This book is a spectacular visual text to some of the American National Parks. The size of the photos, and their photographic quality, are just excellent. The photos are right up there with National Geographic-type quality. In addition, the accompaning text gives ecological insights to where and why this part of the United States was designated and saved as a National Park. The book gives short but insightful accompanying text for each of the Parks that are presented to the reader. The only problem is, unfortunately, the organization of the chapters, and a very skimpy table of contents, and the reader can get easily annoyed with these two problems. It is hard to understand why the publisher made such errors, as the problems are very obvious, and the whole book suffers as a result. It is a beautiful book covering many of the National Parks, with super photos and very good college level text, and if you can put up with the problems of a missing table of contents, this book is a great collection of art, ecology, and the National Parks of the USA. A 5-star for the photos and accompanying text, and a 3 for a useless table of contents. Sorry, but the publisher made major mistakes in putting this otherwise spectacular book together. But I will still give the book a 5-star anyway. The photos and text are just too good to give this book anything less than a 5-star.

Paul Schullery presents a book filled with powerful and beautiful images of fifty-six national parks that have been dedicated to the preservation and protection of irreplaceable treasures. This book shows why these parks are so worthy of protection.

Not only are they places where indescribable beauty can be seen, they have also been formed by unique geological forces. From stunning mountain ranges to arid expanses of desert, these are the lands we view, wander in and learn from.

America's National Parks is a celebration of the diversity of national parks throughout the United States. They are grouped according to the geological forces that helped to create them.

Diagrammatic illustrations, important landmarks, travel routes, topographical maps and spectacular full-color photographs illustrate the sheer majestic beauty of nature.

You will also find captivating information to encourage an awareness of the landforms, flora and fauna. Families will also find information to help enhance their vacations at the parks.

Inside the front cover a map of America shows the location of each park I started to remember my trip to the Grand Canyon National Park and my husband's visit to Denali.

Our Treasured Lands
The Rolling Land - Volcanic and Geothermal Forces
The Broken Crust - The Power of Mountain Building
Water Designing Lands - Waves, Caves and Currents
Ice Sculpting Stone - The Carving Power of Glaciers
The Patient Power - Wind and Water Erosion
Weather Shaping Life - Effects of Extreme Climates

This book contains some of the most amazing photographs I've ever seen of America. From pictures of dripstone formations adorning New Mexico's Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico to Lush Ecosystems shrouded in Fog in the National Park in Washington, these pictures help to vividly describe each park. I remember once having an argument with someone over the fact that there were rainforests near where I lived in Washington and no one would believe me. Well, here is proof!

I was also especially interested in looking up the Painted Desert we visited once on a trip across America after college. At the time, I didn't actually realize I was in the Petrified Forest national Park in Arizona because technically, we were just driving right through and I wasn't paying attention.

This book has helped to bring a new awareness to my own life and also encourages a desire for more exploration. Now I definitely want to see Mount McKinley in person.

Voyageurs National Park looks like a fascinating place to paddle around lonely islands. However, they do say never to skimp on insect repellent. A third of the park is water.

A memento of past visits or an inspiration for future exploration!

This is the best resource available for an overview of America's eight National Scenic Trails. It is a MUST for anyone with an interest in our National Trails System.

This is one of those rare travel books that will inform and entertain the armchair traveler while at the same time provide invaluable information to the trekker setting out to explore one of the Congressionally sponsored National Scenic Trails. Congress established the National Trails System Act in 1968 for the purpose of creating a trail system that would provide long-distance paths through some of the most scenic country in America and preserve trails that contributed to our history. Since 1968 the trail system has designated twelve national historic trails, some eight hundred national recreation trails and eight national scenic trails. This book focuses on the eight National Scenic Trails in the system and is a great guide to the almost 16,000 miles they encompass through 30 states. The trails range in length from 694 miles (the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail) to the 4,300 mile North Country National Scenic Trail. The trails, due to the diversity of their locations, can be traveled in all four seasons and contain some, if not all, of the best scenery and animal life, not to mention historical significance, that the United States has to offer. The National Scenic Trails are Appalachian, Continental Divide, Florida, Ice Age, Natchez Trace, North Country, Pacific Crest, and Potomac. The book is a combination travel guide and history lesson that is written in a highly readable, fact-filled manner. For each of the eight trails there is a history of the trail, a description of the trail today, a list of points of interest, detailed maps, state-by-state tourist information, a listing of the total mileage of the trail, and the states it traverses. For those of us that probably will not attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail "straight through"(it's 2,144 miles long!) the author thoughtfully gives suggestions on where one can enter the trail at numerous locations and walk for a few hours with time for a picnic lunch. This is a splendid general reference book for the National Scenic Trails. For the reader desiring more specific information on any of the trails the author has included a complete, up-to-date listing of all state and public land agencies, an exhaustive bibliography, an index, and 87 color illustrations and detailed, yet readable, maps. June 2nd is National Trails Day and what better way to learn about those national treasures that getting a copy of this book. This is a perfect example of the quality publications one can expect from the University of Oklahoma Press. Armchair travelers and wanderers of all types will be delighted.

