5 comments about Hey Ranger!: True Tales of Humor & Misadventure from America's National Parks.

1. This is a great book that is fun to read, each chapter can stand alone, so you can pick it up at your leisure. A great book to take on vacation.
   It tells humorous stories of misadventures in our National Parks written in a way that you feel Mr. Burnett is talking to you. It gave me a good laugh and some good advice for visiting these or any parks.
   (Snake in the cold water is my favorite story!)



2. I've got to say that this book definitely made me care about the narrator and feel for the amazing amount of sacrifice and difficult situations that he and his family endured in service of our National Parks. And it's very hard to knock that ever, especially from someone who seems so genuinely likeable and friendly. However... this is not the greatest book. The combination of acronyms and Shakespeare quotes seems quirky and interesting at first, but quickly gets old. The "people are idiots" theme gets somewhat overplayed. Many of these stories and humorous anecdotes are the tough-day-at-work/funny quote type of thing I would put in an e-mail to family or laugh about with friends, not the kind of thing that I would record for posterity.
   The last chapter of the book, among other things, earnestly advises you not to get high and jump off a cliff. If you are the kind of person who would responsibly read a book of back-country safety tips and stories, you are probably not also the person who would take some hits of acid and decide to roll off a cliff. Or you are. But that's on you and no books will help you at that point.
   I like the author and his family. I feel for his struggles and sacrifice and find the humor in some of his stories. But I can't call this a great book.



3. I just finished reading Hey Ranger and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an easy read and it held my attention - I didn't want to put the book down! Anyone who has visited the National Parks, or just spent time in the outdoors, can probably relate to at least one tale in the book. For me personally, my family has done alot of boating and I was laughing hysterically during the chapter on boating, including mishaps that occur when launching a boat! I think anyone who enjoys the great outdoors and humorous real life tales will enjoy this book.



4. In this book, Jim Burnett collects amusing stories about visitors in the national parks. These people are normally called "tourons," though Burnett doesn't use the term here. Some of the stories come from his career as a park ranger, while other stories come from other rangers who told them to Burnett. He also includes some background on each park where he was stationed during his career (Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Buffalo National River, Glacier National Park, Colonial National Historical Park, and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial). An appendix provides advice on how not to get hurt being stupid in the national parks.
   
   The book suffers in comparison with other memoir-writers, especially my current favorite, game warden Terry Grosz. Most of Burnett's stories are only mildly amusing, though there are a few good ones. More problematic is the way he tells them - - he gets to the punchline much too fast, so that these stories only last a couple of pages. The second-hand stories are even shorter, more like one-liner jokes. Grosz, in contrast, can spin a tale out much more effectively.
   
   All in all, the book is pleasant enough, and I purchased it at very deep discount, so it's not really disappointing. But there are better options out there.



5. I've always enjoyed visiting national parks and camping, so this book appealed to my interests. The stories turned out to be a lot of fun, and I've given copies of the book to several friends. If you want a really good laugh, (especially you ladies)don't miss the boat ramp tale about the "L.A. Launch." "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!" is my other favorite chapter, followed closely by "Don't Feed the Skunks." It is truly amazing what antics visitors to national parks are capable of. Mr. Burnett is a natural storyteller and this is a fun read. It was also featured as one of the fun bedtime reads on "The Price is Right" when they had a bedroom suite to give away.

3 comments about Hiking Big Bend National Park, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series).

1. My husband & I just returned from a fantastic trip to Big Bend National Park. We used this excellent, handy, easy-to-use book as our primary resource for deciding what hikes we were capable of taking in the park. The book proved very useful in showing numerous shorter, easier hikes that older people like us with foot and back problems could take as well as longer, harder trails for those who want them and are able. It also gave very interesting, accurate, readable, and useful descriptions of such matters as how to drive to the trailhead and whether parking is available there, some things (mainly scenery & geological features) one is likely to see on the trail, trail length, elevation gain, trail traffic etc., to allow use to decide which trails would most interest us. Further, it contains some useful black and white photos. And it provides some information about neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park which we also at least drove through. Thanks in large part to this book, we were able to enjoy some the best hiking of our lives despite our current physical limitations. I only wish we had visited the park a decade ago or more when we could have done some of the more strenuous trails described as well. I would recommend this book for virtually anyone planning a visit to Big Bend.



