California Books

This is a well written and well illustrated guide for someone new to visiting Joshua Tree National Park. The dozen or so routes we did in this book were all challenging and enjoyable. There are thousands of routes in the Park, but this is a swell introduction for the traditional climber. At this price I don't see why any climber visiting the park wouldn't have a copy. The photographs and maps are the best I have seen in any book.

First of all, this book is written by some really nice people. This book is void of the elitism that usally comes with a guide book to an area like this. My wife and I have been to J-tree many times but this was our first year with this book. It truely enhanced our time there. The full color pictures are great, and they took all the pictures from such logical places that if you are following a road or trail and find yourself needing direction, you look up and see exactly what is in the picture for the climb you are looking for. My wife and I found ourself laughing on one climb when we were looking off in the distance for a rock formation and spotted the tree 6' in front of us that was also about 6' in front of the camera lense in the picture! And there are climbs that real people can do! I notice in other guide books the only highly rated climbs are 5.12 and up! Get this book, you won't be dissapointed. I only wish I could meet the authers and tell them of my appreciation.

Sometimes, as the saying goes, less is more. This book is a classic example of producing a user friendly rock climbing guide to one of the premier cragging areas, by limiting the scope to climbs that most people who go to Joshua Tree actually enjoy. As the title stipulates there are no 5.12 sphincter squeesers here, just interesting traditional climbs (no bolts for the sport freaks).

Each climb is photographed in color with a graphic overlay clearly showing the route. Most of these routes are short, single pitch climbs that encompass a wide variety of problems with the emphasis on classic crack climbs. Approach info and the maximum protection requirement is noted along with a very abreviated strategy for the climb. Information on lodging and camping along with dining options are covered pretty well, though the surrounding areas offer a lot more variety than the book indicates.

If you're a beginner/intermediate climber and aspire to climb in JT, this is the guide to get.

This book is the best non comprehensive climbing guide book I have ever seen. The highlights are:

- Full color photos of the routes
- Both approach photos as well as close up route photos, making it easy to find the rock and specific route
- Full park map with relative camping and route locations listed
- Very good beta on each and every route (includes sun/shade, rack suggestions, etc), usually about a page per route not including another page for photos.

So basically if you're interested in the 5.5 to 5.9 trad routes in Joshua Tree you'll love this book, simple as that.

Wow! Great book, color detailed photos of routes, sun/shade orientation for all routes & basically all the info that one needs to have a memorable trip in Joshua Tree. Also great to have a book that has a focus on climbs under 5.10. All in all this is the most informative climbing book I have ever purchased. Would have been happy paying twice the price I paid for it.

Milford-Haven is my new favorite place, and it's filled with my new best friends!

As assistant director of the Mathews Memorial Library, I have made sure the Milford-Haven novels have been entered into our collection and they are now circulating. Patrons have enjoyed reading this series and we look forward to Mara Purl's next installment!

I read Mara Purl's What The Heart Knows at one sitting, and there appears to be no end to her talent. Her verbal imagery is very effective, and she draws her readers into the story easily. Good work!

I loved Mara Purl's "What The Heart Knows"! It was engrossing and terrific! How long do we have to wait for book two?

I have just read "What The Heart Knows" with great enjoyment. All Mara Purl's characters are vivid and each one is memorable. Although there are a lot of them, there's no confusing them. She has excellent control of each one and scatters her hints and clues which I look forward to having explained/ expanded upon as the series continues. This writer is well on her way to giving Danielle Steel a run for her money!

'Above Los Angeles', another in Robert Cameron's birds eye views of major cities is, to me, surprisingly superior to his similar volume on his hometown of San Francisco. Since I much prefer SF to LA, I expected LA to be far less photogenic, but it comes of rather well overall. This may be due to the fact that so many of the LA landscapes familiar to us from TV mentions, but unseen for most of us, leaves us facinated to finally see, for example, Venice Beach close-up or the Hollywood Bowl, or Century City.

