s, Negro had not yet acquired the distaste that led to its sequential replacement among more ethnically sensitive speakers, if not on maps, by _black_, _African American_, and _people of color_." It remains "Negrohead Point" on federal maps, but local New York agencies have simplified the issue, thankfully not changing it to "People of Color-Head Point" but to "Graves Point", perhaps because of a cemetery there. Sometimes the renaming is not that simple. The use of "squaw" is "the thorniest issue in applied toponymy." While there are those who say the term only means a Native American woman, many have argued that it is an ugly synonym for vagina which is then applied to women. There has been a proposal for another blanket change, from "Squaw" to "Moose", so that Maine now has a Moose Bosom. At least it still has a bosom. There are many other instances of naming naughtiness here. In Oregon is Whorehouse Meadows, a bawdy toponym that did record the historic instance of a field bordello. The Bureau of Land Management changed its maps to the silly name "Naughty Girl Meadows", but residents and historians agree that the original name is best.
   
   There are serious issues in Monmonier's book. A chapter covers the knotty problems, for instance, of toponyms in disputed areas like Cyprus or around Israel. There are implications to mapping that can cost millions; when Microsoft released Windows 95, it used a time-zone map that omitted disputed provinces claimed by India, which thereupon refused to allow Windows 95 to be imported. (Microsoft has subsequently established a Geopolitical Product Strategy Team to cover cartographic pitfalls.) But it is in less consequential details that the book is the most amusing. Who would have thought, for instance, than canny mapmakers would deliberately place nonexistent streets on their maps and give them names, just to see who copied their work in violation of copyright? Then there was the Finnish family in Paska, Ontario, who objected that their town (named for the word "shallow" in Cree) sounded too much like the Finnish word for excrement, and got the name changed. Every two years a bill to keep "Mount McKinley", rather than the local and native "Denali", for the Alaskan peak is submitted by an Ohio Congressman who is a fan of the Ohio-born President McKinley and who knows that the Board of Geographic Names cannot change a name if the matter is also being considered by Congress. There is even a section on how features on the Moon and planets are named, and how for $54 you can get a parchment certificate that shows that a particular star has been named for you, although such names have exactly zero support from the official celestial namers, the International Astronomical Union. This is a delightful book about a serious and amusing subject that few readers will have ever before encountered.



2. The best thing about this book seems to be its amusing title. It stars out very technical with `map terms' and things that would only interest serious cartographers- which I am not. It is very unfortunate, because this book could have been a really interesting narrative on American history and its conscience.
   
   Though there are a few interesting examples of words used to describe places or geographic anomalies, the story is quite flat. One read-through of the back cover is all that is needed to know that once in the US there were many places that took the name of `nipple', `jap', `nigger' and `squaw' which he says is translated loosely to mean `whore' in many Indian languages. But the background information on these is lacking and the reasons for change are boring.
   
   The author obviously knows his subject, and likes to use numbers and facts to support his case, but do we really need to know what number of `japs' were on a certain State Dept map? The answer is obviously no. It suffices to say that there were any at all, that is is unacceptable. The most interesting parts of the book were the sections discussing naming places in space (like on the moon) and on the sea floor. But this too was thin and just didn't tell much.
   
   Much of the book is very repetitive and keeps brining up the few shocking examples of place names as mentioned above. But these spares examples quickly became tiresome and are not enough to base an entire book on! I was really looking forward to finding out new information, but was thoroughly bored and sorry I bought the book. This subject- as this author has attacked it- should have been a journal article and not a book.
   
   This is all really unfortunate, because this book could have been so much more. It reads more like a report by the United States Board on Geographical Names. A simple list of current names and all its derivations- historical and linguistic would have been preferred, as it would have saved the time of reading a text with no depth. I think all the positive reviews of the book are misplaced and based on the title and a quick scan of the book. Because as soon as the shock of some of the place names wears off the text shows it true dull colors.

No comments about Chicago For Dummies (Dummies Travel).

4 comments about Traveling Route 66: 2,250 Miles of Motoring History from Chicago to L.A..

1. Don't let the size of this book fool you. Approximately the height & width of a post card, it is packed with vibrant full color pictures and information. Archive photos, current conditions of Route 66 icons and roads, and text that is very well written. Even regional culinary receipes from the Mother Road! What more could you ask? An excellent book for both actual and arm chair Route 66 travelers.



2. It's small but its got it all. Rather than turn out another normal size book on Route 66 the publishers had the great idea of making it pocket size, four by six inches, landscape and with FOUR-HUNDRED all-color pages. I predict that this will be the standard book for those who want to make the trip. Each of the eight states that 66 goes through has a chapter, they start with a simple map, comments about landscape and climate, then the text details what to look for along the way, with the help of historical and contemporary photos, a linear map with places and mileage goes across the top of all of these pages.
   
