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Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "Pacific", sorted by average review score:
Exploring Lost Hawaii: Places of Power, History, Mystery and Magic
Published in Paperback by University of Hawaii Press (May, 2002)
Average review score: 
Encounters With Beauty In HawaiiWhat I found particularly fascinating about this book was the way it linked specific places throughout the islands, which can be seen today, with historical lore and people from Hawaii's past. I also enjoyed the way the book brought to life a lot of the mystical, spiritual, side of the Hawaiian geography and tradition. Long ago, when I first visited the beautifully desolate northwest coast of the big island of Hawaii, I had this strange sense that I was not alone. After reading this book, I realize that I, indeed, was not. The spirits of Kamehameha the great, and other warriors of Hawaii's past, live on here.
This book made my vacation incredible!This is a great book full of beautiful photos. Best of all it guides you to the really interesting places on all the different islands. There are maps, and directions, and under each site stories are told about the site's amazing past. There are interviews with the locals describing their spiritual beliefs regarding the site. You could enjoy this book just to read about Hawaiian history and all the fascinating things that have gone on in these spiritual places. I couldn't put it down.
The book also led me to some really nice places like a blue freshwater pool right by the ocean.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The book also led me to some really nice places like a blue freshwater pool right by the ocean.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Exploring Southern California Beaches (FalconGuide)
Published in Paperback by Falcon Publishing Company (February, 2000)
Average review score:
As seen on TV!!I got this book after seeing it on the Travel Channel. It is a fun book and extremely informative! I'd write more.. but it has me stoked to hit the beach!
Later Dude!
More than a GuideFrom the Mexican border to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo county, this book delivers the goods on 170 beaches.
The directions are extremely clear, which is very important in both the chaos of LA and the unsigned rural coast of central Californa.
This book explores more than just beaches. If it's near the water or even under the water, it's in this book. Web addresses and phone numbers acompany the detailed info and descriptions.
But, the true beauty of this book are the essays. Extremely well-written insights into things like California weather, Sand, Kites, Surfing, SCUBA, Sailing, Tidal Pool, and more.
There's even an appendix with the average water temperatures in each of the book's 19 regions!
My only complaint is that they could have used some more indents and bold characters.
Well worth the price. I'm sure to need another copy after I wear this one out.
Exploring Washington's Wild Olympic Coast
Published in Paperback by Mountaineers Books (March, 1993)
Average review score:
THE BEST BOOK ON THE OLYMPIC COAST, EVER!This is the epitome of good writing. It is an excellent resource for all those who love the Olympic Coast. If you are heading to the Olympics, this book is essential. Filled with fascinating facts, history, details, and so forth, it is the Olympic Coast Bible. Buy this book for all your friends, you won't be disappointed.
GREAT BOOK IF YOU LIKE HIKING ON THE OLYMPIC COASTTHIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK ON HIKING THE OLYMPIC COAST. I HAVE HIKED HALF OF IT AND THE BOOK CAME IN HANDY. IT POINTS OUT A LOT OF LANDMARKS THAT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MISSED. ALSO GIVES THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC COAST, AND TELLS WHERE SHIPWRECKS AND MEMORIALS ARE.
Fabled Isles of the South Seas
Published in Hardcover by Wild Coconuts Pub Co (January, 1997)
Average review score:
Library JournalThis handsome coffee-table book, which covers roughly the sweep from Tahiti to Easter Island, is the work of the photographer son of the writer/painter Barnaby Conrad. The brief text skillfully introduces the islands, incorporating quotations from famous earlier visitors such as Melville, Gauguin, and Robert Louis Stevenson. The photographs are well chosen and provocatively juxtaposed with historical images, including old postcards, portions of maps, and even postage stamps. Unlike many books of this genre, there is an emphasis on portraying the local people in their everyday activities, as well as views of stunning sunsets. Primarily a gift book for those planning a tour and a souvenir to remember it by, this book may be priced beyond the budgets of many libraries.- Harold M. Otness
Islands Magazine ReviewsBookbag...
