3 comments about Ron Kay's Guide to Zion National Park: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Zion National Park But Didn't Know Who To Ask!.

1. We have just completed an Elderhostel trip around the Grand Circle under Ron's tutelage, and I have reviewed an electronic version of this book (I am in the process of purchasing the paper volume). Ron is an authentic naturalist and a dedicated advocate for the glories of this region which he has explored from corner to corner. He's also a very effective teacher. From an up-close and personal perspective, I doubt that there is anyone better qualified and able to write a book with this title and I recommend it strongly.



2. Amazing! I have made many trips to Zion National Park and this book made it a new experience. I would recommend this to any person wishing to visit the canyons or looking for information about the beautiful area. Ron did a great job on this book; I will use it for many years to come. I never leave reviews, but this has me so excited I think others should experiance Zion with the information this book provides.



3. My family and I have visited Zion in the past and it is a wonderful place. However, this book is just magnificent!! We are now in the process of visiting many many more areas in which we have not hiked and explored! It is so informative and exciting that I think it is an awesome read and so very helpful in planning our hikes in the park. Anyone who is interested in finding out the many possibilites and adventures that are waiting to be seen, Ron Kay's book is a must have for everyone!!

1 comments about Zagat 2008 Best of Las Vegas Restaurants (Zagatsurvey : Las Vegas Restaurants).

1. I was hoping to find reviews for restaurants in the downtown area where I was staying, but the book was for the most part limited to restaurants in the strip area. Also, I was hoping to find some bargains, but the book leaned toward the more expensive. Perhaps that is what the Zagat books are known for.
   On the positive side, the size of the book is good for taking traveling.

1 comments about Good Beer Guide West Coast USA: Including Las Vegas, Alaska and Hawaii (Good Beer Guides).

1. I run a small brewing web site (BS Brewing: the Champagne of Blogs) and consider myself extremely knowledgeable about Portland's brewing scene, and couldn't believe two Britons could nail it so soundly. Just about everything you could possibly want to know about Oregon beer is in this book, and I haven't even sampled the other states (Alaska, Hawaii, Las Vegas, California, Washington ...) yet. Sharp, witty writing with great background stories (the McMenamins empire, the Horse Brass, Bridgeport and Widmer) and very current reviews (Hopworks Urban Brewery).
   
   Sadly, a few favorites are missing, including the Green Dragon and Produce Row, but everything else you could want to know about beer in Portland is here. HIGHLY recommended.

5 comments about Las Vegas Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay).

1. The book is a fascinating look at Vegas in the past and present. For each subject there's the "then" and the "now". It captures the amazing evolution of defines Las Vegas. With each picture is a paragraph about the scene. It's a nice coffee table book but also a cool reference book.



2. I was finally able to visit Las Vegas last year and bought several Vegas books as souvenirs. Unfortunately, most of the books only provided information on present-day Las Vegas. Also wanted were pictures of the Las Vegas I had seen on TV as a kid. After all, that is what gave it its magic & attraction to me.
   
   This book provides that. Pictures of the old & new are featured on opposite pages for easy comparison. The pictures are large, sharp, & clear, & are of excellent quality to this layman's eye. They are also accompanied by short paragraphs of essential facts such as build dates & owners, along with information peculiar to the specific buildings.
   
   I highly recommend this book to the nostalgist.



3. I drove through Las Vegas in 1975 and was so unimpressed I didn't even stop and get out of the car. I wanted to see if this book had any photos from that era and was pleased to find out my memory wasn't faulty. I was also there in the mid '60s and the late '90s and the book didn't let me down on those memories, either.



4. this is a nice book with very beautiful photos ,a must for people who like
   to learn about other cities evolution.



5. I purchased the book for my son-in-law who enjoyed it VERY MUCH. Great Book.
   Shirley Nordby

5 comments about Frommer's Las Vegas with Kids (Frommer's With Kids).

1. I highly recommend this book to anyone headed for Las Vegas with the kids in tow. It paints a very complete picture of the city and answers questions you'd never even think to ask.
   
