3 comments about Moon Handbooks Massachusetts: Including Boston, the Berkshires, and Cape Cod (Moon Handbooks).

1. This book is great and I would recommend this book to anyone coming to Massachusetts that is able to spend some time here. If you know roughly what part of Massachusetts you want to see then this book will be a godsend as it will tell you everything, and I mean literally everything about your trip from history to sights, dining, accomodation ,etc. However, that's also a small drawback as there is so much information that at times, it can be a little disconcerting because you don't exactly know where to start. So, if you're planning a trip to MA and you're only going to be here for 1 or 2 days this book isn't for you. However, if you've got a week or more (and even for all of us that live in MA) this book will give you a real feel for the state and take you to places that other books don't. I recommend purchasing this book for anyone that's serious about understanding MA ; not only it's sights but it's history too. Well done to the author and for Moon for publishing such a comprehensive guide to such an interesting and beautiful state.



2. I realize that it is impossible to keep a travel guide up to date and current with changes that occur in the hotel and restaurant industries, but this book is very outdated. Despite being published three years ago, it features places that have been closed five-seven years. Apparently, no follow-up research was done in publishing this second edition.
   
   I was very disappointed with this purchase.



3. I can't quite put my finger on it, except to say that in my travels around New England I've found this to be somewhat less useful than the Moon guidebooks for N.H. & Maine. (The Moon guidebooks for Maine by Kathleen Brandes are just terrific, in many trips to Kennebunkport & Portland I've found them to be incredibly useful, & would give them 5 stars).
   
   Like another reviewer said, this 2nd (2001) edition is somewhat dated. I actually have the 1998 1st edition, but from other comments, it doesn't sound like they did a lot of updating between those editions.
   
   HOWEVER: This book is chock-full of detailed & useful info. that you won't find in the more generalized travel books, like Frommer's, that cover all of New England, & can start to be like "if today is Tuesday, it must be Belgium".
   
   For instance: Recently I've been exploring newburyport, MA. It's one of the most beautiful & historic waterfront towns in N.E. MA, with tons of restaurants. This book has about 1 & 1/2 pages on newburyport, (altho with almost no restaurant suggestions, which is frustrating). The Frommer's 2004 "New England" has absolutely no mention of newburyport(?).
   
   Also, there's there's a great section on Cape Cod here, that even goes into the Geological History of the Cape, with a present analysis, & future prognosis (that it's eroding, & may disappear w/in 5,000 years).
   
   This book may not be perfect, but then no guidebook is, & especially for the prices it sells for used, + shipping, is well worth having.

No comments about An Outdoor Family Guide to Acadia National Park (Outdoor Family Guides).

1 comments about In Europe's Name: Germany and the Divided Continent.

1. Timothy Garton Ash has mastered the art of telling a story in an involving and interesting way, yet without sacrificing scholarly exactitude or resorting to simplification. In this, his most scholarly work, Garton Ash takes a hard look at Germany's political history in the centre of Europe, focusing on the theme of 'Ostpolitik' -- West Germany's policy of how to deal with the East: East Germany, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. He presents two sides for every position, yet his own thinking permeates the book.

   Because of its scholarly nature, this book is less accessible to the general audience than Garton Ash's other books, but for those interested in Germany's role in Europe's past, present and future, this book is an absolute must.

5 comments about Moon Handbooks Maine (Moon Handbooks).

1. First of all, I have to mention that I live in Maine. And I can tell you from experience that the beauty of Kathleen Brandes' book lies in the sheer span of coverage, which is considerable, matched with a propensity for detail, which is astounding! Even the "Native" Mainers will find much to enjoy in this book. This is a rich, dense, and completely user-friendly volume, folks!
   I'll give you an example. I'm a photographer based in the Bangor area. I bought this book for my personal library which aids me in seeking out photographic areas of interest. Last week I traveled to Lubec, Maine - and I used this handbook for lodging and dining info. I located the Eastland Motel in Lubec based on this handbook, and met the proprietor - Lee Aragon - who cheerfully provided suggestions for exploration in the Lubec-Eastport-Campobello region. I mentioned to Lee that I had read about her in The Maine Handbook...and that she was correctly described by Kathleen Brandes as a "Lubec booster". Lee was tickled pink by this, and by extension, I was able to get some nice local insights that I would never have known about otherwise.
   Paging through this Maine Handbook, you get the feeling that Kathleen Brandes is a scholar of "All Things Maine", and she is enjoying every minute of it. And who can blame her? Maine truly is.....well.....the way life should be.
   Buy the book, come to Maine....and if you already live here, buy the book anyway! It has become something of a "state bible" for me. Can't image traveling without it.
   And there is something in this book for everyone. Kathleen has you covered, whether you are single, married with children, an armchair traveler or someone who simply wishes to know more about the Pine Tree State. Longtime locals and prospective tourists alike would do well to mine this gem of a book. I have two dog-eared copies....one for home, and one for my car - enough said.



