John O'Brien has lived and thoroughly researched the Appalachian label. This book is a "must read" for any native of WV that wonders why they don't feel like an "Appalachian" and yet have been referred to as such. It is also the story of a young man fighting "Appalachian fatalism". It can be seen as a struggle against and a struggle for West Virginian culture. A great first book.

As a resident of Pendleton County during the first 22 years of my life, I have discovered through the writing of John O'Brien why I harbor an intense pride of my home state. A must read for anyone who has lived in the beautiful mountain state, anyone who has traveled there, or anyone who is curious about Appalachia. Beautifully and simply written, with historical facts and interspersed with personal vignettes.

This is a terrific book. O'Brien writes with a compelling style that could almost classify the book as a page turner (which is quite rare for this type of non fiction).

As a native West Virginian, just about every chapter had something that I strongly identified with...the West Virginia style family reunion in Pocahontas County, the "deep family secrets" that only the women talk about, the strong sense of family and community, the love of the outdoors, etc.

Growing up in Northern West Virginia, I always considered (and still do) my childhood to be somewhat idyllic. It was small town life with football, 4-H camp, camping vacations, spending summers at my grandmother's farm, etc. I was always puzzled as an adult after I had moved out of the state for graduate school at the quizzical/sorrowful looks that I would receive from people when I told them of my native state. John O'Brien has clearly articulated the history and reasons behind those stereotypes and I believe debunked most of the unfair ones.

I would recommend this book to any West Virginian (both resident and expat) who has that strong sense of pride in their heritage, but is searching for answers and explanations about the conflicting messages they receive from "the outside".

My only trepidation in this whole thing is that it took John O'Brien so long to write this first book, that another book from him may be a long time in coming.

I highly recommend this newest Handbook edition as the guidebook of choice for doing extended hikes on the Appalachian Trail. It seems to be the one book recommended by all the past thru-hikers I've talked with, and most of them considered it an indispensable part of their gear during their hike. The author has done seven thru-hikes, and it is apparent that he knows what Appalachian Trail thru-hikers need. Some of the things I like: It contains detailed information about all shelters, campsites, water sources, and other important facilities along the entire A.T., as well as the latest available information about places in nearby towns used by thru-hikers for rest and resupply. It gives the inside scoop on hundreds of preferred hostels, campgrounds, motels, restaurants, grocery stores, laundromats, outfitters, and other services needed by thru-hikers. It also has lots of tidbits about wildlife, wildflowers, history, and interesting things to be seen along the trail. I like the way the information is presented in an easy-to-follow format designed specifically for field use. Maps of towns most frequently used by long-distance hikers are included, as well as mileage data for the entire A.T. from Georgia to Maine. As far as I'm concerned, it has everything needed for hiking long-distances on the Appalachian Trail. Plus, it's lighweight and compact, a real plus for thru-hiking.

I have used Dan's guide books for a few years and find each new
edition to be better than the rest. I used the information to do
a 300 mile section hike in May and June of this year. It was
extremely helpful in planning my town stops and resupply points.
The inclusion of historic information as well as plant and fauna
descriptions elevate it above just facts and figures.
In the back of the guide is a section to submit updates on
anything the reader finds has changed since the guide was

published. This gives everyone the chance to participate in
keeping the guide up to date.
I am extremely happy with "The Thru-Hikers Guide" and will
choose it for all my future Appalachian Trail hiking needs in
the future.

I've used the Thru-hiker's guide in planning hikes of 35 to 250 miles on the Appalachian trail and have it extremely valuable.

This guide, which is updated yearly, is a wonderful resource for planning long-distance hikes on the Appalachian Trail and for consultation along the way. It provides specific information about resources available on and near the trail, including shelters, water sources, campsites, stores for food and other supplies, post-offices, restaurants, hostels and transportation. It also contains accurate mileage information (to the 1/10 mile) for distances on the trail and basic directions and mileage information for off-trail resources.

While the authors provide some information about each region through which the trail travels and does list some of the side trails and the many interesting destinations to which they lead -the clear focus of the guide is on the pragmatics of getting around on and near the trail. Because many people who hike the entire trail or large sections of it will carry the book (or one piece of the book at a time) with them, the information is presented in a highly condensed format. In this sense, the book is a highly specific tool - well designed for a very specific purpose. Those looking for a guide to gear for thru-hiking will need to look elsewhere, as will those who are looking for a good deal of colorful information about the areas they travel in, reviews about the strengths and weaknesses of the various hostels and restaurants along the way. Most long distance hikers would not want to carry a book with that kind of detail.

