The Access books are always well written, concise, and packed with interesting trivia. My only complaint is that Hawaii hasn't been updated in a while (about 3-4 years) so most of the restaurants we came across weren't listed, which was disappointing. The tourist spots generally don't change, though, and the maps and other factual information is terrific. Whether you are a first time visitor to the islands or a seasoned traveler, you will find these books to be well organized, helpful, and packed with useful information.

I have many in the series of Access guides. I love the color coded key. Blue for Hotels, Green for shopping, Red for food, etc. The numbered maps make it easy to find your hotel and everything nearby! The Hawaii book was outstanding, as expected.

For the last 40 years I have been visiting the Hawaiian Islands, for the last 15 I have been using "Access Hawaii" as my guide. It gives you the tools to have a great day of adventure, sharing the not so common places of interest that some of us find exceptionally interesting. They also tell of all the typical "tourist traps" but give you the inside story on it. From Hotels to dining, excursions, basic island info and the "Best Of" sections, this book is like gold. I have read them all and have yet to discover a better guide to help you have a perfect vacation. The reviews they provide in the book are as accurate as I have ever seen and I have never been dissapointed when arriving at or eating at the locations they suggest. This is definately a "two thumbs up" way to explore the Hawaiian Islands!

It's an extremely aesthetic book, with beautiful photography and pertinent maps. I would have liked just a little more emphasis on what the buildings are used for, along with the exhaustive architectural notes.

A wonderful, well-written, and very interesting guide to the West Point Campus: its buildings and history. The photographs complement the writing wonderfully, making for an all-around great guidebook.

For anyone interested in West Point, or architecture in general, the book is a must. For those interested in a fascinating look at one of our nation's most important landmarks, pick up the book. You'll know more than when you started and you won't be disappointed.

As someone who loves and writes about the West Point landscape, I found this book to be most enjoyable. Miller takes a building-by-building approach to the Academy grounds, addressing architectural style and each building's history. The format is encyclopedic, so it's not something you'll necessarily read front-to-back, but you can pick it up and flip to almost any page and learn something. He even talks about the residential housing and less "important" buildings. The text is supplemented by mostly modern photos, including many close-ups of building details. I like it.
Jon Malinowski, co-author, "The Spirit of West Point: Celebrating 200 Years"

This inordinately ambitious, often overreaching & self-contradictory, but nonetheless thought-provoking book takes as it's central thesis the following: "The dominant themes of the Frontier Myth are those that center on the conception of American history as a heroic-scale Indian war, pitting race against race; and the central concern of the mythmakers is with the problem of reaching the 'end of the Frontier'. Both of these themes are brought together in the "Last Stand" legend, which is the central fable of the industrial or 'revised' Myth of the Frontier." Slotkin proceeds to trace the impact and the changing understanding of the Frontier Myth from King Phillip's War to 1890, when Frederick Jackson Turner declared the Frontier closed. He maintains that over this period of time the hero of the myth evolved from an agrarian/frontiersman/hunter to a soldier-aristocrat, because that was what industrial capitalism required.

Of course, this thesis begs several questions: Does Custer as culmination of the myth of the industrial captain make any sense? He was, after all, suckered and slaughtered by a pack of illiterate barbarians, are we to believe that the overlords of Capitalism wanted to be seen as incompetent fops? Also, why does Sitting Bull emerge as an American legend too? Shouldn't we expect him to be remembered as some kind of monster, rather than as a noble savage?

The reason that Slotkin can not, or does not, answer these questions, is because his book is a work of ideology as much as of history. He wanted to vilify Capitalism and 19th century robber barons and so, he finds primary sources to support his view. But does the fact that a few novels or newspapers treated the Last stand in the manner that he hoped they had actually prove anything? How do we know what kind of influence these contemporary writings had & did they really outweigh the opposing presentations in other periodicals and novels? And what explains the image that comes down to us in films like She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, where Custer is portrayed as a blindly obstinate fanatic, largely responsible for his own death? Had Capitalism lost the need for it's own myths? It hardly seems likely.

