We started our five week tour of India with Let's Go India Nepal, and found the Footprint guide four weeks into our tour. After looking it over, we quickly realized how much detail, clarity, and completeness we were missing. We didn't open Let's Go again, other than to retrieve our bookmark.

Some of the telephone numbers were slightly off, but that is par for the course in India. The correct numbers were easily located via directory assistance, which the book informed us of.

We stayed at two of the highly recommended hotels between US$5 and US$6 a piece and were delighted by the overall quality and cleanliness we found.

Its descriptions of some of the sights surpassed even that of our tour guide.

We liked this guide so much that we now use Footprint guides for our travels wherever they are available and up to date.

WARNING: The guide warns that the prices for many tourist attractions will go up on Jan 1, 2001. They actually went up on October 18, 2000. Now at most major tourist sites in India, foreigners pay the same number of dollars as Indian's pay rupees.

I spent one month travelling all over India with the 1999 edition of the India Handbook and what a life saver it was. The book was fantastic with its information and right on the money everytime with hotel rates, ferry schedules, etc. The brief anecdotes were especially helpful and I really appreciated the open mind the book had quick not to judge a country full of many different aspects. The book was enlightening and in my hand all the time, but my mind was still open to new experiences which were not preconceived by the authors. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to anyone who really wants to experience India in a different light!

The India Handbook is a thoroughly well-researched and detailed guide. The most informative guide on the market, it provides invaluable information which is useful to both the short and long-term visitor to India, particularly by the inclusion of accurate large and small scale maps. It is also strong and compact. However, perhaps the most appealing feature is it's direct and non-chatty text, packing important and need-to-know facts into a notey yet precise format, leaving the reader to form his/her own opinions on people and places.

Beautiful book in every way - the layout, the artwork, the photographs, the research...and the RECIPES. I've made maybe 10 things from this collector's item of a book. But let me talk at some length about the Moraga Pear Pie. It's fantastic - and here's a favor. There's a way to make it even more superlative with a better crust:
In a food processor, put 2 c flour, 3 T. sugar, and 3/4 cup of butter. Blend till mixed and crumbly. Then add 2 egg yolks and blend just till it forms a ball. With your fingertips, press it evenly into an 11 or 12 inch tart pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 325.
Then proceed with the rest of the Moraga Pear Pie recipe - and serve the tart to the Queen. I guarantee she'll ask for the recipe.

This book combines the culinary with hortoculture, and does it in magnificent publishing style which we've come to expect our of TenSpeed Press. The layout, photos and composition are just excellent and great to look at.

It begins with a history of the fruit, from partridge in a pear tree to its intro in the States by Jefferson and its eventual spread along the Pacific Northwest.

This is followed by a most interesting Q & A section on growing pears in the home garden which is excellent, along with sources in the back appendix of the book.

Each of over 50 varieties is illustrated and discussed, followed by perry (pear cider) and a pear in the bottle liquor.

Recipes complete the book. Almost 50 pages of sandwiches, drinks, condiments, desserts, etc. utilizing pear varieties. Especially see the easy but elegant Poire Belle Helene, a poached pear set on ice-cream or yogurt with chocholate topping.

Gorgeous book. For what is more exhaustive, creative recipe collection, see "Pears: A Country Garden Cookbook."

The Great Book Of Pears is for the fan of the pear who wants a guide to varieties - color pictures of pears are supplemented by history, a description of flavors and uses, and a survey of the pear's usefulness in the garden and on the table. Add recipes and you have an appealing, beautiful guide.

I have Hopi in laws and adoptive family members whose pictures appear in this loving--and accurate--portrayal of a world into which I was honored to be invited. I lived on the reservation itself for 8 years, and continue to be a family member and trusted friend. But having moved away, whenever I need to be reminded of what a rich and wondrous world in which my Hopi relations still reside...this book brings it all back in beautiful photos and delightful accounts of village life. And, as I recall, it was one of the first books of its kind to be openly "endorsed" by many of the Hopi locals in their own art galleries on the mesas. They were very proud of this book!

Being someone who knows many traditional Hopi families and visits often, I find this a very accurate account of America's most traditional Native tribe. Although much of their culture is private, Susanne and Jake have done a great job in depicting the social apsect of Hopi culture. The Hopi people are a joy to know. ...

