I bought Let's Go and was not impressed. It does not hold a candle to ROUGH GUIDE or Footprint. The practical information is fine but it is written in such a campus political correct fashion which becomes grating after a while. I know they are politically correct in Harvard Yard, but their writing of history is so smug and black and white. It also is ridiculously Amero-centric. They tend to forget that other nations read the book, or they don't care. From now on I will give it a wide berth. ROUGH guide, Footprint and Lonely Planet are not written for one nation in mind - this is why they work so well.

I recently bought Let's Go India Nepal through Amazon because I live in the Philippines, where Lonely Planet is much easier to get. I am sitting in Kathmandu as I write. I have found Let's Go India Nepal to be what I expected. I first bought Let's Go Europe ten years ago, when my work enabled me to travel extensively there. I like the writers' attempts to educate as well as provide interesting things to see and do without spending much money. I later bought Let's Go USA for travel within my own country. It has enabled me to visit similarly educational and inexpensive cultural sites I would not have had time to find on my own. If this approach appeals to you, Let's Go India Nepal will meet your needs. I do not think of myself as "Amero-centric," (although I know plenty of people who are) and am often flattered by questions about whether I am from UK or Europe. Nor did I attend Harvard University, although I have enjoyed walking through many fine bookstores near there. I thought about giving Lonely Planet a try due to their reputation for the Asian countries, but endorsements on the jackets of Lonely Planet and Let's Go Southeast Asia (which I did find in Manila) enabled me to decide. Lonely Planet's endorsement was from Sports Illustrated, while Let's Go's was from The Economist. I'm with Let's Go!

This book was not worth the paper it was printed on. This bookwas a very difficult read because of the poor editing, and many factmistakes. Havn't they ever heard of a spell checker? I would not recommend this book for anyone interested in the mormon battalion. Rather, try to get your hands on a copy of Daniel Tyler's book. END

The Mormon Battalion is a result of apparently careful scholarship brought to print with an eye for anecdote straight from the original diaries of the participants. Characters come to life through their own words. Anyone interested in the early frontier period of western US history should own this book. Unfortunately, several "typos" throughout were distracting

When this book was published in 1984 it may indeed have been new information but much has been discovered since then. ...

Great book which debunks many of the myths concerning this mysterious place. Highly recommended.

Rick Bass, You have hardly the talent you say you have in the interview in writers market 99, your writing is dull and its ridiculously lame you won the james jones fellowship given your publishing credits...Uh, well at least your last novel or whatever you call it got trashed by the critics, and they seem to agree with me. Quit plagiarizing yourself and try to interest the reader, you arrogant tree-hugger. I do, however, think you might write a great one one day, but it is highly doubtful due to your poor attitude etc...

I have long been an admirer and fan of Rick Bass' works. He is a nature writer that understands the importance of landscape and wild places and creatures to the human spirit and the necessity to have all the appropriate elements of a particular landscape to make it complete. The Mexican wolf has been gone from the American Southwest for 70 years and Bass argues that the reintroduction of these wolves into this area is one of rightness and inevitability, as the landscape wants and cries for the wolves to be here. The book is sprinkled with a varied cast of characters, from Ted Turner and an assortment of wildlife biologists, (the heros of this story,) ranchers, students, amd many others. All points of view are thoughtfully considered and also the land and the wolves are described in the haunting manner that only Rick Bass can fashion. A great book for anyone interested in wolves, ecology, biology, or just landscape and nature and our human connection to it. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is not nearly as good as the better version of this story, written by Geri Keams, called "Snail Girl Brings Water". Geri is a real Navajo storyteller, and knows Navajo and other Native American stories intimately. Also, her illustrations are less "new age". Give her a try!

This is a wonderful book that has received a number of awards. The main elements of the story are clearly in the public domain as they appeared in Franc Johnson Newcomb's NAVAHO FOLK TALES published in 1967. In the introduction to that book Franc Johnson says that the stories he collected were "common to every Navaho household." Others have used this material, as has Ms. Keams.

