Utah Books

I also found the book enjoyable and rewarding. For those expecting a traditional history or biography, the style is a little jarring at first. It is the first time I've seen a dual narrative applied to a biography, but the reasons behind it justify it and make it more natural than it at first appears.

It reminds me of one of my other favorites "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Persig, which is the autobiography of a madman, switching with a critique of western philosophy. The dual narratives enrich each other like a good marriage, making a whole, which is better than the sum of its parts. Because this book isn't just about Biddy Mason, and was never intended to be. Its about the author and Biddy Mason, a person pursuing and dealing with centuries old ghosts, and the emotions they still have the power to evoke. It is the sausage factory of how histories are actually written.

I think in many ways the heart of the book, is less about Biddy Mason, than in the brief confrontation between Demaratus and the staid archivist she meets while searching for some files. He is writing a military history, and brushes her off when she says she is writing a social history. She understands something that he does not, which is that history is the most personal, romantic, and human of all the sciences. Human events cannot be understood clearly apart from the human beings involved with them and why they decided to do one thing rather than another, whether it is Robert E. Lee inexplicably sending Pickett's brigade across a mile of open ground into the withering fire of the Union army at Gettysburg, or Truman's lonely decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, or Neanderthals burying their dead with flowers. Human history is not events. Human history is the human heart and events.

Having said that, it would have been interesting at the end to know if the author had resolved her issues with black folks, or merely found more mysteries.

Chris Garcia

DeEtta Demaratus has taken the lives of five people--Biddy, Hannah, Robert, Rebecca and Benjamin--interwoven by circumstances and events during a time far removed from that of people today and has given life to each in a most refreshing manner. You are presented with not only a historical masterpiece, but a moving narrative of events that changed each life forever.

I was immediately captivated by the authors ability to fairly treat each of the characters; especially since the issues involved were given to volatile possibilities in interpretation. Apparently, she chose to be impartial yet totally candid in her treatment of each. In order to have a well rounded narrative of "the search for a lost story of slavery and freedom", each life involved was given its place in this cause and effect chronicle. It was obviously vital for the characters involved to take his place and be counted and held accountable for his part in this gripping narrative.

Ms. Demaratus deserves accolades for her beautiful portrayal of justice triumphing even in the most unlikely of circumstances!!
Kudos for a job well done!!

This is a very thought provoking book for anyone interested in southern history and especially for us with a genealogical interest of our "Deep Southern Roots". Since my husband descends from Robert Mays Smith, the book is a necessity in my "Genealogy Library"!

As both a professional librarian and practicing historian and biographer, I understand the sentiments of reviewers expecting one sort of book but unexpectedly finding another. Personally I am delighted that an author finally has the gumption to meaningfully address their role and biases toward their subject. There is no sanctimonius false objectivity here. The author is subjective and tells you so, yet it is one of the fairest books I have read. While readers who expect fact will find it in Demaratus's book, this more accurately described as a biography of emotions. It is a book about every character confronting themselves over an intensely emotional subject. Compare, for instance, the stories she includes of her experiences with Brenda and the man she calls Sam C. Ultimately, that theme binds together what otherwise could be an important but intensely impersonal narrative. Demaratus suceeds, in my opinion, in treating life--with its chance, missed opportunities, short-sightedness, and subjectivity--historically. This is tough. Slaves typically left little documentary material of their own and the case of Biddy Mason is no exception, so like Ladurie's "Montaillou" the author approaches her subject from a tangential documentary angle; in this case based upon material specifically for and about Biddy's owner, Robert Smith. I found one of the book's greatest strengths to be the author's acknowledgement of how this habeus corpus case affected not merely the plaintiff and defendant, but also the judge and herself. This book not only lays out but also wrestles with the first-hand issue of slavery: what was it like to be owned, and how did ownership affect people on both sides? I was not bothered by the "what ifs" because she stated them clearly and hung to the facts and sources well (and yes, I did check notes). The result is a book that is interesting without sacrificing academic integrity, emotional without being maudlin, and anything but stuffy. I highly recommend it.