2. I've spent time at the book stores recently researching books for my upcoming trip to Maine. My wife and I plan to spend 4 nights and 5 days there and wanted plenty to see and do where we wouldn't necessarily meet thousands of other travelers since I'm not too much into the whole crowd experience. Brandes' book is so well researched that you can't go wrong with it!

   While other typical books that are similar, such as Fodors and Frommers, have quite a bit of information in its own right, I think that this particular Moon Handbook is better equipped to give better detail of interest whether site seeing, dining, entertainment, lodging, etc.

   I recently completed a Web site for a bed and breakfast located in Machiasport (down east) and had to do quite a bit of research on the area to enhance their site. My research was conducted primarily via the internet over the course of a few days. I'm glad to say that after I received my book and compared information, everything I could find on the Web in and around Machiasport was already included in sufficient detail in this book! I would have saved myself a few days of searching.

   If you want to tour Maine or already live there but need to places to explore, the second edition Moon Handbook on Maine is the way to go.

   When I vote with 4 stars, that means the product was excellent. When I vote with 5 stars, it goes beyond excellence in my view and is considered best in class. This book is "THE" authoritive book on touring Maine. Excellent purchase!




3. This book has become an invaluable source! I've now travelled to Maine twice and brought the book both times. Brandes provides a wealth of information, especially for those things off the beaten path. The book includes very helpful maps - on my last trip I left my Maine atlas at home and found the maps included in the book to be quite helpful. The spine on my book is really starting to see some wear - I enjoy reading it even when I'm not travelling. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are planning to travel to the northern, less populated regions of Maine.



4. I LOVED this book. My family and I travel Maine each year and this book is THE guide (along with the Maine Atlas). It has helped us refine our experience in Maine to a very satisfying level.
   
   The guide to natural sites/walks/boating is still wonderful.
   
   However, if you've been to Maine before, you know that businesses come and go with alarming rapidity. This is especially true in the Eastern Coast. Most of the restaurants listed in the guide are long gone or under different managements, so don't count on finding a place to eat based on this guide.



5. This book is fabulous. I work as a travel nurse and recently spent 6 1/2 months in Maine. I had never been there before and spent several hours at the bookstore going through various Maine travel books before settling on this one. I certainly made the right choice. It was a wonderful resource. I spent hours reviewing the information in this book over the course of my time in Maine. I plan to go back to Maine next summer and will take my book right back with me. The information on shops, restaurants and points of interest was valuable and very accurate.

2 comments about Vanished!: Explorers Forever Lost.

1. This short but diverting read tells the stories of 8 different disappearances while exploring. The prose is somewhat inelegant and relies on colloquial expressions and the author's imaginings of possible events as much as on plain facts and scholarly vocabulary. The book's subjects -- Ambrose Bierce, Percy Fawcett, Glen & Bessie Hyde, Everett Ruess, Amelia Earhart, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Michael Rockefeller, and Johnny Waterman -- make for engaging reading. It's just a shame that it's all over so soon. Perhaps Balkan didn't feel it necessary to go too much in-depth about the circumstances of the disappearances and the details of their lives before their final journeys, but in that case I wish he had produced a lengthier tome by including some of the other missing explorers of the 19th and 20th centuries. All in all, it's a surface-deep read, but the author clearly did a fair bit of research and it will certainly be entertaining for those unfamiliar with these ill-fated individuals.