   Between all the route pages are some lovely spreads of Route 66 Americana which repeat themselves throughout the book, Route Food (pages 174-175 has Red-Hot BBQ Beef Ribs) Transport (168-169 has a 1936 Harley-Davidson) Music of the Road (Woody Guthrie on 156-157) and Famous Sites (Wigwam Village, Holbrook, AZ, on 294-295). The books production is excellent, good choice of photos, well laid out pages (a tip of the hat to designer Phillip Clucas) with colourful graphics behind the text on most of them. The back has a book list, useful resources guide (including websites) and index.
   
   I recently reviewed 'The Final Cut Route 66' by German photographer Gerd Kittel. Eighty-three wonderful photographs of what he saw along 66 and I think it is the perfect book to complement Nick Freeth's travelogue. Kittel has the knack of producing really good color in his photos. Both books do justice to a unique and fascinating bit of America.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. This book has become my introduction to the Mother Road legacy and it was unforgettable experience! Perhaps, its most thrilling feature is in a "stereoscopic" layout of the pages where vintage and contemporary photos neighbor "native" food receipes and period vehicles. Now that I have sensed ambience of the past and have get my kicks I can readily recommend reading this book before, during and after a real trip.



4. Compared to other Route 66 books, this one rates far below them. I can appreciate the love for the mother road in it, but there's too much fluff. I don't care about what songs the author recommends, or the cars. There's also some glaring mistakes, which could throw you off. If you want to travel '66, this is NOT the book you want to use.
   
   For a "look see" book, OK, but your money would be better spent on something like "Route 66: The Mother Road" by Michael Wallis.
   
   If you want to travel the route, spend you money on "Route 66 Adventure Handbook: Updated and Expanded Third Edition" by Drew Knowles or "Route 66: EZ66 Guide for Travelers" (best choice) by Jerry McClanahan.
   
   If I had it to do over again, I would not have purchased this book.

2 comments about Historic Photos of Chicago (Historic Photos.).

1. This is a museum in hardback! This beautifully put together collection of photos and captions span the life of this vital and popular city. This title begins before the Great Fire of Chicago, detailing various elements and people. From there the lucky reader is transported to different time periods through the beautifully taken photos of buildings and places unique and popular for this city. It details the changes Chicago has undergone as well as immortalizing historic buildings that no longer exist.
   
   Mr. Lewis has done an amazing job telling the story of Chicago through these wonderful photos and captions. For the bibliophile this is a must have book you'll want to add to your library. This could also be used as a reference book. This is one title I have no trouble recommending.



2. This beautiful book is a product of the Chicago History Museum, showcasing many excellent pictures from throughout Chicago's history. The pictures are arranged chronologically, all of them black-and-white, and all of them sharp and interesting to look at. Every subject is covered here - Chicago statesmen and famous celebrities, great disasters (the Great Fire and the Eastland disaster), famous landmarks, and even common people.
   
   This is a great book, one that I am really glad to have found. The pictures are all crystal clear, and have short and well-written captions. I am a fan of history and genealogy, and as such, I love seeing the sites that were looked upon by my parents, and their parents, and their parents before them. I love this book, and give it my highest recommendations!

4 comments about Chicago In and Around the Loop : Walking Tours of Architecture and History.

1. An excellent set of tours of all neighborhoods of downtown Chicago, profusely illustrated with contemporary and archival photos, with a lively and user-friendly text. Especially helpful for the first-time visitor, although I understand it has been adopted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation as a guide to train its docents who give walking tours. I have not come across any better guide to the Loop and its surroundings, with a crisp style and useful historical facts. Dr. Gareth Shellman (shellman@csd.uwm.edu) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA



2. I currently live in Chicago and have had a great time exploring and learning about new (to me) places with the help of this book. There is a good amount of info. to give the reader a decent background on many of the buildings in the Loop. It omits lengthy and unnecessary history topics to focus on the highlights of each walking tour, leaving the lengthy history for other books to explore. I've learned alot about my own city by reading this book and highly recommend it.



3. Gerard Wolfe has produced an inclusive and engaging book concentrating on the area in and around the Loop in Chicago. In a series of walking tours, he weaves history and architecture into a "must see" for tourists, native Chicagoans and armchair travelers, alike.



4. For those of us who grew up around Chicago and know downtown, this is a great book not just a vague coffee table book. Lots of good photos and history.
   
   I loaned this from the library and am planning on buying it on Amazon.
   
   Highly recommended!

No comments about Popout Chicago, Illinois.

1 comments about Mammals of South America, Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats.

1. This book is very good if you are looking for mammal distributions and sub specis but it has zero pictures. Also this book says it has 912 pages my copy has only 668 pages.I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED with the condition of this book the right upper corner was dogear very bad plus pages 1-104 also were bend grant this is an amazon problem but if you want a book on south america mammals look into the mammals of the neotropics series.I hope the carnivores of south america the volume 2 of the series is better.I hope natural history are covered better in volume 2 and 3.

