Anyone who has ever gazed down into the immensity of the Grand Canyon has surely asked himself, "HOW in the world did this ever happen!"

If the standard "millions and millions of years" explanation leaves you with questions, read this book.

If you want a thorough, intellectually satisfying survey of the Grand Canyon, and the theories of it's origin, this book is for you. If you liked Whitcomb and Morris's "The Genesis Flood", you will like this book.

A man who believes the Bible, knows geology, and has carefully studied the Grand Canyon presents his findings in a very readable, interesting, and well illustrated book aimed at the general reader.

Standard geology textbooks teach us that, while individual events may be rapid, geologic change (such as erosion) is very slow overall. Austin deftly dispenses with the straitjacket of uniformitarianism, and shows how the Grand Canyon could have been eroded rapidly. Instead of a little river acting over a lot of time, we had a large body of water (Floodwater and its remnants) acting over a short period of time.

I had already been visiting the West for 3 times and I've got a lot of information about this area, but this guide was really very usefull to organise my last summer trip and I discovered this time several fascinating nature spots (like Coyote Buttes / The Wave !) that lots of tourists miss (even if they are very close to them) if they have only got classical touristic guides.

This excellent guide gives you detailled information about how to find theese fabulous sites, how long you need to hike (without backpacking), what moment of the day is the best to take pictures, what is the opinion of the author about each site, where you can find more information...

So, I've been hiking (not too hardly...) in a lot of theese sites and I can promise you that following the advices of this guide will really improve a lot your next trip in the West (North Arizona and South Utah), even if taking artistic pictures is not very important for you!

Pictures in this book are black and white so I rate this guide 4 stars (comparatively to guides with color pictures), but for people who don't care about color pictures and prefer very good information, I can rate it 5 stars without a doubt.

I sincerely hope that Laurent Martres will soon write new guides about other areas of the West of United States.

I bought this book prior to my 21 day vacation to the Southwest. With few exceptions, I taylored my entire trip around the suggested places mentioned in this book, and visited most of them. The majority of suggestions are off the beaten path and a little aventurous, which I prefer. The author pays a lot of attention to photographic concerns, which helps immensly if you are a photographer, but you need not be to benefit from this book. I found the directions to be very accurate, although route finding skills were still necessary for some of the more remote hikes, such as The Wave, in the Paria Wilderness Area. This book is perfect for getting ideas of places to visit, including numerous slot canyons, and then following up with some additional info from the internet. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone visiting the Southwest, who wants to visit places you've only seen in photography magazines. You won't be disappointed!

"A Naturalist's Guide to the Canyon Country" is an excellent overview of the natural history of the Colorado Plateau, and especially valuable for first time visitors and amateur naturalists. When my sister brought her family to visit this past June, we consulted this book every hour of every day. The adults and the children all found it invaluable for both identifying plants and animals and learning something about their life history. No, the guide is not all-encompassing, but most of the major players are here. I especially appreciated the inclusion of the little guys- especially the beetles lizards! We also appreciated the extremely sturdy binding, which held up well against all of the abuses that a 9-year-old could think of.

I have been visiting the four-corners every summer for 25 years and this is one of the most delightful books I have seen yet! In fact I just returned from my four-week summer 2000 trip and this Guide was my constant companion. Of the many guides and books I have collected over the years, this was the one that I carried in my Jeep, kept with me in my tent, and consulted on my hikes. As an academic biologist, I appreciate the accurate (and beautiful) paintings of the animals and plants that I routinely encounter on the Colorado Plateau. The selection of species is representative of those that a visitor will likely see.

And the one thing that distinguishes this guide from the many others I have is the inclusion of interesting, yet concise, information about the different species pictured. Many guides merely help identify, while this one tells you something about what is identified. Each night above my desert tent a common nighthawk performed as the Guide described: "While they dive and climb during courtship, wind moving across their wing feathers produces a 'booming' sound. This has led to another common name: bullblasts." So much better than just color, pattern, length, scientific name.