In the end, Slotkin's book should be read for the panoramic sweep it offers of Frontier history and for the provocative, albeit inaccurate, theories that it offers up. His arguments are well worth wrestling with & refuting.

GRADE: B-

Richard Slotkin was educated in the New York City public schools and has a Ph.D.in American Civilization from Brown University (1967).

The essence of Slotkins' theory is that myths, stories drawn from history, are preserved in their narrative and become part of the language, as a deeply encoded set of metaphors that contain all of the lessons we have learned from our history, and all of the essential elements of our world view.

Slotkin's intention is to trace the historical development of a single major American myth, "Custer's Last Stand", and offer a critical interpretation of its meaning. The reader will judge the significance of this single myth, not simply by noting its recurrence and persistence, but by the waxing and waning of its hold on the marketplace in relation to other genres expressive of other myths. The focus of his study is myth as a set of narrative formulas that acquire, through specific historical action, a significant ideological change. To explain,a world defined by myth produces discontent. Ideology, however offsets this by generating a new narrative, or myth, that will account for and give value to reality. This creates the basis for a new cultural consensus or world view.

A good illustration of Slotkin's thesis is his chapter on regeneration through violence in the history of the Indian War 1675-1820. He focuses on the common elements of the literary mythology of Indian dispossession and the violent wars of conquest. The colonists acquired title to lands through this conquest and engaged in expansion. This is the system of belief that veiled the processes of economic development as a model for the rationalization of class subordination at home and imperialism abroad. This course reflects the social reality that the myth ideology of the Frontier was developed to conceal the processes of economic development.

You may never read a history book or enjoy an American historical novel again without testing Slotkin's "myth theory" for yourself. I was fascinated by the inevitable truth of Slotkin's theory, placed my "critical view-finders" aside, to simply enjoy my reading discoveries. I recommend this book as an enlightened examination of American perceptions, beliefs, stereotypes, and political policies.

The professional editorials above do a fairly good job in summarizing the gist of this monumental work. What I want to draw attention towards is the absolute yeoman work Slotkin did in researching this the middle act of his trilogy. For example, pouring through miles of newspapers he makes startling observations of how editors placed their stories about Indian uprisings and unrest in the factories from non Anglo-Saxon workers in psychological and proximal juxtaposition in the many newspapers of the day. A mythos was created that was passed on to the subsequent generations of Americans. This mythos (which, I feel, as cultural learned behavior partly fuels all modern racism)is evidently examined further in the third book of the series, "Gunfighter Nation." I will be reading this next work soon. The myth and role of the "culture hero" such as Custer is also very interesting and could well serve as a case study for the psychological and anthropological needs constructs that people have for heroes as examined by Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize winning book "The Denial of Death." The book is sometimes hard going but is well worth it. It might also be very profitable to read Slotkins's first book of this trilogy, "Regeneration Through Violence" which covers the colonial period.

Homer Croy wrote this informal biography of the James boys of Missouri, first published in 1949. The author uses homespun sources for many of the stories and anecdotes of Jesse and Frank, the Younger brothers, and their nefarious associates. Mr. Croy lived near Jesse's base in northwestern Missouri, hence the title. Croy was born the year after Jesse died, and considered himself almost a contemporary. He traveled to various towns and farms interviewing folks who remembered the Widow James and her famous sons. The result is a casual history, and reminds one of sitting on a front porch in small town Missouri while the old people spin tales. Lest one doubt the credibility of the sources, Mr. Croy takes care through newspaper archives and other, more objective sources to verify the facts. He also briefly examines the influence of Frank and Jesse on dime novels, art, and movies. Croy is forthright in his biases, but also keeps his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. Out in Missouri, folks truly admired Jesse and Frank, especially their low opinion of banks and railroads. It's doubtful that Jesse James was really an Old West Robin Hood, but the book never seriously suggests that as a fact. We can believe that Jesse's killer, Bob Ford, was a coward, and that Pinkerton men were considered polecats. Decent folks just didn't stand for that type of behavior. The book won't give the reader any particular insight, beyond the obvious, of the James boys and their motivations. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining blend of fact and folklore. Good light reading for students of Western history. ;-)