Many people who have thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail have also used the "Thru-hikers planning guide" workbook, which can be used as a companion to this guide.

This was my first novel by Sharyn McCrumb and I loved it.It's not all that suspenseful-so if that's what you're looking for,you might be disappointed.Although the hunt at the end was exciting.This is a truly wonderful book about a family coming together when they find out that their father is on his deathbed.I loved all of the characters and from reading this novel I can tell that the author has good insight into what makes people talk and react the way they do.Her characters were wonderfully developed and I couldn't help but fall in love with themI'm sure we have all met people who have reminded us of some of the Stargills.The description of the mountains and land where the story took place was also done very well.It made me feel like I was there and not too many writers can make me feel that when I'm reading.I felt like I could feel the atmosphere of where everyone lived.I also like the way she tied the present with the past and the undercurrent of mystery added to the novel.Sharyn has got a new fan and I hope all of her other books are as enjoyable as this one was.I noticed our local library has The Ballad Of Frankie Silver so I think I'll go down and pick it up.

I have read "She Walks These Hills" and "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" and thought both novels were great. But this third one, which involves Nora Bonesteel more in the story line, is definitely the best so far. Nora Bonesteel has become one of my favorite fictional characters (I would love to see a movie based on her)and Sharyn McCrumb my favorite writer. This book sends a chill up your spine at the very beginning - and keeps it there all the way to the conclusion!

Sharyn McCrumbs books convey the character and spirit of Appalachia in a beautiful way. Her descriptions of the land and the people make you long to know more. This book is no exception. In this story a distant family comes together as their father lays dying. Ms McCrumb portrays her characters personalities so vividly you feel that you are reading about your hometown and the people in it and you really come to care about the characters and the area in which they live. I hope she continues to write her Ballad series and allows us the privilege of getting to know people such as Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and Nora Bonesteel better.

This is a wonderful story of bonds of love shared by mothers and their daughters as well as the love between men and women. Elizabeth, the midwife whose tale we are caught up in, isn't perfect but she is strong, smart and interesting. This is indeed a strong telling of a moving story but I wasn't aware that this kind of well-written novel was out of style.

One thing I loved about this book was that somehow, though it's not written in the sort of folksy dialect usually used to depict mountain people, the author lets the true voice of these people shine through. It's a very skillful job and gives the reader a real sense of place.

I look forward to the next book by this author.

"A Midwife's Tale" is a solid, intelligent book, the compelling story of Elizabeth Whitely, last in a long line of midwives who have served the women and children of a remote West Virginia valley for generations. It begins prior to World War I when Elizabeth, training under her mother, discovers the brutal dark side of midwifery. It is the first of the harsh realities of life she will face.

Laskas has drawn a unique character in Elizabeth Whitely, a strong woman who meets disappointments with courage and a great generosity of spirit and happiness with spirited enthusiasm. All the characters in this novel are invested with such original, yet believable, human traits that even the fanciful strains of the story are plausible. It's a complex story, with surprising twists and turns and a truly memorable heroine making her way through it all.

The time and setting of "A Midwife's Tale" are unique, yet never threaten to overpower or even intrude on the story. So seamlessly does the author blend the aspects of a distinctive region that it was only once that I even noticed the dialect. Yet I was always "knew" the geography and history of the place, as well as "heard" the sound of the characters' voices. I've read well-received books by more experienced authors who don't do this nearly as well as Miss Laskas.

"A Midwife's Tale" is a wonderful love story and a polished, literary first novel. I still think about it, even though it's been weeks and many books in between since I read it. I highly recommend it.

I am almost amused at these negative reviewers. If you don't care for the book, that is fine. Just say so. There are books we all don't like. But why such strong opinions and so much upset of the reviews from those who do like it ? What are you really saying ? I am saying if you are looking for romance novels, you must look elsewhere as there is a major difference here between them and literature. Get my drift ?

