1 comments about The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765.

1. I was amazed at the life of Mr. Timblake. If you wished to get insight into the Pre Revolution Era life, then Read this Book.

No comments about Hiking Michigan (America's Best Day Hiking Series).

4 comments about Boston: A Topographical History, Third Enlarged Edition.

1. This book is ideal for anyone looking for a general account of Boston history. It acquants one with many of the important stages in the development of the city; covering the period from the colonial to approximately 1970. The information regarding the colonial period is excellent, as is the book itself. It is not specific, but provides an introduction to many great way points for further study.



2. This is very good book about the City of Boston, as it was developed in stages. The Book explains the development and expansion of the city in time and according to location. It is very vivid and especially if you have been a pedestrian offen on the streets of Boston, It starts to make sense and starts to give joy. As I read the book I started to appreciate more and more the efforts of BRA and Back Bay Society.unfortunately before they acted quite a number of beautiful structures has gone.Book has very extensive history from 1700 to 1970's and than it is summary or may be it is a living history for you. There are numerous pictures but the number of pictures is not as much as those you may find in other types of books, like Boston in Pictures, etc. After all it is a narrative book but there is sufficient amount of pictures to help you visulize. I wish a more comprehensive book were to be produces to show in same pages all the developments, similar to "Boston, Than and Now" but with more older pictures and more story as this book has. Read this book and sit across the Charles on Cambridge Side than you start to see Trimont, Mill Dam, Neck. It is great book.



3. This book is a fascinating account of how Boston grew and developed. It stays on the point, is concise, and really improves the understanding of this city. A must read for a Bostonian.



4. I first read this book when I moved to Boston in the mid-1980's. Only after reading this book did I understand why I always got lost driving around the city. The old cowpath myth is far too banal compared to the real cause of the city's twisting mysteries: the perpetual reshaping of the city's landmass begun during the Mass Bay colony and continuing today. There's a reason the Big Dig happened here.
   
   I love this book. This is history told from a unique perspective and by a real pro. Whitehill's reputation as a distinguished historian is what initially drew me to this book. His skill as a storyteller and his dry New England wit kept me thoroughly engaged. I have re-read this book many times. It is at the top of my books-to-read-about-Boston list. I always recommend it to any new Bostonian I meet.
   
   I wish the old man had lived to see the Big Dig in all its engineering glory. His history of this grand project would have been a true delight.

1 comments about Everything Family Guide to New England: Where to eat, play, and stay in America's scenic and historic Northeast (Everything Series).

1. I'm planning a 2008 trip to New England for my family which includes my wife, and my 9-, 13-, and 17-year-old children. The book is written as a state-by-state guide showcasing must-see activities for each state, then laying out recommended attractions, places to eat and stay, and other miscellaneous items by region within the state. I would guess over 95% of the items in the book include web addresses where one can do more research. This book was my primary tool for creating our itinerary while Frommer's encyclopedia-like approach and Insight Guides' many pictures provided additional reference information. The only slight knock I have is that not all items found in the book are listed in the index, so sometimes you have to recall where it's at and hunt it down via page-flipping. However, the book isn't overly large and the type is easy to read, so this isn't difficult. If you're planning a trip for your family, I can't recommend it enough. It was just updated for 2008.

3 comments about Forts Of The Northern Plains: Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indians Wars.

1. Mr. Barnes' book is extremely accurate. It is invaluable for people like me who are really into the Indian Wars in America and who like to conduct our own traveling tours. While I am not discounting books about other wars in American History, I just don't believe enough books have been written about the Indian Wars out west. This book provides a needed boost.
   
   Mr. Dana Jackson, Fairlawn, Va.



2. Well structured and a fascinating overview of the military posts during this period of American history. One small criticism - the book only whets the appetite and anybody looking for greater detail on the layout and life within one of the forts would find little benefit in buying this book.



3. If you have any interest in visiting old forts across the plains, Jeff Barnes has written an updated guidebook that is an essential take along for your traveling adventures. And, even if you can't get out to see th forts, Barnes provides a lot of great background information about these hidden treasures of history. Go forth and explore, but take Barnes' book along for the ride. His work can help you go on the right days and on the right roadways so you don't miss a thing.

5 comments about America Day by Day.