This book is absolutly amazing, with magnificint photographs, which are hard to find of the Hopi, and terrific information.

An excellent explanation of why & how to properly "Keep you heels down" "use more seat/leg" . Tells you how to communicate to your body what it needs to do to communicate to the horse in a manner he understands what your request is.

I took up riding as an adult, and have been struggling with sitting the trot on my warmblood mare with extravagant movement. I bought this book based on a review I read in an equestrian magazine, and by the time I had finished the first 3 chapters, went back and ordered 3 more copies (1 for each of my trainers, and 1 for my sister who would otherwise try to steal my copy). It has been incredibly helpful to me personally, and my trainer finds that some of the images and instructions are helping her to get through to other students better, as well. Probably the most valuable book in my rather large equestrian library!

"Balance in Movement" is an excellent book for the thinking horseman who wishes to improve his/her communication skills with their horse. The book details how, physically, we ride and how our body, unconsciously or unconsciously, effects the way our horses react. This is not an easy read, the anatomical terms can get a bit unwieldy, but the excellent photos and line drawings illustrate each point clearly, and make rereading sections valuable. This book can be compared favorably with "An Anatomy of Riding" by H. Schusdziarra, MD and V. Schusdziarra, MD., although "Balance in Movement"does not have a specific Dressage focus. I can recommend this book to anyone who has wondered just exactly how to achieve the perfect balance on a moving horse.

Having read tombs and tombs of data, publications and books on the subject aromatherapy, including authors Schnaubelt, Price, Mojay, Catty, Tisserand and Battaglia (all of which are great books), Fischer-Rizzi is one of a few books, including Salvatore Battaglia, that I refer to constantly. Fischer-Rizzi's writing and presentation style is authoritative and page-turning, and given the complexity of the subject matter, she presents all that is aromatherpy with ease and marvellous readability. The book does provide recipes for all kinds of ailments and cosmetology, but what I most like about this lady's book is the 'straight to the heart of the matter' reading. The book is far more literary than many books on this subject. That is not to say it is airy fairy or wordy - far from it - it simply states each oil's components in plain English and does not bore and labour through overuse of chemistry and jargonised language. Fischer-Rizzi also advises each oil's affinity with other oils, which will help you blend and create synergies. The book also details base oil use and therapeutic benefits.

The author presents useful information on healing with essential oils, discussing issues of extraction, purity, and application, along with detailed discussions of 27 of the most important oils including botanical name, family, origin, description, extraction, content, character, physical and psycho-spiritual beneficial effects for specific ailments or conditions, dosage, and utility for skin application. Additionally 47 oils are presented in a more concise format, and simple but effective ways of using the oils in the home, for massage, for beauty enhancement, and for soothing and relieving aches and ailments are provided.

Informative! This book is chocked full of information on essential oils. Written and organized in easy to follow format. The blending recipes are a real treat for any beginner. Although this is a paper back (large edition)the graphics and color are eyecatching. THIS BOOK IS A WELCOME ADDITION TO MY REFERENCE LIBRARY ON AROMATHERAPY.

I must admit that this has been probably one of the hardest texts that I have ever read ( well in league with Thomas Paine's Common sense). However, it, i.e., Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained by John Milton, Christopher B. Ricks(Editor) also is one of the most beautifully written and well written pieces of literature ever produced. Milton, has a sense for language that can only be compared with the great writers of the literary tradition, e.g., Dante, Shakespeare, and Thoreau. Writers of today lack these skills and cannot write with the same complexity as the great authors of the past. A good example of this when one reads Dante's Inferno or Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.; these stories are both good examples of a lost art that Milton was a master at. The art of writing a story in the form of a poem without the story in question sounding phony or having lines that do not make sense. The story itself, i.e., Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained by John Milton, Christopher B. Ricks(Editor) is very hard to follow if one is not a biblical scholar and most of the angels are new to me ( which does not disturb me a bit, since most people nowadays, do not study the Bible as they did during the life time of Milton and his contemporaries). Overall, I would have to say that this story, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained by John Milton, Christopher B. Ricks (Editor) is easily one of the most thought provoking stories that I have ever read and I will definitely recommend it to anyone remotely interested in well written literature.

