Worcester, Massachusetts, while well known to those in the center of the state, is a city ignored by many. This selection of pictures and text gives those who live here and new visitors a great look into the past. The city developed with an immigrant population and has continued to grow with each decade. The photographs here give readers a glimpse into an engaging past. While many people in the state consider only the areas around Boston as important, this author proves them wrong. Pictures are rich, text is illuminating; the combination is an excellent work. Keep an eye out for "Worcester, Vol.2." Don't pass this selection by....you will regret your folly!!!

2 of my cousins are coming to visit from ireland in april..i wanted to take them around to some of our pubs in boston. i'm going to use this book to plan an irish pub crawl.

Zagat continues to give consistent, excellent recommendations. Top-rated restaurants are right on target with outstanding food, service, and atmosphere

I live out west now. I just returned to the east for a visit. I drove down to the NJ Pine Barrens and I camped out one night in the Plains (the dwarf forest), no doubt in violation of millions of New Jersey rules and regulations. The benign peacefulness of the place, the smell of the pines, the sound of the wind, all swept over me. I used to live in Manhattan. I'd often make the 2 1/2 or 3 hour drive to hike and canoe and camp in the Barrens. I love that magical forest, the dark bogs, the open plains, the pure rivers, the endless sandy roads. John McPhee's book truly captures the atmosphere of this very special place in the world.

Ecological, both natural and social, books abound these days, but that wasn't the case back in 1967 when this book was first published. Hopefully in the intervening years, McPhee's elegant but spare prose has helped remove or at least, temper the damage done early in the Twentieth Century to the reputation of the Pine Barrens and its denizens by well-meaning, if arrogant, social scientists. The Barrens is truly a glorious piece of nature and those who dwell there have their own unique charm and grace. McPhee, a consummate raconteur, reveals both with intelligence and a warm empathy. It's still hard to believe that the Barrens exist, mere miles from the rambunctious urbanity of Philadelphia and New York City, but McPhee's book, still vital and relevant after all these years, truly makes you want to visit and maybe even stay.

When I was growing up in New Jersey, people occasionally spoke of "The Pines", a mysterious forest to the south that was home to an asylum where escapees roamed and murdered unsuspecting travelers. McPhee not only explains the origins of this half-myth, he also divulges numerous other secrets about the the New Jersey pine barrens and their fascinating inhabitants, affectionately known as "Pineys." This remarkable and enormous wilderness area lies directly between New York and Philadelphia and, incredibly, remains undeveloped, but it's full of history and a wealth of extraordinary flora and fauna. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to New Jersey-ites and anyone else interested in unique natural places.

Though I wanted very much to enjoy this book, I can't in good conscience recommend it. When dealing with historical facts (the expansionist policy of the new government of the US vs. the interests of the larger tribes - the battles in Canada, etc.), Eckert held my interest. When he intersperses his own florid imagination in portraying Tecumseh's personal life he tends towards purple, mythic prose that tends to make Tecumseh superhuman rather real. Tecumseh emerges as a one-dimensional, single-minded hero who is the main character in a Tragedy, rather than a flesh-and-bones human being who happened to be a great leader of an ill-fated insurrection. For those looking for a story with real pathos, told from a more controlled, but much more powerful point-of-view, read Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Brown doesn't overdo it as Eckert does. He lets the story tell itself. The result is much more affecting and agitating. Eckert's treatment is exceedingly heavy-handed, Brown's more impartial, but ten times more poignant. After reading Tecumseh, I asked myself, "Why did I invest time in this book?" After reading Brown, I wanted to go find Custer's grave and personally desecrate it.

Having read Wilderness Empire, Blue Jacket and The Frontiersmen, A Sorrow in the Heart, ranks as the author's finest contribution in helping modern Americans come to an understanding of the geography, historical context and people - both common and uncommon, who shaped the history of the Old Northwest. In my youth I canoed long stretches of the Little Miami River, had hiked from Old Town to the George Rogers Clark Memorial and had bicycled the warriors trail. I am going back to Ohio this Spring, with my copy of this book, to trace the life of a man whom I knew in the most general of terms but now, as an adult, place in my pantheon of true heroes. I credit this book for my rediscovery of these men of uncommon courage and my deep admiration for this Kispokotha Shawnee. Eckert paints sweeping portraits of events and men in a manner that celebrates their strengths, exposes their foibles and always,treating them as the men they were. A must read!

