'Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in knowing the "Yellowstone story" at a deeper level than the interpretive signs or tourist pamphlets. This would be excellent (and easy) "pre-reading" for anyone contemplating a first trip to Yellowstone....but it is also a fascinating and sometimes surprising eye-opener for someone (like me) who was somewhat familiar with Yellowstone already. From the perspective only a former Yellowstone employee and prolific writer/researcher could bring, Schullery persuasively argues-not unlike the "new western historians" in their iconoclastic reassessment of the American west and its history)-that Yellowstone is not so much a place as a process...a process of how we as Americans define a national park. Schullery's measured tour through this process provides a sobering reminder to inveterate tree-huggers like me that a national park is not a wilderness area, as much as I might like it to be in terms of "hands off" preservation. Schullery's approach is matter-of-fact, methodically researched (I actually enjoyed reading the copious "notes" section separately after having finished the book) and myth-busting at times (e.g. that surprisingly, the total number of developed acres in Yellowstone has actually decreased during the last 40 years rather than increased). He doesn't even spare himself, needling enthusiastic fly-fishers like himself with the sad-but-true fact that if we treated the ungulates of Yellowstone the same way fishermen do a Yellowstone trout (which was probably introduced in the first place rather than native), we would be cited for abusing the wildlife. A very readable and important book.

I read this book in a week and was quite impressed with the breadth of history covered in 260 something pages, not counting notes. I was glad to see that this historical account began with an "anthropological" perspective by recounting the known presence of Native American tribes prior to the EuroAmerican "discovery" of the place and the manner in which they were extricated from the ecosystem. I was also impressed with the historical information relating the misuse, management practices and policies that affected the life of the park once it was established and what changes have been implemented in recent years. The notes following the text were very helpful in leading me to other books and records that I would like to examine. A fine book that I purchased after reading the library copy!

It's difficult, while standing in a crowd in front of Old Faithful, to tell what Yellowstone really means to us. We often define or judge the park based on our expectations of it, but its real value in many ways hovers far beyond our narrow expectations.

In Searching for Yellowstone, newly available in paperback, consummate park historian Paul Schullery slices through human fanfare and rhetoric that surrounds so many park issues today and traces Yellowstone's true history in a methodical and understated way that lets the park speak for itself for a change. If you come to this book with an open mind, Schullery may open it even wider.

Having appreciated the teaching nature of "A Stranger in the Park", my wife and I purchased the book for friends and family with children a variety of ages. All of the feedback we've received has been very positive. The book has provided a forum for their families to discuss safety and the relevant rules. We highly recommend this book to any parent interested in engaging their children in a discussion about safety.

I wasn't looking for a book about stranger danger, but I am glad I found this. There is a great lesson to be learned here. The story is well told and well drawn. I was able to read this to my girls ages 4 and 9 and they both understood the message and lesson. I was particularly attracted to the fact that this story can be read to kids without creating fear or tension about regular activities around strangers. The author was right about the book not scaring parents or children. I think it is a worthy book and hope the next one is as good. T.H. Tulsa, OK.

This book is an excellent tool for educating children about personal safety. Younger children can easily follow along as the story is read to them, and the crime prevention message is very solid. The material is presented in a way that empowers the child, as opposed to frightening them, and it has a universal quality that tends to make it interesting and appealing to children from a variety of cultures. As a certified Crime Prevention Specialist and a member of the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, I am very selective in the resources I recommend. However, I was so impressed with this book that I recommend it without reservation to parents, teachers, or crime prevention personnel working with young children.

Incredible pictures, written well making it easy to read and understand. Palka makes you feel like you've been in Denali, even if you haven't. Outstanding book!

Having been to Alaska I am aware of the landscape and its unigue place in our worldly environment. This presentation truly touches the key elements of the Alaskan adventure and its place in the travelers journal. I was truly impressed by the pictures and the ability of the author to portraite the imense landscape and the importance of the countryside in his work

The writer manages to combine the human interest and interaction while, at the same time,uses his experience in Denali as a teaching instrument. Makes me want to visit Alaska and Danali!

This is a wonderful story, in question and answer format, of a young one and its mother heading home. As they go, Baby wonders if Mother would still take care of it if it was something else -- animate or inanimate. A number of possibilities are ventured, and Mother answers, as mothers do, that she will be there in some perfect way to take care of Baby. The illustrations are warm and cozy and this is a terrific read. This book deserves much more attention than it has apparently received, as it communicates a message that is very comforting to young children.

This book also makes a terrific present.

I found the book to depict in an excellent way the unspoken between a parent and child. The depth of the author's understanding the emotional bond is clear and profound. The illustrations are wonderfully crafted, and lend significantly to the narrative.

