California Books

I have enjoyed reading this well written book and learning about the scientists and volunteers who are working to restore the species. Science got a little short shrift, which is probably nice for many readers. I learned a lot anyway. Though I did not always agree with the author's opinions, I think this is an important book and may help reduce the general ignorance about the fate of the American Chestnut, something everyone really ought to know about.

I have read a number of books in the genre of environmental science or nature that missed the mark for me when it came to explaining the science of the problem. This book was perfect. Some books spend too much time on personalities - again perfect and seemingly balanced. My only minor complaint was that I didn't need so much preaching about why I should care about the chestnut. I do! This book exceeded my expectations and I truly learned something from it.

I work in plant pathology which sparked my interest in this topic. This book is written by a non-scientist and it is very well researched and full of interesting stories of many of the people affected by, and dedicated to saving the American Chestnut. I would recommend it to anyone interested in US history or biology or just looking for a good read.

As a biologist with an intense avocational interest in the American Chestnut, I planted nearly a hundred seeds on my property in PA way back in 1972. After 8 years of beautiful growth, the blight hit them. I joined the American Chestnut Foundation and discovered a hypovirulent chestnut on my property that I shared with professionals studying the blight fungus. But my interest in chestnuts waned, in part because of the ACF's backcrossing program, until I read Susan Freinkel's marvelous book! The people I knew only as names became personalities--Burnham, Rutter, Hebard--and she introduced me to others, such as Gary and Lucille Griffen, whose work she described finally explained to me why the hypovirulent inoculants I applied to my chestnuts back in 1980 didn't help at all. It's the combination of genetic resistance with hypovirulence that is needed. What an eye opener and what a fantastic book she has written, one that has rekindled my youthful interest in restoring the role of the American Chestnut. Her book supports the huge role natural history plays in producing good science. Passion for a species is a natural element in knowing it.

As an avid amateur botanist, it is rare when an informative AND interesting book on plants is published. But this the case here. Freinkel speaks with an informative and lyrical voice, making one ponder the tragedy of the loss of this truly magnificent tree. I'm very glad to see this lovely book published, and hope more writers follow Freinkel's example.

This book is not just a mega dose of good news, but is a resource rich exposé on where the good news is being generated.

Reading "And Now for the Good News", you are made aware of the limits of corporate media coverage and informed on projects and people who are making positive change, and then empowered to get involved. This book allows all of its readers to be a part of the solution.

Simple energy,small passions,life.We manifest it.Know that our needs are ONE,not few.At a time when our good graces seem under continual assault,this author reminds us of everyday fulfillment.You most likely do these tasks within your own life.But then,that's the GOOD NEWS.I have been able to share this information with friends,associates,and,children in need of a jumpstart in goodness.

And Now for the Good News... is a nonfiction testimony presented to counterbalance the seemingly unending torrent of dismal news that pours from television, newspaper, and internet sources day in and day out. Good news ranges from a major new study (the 2005 Human Security Report) revealing that political violence has sharply declined worldwide since the early 1990s, to the record high life expectancy rate found in the U.S. (77.9 years), to a decline in illegal drug use among U.S. teens (down 23.3% in the last five years with reductions in every drug, including alcohol and cigarettes), and much more. An intellectually, emotionally and spiritually uplifting testimony featuring meticulously documented sources, highly recommended as an antidote to CNN depression.

And Now for the Good News in a society mostly focused on bad news, is news, indeed. Badly needed news at that. What Al Gore does with his video on healing our planet, Sue Ray does with this book to bring into balance our distorted world view. As she says in her book, "how we frame the issue matters." Citing examples of what has already been accomplished gives us the heart and impetus of wanting to do the same. Words are worlds. Instead of focusing on the word `fight' in "the fight against global warming," let us focus on the words `help' and `healing' in "help our planet heal itself." Read this book. It will restore your faith in humanity.

What resonates with me is the conscious creation / law of
attraction aspect of this inspiring book. We get what we focus on, so it
makes sense that what we chose to pay attention to on the news
affects each of us on many levels. Why not pay more attention to the
positive events and people in the world? This book is a great reminder that there are many people in this world creating positive change that benefits us all.

A considerable amount of history during the early Middle Ages was written by Middle Easterners, and their scholarship should be taken seriously, as shown in this book. There is a lot of information appropriate to the issues in the region even now. See other reviews in the resource library at civilsociety dot seedwiki

As other reviewers have noted, this book is an engrossing, highly informative text, that is (generally) quite an easy read. It can be gory and propagandistic at times, as some have noted. Overall, it's a very good digest of Muslim narratives of several key events.