   This book was published just as we were planning a trip that includes a stop in Las Vegas. Our three kids (ages 10, 8, 6) love to travel, but we have learned that you can never do enough research when it comes to planning a trip with kids.
   
   Having been to Vegas more than a few times without the kids, we have a pretty good feel for the place. Even so, a vacation with the kids along needs to be a very different type of trip, so we still found ourselves with many questions. Happily, this book answers them all!
   
   Very specific information on everything from hotels, restaurants, and attractions (including which places are NOT kid-friendly). Also includes info on side trips, shopping, etc. Everything is broken down into price categories (from very expensive to inexpensive and everything between). Definitely written by someone who understands that kids are not just miniature adults.
   
   I only wish I could get hold of such complete information for all our destinations!



2. This is an incredibly detailed book that has a huge amount of information on what to do, see, and avoid in Vegas if you are traveling with children. The section on which restaurants and buffets to eat at for families that are on a budget is more than worth the price of this book. This book, along with "The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas" by Bob Sehlinger will make planning your trip to Vegas fun and informative. Both are highly recommended!!



3. This book really helped us decide what to do in Las Vegas. We do not gamble so we wanted "other" things to do. What we found is Las Vegas is not "family" friendly and you have to take your children into the gaming areas of most casinos to see the attractions. The book did offer suggestions that we did find helpful. Like how to avoid certain crowds and what shows are appropriate for kids. Much better than some of the other books out there.



4. Loaded with helpful info for planning a family trip. Maps, phone numbers, drive times, etc.
   
   If it had pictures I would have given it a 5.



5. I really liked the book, and the only reason I gave it 4 stars is because a good part of the book talks about hotel accomadations and booking flights, etc. and I had already done that by the time I bought the book. So half of the book was of no use to me, but the book had good recommendations.

3 comments about Fodor's Las Vegas 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. When I receive the fodor's (Los angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas) I ordered month ago, I honestly didn't expercted to be so good, it has been an incredible help when planning my next vacations. Thanks for been such as good tool for us (internet buyers). Pao



2. I purchase guidebooks for two reasons: first, to have a handy resource guide I can use to for its maps, phone numbers, and addresses, and, second, for a chance to find overlooked, new, or hole-in-the-wall places to go that I might not think of or discover on my own.
   Fodor's 2008 guide does an okay job on both these points, but not exceptional. Perhaps Las Vegas just has too many hotels, restaurants, and other attractions for the guide to list even their most basic information, but it can be frustrating to look up a fairly well-known attraction (for a needed phone number and address) and not find it. It's less frustrating, but also less worthwhile, to sit back on the plane and flip through the guide looking for something new to do in a familiar place and not find anything ... and that happened, too.
   The guide hits many of the high points and does appear to try to spend time looking for a few "secret hideaways," but I think it does only an adequate job in each area. Perhaps the handy-but-somewhat-unnecessary gambler's guide could be shortened. Yes, the information there is cool and understandable, but there are dozens of better-written and easily available guides to gambling ... most of which can be found in the Las Vegas Airport or a casino gift shop. Maybe the guide could excise a few pages from the "around Las Vegas" sections, where it talks about attractions a good hour or two drive from the city. Still, those ARE things you aren't likely to find out about on your own. Maybe the guide simply needs to be longer.
   Anyway, I think the Fodor's Guide to Las Vegas is about as good a guide as I've seen ... but that's just not saying a lot.



3. I didn't like this book very much. The Fodors New York was very useful for me, so I decided to buy Fodors again for Las Vegas. The text style has changed. I guess Fodors is trying to be more hip and cool to attract readers from Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, but seems pathetic. The guide tells which hotel has the best groovy pool for you to see and been seen. Rubbish. And I must say that only some hotels are listed. I wanted to know their opinion about Signature by MGM Grand, cause it's very well quoted in Trip Advisor, but it's not mentioned. Well, it was very disappointing.

