If you were to only have one book on the Great Basin - this should be it. It covers the flora & fauna of this least know section of the lower 48 in a comprehesive, yet not belabored fashion. Plenty of salient details with a minimum - though adequate - smattering of scientific jargon. Even though I have worked for a public land management agency in the "Basin" for over 2 decades, I learned much and enhanced my understanding of things I did know. The photography by Trimble captures the inescapable beauty of the area that is unknown to the typical drive-through-as-fast-as-you-can tourist. There is no finer book - verbiage or photographic - on this largely unpopulated jewell of complex arid ecosystems.

Finally, a book that captures the unique beauty and solitude of the Great Basin. This is the ultimate book for any naturalist who wants to know more about this large and little visited corner of the world.

This book was GREAT! Between the pictures and maps I found an author who shows a great deal of expression, passion and dedication to his work. Using common names for plants and animals except when specific subspecies are mentioned made the book much more readable for a layperson such as myself.

My next trip to the Great Basin in Oregon will be more fulfilling and educational as much of my ignorance about this special area has been dispelled.

To date this is the best money I have spent on a book about the Great Basin.

Marguerite Henry was, in my opinion, one of the greatest children's authors. Once again, with San Domingo, she creates a winner.
San Domingo is an exceptional horse, blessed with the medicine hat, considered sacred by Native Americans. He proves himself in the end of the book. There is a sad ending, but I think that even small children would be fine reading this book.

I thought this book was really good!!! I liked it a lot. I think that Marguerite Henry is a great author. I love her books! I thought this book was REALLY good. I would definetly reccomend this book to people!

This is a wonderful story. Marguerite writes superb books. This books is about a boy becoming a man and a father becoming a true father to his son. If there was a 10-star rating, I would give it to this book! Excellent story. I definatly recommend it to the horse-lover.

It doesn't matter if you never go to San Francisco -- buy this book just for the sheer joy of reading it. Bonnie Wach has real opinions and does not dish out the usual everything-is-great travel-guide drivel. Her writing sparkles with personality, wit and humor. All the particulars for the places she writes about are listed in the margins, making the information easy to find when you're looking for it. If you have any interest in San Francisco or travel books in general, buy this book.

All I can say is that not only have I bought a copy, but I have given three away as gifts. It is great guide for anyone visiting San Francisco or for anyone hosting visitors.

As a San Franciscan, this book is the perfect gift and/or inspiration to entertain friends, family or even yourself.

The author's approach orients the reader and eliminates the clutter of the average guide book. The book also has a nice balance between indoor and outdoor activities that you will be tempted to do over and over.

This is the perfect book for those looking for both the obvious and the obscure in San Francisco.

What makes this book special for me is the "now" photographs. The book's editor/photographer has made a sincere attempt to reshoot the photos, physically, from as nearly as possible from the original, without changing the photographic perspective. This allows the books' reader to view and compare the photos and know that streets, buildings, and other landmarks give an accurate view of how the city looked at a certain time. Accurate directions and locations listed in both historical and contemporary photos greatly enchances the value and arm chair travelers' enjoyment of the book. Buy a map of the city if you're not familiar with it.

This book offers an excellent photographic perspective of San Francisco's past and present. Photos from the 1850's even up to the early 1960s (in the case of Diamond Heights) are shown along with photos of what a particular area of SF looks like today. While this book is a testament to how much the city has grown and changed over the last 150 years, it also shows how resilient it was after the earthquake and fire in 1906 that virtually leveled it.

It also makes the reader ponder a little about what life must have been like in San Francisco around the turn of the 20th century. Among the areas shown? The Marina district, Pacific Heights, Market St and the ferry building, several panoramas of the city, the Golden Gate bridge (during contruction and how it appears today), and Nob Hill.

Not only are the photos spectacular, but it also offers some history about "the city by the bay" and how some parts of it have changed dramatically and others might still be recognizable to those who visited 50 years ago. An excellent pictorial coffee table book about the city I'm lucky enough to live near.

Great History Picture Book for all Ages. Just enough reading to keep little ones interested. The pictures are bold and beautiful. I bought one for myself. Great gift for someone who loves San Francisco.

