This important, lavishly produced book will more than satisfy all, including scholars, students and collectors, as well as the casual reader. The highly descriptive/photographic catalog of the comprehensive '98-'99 Palazzo Grassi exhibition (514 artifacts listed on 142 pages of 696 total) is worth the price by itself. The photography is absolutely superb, making this a fun book to just browse through. With more than 20 scholarly articles covering all aspects of the most current knowledge on the MAYA, this is the definitive "Must Have" book on this most amazing culture. Easily worth double or triple Amazon's price.

This book is one of the best books done on Maya art. Hundreds of well-done photographs. Looking at the photos in this book was the first time that it finally sunk in that Maya art is on par with the art of any of what is considered the "best" art from around the world. The articles interspersed with the art are interesting too. Well worth the money.

Now in an updated and expanded seventh edition, Michigan Vacation Guide: Cottages, Chalets, Condos, B&B's presents updated information on rental properties, regional attractions, tours, wineries, casinos, and a whole lot more that would make any vacation or business trip in Michigan simply unforgettable. The collaborative, painstaking effort of Kathy Tedsen and Bev Rydel, the Michigan Travel Guide is enhanced with black-and-white photographs and offers the traveler a wealth of information about various featured sites. The Michigan Vacation Guide a truly first-rate and highly recommended resource planning out an itinerary whether it be for a day-trip, getaway weekend, or an extended vacation.

I have an older version of this book and love it! Have just ordered the new edition and will be waiting for it to arrive. You will not be led astray!

It took me a couple of years to read the book because I spread out the reading to enjoy my armchair travels. My compliments on the work. I can't imagine how all the information was gathered and checked. The author had to travel to each town. I looked up a couple of facts I consider to be little-known facts. They were included in the book, and were correct. I enjoyed reading about places near my weekend cabin. I checked out several of the features. The one I found most amazing was the grave of Comfort Ruggles -- a member of the Boston Tea Party buried in a Missouri country cemetery.

The book is great for the native Missourian and for those travelers who dream of discovering the Show Me State.

Missouri Roadsides is a thorough compilation of almost every town in the state, from the small (Halltown, pop. 161) to the large (St. Louis, pop. 396,685). Based on courthouse records and eyeball observation, you'll find the history of each town, along with recreational areas, attractions, and fascinating tidbits. Armchair historians will like the emphasis on town origins. A special appendix on recreational areas is ideal for travellers, and includes wildlife areas, state parks, even navigable waterways. While the book would have been more complete with more maps and illustrations, Missouri Roadsides is a wealth of information -- and well worth the price!

As a Missouri native, I assure everyone interested in this book of its usefulness. Informative and well written, this book is a must have for anyone visiting, or living in Missouri!

Although I may be biased, (since C.H. "Skip" Curtis is my mother's boyfriend), I really loved this book. It's extremely informative for anyone--novice to expert--who travels on MO Route 66. Skip knows everything there is to know about Route 66; he's the editor of the Missouri Route 66 Magazine and he travels the road every time he visits my mom (which is a good 200 miles one way). Since I grew up on the Mother Road, I thought I knew every old hotel and shady bar on the route, but I was mistaken. Skip fills his book with two road maps (one from St. Louis going to Joplin and another vice versa), so you won't get lost. Also, there are tons of old photographs and postcards. Plus, my mom, my '55 Chevy and my favorite building are in the book; which puts it on the top of my book list. If you buy his book, you'll become a Missouri Route 66 expert (which comes in handy for parties), he'll become rich and I'll get more birthday presents (so, it's an investment we can all enjoy)! If you have any questions after you buy his book, write to him and he'll be more than happy to assist you. Or you can just ask him what C.H. stand for

Everton profiles several Mayan families and follows their lives, in words and pictures, for twenty years. The results are compelling and the black and white photgraphy is stunning. He presents the changes that are taking place in their culture due to the demise of the hennequen and chicle industries and the rise of the tourism industry. The message is one of hope. The Maya have survived through thousands of years of change and they will continue to do so. Having met some of the people profiled in the book in person, I can tell you it is genuine in everyway. A must have for anyone interested in the Maya people and the survival of indigenous cultures!

This book is an excellent read. It provides great estimula for both mind and eyes. As I have lived and worked among poor Mayan peasants for many months, I have been suveying the market of books that describe the situation of the modern Maya of today. Who they are, how they live, how they think. This book shows you it all, without pretending to be an anthropological monograph.

The advantage of this book is that it does not try to submit its message to the reader in didactical terms. Instead, the photos and the accompanying essays elegantly unfold a series of descriptions, episodes and profound insights that together make it possible for the reader to grasp what Mayan life is like today, and how it evolved from the 1960's and 30 years ahead.

The "photo-essay" chosen by Everton as the form of presentation, is a brilliant choice. Everton, author and photographer, lets the reader see a series of facets of Mayan everyday life from the point of view of individual Mayan friends of Everton. The solidarity and love with which Everton shows us scenes from Mayan everyday life does not undermine the books credibility. All general conclusions are based on individual examples. The care for precision in details and the interest taken in describing the common episodes and daily chores of Mayan peasant life make it possible for us to get close to Everton's friends. I have not come across any other book that equals Evertons work in this respect.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of the book is the way it reveals to the reader how the book came to be. Already the ntroductory chapters pose the problem, how we should think about the concept of Mayan culture. It discusses how Mayas are usually portrayed in the Western world, and it contemplates how this idea can be refined.