This is still not quite as good as the similar volume for Chicago ore even less good than the volume on London, or even as good as a competitor's work on Boston, but it is good, nonetheless, if only because it confirms my notion that LA is a sprawl with no center. The 'downtown' pic looks like a non-descript snap of outer Queens and not similar to Manhatten's financial district or midtown, to which it is comparable in function. Even the shorelines look more interesting than the similar scenes from the SF book.

An excellent souvenoir!

This book is a must have for all those who love L.A. natural and urban landscapes, but can't be there all the time to enjoy that. As the city has gigantic proportions, of course that not everything can be covered in the book, but at least what I consider to be the most attractive spots in the area is there. The paper is high-quality and the photographs are crystal-clear and well produced. Worth the money.

I just love these books by Cameron, he is just the most amazing talent. This book really captures L.A. and this is a city that begs to be photographed from the air because of all the wonderful buildings hidden behind huge fences and lush landscape. This is without question one of his best books, it really is a joy to look through. I have the older edition, but have seen the newer book and it only adds a few new pictures of buildings built since the book was first published in the early 90's; such as the Getty. I was expecting more new pictures, since the publisher makes big deal about it being revised, I even thought I might buy it if it was that different, but there are like five new pictures out of about 160 original and like I said before they where not even taken by Cameron. These pictures are well done, but are not by Cameron himself, he is alas over 90 and retired. Either printing is a five star book I assure you. I highly recommend all of his books they are all wonderful in their own way, but this truly is one of his best works.

Los Angeles is a wonderful city so full of interesting things. This book has it all. All the areas are greatly photographed and look clear. LA's smog problem seems to be subsiding as the photos show clear days (most of them) and LA is only getting better. Every part of the city is showned. If you like photos from the air, you'll like this book. Also, the Library tower is shown (this is the first building to get blown up in the movie "Independence Day") in several photos. The older printings of this book didn't have them in it. I highly recommend this book.

Robert Cameron presents a place and its' character in this "above" book (as well as in the other ones). Some people fly over the Los Angeles area, gagging and shaking their heads. Mammoth highways, concrete, smog, track housing, and monster burbs. These qualities do exist. But Cameron's photos also allow you to see the different personalities and idiosyncrasies of the many communities that make up what we call Los Angeles, from the Southbay beaches to the hills. (Where LA begins and ends we're not always sure). The area of Los Angeles (like other places) is different from other major metropolitan American areas for a variety of reasons. For one, most of the topography is flat, and it's a coastal desert paved with transplants with ambition and liking for the sun. These pictures allow the City of Angels to be more intriguing and have more of its' personality exude itself, as the reader gets a closer look at it through these pictures.

Mental pictures.

Yes, there are those who state Los Angeles County is an area with few landmarks. First you've got have a good disposition to this place, and second you've got to get close. Cameron's shots provide plenty of pockets of beauty and character, and plenty of quintessential "LA" landmarks. One must close enough to observe and experience them. "Above Los Angeles" lets us. Photos that highlight the interesting and beautiful icons of this city's architecture and natural character.

Another book for LA-philes and those interested in its' history and growth is: "LA Lost & Found: An Architectural History of Los Angeles (California Architecture and Architects, No 21)." by Sam Hall Kaplan, and Julius Shulman (Photographer).

California Boomer has layers of meaning, some simple and others bold, and brave. The author gives us so many life lessons, insights, and details, many times overlooked by individuals but ever so important. If you get past the sweet and touching first few stories you'll be pulled into an ever more complex set of people, and at times, almost surreal situations. This book is never dull and will make you think about your own life. I'll be looking for more works by Don Noyes-More. Totally enjoyed this read.

I've waited to write a review until I fully digested what I have read. Boomer is unlike any other biography or time based book I've read before. It is a deeply honest book that demands and commands attention from the reader. There is no place to hide after reading this book, if indeed that is your reaction to raw truth! Boomer hits on many life themes and topics in ways that to me were unexpected. The message at the end is clear and concise yet with an edge of joy mixed with pathos. The second time I read the book I read it backwards, somehow that made the book come doubly alive. If you're into reality reading Boomer will be a great experience.