A writer and photographer who splits his life between his native California and his adopted homeland of French Polynesia, Winston Conrad has put together a sampler of Pacific paradises. The title - Fabled Isles of the South Seas (dist. by ACCESS Publishers, $49.95) - says it all, or nearly, and Conrad's selection is hard to quarrel with, including as it does Tahiti and its Society Island neighbors, Pitcairn, the Cooks, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, and Easter Island. Conrad clearly knows the territory, and each of his essays conveys a personal take amplified by extended quotes from eminent literary visitors (Jack London to James Michener). The illustrations include both Conrad's own color photographs and a nice melange of drawings, historical charts, and old prints. It's the grand Pacific tour with an informed guide.
A writer and photographer who splits his life between his native California and his adopted homeland of French Polynesia, Winston Conrad has put together a sampler of Pacific paradises. The title - Fabled Isles of the South Seas (dist. by ACCESS Publishers, $49.95) - says it all, or nearly, and Conrad's selection is hard to quarrel with, including as it does Tahiti and its Society Island neighbors, Pitcairn, the Cooks, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, and Easter Island. Conrad clearly knows the territory, and each of his essays conveys a personal take amplified by extended quotes from eminent literary visitors (Jack London to James Michener). The illustrations include both Conrad's own color photographs and a nice melange of drawings, historical charts, and old prints. It's the grand Pacific tour with an informed guide.
Fast and Cold: A Guide to Alaska Whitewater (A Skyhouse Book)
Published in Paperback by Falcon Publishing Company (April, 1994)
Average review score:
The Alaskan Whitewater BibleWhile the sport has continued to evolve since Andy did most of his rivers, he's still set the standard by which few will even come close. His reviews of the various rivers of Alaska are complete. This is a great read for entertainment. This is a dream book for the kayakers of Alaska and anyone hoping to stop by our beautiful state. Many of these rivers have still not been run since Andy and his friends ran them in the 80's. Kudoo's to THE AK whitewater book by which all others will be measured.
Excellent 4 serious riverrunners or as a coffee-table book!After borrowing this book from the library, I had someone give it to me as a Christmas present. Andrew Embick put his heart and soul (and considerable time and money) into this effort, and it shows. He outlines many whitewater rivers for which he has first-descent credentials; in that respect, he must be viewed as the acknowledged expert. One criticism, hopefully constructive: the book doesn't have an all-encompassing map, which would be useful for the reader to get a sense of orientation as (s)he navigates through the book. But overall, the book is a tour de force. I'll never paddle half the rivers in this book; I may never paddle Alaska, for that matter; but the book was a "must" for me. The color plates alone, depicting all the glory of glaciated streams, are worth the price of admission.
The Fatal Impact: The Invasion of the South Pacific, 1767-1840
Published in Hardcover by HarperCollins (August, 1990)
Average review score:
A Book for all time.They say that history is written by the victor. While this may have been the case years ago, before the advent of electronic and paper printing, it is interesting to note that often small jewels of history can still be found hidden in the sands of time. This is such a book. You may have read the bestseller, "The Fatal Shore" by Robert Hughes. While this book is dedicated to Alan Moorehead's "The Fatal Impact", it is a rather overblown attempt to take off from where Moorehead left off. Moorehead, unlike Hughes, is succinct and straight to the point, describing in a paragraph what might take Hughes pages to deploy. But Moorehead goes further by re-writing history with some of the most beautiful and descriptive language ever displayed in word, especially his lyrical but simple descriptions of the Australian 'bush' before the advent of the white man.Unlike many historical essays, Mooreheads style is to grab and swallow us; it takes and immerses us in our own past, and it is frightening. This book is a true account of the effect of the white invasion of the South pacific. Though often sad, it is devoid of token sentimentality. It is books such as these that keep our history grounded and firmly established in truth, and not the often repeated propoganda that is a common style for Western academia to employ and justfiy our own convoluted history...
