Central America Books

I have found the National Geographic Traveler books to be ideal when planning a visit to a city. The San Francisco book seems up to the usual standards. These books cover the more interesting attractions, including some great photos, and are organized by area, which makes it easier to select what you want to see and plan your days. Another feature which should not be overlooked is the section in the back, which recommends some excellent restaurants.

If you plan to buy a Guide for San Fransisco,you really owe it to yourself to check out this one.It covers everything you want in a guide and does a supurb job in all respects.First of all the construction is excellent. Nat.Geo.publish a Guide to Birds of North America,and make them so good that they are able to take a phenomenal amount of use and even abuse.Birders get daily use of them for years and I have never seen or heard of one coming apart.If anything,they are built too good-a rare thing today.If one were to use this guide every day,you would still be using it a year later.The paper,printing,color,etc.could not be better.Most travel guides are pretty ratty after a short time and you will be amazed ,that this book will stay in great shape.The detail of information could not be better.It is full of excellent photos,maps,directions,and organized very well.Of course it is excellent as a travel guide,but it will serve as well as an excellent resource to keep handy whenever you want to find information on any historical or other points of interest in the city.There are a lot of great drawings of the interior of buildings,such as the Sutro Baths,museums,Alcatraz,Early History and many neighborhoods and personalities.There is also a section on excursions,The Peninsula & Silicon Valley,Monteray Peninsula,Carmel-by-the-Sea,Berkley,Oakland,Marin County,Napa Valley,Sonoma Valley,Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.And of course lots of info on travel,accomodations,shopping,dining,and just about anything you'd want to know about one of the most enjoyable cities in North America.Not only will it serve you well when visiting San Francisco,but will also serve as a great way to remember it all.

This is one of the best guidebooks I have encountered that covers San Francisco as a whole. First of all, the layout is excellent (as one would hope for from National Geographic). The sections for each neighborhood are color-coded for easy access and each neighborhood features a great map that not only highlights attractions, but a feature that shows you where that neighborhood is located within the city--this is enormously helpful in putting the pieces of the city together into a coherent whole, and should be a feature in every city guidebook.

Second, the guidebook includes all major attractions and a number of the minor ones. Descriptions are brief, but adequate. The guidebook excels at giving great tidbits about SF history and of the changing character and culture of its neighborhoods (though be warned that they are slightly racy at times).

Third, the photographs are fabulous and do a great job of highlighting some of San Francisco's sights that must be 'seen'. This is particurarly well-done as the guidebook covers a lot of ground (dedicating space to all major parts of SF, not just the ones most visited) and uses photos to achieve maximum efficiency to convey information to the reader.

My complaints with the guide are few. The hotel and restaurant descriptions are included in their own section in the back. This allows each neighborhood section to be more compact (and accessible) but probably requires a bit more flipping to find a lunch when in a given neighborhood. In addition, the guidebook uses a price coding system that makes it more difficult to figure out how much hotels and restaurants cost (though, in their defense, they do repeat the key to the coding system every other page unlike most guidebooks that hide it somewhere in the introduction).

The other complaints I had were that the section on excursions outside of San Francisco was too rudimentary to be of much use--if you plan to go elsewhere in the Bay Area, you should compliment this book with one that has a better focus on Bay Area attractions. Finally the transit map on the back cover is not helpful. National Geographic tries to represent bus lines as being akin to the London Underground (with no attention to geographic realities)--this representation won't help you catch a bus. Get a Muni transit map once you get to San Francisco.

That being said, if you want a solid guide to the city of San Francisco itself--this guidebook from National Geographic is a good bet.

This guide has beautiful photographs and interesting maps of the various sections of the city and would have been perfectly adequate alone, but my wife and I also had Eyewitness Travel Guides'San Francisco and Northern California. I found the information in Eyewitness more relevant and helpful. The real surprise is that the maps provided by Eyewitness were better than the vaunted Geographic!

