I just returned from a week+ trip to NYC with my 9 year old and I thought that this book was very helpful. The authors describe a number of day trips to take with your child, including dining suggestions. It gives you lots of things to do in a small area and in NYC that is VERY important. I liked the notes on how to get to places on the subway and the small maps that pointed out the location of each thing they suggested for that "trip". As an out-of-towner what I found most helpful were the tips on kid friendly restaurants. There are a millions places to eat in NYC and it was nice to go to places that had been kid tested and enjoyed by adults.

I personally have just finsihed a course in college with the author Craig Mishler. I also completed a project by going to an Athapaskan Fiddling festival and that is when I read the Crooked Stovepipe. This book goes in great detail about Athapaskan fiddlers and dancers and there orgin. The author went to every village mentioned in the book and took notes and made observations. The author is a white man and has no realtion to the alaska natives which is intersting to recieve the observations from a white man. Mishler focused on the Upper river style of Athapaskan music and just slighty touched upn the down river music. This book is a great read and very interseting. It is intersting because it shows us that fiddling is not only down in Nashville on the Grand Ole Opry but it is done in many different cultures and parts of the world. For each culture there is there own style of music.

This is one of a pair of books by Johnson which gives detailed information for cruising the coast of Maine. The companion book is Cruising Guide to Maine Vol II Rockport to Eastport. The books provide an excellent set of discriptions of the various ports and thier attractions including restaruants, marine supplies, fuel water etc. The books are loaded with charts that show prefered routes into tricky harbors with rocks and other obstructions clearly identified. A must for the cruising sailor who wants to explore the mysteries and splendor of the Maine coast.

Having read a lot of the literature on the Iroquois, i find this one of the more interesting reads. Dennis explores the Iroquois attempt to construct a system of peace. More importantly, Dennis explores the different meanings that the Iroquois, Dutuch and French placed on events and how these meanings affected their understanding of those events and their actions. History is presented as a confused cultural clash, where the participants are often scratching their heads in bewilderment, rather that the cold blooded, purposeful application of power. Dennis also presents a strong discussion of the origins of the Iroquois and the Iroquois Confederacy.

His analysis of Samuel de Champlain's first encounter with the Iroquois is specifically interesting. In that analysis, he shows how the Native Americans were following a carefully scripted form of warfare that Champlain could not comprehend though he could document it. To the Iroquois and the Algonquins, war meant something very different than what it meant to Champlain. Champlain's actions will have the long term effect of changing how the Iroquois fight wars and, therefore, their culture.

The book does have its weaknesses though. The Iroquois were a matrilineal society, yet this does not figure significantly into the analysis or discussion. I think that it was only significantly discussed when Dennis was discussing French nuns and their effect on the Frenchh-Iroquois relationships. Many authors have argued that women played a very important role in Iroquois society and its relationships with others, but we find little of that discussion here. Perhaps, a more significant exploration of the matrilineal nature of the society and how that affected the internal political dynamics may have enriched both the book and the analysis.

However, i would still recommend this book. It tells an interesting story, will enlighten most and cause many to ponder.

Divided into state, region, city and then cemetery, with directions to each, this illustrated resource covers the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Over 300 interees listed in over 130 cemeteries, a few paragraphs are dedicated to each.

A wealth of information.

Great Pictures. This book depicts the centers of commerce, industry, farming and leisure back in the 1800's and early 1900's in East Providence, RI. Unfortunately, alot of history was lost when the City Hall burned in the 1970's. It could use more historical facts. A large percentage of the book is based on old houses some of which are still standing. A lot of pictures of beautiful old schools that were torn down for the highway to be built. Worth while purchase for anyone who grew up in East Providence.