The Dollmaker was a novel about a family and it's struggle to stay together. The main character Gertie Nevel moved her family from Kentucky to Detroit in an effort to survive. It was during War World II and Gertie's family was in dire need of money. Though Gertie is strong willed, her fight in the chaotic wartime of Detroit thrusts her into a life she is at times unable to bare. The type of life she lived before and her morals she brought up with her to Michigan is something she continued to battle with through out the book. Her love for land, crops, and the country throws her into despair. Her Detroit home smothered her with disbeliefs of never being happy in an environment such as a city life. The home itself was small and she felt like she could have been suffocated at any moment. Her perception of urban life is not a good one either. She views Kentucky as this beautiful place where life should be, and instead she's in Detroit where there is nothing but evil. Another problem Gerite faces is in her leisure time; there she is incapable to whittle the small dolls for Cassie, her youngest daughter. Now she has to make ugly, unwanted dolls to make money. Gertie is a character with a lot of inner strength, and yet her spirit was broken through out the novel. Although this book was stretched out in miniscule detail it allowed the readers to understand more clearly how life changes for the better.

The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow

This is a magnificant, powerful book about a woman's strength, endurance and inner beauty in the face of despair and hopelessness. The innocent faithfulness and innate goodness of Gertie, many times described as a massive, unattractive woman, turns her into an angelic, beautiful creature for the reader. Gertie, always the champion of her children and "good wife" to her husband, triumphs over adversity, fends for herself and emerges as a wonderful role model for people everywhere. For a person characterized with little education, she had the quick thinking, common sense intelligence of someone with far more education. The mountain vernacular was at times difficult to decipher, but with continued reading it became easier. The descriptions of nature and scenery were so richly detailed that it was easy to picture the story--almost as if a movie was being watched. One horrible part in the story was described in such a graphic manner that the reader could literally be sickened, because by this time in the book, the characters are your own, like family members.

This may be one of the greatest works of literature portraying "woman's strength" ever written. Give it a try--you'll like it.

The central character in The Dollmaker is Gertie - a strong Appalacian woman during WWII. Forced by economic conditions and pressured by her husband and family, she leaves the isolation of the rural mountains for Urban life in Detroit. This is a compelling page turner - it's not a fairy tale and it has a hard edge. Currently on assignment in Appalacia, I have had an opportunity to view Gertie's world first hand. Jane Fonda's TV Movie is also recommended - it is faithful to the book and Ms. Fonda's performance won an Emmy. I read this book over 10 yrs ago and I never forgot it.

This novel has some genuinely transcendant moments, such as a scene early in the book when Granny Younger--one of the novel's many narrators--spies on two characters kissing in a field. Smith writes, "The lightning flashes right then and I see her face and it is old, old. It is older and meanern time. Red Emmy stars me right in the eye and she spits one time on the rainy ground." She weaves an interesting story that passes seamlessly from one generation to another. The book has two major flaws, however. One is that the ghost story of the Cantrell household, which continues as a thread from the beginning of the novel to the end, is never fully realized. The other is that the book has a serious problem with voice. The most convincing character in the story is Richard Burlage, a somewhat pathetic and naive schoolteacher from away who falls in love with a mountain girl. Several of the mountain people speak in a voice that seems contrived and awkward, not at all natural in the way they tell their story. At times Smith does herself a disservice by telling the story through so many different narrators. Still, it is a well-informed, compelling story with many nice moments.

On the plus side, Lee Smith's Oral History lives up to its title. While reading it, I felt as if I were camped at the feet of an old uncle or a grandmother who was telling tall tales--based on truth, but making a lot of it up as he or she went along. Another plus is that Smith, having grown up in the hollers of Southwest Virginia, has a genuine ear for the dialect and the cadence of speech her characters use (although there were some instances where an uneducated Granny Younger used phrases that were probably more educated than their speaker, making them sound as if someone else [Lee Smith] was talking). Smith paints a colorful story around equally colorful characters that seem very real. I grew up not too far from this area, and I could identify with many of the people in Smith's story.

On the minus side, the story felt disjointed somehow. The beginning and the end felt tacked on. The ending felt especially rushed and contrived, as if the author couldn't think of any other way to end it, so she threw it all together somehow. But to Smith's credit, that's sometimes how tall tales and legends feel, as if the storyteller rushes to an ending just to end it all.

