This book should have been called John Ringo: The Biography that Never Was.

Burrows spends most of time telling the reader why everybody else's biography of Ringo is wrong, and spends very little time telling us who John Ringo really was. In some ways I empathize with the author because there really is no substantial or reliable primary sources for a biography of Ringo. But frankly, having read a lot of history of the Old West, nothing in this book is new or revealing. While the exegesis and (extreme) criticism of Ringo's biographers was somewhat interesting -- it really becomes somewhat tedious.

Burrows could boiled this entire work down to a nice article in an academic historical journal -- and quite frankly probably should have.

A well researched and (mostly) interesting book, although even an Englishman like myself had to have a dictionary to hand which made it hardgoing at times! (Where did he learn all those words?!!) Dr Burrows did tend to knock other authors of Western history, but I guess that is useful as we are at least able to take the mentioned books with a 'pinch of salt'.

This is one of the best books ever written on the subjects of Tombstone, The Earps, Clantons and of course, the "deadliest gunfighter of them all" Johnny Ringo. Burrows has carefully and fully researched his subjects and has also taken the time to research the other researchers whom he spares not at all. His writing style is free wheeling and hilarious. Burrows convincely proves that the man called John Ringo wasn't the educated,charming and deadly gunfighter of myth but rather but rather a small time criminal and lonely figure. Before you decide you know all about the Tombstone story, read, John Ringo, The Gunfighter Who Never Was. You will discover how much you didn't know and what you did just may have been wrong .

For strictly a Thai travel guide I would recommend "The Thailand Handbook" (Moon Guides) hands down over this "save our planet" propoganda panthlet. The book was well researched as most of Cummings books are. It's primary shortcoming though is a wealth of judgemental biases toward the Thai people, and a very tedious holier than thou political agenda interwoven throughout the book. The reader must wade through a myriad of Al Gore style tree hugging rhetoric, as well as an attitude of "all Thailand is coming to an end, if us caring Westerners don't rescue these little brown people from themselves." This perpetual pontification throughout starts to become quite nauseating frankly. Mr Cummings is without a doubt a most talented writer, but unfortunately, his book could be two-thirds its present girth if vaunted political agendas were left with the Author. As a 22year vetran homesteader in E Asia, three year worker in Khmer refugee camps and an UNTAC rep, I tire of seeing half-baked liberals coming into SE Asia to change the world. As such, this "manual is just another xerox copy of "Green Piece" marketing ploys.

I'm a Thai who have read this guide book. I would like to inform that there is some missunderstanding on the article "The Monarchy" (page 31). His Majesty The King Rama IX has composed many pieces, including the "falling rain" of course, but he did not compose the royal anthem. The "falling rain" is NOT the royal anthem. The royal anthem was composed by someone else.

After living in Thailand for 3 years and traveling extensively (40+ provinces) sometimes on a shoestring, sometimes on an expense account, I'd have to say that Cummings book is one of the very best (certainly better than the outdated and superficial guide by Carl Parkes in the Moon Publication series). The Thailand "Handbook" (aka the Footprints series) is the only serious competitor. The historical and cultural overviews are superb and the practical infomation highly credible. The complaints about prices changing, etc. seem to come from people who are naive about travel. The book is no more "Western" in outlook than other common guides and, if anything, it does a better job of interpreting the culture. The political coverage is very credible, unless one is a hard right-winger or a member of one of Thailand's sleazier political parties.

This book gently explains to young children the reality and inevitability of death. I enjoy reading this book as much as my daughter enjoys hearing it.

I'm a little puzzled by two negative entries in the review section for this book. The one by the second grade class seems to have missed the particular theme of this book and the second claims the story is predictable. Well, in a way, it is predictable. The grandmother's death is an inevitable event, and dealing with that death and loss is a story every child must deal with in their lives. The young girl in this book reacts with horror to the thought of losing her grandmother--and even tries to fight it--keep it from happening. In the end, she comes to an understanding and an acceptance of what death means and finds new strength for herself and her family. This is a wonderful book for those children who are dealing with the question of death in their own lives.

Twenty years ago a child librarian recommended "Annie and the Old One" to me. I have explained death to small children using this book. Several are now adults. None have ever feared death. "Annie and the Old One will always remain part of my personal library.