1. French existentialist, Simone de Beauvoir (1908-86), was both enchanted by and highly critical of life in America. She was comforted by American cemeteries which, she observed, have more personality than some towns, and offer a final escape from the banality of daily life in America (p. 80). Originally published in France as L'AMERIQUE AU JOUR LE JOUR in 1948, AMERICA DAY BY DAY details the four months she spent traveling the United States anonymously (but with a letter of introduction from her companion, Jean-Paul Sartre), from New York to Los Angeles and back, by car, train, and Greyhound bus, while lecturing at colleges and universities along the way. Published in the form of her January 25, 1947 through May 20, 1947 travel journal, AMERICA DAY BY DAY reveals de Beauvoir's fascinating insights into post-war American culture, including its consumerism and "superabundance" ("too much noise, too much perfume, too much heat, too much luxury," p. 118) and obsession with big cars and celebrity, its church services, politics, fashion, movies, and music, and tourist attractions like Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas. "Many things would change among Americans," she writes about American psychoanalysis, "if they were willing to accept that there is unhappiness on earth and that unhappiness is not a priori a crime" (p. 64). Always fiercely independent and intelligent, de Beauvoir also reveals her perspective on American women, black/white relations, intellectuals, education, and college students in her wandering, thought-provoking travel memoir. Highly recommended.
   
   G. Merritt



2. Simone de Beauvoir writes America Day by Day as a daily journal, although she actually wrote it after her return to France. Her casual tone allows the reader to travel along with her journey across America. Beauvoir seems enthusiastic about America and does not focus on stereotypes, despite coming with some preconceived notions from movies and friends. Beauvoir also talks about the variety of people in America, which anti-American authors often overlook. The book portrays America well, while highlighting some social problems of the early 1950's, some of which no longer exist. Through her travels she speaks of the rising problems of the fear of communism, the semi-equality of women, and the segregation of Blacks. Other main themes she contemplates through her experiences are religion and democracy. Beauvoir also mentions her views on the American university system and on American intellectualism in general. Despite her relatively negative themes, Beauvoir's admiration for American friendliness and trust shows through. Her love for America is clearly seen. On the last page she describes her arrival in France and how dull it seems compared to America; she says, "Over there in the night, a vast continent is sparkling" (390). America Day by Day is a beautifully written and interesting book.



3. In Simone de Beauvoir's, America Day by Day, she travels through America in the late 1940's, post WWII. She documents her observations and experiences as she takes a cross-country journey, stopping in popular U.S. locations such as New York, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hollywood, and San Francisco.
   Beauvoir's travels help her to understand the diversity that embodies America. America is considered `the land of opportunity,' a country where the inhabitants are granted certain freedoms. Thus, Beauvoir whole-heartedly embraces her first experience as an American. Intrigued by the American lifestyle, she wanders, looking for her next new experience, her next new adventure. The former Catholic school girl experiences a spectrum of American culture; she dabbles into alcohol and drugs but also incorporates touring museums and lecturing at various, distinguished women's colleges into her travels. Beauvoir almost seems reckless in how she behaves in a country completely foreign to her, but the way in which she free-spiritedly follows her instincts is very much admirable. She is very wide-eyed and excited about America, but she also expresses her irritation as she passionately acknowledges her opinions on topics like racism and segregation, education, American women, democracy, and communism. "Hardly a day has passed that I haven't been dazzled by America; hardly a day that I haven't been disappointed. I don't know if I could be happy living here; I am sure I'll miss it passionately" (382).



4. One of the most accessible books by this great author. It has been a gateway to her other works including the Mandarins. Plus it is a joyous and interesting journey through an America rarely heard about. I realize now that so few Americans were really travelling in the fourties, we had wrapped up the war and wanted to stay home. Excellent book.



5. If I could go back in time, I would have loved to have been Simone de Beauvoir's travel companion! She gives readers a view of post WWII America in America Day by Day from the perspective of an outsider looking in, and she does it the same way as she shared her travel experiences in her autobiographies: with a neat mix of her curiosity, sense of adventure, independence, and intellect. Only in this journal of her four-month trip around America, there are more details to enjoy.
   
   Beauvoir's journal is an intellectually stimulating series of adventures. While lecturing at prestigious colleges and universities, she also socializes with professors and students, and she shares her impressions of both the Americans and her French countrymen and women living abroad. From hi-brow parties with famous writers and actors to the shady bars filled with suspect characters in the underbelly of the big cities, from Cantonese opera in San Francisco to quaint, provincial New England villages, and from small art studios to slaughterhouses and prisons, de Beauvoir doesn't miss much! She wants to absorb as much as she can. She's not afraid to try new things! Going to a boxing match or smoking marijuana (!) is a welcome adventure! Even getting lost in New York City because she didn't write down the address of where she was supposed to give a lecture doesn't kill her adventurous spirit--she just keeps moving on, trying to find the right address, and luckily runs into friends who are on their way to go listen to her anyway.
   
   America Day by Day is great armchair traveling! You have a brilliant, adventurous tour guide in de Beauvoir, who skillfully mixes her impressions, critiques, history, and philosophical perspective.

1 comments about North Carolina Curiosities, 3rd: Jerry Bledsoe's Guide to Outlandish Things to See and Do in North Carolina.

