2 comments about Streetwise Dallas Map - Laminated Center City Street Map of Dallas, Texas - Folding pocket size travel map with integrated Dart & Trinity light rail lines & stations.

1. These 3 panel laminated maps by Streetwise are very handy for your vehicle for those times when you want to take a quick glance at a map and either cannot or do not want to fumble with the traditional unfolding maps or thumb through a map book looking for your desired location. However, due to it's compact size, this map is only detailed in the immediate downtown area. The remainder of the map shows major highways in the metropolitan area. So it's great to use to map out highway to highway but not good for use on your pizza delivery job.



2. These guides are highly functional, but they are limited to certain area's of the city. In the case of dallas, the map focuses heavily on north dallas, which of course is where most everything is, but if you are looking for something in east dallas or south dallas, or even far north dallas then you won't find it on this map. If however you are looking for something in downtown, or highland park or preston hollow then ur in luck, personally i love these maps and since the part of dallas i travel in is covered on this map, i use it all the time..use your judgement on what you need a map of dallas for, before making a purchase. FYI, these maps are very well constructed and the font is easy to read.

2 comments about Top Trails Lake Tahoe (Top Trails).

1. Mike White's contribution to the Top Trails series has some spectacular hikes. People who are heavily into the sport will really enjoy the book. Included are hikes up Mt. Rose, the highest peak in the Tahoe basin and long segments of the Tahoe Rim Trail. But this book is not for the faint of heart. Most of the route descriptions in the book exceed 9 miles and several exceed 15 miles. Moreover, these miles involve considerable elevation gain.
   
   White does include some shorter walks. The Tahoe Meadows Whole Access Trail is the best of these. Sugar Pine Point also receives some much deserved attention. But the bottom line is that you will need to be in excellent physical condition to fully appreciate what this book has to offer. So if you enjoy strenuous all day treks that offer stunning scenery in return for your efforts, this is the book for you. But if you want a guide to the many pretty nature trails that surround Lake Tahoe, you will have to look elsewhere. Moreso than other books in the Top Trails series, this book is for serious hikers that like to push the limits of their endurance.



2. The hikes that are noted are very clearly explained and directions are good. Limited selection of hikes as ones I was looking for were not included.

1 comments about Florida Off the Beaten Path, 9th (Off the Beaten Path Series).

1. This is the second book that I have purchased in this series. I previous had the 1993 edition but while planning a trip to Tallahassee-St Marks recently, I realized that the area codes had changed and a recommended restaurant (Posey's) washed away in a hurricane a few years ago. The short coming of this book is that it's too small.

5 comments about Going Up the River: Travels in a Prison Nation.

1. Fascinating book about the history, the sociology, conditions, traditions, etc. on US prisons. Very, very interesting. The author is a self-professed 'prison buff.'
   
   I learned an awful lot from this book. I didn't realize how big of an industry prison actually is. Inmates make everything from the stereotypical license plate to clothing for regular people! Industries sometimes fight to have their business put in a prison. Food and toiletry industries, among others, compete for the prisons' business. And I was completely not aware of the fact that there are PRIVATE prisons in the US. Private prisons, not run by the state or the government, prisons that are there to make people money. Convicts are now a business. Amazing what this world has come to.



2. 
   
   To me this book is sort of a Prisons 101 type book. For those of us who , fortunately, don't know much about the current prison system in the US it is very eye opening. For instance, I had no idea how many private prisons there are and how they have become an industry. We have reached the point that there are many people in the US with a vested economic interest in locking up more of 'em and keeping 'em there. Also, the author visits several prisons in small white rural towns with mostly black and Hispanic prisoners. Here again the prisons are about jobs in the community rather than rehabilitating prisoners ( Great line in the book, someone says rehabilitation doesn't work because you cannot rehabilitate someone who has never been habilitated ).
   
   I was somewhat disappointed that the author, after having documented a lot of real world situations, didn't have any more suggestions for improving the whole mess. The book just sort of ended with the author saying he saw only a couple of approaches that boded well for the future. Left me somewhat depressed with it all.



3. Reads like a novel. As the United States becomes more and more of a prison nation, exporting the culture of incarceration around the globe, prison studies should become a bonafide topic of study in colleges and even high schools, and this inside glimpse should be one of the assigned readings.



4. This is a very well written, insightful text on our "prison industrial complex." As a corrections professional, I am quite skeptical of the constant onslaught of prison-bashing books, citing the various incompetencies and underlying corruption inherent in many departments of correction. Hallinen's writing style makes for an easy read, almost like reading a novel. The book is full of personal interest stories and minimizes the use of statistics. I recommend this book to anyone interested in corrections, and certainly to policy-makers at the state level.



