This delightful book examines the unique theater which one man's vision successfully and energetically designed to examine the pain and parody of an evolving, contemporary American society and body politic. May Beach Blanket Babylon spread it's messages both throughout the American stages and through distribution of this panoramic literary exposition. Yes, proudly, Janet Lynn Roseman is my sister!

This book is an outstanding guide to the marine life found along the shores of the Pacific Northwest. Before I go further, I should note that it is NOT a pocket guide. But if you slip it into a daypack, you will be amply rewarded. Dr. Niesen has written a book that in very clear language helps you identfy what you are looking at, learn about its life habits, and learn about its habitat. Its emphasis on habitats, and arrangement by type of organism within each habitat, is extremely helpful. The black and white photos are usually pretty good, although sometimes dark, but the section of color plates is really good. What are really outstanding are the line drawings--David Wood, the artist, really captures the organisms in a way that brings out details yet preserves the basic nature of the organism.

The book also gives a great (meaning clear yet not too simple) introduction to marine biology for the Pacific Northwest, explaining tides, currents, the origin of the coast , and the basic biology of the major groups (taxa) of organisms. Furthermore, he provides tips on beachcombing.

All in all, a very handy reference. I will consider it for my Marine Biology class for non-majors (I'd use it with a majors course, too, if I taught one!).

I lived in The City from '67 to '73 and was there during the heyday of Haight Ashbury and the mammoth explosion of all that was pre-Altimont but for some strange reason Beat San Francisco was far more important in my memory than The Haight. The reasons probably have much to do with why I finished Morgan's short book in only a day because I became so involved in his descriptions of the places that I considered my San Francisco-all of Upper Grant after it crosses Columbus with Caffe' Trieste and the New Pisa and of course City Lights, Discovery and Vesuvio with Tosca watching from the other side of the street.

Even though I now live on the other side of the planet, these places are burned into my memory. They're memories of cold winter evenings searching for the inevitable bargain in Discovery and then going next door to City Lights to troll through its basement looking at all the titles that I wanted but couldn't afford as a student. And on Saturday afternoons going into Trieste and buying a cafe' and knowing that not so many years ago this place was the epicenter for guys that wore old berets, had beards and thought.

I am indebted to Bill Morgan for writing such a heartwarming look back at a time and place that will go on in the hearts of Americans that realize there was a recent time when things could have gone another way. It didn't happen but with people like him keeping the memory alive and people who care enough to take pictures of City Lights for people like me who remember- perhaps all has not been lost.

Buy the book and revisit these modern American icons before they are redeveloped.

This is an incredibly rich and well thought out book on an often neglected area of American History. Sanchez assumes a strong background in Historical and Cultural studies that I initially found difficult. Once I worked through it though it was well worth the effort. It was one of those rare books that I felt a better rounded historian after reading as well as more knowedgable about the subject. Keep a close eye one the way that he defines culture throughout the book in both Mexico and LA.

Many of us have been given the impression that the indigenous people of the Americas before white invasion lived wandering, nomadic lives of fierce hunting with little if any organized manipulation of their environment. This book corrects this impression with seasoned research. Indigenous California is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in the world. This work focuses on the ways the people of the region helped sustain the land's yield for their own uses. Henry T. Lewis's contribution focuses on controlled burn practices, though the subject is included in several entries from other researchers. Burns occurred in every environment, were seasonally timed, and helped maintain a varied-age, mosaic landscape. Peri and Patterson and Ortiz cover maintenance of plants for baskets. Helen McCarthy discusses oak maintenance. Philip J. Wilke reports on bow stave extraction from living junipers. Swezey and Heizer discuss management of anadramous fish and also agriculture among the Paiute of Owens Valley, which involved irrigation, planting of grasses, and burns. The editors have done an excellent job at selecting the entries. All are fascinating and enhance the reader's picture of the West Coast as it once was. This reader from Texas wishes enough info was available on his region to do a similar compilation. Combine this book with Leeann Hinton's Flutes of Fire for a more complete picture of the richness of West Coast culture and with Helena Norberg-Hodge's Ancient Futures for an understanding of how indigenous wisdom can be sustained to improve our current lives. Indigenous people still, in California as elsewhere, face continued repression and this book can give some idea of the worth of their cultures and the importance of supporting their struggles.

I thought I knew a lot about the town I lived in. I joined the historical society and studied Benicia's history to gain an appreciation for the many historic treasures, but I learned more in a few hours of reading this book than I've learned in the last 9 years. Bruegmann filled in so much about the town, providing photos I had never seen and anchoring the chronicle around the theme of dreams and failures. In describing Benicia's history as an "unbroken string of defeats," he captures the heart of the the town's aspirations of grandeur. From Benicia's early role as the state capitol, then as a key stop on the Pony Express, and its importance as a depot on the first transcontinental train route and the home of the largest train ferry in the world, Bruegmann captures the essential elements in concise narrative and illustrates them extensively with crisp, historic photography. His coverage of the military arsenal, the first in California, was enlightening. He also reminds us that it was because Benicia did not become an important city that the history is so well preserved.

I especially liked the stories and pictures of Benicia's historic homes. Bruegmann helps readers appreciate the art and enduring qualities of homes that might otherwise seem humdrum. The architectural narrative intertwines with well researched stories about California's pioneers. I walk by many of the houses every day, but I took them for granted until I read this book. The book helped me feel very connected to the past gave me a much better understanding of California life in the 19th century. It is an easy book to read and a reference book that will remain on my coffee table for many years. If you're curious, you can see my own photos of the historic treasures chronicled in this book at my website --

This book provides an very complete look at not only the architectural history of the town of Benicia, but also the history of one of the first permanent military installations founded by the United State Army in the far west. Anyone who has a an interest in western military history, western architcture, or local Northern California history should have a copy of this book. The illustrations are complete and alone could fill a separeate volume.

I have lived in Paris for over two years, but this guide remains my favorite for restaurant ideas, bars, cafés, and days I just want to change my neighborhood. While prices are in francs, and some of the stuff about bar and club trends is a bit dated, it's still the best resource I've found besides word-of-mouth for how to see the City of Lights on a budget. The restaurant suggestions are especially well-chosen.

An excellent, though dated (1989) guide to Berkeley. It covers restaurants, history, neighborhoods, and has several self guided tours. A must if you want to know much more about Berkeley.

Original Post (2000): This book is great if you're looking for places that are off the beaten path. For example: instead of going to Muir Woods to see redwoods (and hordes of tourists), head off to Heritage Grove in La Honda for a chance to be one-on-one with the mighty trees (and check out the banana slugs as well!). I've only hiked about 4 of the 70+ trails so far, but they have all been worthwhile. Highly recommended!

Update (2003): Wow - I'm glad "13 out of 13 readers" found my review useful! :-)

Three years later, this now lovingly-worn book has accompanied me on a dozen more hikes, from Mendocino to Big Sur. Friends and visitors are always amazed at how I've been able to magically find these spectacular places! The Appendices with Suggested Hikes are quite useful -- I have yet to be disappointed with the "Grand Views" of various parts of the Bay Area, for example. I can thank this book for providing many special memories, photos, and aching limbs (hey, the author was not joking about those "strenuous" hikes!).

Oh, I also purchased another Marc Soares book, "100 Hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area". While some hikes do overlap with this book, I'd recommend as a nice companion volume -- especially if you live inland (like me) and don't always have time to head to the coast.