I also felt that as the story went along, that I was led down some bunny trails that never were dealt with. For example, what was the deal with Pricey Jane's earrings? I know she had them when she arrived in the holler, and she passed them on to Dore, who passed them on to one of her twin daughters. But Pricey Jane was good, so why did the earrings represent evil? They popped up too many times in the story for there to be no real explanation.

Overall, Oral History was good, though it plodded at times and I had to force myself to keep reading. But if you can get through those few points, it's worth it. Smith is a good writer and a decent storyteller, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

In the tradition of her other novels like "Fair and Tender Ladies," this book truly captures the spirit of the mountain people, their lives, and their lore. Smith masterfully creates her characters through the use of mountain dialect, and each one comes alive to the reader in a unique way. The use of details that she has collected from meticulous research on Appalachian lore serves to further the reader's impression that she is truly a master at work. If you liked "Fair and Tender Ladies" then don't miss this one!

This book will inevitably be compared to Bill Bryson's recent book about hiking the Appalachian Trail, A Walk in the Woods. This book is far superior. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Walk, but it was mostly just an amusement, without any depth or real insight. Rubin's book gives a far more comprehensive and even realistic account of hiking the AT. For one thing, Rubin actually hiked the entire trail, while Bryson hiked about half--still quite an accomplishment. Bryson's hike is a lark, a way to find another topic to write about. But for Rubin, hiking the AT was far more personal and his reasons for more complicated. That's what we learn about, as we also discover the wonderful, oddball culture that makes the trail so unique.

I recently completed reading "On the Beaten Path" by Robert Rubin. It is a (recent) release about an Appalachian thruhike pilgrimage. You have probably read other journals if considering walking the 2100 mile journey but I am sure you won't find one better. It is not a "how to" book. Rather, his prose are that of a trained writer which makes reading the journal swift and entertaining. Rubin somehow doesn't write much about his gear not unlike a surgeon omitting comments about a particular scalpel. Being a gear addict, I was dissappointed because of this omission but accepted the fact that his load was just plain heavy. Rubin does write of the heavy feeling in his heart as each step takes him further and further from his wife but closer to his ultimate goal of completing the trail.

I never really considered thruhiking the Appalachian Trail. Too many sacrifices and excuses at this stage of my life. Robert Rubin felt the same way but one day realized he needed to do something meaningful for himself. I may not ever find myself on Springer Mountain in Georgia where the trail commences but after reading this delightful book, I will always look at thruhikers with a renewed amount of respect. - John

Both my wife and self have just finished this book, and highly recommend it to all who are intereted in hiking and/or the AT, and we believe it is excellent first rate reading. Robert Rubin reveals the human side of man, the real life stresses which resulted in his need to walk this walk, and the conflict created in doing it, and leaving all behind until he's finished.

We absolutely disagree with the very pious and judgemental thoughts of person who wrote, "Bryson says it better". As much as I enjoyed Brysons, A Walk In The Woods, and thought it an excellent and humourous read, Rubin finished his AT walk, which unfortunately Bill Bryson did not. Both left wives behind, so what's the difference. Rubens walk no doubt strengthened him and maybe brought him and his wife closer together. Leaving wife and home behind for six months to walk the beaten path was no doubt hard, and caused it's share of stesses and anguish. In Rhymin Worm's case, this walk seemed to be just the therapy he needed to sort out the conflicts of mid life, and he had one hell of an adventure along the way in doing it.

All in all, good sence of humour, great adventure, excellent reading, and if I could give it six stars I would. This book is very well written, and kept us riveted to the last page. Both thumbs up from down under, "New Zealand".

A few punches to the face and a kick to the ribs was all the thief needed to render him unconscious. As he wakes up, he is on a wagon entering a strange village where he can't escape from. Who are these people? Where is he? How does he get home? Will he get home? Author Phyllis Naylor wrote an extraordinary book. I guarantee you have never read anything like this. I strongly advise that everyone reads Sang Spell.

