Don't even think about leaving home without this book. My constant companion and 2nd in importance only to my food bag.

The Appalachian Trail Data Book, updated annually, has proven time and time again to be the indispensable Guidebook for those contemplating spending any length of time hiking on the A.T. Among thru-hikers, (those attempting to hike the entire Trail in one continuous journey) the book's usage approaches 100%. This is excellent testament to the worth of this little volume, and it's easy to see why the book carries the imprint of the Appalachian Trail Conference, the organization charged with the care, protection, and maintenance of the Trail.

In an easy-to-read format, the Data Book contains everything the hiker needs to know in order to plan their day's travels, and in order to know what lies ahead of them. It'll tell you where shelters and established campsites are located; where principal water sources can be found; where road crossings and towns are located; and where primary stores, re-supply sources, and lodging places are located. Other works, most notably the Applachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion, will provide more detailed information on these matters, but it is the Data Book that is the work used most frequently on a day-to-day basis by those actually hiking the Trail. Also, the fact that editor Daniel Chazin meticulously updates and fact-checks the book each year in order to take into account changes on the Trail, ensures the hiker that this is the most accurate work of its sort on the market.

A key addition and improvement to this year's edition is keying and matching of sections of the Data Book to the official A.T. maps, i.e., the ones used by most hikers. This makes it much easier for the hiker to locate their actual position on the Trail; also, as always, the book's mileage tables are printed in order to facilitate simple reading by both Northbound AND Southbound hikers, so it can be used by everyone, regardless of the direction of their hike.

In short, if you're going to spend any serious ammount of time on the Trail, this little book will prove to be incredibly useful to you, tho one may well wish to purchase other works with "expanded" information. One should, of course, also use the best maps available, regardless of the length of your intended trip. But if you bring ONE guidebook with you on your trip, bring this one.

In a few weeks, I'll be leaving to hike, for the seventh time, the Trail in its entirety. I would not think of setting out without a copy of the 2002 A.T. Data Book, and neither should anyone else.

Daniel Weiss has written an outstanding book on one of the great masterpieces of medieval art - Sainte Chapelle in Paris. His analysis and discussion tell us about this marvel of stained glass, and how it was built by King (Saint)Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns and to make it the Christian equivalent of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. Scholarly but readable, and beautifully illustrated.

Dr. Weiss, a noted professor and scholar, has made a specialized subject very accessible and interesting. His thorough research, smooth writing skills, and thoughtful analysis are on display on each page. This is not just a book for art history experts - it should be widely read and enjoyed.

A humerous, brilliant, masterpiece. Bonevac does it again!

Straightforward, understandable, entertaining, with an easy-going style, chock full of explanations--both solemn and humorous--and examples--both historical and contemporary. This volume teaches. I learned. I can't think of a better book for personal exploration or for the classroom. It was originally the textbook for a course I was taking at the university, but it became a textbook I could never bring myself to sell back. Years later I still keep it on my shelves for both reference and recreation.

I have the U.K Edition of this title, and bought it on the spot after a cursury perusal of it's pages. Anyone who enjoys costume, set decoration and knowing more about what goes into a film's production would enjoy this book. Plus, there is a very thorough section with backround and biographical information on the author; Mervyn Peake, containing a great deal of information I had no idea about concerning him, his life and his work. This section alone is worth the cost of the book, as it gives unique insight into the man who created the world of Gormenghast.

The pictures are clear, with many costume details. There are also pictures of Mervyn Peake and his family, as well as some of his artwork. Absolutley fascinating. If you enjoyed the BBC Adaptation, or merely enjoyed it's aesthetics, you will enjoy this.

A great many of those who have just finished viewing the Gormenghast miniseries will undergo serious withdrawal symptoms. This book, compiled by the producer of the miniseries, will provide another fix of this highly addictive delight. The large-format paperback presents a balanced mix of cast interviews, excerpts from Peake's novels, costume details, production and direction methods, and design philosophies. It is heavily illustrated in color. If you join me in believing Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("Steerpike") to be the most gorgeous and talented creature yet to appear on this planet, buy two copies of this book. You're going to need one to cut up and hang on your walls!