A few days ago I finished Paradise Lost for a book club I'm in. It took me the whole first chapter to get adjusted, but then the book really swept me away. The language is beautiful and the concepts very deep and thoughtful. I can't always agree with Milton's thoedicy, but it definitely provides rich and spicy food for thought. The book requires a lot from the reader, but it's well worth every moment. We also read all 3 books of Dante's Divine Comedy for the book club. I was frequently lost, especially while reading Purgatorio and Paradisio, but Milton is different. You can understand - and enjoy - most of what he says even without the footnotes (though you'll miss 90% of the allusions without them). The poetry is sublime. Like a really great novel, this work hangs over you for days after you finish it, tugging at your heart.

Mr. Milton is without a doubt, a liteary genius! I got intrested in the book from a quote, which I read in John London's The Sea Wolf. Even though, I am only 17, the views presented in Paradise Lost, as well as Paradise Regained could still be used today. I highly reccomend this book to ones who want to know where it all started.

Susanne has enabled us to be an audience to a true story of healing, recovery and hope. "When Spirit Speaks" shows us that the life of miracles and peace are here for all of us.... if we only reach out and believe. As one of the characters in this book I know first hand that a Spirit-filled life is available to us all......

This is one of those books that I started reading years ago, and set aside - not because I didn't like it, but because I got distracted. It surfaced recently and I finished it in only a few days. The story in this book pulls no punches. The author portrays herself as a real, fallable woman on a path of connection with Spirit. The experiences and wisdom shared in this book came to me just at the time I most needed to read them. Spirit spoke to me through this book.

I honor the author Susanne Blake in her sharing her story of her paths beginning. She graciously allows the reader to travel with her down her path and share her experiences. I highly recommend this enlightened book to anyone who is awakening to thier path, who realizes coincendences are more then mere chance. I for one am waiting anxiously for her next book ! Love and Light Susanne..... hugs !

This book is a deceptively quick and easy read. I say deceptively, because Falter-Barns has packed a load of useful wisdom and guidance into its 110 or so pages, laced with numerous engaging and instructive personal anecdotes.

Each of its 21 essays is only 2-4 pages long, and each is followed by an exercise designed to help you discover more about yourself or to jump-start your creative engine. Some of the ideas (seeing defeats as lessons learned) and exercises (record ideas and observations for future reflection) are familiar. Other ideas (work as prayer) and exercises (list the miracles that have happened to you) will probably be new. All of them are worthy of reflection, reinforcement, and practice.

If you are one of those -- and who is not, at some point? -- who is straining to break out of the cage of self limitations, Falter-Barns offers a key to the door. She has built this book on a foundation of knowledge built up over years in various creative pursuits and as a self- improvement seminar facilitator, and woven through it a healthy spiritual thread - subtle yet inspiring, and ever so practical.

Recommendation: Take two or so hours to read and absorb the book in its entirety, then place it somewhere within easy reach. On those days when your creative energies have dissipated or life's compass has sent you straight south, pick up this light tome, reread one or two of its short essays ("How False Modesty Kills Dreams," for instance, or "How to Make Time for Your Soul"), and commit yourself to one of its exercises. I think you'll find renewal and a burst of creative energy -- or as Falter-Barns might say, power in your vulnerability. -- Guy Olson, associate editor, "Global Issues"

In 100 pages, Suzanne Falter-Barnes manages to pack enough creative juice to jump-start any endeavor you've got underway. Whether you have a team project at work that's got you in a fog, or whether you dread sitting down to a blank piece of paper, you'll find inspiration here! In short, Suzanne Falter-Barnes has successfully created the everyman's guide to "creating creativity!" The creative maven AND the creative virgin will feel equally at home with this indispensible book. For a taste of the diverse and insightful guidance "How Much Joy Can You Stand?"offers, check out pages 38 and 79. Then BUY BUY BUY this book!

I love this book! How Much Joy Can you Stand: How to Push Past Your Fears and Create Your Dreams is a rather small book absolutely filled with inspiration and encouragement. And it's more that that! There are exercises following each chapter, which tap into the pool of creativity inside just waiting to be explored. I found myself pulling out a novel I started in high school and started working on it again. It's been 20 years! "How Much Joy Can You Stand" is a must read for anyone who wants to dust off their dreams and create the life they really, really want!