2. VANISHED! EXPLORERS FOREVER LOST by Evan Balkan is good. Really, REALLY good. Suspenseful, concise portraits of 9 adventurers, some famous and others more obscure, include:
   
   Amelia Earhart
   Antoine de Saint-Exupery
   Ambrose Bierce
   Glen & Bessie Hyde
   Percy Fawcett
   Everett Ruess
   Michael Rockefeller
   Johnny Waterman
   
   It is easy to either lionize or denigrate out-sized personalities, but Balkan is clear-eyed and compassionate. Adventurers are placed into context: how the person fit into their own era, and the impact of their disappearance on society and their families. A book revolving around tragedy might easily be dark and depressing. VANISHED! is not: Balkan leavens the subject matter with a wry turn of phrase at just the right time. He also discusses the meaning of adventure and risk, and its importance to even the most sedentary "armchair explorer".
   
   Exhaustive research seems to have gone into this book. As a climber of 20+ years and an extensive collector of mountaineering literature, I have long been familiar with Johnny Waterman's sad saga. Balkan delineated Waterman's familial background concisely, setting into context Johnny's epic climb of Mt. Hunter in a way the non-climber could understand and appreciate. Yet, VANISHED! included details new to me. Kudos to Balkan's well-done homework, utilizing essential citations such as Glenn Randall's little-known book, Breaking Point: Challenge on Alaska's Mt. Hunter, THE AMERICAN ALPINE JOURNAL, and personal communications.
   
   My only "complaint" is that VANISHED! was too short. The book is a good value, but Balkan is a gifted author and I would have enjoyed reading more. One is hoping that his next book will have "covers that are a long way apart."
   
   

5 comments about Dynasty's End: Bill Russell and the1968-69 World Champion Boston Celtics (Sportstown Series).

1. As a native Bostonian, I can say that a book on the Celtics' most enduring triumph is more than welcome. Anyone who grew up in Boston in the 1950's and 1960's knew that the Celtics were just about at the end of their championship run. After Philadelphia ran the Celtics out of the 1967 playoffs in five games, it was clear that a power shift of major proportions had taken place between the two teams, with Boston on the "down" elevator. The 1968 title was, at the time,their most improbable, their defeat of the 76ers after trailing in the East Finals 3-1 an unprecedented achievement. Their 1969 title dwarfed the noble 1968 entry, and Thomas Whalen has submitted a welcome and long-overdue work on the subject. As an African-American, having attended regular-season and playoff games at the Boston Garden, I can say that Mr. Whalen, if anything, muted the issue of race in Boston. The Garden could be quite an unhospitable place for people of color, not only for spectators, but for visiting and Celtic players as well. Boston's entire history of race relations was prologue for the city's Ragnarok in the 1970's when the buses rolled into the "wrong" neighborhoods. Boston was a tense place after Martin Luther King's assassination, an event which figured largely in the early stages of the Celtics-76ers' playoff series between April 5-19, 1968. The 1968-69 Celtics seemed worn out, a Frank Sinatra opening the show for someone else. Mr. Whalen does a commendable job of taking the reader through the successive stages of the playoffs. I wish, though, that he had devoted more space to the Boston-New York Eastern Conference Final, especially the nerve-wracking sixth game. The Celtics' reward was to be an historic pairing with the "greatest team ever assembled": the mighty Los Angeles Lakers with Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West. How could L.A. lose? An entire chapter devoted to the great seventh game would have been the cherry topping on the sundae. The flaws in the book may be relatively few, but they are, unfortunately, glaring. On page 114, the author writes that the pass stolen by John Havlicek which elevated him to icon status on April 15, 1965 "was intended for [Wilt] Chamberlain." That's a major error of fact. The Celtics were leading the Philadelphia 76ers 110-109 with just four seconds showing on the clock. Hal Greer's pass was intended for Chet Walker. Chamberlain was posted along the baseline, guarded by Bill Russell. Philly had basically four options on the play, including a return pass from Walker to Chamberlain for an easy, series-clinching dunk. Mr. Whalen also writes that the Celtics' late-season 108-73 humiliation to the Lakers occurred at the L.A. Forum; wrong: it was at Boston Garden, where the 14,171 who showed up jeered the Green mercilessly. The mis-spellings of names [Bob Pettit and Dave Gavitt are two] should never occur in a major work; it's the kind of carelessness which forces the casual [or dedicated] reader to wonder if the author is as conversant with his subject as the book's jacket implies. Another drawback is the overwhelming use of footnotes. They are the scholar's tool, but forcing the reader to keep two places in the book, constantly jumping from the text to the source and back again, severely hampers one's reading enjoyment. After more than 100 pages, I simply gave it up and stuck to the text. I also found the writing derivative, lapsing into the "sportspeak" of the 1950's and 1960's magazines, like Sport and Sports Illustrated. It is probably unfair to compare Mr. Whalen, an academic, with David Halberstam, a professional historian, who, in my opinion, has written the two-finest books on pro basketball: "The Breaks of the Game," and "Playing For Keeps." In the latter, Mr. Halberstam crafted a splendid account of the Chicago Bulls' final NBA title without the benefit of a promised interview with Michael Jordan. Mr. Whelan interviewed only one-third of the 12-man Celtic roster; why not the others, or, at the very least Russell, Sam Jones, and Havlicek, plus Red Auerbach? For those who remember that grand spring of 1969, however, the book is more than a worthwhile read, and for the millions of Celtic "fans" who weren't aware of the team before Larry Bird hit town in the fall of 1979, this book can serve as a gazetteer about the NBA's whistle-stops in its early manifestation; an on-point but far-too-brief analysis of an unhappy city and its tortured history of race relations; and a documentary about American sport's most majestic team as it stared down its Gotterdammerung in an epic struggle in a seventh game far, far from the Boston Garden, on May 5, 1969.