2 comments about Southwest USA & Las Vegas (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. The Southwest USA & Las Vegas travel guide is chock full of informative information, culture, and pictures in a streamline 300 page volume. Although personally, I think Las Vegas should be its own volume, I found the information about the Southwest quite helpful. I particularly appreciated the cultural information included and the fact that website addresses for most sites were included with the information blurb. This is a useful travel companion for those intending to see the four corners area and beyond!



2. If you are planning to se the wonderful sights of the southwest this is an excellent book. It covers all of the national parks in Arizona and New Mexico as well as Las Vegas. If you are going to just Las Vegas or just the Grand Canyon I would recommend getting the more specific books than these but if you are looking for a regional book it cannot be beat. Highly recommend.

2 comments about Frommer's Las Vegas 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. I bought Frommer's Las Vegas 2008 even though last year I'd previously purchased and read the 2007 edition. This years is a good update that builds off of last years work. There is updated information- after all everything changes constantly in Vegas. Having never been there I wanted to make sure I was getting the absolute best deal for when I and my friends go.
   
   The hotel I was interested in wasn't even worth mentioning, room wise, last year. but now it's considered one of the best rooms on the strip and I'm greedily content with the good deal I'm getting. Last years book covered the $$$$ hotels a little too much, glorifying them when most of us that are buying the book can't afford to spend $500 per night to stay in them a few days. This year's, I'm happy to say, covers the rooms the rest of us can temporarily call home.
   
   It can't cover every single restaurant and bar, but it does give a decent break down from the ultra trendy and expensive to Crispy Kreme's. Also there is a little more mention of the various hotels spa's, though it's still pretty skimpy and that's one of the areas I wanted more on. But this really is a good over view. Now I just can't wait to go!



2. Good book, although I felt some of the reviews were not accurate. Some things you just need to do to experience all that Vegas has to offer. Definitely recommended to find about about the places you have yet to discover.

5 comments about The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 2008 (Unofficial Guides).

1. If you have never been to Las Vegas then this is the book for you. Contains all the basics. Don't worry you will figure it out after your first roll of quarters and a few drinks.



2. Like one of the previous reviewers, I bought this book after previously buying their guide to Walt Disney World. The WDW guide was superb, stuffed full of information about everything you could possibly need to know in the planning stages and also during your trip. In fact there is nearly too much info in the WDW book, with the author going as far as giving exact measurements of some of the hotel rooms! As a result, I expected the same high standard from the Las Vegas book and I have to say I was left a little disappointed.
   
   First of all I have to say that I love the way the authors write these books. They have a very amusing turn of phrase and they have an irreverence toward their destinations that I find a refreshing change from a lot of the overly serious travel guides. I have really enjoyed reading this book, I find that their mix of amusing background stories, reader reviews and helpful advice, entertaining as well as informative.
   
   The area where I found this book a little disappointing was the descriptions of the hotels. When I bought this book, I hadn't yet booked my hotel and was hoping for a little guidance. Like the previous reviewer pointed out, there might be two or three pages devoted to a particular hotel, but little or no mention of the actual room quality size or amenities. After all, when you book a hotel, you're paying for a room, so this is surely the main area of interest rather than what the `feel' of the lobby is like. If I were feeling sceptical, I'd nearly think that the authors had not actually been in the rooms of the hotels they were critiquing but merely the public areas and gardens. I'm sure that isn't the case, but that is an impression one might get when faced with the complete lack of mention of rooms in some of the hotel descriptions!
   
   Other than that, I really loved this book. The sections on shopping, restaurants and shows are outstanding and as a first time visitor to Vegas and a non-gambler, I really appreciated the `how to' section on gambling. There is also a comprehensive section on tours outside of Vegas, for those who want to escape the bright lights for a day or two.
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this book, it is way more in depth than a lot of other travel guides that I have looked at. I would especially recommend it to visitors who are staying more than a couple of nights and who want to see more than the usual sights as this book is choc full of info on some of the more `hidden gems'. In fact, one other slight disadvantage to this book, is that it is quite thick and heavy and so may be better for pre trip planning than actually carrying round with you.



3. This book is full of information, for the beginning Vegas tourist, or the experienced traveler. The ratings and recommendations of the hotels, restaurants, casinos and places to visit are excellent. Highly recommended.