Concise, definitive study on the opening of the PacificA magnificent short book which places the reader on the deck of Endeavor and the Resolution during Cook's first two voyages of discovery in the Pacific. An easy read, yet a scholarly study of the consequences of Western contact in Tahiti, Australia and the Antarctic. One of Moorhead's central themes in the book is the Noble Savage, "happy, healthy, beautiful people whose every want was supplied by the tropical forest, and who, best of all, knew nothing of the cramping sophostries of civilization." Cook brought back evidence that the noble savage indeed existed, and writers such as Boswell, Diederot and Rousseau used it to argue that life in Europe during the late 18th century had evolved into something less than desirable. It is ironic that, despite the high purpose of Cook's voyages of discovery and the pleas of those who recognized the validity and desirability of life in Tahiti or on the barren lands of Australia, the voyages touched off a frenzy by religious zealots and profiteers. A half century after Cook had opened Tahiti to the rest of the world, Gaugin sees shadows of something so beautiful that it still moves him to create his paintings; "The overwhelming physical beauty of the woman remains, but she does not dance. Instead, she lies inert and naked on her bed ... waiting for nothing, hoping for nothing, the petals of the tiare Tahiti scattered about her, a dark, conspiratorial couple in the background and all around them the mystical shapes and symbols of the Tropics. On this one canvas the painter has written in English the one word, "Nevermore."
Field Guide to Old-Growth Forests: Exploring Ancient Forest Ecosystems from California to the Pacific Northwest
Published in Paperback by Sasquatch Books (March, 2000)
Average review score:
Brings the magic aliveThis slim volume is fascinating, easy to read and beautifully illustrated. While it is not a thorough scientific treaty on the subject and doesn't provide information on the locations of ALL old growth (something I kind of expected from the title) it is nevertheless an exquisite introduction.
Having contacted Larry Eifert about the book I have to also say that he and wife Nancy are extremely friendly and helpful, not only pointing me in the direction of other information and advising on the best places to visit but also sending me further of his works gratis! In particular, a wonderful little chart describing the creatures and plants of the Redwoods which was the perfect suppliment to the Field Guide.
Having contacted Larry Eifert about the book I have to also say that he and wife Nancy are extremely friendly and helpful, not only pointing me in the direction of other information and advising on the best places to visit but also sending me further of his works gratis! In particular, a wonderful little chart describing the creatures and plants of the Redwoods which was the perfect suppliment to the Field Guide.
Outstanding contribution to forestry & ecological studies.Field Guide to Old Growth Forests isn't a scientific treatise on old growth forests, but a guide to accessing and appreciating them, blending a science guide with a travel handbook. A review of the natural history of old growth forests blends with the author's pen and ink drawings and tips on where to find the remaining old growth forests.
A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Shells, Including Shells of Hawaii and the Gulf of California (Peterson Field Guide Series, 6)
Published in Hardcover by Houghton Mifflin Co (March, 1999)
Average review score:
Seashells are the most exquisite of all architectureAs a child growing up on the eastern seaboard of the U.S., and obsessed with seashells, the gastropods of the Pacific Ocean beckoned to me more strongly than any seaweed bedecked sirens in my 8th grade Latin book.
And this was the book that fueled by imaginations. The heck with Botticelli and his "Venus on a half-shell" or Cyndy Crawford's teeth -- this book illustrates and explains some of the most beautiful pieces of calcium carbonate ever secreted by man or mollusc.
Seashells are the most exquisite of all architectureAs a child growing up on the eastern seaboard of the U.S.,
and obsessed with seashells, the shells of the Pacific
Ocean beckoned to me more strongly than the sirens in
my 8th grade Latin book.
And this was the book that fueled by imaginations. The heck with Botticelli and his "Venus on a half-shell" -- this book illustrates and explains some of the most beautiful pieces of calcium carbonate ever secreted by man or mollusc.