I have recommended this Guide already to anyone I know who is considering a first trip to the Colorado Plateau, and even to those who, as I have done, continue to visit canyon country every chance they get. The beautiful paintings alone are worth the price.

Martin's book is a good rendering of the planning, construction, completion, and opposition to the Glen Canyon Dam. The book is a good historical work, though I didn't find it a compelling read, like "Cadillac Desert". Martin's best prose is when he descibes life in the town of Page during the construction of the dam, with rich details about life in a government town in the middle of the desert. Very enjoyable read even if you wish Glen Canyon Dam would fall back into the canyon. Can make you appreciate fully the people who built it and the people who opposed it.

THIS is a thoroughly gripping history of a great and fantastically beautiful river of the American Southwest, and of the powerful human beings locked in a bitter struggle over it, all their massive efforts to control it and equally determined efforts of those who did not want it controlled. Its climax is the completion of the monumental Glen Canyon Dam and the creation of Lake Powell, with a water storage capacity of 27 MILLION acre feet an a power-generating capacity to supply the needs of vast numbers of people and businesses over a vast range of our country. It is wrong to sugests that there are any villians in the story, but clearly, there are many heroic figures in a collosal struggle of competing interests, from the Sierra Club's David Brower, conservationist turned environmentalist, to the Bureau of Reclamation's Floyd Dominy, to prime contractor Merritt, Chapman Scott's chief engineer, Lem Wylie who got the job done despite the fact that the corporation went belly-up at the end. And it has politicians and statesmen-politicians from Colorado's Wayne Aspinall to Arizona's Stewart Udall and Barry Goldwater. Even Holywood with Charlton Heston and John Wayne, mercifully in bit sub-plots, grace a page or two. Every person even remotely interested in the history of our country's development and the beauty of the place it unfolded, should read Russell Martin's, "The Story That Stands Like a Dam."

Written with respect for the dignity and unique culture of the Tarahumara Indians, an indigenous people that live in the Sierra Madre Occidentals (Copper Canyon region). Lots of photographs (both black and white, and color). Although a paperback, it's quite large (pages are about 9"x11"). A "must-have" if you are going to visit, or have visited, Copper Canyon, Mexico.

In the northwestern portion of Mexico, in the mountains known as the Sierra Madre Occidental live the legendary Tarahumara. This is an indigeneous group who have been one of the most successful to resist the onslought of western civilization, beginning with the Spaniards conquest and continuing to this day. Seeing the pictures in this book is like taking a step back in time; they are a culture spared the shadow of time. The Tarahumara are known for maintaining their customs and traditions in spite of of an ever encroaching civilization and tourist trade. The Tarahumara are phenomenal runners who traverse , climb and descend the mountains that reach 9,000 ft. beginning as children and contuinuing into old age. Known for their long distance running they are incredible endurance machines that come from a genetic pool that used to carry letters 600 miles! A contemporary good runner can run forty miles with a steady pace over six to eight hours. This book is a fabulous tribute to the majesty of a proud people, complete with over forty color plates and nearly as many powerful black and white photographs. The book is not only a picture book but has a marvelous text that explains and details how this group has endured the harsh natural conditions as well as the invasion of "outsiders" who tried to indoctrinate them with religion and cultural mores. The simplicity of their home construction in the ranchos and the traditions that continue are an anthropoligsts dream. Some of the cultural traditions are fascinating and a wonderful testament to mankind. This is a good book to read prior to a visit to Mexico and journey along the Copper Canyon. The book aIso includes a bibliography and a glossary for further clarification and further knowledge. I would recommend finding the hard cover edition that is out of print if possible because the photographs are amazing and timeless reflections of a distant and persistant people. The color and black and whote plates are as magnificent aas the people they depict. The oversized edition is a cultural treasure. Regardless of the edition I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the people known as the Tarahumara who believe that a mans soul dreams and is manifested and works in mysterious ways at night while his body sleeps.