I read this book while in Panama and found it very good. I see now where the names for so many of the streets in Panama come from. For a 900 page history book it is a surprisingly fast read. It is very comprehensive on the subject, dating back to the founding of Panama in the early 1900s. And living here I recognized the places and names described in the book right away. The author gives very detailed descriptions of his sources and I recommend the reader read these because good information is included. There is also some very good extra information included in the back that help put subjects in the book in context (ie, list of all previous Panamanian presidents, US ambassadors to Panama, what the Gini coefficient is, etc).

However, the books tone is a bit to sarcastic at times, reading like a mob novel. I would prefer a more nuetral approach. The way its written the author`s bias is strong. However, this does not mean his views are not warranted.

Also there are some editing errors along with the design of the book that make it seem less legitimate.

Overall, its probably one of the better books on the subject. I would read also Path Between the Seas by David McCullough to complete the story of Panamanian recent history.

Noriega -- what a scourage on a hapless little country about to
become truly independent. How did it happen? Why did he reign so long? What went wrong and why? Panama has long been ruled by its "fifty families" but it never had a harsh dictator. How then did the complex, cruel and vindictive Noriega seize and retain such absolute power?

Professor Murillo's careful documented slice of reality provides useful answers. His vivid and accurate rendering presents a very bizarre and tragic story. As usual "the little people" paid with blood and suffering for events beyound their control. We should all ponder how drugs, mis-guided politics and lack of decisive leadership inevitably leads to corruption and suffering.

Have we learned our lesson? Probably not. We could were we to study and heed the lessons in this carefully written and accurate book.

This book touches on the history of the United States Government's influence and control of the drug trade in the Americas. Truly honest people must read this book! This is a literary work that touches on critical issues of drugs in the United States and how the US government uses the media to manipulate it's citizens and the world.

I had the opportunity to read this book while I was in Panama last year and it's worth reading each of the 900+ pages. This book gives a very detailed and unbiased account of what has transpired in Panama for the last 90+ years since gaining their independce from Colombia, with special emphasis on the 21-year military government and the U.S. reaction (or lack there of) to Panama's situation.

It gives a very detailed account on the lives and roles of key players in the military government and sheds some light on a lot of things that were happening that were previously unknown by the general public. I would recommend this book to anyone that is eager to learn the truth about what really happened down there.

I had to travel to Oklahoma for a business trip, and as i often do i like to spend a extra day seeing some of the local sites. I took a side trip to Guthrie, and really had a slice of history wich was just what i was looking for. I would have never done this, if i had not read this book. So for me, it was a gem.

The charm of this book is the way the author describes the history and background of the state. It is more than just facts. Her descriptions of the state make one want to go to Oklahoma!

Oklahoma doesn't get much tourist attention, so a guidebook to the pleasures of traveling there is most welcome. This is far from a complete guide, but rather a potpourri of places to visit, eat, and stay.

The book divides Oklahoma into seven regions and covers the attractions of each region, especially in small towns and rural areas. Down-home, long-established restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts are well-described. Sidebars sprinkled liberally through the text provide a historical overview of Oklahoma, especially of its cowboy and Indian heritage.

There is no Grand Canyon or Yosemite in Oklahoma. The natural attractions are modest. For those from more congested states, the charm of Oklahoma is open empty country and friendly people, clear blue skies, and weather that is pretty good on the average -- but the weather in Oklahoma is rarely average. "The immensity of the plains can exhilarate or overwhelm travelers," says the author. That's about right. Oklahoma is a good place to take a random drive down a country road. Amidst the endless prairie, the oil wells, and the wheat fields, there's usually a valley oasis of woodland, a rocky mesa, one of Oklahoma's big man-made lakes, or an old town with a restaurant that features chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes. This book will give you some ideas on places to go and things to do.

Smallchief

This is a well-written book and worthwhile for what it contains, but what it does not include is inexplicable. What about Ada, Queen City of the Chicksaw Nation? It's on the map in the book (as it should be) but no mention of it whatsover in the text. This lovely town is important to Oklahoma's history and worth a visit with its many historic buildings and turn-of-the-century downtown.

