Mostly a very good resource. Speaking on a pure scenic level, the author shows you some fantastic views and pretty trails. However, he fails to tell you sometimes when the trail is incredibly rocky or steep. Overall, though, definately worth the money

Tom Thwaites has done a lot for the Pennsylvania trails, and is the father of the Mid State Trail, which is my favorite trail to day hike. This edition of 50 Hikes in CPA is nicely updated from the last edition, and the hikes are all excellent. Dr. Thwaites loves great views, and so do I, and this book will get you to the best of them. One thing I especially like about this book is the careful research that has gone into relating the history of the areas you are hiking in--it's nice to know a little something other than where you are! About the only complaint I have about this indispensible guide is the fact that some of the suggested hikes are quite arduous and long for me. I'm a big guy, so I wear out easily, and this may not apply to you. What I've done, though, is used this book in combination with the MST maps to make my own day hikes with the same destinations. I've also done some of his recomended hikes as overnighters. Between this and Jean Aron's "The Short Hiker" you have a great start on hiking in this area. Kudos to Dr. Thwaites and his efforts!

I only began hiking at the end of September but have done 6 hikes so far. I've done 2 hikes in this book (Bohen Run (#36) Pine Trail and Hemlock Mtn (#41?)), which were my first hike and my most difficult hike respectively. I've also done 4 hikes in Thwaites' Eastern PA book. This author is almost always very precise and descriptive. Even as a beginning hiker I found his text so easy to follow. He points out neat things to check out, side trails, etc. but also leaves some surprises out. Some are good, some are not so good. Sometimes his descriptions leave out things like climbs, which beginning hikers need to know. And some trails are badly blazed or have hunters, which should be noted. Some trails need to be updated. But overall, I can't recommend his books enough. Thoroughly interesting, accessible, and informative. I always feel completely safe with his book in my hands. I still don't see how he did Pine Trail and Hemlock Mtn in only 6 hours though! He must be in great shape! We usually finish about an hour less than the hike time, but that one was difficult. He is definitely the authority on hiking! I hope he keeps writing and finding new trails for us to explore!

Great new book on amusement parks of PA. This book show the interest in amusement parks and rides that has been growing ever since the 90's. There is a nice balance between the history of the parks and current conditions. In one book the reader learns a wealth of material about past and now defunct parks (where is the mention of the park that used to be in Mt. Gretna - carousel and all??) as well as information on parks that are up and running. Good summary of each park as well as current information on admission, directions, etc. I was disappointed that there was little emphasis on memorabilia or good trivia. The old photos/postcards really help. That would really help this work out. What about all those great tokens. Even Leap the Dips put our a coaster token to push the coaster. The book is a good read and recommended for the enthusiast.

As most roller coaster enthusiasts know, there are very few books that go beyond pretty full-color photographs and into the history of a particular park. It is even more difficult to find information on parks not owned by major corporations (e.g. Disney, Paramount, Vivendi Universal).

Futrell's book captures the unique history of 13 different amusement parks in Pennsylvania. You are given a rare glimpse into these parks that date back to the origins of the American amusement park industry. Having recently visited Kennywood and Idlewild for the first time, I have realized how much of the charm and atmosphere has faded from the latest generation of parks.

Buy this book before the print run ends! You won't regret it.

This book rocks. There was more information than I could possibly imagine. The author is obviously impassioned by his subject--this had to have been a labor of love. And what better muse than the romantic coasters of Pennsylvania.

An interesting book that manages in 200 short pages to effectively challenge the tradition (or orthodoxy) of American Exceptionalism and "Americanization" through the lens of American military history.

The narration of the sometimes-horrifying and sometimes-comical
encounters between English, Indian, French and British military forces indicates not only that American settlers retained their Old-World way of war (rather than creating a unique American way of war), but also that the 'old ways' triumphed in the New World.

This book serves to further demonstrate that the Atlantic Ocean was not a barrier that culturally and politically separated the colonies from England. Instead, it was a bridge that, as Chet states, allowed the "transportation of English culture --- military culture --- to the frontier of European civilization." "When examined within the context
of imperial history, the story of warfare, like the story of politics and culture in colonial America, reads as a process by which the colonies were drawn toward England's cultural and administrative sphere of influence, rather than attempted to liberate themselves from it."

