William deBuys combines history, anthropology, ethnography, and environmental and land use science to show how all of these threads weave through three cultures -- Pueblo indian, Hispano, and Anglo -- in the Sangre de Cristo range of northern New Mexico to create a unique and fascinating place. The book is scholarly in its scope, but very readable. From the haunting, almost surreal image he paints in the Preface, in which he describes stumbling across a downed airplane in the snowbound mountains of the Pecos Wilderness, to the vivid character study of an Hispano couple reminiscing about their courtship and wedding over sixty years ago, deBuys's writing is consistenly fine. Anyone interested in this part of the country, or anyone interested in how a specific landscape acts and is acted upon by three radically different cultures, will enjoy this book. Highly recommended

Very well written, a lovely landscape of history, thoughts, and pictures... one of three books by the same author that lured me to that beautiful land of North Central New Mexico... if only for a visit... worth the money, worth the time, worth the magic.

I bought this book hoping for some moderate day hikes. Only 11 were 5 mi. or less, and some of those could be found in any guide book. This book is really written for sturdy backpackers: most hikes are overnighters or more.

That said, the book is well prepared and each hike is accompanied by a topographical map and detailed directions and descriptions. Essential information, such as water availability, elevation change and permit requirements are summarized at the beginning of each description. The book also has an excellent 40+ page introduction to hiking and camping.

I can't vouch for the accuracy of the trail information, which was first compiled in 1984, revised for the second time in 1995; (make sure you get the 1995 ed.) I found no information about the extent of the revision.

I wish the hike index in this and other books incorporated distance and elevation change, and approximate location. Without this quick reference it's a chore to find a hike that fits one's plans and capabilities.

All illustrations are in B&W, but the photographs are quite good and adequate to give a sense of the terrain.

If you are a backpacker, or can handle strenuous day hikes in tough terrain, get this book. Otherwise, there are some other books that are more suitable.

Happy Hiking!

This "Hikers Bible" is the most complete publication of it's kind on this subject that I own to date. Harry Evans has outdone most similar books by adding detailed topos with milage points clearly marked on the trail maps. With detailed information on each area, one feels like they have all ready been there. The photos are excellent!

We used this guide to plan a couple of trips to Santa Fe and in and around Taos, and were very happy with the results. The book starts with a general introduction to northern New Mexico, covering history, art, architecture and so on. Then there's a chapter on general visitor information for the region, and a section for foreign visitors. The remaining chapters are:

Getting to Know Santa Fe; Where to Stay in Santa Fe; Where to Dine in Santa Fe; What to See & Do in Santa Fe; Santa Fe Shopping; Santa Fe After Dark; Excursions from Santa Fe; Getting to Know Taos; Where to Stay in Taos; Where to Dine in Taos; What to See & Do in Taos; Albuquerque

The organization is good, with the hotels, for example, clearly broken out by price range ("Very Expensive", "Expensive", "Moderate" and "Inexpensive"). But the real value of the book is the author's candid evaluations. We've been burned in the past by guide books that gave every establishment a glowing review, so it was pleasant to use this book to find lunch in Taos one day last month. Here's some of what we found:

Ogelvie's Bar and Grill: "The food here is not flavorful, and the atmosphere is dated"

Eske's Brew Pub: "The crowd is local, a few people sitting at the bar . . . . At times it can be a rowdy place, but mostly it's just fun, lots of ski patrollers and mountain guides . . . ."

Outback in Taos: "My kayaking buddies always go here after a day on the river. That will give you an idea of the level of informality (very), as well as the quality of the food and beer (great) and the size of the portions (large)."

It's clear that the author really loves the area, and knows it inside out; we went to eight or ten places (hotels and restaurants) that she recommends, and didn't regret a single one.

we just completed a two-week New Mexico vacation, and found that time after time, hotel after hotel, restaurant after restaurant, attraction after attraction, this guide was absolutely spot on. We brought another guide ("The Insider's Guide to Santa Fe") and wound up relying on Frommer's exclusively.

We were most impressed by the recommendations for small out-of-the-way places we _never_ would have gone to otherwise, "Chef du Jour" in Albu. being a perfect example.

Our only quibble is that the author praises the food a little over-much. Desserts she describes as the "best you'll ever eat" we would describe as "good", for example, but then again we're from the bay area and i guess we're pretty spoiled.

Author Michael Kilian continues his Harrison Raines series, as the Secret Service agent and his partner Joseph Leahy journey to New Mexico to investigate reports of a rebel invasion there. Though the two agents become separated in New Mexico, they are both in close proximity to Glorieta Pass where the Union, under the command of Major Chivington, drives the Confederate forces back and burns their supply wagons.

