Limited access to Japanese resources, outdated European references, lack of basic knowledge about Asian History ended in a book with many misunderstandings, e.g. the toponymy of Mount Fuji or the use of word "Ainu" in ancient Chinese documents.

This is indeed a great book. It was quite evident that Mr. Johnson took his time while researching the Ainu. I think this book sheds a great deal of light on a much misunderstood subject. Any home library is incomplete without it.

A skillful historian whose thorough research covers key aspects of the Ainu history and culture dating from 30,000 BCE to 1997 wrote this book. His sources are numerous, ranging from the Ainu's Uepeker (oral tales and old history) to the findings of the recent Nibutani Dam Case and to interviews of numerous Ainu people and scholars in Hokkaido, Japan. He incorporates the results of rigorous studies by anthropologists, archeologists and linguists as well as those of DNA scientists to present an objective view of the Ainu origins. The author successfully shows that "The Ainu people are not an enigma, but a people who have lived in Northeast Asia for centuries and continue to pass their cultural heritage to their children."

The author aptly presents Ainu historical and cultural experiences. The impact of laws by the various ruling societies on this subjugated; indigenous minority is addressed, as is the influence that the Ainu people have on their various masters. The author successfully shows that ".... the Ainu not as an isolated primitive people without a history, but a people who were a wider part of a wider history in Northeast Asia. The history of the Ainu is intertwined with the history of the Japan, the Mongol and Manchu Empire in China, and the Russian and Soviet Empire in Siberia."

The author 's efforts to make unfamiliar Ainu and Japanese words and terminology understandable are invaluable. The book's bibliography, glossary of Ainu words, chronology of events, maps, charts and illustrations are also valuable aids to understanding the Ainu history.

The reader will find this book of Ainu history to be an interesting and authoritative work that scholar and enthusiast alike can appreciate.

i just want to know why you all are putting my name on your listing of author? Lynda Morris Childress (Amarillo Tx) P.O. box 20274-area 79118

a must have for the serious cruiser, a joy just to read as well.

A wonderful and entertaining resource book. It is filled not only with reference information for the cruising sailor, but geography, advice, local history and accounts of sailing (mis)adventures.

Well worth reading for anyone who loves the Northeast coastline - whether or not they have ever entered an unfamiliar harbor, short of food and fuel, just ahead of a storm.

I purchased the book because I live about 1 1/2 hours from the Poconos, and I am always looking for activities with two active outdoor type boys. I expected to recieve a book with information and ideas beyond the basic brochure rack and highway sign type information. What I received was not even as good as a large pile of brochures. It was simply a list of the different attractions in the Poconos with bare bones descriptions. There were no ratings, opinions, or commentaries of any kind regarding the places and activities. This book is not a "Guide" to the Poconos, it is a "List" of the Poconos.

If you were expecting anything that resembles a travel book, such as Lonley Planet or Fodor's, which helps you decide what to do, not just list the names and addresses of attractions, keep looking (I know I still am).

I visited the Poconos with my parents as a youngster and continue to do so with my family because we enjoy all of the activities this area offers to everyone regardless of age. The book "Discover the Poconos with Kids" contains a wealth of information which prior to its publication was not available to families. It provides excellent concise and informative articles on activities for the young and old. In fact, I just took my family to the Poconos in January as my older granddaughter wanted to learn how to ski. Before taking the trip I reviewed the book to up date my knowledge on the various ski resorts and other points of interest for my younger granddaughter. I highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to the Poconos whether it be in the winter, spring, summer or fall as the book details family activities for all seasons.

Now retired, my husband and I enjoy day trips with our four grandchildren or two great-grandchildren. One of our fondest destinations is the Pocono Mountains. Ms. Strunk's book was a hot birthday gift last summer, and we've all reaped the benefits of its wealth of information during our many treks during numerous seasons. Thank you, Ms. Strunk, for making our visit so easy! This book is a wonderful compilation of the multitude of activities available for children of all ages - even Clair and I as we approach our late 70s! Our younger counterparts seem to enjoy our every adventure to any of the quaint and friendly communities in the Poconos, specifically when we can plan our trip as we drive out there. Over these past months, we've developed some favorite stops, thanks to this book, but we're always prepared to try something new that will make our journey memorable. Ms. Strunk's hard work makes our visits easy and fun. Thus far, the information she's provided us with has been invaluable and right on the money. We purchased copies of this book as Christmas gifts this year for some of our friends and each of our children's families. We're hoping they will find the same delight amid the pages of this great guide.

Unfortunately, Ms. Rudisill does not know her ABC's of Great Britain. Right off the bat in the book's intro, she destroys her credibility by suggesting that travelers get into the U.K. mood by listening to CD's of "British" greats like U2 and Sinead O'Connor (and O'Connor's name is misspelled in the book, to add insult to injury). Does she realize that these acts are thoroughly, patriotically Irish?