"A Sorrow In Our Heart" is definately one of Eckert's best historical novels, right next to "The Frontiersmen" and "Dark and Bloody River". It, of course, tells the story of the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, who has been hailed by many as the greatest Indian leader of all time. Tecumseh came closer than any other before or after him to saving his people from total destruction by the whites on the eastern frontier in the early 19th century. In the end, Tecumseh's death is not just a loss in the Indians' long struggle against the Americans, it signals the death knell for their way of life, as their defeat in the War of 1812 sealed their fate on the North American continent. A great and a wonderfully entertaining book, history has never been so hard to put down.

Anyone who has ever read the children's book, "Charlotte's Web" will know what a fine and accomplished writing style E. B. White possesses. This book is another fine example of the author's capabilities.

There is something about New York that has fascinated and captivated people since time began. It is a city rich with history, culture, style, charisma, and, yes, tragedy. However, through the years the city has had many stories to tell, and to visitors, it has long been considered the city of excitement and action, with a zillion things to visit and do.

The year is 1948 and E. B. White takes the reader on a trip down memory lane, to the city of his youth, a city of splendor and wonder. There have been some very evident changes over the years; however, some aspects will always remain, "typically New York." Perhaps residents of the city and surrounding area take much of what the author portrays for granted; however, for one who is not an American, the city still holds a uniqueness unmatched by few cities in North America.

The only downside of the book is it's length; it is extremely short, but I still highly recommend the book. As White indicates, "the city is like poetry". The magic, music and wonder of the city still draw people to its core like a magnet.

If you have not discovered this gem in the past, you absolutely must read it now. E.B. White was extremely prophetic in light of the recent tragedy in New York City. You will be amazed at his descriptions of the city and of its diverse citizens. Everything he says is relevant today. You will also be amazed at his concerns for the safety of the city. He even mentions danger from airplanes! He knew and loved New York City and he is such a gentle and moving writer. This 54 page essay will touch a chord with any reader looking for some uplifting words about the place we are all thinking about now.

Every word E.B. white chose was the perfect word. It's one of those cases where I don't think ANYONE could have said it better. I lived in NYC from '94 - 2002 and I found that White truly got to the heart of what makes NYC and it's people so special and unique and enduring no matter what befalls. It was a great reminder that the heart of the city will live on no matter who - in this life or the next - attempts otherwise.

It was a great piece of writing, and chillingly prescient at the end given 9/11. In fact it was so ironic, I thought I'd missed a change in the author and/or era it was written. E.B. appears to be the new George Orwell.

In any case, I intend to read everything E.B.'s ever written! Even Charlotte's Web again.

We bought this guide because of our very positive experience using the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This Guide did not dissappoint, although there were a few inaccuracies (i.e. Capitol tours leave every 30 minutes, not every 10; you don't need a time ticket for the White House during the off season). The most helpful information was the detailed description of D.C.'s Metro system. We were pros at commuting by the end of our trip. The restaurant guide was also extemely helpful. We didn't have one bad meal. The Guide also helped us to take a family vote on the sites we wanted to see and plan our itinerary before leaving home (a must). Get this book 3 to 6 months before your trip so you have time to write your congressmen to request VIP tours of the things you want to see. We bought the Guide 2 weeks before we left. Even though we had a great time, our trip could have been enhanced with more planning.

Imagine the comprehensive guide to good deals, unfamiliar sites, and transportation options in the Washington D.C. area! This is a great collection of reviews and suggestions, tips and recommendations. Spend some time in advance of your planning to scope out great deals on rooms, tours and seasonal advantages. You can plan a great trip with unexplored opportunities such as breaks to rest in parks and gardens, or ways to avoid long lines and frustration.

There is even a great section for business travellers. A good purchase and a fine resource.

The maps and the guide to the public transportation system are the best I have ever seen.

I just returned from Washington D.C. and I found that this book is a must read - unless you have two or more weeks to spend traipsing around the mall. Since my trip was primarily a sight-seeing trip, this book saved my family countless hours by listing all of the sights, giving a description of each, letting me know which ones would be of interest to my family, and giving me guidance on how to plan each day in order to minimize wasted travel time. I used "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" to plan my last vacation and both of these books are worth the price many times over.

