Archipelago is an excellent book on several levels. First, as a photo essay of the biota of the Indonesian islands it must be beyond compare. The photos are simply awesome, leaf through it and see for yourself. Second, it tells the story of one of the worlds least known but greatest scientists, Alfred Wallace. Wallace was just as responsible for developing the theory of evolution through natural selection as Charles Darwin. If you are interested in the history of science or a biology student at any level you should be aware of Wallace's work. This is as good a book to learn about it as any. One slight complaint, in reading this book I felt that the authors felt that Wallace received a raw deal from Darwin and the rest of the scientific community. I don't know if it's true or if the truth will ever be known. I know that Wallace didn't feel that way so why include it here? Third, this book is so much a trip through time. Each chapter on Wallace in the islands is mixed with modern essays on life in the islands and what is happening to the environment there. As an environmentalist "call to arms" it is great, because it is backed by better science through a broader range of disciplines than any I have seen.

I'm not a big fan of the "Coffee Table Book" but this is an exception. While it might be tempting to only look at the pictures, the text is in such a interesting format that reading it turns out to be such a breeze that you will be done before you notice.

this is a great book. It covers in detail the jouneys of that great explorer/naturalist/thinker Alfred E. Wallace through Indonesia and addresses the current state of affairs and threats to its natural treasures.

This beautiful coffee table book goes far beyond presenting the tropical and exotic beauty of this complex archipelago. True, outstanding photos highlight the natural splendor, rich culture and exotic architecture. But the authors also explore its historical significance, beginning with Wallace's 19th century discoveries in biogeography, continuing through the current, looming ecological crisis wrought by exploitation of the islands' natural resources. For those who have traveled to Indonesia, or have ever wished to, this book is a must.

A compilation of essays about Balinese religion and culture, author sometimes ends up repeating himself (though he does warn the reader of this, right off the bat). But it's really a wonderful volume for anyone who wants an in-depth understanding of the Balinese.

Eiseman is thorough in his detail, but the style is not at all dry and academic. There are lovely little personal anecdotes, and it really comes from the heart of a man who has spent much of his life in Bali.

Cosmology and religion are covered in this volume, such as an explanation of how a home is built with respect to cosmic forces and directions. There is a valuable guide to festivals, complete with calendar. Especially fun is Balinese astrology, and the author writes extensively about this.

A possible approach: read the Lonely Planet cultural section first, then go to Bali, then read Eiseman.

Although it won't tell you where to stay or which restaurant to visit, the book is a great, unpretensious guide to the elaborate daily rituals of the Balinese, written by an American who's developed something of an obsession with Bali. It offers the clearest descriptions available of mask making, Balinese dance, temple rituals and offerings. The book is so good you'll find it on every coffee table in Bali.

This book covers Balinese religions and culture in ways that are both informative and useful for the serious traveller/tourist or casual student of Bali.

Having spent six months in Bali in the '70's and having read extensively, I am even more enthusiastic about this book.

Volume two covers more limited and esoteric topics.

You should get a good map to accompany this book.

As a former Resident of Bar Harbor from 1975-1998 i find this a wonderful book for anyone who likes small town life. Plus most of my friends were in there at one time or another. Its a great insight into the Bar Harbor of the 70's and 80's in the Pre tourist trap years.

Bizarre and sublime bits of true life humor that only a small town can provide. I open it to any page for a poop long chuckle.

This book is a collection of police reports from Mount Desert Island, Maine, home of Acadia National Park. Some are very funny!

John Gallagher's narrative in this short book is very comprehensive while still being easy to read. It is interspersed with great little historical tidbits and teasers as well, and provides some great detail to the old 18th century villages that make up the City of Brooklyn today.

The reader gets the impression that Gallagher fully enjoyed writing on The Battle of Brooklyn and conveys this sense of historical importance very well.

In addition to the great narrative, there are many facts revealed about both the Revolutionary War and different parts of Brooklyn that both professional historians and casual history readers may not have known.

A highly recommended, quick and insightful read.

In most history books, it is usually called The Battle of Long Island. But since it took place in Brooklyn, it is more recently referred to as The Battle of Brooklyn...It took place in August of 1776. General Howe, the winner, versus General Washington, the loser (he won later)...The book relates that American counter attacks in the vicinity of Old Stone House created time for Washington to save the remainder of his army...Did the particular men involved here come from Brooklyn? No, they came from Maryland, "The Maryland 400." (the men from Brooklyn were fighting upstate).But the Marylanders are well remembered. Old Stone House was rebuilt and stands near 5th Avenue and 3rd St. An American Legion Post at 3rd Avenue and 9th St. honors the area where most of them are believed to have been buried. They are also honored by a monument in Prospect Park...I met the author at the American Legion Post, and although I generally review books related to entertainment, there are higher callings than entertainment.

