Publications Books

This book is a fantastic introduction to the meditations of love and compassion that John Makransky has been teaching for the past several years. New meditators will save a lot of trial and error by following the instructions, and will gain great perspective from the heartfelt personal stories that Lama John shares. There is also a CD of guided meditations available directly from the publisher and the Dzogchen Center bookstore that greatly enhances the value of the book as a support for daily practice. Buy one for yourself and for anyone that you truly care for.

Through the practices and examples in this book, John Makransky shows us how to unlock what was always here, our deepest goodness. This is the summit of all spiritual practice and its much more ordinary than we think. If you wish to realize and reclaim what what always essentially yours, read this book.

Who doesn't want to become a more loving person? The love that's taught in this book you can learn to count on and the practices are do-able, even with short amounts of time available. You'll notice changes as you become more patient and open with yourself and others. Painful reactions melt over time as more truly loving responses become the norm. You'll be so grateful you bought this book and worked with it.

John Makransky has written a book that makes Tibetan Buddhist love and wisdom practices accessible to anyone. These practices have had a big impact on how I relate to the world and to myself. (I do not say this lightly.) Awakening Through Love is engaging and well researched. The practices are easy to follow...and will take you a long, long way.

This book is essentially a manual for love - receiving it, giving it, seeing it all around you, and bringing it out in all beings and situations. You could spend as little or as much time on each chapter, as each section reveals more and more every time you read it. Awakening through Love could be a great companion to the many other books on your shelf, or it could be a first concise introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and some of its practices. Either way, it is A GEM!

I discovered this book at our local library and fell in love with the charming story. I instantly ordered it from Amazon, but the one I received has been re-written to be quicker and thus not as charming and sweet! This version has the kitty running from animal to animal in a panic looking for her purr, whereas the one at the library described how she went on her search through the day, and at days end she was getting quite tired by the time she talked to owl and the ending read much sweeter than this one. I don't know what year that edition was (it was hardbound - maybe that's the difference) or if it had a different publisher, but I was disappointed with this version and will continue my search for the one I fell in love with.

P.S. After posting this, I did find out that the book I bought from Amazon was published by Tiger Press and the book at the library is published by Dutton Children's Books. I do see that Amazon lists the publisher as Dutton - so no guarantee there.

I love this book for two reasons:

It is a good illustration for children about happiness and how the cat was looking for happiness in all the wrong places.

It is an excellent introduction to farm animals and their sounds. Most children can probably relate to the purring of a cat, but might not have yet had exposure to farm animals. This book does a good job of bridging the sound of purring of an every day cat to that of farm animals.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and quite effectively support the prose.

This is a different twist on learning animal sounds. My boys love it (3 & 5) and ask for it repeatedly. It shows animals on a farm in their habitats. The kitten is very sweet, and I have made it into a flannel board story for my kids as well.

I really enjoyed this book because the little kitten thinks that she has lost her purr but she has really not. In the book she also goes to all of the farm animals and asks them if they have it and at the end she finds out she has it all along and her mother shows her. I hope when you read it you will enjoy it just as much as i did.

The bright, large and, I might add, accurate, illustrations in this book are great, eye catching and very, very well executed! The story line is simple, a kitten who is searching for her purr. Her encounter with the barnyard animals keeps the story moving. The text is well matched with the illustrations. This is a cute warm story and is an excellent one to read with your young child. Recommend this one highly.

This is an exciting, inspiring, well-written book that I couldn't put down. Written in a logbook style, it tells what happens when the author catches the Iditarod bug. A very satisfying read.

Don Bowers wrote it with so much heart, it's amazing! If you love sleddogs, Alaska and the Iditarod - it's a must to read it (especially if you want to run the Iditarod once)! Even if English isn't your mother tongue - you will love it! I laughed but also cried while reading the book. It really touched me very much! Don Bowers was killed by an air-crash in summer 2000 and even if I haven't known him personally - my eyes went wet when I heard about it! I wish I could have meet him once...... (sorry, about my bad english, but even with this english it is easy to read his book)!