2. It does the job it was purchased for, ie finding trails in Big Bend National Park



3. Gives a great synthesis of hikes of all levels in the park. Well-organized and thus very easy and quick to use.

No comments about Hawaii Trails: Walks Strolls And Treks on the Big Island (Hawaii Trails: Walks, Strolls & Treks on the Big Island).

5 comments about Three Weeks with My Brother.

1. After having 4 kids, most books would put me a sleep. I could not put this book down. What a great true life story about this fantastic author.



2. I just finished this book this morning and I have to say it was just average. Having just come back from a trip with my own brother and being of similar age to the Sparks brothers, I connected with this book on some level, but not completly. For instance, they refer to each other as "Brother" or " Little Brother". I have never really heard brothers regularly refer to each other in that way. I also never realy connected with the family as a whole, so I wasn't vested in the loss of his father or mother as there was a sense of detachement for both throughout the book. His sister's struggle and ultimate death was hard to read due to my own relationship with my younger sister, so the last third of the book gripped me more than the first 2/3s.
   
   
   
   All in all, it is an average book. If I were to rate it, "Tuesday's with Morrie" was a 10 on a 10 point scale, the "Tender Bar" was a 9 while this book was an even 6.



3. Not only is this story a memoir of the three-week trip around the world, it is an autobiography of their childhood. So many great humorous scenes - several I just had to read to my husband! I did not feel the detatchment to the parents as some readers described, but I got a clear picture of parent/child relations in the generation before me. And although I do not having siblings I grew up with, I did not feel alienated and was genuinely drawn into the friendship between them. Several parts had me in tears - and not just from laughing.
   
   I want my husband and his older brother (who are close) to read this - I think it will spark their memories of childhood.
   
   All in all, a fantastic book! For anyone - men and women alike, with or with out siblings, younger or older.... something for all.



4. Three Weeks with My Brother
   I am not a fan of fiction, so when I found this memoir, I thought I'd give it a try. (I have never read Sparks' fiction works, though I have seen some of the movies.)
   
   The book was amusing at first--stories from his early childhood. I was suprised at the lack of supervision the Sparks kids received and their strange upbringing; it reminded me of another favorite memoir: Zippy. However, as the book progressed, I became more interested in the lives of these kids and what drove each of them to succeed in different ways.
   
   Three Weeks was cleverly written--each chapter a brief summary of what the brothers saw on their three-week tour, followed by a lengthier recollection of the events in their lives. I found myself both wanting to join them on the tour of these sights around the world and wanting to keep reading what happened in their pasts. It is also very personal. The emotions expressed--whether the grieving that they experienced or the individual faults they exposed in themselves--told more than words about these two men. I would believe that with two of them writing this book, it is presents a pretty accurate picture of their childhoods and who they have become.
   
   I cannot believe the pain the Sparks brothers have endured over the years, but it is a blessing that they are so dear to one another. I don't think the book is going to lure me into reading his fiction books, though I do find it interesting that most of his books have been inspired by the tragedies he's lived through.



5. I gave the book as a gift to the girlfriend of my son. She was so delighted and happy because she has been trying to find that book for a long time. I was glad that I made her happy. Thanks to Amazon! You can find things at Amazon.com that you dont find anywhere else.

4 comments about Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series).

1. The book was chock full of great ideas and valuable information. It list every conceivable day trip/hike that you could take. There is one negative to the book and that is that the cover leads you to beleve that it will be full of colored photos and it does not. Sure there are photos to peruse, but they are all in B/W. This was dissappointing. But, this travel guide is indeed full of helpful advice to aide a first time visitor.



2. I am trying to get some background on the parks above and beyond what the official Park Service info is. I felt that this book provided more info.



3. This guide book was extremely helpful especially for the relatively unused trails in the high country. I found the profile maps of each hike very helpful in planning for time and distance and elevation gain.



4. For the last 4 years, I've had a summer job at Zion and have used this guide in hiking all but 2 of the trails listed in here. The trail guides are accurate and give a person an excellent idea of how difficult a trail is along with how interesting it is. Take it with you. It will help.

5 comments about Haunted Places: The National Directory: Ghostly Abodes, Sacred Sites, UFO Landings and Other Supernatural Locations.

1. I bought this book over 5 years ago, and have read it cover to cover 7 times. It provides a State to State list of a bunch of hauntings. It even provides addresses, and directions at times. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is obsessed with the paranormal, and ghost hunting!



2. This book is a state-by-stae guide to haunted sites: cemetaries, neighborhoods, houses, schools, historical sites - you name it, if it was ever reported as experiencing paranormal occurrences, it's listed here.
   