Author does an excellent job of telling abut unconditional devotion and love. The young kangaroo is not identified as being either male or female, so every child can imagine him or herself as having this conversation with a loved adult. Wonderful addition to bedtime rituals or cozy one-on-one time!

I chose this book for my final project in geology class because I was interested in Yellowstone National parks though I have never been to, and this book was very good not only to read but also to review my studying in the class. Yellowstone and Grand Teton ground systems such as ground movements and heating systems are covered and also advanced my studying. Actually, I had totally no knowledge about geologic activities before I studied in the class, so this book was also really good to review my studying. In addition, this book introduces these parks view points with beautiful and colored pictures, so this book also can be used for a tourbook. It is no doubt that I will go to these parks with this book!

A friend loaned me this book two months ago. I haven't returned it yet. It is simply the best book on these two parks that I have ever read. The authors accurately portray the very considerable geological power present in each park, and yet do not manage to make either park a fearful place to be avoided. Instead, their writing is a persuasive invitation to visit these wonderful manifestations of nature for an extended period. I was particularly impressed by the visitor's tour set out near the end of the book. I took a part of that tour in 1994, and the narrative is very accurate. I will certainly use my OWN copy of the book when I go back again this autumn. (I don't want anyone to think I don't return borrowed books!) This book is an absolute musthave-mustread for anyone going to the parks or interested in the geological processes that have made the West. Enjoy.

This treasure will turn "topography" into a household word. Dedicated to a fellow geologist recently killed by an avalance while conducting fieldwork, "Windows" is a slick and dramatic feature presentation of volcanism, earthquakes, and geysers. Superb maps and graphs colorfully illustrate variable stratae formed through the eons. An informal and friendly text is scholarly without being stuffy. The writers establish a tone of substance and humor as they discuss multiple upheavals that created Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. This is the kind of book that will impress early rock-ologists and even be hoarded by their more secretive, sedimental parents. The writing never "dumbs down" but is lucid with factual attention to landscape formation without snubbing the human astonishment that continually witnesses it. Thanks to geologist Smith and naturalist journalist Seigel, the book is threaded with lively accounts from park rangers, tourists, and waitresses at the Old Faithful Inn. Appeals to romantics and literalists alike. Studded with beautiful, full-color photographs. Every page is hefty and sleek to the touch, a feast for the eye as well as the brain. Kind of a wonder-book for anyone who seeks the phenomenal in terra firma.

Beautiful pictures, touching and moving story. About the restoration of the wolves.

Beautiful pictures illustrates the many different wolves that were restored to yellowstone (#10, #9etc...). Illustrates the effort the yellowstone had to put in to restore the wolf to its natural habitat. Very interesting to the average wolf lover and those who are interested in what happened in the 1995 restoration of the wolves to yellowstoen.

This book brings you right into the experience of bringing the wolves back to Yellowstone where they belong! Find out the behind the scenes activity that brought the sight and sound of the wolf back after an absence of over 60 years. You'll never be the same after reading this. Excellent!!

The way the books of this series work is that they took a guide for new rangers in Yosemite with the 100 or so most frequently asked questions, and wrote their own answers for each park. It's a great format because it makes for easy reading beforehand, but it's also quick as a reference when you're there because they're arranged in an intelligent order. There's also a huge reference section at the end with lists, copies of permit forms, and so forth. So the thing to do is read the FAQ before you leave but bring the book and refer to it once you're there.

I've been to Yosemite four or five times since I've purchased this book, and still find it useful. Partially this is because if you go in different seasons there are different things to see, and sometimes you just want a pizza and that's in there too (Camp Curry has good pizza, if anybody's curious).

I already had a couple of trips to Yosemite under my belt before buying this book in anticipation of a third, but I still found it very useful. Much of the information you will want at hand before and during your trip is conveniently compiled in this book, and it is presented in a charming and amusing way. (Bruinhilda, your host, is a cartoon bear.) History, hiking, flora, fauna, lodging, feeding, even five pages of telephone numbers you may need, are all there. The price of this book will be a pittance compared to the total cost of your trip to Yosemite, and it will help you to get the most out of your visit. I particularly recommend this book to people who aren't planning a trip to Yosemite-maybe it will encourage you to go (and to respect and care for the park when you do)!