5. Joseph Hallinan's book manages to be even handed in examining the prison culture and industry in our nation. Instead of taking a tempting tangent into the sociopolitical realm, Hallinan for the most part stays true to his investigative roots. While some of the material may not be new to those that have studied criminology or sociology, there is enough meat in the book to satisfy those in that arena. Hallian does a difficult task of informing the uninitiated as well as giving those within the aforementioned disciples something to chew on. With respect to building our way (prisons) as a means for a more effective criminal justice system, we may very well be beyond the point of no return. Hallinan's book only underscores the pandering and lack of true political will that has led to our prison nation.

5 comments about Hiking Ruins Seldom Seen.

1. Let's face it, when it comes to hiking books, by-and-large they're not the most researched publications in the world. They tell you where to begin a hike, where to end, and a bit about what you'll see along the way, but almost nothing beyond the author's own observations.
   
   Ruins Seldom Seen is the first hiking guide I've seen that is truly different. In addition to the usual practical information, the book provides information on the history of ancient Native American pueblos, cliff dwellings and rock arts sites. You learn which Indians occupied specific archaeological sites, when they were occupied, and what purpose the sites served (not all ruins were used for habitation). Clearly, the author has done his homework. If you don't believe it, just check the bibliography, which contains page after page of research papers written by professional archaeologists.
   
   It's also refreshing to read a book about Indian ruins that isn't obsessed with "glamour" sites in the Four Corners area. Actually, the book does contain quite a few chapters on Anasazi cliff dwellings and rock art sites in New Mexico and southern Utah, but the emphasis is on ruins in Arizona that you've probably never even heard of let alone seen. I was amazed to learn there are cliff dwellings in the Sierra Ancha Mts., Superstition Mts. and other places in central Arizona that are every bit as fascinating as those further north. As for the many "hilltop pueblos" covered in the book, I was equally amazed to learn that so many of them even exist in the Grand Canyon state. Anyone who is not aware of such places has clearly not done THEIR homework.
   
   Because of its originality wealth of historical information, I give the book Ruins Seldom Seen and enthusiastic "thumbs up."



2. I've hiked almost all of these hikes using this book. About half are accurate, the other half, forget it. You cannot find the trailhead. I was pissed off alot of the time because I drove miles out of my way and couldn't find the trail. Also, this book is old and the topography has changed quite a bit. SOme of his strenous hikes are not, but usually it is the other way around. He needs to drive these roads again, some of the "well graded" dirt roads are horrible, rough and rocky. Don't even think of going to White Mountain Tanks near Phoenix, it is a zoo. The Picacho Peak site was great, though.



3. The ruins are mostly in Arizona which really doesn't have the best ones.



4. This book was okay, but you can pretty much find all of this info (and more) on the internet. Most of these ruins didn't really seem that "seldom seen" to me. However, if you don't want to do the research on the web, I would recommend this book as a good resource.



5. Having grown up in the Southwest, I sometimes get a bit weary of all the newcomers who think they have to write a book about their "discovery" of this region. This book stands in contrast to many of those books in that it invites the reader to come along on the path of discovery.
   The text is written clearly and competently edited. Directions to the sites are easy to follow, and the difficulty level of each hike is realistic if the adventurer is healthy and in good shape.
   The information the author gives about the sites is fairly accurate, considering he is not a trained anthropologist. In fact, that may be an advantage in that the text is not cluttered up with a bunch of incomprehensible jargon; however, the author's explicit demand that those wishing to visit these sites show them complete respect should satisfy any professional in the field since they are notoriously picky about laymen visiting sites without the company of an expert.
   In all, it's an enjoyable read that gets me excited about taking a hike.

5 comments about Jackpot! Harrah's Winning Secrets for Customer Loyalty.

1. This book is a riot! I could not put it down. One of the funniest books on gambling I have ever read.(and I've read 100 books on Vegas/Gambling.Go straight to page 43 first- "there is no underworld presence today in Las Vegas"- this author really knows how to write satire.The book is just filled with one funny story after another about how everything now in gambling is on the up & up.Robert Shook is more humerous than that Connecticut Senator whose trying to protect children from the entertainment industry.Another fun thing to do with his book- circle the word "lawyer" and then underline all the Federal & State laws that his book exposes.God Bless America! We should all feel blessed to have a comedy writer like Robert.