Today, I send a copy of it to a dying grandmother to read to her small grandchildren. I am honored to send this gift to my friend, and thankful to the author, Miska Miles, for writing "Annie and the Old One" for all of us.

This book offers all one could want in the way of Santa Fe style home building. Seeing the interiors of actual Southwest homes is a huge inspiration when decorating. Filled with many informative photos.

This should be titled Architectural Details of Adobe Homes of New Mexico." The author has lived in Santa Fe and clearly loves it. The reader will get many ideas from the photographs of existing New Mexican homes to incorporate into their adobe home. However, I must say that after awhile, everything being wonderful, unsurpassed, great, wears thin.

Any architect or serious interior decorator exploring, or deeply into, the southwestern style will not be disappointed with this book. It is filled with hundreds of photos of interior and exterior features, including wide-angle views encompassing entire rooms, showing southwest fine art and artifacts in a domestic context. Don't be surprised that most of the photos are black and white--although there are dozens of color photos too. Instead, appreciate the play of light and shadow that finely crafted adobe structures have at their command. Black and white photos show this in high contrast. But don't let the photos overshadow the text that will provide an education to adobe architects of all levels. Anyone iiving in a true adobe, and wants to follow a classic southwest theme, will find lots of inspiration--and then the hunt will be on to find the kind of indigenous southwest decor seen here.

A waste of time! The authors far too negative about everything and doesn't show Iran for what it really is. I travelled to practically every corner of Iran over the course of two and a half months: Alot of the things that were worth checking out hardly even got a mention in the guide!

I ended up binning the lonely planet guide and bought a better guide book in Tehran.

One of the few guide books for Iran. Detailed maps and info bring out the rich culture and history of the nation. Some of the information however is outdated.

I don't know what book some of these people were reading, as this book is in no way biased against Iran. It is quite the opposite. Covers main cities like Tehran and goes way off the beaten track to little villages near the Afghani border. Gives great info on Iranian culture and shows that Iran is really no where near as intimidating to westerners as many think.

This book is not only an exhaustive biography of Army Scout Al Sieber, but a snapshot of life in Globe Arizona when the Apaches outnumbered the white men by a long shot. Sieber is memorialized on Crook's monument in Arlington and also inspired the Charlton Heston character in the movie ARROWHEAD. Basically Sieber's job was to help the Army put Apaches back on the Reservation when they strayed off it. He did this by using Apache scouts, whom he dominated by out-thinking, out-fighting, out-riding and out-shooting them, all the while treating them with respect and scrupulous honesty. The book covers his life from his immigration to the US from Germany on through his retirement working at the Indian Agency, insuring that the Apaches weren't cheated by the white men sent out by the Indian Bureau. The only flaw in the book is that Siber never strayed far from Globe, and the story doesn't either. You're left wanting to find biographies of Crook, Geronimo and the other characters that pass through Sieber's life.

Information of Al Sieber is hard to come by, but this book provides an excellent source for his life. I interested mainly in his work on the Geronimo Campaign and was very sastified with this book.

Dan L. Thrapp provides an excellent view into the life of one of greatest indian fighters in history. While some may love or hate Al Sieber for his role in ending the Apache wars Thrapp provides a well written and detailed look at a Cival War hero turned cowboy turned scout. To better understand the history and people of the time read this book and add it to your library.

Being somewhat familiar with the history of the Navajo-Hopi conflict, I was naturally drawn to the premise of this novel which resulted as being a one-sided, extremely inaccurate account of the 20th century Hopi history. After performing my own "due diligence" on the subject, I was appauled to learn that the author's slanderous accusations of attorney John Boyden are not substantiated and grieviously misleading. Peabody Coal has officially denied and submitted written proof that Boyden was never engaged in any "conflict of interest" nor on any payroll while representing the Hopi. I discovered that Wilkinson's mysterious "proof" of Boyden's affiliation with Peabody is painfully erroneous as the author draws awfully creative conclusions from very little evidence.
In 1997, Wilkinson suggested that legal recourse would be sought for Boyden's "devious conduct" against the Hopi, but seven years later, Wilkinson's claims have not been substantiated at any significant level. Why is this? I was very unimpressed to learn that after writing with such conviction and certainty, Wilkinson's "shocking revelation" about Boyden's "misconduct" as a focal point of the novel is and will most likely remain a hollow witch-hunt. I would not recommend that anyone read this novel because of it's poorly executed investigation of John Boyden's service to the Hopi Indian Tribe.