This wonderful book not only tells the stroy of King Philip's War with accuracy and detail, it also provides an excellent guide to the various sites throughout New England where key events in the war's history occurred. These are not the typical sites you'll find in Fodor's or at the chamber of commerce, but they provide insight into a (shamefully) forgotten but important period of American history. Take it along when you take your next trip to New England, and on your way to Lexington & Concord, make sure you visit a few sites form an earlier -- and equally pivotal-- American war.

This book is one of those rarities that can delight passionate history buffs, professional historians, serious field explorers, and armchair travelelers alike. The authors have skillfully drawn on nearly every worthwhile source on King Philip's War to create a fascinating and readable text. What's really great, though, is the photos, maps, and place descriptions. You might live over 350 years later and most of a continent away but they still give you a strong sense of "being there" during one of the greatest white-Indian showdowns of American history.

This is a fantastic book. Beautifully written and illustrated. Haven't finished reading it yet, but it has already given me a whole new understanding, not only of the history of colonial New England, but of the troubled and as yet unresolved history of the relationship between European and Native peoples in this country. This is much more than a guide book to obscure sites of the King Philip War. This book explains a lot about why the history of relations between European and Native has been and continues to be so difficult. Its gruesome tale also explains why this is not a part of our history that has made it into American history textbooks -- at least none that I or my children have ever had in school. Perhaps by telling the story Schultz and Tougias have helped open up a path toward truth and reconciliation in the relationship between European and Native Americans. This is must reading for anyone who cares about history, who cares about the state of race relations in America, or who dares to try to understand how we got to where we are.

If you live in New York or you are fascinated by its architecture, you really should buy The AIA Guide to NYC. It is a remarkable tome, including more than 5000 buildings and 3000 stamp album style photos of structures in all five boroughs, ranging from Brooklyn to far Queens and from Staten Island through Manhattan and up to the extreme Bronx. It will hit your coffee table with a serious thunk, and provide endless browsing enjoyment. If you're visiting New York on a quick trip or want a selective overview, I discovered a new book that makes a good companion volume: The Architecture Traveler, by Sydney LeBlanc, which covers 250 American buildings. The author is evidently a New Yorker. About 60 of the buildings are in and around the city. It presents fewer buildings but presents a full page story on each of them. I bought both books: the AIA guide for comprehensiveness, the more selective Architecture Traveler for it's intriguing stories and for the rest of America, which it also includes.

This book is amazing in its depth of analysis and thoroughness of its study of the vast amount of architectural treasures in all five boroughs. As a native New Yorker (born in The Bronx, raised in Queens, high school in Manhattan) I was pleasantly surprised to find so many buildings that I admired to have a history behind them. A lot of little tid-bits are included in the book, for example did you know the park benches in the Battery Park Promenade are from the 1939 NY World's Fair? I didn't! Did you know that the same Guastavino tile vaulting found outside the Oyster Bar in Grand Central can be found at the Municipal Building at Centre Street? And at the NY Telephone Building at 140 West Street?

A must-have for anyone who loves New York. A true walker's handbook that includes suggested walking tours all over the city. Find out the story behind that old building you walk by on your way home to your Flushing apartment! I also found it fascinating to compare this third edition with the earlier "revised" edition of 1978 to see how much had changed and been lost. The 3rd edition was almost twice the size by the way! I hope a 4th edition is in the works by now.

This is a wonderful guide to many of the thousands of buildings in New York City. It is not, however, strictly an architectural piece. A study of the significant edifices in Manhattan this is not, since the photographs are mostly the size of postage stamps, and the text is limited. What it is is likely the most complete guide to the significant and not-so-significant buildings and monuments in New York's five major boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island). The most surprising aspect of this book is its sheer size and complexity. There are hundreds of small photographs (all in clear black-and-white) of nearly every building mentionned, and dozens of others of a more substantial size. There are also over 100 maps of each area, in sufficient detail to be useful for navigation, and a compehensive glossary and index.

Overall, this is a monumental book, and one which is definitely worth the price for anyone who is interested in the landscape of one of the most exciting cities in the world - New York. For the type of book it attempts to be, The Forth Edition AIA Guide to New York City is virtually without flaw.

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!!