Therefore, many of the "British-related sites" she highlights throughout her book are dubious. For example, she recommends dozens of Irish pubs throughout the U.S. as genuine "Anglophile" outposts: "The owners are from Killarney," she writes of one pub. Yet again, does she realize that Killarney is in Ireland, NOT the UK?! The Union Jack does not fly over Killarney, Ireland, which directly conflicts with the book's cover art, which displays a Union Jack and is meant to give the impression that the book is about UK sites in the USA.

It's not simply what's in the book that's erroneous, it's what Rudisill has left out. In guiding readers through New York's Central Park, she completely omitted Strawberry Fields, the tribute to John Lennon--a Liverpool, UK native, and one of the most prolific songwriters and musicians of our time. How could she possibly have missed that must-see?

Much of the text is also repetitive; an introductory paragraph to places of interest is repeated throughout the book. That doesn't make for very original or engaging writing.

I returned my book. Any Anglophile with an ounce of sense (e.g., the difference between the UK and Ireland) and access to the internet can devise a far more genuine itinerary of British points of interest in the USA.

I loved this book. I travel around the U.S. quite a bit. I'm really glad that someone wrote a book like this. I didn't even know we had English-style castles here in the U.S.. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking to save money yet still experience a European vacation.

With three kids in college, it's not likely I'll be able to afford a trip to Great Britain soon. No matter, with this Drive to book I can enjoy all things British and still be back at work on Monday. I loved the way the sections were organized: I could build an itinerary with the easy charts and listings or indulge my live-in-a-castle fantasy and spend the weekend seeing only that. I especially liked the "Theme Tours" section for a great escape from the everyday. This book is terrific for weekend getaways, but could easily be used to plan a longer trip. Indexes by category, indexes by zip code, websites- this book makes it easy to figure out where to go, what to eat and where to stay. The "Weekend" section ("Weekend in Philadelphia", "Weekend in Albany", etc) really sets this book apart from most travel books for helping to make the most out of only two days. If you can't afford/don't have the time to go to Great Britain, this book will help you find it right here in the US.

I used this book and found a few great resources through it. I was disconcerted by the lack of research done by the staff, however. One Brooklyn photographer had never shot a wedding before but said she was put in the book because she had done good editorial work that one of the researchers knew about. I used an ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING videographer, Maria Quiroga, whose name I got from the book. Quiroga's prices were TOTALLY OFF in the book, however, and Quiroga had never been contacted by the authors. She was surprised to see her name listed. The book also listed the Chemist's Club, which is a pretty little place, but too small for all but the smallest weddings. Meanwhile, the Yale Club, which is near to it, larger and cheaper was left out. Emphasis is also on high end wedding vendors who are easy enough to find on own's own.

I thought this book was a complete waste of money! This book mentioned very few reception sites in each state. The reception sites that were mentioned were sites that anyone from the New York area would be aware of. If you're from the NY Metro area you probably won't benefit from this book. I did give "Everything You Need to Know to Have a Wedding in N. Y., N. J., CT" 2 stars because I'm sure it would help someone who is NOT from New York plan a New York wedding.

All marriages should be founded on a wedding by these authors. Funny, funky, to-the-point but stylish, this book is a must-have for the hippest and haughtiest couples to tie the knot in the Tri-State area. And I should know. I've been married three times in all three states! Hopefully, Number Four will be the winner, thanks to Proulx and Hamburg!

The map guide is a nice compact New York City-only version of the larger Let's Go guide for the USA, plus some very handy laminated maps. Its easy to carry this one around and not look like a tourist. The sights picked, often have a good local sensibility about them, in that they may not be typical touristy places. All the Map guides are great, but this one dissapointed because it never listed cross streets for addresses (a must for most new york cabbies)

What we found most useful in the guide is its geographic listing - after attending an event or touring NYC, one can flip through the guide and find one of the many great restaurants in a nearby neighborhood, use your cell phone to call and make a reservation. The ratings and reviews of the food and ambience appear to be more accurate than other guides. We had so more more luck eating in great restaurants using Marcellino's book. Looking for 1999's version, and keep 1998's until then.

This map is terrific for getting around Manhattan and using the subway system. Very easy to use and read.

The book has wit, and some useful info, but in an attempt to make it too cool it is virtually impossible to really find what you are looking for, and harder even to look for stuff you don't already know it exists. Skip the book, get a reverent guide that will give you more info.

Having lived in Boston now for 2-1/2 years, I was looking for a guide that could provide both insights on what I've been missing and good perspectives on what touristy spots would be best for out-of-town friends.

While it's refreshing to read both pros and frank cons of various venues, I felt the Frommer's Irreverent content wasn't as broad as I'd expect from guides built up over several years: my favorite sushi joint, Jae's Cafe, was mentioned six times in 20 pages as a great spot for Terminally Hip, Vegging Out, Global Harmony, Same-Sex, Thai, and After-Hours dining experiences. Additionally, I felt it lacked the benefit of a local editor (the John Hancock tower is referenced not as being on the well-known Clarendon Street, but rather on a fictitious Claridence Street).

I would heartily recommended the Irreverent Guide as a complement to another book to give any recommended itinerary a reality-check, but I wouldn't exclusively depend on this guide to plan a multi-day visit.