2. In an era when the NBA is about individuals (Kobe, Shaq), reading a book about a true team is very refreshing. To a man, the players on the 1968-69 Boston Celtics talk about defense, rebounding, and meshing their abilities with those of their teammates. Not one of them is concerned about how many points he scored on a given night, only about whether the team won. It's also very interesting to read about an



3. For those of us who were lucky enough to be around New England in the 1960's the incredible championship run of the Boston Celtics was a wonder to behold. Imagine winning 11 World Championships in 13 years! I really don't think many of us truly understood the magnitude of what was being accomplished. And needless to say, it's a pretty safe bet that there will never be anything like it again in professional sports.
   "Dynasty's End" recalls the incredible accomplishments of Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havlicek and the rest of the cast that completely dominated the sport for more than a decade. While the focus is ultimately on the Celtics improbable 1968-69 championship season author Thomas Whelan has done a nice job of filling us in on the history of this storied franchise. It is really quite stunning when you realize that for many years the Celtics were winning championship after championship on a shoestring budget and were rarely able to sell out the building. You begin to understand just how smart Red Auerbach really was. Whelan also recalls great fondness longtime Celtics radio announcer Johnny Most. He truly was one of a kind and really was an intregal part of the Boston Celtics story.
   While Whalen gives us the lowdown on all of the significant Celtics players of the period he hones in on Hall of Famer Bill Russell. Here was a multi-talented player with an extremely complex personality who toward the end of his storied career would have the distinction of becoming player-coach of the Celts. Some of the stories and anecdotes about Russell are absolutely priceless. Whalen also profiles many of the Celtics key adversaries of the day including Elgin Baylor, Bill Bradley, Billy Cunningham and of course Bill Russell's arch-rival Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain. Suffice to say that Russell had his way with the 7'1" Chamberlain more often than not.
   "Dynasty's End" is a well written book destined to be enjoyed by history buffs and basketball fans alike. It is a snapshot of a different era in the country as a whole and professional sports in particular. A worthwhile read!



4. I feel the book's strength is that you receive in-depth portraits of many of the star's who played for the Boston Celtics in addition to their announcer Johnny Most. In addition we are also provided with descriptions of Wilt Chamberlain and other NBA stars during this time period. Chamberlain, by the way, acquired his nickname "The Big Dipper" by having to often duck when entering through a doorway. However, the title suggests a concentration on the 1968-1969 season, and only the chapters on the playoffs at the end of the book provide us with this information. I enjoyed the book, but I found much of the same information in Bob Cousy's book and Red Auerbach's recent book. In addition, former St. Louis Hawks' superstar, Bob Pettit, the first man to score 20,000 points, had his name spelled incorrectly both times it appeared in the book and also in the index. If you enjoy the Celtics I'm quite sure you will enjoy the book, but I found it to be repetitious in what I found in other books. It is, indeed, unfortunate that this great Celtics team often played before a half empty Boston Garden before fans who really didn't appreciate what they had representing their city.