Some 20 Mayan peoples of today are the descendants of the ancient Mayas who built the famous pyramid temples. But we must consider that the Mayas have a present and a future as well as a past. Otherwize, we will not be able to understand the dynamics of contemporary Mayan life, says the book. In this respect, the ever changing Mayan culture is just like any other human culture in history.

Everton's photo essays form a persuading defense of the value of what is called the "cultural diversity" of the world.

If you want to know the story of Montana, this is where you start. It's written by the best journalist-writer who ever lived in the state (excluding Bud Guthrie, of course, who chose fiction instead). It must be understood that it is not a "definitive history" as Howard himself stated, but a personal narrative of what matters. In the past two decades, a cottage industry of Howard-bashing has emerged in Montana, by historians eager to establish their own reputations. Yes, some of what Howard wrote was incorrect. Other aspects of his writings now seem outmoded (the colonial economy thing). But to say modern history proves Joe Howard was wrong is like saying Lewis and Clark are disproven by Rand-McNally. Howard was the visionary who showed the way to what Montana should and could be. But 50 years later, this remains the best non-fiction book that will ever be written about Montana.

I first read this book back in the early 60's when I was stationed in Montana. I found it full of facts that you don't find in history books. The characters are real and believable; makes you wish you had a time machine to go back and witness the action. A must for history buffs.

Veteran guidebook writer and trained geographer Wayne has done a nice job on this book. It's interesting to read and has a great deal of practical information. In addition to a full range of hotels, language schools, restaurants and the like, there's also a comprehensive history and politics section. The other background info is in the mark as well. There are many budget hotels here, and the author has definitely done his homework.

General Info: Introduction and On the Road section has general information about the country. These sections talk about History, Government, Economy and some other topics in good detail. It even gets into the issues like photographic etiquette and people customs, that are very important in a country like Guatemala.

Places Info: It details the most important places to visit. It tells you what it's worth seeing and what not. Information is accurate and shows that the writer has spent very good time in Guatemala or doing research, just don't trust the movie theathers suggested in the book.

Comments: The book seems to be written by a very informed author. Some of the stories told in the book show a great involvement in the culture and that the author really knew deep details about some places and events. It has very good side notes about interesting people, traditions, history and events.

I teach 3rd grade, and I read this book aloud to my students each year. Ann Cameron gives a realistic picture of a child abandoned by his mother, and taken in by his grandmother.
She gives a wonderful message about the importance of education and asking for what is really important to you. Although this book is written in easy to read language and great illustrations, the author's messages are best discussed with young ones. I thank Ann Cameron every time I read this book.

This is a delightful children's book about a boy living in San Pablo, a small town on the shores of Lake Atitlán, in Guatemala - truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. The story is a heartwarming, but authentic depiction of the trials and joys of a boy's life in rural Guatemala. The drawings are also accurate portraits of village life. The themes of responsibility, love, and quest for knowledge are timeless. Not only will children enjoy this charming tale, but adults will enjoy reading it to them.

Great book, well written, easy to read, good humor.
Smart layout enables you to xerox the two facing pages to have a complete map and guide for each ride.
The reference section at the end of the book gives you phone number and other info for hotels, restaurants, dealerships, chamber of commerce, etc.; very convenient.

Highly recommended.

I first read about this book in an article in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution and had to buy a copy. It was a little hard to find. After reading and taking in many of the adventures listed in the book by Hawk Hagebak, I must say that it is the most insightful and intelligent Motorcycle Guidebook I've ever read. The author uses his experience as a former motorcycle cop to give practical (and humorous!) advice for everything between avoiding a ticket to handling a breakdown. He's really funny! The book is broken into 20+ chapters, each chapter is a ride. The rides include restaurant recommmendations, road descriptions, a map and often some interesting information about the area. My favorite quote from the book is on page 9 where the author is telling the reader how to embellish a "road lie". "I was riding Mile High and the abominable snowman came out of one of the scenic overlooks and chased me all the way into Robbinsville!" The author continues, "Lesson learned? Other than the obvious hazard of a slick road, there's an abominable snowman to contend with, and who wants that?" Another funny quote is in Ridge and Valley Chapter. That ride cuts through a town named, "Sublinga". The author pokes fun at the name by saying, "No, not the medical word- Doctor, my Sublinga is swollen!" The maps are great and they're next to written directions to the right of the maps. I found the rides easy to find and easy to follow. He even includes the mileage from point to point (you can reset your odometer at the start of the ride to keep up with the map mileage). If you are new to the area or have been living in the region for several years (myself for 7 years). I thought I knew all the mountain roads, I do know a lot of them, but not with the detail provided in the book. Very handy, if only the area for the book were larger..... Maybe he will put out another motorcycle guide book? A great buy, even if you are not a biker like me. Just stick your head out the window to act like you're on a bike.... Enjoy...I sure did.

This is a book that any mountain biker in Indiana, Eastern Illinois, or Northern Kentucky should have. Dozens of trails, helpful directions, and contour maps. There are a number of terrific, yet out of the way single-track trails included. The only negative is that it is a bit dated.

Layne Cameron has truly given Indiana cyclists something to be proud of. He has displayed, with inciteful commentary and fun humor, the best mountain biking Indiana has to offer and the interesting monuments these trails have near their locale.This book is an all-terrain cycling Bible with wonderful maps and excellent directions. Thanks Layne!