I first read this book in grade school, UMPTEEN years ago, when , mostly to annoy my Mom, I set about reading every book I could find on western outlaws. After my "Billy the Kid" era, I moved on to Jesse James. First I read the "scholarly" books with the ooky pictures of dead outlaws and Jesse's scary one-armed mother (her hand was blown off by a bomb lobbed through the family door by the Pinkertons.) Then I found Homer Croy, who tells roughly the same stories, but with a wonderfully humorous and personal writing style. Stylistic, yes, and probably more legend than truth. But of all the books, this is my very favorite. I was so happy to learn it was back in print. I assume that Mr. Croy has passed on, but he hasn't, I'd travel to wherever he is to buy him lunch. Perhaps not a "great" book in the sense of, say, WAR & PEACE, but a great book nonetheless.

A well written book by a fellow NW Missourian, Mr. Croy interviewed many eyewitness's to the actual James gang robberies. It is easy and fun to read. A must have book.

All of Audobon's books are great because they will fit in a pocket or day-pack. Nicely organized and includes awesome full color pictures that really help in the identification. The information on the flowers is very extensive. A must for anyone who likes flowers and wants to know what kind they have.

"What kind of wildflower is this, Dad?"

"I don't know?"

"Is it poisonous?"

"I don't know."

"It's sure pretty."

"Yes, it is pretty."

The above was always my reply to my children's questions about the wildflowers we saw whenever we took our family journeys into the Great Basin Desert, or high into the Pahvant Mountains. I got tired of saying, "I don't know." Well, because of the "National Audubon Society's Field Guide to Wildflowers" (Wester Edition) I know now, to tell my children to stay away from the (poisonous) Water Hemlock which I always thought previously was wild carrots. Now I can answer their question and impress them with my knowledge at the same time.

I would like to suggest this field guide to any of you family outdoor enthusiasts, especially fathers, so you don't get caught in the I don't know syndrome. The same applies for all the birds you see on your excursions--"What kind of bird is that, Dad?"--sound familiar? Well don't fret, you can click on my name, in this review, and find a field guide to Birds. Then you'll be doubly prepared.

Good luck,

from a father like you.

I take this (as well as the Peterson Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers) with me on all my wildflower hunting trips. The extensive color photos are extremely helpful for identifying wildflowers. Flowers are organized by color. This has by far more real flower pictures than the Peterson Field Guide.

....for my doctoral research, which involves the history of California. The editors made a conscious choice to show this history in less Eurocentric form; Native Californian voices and perspectives are taken seriously, and there is good ethnographic and naturalistic information to be had.

While I'm not an expert in this area, I do question whether the persistent use of terms like "aristocracy," "hierarchy," "wealth," "headman," and "chief" are appropriate when discussing Native Californians. My impression is that our Western and European prejudices are still at work here.

This book looks at pre-gold rush California from various angles. Essays on native California history, along with indigenous actions during early occupation years are major parts of this text. The history of "Californio" women and indigenous sexuality are also included. Californio and Anglo interactions between 1820 and 1850 cover new ground.

At times the work appears a bit "heady" because the advanced vocabulary. However, this is a "must read" for any California scholar.

This book looks at pre-gold rush California from varorious angles. Essays on native California history, along with indigenous actions during early occupation years are major parts of this text. The history of "Californio" women and indigenous sexuality are also included. Californio and Anglo interactions between 1820 and 1850 cover new ground.

At times the work appears a bit "heady" because the advanced vocabulary. However, this is a "must read" for any California scholar.

After reading the synopsis of this book, I got excited. I usually love tales of alternate history and this one had potential. I was disapointed to find that it's only an average read. The Ripper, evil as he is, is portrayed as no more than an English fop. The hero, Trevor, gives new meaning to the word fickle as he tromps from one adventure to another. The whole story seems disjointed. I found myself scanning a lot. Laymon seems obsessed with adolescence and the sexual obsessions thereof. I haven't read a book of his where some teenagers glands weren't percolating with lust. I would only recommend this book to die-hard Laymon or Jack the Ripper enthusiasts.