A small book that packs a punch. In his "Preface", Chet explains that he began writing this book in an effort to illustrate how Englishmen were militarily transformed into Americans; how they gradually gave up their European defensive tactics and instead adopted Indian offensive tactics. As with most myths, the deeper you dig, the less you find. The book Chet wound up writing demonstrates the exact opposite of what he originally thought he'd find. It shows how and why European tactics WORKED in North America, despite the terrain and the
Indians' guerilla tactics.

Although the book deals with the colonial period only and does not analyze the American Revolutionary War, Chet's argument fits in with what we know about George Washington's management of his army during the war.

The sections about Benjamin Church, Rogers' Rangers, and British light infantry tactics are particularly interesting.

The endnotes contain interesting and funny incidents that really

enhance the impact of the text.

We've become so accustomed to hearing about the "American Way of
War" that we rarely bother to reexamine it. In Conquering the American Wilderness, Chet challenges the assumption that English settlers learned from Native Americans how to fight as guerillas. He demonstrates that English fighting methods remained the same throughout the colonial period, and that the failure of colonial forces to do the job well led to greater and greater reliance on British Redcoats.

The key to the poor performance of provincials and to the overwhelming success of British regulars (culminating with the capture of Canada during the French and Indian War) was professionalism of officers, NCOs, and enlisted men.

What's interesting about this book is that it explains the wisdom and demonstrates the effectiveness of Europe's linear tactics (which are so often portrayed as senseless ritual). Chet then illustrates why large heavy formations, drawn in lines of battle, were so effective against French and Indian guerillas.

Conquering the American Wilderness also explains the origin of the myth of Americanization/Indianization of European warfare in the colonies, but because the book ends with the first battle of the American Revolution, it doesn't deal with the way the retelling of American victory magnified and enshrined the myth of the American guerilla tradition ("the American Way of War").

While the photography is great, it was limited to only a couple areas of Maine. I was hoping for more small town, quaint images. The only town featured was one that's not even on the map.

Stunning photographs and poetic/romantic writing. Makes me wish I had gone to Maine (during the summer of course!) while I was in college in New Jersey. This is a special book and it left me wanting more.

On the recommendation of a friend, my wife and I stumbled into a photo gallery in Deer Isle, Maine, last week during our vacation (we are from New York) to see the work of Terrell Lester, not even aware Knopf had recently published this book. We were, in short, completely blown away by his photos, all of which, and more, are collected in this remarkable book, along with four essays of varying interest. Lester's photos are like fine art, to be specific, like the best of the Hudson River School of painters back in the 1800s who created such vivid landscapes, saturated with reds and blues and yellow (and that's just in the sky). His photos of islands, mountains, rocks, lakes, surf, trees and spectacular blueberry fields blazing red in autumn are rich with emotion. They deserve to be, and in fact are, on museum walls. For the most part, they are reproduced well in "Maine: The Seasons," but in this case, you can't tell a book by its cover-- a wonderful (but rather too typical for a Maine book) photo of a father and a son heading off to work in their lobster boat. You won't be disappointed.

Beware: The author has not indicated the quality of markings within these trails. On my wife's and my first outing we chose an EASY trail. The 'trail' was no more than single track, overgrown, and after 2 miles we were lost. We finally hitchhiked back to the start along 4 miles of highway (thank God we found that --- there had been evidence of bears!). Although trail maintenance is not the author's responsibility, the book may lead the uninitiated to believe it's a "walk in the park".

Anyone who has even the most basic understanding of the woods and of hiking will find this book a fine companion for a hike in NJ. The author has a nicely literary style (pretty rare for this genre), and gives equal time discussing geology, flora, fauna, and history. There are a number of new and interesting hikes, not just the "same old" ones that are so commonly written up. The maps are also very good. Scherer also has a lot of interesting insights on ecological matters. All in all, it's a book that should become a standard for New Jersey outdoor lovers.

From one nature lover to another: I've done a few hikes in this book and I plan to do more, these are the best hikes ever. The layout of the book is superb, and the descriptions of the hikes as well as the trail markings, are accurate and easy to follow. I had no trouble finding my way along the trails, even late in the day. This book really does guide you to the best hikes in NJ. I recommend the Terrace Pond hike, its a 10!

Get the "New Jersey Atlas & Gazateer" primarily for its comprehensive recreational listing (gazateer), second for the topo maps and third for the city street maps which are well explained in the other reviews.

I bought this book for someone who just received a kayak. After the commotion of birthday present opening subsided, he spent about a hour just looking over all the wonderfully detailed maps with his father-in-law. That's how I knew this atlas was the best present I could give. Everything the other reviewers wrote is true.

