2 comments about unseen Colombia.

1. Living in Colombia for a year I found this book to show areas of Colombia I have seen and then some. It is one if not the most beautiful country in the world. Colombia has a bad rep, don't let the American press fool you, look at this book and let it be the start of your search for the real Colombia, one of passions, diversity and paridise. The stories go well with the pictures to paint a picture that can draw one in.



2. Colombia's beauty is exposed at its most: mountains, rivers, deserts, forests... its varied ecosystems -- from the rich tropical rainforest to the coastal cloud forests to the open savannas.

4 comments about Insight Guide Ecuador (Insight Guides Ecuador).

1. Having spent almost 10 months travelling in Ecuador, I can say that this guide is extremely useful. While it doesn't have great recommendations about hotels, restaurants, transportation, etc., it definitely provides much needed background information and has incredible pictures. The maps are usually very good, but occasionally there are some mistakes. The culture sections--on food and customs-- are interesting and pertinent. Included are section about the Galapagos Islands and Amazonia. Although this guide is very informative, it is best used in conjunction with another guide that gives more specifics about dining, accomidations, shopping, etc. You should definitely read it BEFORE travelling; you will arrive in Ecuador informed and ready for an adventure.



2. This book was very informative not only on the culture itself, but on the history behind the country and the people. I found this book very helpful in learning more about the country. Although it isn`t very informative as the ¨Fodor`s¨ travel books or other travel guides, it gives a great overview of the entire country. My only complaint is some of the wording in the book--it tended to be sarcastic at times.



3. Before my trip to Ecuador, (my first time to South America) I read the Insight Guide to Ecuador. The book gave me a very good background on the history of the country, the terrain, the weather, and most of all the people. The book did not overload you with facts and statistics, but made for a very nice, enjoyable read. The photographs in the book were spectacular.



4. A glossy book, tourist-type pictures, little practical information, and very limited sicussion of the Galapagos

No comments about Your Travel Guide to Ancient Mayan Civilization (Day, Nancy. Passport to History.).

No comments about Argentina - The Land (Lands, Peoples, and Cultures).

1 comments about Chicago: A Pictorial Celebration.

1. Most of the pictures were great, some were just lame- like they took a bunch of pictures indiscriminately and threw the book together. But I got the book supercheap and my uncle loves it.

4 comments about Humboldt's Cosmos.

1. Humboldt was a truly extraordinary character. He was a mixture of adventurer and scientist that has rarely been seen, especially with such developed expertise in both areas. This biography covers Humboldt's entire life, with special focus on his trip to Latin America between 1799 and 1804.
   
   This book is written as an interesting narrative, explaining with only passing remarks the actual science behind his achievements. Advances that Humboldt made cover such different fields as botany, geology, geography, anthropology, climatology, magnetism, among others. The book is very good at outlining the spirit of those discoveries; if you would like an actual explanation, look in the Personal Narratives that Humboldt wrote himself.
   
   As an adventurer, he criss crossed South America at a time when much of it was yet undiscovered and uncharted. He mapped the Casiquiare canal, which at the time was a legendary connection between the Amazon and Orinoco basins. He made it from Venezuela to Peru, climbing in the process some of the highest mountains in Latin America (including the Chimborazo, which at the time was believed to be the highest mountain in the world and yet unclimbed). He was for many years the high altitude record holder of the world.
   
   It is amazing such a towering figure is not remembered among the ranks of Einstein, Da Vinci or Darwin. I highly recommend this book and finding out more about Humboldt, especially if you enjoy science, travel or adventure writing.



2. The only thing I knew about Humboldt was that the pacific oceanic current was named after him. This book catch your attention from the very beginning, showing you the life, custom and geography of central and south america in the 1800's, places that Humboldt explored in his long journey. The author also gives a browsing on the history of the natives and the places that Humboldt trekked.
   The life of Humboldt is also very interesting, by his achievements, his relentless curiosity and by the unique opportunity to met very important people of the time such as Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon, Simon Bolivar and Charles Darwin. This is definitely a book to enjoy and learn, so much to learn.



3. Through Alexander von Humboldt's own writings, Gerard Helferich takes us on high adventure from the unforgiving, bug-infested steamy jungles of the Amazon to some of the highest Andean peaks of South America as Humboldt methodically searches for the common thread that connects the "unity of nature".
   
   For five years, from 1799-1804, Alexander von Humboldt traveled extensively in South and Central America intensely observing every facet of the natural and physical world to speculate on how everything is related. Whether it was trudging through crocodile and jaguar infested waterways of the Orinoco River, climbing 19,000 foot volcanic mountains in the Andes or measuring ocean currents and observing native cultures, Humboldt had a keen eye for every aspect of our planet.
   