As a fellow US Air Force Academy Grad, I was thrilled by Don Bowers' adventure! Spending years as an Iditarod pilot, Don finally decides to run the race. He shows the true human effort behind running the race, not as a champion, but as a man willing to give his all to prove his determination and the love for his dogs. Unfortunately, Don Bowers died this year doing one of the things he truly loved: flying airplanes. This book is a tribute to the man and the sport that took over his soul. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mushing or for anybody with an adventurous heart. It's a true uplift from the everyday drag of modern life. It will yield to the wanderlust of even the most rigid of people. It shows that some people out there still pursue their dreams, no matter how crazy they may seem. Farewell, Don Bowers! May your book be a tribute to you and the sport that you loved!

I love this book. I am in my 4th year of mushing. I love the sport. This book tells you what it is like to deal with these wonderful creatures that are a special breed. The author had a wonderful insight to share his thoughts, feelings, adventures,failures, and successes. Most of us dont tell of things that we did wrong. He not only tells you about what he did wrong, but what he learned from it. I am hoping to run the Iditarod sometime in the future with my daughter, and this is a book that I will for sure have her read before we set of to THE GREATEST RACE. I recommend this book for a veteran, or a beginner, or anyone that just has an interest in dogs. I have laughed outloud while reading this book and I have cried, and had every other emotion but anger. This book is the best I have read in a long time about this sport. Thank you DON.

Subtitled, "An Iditarod Rookie Musher's Alaska Pilgrimage to
Nome", the author, Don Bowers, shares his 1994 and 1995
experience in running a team of sled dogs on the 1,100-mile run from
Anchorage to Nome in the race that has been sometimes called the
"Last Great Race on Earth." He was 48 years old, a bachelor,
with no previous experience in dog mushing. However, he was a pilot
who lived Alaska and had worked as a volunteer in previous races. He
knew many people who had run the race before him and they all
encouraged him to do it.

Every March, since 1967, between 50 and 80
dog sled teams set out on the trail, which can take up to three weeks
to complete. Most are not competing for the front-runner prize.
Merely finishing the race is a personal goal for many. The trek is
difficult, requiring stamina, endurance and the ability to make quick
decisions in constantly changing conditions.

The temperature can
vary from 40 degrees above to 65 degrees below zero and there are
storms and flooding, drifting snow and heavy winds. In some places
the trail plunges down 200 feet or more, twisting between trees and at
the edges of steep drops. At other places, there are long empty
stretches over slick icy rivers. The sled often spills, the dogs get
tangled and sometimes they find themselves miles and miles off the
regular trail.

Mostly, they prefer to travel at night when the
weather is cooler and the dogs are more comfortable. The musher wears
a single beam headlight if the night is dark. Other times the moon
and stars reflect off the snow. And, on rare occasions there is a
spectacular display of flashes and colors in the northern sky.

The
mushers stop at about 20 checkpoints over the course of their
travels. These are mandatory rest stops which often are no more than a
tent or a cabin with a place to put a sleeping bag. A few of the
checkpoints are towns with a place to purchase a meal. Mostly though,
the musher must rely on the 50 or more large bags of supplies weighing
2000 pounds or more which he or she personally packed and had shipped
to these checkpoints. This includes huge amounts of food for the 16
hungry dogs who must be tended to and rested at each of these
stops.

The Iditarod Trail was actually used as a mail route during
the boom time of Alaska's gold rush. And the dog teams of that day
did not have the advantages of modern technology. There were no
helicopters charting their progress. Or airplanes to fly their food
to various checkpoints. There was little if any shelter. And the
conditions for the dogs were certainly not humane.

I can't help
thinking of Jack London's "The Call of the Wild" and
"White Fang" which depicted the life of a sled dog at the
turn of the century. In those days dogs were whipped, beaten with
clubs, and often starved as the food they were given had to be hunted
for as the mushers went along the trail. They lived and died in their
harnesses and it was a constant fight for survival.