I must say I'm very disappointed. It's the same old Black Legend rhetoric that I've come to expect when I read a book about Southwestern history. I must admit I'm hardly finished but, I have gotten through to the fourth chapter in which he talks specifically about Oñate. I quote:

"By performing them (formal rites) properly, don Juan meant to maintain what he perceived as a right relationship with his universe--his god, worldly lords, subordinates, and environment--and, at the same time, awe non-Christians into embracing the Spanish way. As Colonizers, few Spaniards would ever recognize that the Pueblo Indians, through their equally elaborate and symbolic rites, sought a similar harmony. But invaders always want more. Whatever they called it, conquest or pacification, they willed to dominate."

His chapter on Coronado said nothing of the lands that were mapped for the first time or Coronado and his men paving the way for Lewis and Clark only to get the short end of the stick when it comes to glory. He focused on the negitative parts of Coronados journey.

I'm going to continue reading until I finish this book. I don't know, maybe the theme will change. I doubt it.

Signed
One very disgusted Spanish girl.

John Kessell has again provided an insightful and clear overview of Spanish presence in the Southwest. The careful reader will readily notice Kessell's talent for fleshing out the important events and shifting developments during this long period of time. And as always, it is remarkably well written. Contrary to the previous reviewer's comments, Kessell's book does not espouse any semblance of 'Spanish Black Legend.' Not even implicitly. He instead presents conflicts between Spaniards and Native peoples with diplomacy and dignity. One can easily recognize Kessell's deep appreciation for the history of this region. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of the Spanish Colonial Southwest.

Bannon writes haphazardly and with no structure whatsoever, all he seems to be concerned with is filling the pages of his borderland history with insignificant missionary characters who play little part in the development of the Spanish frontier. The book is boring and very disjointed and difficult to read.

As one of the volumes in the Holt, Rinehart and Winston "Histories of the American Frontier" series, this work provides an extensive look at Spanish expansion and activities in what was called by Herbert Eugene Bolton, The Spanish Borderlands, from the 1513 landing of Juan Ponce de León in Florida, to Mexican Independence in 1821. Utilizing an extensive array of primary and secondary source materials, he traces the history of Spanish northward movement out of Aztec Mexico in three separate pronged movements in time-one up the West coast of Mexico; the second up through what is now New Mexico and the last into Texas. He essentially points out a difference between Anglo-American approaches and the Spanish, seeing the areas of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California which are presented as basically defensive enclaves, especially after the late 18th century. Importantly, those that moved north into what later became part of the United States did not enjoy the overall freedom that their counterparts further north later enjoyed. A basic thesis is that Spain did not allow the "rugged individualism" so notably applicable to the Anglo-Americans. Initially motivated by avarice, the Conquistador's explored great portions of areas now incorporated into the United States. Nonetheless, after 1543, the Spanish were driven more by a genuine religious concern for Amerindians, influenced greatly by the Franciscan and Dominicans, and somewhat the Jesuits. Hence, using the mission church to convert and pacify Indians, the presidio became a support to an essentially religious motive with a civil end-for which they were quite successful until they met the nomadic Indians from the Plains. Bannon's narrative, at times, seems overburdened with details and names, but this is the nature of historical writing. Overall, this book will be more appreciated by those already possessing a good knowledge of American history; in the end, Bannon effectively carried on the work of his mentor, Bolton, providing a more complete look at a part of history that has been essentially overlooked

It's a smallish book with not quite the usual photos that we normally see and are familiar with. I love Las Vegas and love Las Vegas books. This one is just one of the bunch. Not really a stand out but all together not bad. Its a good to average read, photos interesting but not that memorable. Keep looking I think, there are better books out there.

This is more a history book of the settling of the southwest than an architecture book. It was originally written in 1940, so like all good followers of architecture at that time, he praises the adobe styles, utterly despises the Victorian (including the Territorial style, which he considers Victorian), and puts in a few good words for the International Style. The book is predominantly about adobe buildings and does not neglect Native American architecture.

The book deals with the concept of customer service in 6 important companies through the description of what each of the companies does, told by the executives themselves.
There are many good ideas and rules that can be applied to any business and that will translate in an improvement in customer service.
On the other hand, as each of the procedures and systems are described by the people participating in them, I feel it is a parcial story. We have only the good side, the benefits and the final stages. What I miss is the process to reach the actual situation.
If I would like to implement some of the ideas presented in the book, what would be the problems I might face ? We can also learn from the failures that these companies surely had when implementing their systems.