Noting the rebels' retreat while trying to free Leahy from jail where he is accused of being a horse thief, Harry makes the acquaintance of Isabel Almaden y Cortes, daughter of Don Luis, a Union hero at Glorieta. When Don Luis is murdered at his home, Harry seeks to discover the identity of the murderer. Passions run high, as shades of gray blur lines of loyalty, and someone seems to be searching for the gold that Harry discovered abandoned near the bodies of a man and woman.

Gripping and intense, the pace of this novel increases in speed as Harry and Indian friend Tatou are attacked when they unearth the grave of Don Luis near Glorieta. Inspired by the actual 1862 Battle of Glorieta Pass, this novel brings into focus a clear picture of the division of familial loyalties and subterfuge that were so much a vital part of the U.S. Civil War.

He is a son of the South, part of a rich Tidewater, Virginia family who embraces the concept of slavery so wholeheartedly that they fight for the confederacy. Harrison sees slavery as an evil institution and severed his ties to his family. He became an agent for the secret service under Pinkerton's command. Having been involved in two battles in the East, Pinkerton sends Harrison and "Boston" Leahy out west to determine whether these states will join the Confederacy.

Harrison and Leahy are to make contact with Federal supporter Don Luis Almaden y Cortes but instead they journey into Santa Fe during the battle of the Glorieta Pass. The Federal troops, with the help of locals, win, ending the South's hope to make the west part of their new nation. Don Luis is killed after the battle is won and Harrison, who is infatuated with the deceased's daughter, vows to bring the killers to justice if the killer doesn't murder him first.

Each book in the Harrison Raines Civil War mysteries revolves around a key battle that is interwoven into the story line. Michael Kilian does meticulous research so readers are receiving an education while being entertained. A GRAVE AT GLORIETA is an interesting tale focusing on the Western states during the Civil War, but presenting all sides fairly so that readers can understand all the undercurrents pulling people in numerous directions. Critical to this theme is that war is not glorified, but presented closer to the lines of All's Quiet on the Western Front. This book and this series are highly recommended.

Harriet Klausner

This slender New Mexico promotion book has 3 aspects: 1) Recipes for salsa, dips, marinades etc. These are pretty good. 2) Narrative introduction to each recipe. These are pretty silly, but you can overlook them. 3) Full page photographs almost every other page. These are mostly luminous, though the shots of people's kitchens sometimes are a little hard to see. Summary: nice recipes, but realize you are mostly getting a picture book.

Finally, someone brought back this great title. Excellent recipes that cover lots of the fiery uses for peppers.

If you like this book of inquires then read Morgan Freeman, Black American Of Achievement by Gina Deangelis. It explains about Morgan Freeman and his times. This book shows his importance and how he evolve in life. What he stands for and so forth. This is also a very good Black History book. There is also a move out from this book and i belive the book would be good in a mini series about his life.

"Hernando Cortes and the Conquest of Mexico" looks at one of the most famous explorers of the New World whose reputation has suffered over the years because of his destruction of the Aztecs (see Neil Young's song "Cortes and the Killer). Author Gina De Aneglis points out that like many of the other Spanish conquistadors, Cortes was brutal in his treatment of the natives, but that he was also a fearless general and a brave explorer. Cortes was one of numerous soldiers sent by the Spanish to explore unknown lands after the discovery of the New World by Columbus in 1492. De Angelis relates how Cortes first arrived in the New World as a teenager, fighting against natives on Hispaniola and Cuba. He later convinced the king to let him explore the Yucatan peninsula, the area that is now Mexico. With a few hundred soldiers Cortes invaded the mighty Aztec empire, captured the emperor Montezuma, and conquered the natives. Whatever young readers may end up thinking about Cortes as a human being, he clearly helped shape the Mexico of today. Teachers and students can deal with questions of whether he should be judged by the standards of his own time or our own.

This book includes native artwork of Aztec rituals and the arrival of the Spaniards, as well as European paintings of other events described. You will find a Chronology from the founding of Tenochtitlan in 1325 to the death of Cortes in 1566, along with a Glossary, list of Further Reading, and Index. This book is part of the Explorers of the World series, which has 30 titles focusing on explorers from Marco Polo and the Vikings to Sir Edmund Hilary and the Apollo Astronauts.