Trevor Bentley appears at first to be a normal 15 year old boy, but there is a heroic side to him that becomes evident through out this book.
one rainy night he accidentally stumbles upon the infamous Jack the Ripper, and deciding that this may be the only chance any one gets to put a stop to his murderous rampage, he sets out to stop him, Unfortunately young Trev finds him self way out of his depth as he gets himself and a family held hostage by the Ripper on a boat set sail for The new world, America, Trevor manages to escape from the grasp of this legendary murderer, but not before they both find them selves in America.
This story is truly a great adventure, Starting in late 19th century London, to the new word America and then climaxes in the wild west, 3 very unique cultures that all existed at that time, add to this a story of love, friendship and self discovery and of coarse gruesome death in the way only Laymon can tell, and you have what is one of the greatest stories told

It's been over a year since Richard Laymon's passing and I just remembered what a great writer he was-- 'is' actually, he'll live on through his books!! I decided to pay my long overdue respects in the form of a review.

Let there be no doubt about it 'Savage' is Laymon at his peak!!
I read somewhere that Laymon wrote this book after his editor suggested he tried something different from his usual slasher/ splatterpunk fare. It's breathtaking to read this book and come to the conclusion he's done just that, but also has incorperated almost all of the usual elements that have made him such a winner (in my opinion anyway).

'Savage' is about Jack the Ripper, but it's not like you expect a serialkiller-novel to be. It's a fictional retelling and it also adds so much to the Ripper legend. It's told from the first person point of view and just the mix of Victorian English with Mark Twain-like American slang is worth the price of purchase alone. I won't spoil the plot, I'll just say the book is epic in scope and it heads for one of the most satisfing finales I have ever read. The way the Ripper ends up in the Old West, it's a classic!!

This is for all you knuckleheads out there who still suck their Stephen King books and worshipp their worn off copies of 'Lord of the Rings'. This is so good, maybe they'll call THIS literature in about a 100 years time!

When reading this book cover to cover, I found it lacked a climax and character development. It was also particularly lacking in plot.

As a reference, this is a great book. Just don't try reading it cover to cover like me. It's best used to just thumb through, or to look up a particular area of travel.

I recently had the opportunity to test and verify some of the information in this book by embarking on one of the routes. I found the mix of information and history informative.

The book is durable and convenient in size to take along with you. And, seems a good value for the price. I plan on keeping this book on hand as a good reference for when I next take a road trip in Northern California.

I used this book for a drive from the Bay Area up to Sacramento. We would have taken I-80 if we'd not read about CA 160 through the California Delta. The book also came in handy for a day trip down California Highway 49, with very specific instructions about where to turn and what to see. It would be nice to have color photos of each sight (Dorling Kindersley style) but otherwise this is a great companion.

From lesser-known pocket beaches and family-owned wineries to sporting adventurers and English country pubs in out of the way places, Richard Harris & Ray Riegert's AAA Hidden Highways Northern California outlines both the human and natural wonders to be found off the beaten path in California. Packed with maps and destination-oriented travel advice, this takes a well-known region and offers new twists and turns.

The title is somewhat misleading. This is a guide book, a tour of four Mexican states that focuses almost exclusively on eclisiastical buildings. Useful if you are interested in architecture and are touring in Michoacan, Jalisco, Guanajuatao, and Quertaro. Line drawings are nice, obviously drawn off of photos.

The book is large in format (so a bit awkward to travel with) and the design of the book is mediocre -- headline fonts are quite unattractive.

I would only recommend this book to those with a deep interest in religious architecture and architectural decoration in Mexico.

As a frequent visitor to many of the towns and cities covered in this guide, I thought that I knew a good deal about their history. Not so.

This is Richard Perry's fourth book in a series of illustrated regional guidebooks from the Espadaña Press capturing the unique quality of Mexico's colonial architecture. In 'Blue Lakes' we accompany the author on a winding journey across a broad swathe of west central Mexico that includes the states of Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Querétaro.

