This book is very enlighting on the myths and belifs of the American Idian and their cultural beliefs.

A very dynamic people and culture that has survived a long enduring time of trials. The "white man" taking over their lands and alienating them from the very soil they sewed for hundreds of years.

Mystical beliefs, omens and the rverence of the people in their communities and how everyone was imprtant to the whole.

THis is book is a beautiful example of what makes the Native American people so special, unique and strong. Read it!

In 1928, Aileen O'Bryan recorded the narration of Sandoval, Hastin Tlo'tsi hee (Old Man Buffalo Grass), then "first chief of the four chiefs of the Navaho People." His nephew Sam Ahkeah acted as interpreter. This book was originally published in 1956 as "The Dine: Origin Myths of the Navaho Indians," by the U.S. Government Printing Office, as Bulletin 163 of the Bureau of American Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution. As this transcription is both authentic and poetic, I recommend it to the general reader as well as the scholar.

This is a fine, anecdotal remembrance by Toney Richardson, a distant cousin of mine, and portrays with a great deal of verisimilitude the life that my Mother lived for several summers with her Dad, Joel Higgins McAdams, in Navajoland. Having grown up in Arizona, I can attest to that which I have experienced, especially the wryness, humor, and remarkable sagacity of the Navajos I grew up with off-reservation. Highly recommended if you're interested in the "real deal," at least as I see it.

This book was written by a man who was both a prolific writer of Westerns and operator of a series of Trading posts on the Navajo Reservation. It is an outstanding autobiographical picture of life as a trader in the early 1900's, filled with mundane and fantastic personal experiences.

Highly readable and exciting, "Navajo Trader" brings the early trading post experience to vivid life.

On a recent first time visit to Santa Fe, I was rather disappointed with much of the art on display in the numerous galleries. One either loves it or hates it, but there seems to be no middle ground on the modern art found in Santa Fe, most of it being atrociously expensive. Then I happened upon this book in one of the stores, immediately fell in love with it, and brought it home. With time to enjoy it slowly, this book harkens back to the days before modern photography, whereby landscape painters were the best means for portraying scenery. Most of the images presented in this book date back to the time between 1925 to 1940, with some going back as far as the mid 1800's. I found it quite interesting that very few images from the last twenty years are presented here. Has landscape painting fallen out of fashion? Evidently so. But, for those who love this style and want a good picture of the southwest the way it was, I can highly recommend this book, which is quite a bargain. The added poetic comments only enhance it's appeal.

Paintings Of The Southwest compiled and capably edited by Arnold Skolnic is a gorgeous, full-color art book filled with rich and emotional landscapes from southwestern America, as well as some portraits of the people who call this splendid land home. Works from a wide variety of artists are presented, often with a brief quote from the artist that is relevant to the heart and soul of his or her creation. Enhanced with a thoughtful introduction by independent art historian and curator Suzan Campbell, Paintings Of The Southwest overall is an informative, engaging book of art showcasing the sweeping strokes of memorable works by gifted artists on every page and admirably succeeds in capturing the land's natural spirit. Also very highly recommended are Arnold Skolnick's previous two volumes of artwork, Paintings Of Maine (Clarkson Potter, 0517582295...) and Paintings Of California (University of California Press, 0520211847...).

This one of my favorite books. It is an excellent resourse for information on Native American peoples of the Southwest conveniently divided into three parts and includes personal as well as scholarly information on the Pueblo, Navajo, Pai, Yavapai, Apache, Ute, Southern Paiute, O'odham, Maricopa, Mojave, Chemehaevi, Quechan, Cocopah, and the Yaqui people. The writing of such a book by one author must have been a huge undertaking but the author pulled it off exceptionally well and as other noted authors have declared, "it will probably become a classic in Native American studies." If you have an interest in Native American culture - past/present/and future - this book belongs in your library!

Stephen Trimble's The People is an excellent account of Southwestern Native American history and culture. Trimble outlines the history of the several groups inhabiting these three divisions of the Southwest: the Pueblo people, the Upland people, and the Desert people. His ten years of ethnographic field research have given him personal relationships with many Native Americans, allowing him to share the words and emotions of the people he studies. Trimble's well-taken photographs also add to the understanding the reader gains of the cultures of the Southwestern groups. This ethnography does more than outline history and bring the reader up to date with the most recent accomplishments of the people, but also illustrates the strong traditions of the culture that are still practiced today.