"Society for Commercial Archeology Journal," Spring, 2000 For those of you unfamiliar with the West Coast, Highway 99 is the principal historic highway that knitted together the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Portions of it were known early on as the Pacific Highway or the Valley Route or the Golden State Highway. However, in 1928 these various bits were sewn together and given federal designation as US 99. Despite de-designation as a US highway in 1964, Highway 99 continued to play a prominent role in western transportation. Jill Livingston and Kathryn Maloof have compiled a two-volume guide to the history and sights of Highway 99 in California. Each book, half-sheet size and paperbound, provides a general summary of the road's history and a detailed description of features along the existing road organized geographically from north to south. Both offer an extensive photographic tour of the respective route sections, as well as sections devoted to detailed maps that outline the route and provide directions on how to access often-bypassed elements or road alignments. There are generous graphics and photos throughout. I may be a biased reviewer of this topic. I grew up on Highway 99 just south of Sacramento and enjoy mostly fond and entirely vivid memories of this road. I have muddled memories of passing objects from car to car while careening down the Grapevine toward Metler, CA to rescue a friends' stranded vehicle. I also remember with fresh horror as I watched my record collection of 250 albums melt in 100+ degree heat while broken down on that same wretched hill in 1983. Livingston and Maloof have brought it all back for me. I pine for chicken dinner at Pollardville and an orange freeze at the Mammoth Orange. I mourn the passing of the Blueberry Hill Café in Chowchilla, and am startled to see a picture of the theater where I saw my first genuine rock concert in 1975. The authors have peppered their text with sidebars of interest to one and all. The evolution of the Ridge Route and disappearing/reappearing highway under Shasta Reservoir are two of my favorites. The organization of the books is clear and easy to follow; the photos are beautiful and plenty. The text is well written and enjoyable, not bogging down in non-essential detail or excess verbiage. These books are just the ticket for roadside exploration off the beaten track in the Golden State.

That Ribbon Of Highway II: Highway 99 From The State Capital To The Mexican Border takes the reader from Sacramento to Calexico in a history that is enhanced with more than one hundred historic and contemporary photographs, an Accurate Road Log, and twenty detailed maps. Together, these two volumes present the armchair traveler with a splendid and informative entertainment, and serve the on-site traveler with a marvelous reference for a truly engaging road trip. Also highly recommended is the companion title, That Ribbon Of Highway I: Highway 99 From The Oregon Border To The State Capital.

Since my family moved to the San Joaquin valley in 1972, I have seen many changes on Highway 99. This book not only brought back memories, it also piqued the curiousity I have always had in travelling old highway routes. I have now covered all of old Highway 99 between Sacramento and Fresno. Someday I plan to make it to Calexico. Even if youdon't plan to make the journey, this book is a must read for anyone who has travelled or lived near Highway 99 and is interested in it's history. The photos are wonderful and informative, as is the text. Especially the appendix (Following The 99 Trail). FIVE STARS PLUS!

True Secrets of Key West is WONDERFUL! I lived in Key West for years and was always annoyed by all the books people wrote that didn't know the REAL story. Books that claimed to be the real story...but they changed the names, dates and circumstances. This is one that got it right AND it was very funny to read. I give True Secrets of Key West my highest recommendation.

True Secrets of Key West is GREAT! I lived in Key West for years and was always annoyed by all the books people wrote that didn't know the REAL story. Books that claimed to be the real story...but they changed the names, dates and circumstances. This is one that got it right. I give True Secrets of Key West my highest recommendation.

Read this book prior to or contemporaneously with a trip to Key West. It gives you the full scoop on all of the santized facts from your tour guides. This book added a new dimension to our visit and was funny to boot. While it is somewhat hard to locate, it is well worth the effort. Also check out the website maintained by the authors.

What a glorious romp! Imagine Thoreau and Thucydides building a communal fire in the woods, drunk on Thunderbird and the ancient sky. (Just my impression, but imagine them anyway.) Now add in a damn good dog that will go for any stick, anytime and (almost) anywhere, no matter the consequences. Then consider trucks that won't start without a gravity-fed "bump," generations of criminals examining the fates, a mystical pyramid, bad food, mildewed marijuana, a single shadow that costs a whole day, weird logistics on land and on water and the phases of our moons that make it quite beneficial, for some, to trade bootie for booty. And there's much more. If you love nature even when its damn harsh, if you love people when they're impossible but still completely loveable, if you've ever used a shovel with no handle, and if you love a story well told that includes these things--and a leaking tipi--buy this book. (Then go Out There.)

This is one of my favorite books!
I have started re-reading it about once a year now. [up to this point the only other book i have ever bothered to reread was Catch 22]

This is one of those books that you will end up buying copies of in multiples!.
This is because you will find yourself loaning your copy to a friend and never getting it back again. [i have personally gone through 4 copies this way -- no joke -- not to mention the copies i have given away as gifts]

The back jacket of this book does not do it justice.
It is more about the people that Robert Johnson met while staying in his teepee. They are the most interesting bunch or romantic outcast criminal philosophers who are brought together by living in the wilderness. Some are there to escape the law, some are there to find gold, and others are their to find themselves.

I have never read a book like this before, but it is hard to describe. Not to sound cheesy, but it is entertaining and inspiring.