The title of this book was a little weak. In my opinion, Sang Spell doesn't really fit the book until the way end when everything is clear. Josh is trapped in a strange village that he can not find his way out of. He wanders what is holding him in this strange, hidden village. While he is staying there, he has to work with the farm people and pick ginseng. Once they harvest they sell their crop to Japanese traders. Readers find out three quarters of the way through the book that the ginseng has a lot to do with why Josh can't leave. This theme doesn't make sense to me. Why does the ginseng have a strange power to keep him in the village? The reader is not going to be interested in a book that has ginseng in the title. Sang Spell sounds like a weak book. There is nothing in that title that makes me want to pick the book up. The fact of the matter is that his book is a really good book. The title should be a little more attention getting. This would make readers want to pick the book up; something that grabs your attention from the start. Ginseng and spell are two dull words, and aren't that much brighter when they are put together. This is a really good book and the title takes away from that. The reason that I picked up Sang Spell is, a friend from Tolland had this book on a required summer reading list. I read the book and thought that it was really good. Her writing style kept my attention throughout the whole book. She wrote in a way to keep the reader guessing. For example, she didn't reveal the significance of ginseng until the way out. The reader wonders the whole time why Josh can't leave the village. Another aspect of her writing that amazes me is how she shows the characters emotions so clearly. The whole time I was reading the book I felt what Josh was feeling. I felt like I knew what he was going through. I felt the frustration that he felt. That makes the book really hard to put down. When you feel like your in the book and you can relate to what's going on this makes the book more interesting. Another reason that the book was so good was the fact that the story could never happen in real life. The story is like that thing you dread most and would figure would never happen, but then you say to yourself, but what if? It's interesting to read about something like that. She is a great author and has a really good writing style. Her writing is hard to put down and connect with her readers. To sum up, Sang Spell, was a great book. She is one of those authors that you never get sick of. The book was hard to put down. Full of suspense and assumption, this book isn't one to pass.

I read Sang Spell, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. It is a story of a boy, Josh Vardy, who recently lost his mother and is hitchhiking down to Dallas (from Boston) to live with his aunt. However, along the way something happens and he finds himself lost in the Appalachian Mountains, in a small, almost medieval, settlement called Canara. While in Canara Josh is put to work digging ginseng, or 'sang as the natives call it, to earn his keep in the small establishment. Throughout his stay, Josh goes on somewhat of a spiritual journey to find his way out of Canara. He believes that the ginseng has something to do with him being stuck, hence the title of the book, Sang Spell. The plot is intriguing, yet confusing in parts. Aside from that however, I enjoyed this book. It had good character development, details and many twists. Overall, Sang Spell was very well written and had a truly original plot. It was the perfect cross between fantasy, mystery and suspense.
There are many fantasy elements in this story. One, for instance, is the fact that Canara moves throughout the Appalachians during the night. One day it'll be north the next it may be farther south. This element keeps the book interesting because you never know quite where they are or what state Canara is in. In the book, many times, this movement keeps Josh from escaping Canara, for before he can leave he needs to know where he is and what direction he needs to go. Another example of the fantasy elements in Sang Spell is the fact that when Josh first attempts to leave Canara, he ends up back where he started. The path he took had no fork in it nor a bend, so how is such a thing possible? Read and find out.

Sang Spell is also full of is suspense. Many times in the book Josh is threatened by Kaspar, another young man whom, like Josh, stumbled into Canara and is also trapped. Kaspar often demands that Josh help him escape, threatening him with a jack knife. This always kept me wondering whether or not Josh would get out of Canara alive. In addition to this, near the end Josh is being chased at sundown as he tries to escape Canara. This kept me reading. I was curious to whether or not he would be caught. However I cannot tell you the out come of it, you'll have to read and find out.
Throughout the book the author continually refers back to one saying, 'sometimes to go forward, you have to go back'. But what does this mean? It is the reason Josh cannot leave Canara, at least not until he's "ready", but what does it have to do with him leaving? I can't tell. This is one of the main mysterious elements in Sang Spell. Another particular example, is that Canara is repeatedly referred to as "a place of healing", but why? This as well, is not revealed until the end. A final example of this book's mysterious elements are, why some people, born in Canara, can go to "The Edge", and others cannot, or why only some who stumble upon the place find their way out. So, as you can see, there are many things that go unexplained until the very end.
Sang Spell is an adventurous story mixed with supernatural events, hidden answers and thrills. It's a winner, with a little mystery, a dash of suspense and a pinch of fantasy. All the twists thrown in keep your eyes glued to the pages. I would recommend Sang Spell to anyone who has ever felt like they have lost their way. This book is all about finding yourself and renewing your spirits. It is a truly inspirational tale and gave me a new view on society. I hope anyone who reads it will find it as entertaining as I did.

