No comments about Utah State Parks: A Complete Recreational Guide (State Parks).

2 comments about The Kiowas (Civilization of the American Indian Series).

1. The horse brought about a cultural revolution for the Kiowa

   The horse brought about a cultural revolution for the Kiowa Indians enabling them to better prosper and extend their influence. It was the catalyst for the development of the Plains Indian culture, without which it would never have existed. Emerging in the seventeenth century, the horse oriented Kiowa brave literally evolved from a "half-starved skulker in the timber" to a daring buffalo hunter and valiant cavalryman. By 1790, with their new found sinew, Kiowas in confederacy with the Comanches drove the Caddos and Wichitas eastward along the Red River, taking over mastery of the Southern Plains.
   The Kiowas, by Mildred P. Mayhall, published by the University of Oklahoma Press, is a topical study that systematically sets forth the cultural history of the tribe. Well written, it provides informative as well as engaging reading. She begins with a paleethnological look at the Kiowas as they emerged upon the Northern Plains out of the Yellowstone area; an Athapascan-speaking people, they had close ties in the north with the Crows and Arikaras who taught them the ways of the plains. Accordingly, they lived in the Black Hills for a number of years until they were driven out by the Dakotas about 1775. Mayhall goes on to present a proto-history of the tribe. Earliest descriptions go back to La Salle in 1682; Lewis and Clark note the earliest American descriptions of them. Then, at the Fort Gibson, on May 26, 1837, the Kiowas made their first treaty with United States government. As it turned out, American citizens were given the right to travel across the Southern Plains to and from Mexico; the Kiowas, in turn, were to be at peace with Mexico and Texas as well as the United States. In the mean time Texans "continued to drive" all Indians from the their state and historic Indian hunting grounds provoking immense enmity with the Kiowas. As it turned out, many Kiowas did not keep peace, especially with Texas, rather the "Tejannas" (Texans) became their "favorite" antagonists.
   In considering the evolution of the Kiowa culture, Mayhall argues that there were no aboriginal Plains Indians prior to the arrival of the horse on the Plains; evidence shows that the Plains were not habitable in a practical manner until the introduction of the equine which became its modus vivendi. Hence the culture developed during the period of white intrusion onto the Plains. She disputes Clark Wissler's contention that the horse only "augmented" the already developing Plains culture.
   Two important Indian records of the Kiowa culture were the Sett'an and Anko annual calendars. She provides a narrative interpretation of the two calendars, then narrates an extensive history of the Kiowa plains culture at its height starting in 1845. Events like the Wagon Train Massacre in 1871, Lawrie Tatum's work at the Fort Sill Reservation, and the ordeal of Satanta and Big Tree are presented in detail among other important occurrences.
   She finally documents various difficulties related to Kiowa acculturation to the "white man's way" like farming and the great tension of the drift away from the glory of the Plains culture. For example on the trivial side, Satanta complained that eating corn hurt his teeth, but in a more serious light, as late as the Hoover Administration Indian Affairs was under the judicious guidance of Charles J. Rhoads who was extremely interested in Indians welfare and did much to help them.
   She ends her study with a brief survey of archaeological evidence related to the Kiowa tribe. For instance, linguistic evidence directly links the Kiowas with Athapascan origins in Canada. Further evidence suggests that in the sixteenth century Indians inhabited the prairies but not the Plains.
   The Kiowas, by Mildred P. Mayhall, published by University of Oklahoma Press, is a masterful study on the Kiowa Indians. Her writing style is fluid, succinct and interesting. The first part of her bibliography includes seven pages of primary source materials. The work is a systemic study of the Kiowas and is recommended for any student of the Southern Plains Indians.




2. Here is a superb work that is well worth reading if you're interested in FACT not fiction regarding the American Indian, in this case, the Kiowas - who were easily the fiercest, most far-ranging "horse Indians" of all the Plains Tribes ( did you know that the Kiowas resided in what is now northern Texas and southern Oklahoma, yet they raided as far south as the borders of Guatemala and Yucatan?!! ). Many of their raids and exploits were attributed to their allies, the Comanches, who were far more numerous and well-known to the Spanish, but it was definitely the Kiowa who caused the most serious destruction, loss of life, and horrific torture of captives.
   
   Yes, this book BITES. It pulls no punches. It does not sugar-coat the pill. It does not sanitize the facts. It omitts nothing. IT IS NOT AN EXERCISE IN POLITICAL CORRECTNESS! Therefore, READ IT!
   If you're sick and tired of the psuedo-history in trash literature such as "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" or the fiction-as-fact portrayals of fronteir history in motion pictures like "Dances With Wolves" and "Geronimo, An American Legend", then get this book! You'll be happy you did.
   Also, pick up Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879 and Three Years Among the Comanches: The Narrative of Nelson Lee, the Texas Ranger and also Life Among the Apaches (Bison Book) as well as Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians - all of which are filled with chilling, blood-curdling FACTUAL accounts of Frontier history and the Plains Indians as they REALLY WERE.
   Again, I can't say enough about this wonderful work! Get it at all costs!
   
   Also, for further information on the Kiowa, read the superb Comanches (Pimlico Wild West) which is another in the "couldn't put it down" type of book on the subject of the AmerIndians.

2 comments about An Artist's Vision.

1. As a Canadian I can vouch for the fact that Sue Coleman has captured the essence of Fisrt Nation's deep spiritual roots, their artistic beauty and the true beauty of their mythology! This book is a rare combination of visual and expressive art!



2. Having been to the Northwest US, Alaska and British Columbia several times, I truly appreciated the understanding of the artist's work in relation to the various wild creatures which the First Nation people have used in their totem poles and lore. I saw the book in Canada this summer and admired the work and the content very much. Very well done.