Modern dogs are
never beaten. The dogs are trained to respond to simple verbal
commands and whips are never used. They are well fed and rested and
checked by a vet at every checkpoint. If they are injured they are
flown by helicopter to a place they can be cared for. A musher might
start out with 16 dogs, but is allowed to finish with as little as 7
if necessary.

I enjoyed the book tremendously, even though Don
Bowers is no Jack London. This is his first book and he is not a
professional writer. He's good at descriptions of trail conditions
and details of the race. He's also good at discussing his own
personal challenges. I really did empathize with him when a virus
killed some of his dog pups. And I held my breath during his most
scary outdoor challengers. I also have a lot of admiration for his
adaptability and sheer determination to finish, no matter what.

By
the end of the book I had really accepted his style of writing, which
is probably like his personality, which tends to be introspective. And
sometimes I felt he went on a little too long about some detail. I
must say also that I yearned for deeper characterization of the people
around him. There was a woman named Lisa and a man named Andy who
were also "back-of-the-packers". They met at checkpoints
and helped each other during the long trail. I wanted to know more
about them and wish he would have included a few personal details and
a little characterization.

I did get to know his dogs though. Each
one was a distinct and interesting personality. I'll never forget
"Socks" one of the leaders, who was able to sense the trail
without any markers. Or the time the team refused to move because the
females were in heat. His love for his dogs really came through.

I
thank Mr. Bowers for writing the book and definitely recommend it. It
took me to Alaska, put me right on the sled and made me feel I was
part of it all. Quite a departure for a woman who lives in New York
City. It was a great read and I loved being part of the adventure.

The study of faith as presented by Kenneth Hagin was very informative and comprehensive. After completing the study, I came away with a much broader and clearer understanding of bible faith. However, I ordered two copies of the book and both of them fell apart. Obviously, there is a defect in the binding from the publishing company. Other students in my bible class bought the same book from a christian book store and theirs fell apart as well. I needed the book for the class so I had to go ahead and use it. Otherwise, if I had more time to work with, I would have returned it for a refund.

This is a great study of biblical faith. There is also a fair amount of experiences that prove the outcome of faith that Kenneth Hagin teaches within the book. I am half way through it (it's hard to put down) and when I have completed it, I will begin reading it...along with my bible, again.

Every Christian should read! This is an excellent resource for those who are at work building up their faith, learning to receive from God! I am currently using this course as my Sunday School lesson book. The hope and encouragement that I see stirring in the people are very gratifying! This course takes you from the first baby-steps of faith all the way to using your faith for great things. I love it - use it to counsel individuals in my class. A valuable teaching tool!

This is the most awsome teaching on faith I have ever read. Very comprehensive, yet simple to read and understand. By the end you will understand how to walk by faith and believe God's Word is the sole source of Truth. God Bless.

I bought this book a month ago and it has blessed me tremendously!! Kenneth Hagin breaks down the different kinds of faith, what faith is, and how to apply your own faith. He also tells his own personal story about being healed from his death bed and many other experiences he had in the church, such as helping fellow Christians with their own faith. I love that there are questions after every lesson. This helps me to remember and understand what I have been taught in the lesson. I love reading Kenneth Hagin books because he speaks the truth about God. You will surely be blessed by this book and many other Kenneth Hagin books. This is a must read for anyone who is born-again, have weak faith, or for any Christian or anyone else who wants to have a relationship with God!!

Super book to take in the field with you. Organized by color to make it very handy. The photos are beautiful and large. I know that Illinois is a big state but it was amazing how many native birds there are. If you love watching birds - this is a must buy.

I love this book! So easy to use! You can find the bird you see easily (by color), and Stan gives you exactly the tip you need to tell which bird it is! Plus interesting facts about each bird, and where you are likely to see them, and what they are likely to be doing. And beautiful, clear photos! This is the first of his field guides that I ever bought. I bought several others. I love them all! His field guides really work!

