Though the author clearly states that this book is a concise history of India, but readers still expect an impartial view of the history and some justice to the subject matter. This book has an almost clinical feel to it- very cut and dry. Emphasis has been placed on names, places and dates rather than the bigger picture, which might be expected of such a small book attempting to cover more than 5000 years of Indian history. Sometime rambling sometimes lucid text is densely written and drops subtle hints of British superiority.

I started reading the book and had not looked at the biography of the author. Almost 1/3rd of the way through the book, a clear pattern emerged wherein the author tried to project that much of what the world knows of India's glory is a result of British efforts. And how the British brought civility and culture to India. It also seemed that the image that the author projected of India was along the lines of what a British "sahib" may have thought of the locals. It was then that I read the author's biography and saw that he was Director of Counter-Propaganda to the Government of India. From the period when he served the government it is obvious that the author was not employed by Government of Independent India but the British Government ruling India (which technically speaking was also the Government of India).

I really feel that justice was not done to the subject matter. Maybe someone who is both- a patriotic Indian and a history buff- might enjoy some aspects of this book. An average reader would find the treatment of this subject poor (and boring) at worst and mediocre at best. I would not recommend this book.

Although the black and white photographs in the book were excellent, the context was dry and terse. Basically, the book was nothing more but a listing of dates and people. The author showed no creativity in making the history remotely interesting.

Photos were included that had no text related to them. Anyone who does not have previous knowledge of India's history would not comprehend why the photos were included.

Although I am an avid reader, I had to force myself to finish this book.

A scholarly concise history of India would best describe this book. It is well illustrated with numerous black and white photographs. An ideal book if you want a quick read on India and its history right from its origins. Though I have a 1979 edition published in 1991, the history 'ends' in the seventies. Despite this, Mr Watson has captured a fairly lucid panaromic view of Indian history spanning many centuries. He has documented the key events and milestones in Indian history and therefore the book serves the need of most who want key and basic information without detailed narration and evaluation. The writing style is simple and easy to read. Even young teenagers would be able to read and understand the flow of events especially the arrival and development of different cultures. Recommended reading especially for FBIs (foreign born Indians) who want to know more about their origins or be better able to relate to relatives and friends still on the Indian sub-continent!

new smaller size and revized format inside makes the book much less reader-friendly.

The book has good information but the publisher has change the states included. The most Southeastern state, Florida is not in the 2001 edition (a separate book 16.95). With the additional states Arkansas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina the book is too thick over 750 pages, a new narrower page size and semi hard backs make it difficult to use.

You have a wealth available to you that is truly priceless. The National Parks of America hold in trust for all Americans over 80.7 million acres of land. Over 50 times more that all of what Ted Turner owns and far beyond Bill Gates financial ability to buy. All of this, the best America has to offer, is yours for the taking, or visiting . To know what is yours is the purpose of the Guide to National Parks. Each of these eight guides have a smattering of color photos, a meager scattering of full-color trail maps and a brief, but good, highlight of each park's most impressive features. Guide to National Parks: Southeast Region covers 75 national parks in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

What this guide cries out for is maps, maps and more maps. What you get is one master map and eight color maps. That's it... that all you get to help you navigate 75 national parks - pathetic.

The key page is a two-page Southeast Region Map but there is nothing linking you from this map to where in the book the park is described. The master map doesn't have any numbers or references. To complicate matters more there is no index, so you can't reference the parks name and go to the page. Rather you return to the table of contents and search there for the park. Sixty eight parks have no map at all. For example; Cumberland Island National Seashore (36,415 acres) no map, or Biscayne National Park (172,924 acres) no map - you get the idea. This is a serious short coming that if corrected would truly enhance the value and usefulness of this book. Conditionally Recommend.

A real disappointment. I have looked over the "Quadrant" series by Eckart and it was much better. I would recommend a book search for the "Gems and Minerals of America" by Jay Ellis Ransom, it has much more comprehensive information and a lot more than even the "Quadrant" series contains. But of course local "collecting guides" are even better. Contact the clubs in the area you are going to visit and see if they will let you go on one of their field trips or suggest a location. I'm VP of the Montgomery Gem and Mineral Society, we would love to take you on a trip.

This book is loaded with useless information. If your looking for someplace to mine gold or gems. This book will not tell you. It does however provide you with guide services contact information.So if your looking for a river or area in your state where you can pan some gold. Don't look in this book! I didn't see anything you can't see in the yellow pages of your local phone book.

Very few sites listed, and mostly out-of-date info. Of no use in planning a trip. Save your money.

SC without Myrtle Beach? NC without Ocracoke or Hatteras? VA and MD, but no Washington DC? This book is useless! There are Area Attactions, but no indication how far they are from the airport. There is a Transporation section, but it leaves out important mass transit options. Most of what is in this book is in my A/FD (and it covers EVERY airport). My (free) AOPA Airport Directory does a better job. I'm sending my copy back for a refund.

poor information, for instance only 6 airports in AZ (GCN,PHX(2x!),DVD,IWA,TUS,RYN). baja not covered at all. CO, KA, OK, TX are not really in the southwest, a current A/FD is a better buy,

Two problems exist with this book. First, the title misrepresents the content as no information exists in the book on Baja. Second, the information on Southwestern airports is sketchy and incomplete. The book is a dud.