If you live in Brooklyn and are interested in the Revolutionary War, this book is a must.

Who knew that such an important encounter took place in Brooklyn. The largest expeditionary force the world had ever witnessed in 1776, the largest battle of the war in terms of participants and casualties, an incredible encounter in Park Slope between a group of Maryland Militiamen and the British Army (they charged the British numerous times, in the face of overwhelming odds, in order to permit what was left of the American troops to retreat to Brooklyn Heights) and an evacuation/ retreat, "Dunkirk" style across the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan by General Washington which saved the army and was widely admired by the British as an incredible feat done right under the British noses.

If you are serious about learning Dhamma, go to the bookstore and buy all Ayya Khema's books. Based on her personal experiences, she was able to explain many hard-to-understand Dhamma concepts in plain and simple words that make you go "ah!" and "wow!". Simple yet profound, she was very strict to the original teaching of Buddha's Dhamma yet present it in a way that we modern people can understand without any difficulties. You don't have to worry about any water-downed psuedo Buddhism teaching you found in the bookstore today. She was a revolutionist when it comes to improving the status of women sangha in Theravada tradition, a credit to the Buddhasasana. I am thankful to be able to learn from her writing, must be my good kamma. If you are reading this review, don't let the good kamma slip away. Get this book and learn to be an island.

This marvelous little book gives hours of pleasure, confidence, and encouragement: as well as instant calming and vision for your spontaneous needs should you require immedicate assistance. I found it to provide guidance and inspiration on any occasion that presented itself-I had but to open randomly to any page. Here is only one example of its gifts: "Only one single moment exists, and that's the present one. The future is a figment of our imagination. When the future really happens it becomes the present." (This from the 'Nuts and Bolts' section.)

I was raised Roman Catholic and I find so much value and love from these practices. I am learning to love myself as I have always been taught to love God but somehow missed the part about loving yourself. Sister Khema makes a bridge between religious gulfs, feminine issues, and meditation practices. She has masterfully put together Buddist teachings in so understandable a method that you come away from reading, even just a paragraph or two, with inspiration and love. I recommend this book to all my friends.

Sincerely, Pat

Ayya Khema, who personified Theravada Buddhism in her meditative practice and compassionate life, leads you as if by hand to the isle of inner peace. Warmth and practicality permeate this book, which is more a teaching than a tour guide. Ayya Khema reveals important insights in such a way that you hardly notice you've been taken well down the Noble Eightfold Path. You arrive at the end of the journey ready to believe her final assertion: "There is no reason why an intelligent, healthy, committed person should not be able to attain [mindfulness] with patience and perseverance." Add this to your list of desert island readings.

Extraordinary photography, combined with intelligent, concise, even poetic text. I am English, but I have lived in Boston for many years. Bermuda is perhaps my favorite island--for its civility, its quiet beauty, a little touch of England in the middle of the Atlantic. This book captures Bermuda as I have seen no other book do ... perhaps because it focusses on the small things: the tiny flower known as Bermudiana, the young schoolgirl gazing deep into the camera ... The picture captions are concise, but packed with information; the author chooses and rations his words carefully! There's also, for those who want it, a complete text which conveys the history of the island. A small quibble: there's no information about hotels, restaurants, etc. However, this is not a guidebook, but rather a coffee-table "documentary" book, and in that department it is incomparable.

Having travelled to Bermuda many times over the past twenty years (and I lived there for a time as well), I have to say this is the finest and most complete "coffee-table" book on the island that I have ever seen. It is large-format, filled with superb color photographs (including a lot of aerial shots as well as some archival photographs of Bermuda in the mid-20th century). The text gives you a concise, intelligent overview of Bermuda's history. I've given a number of copies to friends who love the island. The jacket blurb says the author was once a Peace Corps Volunteer, and it shows ... this is a real in-depth portrait, not just "post-cardy" superficial coverage. I have several other books on Bermuda, but this one is in a class by itself.

This elegant photography book provides a thoughtful and perceptive portrait of a genteel world all of its own. It makes one think that to escape modern life, the place to go is Bermuda. There is a wide variety among the hundred fifty or so photographs, from close-ups of people to scenic panoramas, all in rich, lush colors. The beach scenes and sunsets are breathtaking. A bonus is the extensive historical background presented in an easy to absorb reader-friendly style. Particularly interesting are the stories of how Bermuda found itself squeezed between England and the Thirteen Colonies during the Revolutionary War and between North and South in the American Civil War. The author reveals that there were no cars on Bermuda until the 1940s and describes the more recent transformation of the island into a corporate center, "the Switzerland of the Atlantic." The care and craftsmanship that went into the creation of this work is obvious. This is literally a "Bermudaful" book. And do not forget to catch the sweetheart on page 17!