Sometimes, just sometimes something very good comes in a small package. This 162 page book is just one of those sometimes. "Boomer" is sometimes sweet, sometimes stark and disturbing; a panorama of Boomer California; human vistas and depths.Trust me you'll not read anything near this saga of human emotion, of life at its rawest anywhere! I was deeply drawn into this personal journey and found myself wanting answers to many questions at the end of the book. This is Americana at its personal best. The author's brave and good spirit is an example for us all. "Boomer" will last in your thoughts, it has in mine.

As a media person I found "Boomer" an exceptional work. The book offers a tour de force of the California Boomer years with deeply etched personalities, emotional environments, and political-social life. This book is personal and yet cuts through many topics and insights. Any one story stands on its own, but all the stories together provide exceptional reading. Being in Hollywood media I was interested in the stories about Hollywood personalities, some mentioned by name others renamed (but I knew who the author was writing about). Yet the entire work has given me great pause, reflection and a thankfulness for the author's message. Boomer is a good read.

Totally enjoyed Boomer. It is hard to define a book with so many important parts, so many insights. You can't but be touched by this author's journey through life. Boomer is a collection of stories about the author and the many people of his life. This book is striking in both its softness and then hard hitting, gut wrenching experiences. The book at times seems almost odd for its inclusiveness and acceptance of at times seemingly different insights and life positions. But it all comes together and we are left with a profound message of Life, Love, and Hope. This is more than a California story, it is a story of the human condition; good, bad and inspiring. I believe that Mr.Noyes-More has written a book for us all. Boomer is a book of courage and honesty well worth the time and money.

A beautifully written and edited book that is a must have for the avid gardener. Possibly the 'Bible' of California native plants. I keep it close by for reference or when heading out to do my buying.

I bought this book several weeks ago and am very happy with it! Lots of helpful and useful information...and great photos too. This book is definitely a great resource if you are interested in landscaping with California native plants.

As I've finally come to terms with the fact that an English garden just won't flourish in Los Angeles, this book has replaced my sadness with optimism. I don't know a lot about plants, and I've found this book an invaluable resource as I set about my plans to completely revamp my garden.

Native California plants have their own way of showing natutual beauty. This book catches the spirit of these plants. Would like to see more closeup pictures so that I can learn to identify them.

This is one of two must have books if you are interested in gardening with native California plants. This book is definitely the 'guidebook' half of that collection (the other being Designing California Native Gardens). It does an excellent job of getting you acquainted with all the different plants you may be wanting to bring into your garden, and in giving you actual photographs of the plants! One giant peeve of mine in gardening books and guidebooks is the use of hand done illustrations- in other contexts they are charming but you really can't get a feel for a plant unless you are looking at its' actual picture. It just gives you a much better feeling for the plant- the texture of it's leaves, the weediness of its' growth habit, that kind of thing. This is a book you will find yourself using as a reference again and again. Five stars are given enthusiastically.

I have several cookbooks, but this is by far my favorite. I have never used a cookbook as often as I do this book, and I have consistently had great results. So far my husband and I have tried about 20 things out of this book, and they have all been delicious--cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.

The best part about this book is the simplicity. Most of the recipes in this book don't have a ton of ingredients, and the ingredients it calls for are usually things I have on hand, or I just need to get a few easy (and inexpensive)items. That is my main problem with other cookbooks that I own: they are beautiful to look at and the food is indeed delicious, but many of the ingredients are things I would never have on hand and I end up spending a lot of money just to get everything I need.

This cookbook has consistently produced delicious results with very little effort. The ingredients are remarkably simple in some of the dishes and it just makes cooking out of this book a really fun experience. I love the Southern California theme too. I am from San Diego and these recipes really do capture the casual yet elegant style of America's Finest City.

