5 comments about A Guide to the Indian Wars of the West (Bison Book).

1. I was introduced to this book after I had already done quite a bit of reading on the Indian Wars, and I was sorry that I had not found it earlier. It provides alot of basic information in a very readable format. I now keep this book on hand as a reference when I do any other reading on the subject. I had the privilege of meeting John McDermott this summer when he served as historian guide for a tour of the battlefields of the Sioux wars. It must have been very difficult for him to condense his vast knowlege of the Indian wars into this simplified format, but it works very well. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Indian wars, or someone who would just like an introduction into that period of American history.



2. John McDermott has done a fantastic job with this book. The first half is a wonderful in-depth look at life on the frontier during the 1800s that goes back and forth with comparisons of the living conditions, clothing, social beliefs, etc., of Native Americans and the whites who were moving through/into the West. The second half gives a good overview of sites of historic interest, museums, battlefields and more. The one thing I found frustrating (and I can't think of a good solution McDermott could have employed) is that the "guide" section of the book does include some good history information, too: It seems that these instances were included in the second half of the book to discuss localized events that might have seemed out of place in the more generalized first half of the book.



3. This is more than just a Guide to Indian Wars, it is a well written and very informative and importent piece of literature for anyone interested in the history of Native Americans.

   I live in England so I doubt I will ever see most of the places mentioned in the book, but having read it, my knowledge has been increased, the little "potted" history of Army Life etc really made for interesting reading, a wonderful little book, but a big addition to my library of Native American literature.




4. This book provides a concise historical perspective of the Indian Wars of the West with the second section providing sites of interest based on geographical location. There is a lot of detail on the different tribes, their geographic locations and differences, their relations with the "whites", lifestyles of Native Americans, lifestyle of the soldiers, weapons of each and a review of literature, movies and TV shows on the West. Reminds me of a lot of Robert Utley mixed in with Paul Hutton's Custer Reader.

   The second part organizes points of historical interest geographically and by tribal history detailing what you will see (actual structures or replica and scenery) and a mini biography of the site. This book is a great companion for touring since you can organize what you want to see easily since the sites are organized by states and region. For example, if I were in Colorado, one of my goals would be to see Brent's Fort particularly if I was there during the annual rendezvous. How great to not only see Fort Apache if you are in Arizona but also to be able to detour to Cochise's Stronghold.

   I just wish the text had pictures of the tour sites or a portion of them and an index. It's a modest book of 200 pages but a walloping amount of information. It's also a great reference for further reading.




5. John D. McDermott writes well and knows an amazing amount about the wetsern indian wars. The first part of the book, background material, is hard to top. I learned several things I didn't know from it. The second part, the travel guide, can be helpful because the West if so big that not many people will know about places in every area. But there are a few mistakes in the second part, things like wrong phone numbers and maps and descriptions that might put you in the wrong part of a state. This seems to be from carelessness and not ignorance. The book is certainly worth buying, but if you are set on going to some fort or battlefield you might want to phone ahead for information and also have a good map to be on the safe side.

5 comments about Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton (Outdoor Family Guides).

1. This was the best book out of three that we purchased. This book is equally good for singles, couples, or families - so don't let the title mislead you. In addition to the great hikes, it also describes several other types of trips - like row boating on Colter Bay in the Tetons. It's well organized and includes good maps and descriptions. I highly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.



2. We used this guide almost exclusively during our recent 2 week trip. We took about 7 hikes from the book and we found them to be very accurately described by the author. We were able to find hikes that worked for the whole family. Great book if you plan to travel with kids.



3. I purchased this book and several others for my trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone. This book was very informative on lodging, trails, sightseeing and travel. This guide was a time saver as well giving me ideas of the trails and difficulty and estimated time. Many things to do and lots of recommendations for children but its so much more. Definately a keeper and will use next time im planning a vacation to the area. Oh by the way, i do recommend a trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone. The tetons were breathtaking and definately do the trip accross Jenny Lake. Yellowstone, WOW the gysers, wildlife, fishing it was terrific. Have Fun. Jeff
   
   Update: I have carried this book with me to Teton/Yellowston NP the last 5 years and its still releavant even if it is older. This is a great companion book to other more detailed books or newer books available, well worth the $$$....



4. Lots of good information in this book really helped prepare us for our trip to Yellowstone. Hike information was great and even pointed out when certain trails opened. This was very helpful in planning since we were traveling in May before many trails were open.



5. This may be a great book for summer Yellowstone adventurers, but there is nothing mentioned about the beauty of Yellowstone during the winter. So, basically it was worthless and a waste of $$. We just got back from a winter snowmobiling tour, and it was amazing. I would suggest the Moon Handbooks - Yellowstone - Grand Teton National Parks...

1 comments about The Spirit of the Place: Indiana Hill Country.

1. Photographer Darryl Jones and author James Alexander Thom teamed together to make a wonderful little book about the natural beauty of the southern Indiana hill country. Thom's text complements Jones' photographs wonderfully.
   
   Being a native Hoosier, I have an appreciation for the subtle beauties of the state. Jones does as well. Most of his pictures are taken in hilly Owen county. He captures every season, as well as forest, field, stream, farm, and town scenes.
   
   Thom's text is part biography and part stories he heard growing up in Owen County. If you are a fan on Thom's other works, this one will be a nice addition. If you've never heard of Thom, this is a great place to get to know him and his motivations as an author.
   
   I give this one an 'A'.

2 comments about Reflections (Silhouette Special Edition, #100).