If you are a paddler, fisherman, hiker, camper skier or just plain outdoor enthusiast, this is the guide for you. In addition to pages of topographic maps which cover the entire state, the atlas also includes an index of all outdoor recreational activities and the recreational areas that support each. Complete listings of NJ golf courses, ski areas, scenic drives & trails, wildlife viewing areas, hunting & fishing areas and a very comprehensive list of public and private campgrounds make this a reference you will want to have to plan your next NJ outdoor adventure.

Although this is not a collection of street maps, some street maps of larger cities such as Trenton, Jersey City, Newark, Camden, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Paterson and Atlantic City are included.

Boston, with its many districts, is a city that welcomes exploration by foot. Boston: Mini Rough Guide (though not a walking guide per se) gives you enough concise information to launch your pedestrian journey. Each district highlighted in the guide contains the necessary information to discover all the worthwhile sites. Impressive, are the twelve pages of colored maps at the back of the guide. Accommodations, eateries, drinking, night life, performing arts and other listings normally found in a travel guide are adequate. The uniqueness of this guide is its size and concise and accurate listings.

However, a few noticeable shortcomings need to be mentioned. In this day and age any guidebook should have a listing of the top web sites that are worth viewing prior to your trip. The Boston Mini Rough Guide does not. Also, this Rough Guide tries to be all things to all people, where in today's world, differentiation in audience focus is critical. It states that the Boston: Mini Rough Guide is designed for, travelers of all ages and all budgets. For such a small condensed guide this spreads its coverage too thin. The Boston: Mini Rough Guide has failed to find a distinctive marketing niche.

In SUMMARY: Boston: Mini Rough Guide is an adequate, informative guide that is very a reasonable price and packaged in a convenient size. Conditionally Recommended.

Customers may wish to learn that this book won a prestigious Lowell Thomas award from the Society of American Travel Writers -- I think the only Rough Guide to do so. The writing evokes the city well and the listings are kept current. Good format. A great buy for all those who need a few tips for making the most out of Boston, what the authors say is "as close to the Old World as the New World gets." And how.

I have found more terrific places from this guide,,from the Marliav restaurant to shopping tips. I can tell alot of reseach went into this comprehensive book

I recently started fishing quite a bit of the cape and found this book to be an excellent resource. There are some parts where directions are somewhat vague, but it basically gets you in the area. I have also fished a little bit of Ct and NJ, and found most of the information accurate and insightful. Cross reference with other resources and you should find fish and parking.

This book is a good basic book for any one who wants to know where the are places to fish from the surf, but some of the directions to get to the places are a little fuzzy.

Duing the day I have caught the most fish ever at thislocation. Mostly blues but some bass. 20-25 fish in an afternoon.FUN

The key to successful surfcasting here is getting the most distance possible out of your cast. I use a 12ft rod, new 20lb test, and a 40 lb mono shock leader (tied correctly) with 4oz. metal during the day; sometimes white painted metal with a white rubber tail help with the bass during the day.

I have seen a distance of 20-30 feet on a cast make the difference between an instant hook-up and casting again.

The cost related to getting to wasque is getting more and more expensive every year. During the Summer months fishermen are evan charged to walk on the property. If you have a four wheel drive, and plan fishing the spot with four or more people, for a couple days or more, opt for the 4-wheel oversand permit, (not cheap and more $$ every year) but worth it...

Kate Cone has done an admirable job of providing a guide to the New England microbrewing scene. A few of the breweries mentioned have since closed, and there have also been some openings of new breweries since the book's publication, but it's still probably the most detailed guide you'll find of craft brewing in New England.

With this book in hand, you could embark on either a weekend or a full week of blissful wandering through New England's distinctive craft breweries, both brewpubs and microbreweries.

Cheers!

If you appreciate a quality beer as much as I do, then this is the book for you. Not only does this book introduce you to all the delicious craft brews of New England, but a little history of each Pub is provided, along with the food each offers. Many attractions in the area that make each city and town of New England unique are also mentioned. (Visiting them also develops a tremendous thirst). You can't enjoy a Brew Pub restaurant unless you can find it. Reading "What's Brewing in New England" will accomplish your goal.

Kate Cone's book is terrific, with great and accurate reviews of all the New England Brewpubs and Microbreweries I've visited myself. On top of that, she maintains updates via her Website which is accessible via Amazon itself. An absolute must for the devotee of fine and unusual tasting experiences.