I have set a goal for myself that I am going to try every recipe in this book. It may take a little time, but I am looking forward to trying everything--and as I said before, I've never wanted to do that with any other cookbook. My other cookbooks look really pretty on my shelf but don't get nearly as much use as this one, because this one is not intimidating and doesn't require a huge shopping list to prepare the food.

I highly recommend this book. I'm getting one for my mom for Christmas too.

I got this book as a gift for my in-laws and my parents and they LOVE IT. The recepies are easy, yet sophisticated and the instructions are so simple even those handicapped in the kitchen are able to make all of the recepies. Easy to follow recipes, vivid pictures, and amazing food. A great buy!!

This is a fabulous cookbook. Everything I have made has been highly complimented by all who taste. I love the drink recipes, the Ultimate Sangria is to die for! The great introductions to each meal are a great read as well. The best part about the purchase is you know that your money is not only going to help you make good food, but to help Junior League of San Diego. This cook book is a worthy purchase!

Please buy this wonderful cookbook from the Junior League of San Diego. You only pay $[...] plus tax & shipping and the proceeds will directly benefit the community projects run by the Junior League.

By far this is my favorite cookbook to own and give as a gift for bridal showers, birthdays, or the holidays. I love that it includes recipes for cocktails. :-) I've given this as a gift to women AND men and have been warmly thanked by all. It even earned the approval of my boyfriend's sister, who has a Master's degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins. She is a tough critic when it comes to food and was impressed by the variety in California Sol Food and the light, healthy dishes. Buy your own copy (or 2) today!

California Sol Food is my favorite cookbook with easy to follow recipes, beautiful photos, delicious results!!! I have a huge collection of cookbooks but I have found this book to be perfect for casual but elegant entertaining, San Diego style.

I bought this book after I saw some of Don Normark's pictures in a local gallery. I was impressed with his work that I had to have the book. After reading the book and trying to see the pictures as he did, I realized that this was more that just a photo book. This was history and how these people lived. This could have been written in 2008, the same problems and the same actions by the government that was felt then is still seems to be happening now. I have read other books written about the city of Los Angeles during the years before and this book helps me understand the people who lived there better.

I became aware of Chavez Ravine when I purchased a CD of music by Ry Cooder about the subject. Until that time I would have been unlikely to come across information about this amazing part of LA because I live in New Zealand and we are on the other side of the world - downunder you might say!

However, I have now been to Los Angeles a couple of times, in transit, and so feel as if I have a partial idea of the scale of this city and its surrounds.

I was therefore intrigued to see someone with a copy of this book and promptly looked for it on Amazon's website.

I now have even more insights into this community and it only further amazes me that the land that was home to so many immigrant families could just be taken out from under them - something I feel is quite shameful.

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants to look into the past and read about the immigrant communities in the United States and how they are often overlooked and mistreated.....and then almost forgotten, but for people like Don Normark bringing their world to the fore.

My in-laws are of the families uprooted from La Loma-now Dodger Stadium. I'm looking forward to reading about the history of this long, forgotten place.

Nestled in the hills between downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena is Chávez Ravine, site of Dodger Stadium and its acres of parking lots. Few baseball fans here could tell you that long before the Dodgers left Brooklyn, Chávez Ravine was the home of three communities of Mexican-American laborers and their families.

Don Normark, a young photographer in 1948, was climbing in the hills looking for postcard-shot views of LA when he discovered La Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop. Each neighborhood was a rambling cluster of buildings, dirt streets, and footpaths. The wooded slopes of Elysian Park overlooked the ravine, and beyond were the peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains. He felt he had found another world -- a kind of Shangri-La. For many months, he returned to take pictures of what he saw and of the people he met there. He didn't know that he was recording on film the daily life of a place and its people that was about to disappear.