The main drawback is that I would not consider this a stand-alone book, particularly on a lot of the convoluted political arrangements - I'd suggest Wasserman's "Templars & the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven" for that - and I really don't think one can get the full understanding of the Muslim mentality in fighting the Crusaders from it. For that I'd suggest al-Sulami's "Way of Sufi Chivalry" (for those on a budget) or preferably Sabzawari's "Royal Book of Spiritual Chivalry" (for those who aren't) to get into the mindset of the Muslim warriors. For while "Arab Historians" includes a lot personal commentary from the authors, these last two books were written as guides for the emirs and warriors, and once reading them one gets the feeling that "Arab Historians" was written by some military public relations officer.

Still a highly recommended, enjoyable read, though.

Once you've read the popular histories of the Crusades, and your appetite for the original source materials has been whetted by the excerpts in Payne, Runciman, etc., you will want this book. It's THE source reader for the Arab perspectives, better in many ways than The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Maalouf). You get the flavor of the culture as well as their particular slant on the events and personalities. And the snarky footnotes can be delicious!

A very good source, especially for those who have read about the Crusades and understand the context of the writings. This book is not an overview of the crusades or of a single crusade; it is selections from the writings of Arabic historians placed in a chronological order. Easy to read, detailed and engrossing; both useful and enjoyable.

A good book. It has many parallels with accounts of the original Muslim invasions and subsequent 700 year occupation of most of the Iberian (Spain/Portugal) Penninsula. Due to this initial Muslim invasion and occupation of Christian Europe, the Christian Crusades were launched into Spain and the Holy Land. Same story in the Balkans and Anatolia with the Seljuk and Ottoman Turk invasions of those Christian lands. First hand accounts of events always make for good reading. A good book, unfortunately I lost it.

I found this book to be incredibly helpful in understanding ADHD and how art therapy can be especially effective in treating this disorder. I recommend it very highly, especially if you or someone you know has an ADHD child in their family.

I found this book to be incredibly helpful in understanding what my child was going through -- it really helped me better communicate with my child and we are now working through her issues together. It also helped me better understand and work with her therapist. All in all, I found this book to be extremely helpful and recommend it very highly, especially if you or someone you know has an ADHD child.

This book should fall into the hands of professionals and families whose lives have been affected by contact with this illness.

The methodology of art therapy is an insight not only to expose repressed feelings as well as helping to define the perspectives of those with antisocial behavior patterns.

The clarity of this easily read book and the dedication of the author's efforts should give impetus to new hope for those who have struggled with this neurological problem.

This reviewer's first hand encounters with the symptoms of ADand HD,hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsivity which evoked only a loving empathy found the contents of the book a hope-filled horizon.

By teaching and giving vent through physical expression in art forms many more senses are engaged leading to awakenings, the author encourages, thereby moving all concerned to more pragmatic and redeeming stages of self regard and social responsibility.

Ms. Safran's studies and conclusions may well repave many paths filled with frustrations and heartbreak for families while providing a seemingly simple method to self discovery for the
ADandHD affected.....at any age.

This is a very good resource for therapists working with children with AD/HD, families with AD/HD and adults with AD/HD. Written in a down to earth style the book briefly reviews the history of AD/HD,tells how to assess children,families and adults and suggests appropriate assessment tools to use. Though the book is not geared to individual work, it coaches the reader in how to set up groups for children, families and adults. In addition, the book includes an excellent resource appendix for the therapist and parent education.

In this book, Diane Safran clearly demonstrates her knowledge and skill as a highly qualified art therapist. More importantly, in this work she brilliantly demonstrates the efficacy of this discipline in diagnosing and treating this disorder.
What is most impressive is her sensitivity to and the awareness of the pervasive impact this disorder has on the whole family. Regardless of whether the patient is a child or an adult, once the diagnosis is made, Safran and her team are prepared to address individual, family and environmental issues impacting on future progress of the patient.
The text is well written, the format easy to follow and the case studies and illustrations excellent.
As a pioneer in the field of art therapy education, I recommend this book not only to those teachers and mental health professionals working with ADHD populations, but to students in all fields of mental health who need to be informed about the value of this discipline as an adjunct to their practice and as a significant modality that may be a treatment of choice.

The word artificial originally meant "artful, crafty." That's an apt description of ARTIFICIAL IMAGINATION, which blends art, craft, and wit into a narrative that teaches us life lessons that we did not knew we knew.
-- Richard Lederer, author of Anguished English

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2JQ1EBHV3YOR6 Great book, nice splash of humor--high quality photos! I specially like the love story at the end.