This book was great. My partner and I were having a little bet on what bird we had seen in our backyard. This book has it all for those of you who love to birdwatch anywhere.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the birds in their Illinois backyard. We have learned so much about the birds that come to our feeders. Our children, ages 6 and 2, are now very interested in the types of birds that are in our backyard. Excellent buy!

Like all of the other reviews, I find this book the easiest to use when trying to identify new birds who come to our feeder. One other thing I love about it - it tells what the birds like to eat! So can stock my feeder appropriately.

I came across this little gem by accident, found it in the local Missouri section while walking down the wrong aisle at B&N, rather than in the animal section. I picked it up and gave it a glance and didn't think twice about purchasing it or not.

It's practically a dictionary of local birds, each entry has a beautiful picture of the bird, both female and male. Includes important information for identification, what area of the state they prefer, what their eggs and nests look like, and much more.

I really like the color tabs. See a brown bird? Turn to the brown section for quick look up. Living in Missouri, I only recently took up an interest in feeding birds in my back yard and have purchased several books on the subject. This one is the best by far! It's easy to use, informative, and the pictures are of excellent quality!

This is a great book with great pictures of the birds. My boys were able to go straight to the color and find the bird we were looking for.

This is a great book. I got two bird feeders and was curious about the kinds of birds that were feeding. This book is easy to use, it lists birds by colors, it also says whether they are all year round, migratory, summer or winter. Very helpful for identifying the birds!!

After moving to Missouri for my husband's job, I was interested in all the colorful birds. I purchased this book and have been using it for about a year. It is easy to use and include brief descriptions and fun facts about each bird, as well as colorful photos and maps. The best thing is that the pages are color-coded so you aren't flipping through the whole book trying to find that one red bird you saw--you just flip to the red tab pages.

I just started birdwatching, and this is the first book that I bought to help me along. It is arranged by bird color, which is great for beginners like me who have no idea what to look for. I would say that this is a great book for beginners, but maybe a bit too simple for people who have been birdwatching for awhile. I am about ready for a new book myself...

We have two dozen field guides and identifiers for birds - this one book is faster than all the rest to identify what is at our feeder, on the trail or along the road. It almost seems too simple - why don't all the other guides we have go by ... color ... seems too simple right? D'oh. I almost feel like I'm cheating when I use this book - other books seem too snobberish - read: if you are a *real* birder, use our complete guide. Find a bird, lookup the color or color combination, look through 10 pages and presto - identified. How hard can that be?

If you could only get one birding book ... get this one. Or, in my case, if I only have room to pack one book, I always pack this one.

Side-note: The companion CDs are great too, and they match the pages up nicely to the book, but frankly I can't identify by ear - maybe I' tone deaf ... but they are nicely arranged discs. My wife likes them more.

I found this book to be very informative & easy to find a particular bird since they are grouped by color. However, I'm a little confused by the photo & description of the Carolina Chickadee. I've lived in Western North Carolina since Spring, 2006 & the "Chickadee" I've always seen doesn't have the tan belly as the one pictured in the book. The "Chickadee" I've seen has mostly a white belly & has a white streak on the wing. It looks most like the pictures identifying the Black-Capped Chickadee I've seen in other bird identification books. I am wondering why the author did not include a photo & description of the Black-Capped Chickadee.

Birds of the Carolinas and the companion CD have been without a doubt the best field guide we have purchased. I refer to it on a regular basis and find the new color coded format extremely easy to use. It is well worth purchasing even if you have several other guides!!

I love this field guide! It has full page pictures on the left side, making it easy to just flip through the book and find the bird that you're looking for. And limiting it to just the birds in the Carolinas eliminates the irritation of thinking that you've figured out waht bird it is - only to find that that bird only lives in Arizona!

This book is perfect for rookies. The color coded tabs helped me to quickly look up the bird's that were clustering at my new feeder. I just wanted to know a little bit about each species to better enjoy them. I now keep this the book near my window, so that I can idententify all types of birds that flock in and around my yard.
This book is most definately a great investment.
(I love the compact size)

The eternal battle of the sexes rages on and this time it is fought among the stars.

