Hope this one goes back in print some day, because I must have given away 10 copies of it, and am now down to my last one. The book is extremely funny, but that's only the beginning of its appeal. A deep look into the poetic (and occasionally moronic) soul of the Lone Star State. Also, like a lot of blue-collar and military lingo, some of the sayings herein express eternal truths about the human condition.

I worked a blue-collar job in Texas for a couple of years inbetween fabulous careers, and this book is always fun to pick up as a reminder of what it was like.

An extremely ribald, superbly funny lexicon of peculiarly Texan expressions by a former member of "The Fugs". Great illustrations by R. Crumb, too.

Warning: Do not leave this book within reach of your prudish maiden aunt unless you are certain that you are mentioned in her will.

After reading only three essays in this book, I grabbed a stack of stickes to mark my favorite ones as I continued reading. By the time I was halfway through, I had marked every essay. Forget the stickies! You'll love every single piece Ruth Pennebaker writes.

This is an absolutely delightful book. It should be required reading for anyone who has ever had a parent (or is one now).

While researching the town of Griffin for my own work, I was referred to Dr. Cashion's book by the curators of the Old Jail Art Center in Albany, TX. Not only is this book indispensible in any serious study of the town of Griffin, which was a hub of the cattle and buffalo trade in the mid-1800's (through which many notable western personas passed, such as John Selman -the killer of John Wesley Hardin, and the fabled poker queen Lottie Deno), it is also a fascinating account of the birth, life and eventual demise of a classic frontier boom town. Dr. Cashion's book, while also covering the whole of the Clear Fork Country (and also happily, its overlooked minority inhabitants), could almost be considered a biography of Ft. Griffin, if we can imagine the town itself as a personality. The book gives a fine description of the natural land as it was seen by its first inhabitants (and first European explorers), and goes on to describe the various elements (political, natural, social etc.) which led to the settling of the area. Griffin is treated with special interest, from its early beginnings as a military outpost, to its heyday as an outfitting and entertainment capital for buffalo hunters and later cattle outfits, to its oil days, and on through to its eventual decline. There are a great many interesting photographs, both of the land, of old surveying maps, and of the people who populated the area, white, black, and Indian. Of particular interest is the chapter `Just Plain Old Folks,' which records many of the daily doings, trials, and tribulations of the everyday citizens. Dr. Cashion writes with equal and obvious passion of the rawboned hunters and cattlemen, the violent sometimes gunmen like John Larn and Selman, who used both sides of the law to their own ends, the retired buffalo soldiers, just trying to make their living somewhere between the harsh trials of the land and the distrust of their white neighbors, and the women and children who found themselves living and working in lonely cabins far from the company of friends and neighbors. For this alone the book is worth it, but also worthy are the revisionist-minded attempts of the author to debunk the many stereotypes and outright falsehoods about the area which have passed as history for so long. Griffin the town is no more the blood-soaked, bullet-riddled Sodom of the west that it has sometimes been portrayed as in fiction and some history (an old biography of Doc Holliday comes to mind, and is once referred to by the author) than is any other myriad of western towns which has ever romantically laid claim to that misnomer. The stories of its people however, are no less interesting, and Dr. Cashion's book proves that. Highly recommended!

Well written! enjoyable to read. I had Dr. Cashion at Sam Houston State this fall. His class is great, it was a great learning expirience. The book is wonderful. Although I missed a couple of points about the book but that's ok.

For those of us who are avid gardeners but unfamiliar with Texas gardening conditions, this book is as much an invaluable tool as a spade and a trowel.

I did not know that Dale Groom was well-known to Texas gardeners as "The Plant Groom," or anything else about this beloved Texan plant guru. I came across this book by recommendation, and I'm so glad I did! In an easy-to-use, easy-to-read format, Groom divides his book into logical sequences, from Annuals through Native Trees to Perennials, Roses, Shrubs and more. For this impatient gardener, the book format couldn't be more perfect. Every question I have has an answer, and every answer is readily available.

The nice, sturdy thickness of this paperback is a plus as well. I can see propping it up in my Texas friend's Houston garden as I struggle to turn a pig's ear (his over-run, sadly neglected, crying-out-for-attention flowerbeds) into a silk purse (Oh I have so many ideas!!!!)

As a Pennsylvanian, I recommend this book to anybody and everybody who has ever gardened in Texas, from the seasoned gardener to the amateur. There is something in here for everybody, and the only thing missing is a big smear of Texas mud on the cover. I plan to see it gets there soon!

I am new to Texas as well as gardening. This book is a great reference as well as a great book to spark new ideas. I place this publication in the "must have" catagory for any Texas gardner that wishes to succeed.