1 comments about Oddball Indiana: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places (Oddball series).

1. ...Dan Quayle and Jim Jones.
   
   Th book does a great job of showing some of the odd things that make the Hoosier state unique, including Santa Claus, IN and the world's largest steer (he's stuffed). It also turns out that Indiana is the birthplace of Wonder Bread, Alka Seltzer, Corn Flakes, Pork and Beans and the unique shape of the Coca-Cola bottle. He includes driving directions that look to be accurate (I am familiar with some of these places) although a good map of Indiana would also be required to even find some of the towns that he mentions. He includes several pictures, which generally are helpful.
   
   This really could have been a charming little book - one that I would have been 100% enthused about except for the author's fascination with Dan Quayle (not in a positive way, either) and Jim Jones (the cult leader who led his 900+ followers in a mass suicide in Guyana in the 1978). Do we really need to see Dan Quayle's frat house? Do we really need to see a picture of the bridge that his Jones' uncle jumped off of in order to commit suicide?
   
   But, on the whole, the guide is useful and entertaining. It includes addresses, phone numbers, web addresses, visiting hours, costs (if any) and directions to every location he describes. I do recommend it for anyone who likes to travel off of the beaten path.

5 comments about Above Chicago.

1. This book is just wonderful. If you love Chicago, it shows everything. I love how they have old photos next to the modern ones to see the comparisons. This is truly the best book for any Chicago collection.



2. This was the first Robert Cameron book I purchased and has always been one of my favorites. I think the photos in this book are just amazing and they are so vivid and captivating. Chicago is such a beautiful city and from the air you understand what great civic planning can do for a city. Cameron hits all the most important areas and does not miss anything; from Oak Park to Lake Forest, for Aurora to the Miracle Mile, it's all here. This is one of his best books and he does Chicago proud. I recommend this book as I do all of his wonderful books, if you love great photography you will have to have them all, but this is a great place to start.



3. Book was in perfect condition. Price was great. Photography fantastic. Would like to purchase more by this author/photographer.



4. 'Above Chicago' by aerial photographer Robert Cameron is an example of my very favorite type of souvenir to buy when I was visiting a new city, generally on business. There is simply nothing quite as evocative as this truly amazing selection of photographs of an eminantly photogenic city. I have seen similar efforts done, for example, by David King Gleason on Boston. And, while Boston is easily as interesting a subject as Chicago, Mr. Gleason doesn't seem to carry it off quite as well. I do miss the bit of local color added to volumes on London (Alistair Cook) and San Francisco (Herb Caen), but the star of the show is the quality and expert selection of photographs.



5. Fast shipping and great item, well packed, no problems, would buy again.

2 comments about Time Out Chicago Eating and Drinking 2008: The Essential Guide to the City's Best Restaurants and Bars (Time Out Guides).

1. I love this book! It is organized by category, rather than location, so it is a great companion to traditional travel guides that might have restaurants by location. The categories are in alphabetical order, and the restaurants are alphabetical within each category. There are plenty of color pictures, and the book is small enough to throw in your bag while you're exploring the city. There is a neighborhood index and an alphabetical index in the back which are useful. The only drawback is that some restaurants in the main category section are not cross-referenced in the alphabetical and/or neighborhood indexes, which makes it hard to find specific restaurants. For example, the now-shuttered Tucci Benucch is listed in the Italian section but not in the alphabetical section. It makes it into the neighborhood index though. The copyeditor should have caught this sort of thing. But otherwise this book is useful and comprehensive and is an invaluable guide to Chicago restaurants for both the native and the visitor.



2. This guide to restaurants in Chicago is organized by category: African, Bakeries, Caribbean, Chinese, Classic American, Contemporary American, Deli, Eastern European, Eclectic, French, Gastropubs, German, Greek, Ice Cream, Indian, Italian/Pizza, Japanese/Sushi, Korean, Kosher, Latin American, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Pan Asian, Polish, Seafood, South American, Southern, Spanish, Steak, Thai, Vegetarian, Vietnamese, and Bars & Lounges. Each entry gets a paragraph followed by address, phone, closest El stop, hours and price information. Each is also notated for being a critics' pick, vegetarian friendly, cheap, gay/lesbian friendly, or for having a fireplace, outdoor seating, brunch, BYOB or late hours. There is a lot of information here. We ate at a number of places listed on our latest trip to the city, and the informaton was accurate, though the reviews were necessarily pithy.
   
   The book finishes with a subject index (good bar food, good for large groups, great wine list, view, etc) and a neighborhood index as well as an alphabetical index and city maps. Very nicely done, filled with good information, some color pictures, and compact.