Charlotte Boyett-Campo mingles the threads of ancient Roman history with Celtic myths of vampires and highland music to forge a world, an Empire, and a love among the stars. Although Kamerone Cree, Rysalian Prime Reaper, and Dr. Bridget Dunne form the central focus of Bloodwind, they are the sword tip upon which a galaxy and an empire turns. Bridget, hungry for the comforts and familiarity of home, falls irrevocably for the animal she feared and hated in Cree, even to offering her life's blood to save him from death, until she is the Empire he willing sacrifices his principles and his way of life to preserve. Add a rebellion of women stolen from nearby systems and Earth divided against themselves and the stranglehold of a despotic empire which has grown fat on hate and fear and you have a tale of dark myth with an even darker end.

Due to their blundering warrior-scientific heritage, the Rysalians must steal females from other planets after accidentally eradicating their own women. Prime meat comes from places like Terra. However, these independent females refuse to simply turn into "loyal" subjects or sex fodder for the Reapers, another Rysalian warrior-scientific species experiment. The earthlings secretly head up the Resistance.

The lords sitting on the Bench of the Court of Military Justice declare Captain Kamerone Cree guilty, shocking all reapers since their word is usually law. Cree, the highest ranked and recognized most deadly of reapers, is sentenced to active reinforcement at the Ministry of Behavioral Modification. Kamerone knows the resistance is involved and thirsts for vengeance.

The resistance "controls" key Ministry of Behavioral Modification positions. They plan to insure that Kamerone falls in love with a Terran to win him to their side as the beginning of a more powerful opposition. They already have programmed Dr. Bridget Dunne to fall in love with Kamerone.

BLOOD WIND, the first novel in the "Wind Demon" trilogy, is an exciting science fiction tale that uses romance and vampire elements to enhance a strong plot. The story line never slows down as readers observe an advanced technological society using its science to control and change people. Cree has many vampire traits, but love is not supposed to be in his genetic make-up. Does he love Bridget, an intrepid heroine who turns his bark into more than his bite, because of science or his heart? Charlotte Boyett-Compro has written a fabulous novel that will leave readers thirsting for books two and three.

Harriet Klausner

BloodWind is book one of the WindDemon Trilogy written by Charlotte Boyett-Compo. In one word, this book was Incredible!!!!!

Captain Kamerone Cree is the highest ranking officer in the Ministry of Acquisitions. Since birth, he has been conditioned and trained to uphold the beliefs of the brutal Rysalian Empire. He, along with six others, are known as Reapers. All of them are extremely dangerous and possess the power to shapeshift into something very, very . . . lethal. None of them are more dangerous than Kamerone Cree.

His savage/ruthless reputation causes men and women to flee from his presence. No one dares to confront Kamerone, fearing his wrath. He displays no emotion at all and is known as the Iceman. Whatever he wants, he gets. No questions asked. Nothing is denied him until the Tribunal questions his loyalty and decides to make an example of him.

Why is his loyalty in question when it has never been before? He believes he knows who is responsible. The Resistance . . .

He is ordered to the Ministry of Behavioral Modification where he undergoes cruel and brutal treatments. It is there that Dr. Bridget Dunne enters his life.

Bridget is young, beautiful and a member of the Resistance. Along with her co-workers, she seeks to gain freedom from the Rysalian Empire and their only hope is to have Prime Reaper Kamerone Cree join their side. Bridget never imagines the impact he will have in her life. As he is forced to go through brutal reconditioning methods, her feelings for him begin to change.

Kamerone is the most deadliest of his kind. A shapeshifting assassin that believes any emotion will leave him vulnerable. Yet, he falls very, very HARD for Bridget. He purchases her, forcing her to live with him. It is there that their feelings spiral out of control.

Unknown to these two, there are darker forces at work. There are some who will stop at nothing to insure that their evil plans come to life.