A true work of the storyteller's art, On This Beautiful Island is written and beautifully illustrated by Edwin Fontanez. Adapted from his original video "Taino: Guanin's Story" which was in turn inspired by the ancient culture of the Tainos who were the first inhabitants of Puerto Rico. On This Beautiful Island shows young readers what it was like to live in a vibrant natural land five hundred years ago, and experience the wonders of nature from the soft lullaby of the ocean humming inside a shell to the fresh breeze whisking through the treetops to the song of a tiny frog no bigger than a thumb. On This Beautiful Language is filled with bright and ruddy colored illustrations of native Taino individuals going about day-to-day life, and a final page offers some additional information about the Taino culture, and influences that remain with us today through words like "barbecue", "tobacco", "canoe", and "hammock", all of which are derived from the Arawak language.

Guanín, our narrator, uses poetic verse to describe his family traditions and life in Puerto Rico. This is a pastoral book that celebrates and educates children about the Taíno history and culture. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful. It is difficult to tell, at times, whether this is to be a rhyming verse or descriptive poem. When reading aloud, sometimes the rhyming and/or alliterations works, at other times, though it is difficult reading. The intricate, colorful illustrations will brighten any day, even if you don't read the text. The story introduces readers to Puerto Rico in a way that they are not likely to find elsewhere. The parallels with Native American culture (i.e., Nature's role in our survival) also lend great opportunities to talk about conservation and caring for our world.

What a beautiful book! I want to use the book as a coffee table book, matter of fact, its on my coffee table now because the illustrations are striking and the book is informative, well researched and entertaining. Although classified for the 9 to 12 year old reader, a younger reader will enjoy looking at the pictures and, with instruction, can play the enclosed game. The author defines and provides pronunciation hints for unfamiliar words. An adult is guaranteed to expand their knowledge of an ancient culture and time period. This is truly a book to be enjoyed by the entire family.

On a Beautiful Island captures a day in the life of Taino, a Puerto Rican boy who lived some 500 years ago. His adventures bring to life a culture strong in family, faith and society. Each person in the tribe has a role and a responsibility to each other and to nature. The writing is lyrical, the illustrations are colorful while the overall tone is light and joyful.

On this Beautiful Island is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book. This book takes the child through a colourful exotic journey led by Guanín and his close-to-the-heart friend Tahite, a parrot. Guanín shows his new friends a little about his daily life and about his traditional Taíno culture. These traditions date back more than 2,000 years from the area known today as Puerto Rico. A video called Taíno: Guanín's Story and a companion activity book are also available for those interested in learning more about Guanín and his cultural traditions.

On this Beautiful Island is a story that entertains and teaches at the same time. The book illustrates a lifestyle that is likely very different from the young reader while also showing that some things about being a kid are universal. The story is charming and completely entertaining. However, it pales in comparison to the illustrations in this book which are completely breathtaking. Young readers will spend hours studying these colourful pictures looking for hidden coquíes.

...and I've got shelves of 'em. This is an exhaustively researched, splendidly written guide for visitors and native New Orleanians alike. Fantastically detailed walking tours cover New Orleans' celebrated five-star attractions...then take you off the beaten trail to explore parts of the city not covered in other guidebooks.

This is the book to pack on your first, third, or even sixth visit to one of our most exotic and fascinating cities. I can't recommend it highly enough.

this book allowed for one of the nicest vacations i have ever taken. more than bourbon street indeed; if you're into historical along with fun, good food, and the infamous celebratory attitude then this is the book you're looking for! it covers everything you can imagine plus the historical information with the descriptions that follow the maps for the various tours is priceless. we didn't take one tour save the plantation *oak alley* tour; didn't need to! the maps along with the additional information is all you need to create your own walking tours, driving excursions and much much more. i would also allow that personally i did read another book: Fabulous New Orleans by Lyle Saxon. the combination of the two really compliment one another. just my opinion. again, great book; i sincerely can't say enough.