ENTERTAINING: in its characters and crazy stories. While this is a true memoir, it is so entertaining it could be pure fiction [but it is not]

INSPIRING: in that if you have ever wanted to do something unique you will soon be inspired to do it. And to quote the book "Completion is vital."

If you do not read any other books this year, read this one.

I really enjoyed Thirteen Moons by Robert Johnson. I felt like I was there with him sitting around the campfire in the Sierras. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys camping and the outdoors...and the idea of spending a year alone!

These vibrant stories of such phenomenal women who Dared to be Different and accomplished such awesome feats against so much adversity will inspire you to reach higher goals, regardless of any obstacles of the times! These outstanding women are incredible to study and this book is an excellent volume of heroism and unique personalities! Kudos!

This is a great read about 20 remarkable western women of whom some you will know and others you will meet for the first time. From Sacagawea who accompanied Lewis & Clark, Georgia O'Keefe, a revolutionary in the art world to Sandra Day O'Conner, the first woman on the Supreme Court Justice, these snapshots demonstrate the tenacity and inspiration that guided these women to design their own lives. An excellent read that will inspire you to look deeper into the lives of these amazing women who helped shape the American West.

A great book for learning more about women who made a difference in the frontier and later days of the West. Some subjects were familiar to me while others were completely new.
The author organizes her information in a easily read, informative manner. Each subject was well researched.
A good read!!

Watch out when booking a tour! You're a captive to your boat, your crew, your mates--most of the time on tours is spent en masse, so know before you go. This guide was of great help in selecting a tour, even after hours of internet research.We packed as told, and were glad to have the extra towels, bags, etc. The photography tips weren't relevant to us, but they are equally extensive. He's right--get your guide up early in the morning for optimum viewing. Recommended.

Written by the owner of the tour company we decided to go with, I had ordered of copy of this from an Internet bookstore, only to find that we were to receive a free copy with our trip deposit. The extra went to Jill's mom, who travels vicariously with us when she and Bob aren't gallivanting about on their own. If you can only get one book for your trip to the Galapagos, this is the most comprehensive, covering booking a tour; the history, geology, botany, zoology of the islands; and photographing flora, fauna and landscape, all written in a light, humorous style. Other guide books go into farther detail on some items, but this is the best one stop shop.

The first time I saw this book, I viewed it with a jaundiced eye- after all, Barry is the owner-operator of a travel agency specializing in travel to the Galápagos Islands! Glad I took the time to read it- I've bought every edition since the first!

Barry's book is objective, comprehensive and as up to date as a printed guide can be given that boats are launched and agencies change hands, and includes detailed information on the tour operators, their specializations (e.g. birding, diving, etc.) and even the individual boats. (This is especially valuable- there is no US Coast Guard to assure marine safety in Ecuadórian waters, and the boat you spend a week or more on can make or break the trip- or even you, as more than one boat has sunk or burned.) The book reveals why you can not do the Galápagos justice with a land-based trip, nor in most cases (depending on your trip goals) with a large cruise ship.

You will learn when to go, how to save money to the extent possible, which operators respect the fragile island environment, which ones have university-trained naturalist-guides, which ones do a true seven day trip, vs. those who will take your money for a "seven day trip" and actually put you on a three day trip with a four day trip following (meaning you spend a lot of time in the same places you saw already, not to mention going to port to take on and discharge passengers.) Barry has a dry sense of humor- his slogan is "¡Viva la evolución!"

As someone who has been to "las Islas Encantadas", as the Galápagos islands is often described in Spanish, who is going again in 2003, I highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating traveling there as a key planning tool. I only hope Barry is planning to update his valulable book again SOON!

I am an English teacher at Santa Ana Valley High School, in Santa Ana, CA. Ms Ruiz spoke at Valley several years ago. Her presentation was as memorable as her book, "Two Badges." I bought three copies the day of her presentation, I have since bought ten more. My students love the book. Young men and young women, alike. They relate, and it is such a strong story with a postive, true life ending. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on your view) these books do not make it back to my room after being checked out. I am down to three copies. In a way I am happy, in that I know the books are in contiuous use, they are getting passed around to friends. Cool. It is just that I can not afford to buy a bunch more books for my kids this fall.

I had to read this book for a class, I never thought i'd enjoy it. I couldn't put it down. This book is one of the best books i've ever read. I'm glad a chicana can overcome so much. A+ for mona!

As a young adult in Santa Ana,California, I could totally relate to most of the things Mona Ruiz wrote in her book. I loved it because just by reading it she made me feel close to her and made me realize even more that there is a way out of that lifestyle,I'm almost there. I was never in a gang like her but I associate with that way of living. I hope she writes more books because I would buy them. I like that she writes about the way the gang life is, it's all true, but there is also more that is behind the lifestyle. Hopefully you will read and enjoy it.