Kamerone Cree was the ultimate, tortured hero. He was simply to die for . . . (sigh!) He possessed such unimaginable power, a deadly force to be reckoned with if ever crossed yet he never harms Bridget. One scene comes to mind (can't give anything away). Bridget pushes Kamerone's emotions, willingly making him angry. She expects him to hurt her yet he never does. He touches her with gentleness and that soft caress is so very intimidating because it is in such contrast to the deadly fury roaring within him.

Will Kamerone join the Resistance and what will he do once he discovers Bridget's part in all of it?

BloodWind was worth MORE than 5 stars!! It is incredibly written. I, for one, eagerly await the continuation of Bridget and Kamerone's story in DarkWind.

Run and grab yourself a copy of BloodWind. Prepare to fall in love with the deadliest of all shapeshifting assassins - Kamerone Cree.

Bravo, Charlee!

The Rysalian Empire had been near extinction. All their females were useless. When the men learned that the females from Terra could be impregnated by their race, they created Retrieval Units to abduct them.

Of all the warriors in the Empire, the ones known as Reapers were most feared. They were the elite, feared by men and women alike. Trained from birth to hunt and kill, then altered at the age of ten for other special talents, Reapers knew no fear and no love. Prime Reaper Captain Kamerone Cree was the best of them all. The Fleet called him "the Iceman".

The Resistance had noticed Cree's looks toward Dr. Bridget Dunne. With careful planning the Resistance had Cree taken to Behavioral Modification (Be-Mod 9) for "punishment". Unknown to the Empire, the doctors of Be-Mod 9 were really re-programming the Prime Reaper.

That was easier said than done, for Reapers were what Terra called Vampires. A bloodbeast lived within each Reaper. They were usually merciless warriors with a high pain tolerance, but whenever one entered into Transition the beast took over. The Resistance chose Bridget as his mate. Cree and Bridget would be used to change the Empire, whether they liked it or not!

***** A lot of torture takes place within this book. Anyone who enjoys the series of STAR WARS will find themselves glued to the pages of this novel! I do not care if you are male or female! It is a Dark Fantasy novel with a touch of Romance. I practically GROWLED at anyone who made me stop reading for even a few minutes. It is THAT good! Highly recommended to ALL Fantasy and Sci-Fi fans out there! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

The Rysalian Empire had been near extinction. All their females were useless. When the men learned that the females from Terra could be impregnated by their race, they created Retrieval Units to abduct them.

Of all the warriors in the Empire, the ones known as Reapers were most feared. They were the elite, feared by men and women alike. Trained from birth to hunt and kill, then altered at the age of ten for other special talents, Reapers knew no fear and no love. Prime Reaper Captain Kamerone Cree was the best of them all. The Fleet called him "the Iceman".

The Resistance had noticed Cree's looks toward Dr. Bridget Dunne. With careful planning the Resistance had Cree taken to Behavioral Modification (Be-Mod 9) for "punishment". Unknown to the Empire, the doctors of Be-Mod 9 were really re-programming the Prime Reaper.

That was easier said than done, for Reapers were what Terra called Vampires. A bloodbeast lived within each Reaper. They were usually merciless warriors with a high pain tolerance, but whenever one entered into Transition the beast took over. The Resistance chose Bridget as his mate. Cree and Bridget would be used to change the Empire, whether they liked it or not!

***** A lot of torture takes place within this book. Anyone who enjoys the series of STAR WARS will find themselves glued to the pages of this novel! I do not care if you are male or female! It is a Dark Fantasy novel with a touch of Romance. I practically GROWLED at anyone who made me stop reading for even a few minutes. It is THAT good! Highly recommended to ALL Fantasy and Sci-Fi fans out there! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

I have dubbed this priceless book "the Bible." I discovered this book when I was 17 and knew nothing about astrology. After looking up myself and reading the Aries-Libra combination for the female, I was instantly mesmerized. I went on a "looking up people" binge. I took a swan dive into astrology and have been studying it for 7 years because of the initial influence of this book. I even emailed Carolyn Reynolds, telling her how priceless this book was to me and how I show everyone I know, and how I'm so proud of having and understanding it with my Leo rising! To my disbelief she wrote back saying, "Thank you. I also have a Leo rising." If this book was $500 I would still have to have it. The only people who say that their "profile" in the book isn't true are the ones who just don't want to admit they are in fact the way Mrs. Reynolds says, or they just refuse to admit that astrology does somehow explain why they are the way they are. As Linda Goodman wrote, "There are some people who believe in astrology who know little about it and even MORE people who don't believe in astrology who know absolutely nothing about it." This book simply proves astrology.