Having visited NO before and having read three other "Guides" I was suprised by how different this book was from the others and how everything I personally wanted to know about was adressed in detail. Walking the Faubourgs is the best way to appreciate the very unique city behind the tourist hype and Mr. Delahanty tells you how. Other guide books are collections of data gathered from many sources, but this is a story told by someone who knows and loves his subject. Our morning walks through the Bayou St. John neighborhood for coffee on Esplanade Ave. were greatly enhanced by the information in the "Esplanade Ridge" section. The history is so much more amazing than the garishness of Bourbon St. My daughter, a six year resident of NO, is planning her wedding there and has found this an invaluable resource. There is an address and telephone number for everything. I am recommending this book to all of her wedding guests and buying a second copy for myself, having given mine to her. If you plan a trip to New Orleans, read this book before you go and carry it with you while you are there.

New Orleans' unique food, music, architecture, and people have been justly celebrated and explained to out of towners and locals alike in many, many books. Why one more?

Randolph Delehanty's answer to that question would be, I suppose (I have never spoken with him), that most guidebooks miss the essence of our city: the varied streets - from the carriage-wide alleyways of the Vieux Carre to the grand boulevards of St. Charles and Esplanade Avenues - which tie together our rich architectural heritage and cultural history.

At once public and private, street walking is an old tradion in New Orleans and this book introduces novice and old pro alike to the tricks of the trade.

Delehanty, director of the University of New Orleans' Ogden Museum of Southern Art and author of nine books, including the definitive coffee table book of New Orleans'interiors and patios, New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence, takes readers inside New Orleans buildings and gardens on over a dozen walking, transit, and (when necessary) car tours of the city and its River Road environs. Neighborhood by fauborg, he explains the special points of history that make this a city of towns, unlike most Southern cities. While your eyes are drawn to the architecture, he points out the lives of the inhabitants of these old homes, shops, and mansions - often writers and musicians. A few pages on "New Orleans House Design and Sociability: Stoops, Balconies, Galleries, and Porches" explain how climate, architecture, and sociability were intimately intertwined before the age of air-conditioning, cars, and television reduced urban life to a fraction of its potential for gracious living.

This walker's "ultimate guide" to New Orlean's architecture and culture is a must for locals who hope to become "New Orleans know it alls" and an inspired choice for those out of towners who hope to live like a native, if only for a few days.

Excellent and detailed maps, extensive cross-references, and select listings of all the basic tourist needs (restaurants, music clubs, bars, etc.) round out an excellent guide: the best of its kind (in the opinion of this City of New Orleans' licensed walking tour guide and life long resident of the Big Easy).

Mr. Kingstone writes a brutal book about his personal experience with international thievery, lawyers (also thieving) and our own judicial system. His positive attitude is inspiring and well worth the effort to learn of his plight. My hat is off to such an honest man who tells it like it is. Hope you get these bums Brett!

Anyone that has the "IT" should read this book.

"The story that my friend Brett Kingstone tells in The Real War Against America is as good as any spy novel you can pick up....Today, intellectual property theft costs American industry an estimated $250 billion a year. And the price tag is rising...
The dreams and imaginations of Americans is something worth fighting for. Let's hope we win this battle."
Congressman Ric Keller (R, 8th District Florida), Co-Author of the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2002.


"At first, I thought this book was another Tom Clancy techno-thriller, then I realized it was non-fiction -- the true story of a dynamic American entrepreneur whose company was under attack by one of China's largest gang of counterfeiters. If any book about global business today should be made into a movie, The Real War Against America is it."
Professor Pat Choate, Author: Agents of Influence, Hot Properties, The High Flex Society, America in Ruins and Being Number One: Rebuilding the U.S. Economy. Director, Manufacturing Policy Project and former Vice Presidential running mate of H.Ross Perot.


"The story of Brett Kingstone and his company is far more than a high-tech Horatio Alger tale. It is an adventure which should become a case study for every business school candidate to memorize, for here lies a glimpse of the real war and its battles which can be our nation's demise."
Dwight Carey, President, APG. U.S. Congress Business of the Year Award Winner.