   Each site is linked to at least one item in the bibliography (many to more than one) where additional info can be found. (The bibliography has more than 230 items.) Hauck gives detailed information himself on each site and then tells exactly where each can be found. It's a thorough reference tool for anybody interested in this kind of phenonoma.
   
   Probably an updated version should be considered soon. This is such a valuable tool it would be sad to see it become outdated or not current.



3. This isn't a bad book at all. I just had a different idea of what it would include. If you are truly looking for a directory of places all across the country and you plan to do some traveling, this is your book. However, if you're like me and plan to do more reading than traveling, this isn't the book for you. It really, truly is a directory. Think phone book...it has the location names, addresses and a few sentences on the locations' haunted activity. If that's what you're looking for, buy this book. However, if you're looking for an enjoyable read - this one isn't it. Again, it really is a directory.



4. This book is easy to navigate, very informative, and well written. I really enjoy reading this book and; when I travel to an area, I reread the information about the ghosts there. I don't believe Haunted Places is 100% complete, but I still recommend it to anyone interested in the ghosts of the United States.



5. I have owned this book for some time and can say that it is very accurate in the information given. It is well written and the information seems to be well researched. This guide includes information on the stories of these locations, and directions as well as current info on the sites. If you really love to visit haunted places this book is well worth the money and time spent reading it.

4 comments about America's National Parks: The Spectacular Forces That Shaped Our Treasured Lands.

1. Paul Schullery presents a book filled with powerful and beautiful images of fifty-six national parks that have been dedicated to the preservation and protection of irreplaceable treasures. This book shows why these parks are so worthy of protection.
   
   Not only are they places where indescribable beauty can be seen, they have also been formed by unique geological forces. From stunning mountain ranges to arid expanses of desert, these are the lands we view, wander in and learn from.
   
   America's National Parks is a celebration of the diversity of national parks throughout the United States. They are grouped according to the geological forces that helped to create them.
   
   Diagrammatic illustrations, important landmarks, travel routes, topographical maps and spectacular full-color photographs illustrate the sheer majestic beauty of nature.
   
   You will also find captivating information to encourage an awareness of the landforms, flora and fauna. Families will also find information to help enhance their vacations at the parks.
   
   Inside the front cover a map of America shows the location of each park I started to remember my trip to the Grand Canyon National Park and my husband's visit to Denali.
   
   Our Treasured Lands
   The Rolling Land - Volcanic and Geothermal Forces
   The Broken Crust - The Power of Mountain Building
   Water Designing Lands - Waves, Caves and Currents
   Ice Sculpting Stone - The Carving Power of Glaciers
   The Patient Power - Wind and Water Erosion
   Weather Shaping Life - Effects of Extreme Climates
   
   This book contains some of the most amazing photographs I've ever seen of America. From pictures of dripstone formations adorning New Mexico's Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico to Lush Ecosystems shrouded in Fog in the National Park in Washington, these pictures help to vividly describe each park. I remember once having an argument with someone over the fact that there were rainforests near where I lived in Washington and no one would believe me. Well, here is proof!
   
   I was also especially interested in looking up the Painted Desert we visited once on a trip across America after college. At the time, I didn't actually realize I was in the Petrified Forest national Park in Arizona because technically, we were just driving right through and I wasn't paying attention.
   
   This book has helped to bring a new awareness to my own life and also encourages a desire for more exploration. Now I definitely want to see Mount McKinley in person.
   
   Voyageurs National Park looks like a fascinating place to paddle around lonely islands. However, they do say never to skimp on insect repellent. A third of the park is water.
   
   A memento of past visits or an inspiration for future exploration!
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. This book is a spectacular visual text to some of the American National Parks. The size of the photos, and their photographic quality, are just excellent. The photos are right up there with National Geographic-type quality. In addition, the accompaning text gives ecological insights to where and why this part of the United States was designated and saved as a National Park. The book gives short but insightful accompanying text for each of the Parks that are presented to the reader. The only problem is, unfortunately, the organization of the chapters, and a very skimpy table of contents, and the reader can get easily annoyed with these two problems. It is hard to understand why the publisher made such errors, as the problems are very obvious, and the whole book suffers as a result. It is a beautiful book covering many of the National Parks, with super photos and very good college level text, and if you can put up with the problems of a missing table of contents, this book is a great collection of art, ecology, and the National Parks of the USA. A 5-star for the photos and accompanying text, and a 3 for a useless table of contents. Sorry, but the publisher made major mistakes in putting this otherwise spectacular book together. But I will still give the book a 5-star anyway. The photos and text are just too good to give this book anything less than a 5-star.



