I am restoring 72 acres of wetlands on South Whidbey Island, WA... We have just put in over 4,800 plants, 59 species, as part of a 500-year plan to restore the property to mature old growth and promote maximum biodiversity. This is our guide for identifying and learning all the trees, shrubs, and flowers.

This book is a straightforward and concise survey of the United States economy during the World War II era (1939-1945). At times it is too superficial, but overall it is an excellent introduction to the topic. The primary theme is that the war accelerated and definitively established the mixed economy seen in the U.S. today. (A mixed economy is one where some goods and services are provided by private enterprise and others, usually basic infrastructure goods and services, are supplied by the government.)

Particularly good is Vatter's description of the transition from a civilian to a military economy. This began in March 1941 with the passage of the Lend-Lease Act. Military expenditures in the United States went from $1.8 billion in 1940 to $6.3 billion in 1941. One year later they were a whopping $22.9 billion. During this same period, military personnel on active duty increased from half a million people in 1940 to four million in 1942.

The immediate result of this war economy, and the concomitant explosion in total federal expenditures, was the end of the Great Depression. Expenditures increased so rapidly that the federal deficit more than doubled as a percentage of GNP from 1939 to 1941. This Keynesian "anti-depression medicine" finally ended twelve years of mass unemployment. Only the onset of war was sufficient to bring into operation Keynesian deficit spending of sufficient magnitude to accomplish this.

The war years saw a boom in the United States economy of remarkable proportions. From 1940 to 1942 industrial production increased by 58 percent. Total productivity increased by 16.5 percent from 1941-1945. The number of unemployed, which stood at over eight million in 1940, dropped to only one million in 1943. The number of women employed increased by a third (5.2 million individuals), to the point where they comprised approximately one third of the civilian labor force and enjoyed a 36.3 percent participation rate, at the time a historic high.

This huge upturn in the economy was accompanied by (some would argue, caused by) the creation of a huge, bureaucratic administration designed to oversee various sectors of the economy. The focus of the new bureaucracy was on production, distribution, pricing, and labor. Towards that end, an alphabet soup of 165 new agencies was created, among them the WPB (War Production Board), OPA (Office of Price Administration), OPM (Office of Production Management), and WMC (War Manpower Commission). Many of these agencies had overlapping and even competing functions, and their record was certainly mixed, but Vatter believes that their performance was crucial to the functioning of the economy. Somewhat amazingly, after the war ended virtually all of these bureaucracies were dissolved. However-and this is the most important part-the success of the wartime economic planning provided the justification for a new, ongoing role for Big Government in the economic affairs of the nation. The United States was never to return to the laissez-faire policies of the pre-depression era. From this point on, the federal government was to assume a crucial role in the supply and distribution of goods and services, hence the creation of the mixed economy.

Along with this crucial change, the war had several other consequences as well: full employment; technological innovation (e.g., radar, nuclear power, new pharmaceuticals); population growth (the "Baby Boom"); and the increased labor force participation of women. None of these, however, were nearly so important as the result mentioned above.

An intelligent, enjoyable work on the development of the Chinatown district in Vancouver, focusing on how the dominant European class worked to shape and control the Chinese community through political, legal, social, and cultural means. Anderson's writing is thoroughly readable, academically rigorous but free from the dry, heavy dialogue that plagues so many other scholarly works. My only criticism is her decision to exclude the Chinese immigrants' perspective on the development of their district, instead opting to focus only on how the Europeans perceived the Asian 'intruders'. Providing the opposing view would have given the work better balance and a greater level of depth. Nevertheless, an excellent book for those interested in Canadian history or ethnic/urban politics.

This book contains a wealth of pictures and lots of helpful information to plan a trip to Victoria.

Roy Minter's The White Pass: a Gateway to the Klondike involves the development of a railway from Skagway, up the White Pass, and through to Whitehorse, connecting the Pacific to the Klondike gold rush. Competing with the Chilkoot Pass at Dyea, both routes came up with innovative methods to transport people and goods, trying to be the most efficient and profitable route. In fact, the White Pass Railway was 175 km from start to finish when completed, which defied all odds that such a venture could even be completed, a railway connecting the Pacific to the Klondike. His book does an excellent job of explaining the difficulties and methodical process of building the railroad. Roy Minter, the author, has done an excellent job considering that this is his literary debut, his first published book.