I'm a teacher of a small short-stories course, and it is harder than you'd think to find a collection of short stories that shows true variety. _The Art of the Tale_ is one of those rare ones--it is truly international (most that claim to be are actually feature nearly all-American or all-British writers) and varied in subject (many collections are devoted to a theme--which is fine, but not suitable for my purposes). On top of that, it is HUGE, with over 80 stories, yet lightweight enough to carry around easily, and the price easily beats any other comparable collection. (The last one we used had 1/3 the stories for nearly triple the price.)

And even better, this is not yet another collection of all those "standard" stories that seem to appear again and again in every collection. Halpern did include many great authors, but for the most part he sought out less-well-known stories by those authors, so I can share the joy of discovery experienced by my students.

I don't believe that I will ever uncover a more diverse, richly rewarding and profoundly influencing introduction to the higher planes of human endeavor than I have in this single book. The diversity of style from ultra modern to classical is extreme and deadly effective. Intellectual food for will be scarred for life with a painful awareness of the insanely limitless and tenuous boundaries which we think defines our inner psyche from our tangible world, and of the realms within human societies.To attempt to explore the works within this book is taking a major step in gaining an awareness that will only serve to further the cause of mankind, and serve as a weapon against those that would attempt to hold it back

In this world, so obsessed with thin is in, this book highlights the absuridty of our culture. The "Heaven" is in the idea of a pill that will make us thin. The "Hell" is in the reality of the side effects - from what society demands to what lenghts we will go for beauty. Great topic, well written and fast paced. It is a book for our times that clearly shows the price of beauty. Good job, Wambold. Write another one....

I was immediately drawn in. Throughout the book and its cleverly woven subplots, I was concerned for the characters' emotional, physical, and financial well-being. Simultaneously, my interest was piqued by the science behind the drug and its testing. Wambold delivers a good balance of technological substance, drama, and suspense.
When I reached 'the end,' I wondered what else could happen with the drug and the characters. (Sequel??) Such an innovative story line is in demand, given all the rage about staying slim and the dangerous herbal, pharmaceutical, even surgical shortcuts we'll take to attain that coveted goal.

Of all the current history books on the Asian American experience, Roger Daniels' book "Asian America" still stands out as the most scholarly, the best thought-out and the most clearly presented. While this is not to deny the achievements of Asian American historians such as Ron Takaki (whose "Strangers From a Different Shore", and "Iron Cages" remain classics), Daniels' book presents a more systematic account of the social and historical context for the Chinese and Japanese experience in the US. He has an undoubted talent for presenting historical data with rigor, sensitivity, and skill.

I recommend this volume to all my students who are doing papers on Chinese or Japanese American topics, but it is also useful for anyone who wants to understand the development of the particular version of US race ideology during the late 19th and early-mid 20th centuries.

Highly highly recommended

I Used This Book On History Project. It Was Great.

At the Hotel Larry is just hilarious. Larry is a polar bear who has drifted from the polar regions to New Jersey. Pinkwater's trademark humor is in full effect. A great picture book for ages 3-103 !

The narrator of this story is a girl who lives in a hotel with her father and mother. Larry, a polar bear, once saved her father's life, and as a reward, Larry wanted to live in a hotel with a swimming pool. So her father bought an old hotel, and Larry is the lifeguard. Every now and again, the girl disguises Larry in a very large coat, hat, and sunglasses, and they go to the Pancake Palace to eat blueberry pancakes. One day they go to the zoo, and I won't spoil the story by telling any more! The humor is wacky and sophisticated but will appeal to all ages.The style is simple and the book is fun to read because Larry is so clever and droll. I have read this book aloud countless of times to my 3-year-old. Larry has really captured the imagination of my son. Highly recommended for its humor and great illustrations.

This book is one that u can't put down, it puts you through a rollercoaster of emotions. I think the story I'm most drawn to is the story of julia and George, they are people who love eachother through it all!

whenever I see a new Count Down book my excitement rises. August, like the rest in the series, was one of those "I can't put it down this is sooo exciting I can't wait for the next enstallment" books. I love the way the charachters seem so real and how the plot always keeps me on edge and wanting more with it's twists and turns. It is a well written and truely addicting book/series.

This is one of the funniest books, I've ever read. It brings back memories of MANY of the weddings I have attended.

The authors certainly seem to have a lot of fun writing. Their second book is even more fun than the first. Both are must-haves for any book case.

A perfect little add-on to any wedding gift.