Here are some links to photo posters and calendars from the book and promotional T-shirts:
Scenic City and Boat Photo Poster
University of Washington Photo Poster
Seattle Secenic Sunset Photograph
Seattle Secenic Photograph
Thonging At the Beach
San Francisco Scenic Union Square Photo Poster
Pike Place Market Photo Print
Beach Hotties Poster

This book transcends genre -- it's a good collection of memoirs, entertaining style, nice splash of humor, an extremely detailed travelogue with beautiful photographs, a good description of technology, a touch of Science Fiction (since it is purportedly written by a Artificial Imagination program) and suffused with philosophical musings.

Even though it's obviously written by a Technologist, the book is very human. It is primarily about the immigrant experience, but Kalpanik is extremely observant and has an eye to look for the unusual, notice what stands out and build humorous side of people, places and his own life.

Wonderful! one can feel a touch of his bitter-sweet experiences but one is encouraged by his ability to find humor everywhere.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1CJDZRIOJJIFN Kalpanik's writing is down to earth, funny, witty and smart. He chronicles his journey of self-discovery with an amazing detail and humor. His coverage of the various places he has been to--UC Davis, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and Nashville-- was informative and enjoyable, and so were his jokes around them. I recommend this book to anyone looking for light reading, specially busy professionals who do not have time to read a whole book in one straight session but want to read one entertaining a chapter at a time.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T5IX83S8N7DX Light reading, but very engaging! Entertaining and excellent for busy professionals since you can read it chapter at a time and still enjoy it!

The word artificial originally meant "artful, crafty." That's an apt description of ARTIFICIAL IMAGINATION, which blends art, craft, and wit into a narrative that teaches us life lessons that we did not knew we knew.
-- Richard Lederer, author of Anguished English

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3MNQP39J0TE6R Great book, will make you laugh, smile, giggle, chuckle, giggle, crack up, guffaw and generally have a good time. Extremely nice photos. And it is actually very thoughtful, one can quickly see through the pretended thoughtlessness. Here are some posters and calendars with the high resolution versions of the book:
Scenic City and Boat Photo Poster
University of Washington Photo Poster
Seattle Secenic Sunset Photograph
San Francisco Scenic Union Square Photo Poster
Nashville Tug Boat on Cumberland River Photo Poster
Pike Place Market Photo Print
"Playing Guitar" Photo Poster
San Diego Scenic Waterfront Poster

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R27056TEI8N6A9 his book transcends genre -- it's a good collection of memoirs, entertaining style, nice splash of humor, an extremely detailed travelogue with beautiful photographs, a good description of technology, a touch of Science Fiction (since it is purportedly written by a Artificial Imagination program) and suffused with philosophical musings.

Even though it's obviously written by a Technologist, the book is very human. It is primarily about the immigrant experience, but Kalpanik is extremely observant and has an eye to look for the unusual, notice what stands out and build humorous side of people, places and his own life.

Wonderful! one can feel a touch of his bitter-sweet experiences but one is encouraged by his ability to find humor everywhere.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3HI11PJUYIZVJ Kalpanik's writing is down to earth, funny, witty and smart. He chronicles his journey of self-discovery with an amazing detail and humor. His coverage of the various places he has been to--UC Davis, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and Nashville-- was informative and enjoyable, and so were his jokes around them. I recommend this book to anyone looking for light reading, specially busy professionals who do not have time to read a whole book in one straight session but want to read one entertaining a chapter at a time.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2K9BD305H2ISE Very entertaining and engaging. Author is able to take a relatively mundane topic and make it interesting. Excellent for busy professionals looking for light reading since you can read it a chapter at a time and not lose the thread.