As a resident of Los Angeles, I purchased THE FORCE OF A FEATHER anticipating a biography of Biddy Mason, one of this city's early important religious/cultural figures. Before finishing the introduction, entitled "Coming to the Wall," I sensed that this book would be something else, itself quite apart from a standard biography.

A meticulously researched work (along with vibrant illustrations), author Demaratus has managed to unearth the stories of some little known (and a few famous) Americans -- including Biddy Mason -- whose lives, by the mere forces of chance and fate, were to intersect during one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods of U.S. history (the years of Westward expansion leading up to the Civil War). Lives of free people and slaves, white and black, all of whom stood on the threshold of a defining historical moment, confronting hardship, brutality, adventure, loss and the fierce inevitability of change.

Biddy Mason was an astonishing woman by any measurement and the force of her life would resonate farther than she could have ever imagined. And this is exactly where this unique book makes a precarious, yet carefully and perfectly pitched, departure. For it is the author's own story -- her own inspiration to write and her arduous process to complete this work -- that is woven into the narrative, breathing both immediacy and an extraordinary sense of intimacy into "a search for a lost story of slavery and freedom." It's a daring literary choice, and one that I found to be both moving and gratifying.

It occurred to me more than once, while reading this book, that the progressive, embracing, non-judgmental style of the author might be a source of complaint for some. But Demaratus seems too respectful of her subjects to draw conclusions without fact, and is content on occasion -- and asks the reader as well -- to ponder what "might have been." As for the risks she took to tell this story, as well as her willingness to question her own conflicted personal beliefs, it only deepened my impression of this book as well as my sense for the author's integrity.

As for the other posted review, I can only surmise that the critic wanted Demaratus to write a different book that she did. But I don't think it is the critic's job to tell the artist what to create - only to assess and analyze what has been created. If the reviewer simply wants a biography of Mason, then I suggest the critic turn writer and get busy constructing it.

Free Speech 101: The Utah Valley Uproar Over Michael Moore, is the story of the conflict generated during Michael Moore's 2004 Slacker Uprising Tour when author Joseph Vogel, then head of student government at Utah Valley State College, dared to extend an invitation for Michael Moore to come and speak. In the center of fiercely a conservative, passionately Mormon state, Moore's liberal and anti-President Bush views were harshly despised by a vociferous portion of the community. The result was offers of bribery, death threats, and legislative pressures aimed at preventing the UVSC from using student fees to fund an allegedly "viewpoint neutral" program to hear Michael Moore's words. Of course, no similar opposition was raised against conservative Sean Hannity's pro-Bush visit and speech. Vogel himself and many others passionately believed in the importance of free speech, and that true patriotism and being an American meant listening to all points of view before making a decision. The hard-fought battle just to allow Michael Moore to speak, and its outcome, is accounted in vivid detail from an insider's point of view - an author who knows well the history of religious persecution against Mormons for practicing their beliefs, and therefore questions why so much intolerance against free speech exists in the state of Utah to this day. Highly recommended.

"No amount of money, no threat of recall, nothing would make [these student leaders] back down. If that doesn't give everyone hope for this country--that it was students in Utah--not Berkeley, not Madison, not Ann Arbor--Utah stood up. I have never seen a group of young people more dedicated to the First Amendment than the students at Utah Valley State."

--Michael Moore, Director of Fahrenheit 9/11

"Quite a remarkable story, and should be made public, particularly these days, with freedom of speech and academic freedom under serious attack ."

--Noam Chomsky, Author of Understanding Power

"Joe Vogel's first-person memoir of one of the fabulously interesting free speech battles of our time, performs two services: First, in contrast to civil liberties books written by reporters and other third parties looking in and trying to make sense of someone else's scene, this book adds to the scarce library of first-person accounts of the battles that define what it means to be an American. Second, Vogel's story gets to the heart of the definition of moral courage, a lesson that it is essential we teach our children and, of course, continually re-teach ourselves. Bravo!"