Anyone with interest in the Four Corners/Colorado Plateau, Native America, Public Land issues, wilderness, law or Western Americana must read this book. Wilkinson's credentials and legacy of work for justice are impeccable. His "Land and Resource Planning in the National Forest" is the best on the subject.

Critics on this site claim that it never happened; that is, Mormon attorney John Boyden never created a conflict of interest by represented Peabody Coal Company and Native America concurrently. (Read: "a Mormon simply wouldn't do it"). Mormons might think themselves irreproachable but greed and the need for glory know no boundaries. The veracity of Boyden's conflict of interest is archived at the University of Utah Marriott Library Special Collections. Anyone can read Boyden's own documents and come to their own conclusion. I have.

Conflict with Peabody or not, the critics have not disputed and cannot dispute the fact that Boyden represented both Hopi and Navajo horrendously over decades, advising them to accept legislation, water and mineral contracts that favored Anglo government and industry -- not the Indian or his land. (I use both "Native American" and "Indian" because some of my Native acquaintances prefer "Indian.") The contracts were so obviously bad and so far below market rate, they were successfully renegotiated many years later.

Wilkinson does a great job of explaining the cultural roots of both Mormons and Native Americans on the plateau that led to such travesties. The ultimate tragedy is that the Hopi and Navajo will never get back any of the plateau land that defines -- or rather defined them culturally.

From the detailed maps to the near 350 sources cited at the end of Fire on the Plateau, it is clear that Charles Wilkinson pours some of himself into these pages. He blends his personal experiences into the stories of the Colorado Plateau, especially the times he has with the people of the Hopi and Navajo culture binding together the issues that have defined the four corners region for over the past two centuries. His affection and admiration for the region and Native American cultures adds to the intimacy of the discussion about how those cultures have been affected by what has happened in the Southwest.
Wilkinson's extensive historical background and personal narratives makes for a powerful combination that is critical to understanding the conflict that has dominated the Plateau. Issues such as greed, ignorance and long drawn out legal battles prove to the reader that this 'wasteland' is being pulled at from all sides by all types of corporations. Especially good are Wilkinson's discussions of the Mormon influence on the region, and the dubious dealings of John Boyden, a questionable lawyer who is said to have gone behind the backs of the Hopi people to benefit himself financially.

Fire on the Plateau is a book that needed to be written. Misdeeds, betrayal and environmental chaos are all subjects that have been brought up and dealt with on the Colorado Plateau. These are issues that no human should have to deal with, no matter if the people are "just Indians" or not. The book addresses not only the people of the Four Corners area, but anyone who lives, or has lived, in the Southwest. The facts cannot be ignored and doing so only eludes one from the truth of what has happened, and what will continue to happen in the Southwest if people such as Charles Wilkinson do not speak up for the land.

Wilkinson is a rare mix of a writer who demonstrates an expansive knowledge of the subject matter and who also exhibits a fiery passion for his subject. A major strength of the book was the audacity that Wilkinson possessed as he crusaded for justice, peace and equality for the Native American people. Although Wilkinson can play hardball with the toughest lawyers in the West he portrays a man who is very down to earth and appreciates the beauty of the land.

Overall, I would be lying if I said the book did not captivate my attention. I have lived in the Southwest all of my twenty-two years and did not know injustices such as these were going on right under my nose. Wilkinson has enlightened me and woken me from what I thought was a peaceful and undisturbed land. Fire on the Plateau has kept me up well throughout the night and as I turned each page of the book, I was just as engrossed as the last page. Wilkinson does a fantastic job creating such an informative narrative and to say the least, I was not disappointed.

