WWII is a fascinating subject. From the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, to Germany's secret missile program, to the Manhattan project, the era is packed full of fascinating and often horrific stories of innovation. The story told by Skeeter Beaters is an example of the fascinating. What's great about Skeeter Beaters is that this is a story I hadn't heard before. There's no movie starring John Wayne or Tom Hanks, and not many bullets screaming over the head of the protagonist. Nonetheless, this is a story that should be told. As the editorial review already says, the US was losing many more men to disease than to combat with the Japanese. The US Navy showed good old American innovation by putting a team together assigned to fight the problem. This is the story of that team, and I'm happy that it has been told.

ONCE YOU START TO READ THE BOOK, YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN. tHE MEDIC SHOOTING THE JAP IN THE HEAD AFTER TREATING HIM FOR HIS INJURIES. THE FACT THAT OUR (U.S.A.) ENTIRE SUPPLY OF QUININE WAS LOST WHEN THE SHIP CARRYING IT WAS SUNK BY THE JAPS. THE FACT THAT THE MEN ON GUADALCANAL HAD VERY LITTLE FOOD OR SUPPLIES. THIS TRULY IS A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYONE.

As a resident of Washington state who enjoys the natural beauty of the area, I found this book to be a most helpful and inspiring guide. The authors are knowledgable about the natural history of the region, and the text is accompanied by many beautiful photographs. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone planning to visit the area for the first time, or to residents of the Northwest who want to learn more about the natural bounty that their region has to offer.

As a resident of Washington state who loves the natural beauty of the region, I've found this to be the most helpful, informative and nicely illustrated guide to the natural areas of Washington and Oregon. The book is well written, with beautiful photographs, and has not only inspired me to visit a lot of new places but has enriched my experience of those places I was already familiar with. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone planning on visiting the Northwest --- and especially to those already living here!

Boy, I wish I had had this guide at the beginning of our recent trip to Kaua'i. It's terrific! We've snorkeled in many of the places described - Ke'e, Tunnels, 'Anini, Po'ipu, Pu'u Poa, Hideaways - and the information jives with what we experienced. However, with this guide in hand we'd have known not just which places to go (other guidebooks steered us there), but more detailed information about the reef formation, currents, and safety aspects of each spot. For instance, I spent most of my time at Ke'e fighting the current on the left side of the bay, when all along the best conditions are to the right.

In addition to on-the-nose snorkel information, the authors do a very good job of advising novice snorkelers on equipment, techniques, and safety concerns. There are helpful sections on general fish types (not an exhaustive guide, but enough to help a beginner distinguish a wrasse from a parrotfish), plus plenty of pertinent information on the island, its weather, and interesting excursions out of the water. Although we've been to the island twice now, I learned some useful things for our next (anxiously awaited) trip.

This is the book I'd recommend first to anyone interested in snorkeling on Kaua'i. There are other fine general guidebooks out there, don't get me wrong, but this is exactly what it says it is: SNORKEL Kaua'i.

Mahalo, Judy and Mel!

Of all the Kauai guidebooks we've read, this has the best snorkeling details by far. We went to Hoai Bay in Poipu, and it didn't look that promising. But when we swam out to just where the book says, there were more turtles than we'd ever seen before in one spot.

All the beach info is helpful, too, and the maps are easy to follow. Well worth taking along.

This is a wonderful book that goes into great deatil about the many trails in and around the South Bay. It breaks down the area by specific parks and then suggested hikes, including mileage, elevation loss or gain, and time. It even has a neat little appendix outlining hikes by category (ie., short hikes, hikes to see spring flowers, etc.) The text is detailed, explaining what you will find around every bend, and the historical information on the parks is very interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get out and away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley.

I just replaced my battered copy of the first edition with the latest, third one, and it's a real winner! These authors' books are always educational, interesting and complete. And best of all they lead one into many fine hiking adventures around the bay. I've spent many a fine summer day following their instructions. It's about time they put out a new edition, because of all the new parks and trails they had to cover. Recommended!

I live in Los Angeles and find this book excellent for locals. I have used this book when out of towners pop in for a visit. It lists great places to eat..interesting tid-bits that I would have not known. I have a friend who is moving out here from NYC and bought him the book. He can't wait to be in LA to explore some of the sites listed. A GREAT GUIDE!