--Harvey Silverglate, Co-Founder and Chair of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

"To me, Vogel is a hero. This story is not about Michael Moore or Sean Hannity. It's not even about politics. It's about free speech and the soul of America. Jefferson himself said, 'Information is the currency of democracy,' and information can only come through freedom of speech and expression. Joe Vogel recognized that, and, despite his conservative Mormon ideology, decided to host a controversial speaker in Family City, U.S.A. He recognized that the most important speeches to hear are those with which we most disagree."

--Dan Strong, The Cavalier Daily

"In detailing the maelstrom caused by [inviting Michael Moore to campus], Vogel makes it clear that democracy is not something that just happens; it has to be worked for. It is easier to silence opposing viewpoints than sincerely listen. The valuable contribution of this book is to remind us that citizenship is an art, an art we are in jeopardy of losing."

--Dr. David Keller, Director, Center for the Study of Ethics, UVSC

"What [Vogel] learns, and shares with us in this book. . . mirrors on a small scale what is currently taking place in our nation as a whole. The struggle he faces in the student senate could just as well be, and in fact is, taking place in Washington D.C. . .One can only hope that this book is placed into a time capsule, so that one day our children's children can read it and know we tried. . .Mr. Vogel does his country a service by writing this story."

--Jordan Romney, The Free Speech Zone

"Vogel's book should be read by everyone who cares about the state of free speech in America. In gripping detail Free Speech 101 tells the story of the intolerant campaign waged by conservatives -- from wealthy business leaders to right-wing students -- to prevent anti-Bush filmmaker Michael Moore from speaking at Utah Valley State College. As the student government official who invited Moore, Vogel came under heavy pressure -- personal threats, a recall drive, even bribe offers -- to cancel Moore's speech. Vogel resisted these pressures and won a major victory for free speech by bringing Moore to his campus in one of Utah's most conservative counties . Free Speech 101 eloquently attests to the fragility of civil liberty in post 9-11 America, even on college campuses which are supposed to be centers of the free exchange of ideas. Vogel tells the story of this free speech fight, and his own role in it, with passion and real insight. This important case study makes plain the fact that conservatives have a free speech problem. And perhaps the first thing they ought to do to address it is face up to the intolerance in their movement by reading this superb book."

--Robert Cohen, Author of The Free Speech Movement: Reflections on Berkeley in the 1960s

"During the era of political correctness, most of the suppression of free speech on campus has come from the left, exerted against conservatives. In Free Speech 101: The Utah Valley Uproar Over Michael Moore Joseph Vogel shows how censorship can cut the other way, and how some conservatives have not learned the lesson that free speech should apply regardless of whose ox is being gored. Vogel presents a riveting and telling first hand account of the trauma and politics that surrounded Michael Moore's visit to conservative Utah Valley State College in 2004. Ultimately, the college upheld its committment to open discourse, but the remarkable efforts of Mr. Vogel and his allies were pivotal to this result. Vogel's case study is a window into the politics, psychology, and principles that are at stake in emotional free speech conflicts. The book also provides a model of how to defend free speech principles in the face of intense opposition. Lesson 101: free speech will not prevail when it matters unless such individuals as Vogel and his allies stand up and defend it under pressure."

--Donald Downs, Author of Restoring Free Speech and Liberty on Campus

"'Do conservatives fear free speech?' Rather than merely answering this question, Joe Vogel recounts his experience as a Vice-President of UVSC's student body responsible for inviting the 'liberal' filmmaker Michael Moore to speak just weeks before the monumental 2004 presidential elections. Though the story behind Free Speech 101 takes place in Utah County, it is a paradigm example of the struggles that occur as a predominantly conservative community is confronted with new ideas and new voices. As a key participant in the event, Vogel provides behind the scenes insights of the battle for free speech, showing how some may use their politics, power and money to silence ideas that differ from their own.Through his own first-person narrative, Vogel illustrates that the fight for free speech is not an issue only affecting nations and communities, but is an issue strongly affecting each individual member and voice of those communities - liberal or conservative."

