We use this book often - just moved to new area. Some things seem out of date, like entrances and where the dog can be off leash. Need more books like this one! Contra Costa County especiallly!

I had the opportunity to see this show in Philadelphia and it absolutely blew me away. Not only does it include Richard Diebenkorn's best work, but it also includes work by Paul Wonner, Elmer Bischoff, Manuel Neri, Nathan Oliveira and David Park (among others). I have drawn endless inspiration from this book and you most likely will too.

Conrad's mountain bike book is in his normal, factual and precise format. No fluff here. He helps you determine the aerobic and technical difficulty, locate the trialhead, and takes you through the odometer driven turns. Trail information is very complete and includes 2 graphics per trail: one a normal map with arrows, the other a chart showing elevation change per mile. You can still get lost or get in over your head, but not because of this book.

My only complaint is that some of my favorite mountain bike areas and trails are not included. On the other side, I'm kinda glad.

This guide is a good book for hikers (beginners and above) who want information about day hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Includes: maps; photos; trail description; mileage; parking info; water and restrooms info; and transit info. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in hiking in the SF Bay Area.

This delightful book examines the unique theater which one man's vision successfully and energetically designed to examine the pain and parody of an evolving, contemporary American society and body politic. May Beach Blanket Babylon spread it's messages both throughout the American stages and through distribution of this panoramic literary exposition. Yes, proudly, Janet Lynn Roseman is my sister!

"Before They Were Champions," the unfolding of The San Francisco 49ers' 1958 Season, is not just the story of a football team coming of age, but a stirring, candid journal of a roller-coaster season flowing from the pen of a 49ers' fan who grew up in that period.

The author, who attended 49er games as a youngster, faithfully kept a diary and souvenirs from all the games. He unfolds the story directly from his memoirs, not allowing future events to color the moment-to-moment narration. He writes in an exciting style, using the "present time" of each game--not from a past tense perspective. This involves the reader in a "You are there" experience, giving him the feeling that he is witnessing each game as it occurs.

The 1958 season was a drama in extremes. The team had high expectations, especially after just missing going to the NFL title game in 1957. The team was stocked with five future Hall of Famers: Y.A. Tittle, Joe Perry, Hugh McElhenny, Bob St. Clair, and Leo Nomellini. As the author describes it, "They had an offense good enough to win and a defense just good enough to lose."

During the season, the 49ers suffered their worst defeat ever at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams.  Their owner, Vic Morabito,  labeled them "the worst 49er team ever" after a lopsided loss to the Bears. The season was marred by the big brawl with the Packers (when five players were ejected), by a quarterback controversy between Y.A. Tittle and John Brodie that lasted throughout the season, and by a season's tragic end when their legendary Head Coach, Frankie Albert, abruptly quit.

Miraculously, the 49ers rebounded to earn respect by defeating the Eagles, Lions, Packers, and staging their most decisive victory against the World Champion Baltimore Colts, winners of the first overtime NFL Championship game. They amassed impressive record-breakers like Joe Perry's biggest rushing day of 174 yards against Detroit-- shattering Steve Van Buren's all-time rushing record for career rushing yards, and McElhenny's biggest day of 159 yards rushing against the powerful Packers' team.

But those 49er wins and losses paint only part of the picture in Jacobs' book. There was grand old Kezar Stadium, a mad house populated by 49er "fanatics," a place where the cold bite of the Pacific Ocean fog would cut right through your blood stream and chill your bones. It was the birthplace of the famed Y.A. Tittle to R.C.Owens' "Alley-Oop" pass-plays and the epic site of the last quarter "cliffhangers" to beat the Steelers, Eagles and Lions with an array of all-star rookies: Abe Woodson, Jimmy Pace, Charlie Kruger, Fred Dugan and Jerry Mertens.

The book sparks with action and dejavu posters of the season that fans of the era will recall. The sepia brown photos throughout add to the nostalgic quality of the period about which the book is written from the perspective of an avid eyewitness. The reader will not be able to put down this stirring account of this less publicized season in the grand tradition of the San Francisco 49ers.

My favorite part of the paper has always been the op-ed page, followed closely by the lifestyles pages, where I will quickly turn to read the latest offerings by my favorite columnists.

I have fantasies of being a syndicated columnist like my heroes of the op-ed page, and so when I discover a book like this, with the collected works of someone who writes for a living and does it well, I am quick to buy it.

I am not a subscriber to the San Francisco Chronicle, and so this book is my first exposure to Adair Lara's work. I am delighted to make her acquaintance.

Lara's work offers a very intimate glimpse into one woman's life, as she writes about things that nearly everyone can relate to.

" 'Write about your life,' " she says she was told by a hard-of-hearing editor who didn't seem to sure about what to do with a female columnist, and that is what she did.

She tells us her first column, about getting a newspaper job, was personal. "The next thousand or so columns were also personal."

Reading this anthology is like leafing through a scrap book of memories. At times touching, humorous, and always intimate, I can highly recommend this collection on two levels - as an aspiring writer looking for examples of the craft done well, and as a woman whose everyday experiences, while small in scope, are validated by seeing another woman's personal life in print.

Undoubtedly the most fun and most helpful travel book we have ever consulted. Have just returned from a wonderful week in this extraordinary city, made all the better by recommendations in "The Best of San Francisco." Instead of paying $200 at the conference hotel, we spent $79 at a small boutique hotel nearby everything, including the cable car, that was recommended in the "Proud Paupers" section. It could not have been nicer: impeccably clean, friendly staff, charming atmosphere, most comfortable hotel beds we have ever had, walking distance to shops, restaurants, galleries, everything you want is right in the neighborhood. We also used the "PP" section to select two wonderful ethnic restaurants - Thai and Indian. Both served delicious, savory meals, with large portions for small prices (under $6 in some cases). And provided interesting cultural experiences. In addition to pointing you in the right direction to enjoy San Francisco to the fullest, this book also tells you how to avoid major headaches, by recommending you do not, under any circumstances, drive a car in this city. We took that advice and were so glad we did! The best buy in town was also recommended, and that is a transportation pass at $15 for 7 days. You can ride any of the public transport, buses, trolleys, BART, and the famous cable cars. Before you take a trip to San Francisco, do yourself a favor and get a copy of this wonderful, down-to-earth little book. You will be glad you did!

This book is extremely useful as a general guide for (1) the best places to stay and (2) the best restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. The title is misleading in that even if romance isn't the goal, the guide is useful in finding a classy place to visit. Explanations that accompany each entry are detailed and points out what's great, what's not great, prices, and everything that you'd want to jot down if you were investigating the place yourself.

Excellent in all respects. I highly recommend it.

I am completely delighted with "The Little Guides" series. The format is extremely user friendly, and each guide is packed with useful and interesting information. I enjoy reading them, but my 6 year old daughter gives them the most use. While the guides are written at an adult level, there is plenty that she can read and understand. I currently own "Sharks," "Birds," "Mammals," "Space," "Whales," and "Flowers."

"Birds" contains two parts, the first covering the basics of birds, bird behavior, and bird and human interaction. Part two then gives information on about 250 different species of birds. The guide is richly illustrated and each entry contains information on the bird characteristics, feeding, reproduction, and habitat. This is a great book for car rides, having the children spot a bird and look it up in this guide.

This guide is packed with useful information, and is a great resource of adults as well as children!