1 comments about Rocky Mountain Life; Or, Startling Scenes and Perilous Adventures in the Far West During an Expedition of Three Years.

1. Lively, realistic and down-to-earth descriptions of early 1840's life in the Rocky Mountains. Sage ventured west in 1841 for "love of adventure, curiosity, health and to acquaint myself with the geography of unexplored regions." What unfolds is a truly absorbing and realistic account of what life was like back then vagabonding from place to place throughout the west. A very accurate and descriptive writer of mountain men and Indian customs, geographical landforms, speculations on future agricultural and economical possibilities, along with his own theories of language evolution between the Indians and Romans many centuries ago, stories of the "White Indians" (Munchies) of Arizona, his curtailed involvement with the Texan army in attempting to seize control of Sante Fe, etc. An excellent book.
   The reader should have access to an atlas if not familiar with western geography as there are no maps included in the book. It is also too bad that Sage did not include more names of the people he met along the way, as this would have significantly contributed to further historical documentation of other people, places and events. This book would be an ideal candidate to edit, footnote and tear into as our scholarly historians Merrill Mattes, Bernard DeVoto, Leroy Hafen, David Lavender and others have done with their respective endeavors.

No comments about Black Florida.

1 comments about Renaissance Festivals of North America.

1. The book, while well-meaning, reads like a press release from the faires covered in the text. The book is clearly outdated, and unless you collect renfaire memorabilia (which I do) it is honestly not worth 19.95.

   The pictures are decent, but press release quality also.

3 comments about Frommer's Washington State (Frommer's Washington State, 2nd ed).

1. I found this to be an excellent user friendly, tradtional tourist guide book. However, it was published in 1998 and would be better if updated. It offers "The best of" in more than a dozen categories such as restaurants, B&Bs, hikes, etc which gives good starting points for trip planning. Phone numbers and web site address are available to obtain more detailed information on areas of interest. A map of "Washington State Driving Times " was very helful since we have found that in unfamiliar locations, driving times are sometimes easy to misfigure based only on milage.

   Like other Frommer's guide books that I have used, I find this type of advice the best because it lists good choices from expensive to budget. For an average family tourist, this book is an excellent general guide.




2. This book is a Gem! We found it highly informative, accurate, and useful on our recent trip to Seattle and Ocean Shores, Washington. The book provides the essentials without being too wordy. Interesting tidbits galore! One example of the book's usefulness was a recommendation to dine at Ocean Crest Resort in Moclips because "you won't find a more spectacular view anywhere on the Washington coast." Well, from the outside, this Resort is nothing special. In fact, were it not for the book, we never would have thought of stopping there. But are we glad. What a view! Dense trees, framing an ocean view, with a winding wooden staircase leading in erratic zig zags down to the beach below. It was worth the cost of the book! ....



3. We only cracked this book open for comparisons to the Moon book and found Frommers lacking. Frommers had very few suggestions if any in the smaller towns for lodging and eating. Carried info only on the expensive restaurants and lodging :(

1 comments about Short Escapes Near New York City, 2nd Edition: 25 Country Getaways for People Who Love to Walk (Fodor's Short Escapes Near New York City).

1. Don't assume that directions in the book are correct. Go to mapquest instead. We were supposed to go to an intersection of 2 roads that are in reality about two miles apart...

3 comments about Miami and the Keys (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide).

1. We love other DK "Eyewitness Guides," but this one didn't cut the mustard. It worked well as an travel overview of the region, but failed to mention several important points such as days and hours of operation and entrance fees to attractions, which we were stung by several times. A specific example was their recommendation of snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The book lists it as one of the best snorkeling spots in the U.S., but failed to mention that in order to see anything other than sea grass and the occassional crab, you are required to make reservations on a guided snorkeling boat. The guide also lacked directions. The maps that were included were insufficient. The restaurant recommendations we tried were fine, though, and we appreciated, as usual, the fine photos and "streetsmart" section.



2. Nice! Excellent! You may need to get Lonely Planet's 'Miami & the Keys' for such a metropolis as Miami & the Keys. But still one of the simple books on travel for this region.



3. This book was updated in 2005 and 2007 -- but those editions don't seem to be available through Amazon. Why is that?

2 comments about A Great Plains Reader.

1. This is a great collection of stories. I have been reading it cover to cover and enjoy every story. Many of the stories are so well written that I can feel the wind and hear the meadowlarks that I remember from my childhood growing up near Wichita. I would recommend it for every Great Plains native and maybe for those who don't understand why anyone would want to live "out there."



2. 
   This hefty (700+ pages) anthology, far-reaching in scope and viewpoint, attempts to reflect "the historical and contemporary experience of life on the Great Plains." It includes many different types of writings (short stories, memoir excerpts, essays, tribal accounts) from scores of different writers (Mark Twain, Maria Sandoz, Hamlin Garland, Garrison Keillor, Wright Morris, Louise Erdrich, to name only a few). The book's sections are organized around specific themes:
   
   1) The lay of the land and natural history;
   2) Natives and newcomers: these include Indian accounts of the first Europeans and early explorer impressions (Louis & Clark, Stephen Long, etc.);
   3) Arriving and settling in: reflections of the first white settlers and the creating of communities.
   
   Each passage is fully introduced by the editors in terms of its message and social/historical significance. The anthology provides a comprehensive overview of the Great Plains as a section of North America (Canada included) remarkable for its special, in some ways even unique, life offerings it gave to those who came in contact with it. Excellent for use in college survey courses dealing with the Plains, it's also an interesting book for anyone wanting to gleam insights on the region from a wide array of perspectives.