The pictures, of course, are black and white, a rich range of gray tones and contrasts under the cloudless southern California sky. In a casual street scene, two men stand talking on the hard dirt, and a third, his back to them, leans across a low concrete wall. All is in sharp focus from the dusty tire track in the foreground to the pointed tower of City Hall nudging up over a darkly wooded ridge in the distance. The mid-afternoon light reflects brightly off one man's tee shirt and from the front of a small white house farther on. Meanwhile, the shadows cast by eaves, palm fronds, parked cars, and the men themselves are deeply dark.

There are many pictures of people, of all ages. Some look into the camera. Most are busy working, walking, talking, playing. A young girl wears her confirmation dress. A boy watches his father repair a car. Two men spar under branches thick with bougainvillea blossoms. An iceman stands in an open gateway, tongs slung over one shoulder. A young woman arranges flowers on an altar. A workman returns home along a winding footpath at the end of the day (see book jacket above).

Fifty years later, Normark gathered together his pictures and began looking for the people who had once lived in Chávez Ravine. This book is an album of those pictures, with commentary by the people he found, in their own words. Normark writes simply and clearly about himself and his experiences. Like his photographs, his writing style is sharply focused. In the opening pages of the book, he describes the forced relocation of the people of Chávez Ravine during the Fifties, and the various public and private interests contending for control of its development. Normark's book is both handsome and beautifully written, a fine example of text and image illuminating each other.

This book is full of classic, socially-conscious photography that bears a spiritual kinship with Dorothea Lange's Depression Era photos of Dustbowl Families. The images are doubly rich: as Old School black and white images shot on a reasonable speed film, with a broad and caress-ably subtle range of grays, and also as a record of a time and place that was stolen, and will simply never be again.

For those who don't know the story, in a nutshell: The residents of Chavez Ravine, who were almost entirely Latino, were offered the promise that their community would be replaced by public housing as part of a renewal project of sorts. (Some had called their neighborhood blighted.) But as the land acquisition proceeded, and as various official pledges were reneged and political cards played (including exploitation of the then current fear of creeping Socialism/Communism-- after all, I ask you, what could be more unAmerican than affordable replacement housing?), the project proved to be a lie. The final hold-outs at Chavez Ravine were bodily removed by deputies as the last remnants of the neighborhood were cleared to make way for a sports field and parking lot. (!)

This volume is great because these photos, which speak so eloquently of one specific place and time, also speak clearly of universal things. Children play; young couples tie the knot as family celebrates; honest and good people work to protect what is theirs, to better their lot, and just to get by. -- It is about nothing less than the struggle and joy of life itself.

If there is any uplift to the wistful story this book tells in beautiful images and words, it is in that the displaced people survived, persevered, and that their old home, and what happened there, is remembered today.

Sometimes, you have to search for the bright spot. A thought-provoking read. Recommended.

With "Cut My Hair," Jamie Rich has recreated the mythos of the early '90s music scene as seen through the eyes of one who had lived during the time. (No, it's true... there was some good stuff going on back then, though coming on the tail of the Decade of Greed, those who lived during the time are characteristly cynical over any reminder of said years.)

Mason, the narrator/protagonist of the novel, could concievably be a real-life person. None of his insights, emotions, or actions are one-sided. In fact, he most resembles a modern-day depiction of J. D. Salinger's Holden Caulfield, though somewhat more adjusted to the life in which he lives. And a life of glamour and rock 'n' roll it is not! Mason abides with parental apathy, poverty-line conditions, and a super-heated drought-stricken California, while discovering that life holds none of the Hollywood-esque promise made to his generation. In Mason's life of change and uncertainty, the only possession to which he places any trust and security is his leather jacket - his shell.

This book delves into the alternative music scene, and successfully captures its heart and soul. It doesn't apologize for retroactive weaknesses, because it doesn't feel it has to. It's merely presenting a backdrop which is as rich and vibrant as Mason and his inextricable band of friends and associates.

Most of the sporadic artwork contained therein equally displays a good feel for the characters and their times (Andi Watson's efforts especially accomplish this; Judd Winick's, not so much), and give the book a considerable amount of character.