1. I grew up reading Jerry Bledsoe in the Greensboro Daily News. I enjoyed his columns then and I enjoyed NC Curiosities even more! I thought I knew a lot about the Tarheel State until I poured over this book! It made me want to go back on a pilgrimage to visit all the crazy places I never knew existed and to re-visit all the places I know so well, but which apparently have curious secrets!
   Jules Shepard, author of Nearly Normal Cooking For Gluten-Free Eating: A Fresh Approach to Cooking and Living Without Wheat or Gluten

5 comments about Haunted Hikes: Spine-Tingling Tales and Trails from North America's National Parks.

1. This is a unique book because it combines the utility of a trail guide with the fun and entertainment of a well written history book. The quirky offbeat stories of ghosts, spooky legends, disasters and untimely deaths is followed up with concise directions on how to go out and actually experience the areas where these otherworldly phenomenons occurred.
   
   The writer has spiced this book with her acerbic wit and keen insights into being a park ranger (which she was for many years). She has portrayed the rangers and park service in a realistic light, instead of the hagiographic view of selfless sainthood so often seen in other books dealing with the NPS. They are real people working in a large and impersonal bureaucracy. The story dealing with the last Miwok Indian to leave Yosemite due to government regulations and the resulting castrophe was a real scream to read.
   
   This is a great trail guide that covers a lot of interesting historical material that you won't find anywhere else. It kept me, the reader, intrigued and excited about going out to see many of these places for myself. I can't wait to visit to Yosemite later this summer so I can go explore some of the places I read about in this book.



2. Not just a book of haunted tales, but a history lesson in some of the most unusual occurences in our most popular wilderness areas. What I like about Andrea Lankford's style of writing is her leaving it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. An informative guide to National Parks we may have never considered visiting before. Awakens curiosities never imagined about many places.



3. I liked this book because I am an avid outdoor enthusiast as well as an avid reader of "true" paranormal accounts. I've only given this two stars because although it is a very good book of hiking trails with clear directions to the trails and a very good description of endurance required to complete the hikes, etc., I was disappointed in the "thrill" factor, which, to me, was nil. It is possible that it takes more than the average run of the mill story to get to me (probable, actually) but the reviews of this led me to believe that it was scary. It is not. As far as I can tell, after reading most of this book - which took several attempts - the author is an excellent & skilled outdoorswoman but she is just repeating old stories here. No one gives a first hand account, including the author - except for saying that she felt chills or could see why someone else would have said that a certain trail was scary, at one time. I'll probably use this book as a guide next time I go hiking, but as far as chills while reading..... forget it.



4. The author's insipid attempt to sell her hiking trail guide as a book of haunting tales is insulting to the educated mind. The book is a dud, a sham, and I wish I could get my money back. Even the few interesting supernatural stories are made bland by her lack of style. Take my advice... if you are looking for a genuine book on the paranormal and the occult, do not waste your time or money on Andrea Lankford's Haunted Hikes. It is just a trail guide.



5. Had I known Pennsylvania (the 5th largest state in the union) would not have one listing in this book, I certainly would not have not wasted my money on buying it since--more than likely--I won't be able to visit the parks that are mentioned; I am deeply disappointed. I should have looked for it in the bookstore, so I could have read the table of contents first.
   However, having said that, the book is extremely well written, fun and intriguing. It is well organized and has an easy-to-read font. Ms. Lankford has a knack for story-telling and as a hike advisor.
   I hope next book, she stops in the Keystone state! (And, next time--please LIST the parks written about in the description!)
   Thanks.

5 comments about Pennsylvania Mountain Vistas: A Guide for Hikers and Photographers.

1. Just like in his 2004 offering "Pennsylvania Waterfalls," here Scott E. Brown has created a great resource for both hikers and outdoor photographers. However, in that earlier book Brown mainly focused on natural attractions that are easily reached by car or via short leisurely rambles. In contrast, here he has created special hiking routes to natural overlooks that are often quite difficult to reach without serious hiking. That's because Pennsylvania's surprisingly rugged topography creates many great vistas but most of them require real foot power to reach. So in his quest for the most photogenic mountain vistas, Brown has created a guide that includes in-depth hiking information as well as technical specifications for the professional or aspiring photographer. This results in an exceptional guide that will inspire hikers to visit many previously unappreciated vistas with or without their cameras, while shutterbugs will appreciate the rewards of hiking and a love for nature while en route to incredible shots.
   