We took this book with us on our recent trip to Virgin Gorda in the BVI, and we were amazed at how accurate the information was. We went to many places on Virgin Gorda recommended in Acheson's book and were thrilled that her reviews were so on-target. Would highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to the British Virgin Islands, and especially to Virgin Gorda.

Pamela Acheson gives many, many helpful comments on each island in the BVI. She describes all of the beaches, many restaurants and bars, and offers many helpful hints. We relied heavily on her book for our recent visit to Tortola and were not disappointed. She is right on with all of her comments, such as Jost Van Dyke is a really great day trip, how to greet and deal with the locals, Tortola's amazing roads, her suggested adventure to Smuggler's Cove (with complete directions and what to expect), and her evaluation of many restaurants including Brandywine Bay, Sugar Mill, Roti Palace, an unnamed local fish fry, and especially a lovely Italian cafe named Capriccio di Mare (all very good). Her suggestions such as to take at least one nautical adventure, take in the view from Sky World, watch out for a particular mule, etc., were all helpful and accurate. Ferry schedules, banking, the best water taxis, etc. were all very useful. As is written on the book jacket, we found it to be an indispensable, friendly, fun-to-use guide for anyone visiting the BVI.

This book is full of useful information on where to go, what to do, etc. in a very readable well organized format. It's like having a resident friend tell you all about your options.

I like to go to the Mosquito Cafe in Galveston to hear Bill Cherry tell stories. The coffee and scones are great. But the main attraction is the pure pleasure of hearing Bill tell stories about a quirky island off the Texas Coast that has been home to famous pirates, gamblers, bamboozlers and other assorted characters. The stories in this book originally were published in The Galveston County Daily News. As the editor, I can tell you they passed the muster of tough critics. These are the kind of stories islanders like to read about themselves. The stories Bill tells so well at the cafe over coffee are here in this book. It's not exactly the same as a trip to the cafe, but it's mighty close.

I've never read a book quite like this, and I doubt you have either. It's a collection of sixty essays, catagorized by subject: Love, Humor, Nostalgia, History, Hurricanes, Religion, Characters and Memories. And these tales could have as easily been written by Daymon Runyon as they were by this talented story teller, Bill Cherry.

Consider some of the titles: "Joe Pajucie, His Red Cadillac and the Four Cheap-Looking Women;" "At Miss Dorothy's: Arthur and Summer Saw the Midnight Sun;" "Baby Doll Pajamas, Spoolies and Tabu Marked Rites of Passage;" Smooching Can Make a Boy and Girl Say Things They Don't Really Mean;" and "Rose, Curly, the Priest and the Doctor above the Dime Store.

And then there's one simply titled "Homer Sectuals." It's about a circa 1954 mayor inviting some teenage boys, who one night were sitting at a drugstore soda fountain, to go with him for a raid he was staging at a public men's room on the beach. Since they had never heard the term "homosexuals" before, the boys thought Homer Sectuals was a dangerous wanted criminal, so they took the mayor up on his offer. This cops and robbers story is a scream because the homophobic mayor gets his just due.

If you've lived or visited Galveston, you may have a 10% advantage on those of us who haven't, but this book is a wonderful experience for readers everywhere, and what makes it exceptional is that these stories are totally non-fiction!

Only in America can one person grow up in a city, remember the details almost to the letter, and then WRITE about his friends, fellow citizens, interesting characters, etc. as Bill Cherry has done. He brings the past, and in some cases the present, to life in Galveston. Anyone who finds people of all kinds interesting will find this book INTERESTING! I am Professor Emeritus of Music, University of North Texas and have followed Bill's career rather closely through the years!

As a longtime resident of this beautiful & remote North Pacific archipelago known as Haida Gwaii, I enjoyed Neil Frazier's guidebook very much. It is extremely informative in matters of interest to travellers in this unforgiving marine wilderness, the hard facts of survival. As well, the author shares his thoughts on the ongoing rape of the ancient forests of spruce & cedar for which the Queen Charlotte Islands are famous. His maps are accurate & current, his directions are lucid & easy to follow, and his advice is worth heeding. Very few of Haida Gwaii's 5000 full time residents have been to half of the places that Mr. Frazier has visited. And the author's extensive knowledge of the human history of these islands is evident throughout the text, and is usually reflected through entertaining anecdotes about Islands residents, past & present. The indigenous Haida people especially are portrayed in a romantic light that stirs the imagination. All in all, the book does what a good travel guide should do- it inspires me to want to load up my boat, and head off on an extended boat camping journey of my own, and to once again marvel at the endless majestic beauty that is to be found in every corner of Haida Gwaii.

