Author Mike McMahan begins his preface with, "Baja has been my mistress for twenty years". The book only gets better.Classic Mr.McMahan spins yarns as fast as the reader can turn a page. If you're looking for a book that tells you how to travel Baja, forget this one. If you want to read about the adventures of a old Baja veteran , grab a copy. Pull this book out at the campfire and take turns reading it and it's sure to raise a smile and produce more than a few chuckles. You'll want more as you warm your toes by the fire. You'll probably want a time machine as well. Happy travels.

The best guide to Napa Valley's food scene we've seen--dozens of places we'd never know about without this book. It's got everything, in all price ranges,from gourmet restaurants to fantastic picnic sites. The insider "tips" on each page were invaluable.

I just loved this book! I have lived in Orange County for many years,but most of the delightful places that Mr. Harley describes are quite new to me, even the ones that are practically in my own backyard! There are sixty places to visit, and judging by the quality of the ones I have sampled I am going to enjoy this book for a long time. I enjoyed even just reading his description of some of the locations. The book takes you all over the county; to beaches, walking trails, viewpoints, parks, lakes, interesting and unusual residential areas and even places to visit on a rainy day. Many of the visits recommended are great for family outings. The simple walks are on generally flat ground and in safe attractive urban areas so that you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy them. The directions are easy to follow and there is always a place to park your car. I believe every resident of Orange County should have this book, not only for personal use, but to share with visitors and recent arrivals.

Fantastic! A must for visitors and residents alike

This is an excellent guidebook for both beginners and experienced hikers. The way Schad has organized the 175 hikes into more than 30 subsections complete with accurate trail maps, directions, and the length and difficulty of each hike makes this an easy to use book. His knowledge of the geology, topography, history, and flora and fauna of the regions and trails he describes is excellent. The index, complete with his choices of best hikes (for mountains, canyons, suburbs, views, waterfalls, etc...), provides a list other recommended readings, local organizations, agencies, and information sources. This is a must have book.

One of the best accounts of failed attempts by the government to restrict religious freedom in a country where it is supposed to be a birthright. The Worldwide Church of God, a Christian Church situated in Pasadena, California, is attacked by the state and put under a receivership based on the claims of ex-members. What follows is the inspiring true story of the ambitions of the then-attorney general of arguably the most powerful state in the union to regulate Church property and thus unavoidably Church activities, and the worldwide membership of this Church which fights against it. If you are interested in the historic struggle of Religion to survive in the face of government opposition, then this book is for you. It is inspiring, not only for members of the WCG, but for Churches nationwide (worldwide even) as even those religious organizations opposed to the Worldwide Church of God stand up for religious freedom... fighting against what some feel is the most calculated attack ever made.

I guess my comments might be taken as somewhat skewed, as I am a proud member of the Worldwide Church of God, but I can honestly say that the story would inspire me REGARDLESS of the Church it came from. Its a must-read for those who feel the tightening grip of the government over our historic right to believe and worship God as our consciences require

A review from Wild West Magazine, June 2000:

The two largest movements of vigilantism in the American West occurred in 1851 and 1856 San Francisco during the California Gold Rush, and right in the middle of both of them--but not on the vigilantes' side--was one Charles P. ("Dutch Charley") Duane. In '51, the Committee of Vigilance banished Dutch Charley from San Francisco, saying he would face a penalty of death if he returned. Seems he had been involved in at least seven brawls, including the beating and shooting of a French actor named Amedee Fayolle. But the vigilantes disbanded that fall, and Duane was soon back in town and making trouble again. During the next several years, he was involved in at least half a dozen violent incidents. When the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance formed in 1856, it targeted Dutch Charley and once again warned him to leave and never to return under penalty of death.

There were two sides to Dutch Charley, though. He was also a fearless fireman. He played a courageous role in saving much of the St. Francis Hotel from a fiery fate in October 1853 and, less than two months after that, was elected chief engineer of the fire department. When the heat died down after his 1856 banishment from San Francisco, Duane quietly returned to town early in 1860 and, within weeks, was honored during a fire department meeting. Dutch Charley would stay put, become involved in politics again (he had once been a chief henchman for the politically powerful David C. Broderick), and outlast most of his drinking buddies.

John Boessenecker does justice to Dutch Charley's colorful story in 50 pages, which constitutes the "Introduction." It has to be one of the longest and best introductions you'll find in a Western history book and serves as more than a warm up for Duane's own memoirs, originally published in the San Francisco Examiner in 1881 and now published for the first time in book form. Duane's 100-page account, as Boessenecker describes it, "provides a firsthand viewpoint of one of the most outspoken opponents of vigilance in San Francisco." Highpoints include getting Duane's take on a double hanging by the vigilantes on May 22, 1856, and on his own capture soon afterward for refusing to "go and bow down to the Vigilance Committee." Boessenecker also provides detailed explanatory notes that help complete this fascinating look at one man's violent life and one boom city's most violent era.

Louis Hart

Agave Sunsets: Treasured Tales Of Baja is a memorable compilation of Baja anecdotes by Ann Hazard in a celebration of the heart and life of Mexico. From "Boys ' Beer in Baja" and "Dirt Roads in the Dark", to Baja's Exotic Wine Country" to "I've Got Todos Santos on My Mind", these engaging and entertaining stories are told in a personable tone, and illustrated with color photographs. A flavorful piece of Mexican life and culture, Agave Sunsets is highly recommended reading!

This is a great book for anyone interested in what life was like on Alcatraz from an insider's perspective. Mr. Gregory served as a prison guard on Alcatraz and explains in detail the daily routines of the prisoners and guards. He writes very directly about the various jobs he had while there and what life was like. He adds a very human aspect to the people in his book while writing very "matter of factly." I was engaged by the book and did not want to put it down at times. Having read other books on Alcatraz and having been there, this book told me an insider's perspective that I had never felt I'd had before. I recommend it highly to anyone who has even the slightest interest in what Alcatraz was really like.

Every time I read about the history of Native Americans I tend to get very angry. This was the case when I read this book. The author wrote an honest account of what happened before, during and after the occupation of Alcatraz and again it is a story of injustice. Well written.