Now in an updated second edition, B. S. Detecting: The Flip Side of Success-Possible Communicating is a treasury of information everybody needs to know about how language (and other forms of communication, but language in particular) can be abused and misused, whether intentionally or obliviously. A simple color-coding of different types of speech (silver = verifiable facts, black = demands and orders, white = important truths that are left out, red = emotionally angry speech, brown = plain old B.S., etc.) is the precursor to an in-depth, layman's terms guide to language abuses ranging from misunderstandings to manipulations to pathological behavior. B. S. Detecting is more than simply learning to beware the high-pressure salesman threatening to take away the "limited-time" deal or the Isolator who lures new people into his group by excluding and villifying others (the worst Isolators include drug pushers and cult leaders); it also includes ways to focus on communication problems, and know when to make overtures or when to recognize that an individual is simply too disturbed to deal with. B. S. Detecting especially mentions solid advice for discerning whether a person will be a compatible and trustworthy mate (hint: if he won't give you verifiable details about his address, phone number, family, or job he's probably a con man or worse) but also applies to sifting through lies, manipulative dogma, and half-truths in every aspect of life. And when one is dealing with an honest person, B. S. Detecting gives practical tools to mediate disagreements - especially Operational Definitions (clarifying the initial definitions both parties are working from) and Anecdotal Reporting (a meticulous description of a series of actions, comments, and responses in order to discover patterns). B. S. Detecting is quite literally a self-help manual for dealing with the complexities of human beings. In a world where increasingly savvy con artists cannot be identified by their appearance or mannerisms, B. S. Detecting gives the reader need-to-know information to sift the truth from a line, and warns that no one can B. S. you as thoroughly as you can B. S. yourself. Unless you are a hermit with zero contact with any and all other human beings, B. S. Detecting is an absolute "must-read".

This is a defense manual for everyday life! The book's interactive, with each chapter's method of detecting and coping with words clearly and vividly explained. The concepts in it provide skills that empower the reader, and can improve your life!

To get us out of the "error messages and gobbledygook" we so often fall into, this book gives clear, practical, fun-to-read
specific guides to communicating more effectively. Among the 17
chapters, "What do you mean, he loves you?" "Says Who?" and "Who
started the fight?" Valuable reading for everyone! Highly
recommended.
Leon Fletcher, author of How to Speak Like a Pro,and How to Design and Deliver Speeches.

I purchased this book as a graduation gift for my granddaughter. Of course, I had to read it first, just to check it out. ;)

I wish I'd known before what this book reveals. Mz Thompson's behind-the-scenes knowledge of the ad industry, how to use and misuse words to entice us to "buy" what someone is selling, whether it's a product or just some B.S. was enlightening.

I hope she writes another one. I'd purchase that one too.

If you know a parent struggling with communicating with teenagers or preteens, this book would be a real help. And any
married couple would find it helpful in discussing decisions or disagreements without loss of harmony.
The book would also be a boon to a youngster. Remember all the difficult situations when you weren't sure what to say, or what to make of what was said to you? Imagine having a book that could tell you how to use words to help you progress in life, and how to deal with verbal abuse!

This book has everything a casual offroader or overlander would want (this book does not cover the hardcore break stuff, tear up your rig trails). Great descriptions of the trails and the road surface you be riding on. Great turn bu turn directions to each trail with GPS coordinates! Also explains some of the history and highlights of the trail and rates all trails for remoteness and beauty. Interesting book just to read for fun. There is no better off road book available!

After being transplanted to Southern California from the Northwest, I felt hemmed in, separated from all things natural. Backcountry Adventures has helped to change that. It's a wonderful guide to exploring the region.

The hefty book begins with a historical, botanical and geographic guide to the region, highlighting Southern California's explorers, settlers, missionaries, bandits, flora, fauna and more. It then moves into the individual descriptions of off road routes.

The book is geared towards exploring Southern California's outdoors with a 4WD and might disappoint the Glamas crowd who is focused doing awesome things in their trucks. But, for those of us looking to justify the excess of our SUV's with some exploration, it's perfect.

Each route guide begins with a simple rating guide which rates the trail on a number of qualities like driving difficulty and remoteness, then moves into a description of its history and the history of the region it explores. Next comes a description of the route itself, and then a detailed turn by turn guide with GPS coordinates.

The only real complaint I have with this book is that sometimes routes can be difficult to find without reading through the entire guide. It does contain a few "20 most scenic routes" and whatnot lists, but includes no way to find, say, the most remote routes in the book.

The other thing I'd suggest to improve the book is an accompanying website with downloadable GPS coordinates and user comments. Typing in the coordinates for a route is needlessly time consuming, and being able to download them from the internets would be wonderful. Hearing feedback from other drivers would also be great.

All in all, this book has helped to liberate me from the urban sprawl of Southern California, and for that I'm very grateful.

Tons of info, loads of great photos show you clearly what to expect on each trail. I'll be buying the Northern Cali book next.

I've been using this book for close to a couple years now. While I don't consider myself a novice to off-roading, I definitely don't fall into the rock-crawling group, preferring to use my 4x4 to simply get me to new and out-of-the-way places when time permits. Thus far it has proven to be an excellent resource for quick weekend off-roading getaways and for reading up on new trails to explore. In fact, I've enjoyed this book so much I wound up buying two others as gifts for family and friends. The photos and overviews of each trail definitely help give a good feel for what to expect. If you're a techno-geek like me, being able to plot a computer-generated map using the detailed GPS coordinates will prove highly invaluable (though I have discovered a few critical--though easily identifiable and correctable--errors in the coordinates), and with a handheld GPS I don't need to worry about the often-unusual orientation of the printed maps. For those of us who love exploring, this book will make a fantastic resource.