Thanks to the proliferation of Mexican/American eateries, tacos, enchiladas, and salsa have become as familiar to Americans as apple pie. Interest in and acknowledgment of the pleasures of Southwestern cuisine has skyrocketed in the past few years, and still continues to grow. Now, San Antonio based author Jim Peyton presents his third cookbook, Jim Peyton's New Cooking From Old Mexico, a compilation of the latest in Mexican recipes as well as a fascinating history of Mexican cooking from its Mayan roots to its later Spanish influences. Nueva cocina mexicana, as the author explains it, "differs from other styles of nouvelle and fusion cooking in that its ingredients and techniques come, for the most part, from various aspects of Mexican cooking rather than from a combination of other cuisines. Historically, Mexican cuisine developed on two levels simultaneously, with 'peasant' and 'court' cooking evolving separately. In nueva cocina mexicana, these two paths merge, with dishes combining these aspects in various ways." Peyton suggests "Cream of Pecan Soup," seasoned with nutmeg; "Lamb Carnitas," a much less fatty version than the simmered pork chunks often used to prepare the popular carnitas; "Green Pipian Chilaquiles," a stew for either breakfast or brunch, plus many more temptations. The author spices traditional recipes with accounts of his adventures in restaurants, village kitchens and haciendas, including an unforgettable al fresco meal in a park high above Mexico City. Gloriously illustrated, Jim Peyton's New Cooking From Old Mexico is a feast for both the eye and the table.

One of the most enjoyable books I have come across in a while. I have become a big fan of Jim Peyton. I can recommend all of his books. They're excellent.

John Harrisson is my neighbor and he and his wife are ALWAYS cooking SOMTHING evrything he asks me to try is supurb!

This book is wonderful. La Casa Sena restaurant in Santa Fe is absolutely incredible--their food is so delicious.
I highly recommend this cookbook.

I first discovered ruins of the Anasasi Indians in 1972 during a trip to Mesa Verde National Monument. Since then I have spent many hours exploring Anasasi sites including Bandelier, Canyon De Chelly, Chaco Canyon and scores of less known sites. I have read several books trying to understand who these people were, why the left their homes, and what happened to them. All of these books have been informative, but most have left me still confused. Now I have found a great book, "The Magic of Bandelier" by David E. Stuart. Mr. Stuart has written an interesting and detailed book about the Anasasi Indians who lived in and around Bandelier National Monument. He paints a clear picture of where these prehistoric people came from, what their daily lives would have been like, and why they migrated between the deserts, mesas and river valleys of the Southwest. He has taken complicated information, and presented it in a clear and concise manner. "The Magic of Bandelier" explains why and when different type of living shelters were developed, from pit houses to cliff dwellings to the huge stone and mud pueblos found in most of the national monuments. It also contains excellent information about the pottery made by these people, the remaining shards of which can still be seen at most sites. I think that lay persons, as well as those searching for scholarly information about the Anasasi Indians, will find "The Magic of Bandelier" to be both informative and stimulating. Now if I can only find my back pack and the time to explore more of these magical sites.

I would recommend this small book to anyone who is interested in southwest archaeology. Written by an archaeologist, it resonates with solid science. But equally as notable is its readability. You laymen looking into southwest archaeology should enjoy this. Also those travelling in the area will appreciate all of the background provided in so few words .

This book describes the creation of the atomic bomb from the original ideas up to the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As with all scientific developments, the bomb started as an idea in Albert Einstein's head. In 1938, two German scientists split the uranium atom and detected lighter elements. About the same time, Hitler drove the Jewish scientists out of Europe, with most of them fleeing to the United States. World War II brought on a race between the Germans and the Americans to make an atomic weapon. The American Manhatten Project achieved the first controlled nuclear reaction in 1942. The first atomic bomb was tested in New Mexico, in July of 1945. The bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Nagasaki was bombed on August 9 of 1945 as well. This was the beginning of the atomic age.

I would recommend the book to people who like fast moving nonfiction. I, myself, enjoyed the book because it was a factual presentation of how the atomic bomb was made. I also enjoyed reading about the problems and struggles that people faced. It was amazing to read about how one particular scientist came up with a theory that led to the actual creation of the atomic bomb. As you can see, this is one book I would greatly recommend. However, if a person is looking for an adventurous nonfiction book, this is not the book to read.

My favorite part of the book involved the scientists working to figure out the uranium atom and then spliting it. It was very interesting to see how they went about this. In addition, I learned a lot about atoms, neutrons, protons, and electrons. This part of the book made me want to learn more about physics, fission, and fusion. Overall, this was the most exciting part of the whole fantastic book for me.

The Making of the Atom Bomb is a wonderful book. It presents the accomplishments of some of the most brilliant scientists of the 20th century in terms that are accessible to lay readers. It recounts in scintillating detail how their discoveries were appropriated from the realm of science into the brutal domain of world war. Despite its length the book is almost impossible to put down, and it is as morally provocative as it is historically astute.