3. Fabulous book! The text is very interesting and educational, and it explains the scientific aspects of the National Parks and their land very well. The photos are gorgeous and made me want to visit every single park! :-) They really show some of the awesome beauty of God's handiwork. I highly recommend this book to all outdoor enthusiasts, lovers of nature and science and fellow armchair travelers. The book also contains helpful contact information for planning a visit to the parks. A great read and a great book to enjoy!



4. You might expect a book on US National Parks to have an all-USA (including Alaska and Hawaii) orientation map along with local maps of each National Park--and it does. You would expect it to have beautiful pictures--and it does. You would expect it to discuss the flora and wildlife found in these parks--and it does. You might expect it to touch on the history of the locations going back to the days of the First Americans--and it does. You would probably expect to hear that Yellowstone National Park, founded in 1872, was the first US National Park, and that it contains most of the world's geysers--and the book certainly states this.
   
   Being a geologist, what I find relatively unique about this book is its emphasis throughout on basic geological processes. The cross-sections it gives of various geological processes and structures are quite educational, and they are very suitable for the geology classroom. (I wish that I had seen them when I first began to formally study geology!) The reader learns about the internal structure and dynamics of volcanoes, the types of folds and faults that form during mountain building, weathering and erosional structures such as hoodoos, and even such things as fumaroles and mudspots. There are also detailed visual aids on bays and reefs.

5 comments about The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of California (Most Beautiful Villages).

1. Nice book with good color photographs of CA villages and towns. This is a neat series of books for a trip souvenir or a gift, etc.



2. A book worthy a beautiful state! Images of glitzy LA or cosmopolitan SF frequently overshadow the many other destinations featured in this book. Of course being an overview, the towns listed here are given as cursory highlights without much depth. Nonetheless, the book tantalizes like a plate of appetizers. The diner will have to follow up with his own entree should he want to savor a particular site.



3. Was a gift for my husband and he was thrilled. We both loved the photography and reminisced as we had visited alot of the places in it. Can't wait to return. This is a great book for those who think that California is just freeways and clogged cities without charm and visible beauty.



4. This book is filled with colorful lush photographs of California towns and villages. It is for memories and admiration, not information. The photos are carefully posed for the most romantic interpretation and atmosphere. Some of them present an illusion.
   
   I live in one of the towns and had to laugh. In one group of photos, if the photographer had simply turned 180 degrees you would have seen a 4 lane boulevard heavy with semis, trucks and cars on weekdays and tourists on weekends. In another series of pictures just up the road, the 101 freeway was less than 50 feet behind the photographer. It is choked with cars at all times of the day and night and comes to a standstill if there is an accident.
   
   Still, the book presents a lovely picture of a California that exists as a Shangri-la. It is enjoyable with the above caveat for those of us who live here.



5. TRULY WORTH THE PRICE. AN EXCELLENT BOOK OF CALIFORNIA PHOTOS AT AN EXCELLENT PRICE AND FAST DELIVERY- THANKS !

5 comments about Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen.

1. This was a gift to my husband, but has only been opened twice. The recipes look somewhat interesting, but the ingredients are not generally available to most areas. It would be helpful in a coastal area where FRESH seafood was more readily available AND was more cost-effective to use. We are intrigued by some entrees, but again, most are not user-friendly (or kid- friendly) which is important in our busy home! I good gift for the hobby gourmet, not useful in everyday life...at least not in our busy (and filled with picky kids) home!



2. Now I may be biased because I live in Seattle but there is not a recipe in this book which is not simply perfect. I have tried about 10 recipes including the crab cakes, blueberry coffee cake, Short Ribs with Rosemary white beans and the Lobster and Shiitake Potstickers and not had a bad one yet.

   All the recipies are pretty easy to make, use simple fresh ingredients and usually recommend a wine to pair with it. These are not always the types of recipes that you want to whip up in 10 mins when you get home from work but for a weekend dinner where you have 1/2 hr or more to cook, you will be well rewarded. There is definitely a seafood bias for this which is fine with me. In the middle of the book are about 10 pages of pictures of many of the dishes.

   I have lots of cookbooks with several good recipes but never one with so many winners and absolutely no losers. I have been to 2 of Tom's restaurants in Seattle but this makes me want to cook at home.