I bought this, and another book about place to go off-roading in so-cal. This book is like the bible of southern California.
Not only does it have extensive trail location and info, it is a virtual encyclopedia of So-Cals towns, cities, how they got their start. In addition it has extensive info on native species, of plants and animals, important founders of California, and much more. I would definitely recommend it.

Okay, so I was on a tight budget and needed a new book...found this in hardcover at the local superstore on the bargain table...what a find! Frances Norris tells a wonderful story of a character coming to grips with the loss of her family, both recently and in the past. The characters are very believable and Norris gives a true feeling of setting without drowning the reader in description. I read this quickly, but still felt satisfied. Very enjoyable read.

Love and food are two of my favorite subjects, so how could I resist this book? I was not disappointed. The loss element keeps the story subtantive so that its not just another piece of fluff. The book has hilarious characters (including an overbearing narcissist in an amoeba jumper), but the author treats all with compassion enough to make them full and true. The food styling scenes bring together Hollywood fakery with a delicious disgustingness (photographing motor oil poured on macshed potatoes to resemble a sundae). You can't help cheering on narrator Julia as she navigates the crazies and searches out her soul in a soul-less city. Buy this book right away and enjoy!

I loved Julia's story. She finds her inner spark by overcoming her pain, loss, and depression and finding love and forgiveness in unusual ways. The characters are well portrayed and do not lack depth, even the obviously obnoxious figures are seen with irony and compassion at the same time. Highly recommended.

Dear Francie:

I just finished your book. What a wonderful story, full of feeling, wisdom, beauty and hope. I really enjoyed the characters, not to mention that you are an incredibly gifted writer style-wise. I lived the whole trip to Sedona as if I was there. And the end is so sexy, yummy, I love it!! All I can say is, keep writing, girl! And like I said, some day we may see the movie "Blue Plate Special", very attractive title to my ears. Thank you for your gift to the world of readers,

The only reason that I got this book was because the author went to my high school - so I have to admit that my expectations were not that high. But I really, really enjoyed this book, for the reasons stated so eloquently by other reviewers. It was gripping though sad.

Want a beach book? Vincent Joyce's novel about intrigue in and around Istanbul is a gem. Fast-paced, loaded with humor, tragedy and insights, it's a romp thru the shadow world of international chicanery. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in a humorous glimpse into the world behind the scenes in the mid-east.

It's a joy to read a well written story about an area that the author obviously knows well.

Like Le Carre's Berlin, Vincent Joyce's Istanbul is a Cold War crossroads -- only without the checkpoints. Nothing is as it seems, no one is who he or she pretends to be, and the stakes couldn't be higher: the balance of thermonuclear power. Rich in atmosphere, this cloak-and-dagger tale will take you to the Istanbul of the late 60s-early 70s, when the skyline was still a forest of minarets and the city was undoubtedly crawling with U.S. and Soviet agents. Apparently, one of them -- one of ours -- wrote this novel. Joyce has given us a fascinating glimpse into what it must have been like to get caught up in a great game between superpowers. Well-written, well-paced.

I really enjoyed the book. The setting is great, and the author knows the territory. I could see the Bosphorus waterfront and hear the sounds and smell the smells. Author Joyce, in taut prose, paints word pictures while telling a gripping story of intrigue, deception and daring. The love story is there, too, and delightful. I recommend this book.

It's rare in a spy/adventure novel that a male author gets his female lead character right, but Mr. Joyce made Suzan Lokman as real as any fiction heroine can be.

Loved this book! Makes me want to visit Turkey. Who has the movie rights? Can I be the casting director, please?

Our book club selected Both Hunter and Hunted as a light summer read (of course, there's neither light nor summer in San Francisco). It's a bit off the usual type for us, but this spy novel was appreciated by the group as a refreshing change. The characters are realistic and engaging -- even when not necessarily admirable. The principal character and narrator reflects a combination of unabashed ego and awkward humility that rang true as a genuine and complex personality. One example is the narrator's generous use of sexual imagery (who knew about brushing ones teeth?) while demurely cutting away from actual love scenes ("...and he tasted the sea on her lips."). While we most enjoyed the character development, the rather intricate plot also makes for fun, with at least one surprise twist that genuinely surprised the whole (jaded) lot of us.