In addition, the author uses a great variety of sources, which are easily identifiable by numerical notation. Each excerpt comes from separate parties, which means that there are minimal amounts of bias in the book. Any bias would have to come from some of the speculations the author makes about the excerpts, which is very unlikely.

The book was enjoyable, and I would recommend this book to anyone who has the interest in the history of the gold rush in the Klondike, and, of course, the transportation to get there. It was very interesting and informative, and taught me more than I would ever need to know about building the railway to Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
Since this is Roy Minter's first book, there is not much credibility, for not many people have heard his name before. However, the foreword by Pierre Burton helps a great deal, for he is a well-known historian and author of many great historic books. The name of a great historian draws extra attention and makes some of the content to be more credible, because of the approval of a brilliant historian.

The book generally stays on topic, going into a great amount of detail, more than what would be expected. The author explores areas not even thought of in other books, showing thorough research, everything based on the quality, speed and integrity of the railroad and its integrity, including many measurements. The meetings, rallies for funds, surveyors, competition with Dyea, and long winters, and many more things are all explained in colossal detail unimaginable to someone new to the subject.

In a few places, there are clear, legible and legitimate maps, which give an idea of the distance and the situation faced by the people building and organizing the railroad, like the distance covered. The maps also help to give a picture in the reader's mind of the problems at hand of the people trying to get to Whitehorse, with up to or more than one ton of goods.

In various sections, there are several pages together of pictures, which are captioned to the side or below. The pictures also aid the reader to visualize the scene of the railroad, the daily processes of many workers, and the difficulties, such as Tunnel Mountain. They also help in showing the monumental size of certain problems, such as the steepness of the grade, up the mountain, and some of the seemingly impregnable rock faces.

I found this book very frustrating because the author of this book abiously didn't do her homework. I know this is an unauthorized book, but still, she could have found out more info without much trouble. She made several errors, like Dave and Clint being identical twins. I thought the 8 pages of pictures were very cool, and definatly the high point of the book. I would suggest getting The Moffatts: Backstage Pass-which is authorized whith lots of pictures-instead.

I am a huge Moffatt fan, for more than two years now, and I know so much about them. I read this book and found over twenty mistakes in information, and even some typos. I could have wrote a better one! It's entertaining purely because it's about my boys, so if you are really a big fan, it's entertaining to read this lady's interpretataion of their lives.

Hi, I heard and read on message boards and stuff that this new moffatt book gave good information but there appeared to be many mistakes. I still bought thinking it wasn't that bad, I am in chapter 6 now, and i don't regret buying it cause the pictures are great, and its telling me some things i didn't already know. I give it 4 out of five because of the mistakes but, otherwise it is a great book about the greatest band, The Moffatts. thanks, Amanda

I've been a fan of Lonely Planet books since using them to backpack through Asia in the 1980s, but it seems to me they are in the middle of an identity crisis. Case in point is the British Columbia book, which I've added to my collection of guides to my home province. It retains the "Backpacker" feel but includes multiple listings of upmarket hotels and restaurants with scant regard to actually desrcibing individual places, which is why I buy a guide book in the first place. The result is a watered down version of what was once a great series, with the great descriptive and personalized writing replaced by page after page of listings that any reader could find in a phone book. For example, in the Vancouver chapter, instead of critical apprasial of the places to stay that appeal to budget travelers, literally dozens of places in all price ranges are listed, with little more than an address and price given for each. There's a privately run hostel in Vancouver that is nothing short of digusting and has been closed down and reopened under new names on two occassions. And yet the author lists this place along with the excellent choices that do exist as if all are of the same quality. I doubt whether the author has ever visited any of these places, but even if she has, some kind of description is what is missing. In a similar vein, out near the Vancouver airport, an RV park lies right under the flight path. Again there's no mention of this very basic information, just a phone number, address, and price. Finally, prices are almost always wrong. Prices haven't risen that dramatically over the last two years and as this is the first edition of the book my guess is that they've transfered information straight from the Lonely Planet book that covers all of Canada.

Further afield, in recent travels, I noted the same lack of perception in the writing about other areas of the province. It's obviously useful for young budget travelers to know which bars have cheap drinks, but I still expect more, such as some good solid descriptions of what there is to see in each town and coverage of all the great outdoors opportunities. These things
are sorely lacking.

On the plus side, the introduction chapter is very strong, with detailed coverage of history, geology, and wildlife. History might not be that exciting, but the author has obviously done her homework in this department. The maps are also much improved from the old days and even the smallest town has a map.