   D.Matthew Hayden
   author
   Vegas Stories




2. This book is about an outstanding culture that is culminated from the founder's passion, integrity and leadership.

   Jackpot provides cutting-edge lessons and ideas that are being exposed for the first time in topics such as: marketing and customer loyalty, building market share, and preserving high integrity.

   Harrah's placed its chips on integrity and serving the customer. It's no wonder they are so successful.




3. I have read other books by Robert L. Shook, and he is an accomplished writer of business books. He's at his best with Jackpot. This book is both informative and entertaining. Shook takes his reader behind the scenes at Harrah's, a gaming company with 26 casinos and reveals how the company is able to compete so successfully against billion-dollar properties in the Las Vegas market. Harrah's secret, as the subtitle states is how it wins customer loyalty and does it better than its competition. This is an excellent book for any business reader engaged in a highly competitive industry, and, in particular, goes head to head with the big boys. Shook's writing style is superb--he interwines anecdotal material that makes for a fascnating read. True, this is a business book, but at times, it's such a page-turner, you feel you're reading a novel.



4. Great book -- the lessons taught are for all service based organizations. Learn how to create customer loyalty and enjoy your business more. Must read!!



5. This book tells in an easy, readable fashion the story of Harrah's from the humble beginnings of a small parlor in Reno to the multibillion dollar behemoth it is today. Although the primary focus is on Harrah's, of course, the book covers the growth of the industry in the US overall from the early days, through the mob years in Vegas and the entertainment explosion that happened, to the proliferation of boats, reservation gambling and other gambling alternatives such as the lotteries through many US states.
   
   This is a great book to read for reminders on the basics of "getting it right" when it comes to customer service, treating employees right, thinking strategically and executing on a vision. It is amazing what Harrah's has done in the area of parlaying customer information into long term, profitable relationships!
   
   I have read many business books, this is my most favorite in recent months, for sure.
   
   Read on, and watch out for that river card :)

2 comments about Haunted Pennsylvania: Ghosts And Strange Phenomena of the Keystone State (Haunted).

1. This was a decent read. Not only does the author cover many of the more famous ghost stories from Pennsylvania's history, but there are more than a few stories that go beyond the "ghost" genre and delve into other paranormal events. Clearly written and concise.
   
   The only minuses are that none of the stories go into much detail. And the pictures.... To be honest, the pictures are completely superfluous, and in most cases a bit silly (and none are actual photos of paranormal activity, but rather recreations of events). Most likely the author threw them in to appeal to the younger crowd.
   
   I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that Haunted Pennsylvana is intended for those who want a 'creepy read' rather than a more serious, investigative overview of paranormal events, and probably ideal for younger readers, tweens to young adults. Though young-at-hearters who just want a decent bunch of ghost stories to read over a night or two will probably also be satisfied buying this book.



2. This is a book my son and I are reading together aloud. He is 9 and I am simply amazed at his vocabulary. This book is intersting because it is factual, and gives you an opportunity to read about the history of PA, and can open communication and conversation about related topics such as the civil war, and slavery. I have no idea how much truth is to the stories, but they are fun and intersting to read.

5 comments about Seasons of Real Florida (Florida History and Culture).

1. The book's editors (Mormino & Arsenault) invite us to sit down with Florida delectables, like orange juice, to read this book. My plan was to snag some recipes from Randy Wayne White's "The Fishing Guide's Guide to Tropical Cooking." Alas, Klinkenberg's book was in my custody for only a day when relatives spotted it on my table top and hauled it away for their reading pleasure. My half-a-book review: gimme my book back, I love this author!
   "Seasons" real value is in the future when we read its stories of people and places and look back wistfully at Florida as it was. And it reminds me that Florida today is still full of charm. And charming writers like Jeff Klinkenberg.



2. If you want to know what real Florida is like, what it looks like, feels like, smells like and even tastes like -- fall through summer -- this is the book for you. Klinkenberg is a true original, a natural resource as valuable as the panther, manatee and black bear.



3. Jeff Klinkenberg has been out in his car on the back roads and he's found the reason everyone moved to Florida in the first place. When my great aunt moved to North Miami in 1927 her house was on stilts (floods and alligators); now it is surrounded by 6 foot chainlink fence topped with barbed wire (urban animals!). Jeff talks to people who tell him the stories in between those extremes. Excellent read for anyone who wonders what was there besides the weather.



4. I spent Winter '08 visiting my dad in urban Tampa, and looking for Old Florida, decidedly hard to find. Jeff's terrific narratives about so many interesting people and places augmented and often replaced my futile search.
   I'm a hard-to-please reader, and this one completely satisfied.