Will Hobbs has created an exquisitely plotted, nail-biting experience that has great morals and teaches about the values of friendship and family. The characters learn that nature brings people together and can change a person's outlook on life. The main character, Jessie, and her friends are at a summer camp for troubled kids that they call "Hoods in the Woods." At the beginning of the book, all of their lives are going down river. As they are plunged into the great adventure of rafting down the rough Colorado River, the characters' personalities and the conflicts between them come out. Troy is stunning but turns out to be selfish and narcissistic. Star is weak and fragile but transforms into a self-confident person. There are other characters too, each one very different. This really brings the story to life. You know that with every catastrophe they face and overcome, they are only closer to the ultimate win that comes at the end when everything falls into place. It is a phenomenal book. The book twists into a novel about the love and friendships people can make when you get past your differences.

Downriver by Will Hobbs reviewed by Maia Hazelwood

Will Hobbs has created an exquisitely plotted, nail-biting experience that has great morals and teaches about the values of friendship and family. The characters learn that nature brings people together and can change a person's outlook on life. The main character, Jessie, and her friends are at a summer camp for troubled kids that they call "Hoods in the Woods." At the beginning of the book, all of their lives are going down river. As they are plunged into the great adventure of rafting down the rough Colorado River, the characters' personalities and the conflicts between them come out. Troy is stunning but turns out to be selfish and narcissistic. Star is weak and fragile but transforms into a self-confident person. There are other characters too, each one very different. This really brings the story to life. You get this overwhelming feeling when you read this book, a feeling of how good life is if you can look at it in a certain way. You can feel the everlasting friendships that the characters form. You feel the tension as they fight for their lives against nature's forces. You know that with every catastrophe they face and overcome, they are only closer to the ultimate win that comes at the end. It is a phenomenal book. I can say that I have found a respect not as much for nature, but for people. It has increased my awareness of how wonderfully different we are. The book twists into a novel about the love and friendships people can make when you get past your differences. I do have an attitude towards Mother Nature that she can be rough and beautiful. If you want to get all you can out of her, you have to experience them both.

Will Hobbs has created an exquisitely plotted, nail-biting experience that has great morals and teaches about the values of friendship and family. The characters learn that nature brings people together and can change a person's outlook on life. The main character, Jessie, and her friends are at a summer camp for troubled kids that they call "Hoods in the Woods." At the beginning of the book, all of their lives are going down river. As they are plunged into the great adventure of rafting down the rough Colorado River, the characters' personalities and the conflicts between them come out. Troy is stunning but turns out to be selfish and narcissistic. Star is weak and fragile but transforms into a self-confident person. There are other characters too, each one very different. This really brings the story to life. You get this overwhelming feeling when you read this book, a feeling of how good life is if you can look at it in a certain way. You can feel the everlasting friendships that the characters form. You feel the tension as they fight for their lives against nature's forces. You know that with every catastrophe they face and overcome, they are only closer to the ultimate win that comes at the end when everything falls into place. It is a phenomenal book. I can say that I have found a respect not as much for nature, but for people. It has increased my awareness of how wonderfully different we are. The book twists into a novel about the love and friendships people can make when you get past your differences. I do have an attitude towards Mother Nature that she can be rough and beautiful. If you want to get all you can out of her, you have to experience them both.

It is a SCANDAL that Canyon Ranch would publish this book as I am personnaly aware of the age discrimination that this company practices. They recently fired their 69-year-old demonstration chef, Ruby Goodnoff,to replace her with a young man. This pattern of age discrimination contradicts and belies the title of this book.

This is an excellant way to find out how to be truly good to yourself. To treat yourself inside and out positively, in a 12th grade level, yet still very formal. I highly recommend this book for those of you who are beginning a lifestyle change towards healthy living, or if you have been living healthy. An excellant way to keep you on your toes!