In conclusion, the fact that the author is not from Canada does not worry me, but she needn't have even visited to put this book together. Even if you're a young backpacker from overseas desperate to fit in by traveling with a Lonely Planet guide, I'd skip this book and buy the Lonely Planet Canada book.

After combing 3 other travel guides before my trip, I realized that my Lonely Planet guide had it all. Where other guides miss the mark, Lonely Planet nails it. Everything in Fodor's, Off The Beaten Path and some other one I can't recall was in the Lonely Planet guide. As well, Lonely Planet honestly tells you the truth about why "this" is a winner and "that" is a loser. Information was up to date and accurate and most importantly opinionated and honest! Had a fantastic vacation!

a solid british columbia guide book that i used as a reference while exploring the area for three days lonely planet is always gearded towards those not wanting to spend a lot of money and that perspective kept my spending in check

Includes now defunct restaurants like Cafe Azul in McMinnville, OR (now moved to Portland); Heathman Grill, Avalon, Augustine's-- all closed. Review of Tina's doesn't remark on new building. Stellar new places like Macmenamins Hotel Oregon and Joel Palmer House not included. Spiffy new Heathman Lodge in Vamncouver, WA not included. OK, so the devil is in the details, but this is one OLD travel companion. Update it, or stop selling it.

We need a new edition of this - is there any information about a publication date?

I have a question, I have the 20th Anniversary Edition of Northwest Best Places, 1994-1995, is there going to be a 1999-2000 edition?

A well-balanced child is raised by an eccentric, gay uncle in the wake of controversy and tragedy: Who but the most intolerant could argue with that storyline? But good intentions don't always make for good writing, unfortunately, and this book tends toward flat, unrealistically presented stereotypes and too-convenient plot devices. But the title "uncle" is indeed a character -- if not likable, a clearly drawn funny, outspoken CHARACTER. A cute read if you don't take it too seriously and expect more than is there.

I have read the other remarks and was taken back by some of the anger towards the author that he did not "explore" the homosexuality of the character more. I am on the other extreme. I found the book refreshing and funny. It draws on the reader to see what is happening and to become a part of this non-conventional family. I like the fact that it is not conventional in any sense of the word. To expect every book about a gay man to be a work of political rubbish or to make a "gay statement" takes away from what the book is about. This book is about a man, who is gay, who lives, and breathes in a normal world. He has come to terms with who he is and he asks you to do the same.

Shaw did a wonderful job in this book. After reading it, I gave copies to all my gay friends, who love it. It carries a wide range of emotions and is highly entertaining. I think anyone who knows anyone who is gay should read this book. The characters are warm and the story line is full of surprizes. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

This book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through a time when what lay west of the Alberta Rockies was merely a faint whisper of great rivers, mountains and forests that beckoned the tough and determined fur traders of the Hudson Bay and Northwest companies. Of course, the prize that each of these competitors sought to find first was a trading route to the Pacific Ocean. There was word of a great river's estuary located to the southwest across the mountains, but the rivers west of the Rockies all flowed northward! David Thompson, after whom the Thompson River in British Columbia was named and perhaps the most unsung of the great North American explorers, was faced with a mystery to solve. And he did so -- surviving bitterly cold winters in the unforgiving outdoors without today's Gore-Tex garments and GPS gadgets. He followed the stars tenaciously and spent may hours out in the elements making and checking his triangulation calculations the old-fashioned way --longhand.

I read this book several years ago and remember well how it readily took me away from today's comfortable but harried world. It's well recommended to anyone with an explorer's bent who would like to join Thompson's party as he searches for the route west of the Rockies in Canada's early back yard. He certainly has earned my respect as one of the great, devoted explorers who opened the West. Nisbet brings his personality to life in a very readable, interesting book, obviously the product of a great deal of detailed research by the author.

This is truly an incredible story, an adventure that I can't believe hasn't been made into a movie by now. By comparison, the Lewis & Clark expedition seems dull and uninspiring. It makes me wish I were canadian.

Jack Nisbet does an excellent job by citing David Thompson's journals, including some of his original maps (lack of maps in a book can be annoying when you are talking about early explorations) and commenting on the area today. Wonderful accounts of early Indians in Northwest. The story of this early explorer is a must-read for all Lewis and Clark fans as it occurred about the same time. I found the book easy to read and it makes one want to explore that area of Canada.