   He formulated the design of isotherms which is still used to this day in meteorology, raised awareness on such varied topics as geomagnetism, plant geography, volcanology, cartography and many other subjects. Even though towns, counties, mountains (even one on the moon), forests and bodies of water have been named after him, for the most part history has forgotten this amazing man and his accomplishments.



4. Gerard Helferich has done a great service to humanity by not allowing Alexander Von Humboldt to become another meaningless name attached to a street or landmark.
   
   Humboldt was the second coming of Benjamin Franklin and shared the same worldwide recognition. While Lewis and Clark explored the North American North West using the patronage of Thomas Jefferson and the American government, Humboldt self financed his exploration of South America. This is absolutely fascinating history.
   
   For the most part reading the book is smooth sailing, at times readers can suffer from information overload and once in a great while Gerard Helferich will put the reader to sleep with expansion concerning some miniscule details.
   
   Now, this is a book I will re-read because it is so detailed and well written. I would like to thank the author, Gerard Helferich, for providing me with such a wonderful enlightening history of an extremely notable human.

2 comments about In Search of Western Oregon.

1. People from other states should settle for something thin, like Scenic Driving Oregon, but for natives who are looking to explore deeper, who have wondered what's up that pigpath, this is the very best. Too bad he didn't do Eastern Oregon in the same manner.



2. Ralph Friedman hitchhiked his way to Oregon in 1933 as a 16-year-old. He spent the next six decades or so lovingly chronicling the unique people and places of his adopted state.

   "In Search of Western Oregon" is really a culmination of his life's work. Yes, it's structured as a travel guide; but it's also much more. Friedman covers the well-known sites and history, but his clear emphasis is on the forgotten faces and places that are such an essential part of the Beaver State. Many of the photographs in this book are by Friedman's wife, Phoebe, his partner in both life and work.

   Friedman's earlier "Oregon For The Curious," also still in print, offers a similar, but less comprehensive, treatment of both halves of the state. Separately, or together, they provide a unique overview of this diverse, beautiful, often still wild state, and the people who have attempted to find a life in harmony with it. It's wonderful for the armchair traveler and invaluable for anyone who has the desire and opportunity to travel off the beaten path.

2 comments about Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg.

1. If you are planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, this is the book to have! It includes detailed drawings of each building, shop, tavern, and official hotels in the historic area. This book tells about each point of interest and ticket options. If you want to read up about the historic area before or after your trip, buy this book you won't regret it



2. Take this guidebook with you to Colonial Williamsburg, and it's almost like having a private tour guide showing you the high-points, and saving you wasted time getting around.
   
   Buy it as a souvenir, and you'll have the perfect refresher of all that you've seen, with some in-depth information about the buildings and people of the town.
   
   It's important to know that Colonial Williamsburg is, indeed, a living CITY, and there is more than can be seen in one day. The Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg is a valuable tool for that visit.

1 comments about Texas (America Series).

1. This exemplifies all that's Texas. From the UT Tower in Austin to the rugged landscape of West Texas, all the natural beauty can be found in this book. It makes the perfect gift for an out of state friend or for yourself.

2 comments about Lines in the Water: Nature and Culture at Lake Titicaca.

1. This is a gem, written with great respect for the indigenous people who live aound Lake Titicaca, well-annotated and with wonderful photographs by the author. Orlove has broad interests - anthropology, economics, natural history, environmental issues, to name a few, and a talent for accessing interesting memories. He conveys his astute observations in clear and vivid prose.The book is organized nicely - I especially liked the material in the final chapter, entitled "Paths", which offers an antidote to the sad fact that roads and highways are so often destructive to local people and to biodiversity. Paths, literal or metaphorical, also provide valuable linkages and essential connections among the various components of this remote but very interesting and community with ancient roots. Orlove provides the reader with a sense of having traveled those paths for a short while with him.



2. (Planeta.com Journal) -- Lines in the Water (University of California Press, 2002), a beautifully written ethnography of rural fishermen and their families. The book's subtitle "Nature and Culture at Lake Titicaca" specifies the center of action, but the scope is much broader and deeper. It's actually hard to find the words to say how delightful this book is. Author Ben Orlove is an environmental science professor at the University of California, Davis, and his book is based on three decades of trips to Peru and Bolivia. The book is a showcase of fresh writing and a major contribution to the literature about South America. Orlove provides a frank account of the role academics themselves play. He includes himself in this story and shares candid observations -- from his reactions to office politics to daydreaming about museums. This book is highly recommended. Eco travelers visiting Lake Titicaca would do well to read this book in advance.