Not a bad book, but not particularly good either.

Weller, while intelligent and well-meaning, doesn't seem to know very much about India. To be sure, he's done some background reading -- at the end he provides a curious list of dated references -- but his knowledge seems flimsy. One does not get the feeling that he's studied or thought deeply about the country, its history or culture; but rather that he's parroting views he's read in books or that he's simply reacting to what he sees on the road. As a result one doesn't have confidence in his attempts to synthesize the meaning of India's past or its prospects in the future. What he has to say in this regard is rather banal in any case. I suspect he included these broad pronouncements -- about the population problem, about communal violence -- only because this is what people have come to expect from travel writers, instant and concise analyses of foreign cultures. Unfortunately not every travel writer is a Naipaul.

Also, his narrative of his encounters on the road is simply not interesting. It's not boring exactly, just bland. He meets uninteresting people, has brief uninteresting conversations, and then moves on.

A. Weller is a superb writer, I learned more about India in 10 pages than I could have in a year of school. Although the names, and dates can be eye crossing after awhile, it only showed me that mr. Weller did a ton of research, and cut no corners' in writing this book. From keen observations interspersed with humerous encounters with strangers' and beauracratic red tape, I applaud mr. Weller for writting a book the he could be proud of first, and not an "India for dummies". Rock on Tony!!

Travelling along the GT Road is an expirience that one never forgets.The author gives an historical perspective of the points along the GT Road. He starts out in Calcutta, the city built by the Raj. Along the way he finds the foundations of the Jain and Buddhist religions. Weller writes about thses religions in an objective manner and gives a clear concise history of the religions along with their beliefs. Between these highlights he meets present day Indians. What he puts into words is what I thought but could not expess myself, both humorously and insightfully. I had lived in India for two years while serving in the Peace Corps. I felt the same frustrations he did in communicating and dealing with the bureaucracy.

This is an excellent book for one intending to travel through the subcontinent or has spent some time there.

The overview and locator maps proved very useful. Posting the elevation gain and loss (as well as a plot showing where these occured) was very helpful in negotiating the trails. Precautions and general hiking information in the front sections of the book were very thorough.

To me, this is the Grand Canyon book to get if you are planning on hiking the trails. It has great illustrations of the trails and elevations. You can easily follow the trail illustrations from one trail to another because they tell you the page number of the connecting trail. The textual descriptions are excellent and very easy to follow. The trails are broken up logically and are easy to piece together for extended trips into the canyon. If you are looking for a book with telephone numbers of who to call for reservations and all that, this is not the book. Fine with me because that information is always changing and isn't that what they made the internet for? The size is a bit large to be considered a pocket book but is easily packable. The size actually helps with the illustrated maps as it makes them what I consider to be perfect for trail use. I prefer to make copies (which I did not do if it is a violation of some copyright) of the trails I am going to hike and leave the book behind. The copies are handy for the inevitable rain that always comes. Put them in a zip lock bag with the one you need on top...this book does not stress much about people being physically prepared to hike the canyon. If they don't physically prepare, what makes you think they bother to read before they hit the trail? I have yet to see a sick person on the trail with a book about the canyon in their hand. The book does rate each of the trails with regard to difficulty. I have several books on the Grand Canyon and for planning and hiking the trails, this is the one I would recommend over all the others.

For those folks that want to stay on the main Grand Canyon trails and not onto the seldom visited routes this is an excellent guide. For each of the 28 South and North rim trails the author gives detailed, thorough descriptions, useful maps, trail mileage, level of difficulty, a profile of the elevation changes on the trail, detailed directions to the trailhead and more. Adkison's clear writing style is to be commended. I found the guide has only a few drawbacks: readers should use his suggested hiking times with caution; in at least one case (Tanner trail) his mileage figure is very likely too short; and the whole rather than part of the Tonto trail ought to have been covered in the book. These minor shortcomings aside I highly recommend this trail guide.