"Boat Camping Haida Gwaii" guides readers not only through the waterways surrounding the Queen Charlotte Islands, but also through the history of the region, and the policies that continue to degrade these coastal areas. The guide is filled with detailed maps as well as pointers about where to land and where recent clear-cuts preclude camping. Even if you don't own a boat or a tent, you will still find the author's discussion of the past and possible future of these islands to be a useful guide for thinking about the fragility of the few "wild places" that are left, and about the price of ignoring the long-term effects of deforestation and overfishing.

This is a trip which my husband and I have always wanted to take. With Frazer's book, we feel confident enough to try it (hoping for good weather) The maps and descriptions of the area are very detailed and clear. The personal anecdotes and history enliven the book and make it an unusually readable travel guide. We appreciate the warnings and safety tips as well as the excellent bibliography and index. Congratulations to the author.

Born on the Island is a historical fiction based on the great Galveston hurricane of 1900. After the Great Storm, the survivors were bound together by the mere fact that they lived when more than 6000 died. Being "BOI" became heroic, a symbol to wear and share with their kind. Besides the body count, the destruction of property and the town itself with its hopes and dreams--there lies a love story. Actually, there are several love stories woven into the main vein of BOI. The gifted author creates compelling, believeable, yet flagrantly flawed characters. Linda Bingham possesses the talent to draw the reader in giving you insight into three generations of individuals as they learn or fail to cope with the results of their tragedy. Once you've read "BOI" you will discover the meaning of before or after the Great Storm.

Born on the Island is the story of how one family copes with the worst natural disaster in American history--the great Galveston hurricane of 1900. This catastrophe killed more than 6000 people on the Island of Galveston, and many more on the mainland. Entire families were wiped out, necessitating the mass burning of bodies in the streets. The property damage was unprecedented, virtually destroying the town, as well as, obviously, the hopes and dreams of everybody in it. But this book is not just about a hurricane, although Bingham's descriptions of the storm itself are chillingly on target. It is about the human dynamic of coping with a cataclysmic event that affects in one way or another everyone whom you have ever known. The people of Galveston circa the turn of the century lived two lives: Before the Great Storm, and After. Before, the Coolidge family prospered. After, they represented just a few more casualties. But we get to watch as they try and arise from the ashes of that one horrible day--the unforgiving, haunting experience that all on the island have in common. This knowledge somehow binds the citizenry together for all time. Being "BOI," or Born on the Island, becomes a symbol of survival, an indigenous Texas Red Badge of Courage. How do the Coolidges react to this huge, shared event? As with all living beings, each according to his or her own degree of inner strength and essential humanity. Some rise to the occasion, confronting the horror head-on, rebuilding the town and otherwise being causal to the direct, tangible benefit of all. Some simply co-exist with it, and nothing more. Still others capitulate to it, emotionally, spiritually, and developmentally. Bingham's characters are complex and not the least bit sterotyped. Some of the twists will leave you fascinated, or at least sporting a wry smile of appreciation. The author has the gift of being able to draw you into their lives immediately, making you care deeply about them, whether you particularly like or admire them at all. For there is so much bad in the best of them, and so much good in the worst of them. The dialogue has an historical ring of truth that is compelling. The reader believes that this is exactly what these people would have been talking about, and this is exactly how they would have expressed themselves. Yet the author never gets bogged down in historical parlance that is tiresome or difficult to read. The book is also about love, which is an excellent literary subject, after all, assuming the story is well done. Love makes its appearance how and where it pleases. It does not always fit neatly into the expectations and norms of society or the people whose approval we seek. Not today, and not in Galveston in the first part of the 20th Century. This book captures perfectly the spirit of Galveston, and to a large extent, Texas. Bingham is the female Larry McMurtry. But you will enjoy BOI's unique viewpoint regardless of where you live. I highly recommend it.

This book is a fantastic way to learn more of what life was like in Galveston during the 20th century. Anyone interested in how people coped with storms and personal tragedy would enjoy this interesting read. I really liked the format. Half the book is written using a journaling format and the other half is written using a more typical style of writing. This allowed me to learn about each character very thorougly. The real surprise for me was learning that some of the problems that plague society today existed way back then!