Escape Books

Captain Frelinghuysen, of the 5th Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, was ambushed and captured by the Germans in North Africa in WWII. Arriving in a concentration camp in Italy in the dead of winter 1942, he refused to accept the defeat and apathy around him and began a self-imposed program of physical training and Italian, preparing himself for an opportunity to escape. His ordeal of seven weeks of fear, hunger, and cold, on foot in some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, ia good history and fine adventure reading as well. Better maps would make the action easier to follow.

Judith Kahn has written a one of a kind restaurant guide for the person(s) looking for a chance to enjoy good food and a beautiful outdoor atmosphere. All of the restaurants in the book have two things in common-good food and patio dining. There are maps to the locations from Palo Alto to the Napa-Sonoma Valley and in the City of San Francisco. If you live in the area or are planning a trip, this book will make a difference in your vacation. Mentioned are independent restaurants, hotels dining and wineries. Ms. Kahn shares the signiture dish, info on the wine list and what is different about each locale. Whether you are planning a daytime outing or spending a few nights in the area, you will find a "Patio Escape" to add to your enjoyment. I had the chance to dine at a few of the establishments mentioned during my recent stay in San Francisco and I was not disappointed.

Pema Chodron is so warm, accepting and non-judgmental of our human frailties she shows us a forgiving way to approach ourselves and others.
Recognizing ancient concepts of time, space and spirit requires thought. If you have reflected on the spirit, and have not looked closely at the Buddhist philosophy, you are missing a very delicious layer of spirituality. No matter the depth you choose to delve, this is a wonderful place to start.

I purchased this book about 5 years ago and it really made me think about what can be gained by the knowledge and culture that has been present in the east for (at least) thousands of years.

It tells the simple story (directly transcribed from the original Vedic texts) of a wandering aesthetic who comes in contact with a person of the royal order. On his way to some important destination the king, not aware of the enlightened status of the sage, mistakenly inscripts him in the service of carrying him on a raised dias. The sage was very careful to respect the life of the many ants scurrying along the path so, in trying to avoid stepping on them, the king was jostled about while atop his palenquin. After tolerating a few chastisements the sage humbly presents to the king "Why is the travelling of the ants upon this road any less important than your travelling here?"

Upon hearing such unassumed wisdom from the mouth of his carrier, the king quickly realizes his mistake. Falling on the ground in front of the sage with his nose pressed to the earth at his feet the king requests the sage to forgive his misjudgement. The sage responds by imparting a dissertation of very clear and precise spiritual knowledge that has just as much relevance today as it did then.

A very good read!

Devamrita Swami illuminates this ancient conversation with great lucidity and insight that can only be gained from someone, such as himself, who has similarly fallen at the feet of the great sages. His use of modern analogies and terms make the ancient teachings of self realization accessable to us all.

Highly recommended.

Regards,
Edward Pattillo

A Plan for Escape was the first book by Adolfo Bioy-Casares that I read. It was quickly followed by everything I could find by him. Bioy-Casares collaborated with the better known Jorge Luis Borges - and the inventive prose shows that there is an affinity of genius.

This particular tale is a study on prisons - guards and prisoners - and the horrors that grow out of the relationship between the enprisoning and the enprisoned. If you want a straight line plot with everything neatly bundled at the end, this book is not for you. If you are willing to risk contemplating humanities' capacity for evil, you will be enthralled by this master.

Usted no perdera su tiempo ni dinero con este libro, verdaderamente una joya en cuanto a radaccion y como la historia es llevada paso a paso por este escritor.

I realized recently while trying to plan a day-trip that I had no idea where I wanted to go. Thanks to this book, I'll never have that problem again.
It's organized for weekend and day trips, with tips on lodging, eating and activities. Ideas range from stuff everyone's heard of (like Starved Rock and Galena) to stuff I can't wait to explore (like a Chocolate Trail!!!!)
The author also gives price ranges for lodging and restaurants.
Bottom line, if you get sick and tired of the city like I do, and need to get away (if only for an afternoon), then fill up your gas tank and buy this book.

My beloved copy of this book is now tattered with use and full of sticky notes and hi-lighter marks.

I really enjoy taking short trips around the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area instead of getting on a plane or driving long distances. There is so much to do around here, why go anywhere else?

My husband and I trade off years for who gets to plan our wedding anniversary trip. I have planned three great anniversaries using this book. (Lower Napa Valley, Sonoma Coastline, and Old Sacramento.) All I had to do was photocopy the "Quick Escape" I wanted to take from the book, write a few notes in the margins and I was ready to go. All the places to stay, places to eat and things to do were already outlined for me. The author even notes quaint little towns or scenic vistas along the way that we might have missed otherwise.

Other travel guides give you a categorized list of activities, restaurants, hotels etc. but you still have to figure out how to put it all together for a vacation. With this book, I could quickly and easily plan a romantic and fun vacation with very little imagination or research required. And I get to take all the credit! :-)

If you live in the San Francisco area and want a great guide for weekend trips, this book will become your best friend.

This book was a nice read. I like to know what to expect when I go on a vacation, especially those weekend trips because they are so short. Lake Tahoe and the red woods were my favorites. I will use the suggestions for future trips, too.

Wish this book had been around when I arrived in Pittsburgh mumblety-mumble years ago. That said, I've enjoyed and appreciated the book's coverage on a number of jaunts I've taken: old favorites like the Laurel Highlands as well as startling revelations of new destinations (What does Cleveland have that a Pittsburgher might envy? The West Side Market. Don't knock it if you haven't been). Some of the short trips are novel even for long-time Pittsburgh residents; the "Bridges of Washington County" section was a revelation. If it weren't for this book, I never would have seen the floating houses of Erie or experienced antigravity in Altoona. I've found the book to be useful as a restaurant guide for a number of destinations. The romantic inn in the castle in upstate New York was nice, too. Best of all, though, is the rail trail coverage . . . RIDE ON!