Fighting Amphibs: The Lcs in World War II
Published in Paperback by Mill Neck Pub (October, 1997)
Average review score:
The ship that roaredMy father was a wwII veteran and my uncle was a Korean war casualty and I am a father. I recently bought the book Fighting Amphibs at the Mystic Seaport Maritime bookstore. when I started to read it i could not put it down. It is an extremely well researched account of an important strategic ship in wwII. The book is written by someone who exhaustedly researched it as well as lived it. The joy of fatherhood has led me to a profound appreciation for the men and women of all wars. This book accounts a sliver of life, courage, and teamwork in the days and historic battles of wwII. The lcs ships were unsung pieces of a very precarious puzzle. As I read the book with its graphic detail I could not help to compare it to the book THE PERFECT STORM with the lcs braving storms typhoons the difference the men written about in FIGHTING AMPHIBS had bombs torpedoes and nothing to live for but freedom. The contents of this book changed my life and all American's lives. I thank the author Donald Ball for the courage to go to war some fifty years ago and for having the courage to write this book.
The ship that roaredAs the son of a wwII navy vereran, nephew of a Korean war casualty and father, the sacrifices of the men and women of war becomes incerasingly important to me. The freedoms that we Americans now enjoy did not come without a price. I picked up the Book "Fighting Amphibs" at the Mystic Naval bookstore. The book is an extremely well researched and documented history of the Lcs class ships penned by a veteran who lived and experienced the war as a member of this small but significant ship. The personalization of the book drew me into the book, I could not put it down and have purchesed other copies for friends. The difference between THE PERFECT STORM and FIGHTING ANPHIBS is that in the perfect storm no one was shooting at them while braving muliple storms. To the author Mr. Ball and all the other unsung hero's and freedom fighters thank you and thank you for this invaluable record, perspective of the cost of freedom.
First 24 Hours of War in the Pacific
Published in Hardcover by Burd Street Press (June, 1998)
Average review score:
The rest of the Day That Lives in InfamyMost of us associate the beginning of World War II with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Actually, Pearl Harbor was only one of numerous attacks carried out by the Japanese that day. Their true objectives were the mines of Malaya and the oil fields of Borneo--Pearl Harbor was a side-show which was necessary to keep the United States from interfering.
In this book Donald J. Young vividly describes the other events of December 7, 1941, giving minute by minute details seldom found elsewhere. He describes the inept responses of our (U.S. and British) military forces to attacks which should not have come as any surprise, but did. In the last chapter, he fills us in on the reaction in Washington, where the Japanese attacks may actually have solved a problem for President Roosevelt.
For the serious WW II historian this is a valuable book. For the casual reader this is an interesting and entertaining book, particularly if you are already aware of some of the controversy surrounding the events of the day.
nd informativeMilitary historian Donald J. Young takes the reader to eleven Pacific sites where war is about to change everything. He puts us on doomed Wake Island where Major Devereaux is ordering his Marine bugler to sound "Call to Arms" as an invasion force looms offshore and bombs devestate. We are with more marines in North China, embassy guards, who must surrender or die on the spot. The bugler sounds "Retreat" for one last time and then breaks his bugle across his knee and hurls it away. We are aboard the PanAm flying boat "China Clipper" as it desperately tries to flee Wake Island already under attack. We are on indefensible Guam when an ill-equipped handful of American Marines, mindful that no U.S. Marine unit has ever gone down without a fight, march off to make a stand agasinst an invasion force of 5000. The Marines are armed with 1903 Springfield rifles, two .30 caliber machine guns, and a few.45 sidearms. They are assisted by Insular Guards, native Chamorros who also carry ought three Springfields but theirs are stamped ""Do not shoot. For training purposes only." We are at Clark Field in the Phillipines where B-17s are caught on the ground by aerial raiders. We are abandoning the ill-fated 2100 ton lumber schooner "Cynthia Olsen" torpedoed and sinking off Hawaii, the first U.S. merchantman to be sunk in World War Two but not the last. Reading this book will remind you how lucky we are there can never be another be another Pearl Harbor. Oh, sure! (review taken from my review in"Vapor Trails", news letter of the Mass. Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society of which I am editor and publisher.)