The Southwest is an area with a diverse environment, and the groups of people living in the many areas practice different lifestyles to coexist in harmony with their surroundings. Trimble's photographs are helpful in giving examples of these varied environments, some so surprising that they could not be equaled in the reader's imagination. By seeing the places that these people call home, the reader has a greater understanding of lives that Trimble describes. Trimble approaches this extremely varied area by describing one group at a time...After fully describing their history up to present living conditions, he moves on to the next group. For example, when studying the Pueblo people, Trimble first describes the Anasazi, the people who first practiced the ancient Archaic tradition of adobe and masonry building. As time went on, the Anasazi became several groups of Pueblo people practicing the same traditions. As Trimble says, "The Anasazi grew corn, Pueblo people grow corn" (47).

American movement into the Southwest is the single force that most drastically changed the lives of these Native Americans. Trimble not only states the facts of the events involved in this history, but also gives accounts of the highly emotional attitudes of these people when recalling such events. Thus, the reader is presented with accounts given by the people whose lives were radically changed in our country's history. The Quechan are one of the Colorado River Tribes that used to thrive on the rich farmland around the river...Trimble describes decades of poverty suffered by these people. Harold Chaipos, a Quechan, is quoted by Trimble, saying, "I really miss that big river. Those were good old times" (410).

Personal accounts are also important in Trimble's description of the present status of the Southwestern groups. In his conclusion, called "We Are The Land," Trimble emphasizes the connectedness that these people have with the land. This is something that most Americans do not understand...The attachment that these people have to the land makes attempted relocations and constant environmental threats that have come along with the spread of American inhabitation all the more devastating. According to Trimble, many Southwestern Native Americans feel that they live a life in which they practice a balancing act. In order to survive and protect their land, the groups need to be able to interact with Americans while still upholding their traditional culture...[T]he Southwestern Native Americans continue to live rooted in their homeland, while taking what they know from their cultural traditions and applying it to modern American culture. They say, "We are the people. We are the land. We will persist" (457).

Trimble provides a wonderful source of information about the widely diverse groups of Southwestern Native groups...In The People, Trimble captures the attitudes of the native people of the American Southwest and presents them in a form that educates the rest of the world on aboriginal lifestyles and present Native American values.

A outstanding compilation of life as it was and still is for many. Having lived in the atmosphere of that setting, I found the reading chilling and personal, as if it hit home. The lasting impression of his thoughts and recollection continue to allow me to relive that memorable time in life when we all thought everything was so simple. Like so many, I often fail to put myself in an author's position, however, in this case, I am greatful for his talents and abilities to relate real life.......I was there......part of his family during these times. So, thanks for the memories Dave.

One of the few books stolen from me by a friend (make that ex-friend). I am greatly comforted to know this book is still available as it is one of the books I cherished most and was so anxious to replace. Hickey is, I believe, a journalist, and this is the only book, a collection of short stories, he has published. Can't remember the specific title of the favorite story, something like "On the Trail of the Longhorn Cattle", but it is a classic about an old cowman, alone at home, trapped in a bathtub, with his dead nurse on the tile floor, waiting for his son to return home from a business trip.

Written and illustrated by Irene Brady, The Redrock Canyon Explorer: A Virtual Visit To An Imaginary Canyon is a highly enjoyable and strongly recommended companion to exploring redrock canyons of the Southwest. Packed from cover to cover with black-and-white illustrations, The Redrock Canyon Explorer showcases amazing facts about canyon history and wildlife, from how lizards run, to the life cycles of ravens, to the Ancestral Pueblo Native American culture that once called the redrock canyons home. The Redrock Canyon Explorer is a truly amazing, fact-filled and exciting guide for nature lovers of all ages and backgrounds.

This beautiful book is a stunning breakthrough in nature writing. "The Redrock Canyon Explorer" by Irene Brady combines the best in scientific accuracy with high adventure as she describes and illustrates the hidden life of the Colorado Plateau. For research or for recreational reading, children and adults alike will delight in the exquisite drawings and lyrical narrative of the creatures who live in the high desert Southwest. Curl up in front of a cozy fire with this lovely and informative book, or take it with you as a guide in your Southwest travels. This is a book to cherish for a lifetime and to give to the most discriminating friend. I recommend it without reservation.

Degarmo's book is a must have for true golf aficionados. It is a joy to read about about the birthplace of the sport of golf. Bravo!