1. What did Lindsay Dunne know about dating? A ballet dancer, her life had been rehersals and recitals-now dangerously handsome Seth Bannion wanted to teach her the lessons of love. Seth's orphaned niece was enchanted with her ballet teacher, and Seth understood why. But if he risked letting Lindsay into their lives, would she one day dance right back out?



2. I realize that this was one of Nora Roberts' earlier books, so the fact that the writing was not as good did not surprise me. However, I was very dissapointed that she speant almost no time letting the readers see Seth's thoughts until the very end and then, in a very uncharacteristic move for Roberts, allows her heroin to forgive him without too much changing or apoligizing on his part. I think this was an interesting book to read because of the fact that it was so early into Roberts' career but as a novel, I was just not impressed.

No comments about What I Saw In America (Anthem Popular American History).

5 comments about Footsteps of the Cherokees: A Guide to the Eastern Homelands of the Cherokee Nation.

1. If you want to do more than just read about the Cherokee indians, this is the book to get! The first part of the book is a historical and cultural overview of the Cherokee indians. The second part of the book gives directions to historical sites and goes into some detail about the history behind the site. It also tells you what there is to see now. I am not aware of another book like this. Keep it in your car when you travel. I really enjoyed this book.



2. This book is excellent. It won an Award of Merit from The Tennessee Historical Commission. It is different from other books on the Cherokees because it gives detailed directions to over 190 different sites associated with the Cherokees. Well-organized as well as informative.



3. A very well written book and very easy to read. Divided into
   two parts, the book gives the reader a goodly amount of historical as well as cultural information on the Cherokee Tribe in their Eastern homelands. The second part of the book is a listing of various places in this area that are of historical interest. Not only does Vicki Rozema tell the reader where these places are, but some of the background surrounding them and when available she also includes a picture to help in identifying these sites. As an added feature, the information on business hours and cost to get in is also included.

   Vicki Rozema has a good talent for holding the reader's attention, which to me is important. The only thing wrong with this book is that it has now added all these different places I never realized existed before to my itinerary and I don't know if I will be able to get to see them all, but will surely try. The book will definitely go with me when I travel.




4. We used this book for two years to take prayer walkers to the actual sites of the Cherokee people for prayer and reconciliation in Jesus name. See [URL]. This book was invaluable. We found a lot more sites than she lists, but her book has great directions, history, etc. We met the author for lunch in Knoxville two years ago. She is shy, unassuming, and modest about the great gift she has given to the Cherokee and those who live on their lands today.



5. A photographer having a special interest in Cherokee history, Vicki Rozema's "Footsteps Of The Cherokees: A Guide To The Eastern Homelands Of The Cherokee Nation" is a seminal contribution to the growing body of Native American history in general, and the Cherokee Nation in particular. Traveling more than 4,000 miles and investing about 2500 hours visiting, researching, and photographing the sites associated with Cherokee history throughout southeastern United States, "Footsteps Of The Cherokees" covers Cherokee farmlands, homes, and sacred sides in North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and the infamous trek to Oklahoma in 1838 called 'The Trail of Tears', when thousands of Cherokees were forced by the federal government to leave their lands and live on a desolate reservation in an inhospitable western frontier. Some 190 sites are listed and provided with historical perspectives. Enhanced with black-and-white photographs, detailed directions to the sites, their hours of operation, along with entrance fee information, as well as relevant phone numbers, "Footsteps Of The Cherokees" is the perfect travel planner and companion. An impressive and original body of work, "Footsteps Of The Cherokees" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Native American Studies reference collections.

No comments about Compass American Guides: North Carolina, 4th Edition (Compass American Guides).

1 comments about Compass American Guides: Michigan, 2nd Edition (Compass American Guides).

1. I should have known better than to purchase the Compass Guide to Michigan. I owned a travel bookstore for 9 years and I chose not to carry this series in my store. Lots of pretty pictures, lots of history (yes, that is important), but not enough practical info. Plus, these guides are heavy! I think the only other guide available was the Moon Handbook to Michigan. Moon Handbooks are wonderful guides, but they are not updated often enough and the shopper must check the publication date; in this case I think it was 2002. So if you are looking for a lot of information about lodging, restaurants and activities, the Compass Guide is not the answer. Hopefully, Moon will update their handbook to Michigan soon.

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.

3 comments about North American Indians (Classic, Nature, Penguin).

1. George Catlin is certainly a man to admire, as is this book.Catlin lived amongst the Native Americans for many years and writes carefully of his experiences.This is an interesting read and provides another dimension to the subject of American Indians.The book is fascinating in as much as Catlin portrays himself as a wordly man and a friend of the Indians ( And he certainly was)but despite that you can still find evidence of his ignorance within the text.Nevertheless he was a fascinating man who had a fascinating life,his artwork allthough basic in my mind, is well worth a look.My only critiscm of this book is that quite some time is spent describing the scenery whereas I would have prefered even more writing on the Indians themselves,that is my personal viewpoint, others may find that intruiging.The book is full of facts and personal experiences and that in itself adds to the validity of this book as musthave for your collection



2. This takes place some 30 years after Lewis and Clark... Excellent documentary of the North American culture just before the BIG change. Its evident Catlin realizes this change and through his travels, he meticulously describes the native civilizations from an eyewitness account. In the final chapter, he makes a bold hypothesis concerning the origins of a particular tribe: the Madans. Fascinating!



3. I have always been extremely interested in North American Indians and own many books on the subject. I rate this one at the very top! George Catlin traveled among the tribes before their way of life was ruined by civilization. This book contains some of his journals, illustrations, and drawings. I wish there were Volume II!