5. THIS IS ABOUT THE FINAL YEAR OF THE GREAT DYNASTY OF THE BOSTON CELTICS FROM 1950'S THRU THE 1960'S. ALONG THE WAY THE AUTHOR TELLS A LITTLE ABOUT EACH PLAYER INCLUDING GM RED AUERBACH.ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS DISCUSSED ARE THE RACISM GOING AROUND NOT ONLY IN BOSTON BUT IN JUST ABOUT EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE USA. I ALSO FOUND THE COVERAGE CONCERNING RUSSELL VS WILT VERY WELL WRITTEN AND TO ME THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THIS VERY GOOD BOOK. IT CENTERS MOSTLY AROUND BILL RUSSELL, AS WE FOUND OUT THAT HE IS INDEED VERY HUMAN ALONG WITH BEING THE ULTIMATE TEAM PLAYER. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL BASKETBALL AND ESPECIALLY CELTIC FANS. WELL WORTH READING.

2 comments about Massachusetts (The America Series).

1. We ordered this book right before moving away from Massachusetts in anticipation of being a bit home sick. We placed this book on our coffee table and look at it often. It is great. There are plenty of pictures, some text. The book is good size. I would highly recommend -- and have purchased more copies of -- this book to give as a gift.



2. As a former resident of Mass. I bought this book as a kind of keepsake of some of the beauty of New England. It certainly does contain great pictures. The reader is taken from the capital, Boston all the way to the Berkshires covering just about everything in between. All the history and unique areas are covered. If you're interested in learning more about the state or just want to appreciate all it has to offer you need look no further than this book. Highly recommend and very reasonably priced.

1 comments about Connecticut: An Explorer's Guide, Sixth Edition (Connecticut : An Explorer's Guide).

1. This is a well written and informative book that brilliantly details many of the wonderful things Connecticut has to offer. A++++

4 comments about The Good Beer Guide to New England.

1. This book is the definitive guide to all New England breweries and is a great book for people into local brewers. The author set up each entry in such a way that you can use the book as a road map to breweries across New England. While there are a few things out of date in this book (Pittsfield Breworks is not included and Southport Brewing has been offering beer to go in growlers for a little over a year for example), it is as accurate as a book can be about the everchanging landscape that is craftbeer. The author also seems spot on about his impressions of these different brewers as I found myself agreeing with just about all of the entries of brewers I have visited myself. One thing the book does not include that I would like to see in future revisions (assuming there will be a second edition) is when he was there (day of the week, time of the day, and date visited). This would give us a better understanding of his impressions. Nevertheless, I consider this book an indispensable resource.



2. This book is the best of its type. I also own the "Beer Lovers Guide to the USA" and "On Tap New England". Those books are ancient now unfortunately. This guide is their replacement.
   
   I found this guidebook very well organized with very good recommendations. I've been to a few of the pubs in the book and so far, so good. (i.e Vermont Pub & Brewery, John Harvards, Barrington Brewery, Woodstock inn, & Gritty McDuffs). The author lists his personal favorite, the flagship beer (which is usually different from his favorite), and a ton of other facts.
   
   I only wish I could have joined him in writing this book. Must have been a drunken good time!
   
   Highly Recommended.



3. I purchased this volume, unread, as a gift. Therefore, I cannot offer first-hand testimony (hence, my four stars). The recipient, however, vouches for its accuracy and usefulness.



4. Overall, this is a good book and worth getting. It's valuable to me, a local; but more-so to people traveling in the area.
   
   It gives good stats on the brewpubs (and beer bars) including beer lineups, hours, brew system specs and capacity, directions, nearby attractions, etc...
   
   Then there's bios on the breweries, a bit on the brewers, and the beer, obviously.
   
   If there's a downpoint, it's that the author was a bit generous with the beer criticism. He didn't slam certain beers or breweries as hard as I would have. I've tasted many infected or downright horrible beers from some of the places he praises.

1 comments about AMC White Mountain National Forest Map and Guide.

1. This is a good map to have as an overview of the White Mountain region. It has insets with more detail (ie. topographical contour lines) on all the most popular areas. It is not necessarily detailed enough for longer wilderness trips, but overall an excellent overview map.