This is the only book so far on Lampiao in English. It is a riveting account. Besides his ugly side toward informants who ratted on him, Chandler mentions Lampiao had a humane side toward those who supported him and his brigands. Chandler also describes some of the tactics the Bandit King used to elude the "volantes" (police) --- walking backwards over their footprints, and wearing animalskins on their shoes to avoid leaving footprints, among others. But for how long can one continue to literally get away with murder?? The atrocities he committed on his enemies are squeamish to read (I won't mention them, here). For these gory acts, it is no wonder he and his gang met their grisly end in Angicos. Also, the book is very descriptive about life in Northeastern Brazil during the 1920's and '30's. While reading, I've tried to envision these isolated areas with their arid, rough terrain. An interesting, yet, at times, disturbing, biography.

If you just love the American Western heroes you must read about Lampião and Maria Bonita's life, something like Bonnie & Clyde story with many similarities betweem their stories. Even with some research problems, the book gives a human and real overview about the true story. A must read book if you want to understand the spirit of the most influential people in the Brazilian etnical formation, the northeast people.

"Greatest" is a highly mixed compliment, since many bandits have been violent, even sadistic sociopaths. But most bandits' careers lasted one, two, perhaps three years at most before being snuffed out by the (so-called) forces of law and order. But Lampaio (Virgulino Ferreira) was a highly successful bandit for 16 years, from 1922-38 in Northeast Brazil, a drought-prone region of great poverty and inequality that was long a fertile breeding ground for banditry. By that standard alone, he surely was one of the greatest. He was extremely shrewd and resourceful, and one reason for his longevity was that he avoided clashes with armed opponents whenever possible, though he could fight with the best when he had to.

Chandler has done a superb job in recreating the life and times of Lampiao, and due to the timing of his investigations this effort is unlikely to be surpassed. His 1970s research led him to many people who knew or encountered Lampaio, and the oral data he gathered becomes more valuable with each eyewitnesses' passing. Chandler also makes full use of a wide range of other sources, including police reports and other government archival materials, newspaper articles, photographs, folktales and songs. Lampiao was surely one of the best-documented bandits ever, partly because of the growth of various modern media during his lifetime, but also because he was something of a publicity hound, clearly relishing his notoriety and even negotiating with a film producer to play himself on screen (too bad it never happened!). But make no mistake: as another reviewer aptly notes, he was a very dangerous criminal, and an outlaw's life in the harsh Nordeste backlands was anything but romantic. Brazil's modernizing Vargas regime of the 1930s eventually tired of the disorder and bad press associated with banditry, and directed sufficient resources toward combating the phenomenon. By 1938 when he was betrayed, ambushed and beheaded, Lampiao was a throwback to an earlier era.

One of the major strengths of "The Bandit King" is Chandler's skill in addressing broader issues raised by Lampaio's career. The best-known is the question of "social banditry." The archetypal social bandit for English readers is, of course, Robin Hood, and the myth of social bandits has them "robbing from the rich to give to the poor." This rarely happened in history, and the author's exhaustive research uncovered little conclusive evidence that Lampaio ever redistributed wealth---except to himself, his band and supporters. But Chandler partially redefines social banditry by noting that bandits often were admired by the powerless who were at the mercy of corrupt officials and vicious policemen. Violent men who resisted an oppressive state could thus become heroes even to those they declined to help directly, and might even victimize. This book also fully documents a crucial but neglected aspect of successful bandit careers: they received protection from landowners and other powerful patrons, who might employ them to do their own dirty work. Lampaio would not have survived as long as he did without hideouts and material support provided by men whose word was law in their own lands.

Billy Jaynes Chandler has produced a rare work: a thoroughly scholarly book that compels the attention of a popular audience. "The Bandit King" is very well-written and exciting, though some readers will flinch at the accounts of brutality. Barring discovery of new sources, it is likely the best, if not last, word, and compares well with the finest Brazilian scholarship. More information on the Nordeste and its bandits is in R. Chilcote ed., "Protest and Resistance in Angola and Brazil," J. de Castro, "Death in the Northeast," and J. Guimaraes Rosa, "The Devil to Pay in the Backlands," a major Brazilian novel. On social bandits, the classic if controversial study is E. Hobsbawm, "Bandits," which receives an effective critique in an African context in D.Crummey ed., "Banditry, Rebellion and Social Protest in Africa." An insightful Mexican study is P. Vanderwood, "Disorder and Progress."