Although I completely agree with the previous review, I would like to emphasize how well this book is written. This book is part of Twayne's Evolution of American Business Series and, as such, does not hide raw data from the reader. However, one can easily ignore the tables and skip a few paragraphs in each chapter and still feel very satisfied with the book.

I orginially purchased the book to learn the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. What I gained was a thorough review of the amusement park history from the 12th century Bartholomew Fair to Universal Studios Florida in 1990 (the book was published in 1991). From trolley parks to Coney Island, from Disneyland to Cedar Point, Ms. Adams covers all the bases.

A wonderful book!

This is a wonderfully researched, thoughtful treatise on the amusement park industry. It is not for those who want a pictorial history, or a romp with colorful characters like George Tilyou. Tilyou is here, but he is surrounded by demographic charts showing the age breakdown of the New York City population during Coney Island's history. There is a great deal of financial information, as well, such as consumer spending on 23 recreational products or services for the years 1909-1923. You get the idea--it is an academic book (but there are some photos, mainly historical).

But as such, it's awesome. There is probably no other book like it. Many academic books are not only dry, they are poorly written, but this one is neither. Here is a sample (since this is the first review and there is little here about the book):

"The major historian of the amusement industry, William F. Mangels, author of "The Outdoor Amusement Industry from Earliest Times to the Present" (1952) was himself a carousel manufacturer. In 1907 Mangels patented a device that imparted an improved, smooth, galloping motion to the horses and in time became common on all carousels. He and his carver, Marcus Charles Illions, produced finely carved carousels, including the Feltman merry-go-round at Coney Island. This man, who in 1912 also created the first wave machine for the swimming pool at Palisades Park, New Jersey, preserved the heritage of the amusement industry in America by organizing and developing the American Museum of Public Recreation."

For the same reason, here is the Table of Contents:

1. The Origins 2. The Form Emerges 3. Coney Island and the Enclosed Park 4. From Trolley to Automobile 5. The Disney Transformation 6. Theme Parks 7. Walt Disney World Resort 8. Overview and Postscript

A: Some Parks That Established the Traditional, Pre-Disneyland Culture B: Industry Associations and Publications Chronology Notes and References Selected Bibliography

Index

As Mark Twain once said, "If you enjoy this sort of thing, this is just the sort of thing you'll enjoy." I found the book's precision and well-supported opinions very entertaining. Perhaps you will, too.

(Planeta.com Journal) - One of the most influential books this year, this work examines the relationship of parks and Indian cultures. Remarkably, this story has not been well told -- until now. The authors point out that "one can find thousands of books about American Indians, a considerable body of literature about natural parks, but almost nothing linking the two." The book draws on extensive research and more than 200 interviews with Native Americans, environmentalists, park rangers and politicians. It also asks important questions such as what are the obligations owed to those displaced by park creation and do aboriginal people have special rights to their homelands. This book is one of the year's must reads.

