No comments about America revisited: From the Bay of New York to the Gulf of Mexico, and from Lake Michigan to the Pacific.

No comments about The View from the Top of the Temple: Ancient Maya Civilization and Modern Maya Culture.

3 comments about America, New Mexico.

1. Open your heart, your mind, and your ears to this almost lyrical work by Robert Leonard Reid as you explore beautiful and quite possibly unique New Mexico either firsthand or vicariously. Not as thoroughly exploratory, meticulous, and encyclopedic as Timothy Egan's Pacific Northwest book(s), not as critical and pessimistic as Robert Kaplan, and not as negative as Paul Theroux---Mr. Reid is of a different writing caliber. It is delightfully insightful, at times painfully verbose and overdescriptive, but his book on this different part of America is a pleasurable experience nonetheless for resident, visitor, or armchair traveler.



2. I was looking for a book that got into the heart and soul of New Mexico and discovered America, New Mexico at my local bookstore. It had a great title, a great cover, a writer who could write...and unfortunetly enough new age retoric that at one point I wanted to send the book back to the University of Arizona and ask why tax dollars were being spent on such endevours. So read at your own risk. At one point the author claims that the only reason Europe developed instead of Native Americans in North America was that gunpowder had accidently made its way to Europe first. Humm. Want a good book about the heart and soul of New Mexico try the Toby Smith's "Stay Awhile."



3. This is a lyrical treatment of New Mexico, for the most part well-written and enjoyable. But it was marred for me by the gullibility of the writer, who says about the alleged UFO landing at Roswell that he "can testify without reservation that, yes, the extraordinary visitation took place". Unfortunately the Roswell "visitation" has long since been debunked as a weather balloon.

   Reid says about the lack of photographs of Crazy Horse, "Perhaps the science of photography is inadequate for capturing certain images", as if the laws of physics and chemistry would magically have certain exceptions. Does Reid really doubt that a functioning camera would have succeeded in taking a picture of Crazy Horse? This is mysticism at the expense of believability.

   Reid describes a friend who claims that certain Native Americans can really take to the sky and fly like birds. He is my friend, Reid says, and I believe him. But why? If this event has never been captured on film, if humans simply lack the muscle power and lift necessary to fly, if Native Americans continue to take jets like everyone else to get around, isn't it far more plausible that Reid's friend was lying, or pulling his leg? We *know* with certainty that people lie and indulge in practical jokes. We *don't* know with certainty that they can fly like birds. Reid needs to get his Occam's razor sharpened up a bit.

   Nevertheless, if you can overlook this New Age silliness, the book is enjoyable, even beautiful in places.

No comments about By Greyhound, to and Through Rocky Mountain Region: Colorado, New Mexico, Rocky Mountain National Park, Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods, Indian Country.

No comments about Cities of the United States: The West : Alaska Arizona California Colorado Hawaii Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming (Cities of the World (Thomsan Gale)).

1 comments about Cycle of Seasons in Corrales.

1. Cycle Of Seasons In Corrales by freelance writer Ruth W. Armstrong is an inspirational celebration of the turn of the seasons in Corrales and throughout New Mexico. Love of life, memories of the past and keen awareness of the present permeate this spiritual treatise. Enhanced with the photography of Ruth and Ellis Armstrong, Cycle Of Seasons In Corrales an impressive and timeless evocation and well worth the reading by anyone who appreciates what nature offers as the Earth encircles the Sun.

No comments about The Gila Loop: a recipe for fun in New Mexico.(FAVORITERIDE): An article from: Rider.

No comments about Caballeros.

3 comments about Mountain Harmonies: Walking the Western Wildernesses.

1. A sunset, moonrise, early morning at Pine River, a snow-covered
   trail to Summerland, rambling along rainforest paths, view
   Emerald Lake, places with a magic all their own.
   These are true adventures, unforgettable beauty, nature.
   Follow as Smith travles the seldon-used trails, experience
   Mountain Harmonies.



2. Growing up I traveled frequently to the West and Southwest with my parents (a geologist and an anthropologist) on trips to complete field work. Mountain Harmonies captures the wonderful spirit of the West that I came to know on those many forays. The many fine stories in this book brought back fond memories of those trips with my parents. Of all the rales I really enjoyed the encounters with grizzly and black bears because for me they symbolize natures purity. This is an engaging and enjoyable book.



3. What a delightful read. Although I am not a hiker, I enjoy being an armchair explorer and Smith's book brings nature close to hand. The unique and insightful perspectives on hiking makes one believe they are also experiencing his awe of the wilderness. Although many books have been written about nature, Smith is able to see and share the unique in what others would describe as common. His encounters with wild animals are related to the reader in such a way as to impact on all your senses. His book also exposes the reader to the Native American culture in the Southwest, including new vocabulary and traditions. One of the most interesting aspects of Smith's book, for an armchair explorer, is the accessibility of his experiences rather than the exotic, available to the few. It feels as though I could experience everything he has by following in his footsteps.

   Throughout Smith's book, there is an underlying theme of camaraderie, showing nature can be shared with others and yet he is able find moments of solitude at the same time. If you wish to explore nature in the Southwest, there is no better guide than Smith. His writing style is very conversational and filled with images you can recreate very easily in your own mind. For those of us who are not ardent hikers, this is a great way to have a very memorable vicarious experience with nature. Do yourself a favor, take some time from your busy schedule and enjoy the outdoors through the eyes of a marvelous writer.

1 comments about Rand McNally New Mexico State Map (State Maps-USA).

1. Unlike other disorienting works by other authors in this field, you can depend on this work to keep you headed in the right direction at all times (or time zones, as the case may be). Just remember to fold properly between chapters (outings?) and always remember that anytime you're going uphill, you're pointed north.