I go to Boston at least twice a year and always am interested in the nightlife scene. This book hit all the hot spots in retstaurants and bars. My friends who lived there were going through the book and saying, "yep, that's in," "that's still hot" If you're into that sort of thing, this is a great guide to have, especially if you're only going for a short trip.

I purchased the 2002-2003 edition of the book and am shocked to discover that it still includes the World Trade Center as a tourist site to visit (complete with hours, speed of elevators, etc.) and a recommendation for Windows on the World. I find this very disrespectful in light of the tragedy that occurred there. And, if the author hasn't bothered to update this edition with regard to something so important, he has absolutely no credibility with regard to anything else listed in the book. It's one thing, in updating an edition, to miss the opening or closing of some small, out of the way cafe. It's another to, TWO YEARS LATER, still list the World Trade Center. I guess all he did was slap a new cover on the book. This tells you all you need to know about the reliability of this guide - and the ethics of its author.

This is well written, but he plays favorites. I went to Village a place that he said was awful and it was the best meal I have ever had in a long time. It was well priced too. So my conclusion is that he should go there again with an open mind and enjoy!

This book is the most comprehensive guidebook I've seen -- with lots of extras. It has everything - restaurants, stores, hotels, services, museums, etc. - so it's the only guide I need. And I was excited to learn that an all new edition will be available in September 2003. Since the current edition was published in September 2001 there will no doubt be many new listings and updates (post 9/11). You can be sure that I'll be one of the first to get my hands on it!

Really not much to recommned it. The plot line is completely unbelieveable and rests on one improbable after another. In addition the plot hangs on the crutch of a writer as the protagonist. Not compelling at all, not a page turner. At least the setting is somewhat nice. As noted by another reviewer, the central element of enticement, the jailbreak, is completely glossed over, an after thought, as if the writer decided he was not up to the effort. The book continues in this vein.

Great plot. Average writing. The escape is made too simple. There are some interesting scenes with the townspeople and the people at the Inn. But otherwise the book has average written all over it. I was surprised when one of the other reviewers stated
that this book was actually written by Chuck Hogan. When I read this book I thought it was actually written by a woman.
Check out page 54 (paperback) "Rebecca noted that the sage-green floral wallpaper matched the fabric of the seat cushions, and the lien". Or page 57 "sitting in a quilt-backed rocking chair with a china cup of blackberry tea...." Does that sound like a male writer or does it sound like one of those cozy British mysteries.

The book was written in a easy to follow fast paced action novel. It's not complicated. It's just a fun read. The suspense is good, the action well packed. The concept of a prison break out of this extreme, is of course, fictional, but that is what a fictional book is all about. To entertain us. Not to convince us it could really happen. I really enjoyed this book and the simplistic writing style of Peter Collinson. I look forward to his next book.

I bought this book thinking it would be really great to find some new and different places to take my son. Well we have gone to these new areas but didn't get to do anything because they were out of business. I'm sure that they were all there in 1998 but it is now 2001 and there should have been some updating and checking on these places. I already knew of quite a few places in the book by doing web searches. Save yourself the money and look for places on the web.

A travel book cannot be all things to all people. This book tries, within the parameters set by the authors, to try to find places unique to New England, that are fun for parents and kids. In this, they do succeed.

But because they cover *all* the New England states, each section is necessarily full of capsule information, and no useful maps. (the state map of MA, for example, doesn't even show some of the towns mentioned in the text, or show where sites are located in relation to each other) It's basically a useful list with phone numbers, addresses and hours. The authors assume that the reader will have maps available, since written directions are nonexistent. So, I'm not sure if this a travel guide for native New Englanders, or visitors. Either way, it's damned inconvenient.

It did surprise me with some of the selections - like Harvard's Museum of Culture and Natural History and Myopia Polo; but coming from Boston myself, I noticed there wasn't a heck of a lot "new" in the MA section. In all fairness, it's hard to come up with new kid friendly sites in Boston. Most guidebooks cover that territory exhaustively. Restaurants are featured in each section (excellent idea) but no listing tells you how near the eateries are located to sites. Do you need to make special trips to eat out?

Another quibble I've got is that many of the sites chosen assume that readers are families with older children. However, it is angled for families going on weekends or vacations together, so I can't complain too much about the limited number of listings for those with toddlers in tow.

I sound pretty negative. I bought this book expecting to find lots more listings relevant to my needs (at this time), and am only partially satisfied. However, the authors have done their homework. You can tell that they visited the sites they mention, and that's no small thing. What they do say about the places they visited has a ring of authenticity, and I feel I can trust their word. It's hard work researching (esp with children in tow)...now if only they could fix up the flaws.

Not just the usual suspects, like the Children's Museum in Boston, but some intriguing possibilities, like a lobsterboat cruise in Maine and polo matches in Massachusetts. It's obvious that the authors searched high and low to come up with some inspired, creative choices. This book is a great gift for expectant parents; everybody we've given it to has raved about its usefulness. This is the kind of book you'll reach for, time and time again. We've discovered nearby places like a butterfly arboretum and a museum with real suits of armor, that we didn't know existed. A good family guide for native New Englanders and vacationers alike.