Stuck in Canara is the situation Josh finds himself in after trying to hitch his way to Texas. Josh's mother died a couple weeks before Josh starts his junior year of high school. He decides to live with his aunt in Texas. But before he got there, one driver who picked Josh up beat and robbed him and left him on the side of the road. That is where Leone, a mute woman, finds Josh and brings him to the village of Canara where to go forward, you must first go back.

Soon Josh discovers the people in Canara are all Melungeons - people of mixed races. He also discovers a kind girl named Mavis and befriends a boy named Gil. But Canara isn't where Josh belongs. He wants to go to texas, but can't seem to get out of Canara.

What is happening? Why can't Josh get out? And does he really have the heart to leave Mavis and Gil?

I really like Sang spell because it was a bit creepy, had a little bit of history, dealt with moral dilemmas, and was totally original. If you are looking for any of these qualities in a book, get Sang Spell.

As anyone who's ever walked for more than a few hours knows it can be hard work. Imagine walking from Georgia to Maine; over mountains and through rivers; seeing everyting from tourists to Black Bear. "An Eye on the Horizon" offers readers an opportunity to tag along with a man fufillng his dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. This is a factual book, told with a voice that was raised in the country. A voice that would rather tell you what flowers to look for rather than flowery language. It's also a story of family, because no one makes the trip alone. I made me want to go put on my pack and go for a lone walk in the woods.

I also have had the dream of hiking this magnificent trail since hiking a small section on Roan Mt. as an 11 yr old Boy Scout. I was totally taken by this book from beginning to end.It was if I was experincing the joy,excitement,fatigue,and pain of this journey with the author. I was ready to reverse the trip and go back to Georgia again.

I read this book when it first came out. I'm not a hiker, but after reading the book, I gained a new respect for hikers. The author detailed the layout of the trail in a manner that is easy to understand. He also made you feel like you were there fighting the weather, seeing the sights and struggling to finish the trail. Hard work and true DEDICATION finished the trail and the writing of the book. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EYE FAMILY!!

There are people who can't abide the thought of a snake, and there are those who love the thrill of a serpant like others love the thrill of skydiving. Dennis Covington is a modern Southern who is both repelled and attracted by the quirky form of self-validating faith known as "Snake Handlers". His book takes you to places you've not only never been, but likely never wanted to go. But like the snakes themselves we are both charmed and dismayed by the culture that validates itself by manufacturing uniqueness. "Signs and Wonders" don't have to wait for the Lord to perform them, they are available on demand. The strengths and the obvious weaknesses of this "Holiness by Ordeals" program are uncovered, at the same time as Dennis Covington uncovers a view of the God we can't understand but again have occasion to admire. I don't like the subject of this book (I'm not a snake guy), but like a beautiful snake, I do admire this book and have been enriched by spending some hours in its company. Its a very good read.

It's hard to recommend this book to people because they hear what it's about and almost universally think that they don't want to read about it - religious fanatics handling snakes, drinking poison, plotting to kill their wives - sounds like loads of fun. But it is! It really is. Dennis Covington treats this subject with a great deal of humility and respect. He makes the characters come alive and really shows you some of what they may be thinking or feeling. Everyone that I have convinced to read this has enjoyed it tremendously.

Having always lived ith an ardent curiosity of snake handlers, their religion and their culture, reading and re-reading this book brought forth more questions as others were answered. Covington does an outstanding job of "humanizing" the people involved in this seemingly primitive practice, while at the same time describing the feeling of life in a small Southern, rural area, beset with a moderate dose of illiteracy and poverty. Reading wasn't enough for me, however; I had to SEE it happen. So a week ago some friends and I set out from our home city and traveled 3 hours north to a revival at a snake handling Holiness church in the same area in Alabama that Covington wrote about. Seeing IS believing...it was exactly as he described it. It stood the hair on our necks up. It mesmerized, coaxed, lured. Seeing it explained to me how Covington, for a moment, became a handler. The book so accurately represented the "real" thing, especially in its description of the people. Because I read it, I saw it. Because I saw it, I understand it. I have read ten other books on the subject, and if you want to FEEL what the real thing is like, this is the one book to read.