--Loyd Ericson, Project Mayhem

"I couldn't put it down. . .[Free Speech 101] is about the personal trials Joe went through to protect the very soul of free speech. The book illustrated how fragile a thing it is and hinted at the idea that we should be out there doing what we can to protect it, whether we agree with what people have to say or not. It was a refreshing thing to read. . .To say that it caused a stir in me is an understatment. . .The book made me want to get up and do something about politics again. . .Any apathy that I may have developed in the last few months has been erased completely by reading Free Speech 101."

--Bryan Young, co-producer of This Divided State

"A fine book and a worthy read. . .At the center of this controversy stood a young man who held to his ideals and would not let his integrity be compromised. . .Vogel's attitude was that it is the voice we most disagree with that we need to hear. He teaches us all, republican or democrat, red or blue, conservative or liberal, open discourse and freedom of speech should never be taken for granted."

--Dominique Replogle, The College Times

"You absolutely have to read Joseph Vogel's Free Speech 101. It is the granddaddy of all Good Person Being Plagued By Pesky, Hypersensitive Fools stories. . .when reading the book, I couldn't help feeling more sadness on Vogel's behalf than outrage. Here is a very young adult, charged with making adult decisions for the first time, in the community in which he was raised and whose values he thought he shared. Is he a conservative? Yes. Does he love God and America and Mom and apple pie? Yes. Does he believe in the Constitution? Yes. And as a believer in the rightness and justice of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, he believes that minority speech should be protected. He believes that college is the place to hear all points of view, and to learn to think independently and critically. And to have his community turn on him so viciously for having such an earnest belief in the Constitution is heartbreaking. To watch a community that he'd previously perceived as "educated and enlightened" titter and giggle their way through Sean Hannity's bullying speech, a lecture that strikes Vogel as a "hate rally," is disillusioning. To be a kid standing against so many powerful adults shouting at him and threatening him for two months, adults he was raised to believe in and respect, is crushing. One adult in particular, Kay Anderson, gets so carried away with his quest for vengeance that he nearly becomes a cartoon villain, trying every trick in the book short of twirling a pencil-thin mustache while tying Vogel's fiancée to the railroad tracks."

--Books Are Pretty Book Review

I saw the documentary, "This Divided State", on the same subject, before purchasing the book. While the book stands well on its own merits, and fleshes out aspects of the documentary, to get the real visual and emotional impact of this sad episode of American "intolerance of diversity of opinion", it is a book best served as a companion piece to the film (which predates the book). On its own, though, Vogel provides enough flesh and anecdotal material (i.e., numerous examples of the emails received) to give the reader a feel for the reality of the situation he, and his partner, so courageously lived through. And providing the entire transcripts of the speeches of both Hannity and Moore ( Hannity was mostly "political theater" and Moore "pep rally"). But again, the real impact of seeing Hannity and Moore in the documentary - as well as their audiences - gives a "brown-shirt" dimension missing from just the printed word. And if there is anything to fear, since Fear - in its multiple forms - is a major topic of the book, it is from Hannity and those that share his position that offer us the most to Fear. But this is a valuable contribution to a trying time for our Republic, even if it does take place in one of the most extremely Conservative states in the Union.

For anyone who followed the events surrounding the invitation to Michael Moore to speak at UVSC, or who saw the movie 'This Divided State,' this book is a must. It discusses from an insiders view the manipulations that some area residents, and state legislators, perpetrated in order to thwart the freedom of speech of people in the southern Utah area. That this level of intolerance still exists in an a country that proudly espouses its freedom of speech is shocking, but probably not all that unusual in reality.
The book is well-written, and includes all the details about the opposition to what can only be seen as a reasonable attempt to help students at a large college think about issues in a new way. I only hope that it helped to open doors at UVSC, and that future 'controversial' speakers will be welcomed.
An excellent book!