This book was a breath of fresh air. Most of what you read in the personal development genre seems to make you feel guilty for your lifestyle. This book tells you that you're okay and how to work with what you have to make your life even better. I was so inspired by the book that I recently went to Canyon Ranch in Tucson. That place is fantastic! The introduction in the book claims that they are trying to put the spa resort in a book in case you can't make it there. From first hand experience, I can say that this book really does sum up the philosophy and spirit of Canyon Ranch. I highly recommend this read.

After reading the first two books, I really had hopes that Book 3 would tie things together and get better. Obviously this is a "beach book", but not even a good one. It did improve to a certain extent; the grammar and spelling were greatly improved. Unfortunately, it lacked something, and was fairly predictable. I was disappointed with the trite, "old" excuse of Dusty's mother acting like a... so that's why she was a "bad" person, and made his life miserable, and every other male she came in contact with, ya da, ya da. Original, this isn't. In fact, I got pretty sick of all the whining. The Anasazi story wasn't bad, but the descriptions of the black ebony hair, etc. etc. finally got to me. If you want to read it, don't pay for it.

I definitely would not advise anyone to start reading this series with this book. There is a lot of backstory and while the authors do a good job with weaving explanations in the text, there were times when I found myself asea about certain points dealt with in the earlier books. However, I read the two previous novels and I was delighted to find this one.

Moving in time between American Pre-history and the present, the authors touch on nearly every major controversy about the Anasazi, past and present. Vicious scholarly infighting is contrasted against the swing of war clubs. As the suspense builds, the authors do a good job at showing how the investigative skills of archaeologists are not that different from that of law enforcement (whether in the past or present)-- both are attempting to reconstruct past actions and draw conclusions about the actors.

Definitely recommended for a reading on a chilly evening with a pot of hot coffee and a few biscotti on a tray.

"Bone Walker" is much scarier than "Summoning God" and "The Visitant." It also puts Dusty and Maureen in peril, which didn't allow much advancement in fleshing out supporting characters like Steve, Magpie and Sylvia who were so engaging in the other books. Still, it's great to see the Dusty/Maureen relationship flourish, and with additions of new characters I imagine this isn't the last we'll see of Dusty, Maureen, Browser and Catkin. I don't recommend reading this book without first stocking up on nachos, salsa and burritos because in between the scares there are many detailed descriptions of delicious Mexican food that will make your mouth water.
This book brings Browser to the forefront by putting many of the scenes from the 13th century in his POV. Browswer wishes to revenge the wrongs done to him by the "Summoning God" and "Visitant." No longer a brooding War Chief, Browser is now the one who needs to lead Catkin and Stone Ghost out of harms way. The action in this book is more vivid and disturbing than the first two, but it also requires you puzzle out intricate plots both in the 13th and 22nd centuries.
It's well worth reading, and I hope there will be another in this series.

Ok, I bought this book based on the reviews, but man was I disappointed. First of all, the author does seem to have a great deal of insight about he Catholic church, which I tend to agree with. However, if someone really wants to get deeper into that subject I would recommend reading "A Woman Rides the Beast" by Dave Hunt. A much more scholarly and in depth treatment of the history of the "Worlds greatest cult".
Secondly, concerning the identity of "666". The author is totally in error when he identifys the "mark of the beast" as a religious system. Scripture says that the mark of the beast is the number of a MAN, not a church. There is a book in print intitled "The Antichrist and a Cup of Tea" written by Tim Cohen. This book is, in my opinion is the best and most important information available on the subject of the Antichrist. I recommend it to everyone I talk to on this subject. I would call it a must read!
Thirdly, the author's background. He gives us a mini-autobiography of himself, but fails to share his testimony. Just as Jesus said to Necodemus. "You must be born again", no man can "see" the kingdom of God unless he is born again of the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Truth which will lead you into all truth! When a man is indeed born again, he knows it, and knows when ane where and under what circumstances it took place. Not only that, it becomes the most important aspect of who he is.
I give this book 2 stars,1 for effort, and 1 for the authors stand on the Catholic church.