You don't have to be a Texan to be fascinated by the stories in this book. Anyone who loves history or who has an interest in the paranormal will be intrigued. I've given numerous copies as gifts and the recipients really liked them. Not every story is appropriate for young children but this would be a great book for students in upper grades to read to learn about the frontier through stories that are easy and enjoyable to read.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Texas Haunted Forts makes for entertaining reading. The history of forts throughout Texas is an integral part, and the tales of dances, battles, and devotion bring history to life. Be careful, though. You might actually believe there's a chance history is still alive by the time you finish the book!

This book takes you back to the basics of Texas Hunting and Fishing and tells you things you used to know or should know. Not for the most advanced outdoorsman, but for most of us this is a very good book. Well written from a knowledgable source, I read it from cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it.

One of the most well rounded, well written books on texas outdoor subjects I have read. It is obvious the author had "been there" in order to obtain such a well rounded education in the outdoors. I am eagerly awaiting his next piece.

The Texas League has a long, rich and exciting history. Like numerous other minor leagues, it has had its share of stars and hereos. Some played briefly, on their way to "the show," be them future Hall of Famers, or average players. Others for whatever reasons never made it that far, and spent most of their careers playing for various Texas League teams. Their stories and the stories of so many teams are described here. O'Neal does his usual excellent job chronicling the history of the league, all of its teams, cities, and ballparks. As with all his other minor league history books, the back of the book lists league records, ranging from year to year standings, post season and All-Star game results, and yearly individual batting and pitching leaders. As I read through the chapters, some names I recognized as future major leaguers, and others were "minor league legends" I had only heard about.

This is an excellent book about the history of one of the oldest minor leagues still in existence. But given the date of publication, I wonder if it's time for O'Neal to do an update?

Team-by-team, season-by-season history of the old Texas League (1888-1987). Appended with Texas League seasonal and lifetime records, standings, more. Adequately illustrated with photos. A worthy addition to the bookshelves of those interested in minor league baseball or Texas baseball.

Fall 2000 and so far this Spring 2001, I have found thirteen types of wild mushrooms growing on my ranch in Bandera Texas (amazing what some good rains can do!). So far, I have been able to identify all of them with this single reference book. Pictures are clear, and descriptions are detailed. I highly recommend this book. By the way, I found morels---first time they've been seen in over 20 years here in the Hill Country, according to the locals.

This book is wonderful. A thorough guide by the legendary Metzlers, famous experts on the subject. Color photos of every mushroom are beautiful and helpful. Complete descriptions, including interesting history, tips and cooking advice, make this book a fun, fascinating aid to any mushroom hunter. Other books will not suffice. Texas mushrooms are unique and strange, with many species that only occur in Texas. Other books will have dangerous gaps. You need this book. I'd buy it again, if I didn't already have it. The Deity-Man Van deserves our worship.

My review is simple: If you wish to read a good book on the Texas Rangers, buy this one!

Everytime a new book is published on that unique, legendary, fascinating, iconic, mythical, and very real law enforcment agency, the Texas Rangers,and that book has Mike Cox's name on it, you can expect the very best in contemporary historical writing on the subject. Cox is the man you see on TV, facing that phalanx of reporters every time some whacko antigovernment kooks force a standoff that calls for some old fashioned straight shootin' and cool tempered, righteous handling. Because the Rangers themselves aren't like most modern folks who like to blab their stories on Larry King or in the scandal rags; they're tight lipped men, and they let their actions and their record do the talking. And what a bunch of incredible stories their history offers. Cox himself is the perfect chronicler for the Rangers, he writes in an economic, deceptively simple style, almost like a grandfather telling stories to a youngster or a circle of old friends. There's always a twist at the end, and unlike the VAST majority of other Ranger histories, Cox always manages to unearth new facts or fascinating new insights to the deeds and incidents he writes about. Cox also often has a personal connection to the events he writes about; sometimes, as in the case of legends like Frank Hamer, the Rangers were men that were well known to his own grandfather, and passed down directly to him. And Cox has been on the scene at some of the biggest cases of the mid-to late 20th century -- the standoff at Ft Davis, the Luby massacre in Killeen, the Branch Davidian blow up at Waco. Buy this book in hardcover, you'll be reading it over and over so much that you'll wear out the paperback.

... because I keep taking it out to look at again. The photographs are stunning. And Graves's prose is just lovely, as it always is. The reason the essays are all too brief (as the previous reviewer noted) is that they originally appeared in "Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine," which set strict limits on length. I read each piece in the series as it came out, but it's lovely to see them all in one place, with more - and very well printed - illustrations.

Meinzer's photography was great but John Graves seemed at a loss for words, i.e. his essays were far too short. Graves takes time to get into his subject ("Goodbye to a River" and "Hardscrabble"). Even though I wanted more, what he wrote is first rate. He understands the magic and individuality of each river, even my Llano.