"Kingstone's Saga is the untold tale of intellectual property scandal in America. Piracy and counterfeiting are costing businesses billions of dollars annually in the U.S....I am mesmerized by Kingstone's spirit...he truly represents the lifeblood of American Manufacturing."
Peggy Smedley, Publisher Start Magazine, Author of Mending Manufacturing

This is a must read for anyone that manufactures or creates for a living.
When you read this book, pinch yourself and remember that this is a true story even though it could have been taken from the pages of an Ian Fleming novel. America faces a very real threat today - one far more insidious and underhand than anything we see in today's headlines, yet equally as sinister and threatening to our economy and standard of living.
Small business is the engine that drives the American economy and this is one mans story of his fight to protect his business, his family and the families of those who work for him.
Far from a dull account of industrial piracy and lawsuits, the author fully involves the reader in his fight and throughout the book I was struck by his humanity and love of family and friends around him.
Whatever the color of your collar this is your fight, and it could be happening to your business or your employer right now... It probably is.

Outstanding book. Excellent historical account of General Sandino and the genesis of the nationalist struggle in Nicaragua. A little vague on the extent of American commercial interest the US Marines were sent to protect. This book should be read by anyone looking to understand guerrilla warfare. Espcially useful in paralleling combat tactics used by the viet-cong or any nationalist insurgency. Should be required reading for all troopers headed to advise against the FARC and ELN.

I understand this book was Maculay's doctoral thesis, and I think exceeds the purpose. Written with such a fine style the reader is situated in the jungles of Nicaragua experiencing guerilla warfare at its best. It is a well documented work. In addition to reviewing previous titles on the subject, Macaulay did extensive research on Marine Corps archives to produce an unbiased and scientific study of the struggle. Also, the portrait of the character is highly accurate of this little man ( only 5'-4") born as illegitimate son in a nicaraguan village, yet his nationalism and valor had monumental influence throughout generations of latin-americans. As of today his presence is still vivid and controversial.

Sandino's insurgency in Nicaragua during the 1930's had debate teams in American high schools asking the question why the US Marine Corps was indeed involved in Central America. Decades later, debate teams would be asking why US Marines and other elements of the Armed Forces were about to intervene in a war in Iraq...
MacAulay has obviously done his homework in this suburb book. He details Sandino's rise and history, from his travels to Mexico and meetings with various Bolsheviks, to his ultimate betrayal by Somoza. MacAulay also shows how Sandino and his men peservered in a jungle enviornment, cut off without roads or running water, and how the first aerial attack was executed in the Americas.
MacAulay does not demonize the Marines, as lesser writers and ideologues would love to. Indeed, he even pays tribute to that greatest of all Marines, Lewis "Chesty" Puller, and his company of Marines and Nicaraguans who fought the Sandinistas on their own terms...and won.
It is a pity that this book is out of print. Generations of historians and military history buffs will not be disappointed in this breathtaking history of the Nicaraguas.

Outstanding book. Excellent historical account of General Sandino and the genesis of the nationalist struggle in Nicaragua. A little vague on the extent of American commercial interest the US Marines were sent to protect. This book should be read by anyone looking to understand guerrilla warfare. Espcially useful in paralleling combat tactics used by the viet-cong or any nationalist insurgency. Should be required reading for all troopers headed to advise against the FARC and ELN.

I love the free market and think the gov't should keep its hands off--except when hands off doesn't work. As Saving America trenchantly points out, failing to insure 48 million fellow Americans is a disgrace, but one that can be fixed, with gov't help.

This impassioned study will definitely make you think - and draw you out of your complacency about the need for America to save itself from itself on key issues facing today's and future generations.

"Saving America" by Frank Sanello and Professor Shenouda admirably and dextrously takes politics out of the American healthcare equation, illustrating it for the urgent crisis it has long been and remains. The solutions it espouses are far clearer than those of Sens. Obama and Clinton and renders the timely point that this is far too important an issue to dismiss as a mere trendy and convenient campaign pledge. A book that should be read, and pondered, by all.

"Professor Shenouda's proposal for providing affordable healthcare insurance to all Americans makes Saving America a book every member of Congress should read and act on. An insightful examination of the crises America faces. The authors' remedies are unassailable." Frank Sanello's ability to deliver clear cut facts and information makes this an easy read for any who is concerned with the fate of our country!