I read this book and really enjoyed the author's slant on the catholic religion; however I was skeptical about some of the prophesies and connections between various biblical references. I then researched each and every prophesy as well as asked two local ministers to help me in my studies. The result was that this book was 100% accurate on everything it outlined. My whole church is now reading it and we have agreed that the author Mr Adams is the true authority on biblical prophesy. We highly recommend this book to all readers and all people of the earth.

This particular book is very well written and easily read. This is a powerful book. I read it in three hours. I simply couldnt put it down (not even to use the bathroom). If you read this book then you are going to need a highlighter so you can mark certain spots and research this info for yourself. While I do not doubt that this author is correct in his writings, I will study it for myself. I urge that every reader do the same. Especially before you write a review.
If you are a Christian (especially a catholic) this book will shock you. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to expand their understanding of the book of Revelations.
BUY THIS BOOK, READ IT, GIVE IT TO YOUR PASTOR TO READ, AND BUY COPIES FOR YOUR FAMILY. BUT MOST OF ALL, DO THE RESEARCH FOR YOURSELF.

In Canyons, by Gary Paulsen, there are two main characters. One is Coyote Runs, an Apache Indian who is about to become a man when the story begins. He was killed during a war against British soldiers. About two hundred years later, the second character is a 12 year old boy named Brennan. Brennan's favorite activity is running. During a camping trip the to El Paso desert in between Mexico and Texas, Brennan digs up a skull. He wants to know more about the skull. Professor Homesley is Brennan's science teacher. Brennan goes to Homesley to find out more about the skull and whose brain used to be in it.

I would say that Canyons is very similar to one of Gary Paulsen's other books, Hatchet. Both boys live with their mothers and both know how to survive in the wilderness.

Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room, all by Gary Paulsen, each won a Newbery Honor award.

I thought Canyons was a pretty interesting book, but was also quite boring in certain chapters. I found much of the book too full of scientific information that I didn't understand. I have also read Hatchet and Dongsong by Gary Paulsen and prefer them to Canyons. If I were you I would pick something else to read.

This book was Da Bomb!. If you want a book with suspense and drama read Canyons. This book was about a boy named Brennan and a skull he found when he was on a camping trip. In the first part it has double life chapters. In other words, it had one chapter with Brennan and one chapter on an apache boy named Coyote Runs.

This book seemed boring at first, In the beginning the author introduce the characters, but after that there doesn't seem to be enough action,but when you get into it the book gets more interesting, for instance, get's to the point were four or five chapters later you get into the book more easily, because it tells about coyote Runs

Canyons is a great adventure story. The main characters are Brennan, Mr. Homesly and Brennan's mother. In this book Brennan stumbled over a skull with a bullet hole in it. After this, he had trouble sleeping. He had strange dreams, and he heard whispers. He finally realized that he had a quest from an Apache boy who was executed by soldiers for no reason. His quest was to return the skull to the medicine place. Could he do it? Once Brennan had a vision about Coyote Runs, the Apache boy. In his vision Brennan saw soldiers coming after him like they did to Coyote Runs. This reminds me of the time I was playing guns. I was climbing on the rough rocks of Devil's Den at Gettysburg, playing with my brother. I could see myself slipping, fearing that I might fall just like Brennan did when he climbed the cliffs with the rescue team behind him. When Brennan went camping, he was having a lot of fun. Then when he found the skull, he was scared. This reminds me of the time when I went camping in Canyonlands in Utah. It was a lot of fun at first, but then I got worried that the creek next to our tents was going to flood. That night in our sleeping bags, we heard the water come closer and closer. I was so scared I almost jumped out of my shorts! I felt just like Brennan did when he found the skull. When Brennan was doing research with Mr. Homesly, he was trying to find out more facts about Coyote Runs. He wanted to know who this boy was. When I was studying about the Civil War, I did alot of hard work looking into the past and trying to understand what happened. I was staying up late just like Brennan did looking at every detail. Canyons is a great book for kids. It's loaded with action, suspense and alot of adventure. I recommend it to every boy in our class