3. It has taken me awhile to write a review for this book due to the fact that I have been testing as many recipes as possible and while in Seattle compared the restaurant version with the home version. The verdict is: Get the book.

   The recipes are very easily done in a standard home kitchen and they are the recipes of the restaurants in question. If there is a flavor difference it is easily explained by the author such as, the restaurant version of the salmon rub uses smoked paprike (very hard to get) while the home uses the sweet variety.

   The book reflects a deep love of Seattle and is informative in a chatty way. I think though, for the Asian food information sections you may want a little more depth with Bruce Cost's book on Asian ingredients. For the experienced cook this is a great book to have on the shelf showing a fusion of traditional and international influences in the menu.

   For those looking for soemthing in between a beginner's and a hardcore pro level this book is excellent. People at my various parties and catering gigs have loved the food prepared from this book and it has achieved the status of favorite on the shelf. It is approachable in tone, style and technique. It is also helpful that he provides a supplier section for those hard to get items like kazu.

   The fish section maybe a no go for some people due to freshness issues but the section on grilling/barbecuing is nice and the dry brine method for roast chicken was very reliable. All the side dishes were easily done as well with a standard grocery store available.

   Recommended highly and I look forward to his next work.




4. I have owned my copy of Seattle Kitchen for over a year now, as do two of the other families on our block. We regularly get together for dinner parties and inevitably, one of Tom Douglas' dishes shows up on the menu. Although many if not most of the recipes are time-consuming (much chopping, sauteeing, carmelizing, etc. is involved) they are all worth it in the end as long as you are a patient person who enjoys cooking. This is not a good beginner's cookbook! The sweet butternut soup with thyme creme fraiche is beyond compare and I make it all fall and winter long. The lobster and shrimp potstickers with sake sauce take a long time to make but are simply divine (I have learned to make huge batches and freeze them for later when I need an appetizer.) Pair them with the sweet-and-sour red cabbage for an impressive presentation. I just made Etta's cornbread pudding last night for the first time after visiting Seattle and eating it at the restaurant a few weeks ago, and I have to say mine was just as good if not better since it was fresh out of the oven. It was inhaled at the dinner party and it prompted me to get online now to order Tom's other cookbook. I find that sometimes the ingredients are difficult to hunt down here in Montana, but I usually find most of what I need, or at least an acceptable substitute. I just wish there were more photographs of the beautiful food. I look forward to trying many more of Tom's recipes.



5. i read this cover to cover in one sitting- great anecdotes, tips, philosophies, photos, wine info, and recipes.
   tom's book is as good as his restaurants. i LOVE this book.

5 comments about The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life.

1. The 100 Best Vacations To Enrich Your Life by Pam Grout is a new National Geographic travel guide book with a special twist: these vacations are not to get away and veg out but to get your creative juices flowing, or to educate you, or to heal you, or to enable you to share what you know to help others. The 100 best vacations book is divided into four sections, each focusing on one of the types of trips mentioned above. The vacation experiences are described in detail, as well as what you will learn, how you can give back, and the type of people who will enjoy such an experience. The trips are within the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico and the book is written by an outstanding experienced travel writer, published frequently in top publications and the author of 13 travel books. This compilation of tour ideas and opportunities is meeting the needs of the new kind of travelers who want to have a meaningful vacation and give back to the places and people they visit, or to learn away from stresses of their normal environment. The book is EXCELLENT, with all the information you need to choose and sign up for leisure time well spent which will keep you smiling and promises to change you forever.



2. This is a short review. The book is fine and dandy for north america but there are quite a few of us who live in other countries that use the english language. It would have been helpful if the title of the book had been a bit more specific.



3. This book with help you find places to go that will enrich your spirit.
   What better way is there to spend your free time?



4. This book is great for old people. I bought this as a gift for my mother in law, and she loved it. She is well traveled and well read, so this is perfect for the person that has everything and needs nothing.



5. I have been an international volunteer vacationer for several years and have longed for a reference that focused on the North American Continent. Chapter Two of THE 100 BEST VACATIONS TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE does just that. From digging in George Washingtons' back yard in Virginia, sewing costumes for a theatre in to Kentucky, being your version of Patch Adams at his clinic in West Virginia, to cleaning up the 3000 mile long Continental Divide Trail, Ms. Grout offers something for everyone. With many people hoping to vacation closer to home recently, here are 24 options to consider if you want to volunteer while you vacation. Thank you Pam!