I will be visiting Copan at the end of the month so i picked up this book to get some information about the place.Overall the book is really good with lots of pictures which deifinetly is a plus with me.The explanations are very good altough i found myself re-reading some of them often because the author uses a lot of technical terms.The book is to big so i will not carry it with me when i visit Copan.It would have been a plus if the book would have been smaller.One thing that i didnt like was the fact that the author spends too many pages explaining Copan's relationship with other cities in the area.I would have loved to read more about the people of Copan, their daily lives and their beliefs.But again, good introduction.

the first 60 pages talks mainly about archaeological expeditions to Copan and who sponsored them etc. so there was little about the scribes,warriors or kings,but later it picked up.Copan appeared to be the "capital" city of loosely affiliated outlying villages with questionable allegiances. Since the allegiances were changing, Copan (rather the rulers of Copan and their families and associates)developed a rich ceremonial life with grandiose buildings,costumes,calendars etc.in order to impress the commoners into accepting the ruling class' authority.At least that is one interpretation offered in the book.Also the book seems to stress the deforestation theory for the demise of Copan,saying that "sucess"in agriculture and population growth brought about heavy erosion due to overuse of timber.Copan was never able to form alliances to any substantial degree with any other major city and in fact there is evidence of bitter rivalry between some of the smaller cities as well as the major ones.I was unaware before reading this book that alot of the Mayan temples were built by the rulers of Copan as a form of sacred ancestor worship.There are great photos of alot of the more profound discoveries of Copan particularly the Eccentric flints from the Hieroglyphic stairway.the author claims that presently there is no flint napper alive today who could duplicate this feat.I also enjoyed the descriptions of the "Bat" houses and their possible sinister uses to shelve "sacrificial victims".There is also a good picture of the way alot of these Mayan temples would have been painted because today all we see too often if the bare limestone facings.The deep reds and greens must have made for a real sacred appearance that would no doubt astonish.Was the message--"Your link to the nether-world,get it here"reinforcing the status and authority of Copan's rulers.whose to say,maybe they actually did have a fast tract to the nether-world,at least till they ran out of trees?

nothing to say just read i

An excellent, comprehensive, and very readable text, written by a true expert on the subject. I highly reccomend it.

Its nice to read a guide book by people who have actually been there and write it as they see it - nice comfortable writing about where and what - and a big help in finding the places you want to stay in

Read this wonderful book before you visit Costa Rica; more importantly, carry it while you're in country. Costa Rica residents and world travelers, Chris and Alison bring a unique and entertaining perspective to the art of getting off the "Hilton circuit" and onto the trail of the "real" Costa Rica. Sleeping with the Toucans offers a trove of crisply written, beautifully photographed options for comfortable accommodations, tasty dining and more. Whether you're seeking a massage, world class birding, boating or beachcombing or butterfly watching, or simply a good night's rest - Sleeping with the Toucans has it all. And if you can't visit Costa Rica, read this book; it's the next best thing to being there!

We have traveled to Costa Rica many times since 1993. A guide book like 'Sleeping with the Toucans' is the 'missing link' we could have used while planning our trips. The places in this book are exactly the kinds of places we searched for during our many vacations in Costa Rica. With each visit our love of the people, the land and the culture grew. In 2006 we left our life in the USA, packed our bags and opened Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat. We are featured in this wonderfully descriptive, well researched and up to date guidebook. Chris and Alison have compiled a list of small hotels and inns that anyone traveling to Costa Rica will find invaluable. This book thrown in your back pack as a companion to a guidebook with - what to do- and - where to hike- will assure a memorable and authentic trip to Costa Rica.

First as a disclaimer, our hotel - the Pura Vida Hotel, Alajuela, Costa Rica - is featured in this guidebook. I want to comment on this book however as it is a pretty special addition to the 15 or so current guides available for Costa Rica.

Sleeping with the Toucans provides details on the hotels the authors liked staying at. It is very personal, it is very detailed and we have used it ourselves when planning trips inside the country. Apparently we have similar tastes in good food and accommodations. This guide won't help you find your way to the best rain forest canopy walk or the best most secluded beach in Costa Rica - for that we'd recommend a number of different guide books that fit your taste or budget. But if you are buying a new copy of Fodors or the Moon Guide or maybe the New Key to Costa Rica and you like to stay in interesting places then this guide is a must.