Beginning with Yosemite and Yellowstone, American Indians & National Parks explains how the creation of these two oldest national parks affected native peoples and set a pattern followed with the subsequent creations of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; Canyon de Chelly; Chaco Culture National Historical Park; Death Valley National Monument; Everglades National Park; Glacier National Park; Glen Canyon; Grand Canyon National Park; Mesa Verde National Park; Monument Valley Tribal Park; Navajo National Monument; Olympic National Park; Pipe Spring National Monument; Rainbow Bridge National Monument; and Wupatiki National Monument. Robert Keller and Michael Turek collaborate to show how and why the National Park Service changed its policies and attitudes toward Native American tribes, the response of environmental organizations to native demands, and how the park service dealt with native claims to hunting and fishing rights in Glacier, Olympic, and Everglades National Parks. American Indians & National Parks is a carefully researched, ably presented reference that is highly recommended to students of Native American studies, environmentalists, and National Park Service operatives.

I am a Kindergarten teacher and collect many alphabet books. I am always on the look out for books that not only teach letters but other curriculum content as well. This book has an abundance of scientific information about various animals that are native to North America. It also has a map of the parks which helps children learn about the difference in climate with in our country. The text is laid out so that a portion of the information can be easily shared with younger kids or more detailed information can be shared with older kids. This book is a great resource.

This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations. My son, age 10, especially liked learning about the National Parks, while my daughter, age 7, wants to use the paintings as models for her own drawings. The text, which is attractively designed for more than one reading level, is nicely balanced with information about both the featured animals and the parks where they can be found. While it provides a satisfying read, the book also raises interest in learning more. I now want to visit the National Parks I haven't yet been to. There is a map showing the locations of the featured parks at the back as well as contact information for the parks and other organizations.

Healy has not only lived in Echo Park for a number of years, she has a strong local and literary following for her evocative writings. "Artemis in Echo Park" truly brings forth the magic and mystery of this place.

This collection of poems moved me like no other. Poems like The Introductions and Now I Find My House is Not Safe made me say to myself "wow, someone has lived this, too, but has a better grasp on how to say it." Eloise Klein Healy must be a most gentle and strong woman and clearly someone with thoughtfulness which goes way beyond the norm. I would recommend this book to anyone - particularly to women of all ages who have had relationships with women and know the intensity and pressure of such.

This book is great for backpackers. Warning: it is not a how-to manual for novices, but rather a guide for experienced backpackers. It offers a wide range of backpacking trips thoughout Oregon. The author rates each trip based on difficulty, solitude, and beauty, and highlights any special advantages or drawbacks to each trip. I was excited to read so many suggestions for varied new backpacking trips (and I have been backpacking in this state for 15 years!) His ratings are absolutely correct for the trips I have gone on.

If you are looking for a REAL backpacking trip guide - not daytrips - this is the best book I have seen for the diverse state of Oregon. It's unique organization style is by season, the perfect way to choose a trip in an area of widely varying climates. It gives excellent, detailed descriptions of 27 different trips, including elevation gains, difficulty, scenery, solitude and side trips. This is not a book for novices, no "how to's" here, just great trip analyses. Includes great maps and B/W pictures. Enjoy!

I first heard of this play from my good friend, who happened to see it performed in Central Park. I later saw this old copy of the play laying around my high school stage office, and picked it up, remembering my friends mention of it... upon finishing the play (within two days, I could NOT put it down) I realized I have NEVER laughed so hard outloud while reading any sort of literature.. it is witty, comical, and softly but lovingly expressing the hardships of the first days of marriage and living together with your beloved. I highly highly highly recommend picking this up for a mood-lifter, or just a good laugh. It is light and entertaining and very cute!

Barefoot In The Park is the complete and unabridged ninety minute audiobook presentation of a classic Neil Simon romantic comedy. Wonderfully performed by Laura Linney and Eric Stoltz, Barefoot In The Park is the flawlessly recorded production that tells the story of a new lawyer and his young bride, the adventures and foibles in beginning married life, complicated by an uptight mother-in-law and an eccentric gourmet chef who lives in a loft on the roof of their apartment (their window ledge is the only access to his padlocked premises). A superb choice for any personal, school, or community audiobook collection, Barefoot In The Park is also available in a CD format...

Buy this book for the outstanding photographs!!! I thouroughly enjoyed this book, and everytime I pick it up, I get this urge to fly to Alaska to see these magnificent creatures.

This book is beautiful; a work of art. Matthias Breiter may very well be the most knowledgeable naturalist on earth when it come to brown bears.