We are first introduced to some of the key historical figures of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, such as Bishop Vasco de Quiroga and a small group of architects whose names become more familiar as we encounter their work through 272 pages.

Special attention is given to the major colonial centres such as Pátzcuaro, Morelia, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Querétaro, and San Miguel de Allende, with observations that will enrich any walking tour. The surrounding landscape is also dotted with colonial gems, many of them given little distinction or ignored completely in many guides. Here, less well-known towns ("off the beaten track") are equally well accounted for, and there is a welcome chapter on the missions of the Sierra Gorda in the state of Querétaro. The scope of this large format paperback is comprehensive, and the text is accessible, engaging and peppered with fascinating and sometimes surprising details. But what makes this guide special are the author's own precise line drawings that compliment the absorbing text - more than 200 of them in all. Thus not only does Richard Perry deliver us a fine piece of travel writing but his architectural drawings make their subjects far more vivid than the photos in most conventional guidebooks - in short he is the perfect guide and the book, an excellent companion to any journey to Mexico's colonial heartland.

As well as being ideal for those intending to spend a week or two in the region on a cultural holiday, if you are more knowledgeable about the colonial treasures of central Mexico, then this also becomes an indispensable reference book. I myself was very grateful for the two-page glossary at the back.

On my visits to Mexico I'm inclined to head straight for the nearest market to get my senses bombarded with colour and exotic aromas - or perhaps I might get diverted by a craft shop. Reading this guide, I've made myself a promise: to willingly retrace my steps; where before I skipped passed a church, 'looking but not seeing' (or being able to interpret) a splendid carved facade or nipped inside but missed a mural or ornate altar, in future I will pay more attention, ponder where before I would have barely paused, and generally be more open and receptive to this important chapter in Mexico's rich history.

Thank you Richard Perry. Highly recommended.

Blue Lakes and Silver Cities is an engagingly-written, large-format account of the most outstanding colonial architecture and treasures in Western Mexico, illustrated with over 200 original line drawings by the author. This is Richard Perry's fourth book in a series capturing the unique quality of Mexico's colonial architecture and the best yet! I know personally most of the places Perry describes and cannot believe that anyone is likely to improve substantially on his painstaking research and attention to detail in a very long time. There is virtually nothing else in English on this topic. A wonderful achievement and a fascinating read.

West provides a very readable, unfussy biography, presenting a vivid and detailed portrait of Defoe's life and times. He falls short with his "analysis" of the novels, which amounts to little more than plot summary, but his insight into Defoe's character--as a man of high moral principle who occasionally succumbed to expediency--is priceless.

With the tools of a storyteller, Richard West takes his readers on a journey to the world of the enigmatic Daniel Defoe and the political machinations of Britain at the dawn of the 18th century. To any reader,even to one who has a limited understanding of British history, West paves a path among the intrigue of the Whigs and Tories, and has his reader follow the footsteps of Defoe into the Tower of London, the roads of Great Britain, and the gardens of rulers. With the ability to explain Defoe's mysterious background, West guides the reader toward an understanding of a man who has remained elusive for centuries. West offers the reader an explanation for the many masks that Defoe wore as writer, invester, spy and traveler. With the skill of a story-teller, West opens a world of historic fact even to the most reluctant non-fiction reader.

In Daniel Defoe: The Life And Strange, Surprising Adventures, biographer Richard West tells the story of Daniel Defoe, a maverick, a Puritan, and a dissenter without a constituency. Defoe was also a bankrupt who rubbed elbows with a king, a hack who never failed to pursue the truth. And the writer who produced such literary classics as Moll Flanders, Roxana, A Journal of the Plague Year, and Robinson Crusoe. Defoe's life was every bit as dramatic and unexpected as the protagonists of his famous novels. West has wonderfully and scrupulously recreated the remarkable personality and the colorful times that shaped and were shaped by this noted, fascinating, unique and historic literary figure.