Sangani,Pranay
Feb-12
Period-1

Hole in the Sky
Pete Haulman
P.Sangani
P.1

This book by Pete Haulman talks about a flu bug that is really deadly.
hardly only some people survive after the flu has hit thrm and others hope to stay
away from it.They try to seclude themselves from the outer world.In fact,the isolate
themselves to such a major extinct that they prohibit outsiders from entering their
towns.Their is a mysterious group of people known as the Kinkas.These people have
survived the flu.People who have survived the flu are bald and some seem to loose
some of their human capabilities.Some can't talk some can't walk.In the grand canyon
in Arizona,there are some people living on the rim of what is the Grand Canyon.
Whithin them is a young boy named Ceej.He has a sister named Harryette.Ceej
has not been effected by the flu.Although his sister is a survivor.Before the flu she
was a playfu seventh grader,but the flu drained her ability to speak.She could
not hear either.Then there is their Uncle.He takes care fo them.Also,a person
named Hap trades stuff with Uncle.
The book was really good.The book gives you a sense of adventure.Unlikemost authors,Pete Haulman,has done something different.He has based the book on the
future,but he has not used futuristic technologies.The only reason to advance time was to make the event of the flu possible.The opening of the book is very good.There is a quote
which gives you a great sence of adventure,"That was when an earthquake hit.Except it wasn't
an earthquake at all,it was the rock moving,and I was standing on it.I saw tim's eyes go wide,and the sky seemed to tilt,and the air was filled with thunder/I must have jumped,because
the next thing I knew I was lyingon my belly on the rim and the rock was sliding down the
face of the cliff."Tim and Ceej are trying to push the rock down the surface of the grand canyon.
Then out of frustration Ceej stands on it.Then it falls and he jumps on the hard grand canyon.
This book is good,but there are four parts of the book,and in each of the parts there is a character.After each part the narration of the character changes and we have a book with
four first prespective reviews.I didn't like that.Another thing I don't like is the book meves at a very slow pace.You can convey the same information in a page,but they have taken 4 pages to display the data.So,it makes reading the book boring.Then the ending,it is abrupt.They wanted to leave the book on interpretation but this doesn't give an ending!"Maybe Ceej and Bella are dead on the river bottom,their mouths filled with silt."This is one of the last sentences and because of the narration changed the main characters are lost!
My least favorite part was that the main characters are lost.The holy place believed by
Bella is found,But Bella is not.I really got frustratedI read the whole book but in the end you don't know what happpened about the flu or anything else.

we read this book in school aswell, but in 8th gade. it was a very interesting book. And seeing as how i live in AZ, it made me want to go read it at the grand cayon (the setting of the story). It's got some interesting people, and ideas. A killer flu has spred and most everyone dies, but there are surviours, they loose something though (like they'r hearing or the abliaty to speek).

we had the aouther viset us in class as well, and to hear what he had to say about the book and answer our quetions was great!! ^^ (thanx mrs. wingert!) READ the book!! trust me u'll like it ! ^^

This book was one of my favorites, it gives you something to think about and also lets you use your imagination, if you like this book I recomend Z for Zachariah and Sang Spell.

this book was confusing and very not meaningfull i thought that page lambert did a bad job.

Very good reading, with excellent comments on the Grand Canyon, the experiences of rafting the river and essays on how the canyon touches people in different ways. I have just completed an 8 day trip of over 280 miles in the canyon and experienced every emotion and awe-inspiring moment described in the book. The photographs are worth the purchase price alone. A must read before and after taking a trip down the wonderous Colorado in the Grand Canyon

Writing Down the River grabs your heart and broadens your understanding of the power of the western landscape. The photographs are amazing in themselves; the essays stunning.

Sybil Downing, award winning author of Ladies of the Goldfield Stock Exchange

This book is written for someone with little photography background. If your just starting in photography or if your just starting in outdoor photography it gives you some good helpful hints.

I found this book extremely valuable, and I wish similar books were available for every photogenic destination (a few others are). Given limited vacation time in each park (Tetons & Yellowstone), we were able to plan ahead and be at the right place at the right time(s) of day to get excellent shots and then onward to other activities.

The author was exactly accurate about what time the rainbows appear from successive North Rim overlooks, for example, and we hiked between them with great results. Ignore the recommendations about filters if you like, but select from the location descriptions to maximize your trip photos of the famous (and semi-secret) views. Yes I brought home a lot of cliche images, but my friends and family don't know that and they're thrilled with the "classic" enlargements.