I found this book to be usefull if I used it with other sources. It was a good starting point but a lot of the information in it is out dated. After a long drive I found that a free site was now a pay site and I had not brought the cash to get in. However it was a great starting point and with a search on the internet it was a good help

I first purchased an edition of your book in the early 90s. Last month, while in Calistoga, I purchased the 1998 edition and I want to let you know it is just great. I enjoyed reading about the additional springs in this edition. Descriptions of places I've stayed or used are quite accurate, and, in fact, I designed one vacation to New Mexico around the spots mentioned in your book. Thanks so much for compiling the information in this book.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as it's sister volume for the Northwest. It adds an extra dimension to my travels. Springs are listed as commercial or "wild" type springs, and also categorized by water temperature and ease of access. I prefer wild springs, but as a relatively lazy sybarite, I won't bother with a spring that's only "warm" when the access is moderate or difficult. On the other hand, if the review is great and the water nice and hot, I don't mind a hike. Definitely use directions in conjunction with a road map as recommended; some springs are in squirrely locations. A spring we visited in New Mexico last year was truly breathtaking and one of the highlights of the trip.

This is my second McMurtry book (first was Picture Show). In this book, McMurtry details the life of the outlaw in the southwest, Billy Bone, from the eyes of a bored upper class journalist from the east coast. Though parts of it could be construed as the life of Billy the Kid (especially the other outlaws), this is a different Billy altogether. The parts of the book I really enjoyed had to do with when the outlaws were traveling in Texas, New Mexico (Las Cruces), and south o' the border into Mexico.

All in all, I think you'll enjoy this book, but it really is a quick read (and not a difficult read either).

What a wonderful read! If you are a fan of any of the McMurtry Lonesome Dove series, pick up this book. Although it involves none of the same characters it spins a tale in a similar gritty, adventurous vein. Anything for Billy rivals Lonesome Dove for heart pounding excitement and gut wrenching sorrow.

Meet Billy the Kid,(Or McMurtry's version, anyway) an inexperienced young drifter with a lucky streak a mile wide, an all consuming desire to make a name for himself, and a tragic taste for violence.

Watch the sparks fly when Billy meets Katerina, the beautiful leader of her own band of Mexican outlaws. See Billy tangle with the largest land owner in the west, deadly hired gun men, and vengeful indians, all while he tries to survive his most destructive foe: himself.

Although the book involves a number of colorful characters, Billy is what makes this book so interesting. He is more than just a one dimensional shoot 'em up gunfighter. He's an ambitious kid with his own fears and loves and some very dark problems. He's someone you can root for even if you're not sure why.

Unlike many of McMurtry's other books this one is narrated in first person perspective. The narrator, Sippy, one of Billy's companions, is an east coast, old society gentleman with a penchant for western dime novels. The contrast between the refined narrator and his crude western companions lends a touch of humor to the tale.

Give this book a try. Whether you're a McMurtry western fan or not, this one is hard to put down.

This book cleverly uses the "dime novels" genre while examining the American legend "Billy the Kid". It basically gives insight into the fact that legends can mostly be made from fictitious or exaggerated stories from people in history. McMurtry takes readers on a journey where the question of what makes a man a man is asked, and uses entertaining characters to tell the story of "Billy the Kid".

...Primarily, the Map is wrong. Azad Kashmir is such a beautiful part of Pakistan, and they cokmpletely miss it. They go on to show that Entire Kashmir is a part of india.
The book is also missing insiders scoop. Perhaps just using this book aas a reference, and Using other guide would be better. The authors also give a fake image of Pakistans politics, and its intolerance, as a matter of fact its very tolerant...As long as you aren't calling for trouble, you're all right!

The book is written very well. Gives all the information a traveller could possibly use. The only thing wrong with is the map of Pakistan and Kashmir. Kashmir is shown to be a part of India which is totally wrong. One part of Kashmir - Azad Kashmir is independant whereas the other half is occupied by India. The map of Kashmir should be corrected to earn the fifth star.

Without bringing my political affiliations and leanings into this review (...), I can safely vouch for this travel guide to Pakistan. Informative, thorough, honest and highly enjoyable, Lonely Planet has come through again! I utilized their travel books throughout my recent trip to India and Pakistan and was never led wrong (infact they have saved my behind a few times, especially in Pak), but overall enhanced my experience as they encouraged me to try new and different things while there and also gave me some pointers on how to interact with the locals. One negative point to mention: Lonely Planet Pakistan doesn't stress and/or inform about the heckling, whistling, and unwanted male attention foreign girls (even those who are of Indian origin) have to suffer through, enough.