This is the most comprehensive travel guide that I have ever read and by far, the most interesting. Incidentally, the guide is 754 pages, not 448 pages, as listed by Amazon. What makes the 'Southern California Guide' different, is that the tourist learns something about the place that he is visiting. For example: The story of Winston Churchill and his connection with the Queen Mary. Example: How the famous restaurant, The Brown Derby, came into existance. There are about 200 sidebars in this guide, all interesting and helpful. There is not one restaurant, hotel, motel, entertainment venue, sports venue, shopping area or anything else of importance to the tourist, that is not covered in this book. The author is very candid about the establishments listed in this book and is not afraid to give you her opinion of same, good and bad. Last but not least, the tourist will find many, many, out of the way places listed in this guide that you will not find in any other travel guide. I unequivocally recommend this travel book as the very best that has ever been written about the Southern California Area.

Great guide that includes tollhouse, squarenail, courtright, kings canyon, seqouia and all of the crags around this area. Very indepth and keeps up on the new routes.

This is a very useful guidebook. It contains route photos, clear and detailed topos, and some verbal descriptions. Driving directions to climbing areas, first ascents and other information are also included. Both well-known and less-visited areas are described in detail. I used this book on a recent trip to Courtwright Reservoir and found it extremely helpful. The best aspect is probably the combination of easily understandable topos and photos of the routes -- many guidebooks only have one or the other.

This books wonderful photography brings back great memories of a fantastic fly in fishing trip with my son to Alaska. Up close and personal fishing with my son, the bears & Denali.

The books unusual (12x16), wide-open, landscape format is well-suited to the subject: the largest, most majestic state (and land) I've visited. Spectacular photos carefully edited from 11 photographers.

The cover (and back cover), 12x32, appropriate pays homage to Denali (Mt. McKinley), viewed from Wonder Lake. Plus numerous other views of Denali, and all Alaska's major regions, national parks, cities.

With plenty of thoughtful essays, also of high caliber. And at a great price...

Root's Benny Peoples presents a truly honest view of the way it was during WWII at home and in the war. A time of innocence and patriotic fervor. The characters are palpably real. The do and say things I think I remember. The story moves forward and moves the reader. A good read.

Benny is a wonderful character that would have been worth knowing. Mr. Root's has a fine sense of character development that made me want to know what Benny and his family would be doing in certain situations. I am looking forward to a sequel. Excellent work Eldon! Thank you for a fine read.

People will be framing the artwork from this book fifty years from now. And it's one of my son's favorite books. Great for reading aloud, one of the books you keep reaching for. A classic story, well told and beautifully rendered with images that are faithful to the actual traditions and styles of the Haida and Tlingit people. So it's not just "mind candy" -- it's an introduction to a culture.

Paul O. Lewis does a great service to children by using a scholarly approach to his young hero. Giving us not only rich and evocative artwork but portraying the ancient tale of the mythic hero with fresh and innocent eyes is a wonderful gift. Readers seeking the beauty of a children's book that provides an uplifting experience and faithful cultural feeling will fall in love with this book just as I have. -V.S.

Sunset Boulevard lives large in legend and lore (did I say that?), and this book presents myriad facets of the long and meandering street, one of the most famed in America. From interesting anecdotes (including the story of how an entire school was buried beneath what is now Dodger Stadium) to hundreds of elucidating and entertaining photos and illustrations, some historical and many contemporary, the book is a compelling and engaging treatise. While some of the subject matter isn't of inherent interest to me, the author's writing pulled me in to many a tale, and rewarded my attention handsomely. The maps and address/phone information are useful for touring the boulevard and its many neighborhoods, as listings present to the visitor and native alike lots of places to eat, drink and otherwise acculturate. Sunset Boulevard itself is, of course, but one stretch of asphalt, but there's a wealth of history -- and plenty of current interest -- that lies along its 23-mile length.

From start to finish, this remarkable book captures the essence of the legends that have shaped both the lore and the reality of Los Angeles. Sunset Boulevard literally crosses the heart of Los Angeles, touching along its route to the Pacific Ocean many neighborhoods that define the city's diversity and drama both past and present. This book culls stories of the past and ties them to the present, explaining every step of the way how Sunset Boulevard helped make Los Angeles what it is today. The maps of each neighborhood show both present-day landmarks as well as those gone-but-not-forgotten. Each chapter is devoted to a specific neighborhood along the 23-mile route and contains lists (including, happily, addresses and phone numbers!!) of restaurants, museums, nightclubs and hot shopping sites worth visiting. All in all, this is a book for both tourists and locals alike.