4. This book gives a great overview of Vegas. It rates places to stay, shows to see, restaurant price ranges, tips for gambling, etc. Great book!



5. I was completely stressed out about my trip to vegas. this book gave me so much information, I am ready to go! I have used this brand of book with other trips and would recommend anyone who needs to research destinations to read them.

5 comments about Winner Takes All: Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman, and the Race to Own Las Vegas.

1. This well written story of recent developments in Las Vegas is a captivating read. Author Christina Binkley has written a serious business book in the style of an engaging novel.
   
   Much to like about this book! Las Vegas is a great "stage" for an interesting book. Wynn, Kerkorian and Loveman are such great characters, each so different. And, the race to be the biggest and the best is fascinating.
   
   The real kudos need to go to the author. In every dimension, this book is well crafted. Well organized with a great many facts woven into the compelling story line. Well detailed with every scene painted as if the reader was present. And, well written with business terminology correctly used and judiciously sprinkled so as to not detract from the powerful story. In an age where so many books are so poorly written, the quality of the writing here really is noteworthy.
   
   What I respect most about the author is amidst the captivating story she devotes time to asking the $64 million dollar question, i.e. how should one feel about a business whose purpose is to turn its customers into gambling addicts? A very thoughtful question that the author appropriately serves up for each reader to answer for themselves.
   
   Christina Binkley...for your first book, you did great!



2. Every year millions of people are lured to the playgrounds of Las Vegas and as well-known casino developer Steve Wynn quipped, "they're coming here to play and that is what Las Vegas is all about. It's a playpen."
   
   In Winner Takes All: Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman, And The Race To Own Las Vegas journalist, Christina Binkley, who spent ten years covering Las Vegas for the Wall Street Journal brings to life three of Las Vegas most famous king pins of casino development and tells how they started and what distinguishes one from the other.
   
   We learn about Steve Wynn who began his business career running the family's bingo operation after his father died. As a result of his initial success, he was able to save up enough money to purchase a small interest in the New Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas where he and his wife Elaine moved in 1967. From this time onwards he never looked back and after a successful land deal in 1971 involving Howard Hughes and Caesars Palace, he was able to secure a controlling interest in the famous Golden Nugget Las Vegas. It was here where he began to use his enormous creative talents in renovating, revamping and expanding the Golden Nugget from a mere gambling hall to a resort hotel and casino with tremendous success. And in the process he was successful in attracting a new upscale clientele to downtown Las Vegas. This was only the beginning of his subsequent acquisitions involving various other casinos as the lavish and luxurious Mirage with its indoor forest and out door volcano, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Bellagio with its opulence which cost over a billion dollars to construct and which even attracted high-end boutiques, restaurants and a museum-quality art gallery. Eventually, Wynn sold his Mirage Resorts to Kirk Kerkorian who controlled MGM Grand Inc and with the monies earned he made a come back with Wynn Las Vegas. What is remarkable about Wynn, as Binkley points out, is that his timing was uncanny for after he bought the Desert Inn, Las Vegas began to share off its reputation as a nursing home for failed acting and singing careers, cheesy hotels, and bad food.
   
   Kirk Kerkorian is another kind of a casino business developer who as Wynn once stated, and as mentioned in the book, "Kerkorian never breaks a sweat... all those deals he's done-and he never sets foot in the building. He never misses a tennis game. He just likes bigger. He measures the cost of construction and the rate of inflation."
   It was in 1944 when Kerkorian first flew into Las Vegas as a Cessna pilot and in 1962 he returned to purchase land across the Flamingo that eventually led to the building of Caesars Palace that leased the land from him. Eventually the land was sold to Casesars and Kerkorian wound up with a pile of money as a result of the years of rental and the proceeds from the sale. In the ensuing years he built the International Hotel Las Vegas and he bought the Flamingo, which he later sold to the Hilton. In 1973 Kerkorian purchased the famous movie studio, MGM and this in turn led to the opening of the original MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. One of the biggest ventures for Kerkorian was when he bought out Steve Wynn's casinos and other goodies such as his fantastic art collection. And what really led to Kerkorian eventually owning half of the business on the strip was his acquisition of Mandalay Bay Resort. Hal Rothman, a University of Nevada Las Vegas professor described Kerkorian as a master strategist who sees the industry clearly. He calculates his opportunities and pounces."
   