5. The interesting Florida history written about in Peter Matthiessen's book, "Killing Mr. Watson" prompted further reading on the subject. Jeff Klinkenberg's stories capture that wonderful Florida background. Each chapter describes a different and quite unique Floridian person, place or thing, all spun into delightful true tales. Mr. Klinkenberg aptly chooses Florida history that displays "sense of place" so well. Like another reviewer, I'm a hard to please reader too. I couldn't put this book down, and I've never been to Florida. The cover photograph, "Loxahatchee River #30" by Clyde Butcher is so haunting, lovely and appropriate for this book. Fortunately Mr. Klinkenberg devotes an entire chapter describing the one-of-a-kind Clyde Butcher. This book is funny, very interesting and highly educational.

1 comments about Best Easy Day Hikes Joshua Tree.

1. My wife and I visit Joshua Tree National Park every Thanksgiving Day. Hiking there seems more fun than cooking all day and we always have a wonderful time. Late fall skies there are cobalt blue and the hiking is always fabulous. Numerous trails to desert peaks, pretty rock formations, and of course whole forests of Joshua Trees await those who wish to explore this region and this book by Cunningham and Burke provides a good outline of where to begin.
   
   Like other guides in the "Best Easy Day Hikes" series of Falcon Press, the emphasis here is on shorter hikes. If you are looking for long cross country rambles, other books might be more appropriate for your hiking tastes. Instead, readers here are treated to some of the "classics" in the park. Mastodon Peak (3 miles), Hidden Valley Nature Walk (1 mile) and the Barker Dam Loop (1.1 miles) are typical of the offerings in this guide. These trails are winners and most day hikers will enjoy them.
   
   That said, not every hike listed in this book is truly "easy." The walk to Lost Palms Oasis is over 7 miles of moderately rough terrain and the hikes to Ryan Mountain and Inspiration Peak, while short, are very steep. In addition, some of the truly easy and scenic hikes in the park are not listed in this guide. The Oasis of Mara walk at the visitor center, a pleasant 1/2 to 1.5 mile loop is missing as is the scenic and wheelchair accessible Bajada Loop in the southern portion of the park. I'm sure these oversights will be corrected when the new edition of the authors' more comprehensive "Hiking California Desert Parks" volume comes out. In the meantime, this is a good resource for hiking in Joshua Tree. It is worth the price. Just remember that some "easy" walks are actually quite ambitious.

5 comments about Everyday Matters.

1. I suppose I had some misperceptions of this book. I was assuming there would be more inspiration that would cajole me into journaling and artwork. I also thought is was he who was disabled - it was his wife. There was little mention of how his wife's diability figured into the whole pictue of his life. As a disabled person, I thought there would be some insight into overcoming disability to do what you want. I do however, love the way he draws and journals. In the end I saw this as a simple journal that anyone might have done. I still have his other book and I have higher hopes for that.



2. love it, love it, love it !!!!
   a wonderful inspiring little book.
   perfect smaller size (6"x8") to carry along with your sketchbook to keep you encouraged in your drawing.



3. This is a great book! I read it in an hour and a half. I enjoy knowing the process people take in order to deal with life's occasional hiccups that knock the world out from under you. It helps to know that you're not the only one sometimes. It's always a relief when the person works it out positively and thinks enough to want to share it with others. Thank you, Danny!



4. A very enjoyable read and inspirational. I went out purchased a sketch pad and started drawing after finishing the book!



5. I was not expecting anything when I started this book...frankly, I'm not sure I remember ordering it. In any event, the parallels between this graphic memoir and my own life make this book read more like an answered prayer than merely another memoir.
   
   I take that last part back. It's not just that the author's experiences mirror my own life that makes this book notable. Rather, it's that Gregory manages to capture his own HUMANITY...without resorting to irony or the manufactured self-deprecation that seems to plague the modern memoir that makes this book so notable. I mean, finally!, someone has managed to write an HONEST memoir, one that does not require an attorney's Release of the Facts as a prologue.
   
   "Everyday Matters" reads like a private journal, without the pretention that comes when the author knows other folks'll be reading it. Gregory's sketches are likewise uninhibited and imperfect; together, the text and illustrations create a personal, intimate environment for the reader that is inviting and judgment-free; none of the "You shouldn't have looked (though I knew you would, so I gave you my best side)" business that is the meta-text of so many memoirs, but instead offers a reassuring, "Well, that's me, hair and all...what do you think?"
   
   A thoughtful, generous gift from Gregory to his readers.