This is THE A-Z Yosemite guild, with info ranging from how long it takes to get there to what restaurants will best suit your needs and not to say, your price bracket. This guide will interest the most unenthusiastic of readers. It gives you a very lighthearted look at camping (the way it was intended to be) and detailed insider information of Yosemite with a side of humor narriated by an animated bear. The animation makes it all the more enjoyable, as it pokes fun of the stereotypical tourist and his civilized quirks. The guide uses a helpful Q&A format. It also provides an informative hiking graph of strenuosity and milage along with a graph of campgrounds and their amenities. I consider it the Yosemite bible of sorts and a must have for first time visitors!

I have been lucky enough to have Dr.Dan Windisch as an instructor at Saint Martin's College. I was thrilled and amazed when he shared his poetry with us. The photographs in this book are luminous. What a surprise to find out that my instructor is a poet as well. His poems show his attention to the details of nature that others may ignore. I appreciated his carefully selected photographs to accompany the poems as well. The words and images complement each other. This book would make a delightful gift; I plan to give a copy to my mom and dad. They enjoy camping and hiking; so, I know this collection of poems and photos would mean a lot to them.

The poems alone are enough to send your imagination soaring into the power and fragility of nature. Coupled with the collection of photographic portraits of nature that Dan Windisch captured, I found myself transported into the wonderous beauty of Yosemite National Park. I hope to see more Photos and Poems about our nations treasures, our National Parks. I may be biased, since I am a long-time employee of the National Park Service, but I think that everyone who loves nature will enjoy this book.

Yosemite may be my favorite place in the world, and so I picked up this book with some trepidation. No fear! It is true to my memory of the grandeur of scale of El Capitan and the towering granite cliffs, the warm cinnamon-colored bark of sequoias and the still, reflective surface of sections of the Merced River. Best of all, it allows you to experience Yosemite's timeless serenity - a quality difficult to appreciate amidst the throngs in the park itself. For anyone who has visited and loved Yosemite, the photos are evocative of the spirit of the valley - seedlings and shifting sunlight and the flow of the river against the background of ancient trees and unyielding granite. I would buy the book for the photography alone, but the accompanying poetry brings the photos down to a more human scale. Here you have a sensitive man's upwelling of joy and awe in the presence of a sacred space.

This book is definitely a must-have if you require the notes to play the tunes. However, if you're only trying to figure out the lyrics, the best way to go about this is to play the "South Park: BLU DVD" with the English subtitles on (or captions on if you have it on VHS). Then you can sing along with the movie! Neat, huh? Unfortunately, there's no 'bouncing ball' to follow when the kids do break into song, but hey, you can't have everything!

'Late

This score is accurate and thorough in its likeliness to the actual movie, although don't expect the pieces to sound nearly as full as they do with the full orchestral accompaniment of the album. The piano part is thin, but it is more than enough to accompany any singer (or yourself, if you like to sing while you play.) My favorite piece is "La Resistance (Medley)", which pieces together a number of different tunes. For the guitarists out there, each piece contains printed chords and tablature. I love playing through the score and have had great fun with it! I recommend it to any South Park fan/musician, or even anyone who's been wanting to know the full lyrics (but don't waste the music - invite a musician over!)

Let's face it, when you first heard the soundtrack or saw the movie, South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut ... you HAD to know the words. So I sat and meticulously wrote out what I thought were the words. So my question to Trey Parker & Marc Shaiman is ... WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?

This is a great book, especially for the musically inclined who may want to actually play the music to the best, most insane movie of all time. I don't play an instrument but I got hours of entertainment singing such classics as Uncle F*cka and It's Easy, Mkay!

And I'm thrilled to say I had the lyrics pretty much correct on all except the end of Mountain Town. But that's okay. I've got the words now. :)

I loved the book.. My sister gave it to me with high recommendations.. my girlfriend started reading it while I was and we ended up competing to read it, and she never touches a book without having to! Interesting social dynamic - although it covers slavery it is not a typical slave story. I would like many more books on this storyline but alas, the author has written only one other on the subject. READ IT!!

S.M. Stirling's comments here speak for me pretty well. Rarely has a book touched me in such a way that I have read it again within a month. The character of Costa, in particular, is one of the most interesting and involving characters I've come across. I've read and enjoyed all three of Severna Park's novels, but this one remains my favorite, for reasons I'm not sure I can explain.

It's rare for the conventions of space opera to be used for characterizations of this depth and clarity. SPEAKING DREAMS functions quite well as an adventure story, but it _shines_ as a study in character -- the effects of trauma, the difficult, risky necessity of trust, and the effort needed to overcome one's past. It is also, and oddly for a book containing so much vividly realized pain, charming. I'd even use the word sweet for parts, if it didn't have negative overtones and didn't contrast so starkly with the strength and honesty of the portrayals. This is the sort of book you read several times; and also the sort that makes you determined to look at anything new that appears under the author's name. -- S.M. Stirling