Outstanding narrative about the Irish people and their great golf courses. John Degarmo describes in detail his experiences traveling and playing the southwest golf courses of Ireland. Anyone who has played Ballybunnion, Tralee, Killarney or Waterville this book is a must!

I usually carry multiple guidebooks on my vacations, but during my recent trip to the American Southwest I relied exclusively on this book.

One of the reasons I recommend this book is that it covers the Southwest as a single region, so it includes New Mexico, Arizona, southern Colorodo, southern Utah, and Las Vegas. Most other books are State-based, so it would take multiple books to cover the entire region.

Another reason to pick this book is that it is opinionated. It lists top ten sites in various categories (national parks, museums, etc.), so that you can plan your time effectively. The auther even recommends against some things, unlike most guidebooks.

I am picky about maps, and the maps in this book were uniformly accurate and reliable. Driving tips and recommended routes were quite useful.

You will also find this book compact and light. While some other books are loaded with pictures, I find these books best enjoyed at home, before and after my trip, because they are too heavy to lug around during my trip.

Finally, I stayed in 5 hotels, all recommended by this book, and they were all safe choices. If you are looking for a splurge, I recommend Goulding's lodge at Monument Valley, especially for fans of old movies. To my surprise, I enjoyed the museum on site. Also, I used the inroom VCR to watch Stagecoach, and this was the perfect setup for my Monument Valley visit the next morning. At Canyon do Chelly NM, I would recommend not staying at the overpriced, dreary lodge. It's cheaper to stay at one of the places just outside the park. In Santa Fe, the El Rey Inn is convenient, friendly, and has a Route 66 feel.

On our recent trip through the grand circle of national parks in the four corners area, we carried several paperback guides, but quickly discarded the others in favor of this excellent book. We started reading it out loud as we approached each new town because of its wry observations, but quickly came to trust its preview of each new stop. We were never disappointed when we chose a non-chain motel from its recommendations, and we never got a bad meal wherever it said the food was good (and this was a budget trip).

It isn't perfect -- things change too fast. For instance, there are many new motels within easy distance of the Grand Canyon, easing the squeeze many travelers have experienced, and more are under construction. And they didn't warn us to avoid the grossly mis-named Kodachrome state park. But wherever I travel next, a Rough Guide will be with me, you can be sure.

Here's the story behind those magical roadside attractions children of all ages longed to stop at during your family travels on old Route 66. They're all here...trading posts, snake pits, the strange and the unusual places designed to lure travelers off the road. Thomas Repp spent years researching and interviewing surviving business owners and their survivors to provide intimate and fresh details about these gems from the past. A must-have for any serious Route 66 enthusiast or to anyone who enjoys reading about the old roadside businesses that made traveling what it was during the post-war period. This book is a complement to Thomas's first book, Empires of Amusement, which covered the eastern part of Route 66 in much the same way.

Filled with gorgeous full-color photography, Route 66: The Romance Of The West is a fascinating slice of American history and a "yesteryear" way of life. Filled with anecdotes garnered along the length of what is perhaps the most famous highway in America, Route 66: The Romance of the West presents such unique locales as the Wigwam Motel, Dinosaur Caverns, Lyon Pony Express Museum and much, much more. A treat for armchair travelers, Route 66: The Romance Of The West is an exciting treasure trove of nostalgic memory and cultural legacy. Also very highly recommended is author Thomas Arthur Repp's previous book, Route 66: The Empires Of Amusement.

I have only just finished reading this wonderful book about Henry Shukman's journeys in New Mexico.My own imagination would take over as i took in all the fascinating landscapes,people and places that the author was sharing with me.Indians and artists,shacks and glorious views from the middle of no-where...The author came across as sensitive and although at times he would feel pulled by fond memories of England,his passion for where he was there and then was so obvious.I now have a passionate dream of my own. To go and search out these places for myself and be inspired by all they have to offer..

The writings of the author left a deep impression on me. He writes with a very romantic, extremely descriptive style that allows you to feel what he saw. I lived in NM for 3 years and after reading the book was ready to go back. Mr Shukman did such a great job detailing his journey. He described many of the places I remember from there. I found myself nostalgic for the Southwest. He did such a good job, that I was ready to go back because I wanted to visit some of the places that I had never gone to when I had the opportunity. After you read the book, if you've never been to the Southwest you too will be ready to pack your bags!!!