   Dr. Gary Loveman, CEO of Harrah's Entertainment, is a much different breed of casino developer than Wynn and Kerkorian. His business experience includes a stint at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and as a professor at the Harvard Business School. He has a Ph.D from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Binkley hits the nail on the head when she asserts that Wynn and Kerkorian were selling products they loved to consume themselves while Loveman was selling something foreign to him, based solely on wits. Loveman with the assistance of his brainy associates, who he recruited, figured out all kinds of ways to keep even the losers coming back for more punishment. When he noticed how losers were miserable, he figured out how he could keep them gambling longer by reducing their perception of losing.
   
   As mentioned on the front flap of the book, although all three of these moguls may be different in their approaches they all were vying for the same thing, to conquer the city that feeds the world's fantasies.
   As a result, Las Vegas is no longer a city for only gambling but it is also one filled with top notch restaurants, unbelievable lavish hotels that cost billions, first class entertainment attracting some of the biggest stars, even art galleries featuring some of the world's most valuable art and much more.
   
   No doubt all of this makes for some very interesting reading, however, I do have one complaint and that is that there is a lack of smooth transition between chapters. Very often they don't cohere leading to a disjointed quality. Perhaps, this is due to Binkley's background as a journalist and not as an author of a business books. At times it even felt that Binkley was in a hurry to jot down all of the information she had gathered during the ten years she spent on the strip gathering information for her newspaper column. Nonetheless, for those of you who want to learn more about the Las Vegas scene, this is an excellent starter.
   
   Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures



3. Very interesting take on an historic period of corporate consolidation in Las Vegas.
   Easy read with lots on insight into the various personalities and egos involved. Well researched and a nice job of conveying the tension inherent in deals of this magnitude. In some respects reads more like a novel than non-ficton. Definetely not another dry financial book.



4. I began reading the hardback version of Wall Street Journal writer Christina Binkley's brilliant Winner Takes All: Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman, and the Race to Own Las Vegas just before going on a long drive. So, I decided to buy the CD's to listen to the rest of the book in my car.
   
   The audio version is GREAT comedy. The excellent research and superb interviews that Ms. Brinkley assembled in a very readable novel-esque narrative is totally subverted by the reading from some half-wit actress who did not bother to learn to properly pronounce even the most well-known Vegas names...never mind the myriad of artists, chefs, and lesser-known Vegas characters.
   
   If I could write in Mark Twain phonetics, I would try to spell the way this reader pronounced some of this names (I especially loved her version of Tony Spilotro, Henri Matisse, Sirio Maccioni). And I cannot even imagine how to put "breathing marks" into text to show you how she inappropriately broke paragraphs and sentences in her reading.
   
   Seriously, the audio version is SO bad that it was distracting to the point that it became comedy. I began calling people on my cell phone and playing portions of the book to them so they could share in the humor.
   
   Fortunately, when I returned home I turned back to print version of the book...which, again, is EXCELLENT.
   
   As a supposed Las Vegas "insider" myself -with decades in the gaming industry -I found the book accurate about Wynn (who she portrays a just a little Mel Books like nuts) and Loveman (who she characterizes as somewhat of a well-paid clod). The author seems to like the Kerkorian style better than either of the other two (as one might expect from a WSJ writer) and given that she may have been a little unfair to Steve Wynn.
   
   Nonetheless, not only did I find nothing "wrong" with the book, but I found it to be an outstanding follow-up of contemporary history to what everyone knows about "old Vegas" and even mid-era "family attraction" Vegas. Ms. Binkley has indeed written an important historical account of the latest incarnation of the ever-redefined Las Vegas.



5. The book correctly documents the events from 1989 and the building of the Mirage as changing Las Vegas beyond anyone's expectation. Well done.