Fantastic book, well-deserving of multiple readings.

Cut My Hair is written by former Oni Press Editor Jamie S. Rich with illustrations by such noted comic book artists as Judd Winick, Chynna Clugston-Major, Scott Morse, Mike Allred and Andi Watson, with the title taken from the Who song of the same name off of their Quadrophenia album. As I am a huge fan of both comic books and The Who, Cut My Hair sounded like it was right up my alley. Cut My Hair is a smart, well written, coming of age story. It's also about being in love, not only with another person, but with music. Specifically, Punk rock music.

Set in the early 90's, Cut My Hair is narrated by 19-year old Mason, who lives with his best friend Jack. Jack isn't just his best friend, but also his protector and as close to family as anyone he knows, as Jack hasn't spoken to his abusive, alcoholic mother since he moved out after High School. Nicknamed "Jailbate" (incorrect spelling intended) because of his small size and stature, Mason's life consists of working full time at a comic store, going to Punk rock shows and pining away for Laine, his High School crush. As with all things in life, nothing stays the same. Mason's life begins to change, as he meets and falls passionately in love with Jeane. Before Mason can fully enjoy his newfound happiness, an event occurs which sends him over the edge into a deep, alcohol-fueled despair, from which even the music he loves cannot save him.

Cut My Hair, filled with the longing and heartache of teenage angst, explores both the lifestyle and the music of the Los Angles Punk rock scene of the early 90's with authority and affection. Regardless of whether you're a Punk or not, you'll be quickly drawn into this fascinating, often violent world that, in it's own way, is infused with an underlying sense of romanticism, hope and love.

OMG! This book was amazing. I read about this book a few years ago in some music magazine. Somehow, I remembered the title and decided to look it up on amazon. I found it and ordered it and I am greatful I did. Jamie S. Rich did an excelent in developing the character of Mason. The way he uses the first person and really captures what it is like to be a teenager who feels like he doesn't fit in. He finds a way to really show the ups and downs in a teen's life. I could not put this book down. I would recomend it to anyone. I could not have agreed more with the musical taste in this book. And I was able to see myself through Mason. If you are a teenager or not, this book is definetly one to read!!!

I bought this book on a whim. As many of the people who have read it, I first heard of it through Oni Press. And I was not disappointed one bit.

My reaction was surprising most of all to me, since I've made the analysis of literary works my life (and my degree). There's nothing about this book that makes it astoundingly unique compared to all the other coming-of-age novels out there. But that's the beauty of it.

For different people with different experiences, certain elements of this book resonate on a deeper level than can be described. For those who cannot live without their music and all that's connected therein. For those who have the small store job and find happiness just fine. For those yearning away for the "Eternal Girl."

For me, who suddenly recognized a very close friend and was delighted at last to know who he was. I showed my friend this book and he wondered how on earth this author had picked up scenes from his life like they were pennies lying face-up on the ground. He started telling me about concerts he'd driven half the day to get to, fights he'd been in wondering who he was fighting... life's realization. Music. Friendship. Love.

So, for me, up to my neck in all the Shakespeare, Hemingway, and Palahniuk I can stand-- and this is my favorite of them all. There's something about it that just resonates deep inside. I *know* Mason. I know him even better now. His name may not be Mason, but he's got all the bad haircuts and scars to prove otherwise.

I bought this thinking it was a graphic novel, after enjoying Blue Monday and Scooter Girl.

It's not. Just a novel.

Caveat Emptor.

For an excellent crash-course on Disneyland, this book can't be beat. Excellent photos, commentary, and fun back-stage stories. Learn about the park from the idea stage to execution. Truly the best resource book on Disneyland available. Besides photos of every postcard released, there are a number of historic photos as well, and indepth information about each attraction. There are no "tear-out" postcards in this book. Get your hands on it while you can!