There's a brilliant new author on the astrological horizon and her name is Carolyn Reynolds. Goodman has mystically passed her vision and her wand to the next generation. This is a must read whether you're a lover, friend, or foe. I highly recommend this guide to all inquisitive planetary subjects.

I work as a bartender. After looking up hundreds of people and then asking their partner or friends if it is accurate, I have had only two no's. And of those only one was fully no, the other was partially accurate. Maybe they are practicing self denial... LOL

Dear Sirs,madam, First I gonna thak you About a Great Books you have been typed & Anyone who start to read it will feel good . Your, Feras Abdallah. Thak you very much.

When I first thumbed through this book, I didn't know much about astrology. This is the first book which got me seriously interested in astrology. Most of the profiles are accurate and you don't have to know anything about astrology for it to work for you. A note to beginners: because this book only takes into consideration the sun and moon signs, it does not give a 100% accurate description of whether or not two given people are "compatible". One must take into consideration both person's rising signs (ascendant) and venus and mars. For a true compatibility reading, you still need to go to a professional astrologer with the exact dates and times of birth.

All the information you need to explore new rivers. Giving it as a gift to all our paddling freinds and family.

It would be nice if it were easy to scout out a river before driving to an access point and paddling it. This book does it for you. The directions to access points and places to park are very detailed and good. The maps are excellent and very clear. There are written notes on the problems or special circumstances you will encounter, which are very intelligent and accurate. I checked the rivers I have paddled and read the remarks, and they are just what you need to know, and they are true. The author really knows what he is writing about, this is not a book thrown together by someone who hasn't actually been on the river. If you want to know which Michigan rivers are in this book, here is a list:

Lower Peninsula:
Au Sable
Au Sable South Branch
Betsie
Black
Boardman
Cass
Chippewa
Dowagiac
Flat
Huron
Jordan
Kalamazoo
Little Manistee
Little Muskegon
Mansitee
Muskegon
Ocqueoc
Pere Marquette
Pigeon
Pine
Platte
Rifle
Shiawassee
Sturgeon
Thornapple
Thunder Bay
White

Upper Peninsula:
Black
Brule
Escanaba
Ford
Fox
Indian
Manisique
Michigamme
Montreal
Ontonagon (East Branch, Mainstream, Middle Branch, South Branch)
Paint
Presque Isle
Sturgeon
Two Hearted
Whitefish

What a great book! I am a beginner kayaker having never kayaked a river before - and was nervous even thinking about it. This book was very descriptive and informative. We did the Platte River from Loon Lake to Lake Michigan and it was a blast. Very relaxing. The maps of the rivers were great as was the description of the landings and portages. Looking forward to my next river, and this book will help decide which one!

This book is really good to have in the car or for planning a trip. It is really handy having the maps next to the description. Good accurate maps and great insight.

The people who wrote this book definately did their homework. I've gone down a few of the rivers in the lower peninsula and this book was an impeccable guide. Now, Lower Peninsula rivers aren't exactly the meanest or fastest, but there are enough twists and turns to keep your attention and to want a book like this aroud, if only to know what's all out there. There was also good attention paid to campsites and drop off points gone through in great detail. I once tried a dropoff point agains the recommendation of this book and paid for it dearly.

The problem about getting hardcovers of natural wonders like rivers is that all too often the data becomes obsolete after a couple years. For this case is seems that it's still pretty to date, but check on the web anyways just in case conditions change.