Dead souls is a book which starts of amusing you and leads you to believe that it must have an intricate plot and Chichikov, the protagonist, leaves you wondering about his devilish motives. Chichikov is here in this town to purchase serfs who have died since the last government census. The landowners therefore, must still pay taxes on these 'dead souls' until the next census. Chichikov, in possession of these cheaply purchased dead souls would appear to be a rich and prosperous landowner to those ignorant of his scheme.

Gogol describes how Chichikov ingratiates himself with the town's most powerful and respected officials. There are vivid descriptions of his various excursions to meet different landowners. The first meeting between Chichikov and landowner Manilov was absolutely hilarious in its description of how two absolutely disparate and removed people can feign such affection and friendliness, one out of greed, and the other simply from a naïve sense of propriety. As the story progresses, you tend to realize that the book doesn't really attempt to maintain a plot, but Gogol's criticism of the depicted Russian society is much more apparent and seems much sharper and more incisive. The story unfolds in such as a way so as to create the most opportunity for observation and comment on all the characters and situations rather than a story that drives itself towards a particular climax. Gogol's style of writing soon pulls you out of the main story- the reader first being an observer of the general happenings around the various characters is soon put into a different position from where he witnesses how Gogol's subtle humour and sharp criticism blend to create a clear picture of Russian society. Gogol's masterly creation of humor in this book is the essence of its brilliance. Through certain generalizations and allusions made throughout the book, his subsequent observations on each character are much more amusing.

This book is absolutely wonderful in that Gogol, sharply criticizing the kind of culture depicted in this book, earnestly regards these people as in fact, very Russian. The consummate Russian society would have to include besides great writers, thinkers and scholars, those such as Chichikov, Nozdrev and Manilov. Gogol sharply criticizes them but acknowledges their existence as very much a part of Russian Society.

As much as you would scorn the fatuous lives of the landowners and senior officials portrayed in this book, you would fall in love with the image of that perennially drunk Russian serf who's likely to be a swindler or that sincere, unlauded worker ...who might even be dead and purchased by our Chichikov!

Nikolai Gogol has a very creative mind as well as a unique style of writing. While reading Dead Souls, one is more likely to view the world from Gogol's point of view than his own. His writing contradicts everything Americans think they know about Russian literature. This book is a discussion of a world whose values are radically flexible. Though the concept can be frightening to those who do not take time to ask questions about their lives, Gogol has used crazy comic genius to exhibit an honest and impartial view on what is known today as "The Human Race." His book shows that humans' actions are motivated by greed and that the idea of money does not have any real significance because the value of everything that is sold is created by the human who is selling it. Gogol has also written the book in such a way that every single sentence is a universe of its own.

Dead Souls takes place in the Russia of the late 1800s, where, unlike in America, one must be born into a prosperous family in order to have opportunities. The main character, Chichikov, is clever enough to develop a scheme in which he can rise from being a petty clerk to a respected landowner. In order to do this, Chichikov moves into a new town, pretending to already be a landowner, and begins a quest to buy the names of dead serfs who have not yet been officially reported dead. Each person that Chichkov presents this offer to has a different reaction, starting with the shy and introverted Manilov. Though he does not understand Chichikov's need for the names of these dead serfs, Manilov is a character that is so desperate for company that it does not take any effort to trick him into selling his dead souls cheaply. However, as Chichikov continues his journey, he starts to deal with more clever landowners who become suspicious of his scheme.

Chichikov finds that the townsmen known as Sobakevich and Nozdrev are much harder to negotiate with. This is because they are more and attempt to trick Chichikov even though in truth, Chichikov is the one who is playing the trick on them. Nozdrev agrees to sell Chichikov his serfs under the condition that he can sell him something else along with the serfs, such as a horse or a pair of hunting dogs. Chichikov, of course, refuses the offer because he owns no land and has nowhere to keep any horses or dogs. Because of this, Nozdrev curses Chichikov and orders two of his guards to beat him up. However, by sheer luck, the police show up at that exact time to arrest Nozdrev because of crimes he committed in the past. Seeing this, Chichikov runs away and immediately sets off to visit Sobakevich. In his encounter with Sobakevich, Chichikov offers him less than one hundredth of what Sobakevich claims is the rightful price. However, the reason for Sobakevich's logic is that he claims the serfs have just as much value now that they are dead as they did when they were alive. In the end, however, Chichikov's stubbornness surmounts Sobakevich's absurd logic and Chichikov ends up buying the souls for the price he offered.