What memories this brings back! Not only are the postcards wonderful, but the narrative is very entertaining - much more than I had hoped for - and the postcards are supplemented with some wonderful photos to fill in some of the gaps. A great way for us (we?) older Disney fans to share our memories of Disneyland with our children (and later grandchildren), too. I know I will get many hours of enjoyment from this book over the years to come. I am so glad I decided it might be worth the price - it's worth many times over! 2007 update - Wow, the price I was referring to was $52.50, not the $189 I see it going for now.

I cannot say enough about this handsome, evocative, skilfullywritten book. Just as Disneyland is more than an amusement park, thisis more than a trip through Disneyland's places and times...

I wouldhasten to add that this book does more than to simply transport you tothe park as it is today; it is the best simulation of a time machine,transporting you back to previous incarnations of the park, the waythat they were experienced and enjoyed in the vanished culturallandscape of the 1950s and the 1960s. A lot of those joys are gone --the Rainbow Caverns of the Mine Train, the subatomic journey of InnerSpace -- and this is the best way to see them again.

What Iparticularly enjoy about this book is that the authors clearly sharemy childhood fascination with wondering "how it all worked."You get aerial shots of the park under construction, pictures ofaborted attraction developments, and the stories behind detailsranging from the marching band kiosk to the eucalyptus trees inAdventureland.

Walt would have approved of this magnificentlyconceived and executed journey through Disneyland's past and present.

I've read "The Art of Walt Disney", "Walt Disney Imagineering", "Disneyland:The Inside Story", and several other books about the Magic Kingdom, and this book is by far the most detailed and enjoyable of them all. Every store that's ever had an address on Main Street...every sponsor that's ever had an exhibit in Tommorowland...IT'S ALL HERE. My only complaint is that I wish some of the illustrations were larger so you could take in more detail...but considering that every postcard ever issued by Disneyland is included, in addition to behind-the-scenes photos and concept art, this is an understandable compromise. Absolutely the best book ever printed on Disneyland.

This is a beautiful "coffee table" book that transcends its status as the last word for Disneyland post card collectors. It is actually the best book on the history of Disneyland that I've ever seen (and I'm constantly looking :-). It is also fascinating just from a cultural history point of view--the complete oveure of all postcards from any landmark would be interesting to study changing styles and mores, and of course Disneyland is so rich and varied. Hats off to Mumford and Gordon.

This is one of those must have items when you're facing a trip with your grandkids (that's TWO generations away from your own days on any wild ride) and I must say this guide to the park was enormously helpful even before we got there. Thanks a lot! Our trip was a huge success and Ms. Wiley's book gets a lot of the credit.

I first read an earlier version of this book several years ago, and Kim's sound advice has stayed with me, several trips on.

If you want to learn which rides to stay away from with young children, and what the must sees are, this is the book to read. And don't ignore Kim's most important tip of all. If you're travelling to Disney World with children, make sure you take that afternoon nap.

Catherine Noble
Webmaster
www.mywdwtrip.com

This is a really useful book, tons of tips, saved me a lot $$ and time. The most valuable thing I learn is to rent a multi-family vacation house with my friends, 16 people for $199 a day. We all enjoy the stay at a luxury emerald island resort. check this out: http://www.cyberrentals.com/index.cfm/property/126687

I purchased this book as a guide to help plan a 5 day trip to WDW with my family. We just got back and let me tell you this book saved us a lot of waiting time for the rides, helped us know what to see and where and how to focus our energy. Ms. Wiley is right on the mark in her descriptions of the attractions and her tips about getting around the parks. The book was so helpful, I tore out the sections about each park and took it with us into the park. This version is missing info that wasn't available at the time of printing about some of the newer shows Disney has put in for its 50th anniversary celebration. The Cinderellabration show is wonderful especially if you have a princess lover in your family and the Wishes fireworks display over the castle in the Magic Kingdom. I would highly recommend this book even if you've been to WDW before.

This book is a must read before and during your trip. It has great money saving ideas and is easy to understand. The scare factors are extremely useful if you have children under 10.