I found this book to be an exceptional guide to both photograph and tour Yellowstome and the Tetons! The author included valuable informations such as the best times of day to take pictures in the parks, and also suggested methods to use to get the best shots! In addition to the outstanding photos in the book, the author also told how to get the best results. It turned out to be an invaluable resource in planning our visit, and I would highly recommend it those planning to take pictures and those who just want to see beautiful scenery!

I became interested in the book Grand Avenue after having it recommended to me by a friend; I am extremely interested in Native American culture, so I purchased the book thinking that it would be a classic. Unfortunately, I was wrong; this book is incredibly dull, and I totally regret buying it. The transitions between different periods of time are awkward and confusing, making it a somewhat frustrating read. Nothing really exciting takes place within, and I did not feel much sympathy for any of the characters, something which I was hoping for in a book featuring Native Americans; I have been more moved by history books that tell of Native Americans than this novel. The only entertaining story is that of Sam Toms, but this is definitely not enough to save an entire book. Perhaps there are some who will appreciate Grand Avenue; I, on the other hand, do not.

As a Native American, I found the book to be a compelling and truthful view of the modern world of urban Indian life. The clean lines of the stories are perfectly juxtaposed with the "stuff" of daily life in the urban rez. Sarris masterfully captures the meat and bread of this group of "Injuns" who are trying to get by the best way they can despite their disenfranchisement and despair. The basket of stories he weaves is a hypnotic mix of laughter and tears. Once the reader embarks on the adventure he simply cannot stop til the very last word. One finds a sort of happiness in the daily doings of these relateds. The humor that exudes from nearly every page ameliorates the drastic situations the characters encounter. I found the issue of "poison" to be the most compelling issue Sarris brings forward in his finely-crafted novel. I hope that non-Indians will take this look carefully as there is poison in every group of humans. If one cannot see it, it will take over. Sarris lays it out for all to see and for the lesson. What will be learned fromt his brilliant novel? There may be poison in your own family, in your neighborhood, down the street, on the freeway, in the government...watch out! be careful!

For Sarris fans, please check out his latest, Watermelon Nights. It is a winner too!

I SAW THE HBO SPECIAL 2 PARTER OF "GRAND AVENUE".. IT WAS POWERFUL & TRUE TO THE REAL WORLD... THERE ARE SOME BRUTAL MOMENTS, & SOME FUNNY REZ HUMOR... I BOUGHT THE 2 PART VIDEO.. AND I WILL NOW BUY THE BOOK TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE MOVIE.. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Stevenson starts out simply enough with a straight narrative focused on Carraciola, but soon gets distracted and never again picks up the threads.

I would have forgiven some of the purple writing and technical errors, as I would have forgiven Stevenson for barely touching on some of the truly great stories (ie, Varzi's fix at Tripoli and his tragic decline afterwards), but it's the last few chapters where the author spins off into wild, unsubstantiated speculation better suited to a tabloid than any book about historical events that I find completely unforgivable.

1. He asserts that Eberhorst was an incompetent designer (!) partly responsible for Rosemeyer's death.

2. He asserts that Hitler (!) somehow orchestrated Rosemeyer's death, and goes to great length to explain how Rosemeyer, knowing of the plot, bravely and stoicly went to his death to avoid bringing the wrath of the Nazis down on his wife and young child.

3. He postulates that had Rosemeyer lived, his popularity would soon have eclipse Hitler's, and that Rosemeyer would somehow wrench the Reich away from Hitler and lead Germany to avoid the carnage of WWII.

It would be impossible to fabricate more ludicrous theories about the events of this fascinating period. I bought this book because I was starved for more reading material about the subject, and couldn't bring myself to spend the money for the excellent (but expensive) Chris Nixon works. Do yourself a favor, skip straight to Nixon's efforts and leave this sort of bizarre revisionism on the shelf.

Very entertaining book. Plenty of exciting race action and fascinating characters. A great read -- it pulls you right in!