Unfortunately, as they say, "there is no such thing as a perfect crime." In the end of Dead Souls, Chichikov is stabbed in the back by the people he does business with, and does not get away with his ingenious plan. The main thing that Gogol is proving in his novel is that the entire human race is very similar to Chichikov; their interest lies in money and in prosperity. So if human beings are constantly trying to outsmart each other, a perfect society will never be obtained.

The plot is simple: Pavel Chichikov arrives to a provincial capital of Russia, impresses everyone with his social skills, gets adopted by the "high society" of the town, and then sets out to business: trying to persuade landowners (who are also lifeowners) to give or sell to him all the peasants who have died since the last census. These people, although dead, still generate taxes for the owner, so in principle it is convenient for them. But, of course, everyone asks themselves: "Why would anyone want to buy dead people who cause taxes?". I won't spoil the plot by giving the answer. The important thing is that Gogol uses this plot to paint an exhilarating (but in fact sad) portrait of the Russian society of his time, and of human nature in any time and place, which gives this novel its status as a classic work of art. Corruption, stupidity, naiveté, extreme individualism instead of a spirit of community, and other social vices, present in any society, are represented here by the very funny characters created by the author. Every landowner is a particular form of strange person, procuring Chichikov with crazy adventures. Gogol's writing intersperses the narrative with social reflection and thoughts on human nature, never boring or pretentious, but always funny and satirical. In fact, Gogol's irony and cynicism are probably the most valuable assets of this novel. It belongs to that literary family of books which portray heroes or anti-heores, wandering around, pursuing a fixed, idealized goal. Sometimes this goal is foolish but noble (like Don Quixote), sometimes it is narrow or despicable. These characters illustrate the virtues and vices of us humans, and that makes them live through the centuries. "Dead souls" is undoubtedly a dignifed member of that family, a book which will make you laugh, think and laugh again. By the way, another valuable thing is the way in which Gogol depicts the Russian countryside.

Hello cousins!How are ya'll doing?I'm fine.I am the grand-daughter of Fannie Lou (Ferris)Whittaker and Orville Eugene Whittaker.My mother Susie Marie was their oldest child-my aunts are Betty and Patsy and my uncle is Larry Whittaker.I am fixing to create a family website on MSN Communities-I have alot of stuff that was written by cousin Phyllis Kitson.Once I get it done you all are invited.My email address is neal36@msn.com-please feel free to drop me a few lines,I love hearing from family.Hugs and love to all,Lillie
PS-I'm going to buy 2 of this book-one for me and one for my mom!

I was most gratified to learn (quite by accident) that a book about WAF had been written. WAF was my great-grandfather, his son, Henry Ferris, was my grandfather, and my father was Carl Dallas Ferris. One error in the book referred to my grandfather as childless, when, in fact he had two sons and two daughters, & was living in Spur, Texas, where he died & is buried. (Most family records show he was living in Wink, Tx. at his death.)I don't consider this a major fault, as much of the rest of the book was as I had read and heard. I am sure most historical writings contain errors, if we but knew the inside story. My father was a great storyteller, & he used to entertain us for hours with stories of WAF which he had heard from his father and Aunt Kate. Warts and all, I am just glad that after all this time, Warren Angus Ferris is getting some of the recognition he so richly deserved. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the early days, regardless. Miss Starling did a very good job with old clippings and letters. Bravo! Janelle Ferris Berry

I appreciate Suzanne Starling for showing what Warren Angus Ferris did for Dallas, as well as showing what an interesting career and life he had. James Monroe Ferris was my great grand-father, who handed down the chain used to survey Dallas to my grandfather, Edward Eugene Ferris. He handed it down to my father, Raymond Edward Ferris. My father still has the chain and I wish a picture could have been included in the book. My father also has a gold watch which Warren Angus gave to his second wife. There are a couple of minor mistakes, such as James Monroe Ferris having been a United States Marshall for Greer County, TX (now Oklahoma) the entire time and not a Sherrif's Deputy. But, without a doubt this book is an accurate account of a complex, hightly intelligent man and his frontier life.