   There are also a few surprises in Brown's recommendations to photographers, and by extension, hikers. For each vista, Brown includes the best times of day for the ultimate shot, which is often sunrise or sunset. Thus, there is some incredibly useful advice for hiking at night. There is also some good advice on winter hiking and the consequent care for photographic equipment, because winter nature photography has its own unique rewards. In general, Brown offers very specific technical advice for getting the best shots in each selected location, surely with the goal of training photographers to challenge his own works. And those shots by Brown are the best aspect of this book, with great examples throughout. Highlights include several snowy landscapes, glowing fog over a barn, a moonrise, and a stupendous panoramic composition of Pine Creek Gorge. This informative and visually attractive book will inspire anyone with an interest in hiking or photography, or both, to explore the best of Pennsylvania's surprising outdoor wonders. [~doomsdayer520~]



2. Scott Brown's earlier book, Pennsylvania Waterfalls, was an exceptional guidebook to rare and beautiful locations in PA, and this book is the same. There are so many wonderful vistas in Pennsylvania that no book could possibly cover them all, but Brown cherry-picked the best ones for inclusion in this work. His outstanding pictures are a joy to behold, and his photographic instruction will be useful to novice and accomplished photgraphers alike.
   
   I've spent lots of time researching Pennsylvania vistas and overlooks, and I've even created a web site to document them. This book certainly aided my research. I've visited a number of vistas included in this work, and Brown does a great job describing the hikes, the views, and how to capture them on film. Other information about each location, such as the field of view, elevation, and GPS coordinates are icing on the cake.
   
   My job takes me around the state on occasion, and I'm definitely going to make it a point to seek out the vistas highlighted in this book. I highly reccomend this work to anyone who's into viewing or phtographing the beautiful mountains of the Keystone state.



3. This book is very well organized and thorough. Directions and descriptions of sites are complete and easy to understand. A great tool for anyone who wants to hike to overlooks in Pennsylvania.



4. I've owned this book for just a week and already have corners folded and details highlighted. Inclusion of Mr. Brown's photos from these vistas just whets the appetite to experience the scene in person. Anyone who has ever tried to convey the beauty of a valley or mountaintop on film knows that even the most perfect shots don't convey the true experience unless you have been there yourself. This book will travel the state with me, year round. How long will it take me to experience each of these fantastic mountainscapes in all four seasons?



5. Very good guide to all the photogenic spots in the entire PA as opposed to only specific parts of PA. There is very in depth suggestions for the serious photographers (of which I am not) that "point and shoot" photographers are really not going to use, but can at least use his recommendations for site location for the scene. I found the rating system very useful to help me decide which hikes were worth my time seeing on limited time.

3 comments about Hiking Illinois (America's Best Day Hiking Series).

1. This book is great for an outdoor enthusiast! It contains detailed descriptions of 100 trails located throughout Illinois, including a difficulty rating, estimated time required and trail length. A summary of this information is also displayed in a table, allowing users to easily identify a trail and locate it within the book. Each detailed entry includes directions to the site, rules and regulations, contract information, and maps of both the trails and the parks. In addition, other sites of interest which are located in the surrounding area are often listed at the end of each entry. Hiking Illinois offers very complete coverage and the author incorporates her experiences at the sites into her book.



2. I picked this up as an avid central illinois day hiker. I'd done probably a dozen of the hikes listed, and was amazed to see just how different an impression that the author had had compared to mine. I found many descriptions just simply inaccurate or misleading, and laughed out loud at some of the trails that she had marked as 4-5 boot's difficult (I found them to be very easy trails, and I'm not some superman).
   
   The book consists of several sets of maps, the 'how to get there' maps are pretty good, but the trail maps are practically worthless. Don't rely on them to find your way around.
   
   Several of the 'hikes' are very urbanized, including walking through cities. Not my idea of a hike, but I guess they count. All in all, I was moderately disapointed in this book. The plusses are there are some good ideas for hikes listed that you might not have found all in one spot, but the usefulness pretty much ends at getting you to the park.



3. Bought this book about a month ago, and have since used it about 6 times for various hikes in Illinois. The book is well laid out, and so far has proven to be very accurate. There are detailed directions to trail heads that you would never find with out this book. Some of these trails are just spectacular, and the author has really done her homework. Trails are rated with diffuculty and facilities close buy in the beggining of the book, as well as a general map to help you find the area of interest. Each hike is described in detail and includes all pertanent information, including detailed directions, hours of operation, permits and rules, etc. This book has a wealth of information, and I intend to hike all 100 hikes in time. The best part of this book is the removable pages. The hikes are arranged so that you can tear out a page along a perforation and take it with you on your hike. The maps included are not exactly topo quality, but they do give you a general feeling for the layout of the trail, and you can use them as a general referance as you hike along. Each hike is contained on one or two pages, and there is no overlap between hikes. That means if you tear out a page, you will only have one hike on that page, and not an overlap to another hike. This is a very thoughtfull addition, as my pages tend to get a little mauled after 5 miles of sweat dripping on them. I have checked the accuracy of these maps, and have found them quite accurate in milage and directions. All in all I am very pleased with this book, and will use it for many years. Keep in mind, these are day hikes, and not intended as long trail hiking. While trails very in distance and milage, all of them can be completed in one day. Good trail guide.
   
   Doc Holiday