I found Driving Forces to be a educational, entertaining and comprehensive look at the little known world of early Grand Prix racing. Peter Stevenson's automotive expertise and extensive knowledge of the historical subject matter resulted in some facinating insights. His intuitive representation of the drivers and other key figures added a very human aspect of the story that was truly touching. I think it would make a great movie too!

Lindley's fine summary of the current state of physics mentions organized religion a few times. He says that "simplicity is the religion of cosmology."

After living the life of an orthodox Mormon for forty years until leaving the fold permanently five years ago I am now comparing my old religion to just another "theory of everything."

At least Lindley is free to question and scrutinize his fellow scientists. But in religion there is no check and balance system for reality.

For instance Mormonism teaches that the planet named Kolob is the center of universe and domicile of God. This absurd claim is treated with religious fervor in the same as many scientific theories are held sacred and special.

From Lindley I learned that skepticism is healthy and that we have a long long way to go before we really start understanding the universe and ourselves in it. Fascinating read.

One things seems for sure. We don't know.

My opinion of this book is quite different from some of the other reviewers. This book is not a skeptical anti-science or ... anti-Mormon rant. Rather, by considering the history of particle physics and cosmology Lindley shows again and again that scientific theories are only at best myths unless they are back up with solid emperical evidence. This evidence comes via experiments. Lindley does not say a "Theory of Everything" is impossible, he simply states that if a "Theory of Everthing" is going to have any meaning, it must be testable through emperical experiments, just like every other theory which science currently accepts as the best explaination of a given phenomena. In other words, hard work and imagination have gotten science this far and it needs to be applied again in this particular endeavor. Though the book is probably a little dated now, it still provides an excellent format for one to recieve an introduction to particle physics and cosmology. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Are the cosomologists correct, or is it the particle physicists? Does quantum theory really invalidate Einstein's deterministic universe? Is the concept of a 26-dimensional universe credible, or are we as enamored with numerology as those in times of yore? Can science provide us with more than a myth about the creation of the universe? Each new discovery seems to beg more questions.

The essence of this book is the tension that Lindley so magically captures--the tension between ideas, between scientists, and between philosophies. Lindley enthusiastically relates the drama; he catches the spirit and the excitement of discovery, as well as anxiety over some difficult unknowns.

This book is a thrilling ride through some of the most captivating intellectual territory of the 20th century. Do not be put off by the complex nature of the subject matter; this is one of the most accessible science books that I have read. The energy of the ideas certainly outweighs the challenges presented by the difficult subject matter.

This book is a great read for passionate learners.

The animal descriptions are very brief and basic. This book might be good for someone with little knowledge of wildlife but doesnt go into much detail on any animal. It also spends too much time on animals that it even states are rarely found in Yellowstone(ie Lynx) and says almost nothing about more common, although less exciting animals(various bird and small mammals).

After buying many books like this I would suggest checking them out of the library for the length of your visit. We did not see the animals in this guide to back up the information and the locations but found it good for basic information about the animals and their habitats etc.

I found the book to be very helpful. Especially paired with "Scenic Driving in Yellowstone & Grand Teton". Other than the cats, we where able to get out early and find the wolves, grizzly, moose etc.

I found the information for a 1988 Jeep Cherokee to be vague, superficial, and many times, incorrect. This might be due to production changes in the 1988 year. In looking for information on automatic transmissions, ignition system, engine control computer, or transfer case dissasembly or repair, the book says that this is beyond the home mechanic. Well, few other repairs even require a book for anyone with reasonable experience. I believe they are copping out. It was not worth reading.

Not bad, but get the Factory repair service manual, which is more accurate. Some wire diagrams are different.. good for the newbie, but better get some advice first, like Always use Quadra-trac fluid
in Transfer case, never anything else, the Friction cones will not tolarate it, since it is a full time 4 wheel drive. ( from 73-79 borg -warner)

As a beginner in home car mechanics I found this book very helpful. It helped me already with understanding my Jeep Wagoneer '73 (V8, 360). And I used it to replace the powerbrake booster, the powersteering pressure line, rear suspencion leaves, door window, door lock and so on. New jobs are coming and this book wil help me, I sure...