Anyone interested in the White Mountains of New Hampshire will be fascinated by this compelling account of Joe Dodge, the real Old Man of the mountains. Putnam weaves humor and tragedy with his own personal knowledge of the man who was perhaps most responsible for the modern perception of the Northern Peaks. AMC Hutmaster, pioneer SAR organizer, co-founder of the Mount Washington Observatory, organizer of the legendary Inferno races from the summit of Washington to Pinkham Notch, it's all told in this wonderful book.

I've only had..and enjoyed this book for over 10 years, and since I'm not out paddling, thought it was time to write the first review for it.

William Nealy shares his politically incorrect and very humorous, sociocultural paddling wit and commentary in comic sketch form. It includes tips on "how to pick up a river person", River Accessories from S&M river Supplies (featuring Wanda the inflatable boat b**ch), an examination for a whitewater doctorate from S&M University of Whitewater Sciences, and many other outrageous and creative little paddling comic strip sketches and tales.

"Kayaks to Hell" is a satirical perspective on the whitewater paddling psyche and a "must have" for all dry-bags.

Over the past two decades, Richard White has been one of the truly outstanding historians of the American West, Native America, and the environment. This, his first book, is not nearly as sweeping in scope as his later works, but is a masterful look at the environmental history of a small county in Western Washington that will interest any student of American history. White examines the interaction of humans and the environment in Island County, Washington, to demonstrate how humans have continuously shaped the land over thousands of years, and how these changes have been both conscious and accidental. The opening chapters concern Indian land use in the county, and conclude that native people largely determined the region's landscape by encouraging certain crops through burning of prairies and forests. While this insight is fairly obvious to most environmental historians now, it is a direct contradiction of the European opinion that Indians did not alter the land. White settlers also altered the landscape of Island County by introducing market agriculture and logging. These activities had drastic consequences, some intentional, such as the introduction of European crops, and some unintentional, like massive soil erosion and the accidental spread of the Canadian thistle, a weed that temporarily threatened farmers in the nineteenth century. The final chapters of the book concern twentieth century attempts to encourage settlement of Appalachian farmers on logged-off land (a fascinating New Deal effort that was a complete failure), and the attempt to change the island landscape for the benefit of tourists. This is a fascinating transformation that continues to this day. Overall, this is a very well-written classic of environmental history. The in-depth descriptions of ecological principles may scare off a novice reader, but the history embedded in the ecology is fascinating, and well worth the effort.

For anyone interested in this facinating subject...this book is the "bible!" Thank you Betty Monkman for updating this history and for letting "fans of the White House" like me - be able to learn so much! I truly dream of someday having dinner off some of this china!

This work is essential reading for both substance-abuse treatment professionals and all others who have an interest in addictions. The ability to understand the addict, recovering or not, is simplified in White's work. White divides the addict into three easy-to-understand groups (Acultural, Bicultural and culturally enmeshed), providing an important informational tool for assessment and treatment planning. Just as the treatment professional should understand the ethnic and religious culture of the patient, so too should he understand the culture of addiction and recovery within which the substance abuser "resides." Knowing that there is a "cultural" difference between inner-city heroin addicts and codeine dependent nurses, for example, it follows that treatment for each group should also be different. What makes White's work particularly important is the scientific foundation from which it was researched and written. It is an anthropological work in lay-person's language.

This story could only happen to a dedicated lover of all creatures. A biology teacher with a passion for his work comes across a baby Prairy Dog. The mother was dead, so he takes it home and gives it the care necessary to keep it alive. When the baby was strong enough he took it to school and shared the experiences with his students. This tale is so fascinating that I was happy that it was a short story, because I couldnt put it down until I read the entire story. What a life this Prairie Dog led. Great story I recommend it to everyone, regardless of their age.

Williams has that all-too-rare ability to shed her own shoes and don the footwear of the Dine as she guides us on her journey through Navajoland. We learn about Navajo mythology and ritual. We see how the people respond to their environment, creating themselves in the process.

One of my favorite passages deals with a young woman's coming-of-age ceremony, Kinaalda. A young woman's ability to give life is celebrated through a ceremony that can last up to five days. Blessings are heaped upon her, her jewelry is washed along with her hair while the community sings "Songs of Dawn" and prepares a special cake. How different from American culture. We do not have a cultural celebration, acknowledging the life-giving potential of young women. Adolescent girls may get a clinical explanation of mesntruation during gym class at school. No party here! And more often than not, a girl feels this is something that must remain hidden from the community. If she's lucky, she has a best friend in whom she can confide. Navajo people celebrate the life-giving potential of a young woman. What an empowering message this must send to Navajo girls as they celebrate this ritual communally.

Pieces of White Shell is full of earth wisdom. Landscape--especially the mountains. They come alive through the story of their origins. Yucca. So many different uses for this desert plant. Soap, sandals, baskets, games, food. Stories of animals. Coyote--that border figure on the edge of the profane and sacred. Deer--Deer Gods giving instruction on how they should be hunted and used.

Pieces of White Shell is a book that I savor again and again. And it always satisfies.

In Pilgrim Pathways: Essays In Baptist History In Honour Of B. R. White, William H. Brackney (principal of the Divinity College and professor of Historical Theology, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), Paul S. Fiddes (principal of Regent's Park College and a member of the Faculty of Theology at University of Oxford), and John H. Y. Briggs (principal of Westhill College of Higher Education in Selly Oak, Birmingham) collaborate to assemble fifteen contributors whose outstanding essays in Baptist history comprise an enduring memorial to Barrington Raymond White, an ordained Baptist Minister in the Baptist Union of Great Britain and tutor in Ecclesiastical History at Regent's Park College, and elected Senior Research Fellow in Ecclesiastical History in the College, Pastor in the college community, and dedicated to enriching the training for students in the Christian ministry. Pilgrim Pathways is highly recommended, informative, rewarding reading for students of Christian studies in general, and Baptist history in particular.

It gives a great deal of background information on public life during the times of the Bible. It gets into somewhat on how what gave Moses symbolizes what a Christian should do in his/ her life.

As a horse lover, I read this book long ago and am re-reading it again now. This is a gem of a book, well told and illustrated by the adventurer himself. Holt, aged 67, befriended this extraordinary ex-cart horse, and together they rode and camped across Europe and back to England. He tells of their many challenging adventures and of their inspiring devotion to each other.
I can only fantasize doing what he did, knowing how much more mechanized our world is today than in the 60's. Holt simply saddled up his horse with a few provisions and a sketch book and started out alone. In our hitech life, this is a great book to read, especially if one appreciates England and Europe.
My only objection is the new cover on the book, which has nothing to do with the story. The original version has Holt's drawing of himself and Trigger on the cover. Hopefully they kept the many photographs in the new edition. I'm just grateful the book is still available.