This is the larger story that contains in part East of Chosin, also by the author. The book talks about the roles of Marine and Army ground units, as well as Naval air support in the entire reservoir area and the MSR to evacuation at Hungnam. Despite the disaster east of the reservoir, the final evacuation to Hungnam occurred in a most professional mannner and in no way resembled a Dunkirk, despite US news media hysteria cooed on by their communist sympathizers.
On the other hand Appleman makes clear that while the Chinese had a manpower advantage (and even that was not as overwhelming as many thought), they had no artillery, tanks, air support or motor transit. Their largest weapons were small mortars.

Appleman is a powerful writer who elegantly weaves battlefield action, command decisions, and military analysis into a cogent text. Among his insights:
*** The 'gap' between 8th army and X corps (occupied by the savage peaks of the Taebek range) was of no military significance and had no bearing on the outcome of operations in North Korea/Chosin.
*** General Almond did have reservations about pushing deeply into the reservoir area. However, after the Chinese 'disappeared' into the hills, McArthur insisted they move forward and Almond complied.
*** The book has good summary coverage of the 37th RCT east of Chosin ['task force Faith']. Ironically, it was the Chinese 80th division encounter with TFF, rather than proceeding directly to Hagaru-ri, that may have cost the Chinese a crucial victory at the southern tip of Chosin, on their first night attack at Hagaru-ri.
*** Often overlooked in the successful breakout was the role of the Far East Cargo command, providing ammunition and medical supplies by the ton to the escaping convoy.
*** Task Force Dryesdale, a tank-led column from Koto-ri NORTH to reinforce Hagaru, suffered heavy losses; but those who did make it provided vitally needed, experienced reinforcements.
*** The 2nd Chinese attack at Hagaru-ri, although better organized, had lost the 'element of surprise', so the Chinese suffered massive losses. In fact, this defeat turned the tides in favor of the Army and Marines at Chosin.
*** Armchair analysts and military brats should compare Faith's verbal orders to his task force at the Pyongnuri-gang Inlet with the far more coordinated USMC air-ground withdrawal from Yudam-ni and beyond.
*** Still, Appleman gives a far better account of the performance of Army units in the march south of Hagaru-ri than Donald Knox and others have. This is especially true on hill 1081 near Funchilin pass, with frequent praise of Captains Rasula and Kitz and Lt. Colonel Page.

Especially useful is the last chapter where Appleman evaluates Chinese and X corps command and field decisions. Appleman feels the Chinese were correct to attack UN forces directly at Chosin. An attack further north would have left Hungnam open for evacuation or reinforcement. An attack further south would not be a surprise since X-corps knew Chinese were in the area.
Appleman feels the Chinese attack at Chosin failed for several reasons. First, their manpower advantage was not as overwhelming as many writers suggest. 'Human Wave' tactics were largely a myth, though the Chinese often massed attacks on one spot. Perhaps most important, the US Marines did not panic: they remained and fought in their perimeters (no better example than Fox company at Toktong pass) as they moved south.
Appleman slips into military jargon--"element of surprise"; "mass of forces"; still, at Hagaru the Chinese lost the former and didn't capitalize on the latter. He also is stretching military journalism a bit in his references to "Xenophon's retreat from Asia Minor." But the fact remains that the Marines knew they had to control the higher ground in order to retreat. The Army did not: neither east of Chosin, nor in the west at Kunu-ri.

This book was an interesting history of Ct. geology and the human history associated with it. Many interesting factoids about Ct's history and how geology shaped it. You see geologic processes and human history combined.

Fodor's Boston Citypack is a compact guide small enough to easily fit into a breast pocket. Despite its small size it is packed with concise and practical information about Boston and environs. It contains sample tour days with clear directions as well as a fold-out map inside the back cover. Recommendations for hotels, historical sites, and restaurants are brief and to the point. I found it an easy read and helpful companion as I walked the Freedom Trail and rode the public transportation. Well worth the price.

The Fordor guides are a good source for the various locations around the globe. They are not as good as the Arthur Frommer guides. The Fodor guides are not for the budget traveler. They focus on the pricier accommodations and restaurants. But, what they do rate there is a wonderful detailed description. The maps could be a little more detailed.