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the book in its pre-publication stage, and it is a fascinating, maddening, gutwrenching look at the cultural divide in this country, as depicted in this one small county in a usually peaceful area of Utah, and its effect on free speech, particularly in our institutions of higher education.

The story draws you in with fascinating (and real) characters, protests, bribery, death threats,lawsuits, and withdrawal of funding--all of which amazes you as a reader, baffles you, makes you ask a lot of questions, and ultimately makes you think about the importance of free speech and how we can protect this right while maintaining civility and respect for opposing viewpoints. This true story took place in Utah, yet incidents like it have been taking place all over our country in recent years with interesting results--none that I've read about that are quite as interesting as this one!

It's a great book for everyone who cares about protecting the rights of free specch, resisting efforts by those who would silence any group in our society, including colleges and universities, and finding a way to help us all learn to talk and listen to opposing viewpoints without becoming fearful,disrepectful, unlawful, and even violent.

I wondered as I read it what the framers of the Constitution would think about this modern struggle for free speech? Order your copy--it's a great read written from the perspective of a courageous studentbody vice-president caught in the middle of the firestorm!!

Filled with black-and-white photographs and a brief insert section of color plates, Guide To Rock Art Of The Utah Region: Sites With Public Access is a singularly comprehensive, illustrated, informative, and descriptive introduction to Native American rock art, as well as a thoroughly "user friendly" travel guide to the viewing of rock art found in Utah that has endured since before written history. Chapters cover not only the artwork found throughout Utah, but the accessibility of sites and proper etiquette and conservation that traveling viewers should observe. Highly recommended for students of Native American studies, rock art history, armchair travelers, and people with a simple zest to visit Utah and see these amazing drawings for themselves.

This is the best and most responsible guide to the rock art of Utah I have seen. It is well written and researched, the maps are excellent and so are the directions. It's a winner.

I'm not easily satisified with guides, but this one appears to be an exception. It fits the need of those of us who enjoy and appreciate indigenous art and the wilderness that typically accompanies it. There are numerous maps, excellent directions, a section of color pictures, and good insights.

This is the best and most responsible guide to the rock art of Utah I have seen. It is well written and researched, the maps are excellent and so are the directions. It's a winner.

Usually when I buy a book, I feel I get my money's worth as long as I can get something out of it. It is very rare when the entire book becomes an invaluable resource. This is such a book. This book contains excellent maps and directions and includes numerous B&W pictures and illustrations. There is also a color panel in the middle. When I say detailed directions I mean DETAILED. The author tells you what landmarks to look for, what exit to get off, how the road winds and breaks the distances down to a tenth of a mile. It is also written in a very easy to follow and understand text. The highlight of the book for me is the detailed breakdown of Nine Mile Canyon. I was not intending on doing nine mile canyon due to a shortage of time and thinking I would need a guide to find many of the sites. The book describes the trip in such detail you feel like you are on a tour. Besides Utah, the author also writes about some sites in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. Before I purchased this book, I thought I would only get to see a few rock art panels at the more popoular destinations. After reading this book, I now know that there are many more sites I can visit. Hopefully, those who are intersted in this book will also heed the authors plea to be respectful of the sites. His book speaks about way to many instances of idiots vandalizing these treasures and destroying them for the future generations. Bottom line is that this is a must have for anyone serious about seeing rock art in Utah.

When I first saw this book and read the title, I didn't think it would be for me. But it was highly recommended by a friend, so I picked it up. Bart Elderberry is my new hero. Stepping out of his body at will, zipping around the universe to solve mysteries, it's a fantastic book and I eagerly hunted down and read the two that follow.

I haven't found too many books like this one. You can find many books on the subject if you want to learn "how to" techniques of getting out of your body, but what if you just want a good story? What if you just want a novel adventure about an esoteric topic that is usually ignored? Well if that's what you want, this is the book you're looking for. It's not particularly realistic as far as OBEs go; the protagonist can get out of his body far to easily. But who cares. This book lets you entertain the idea of a life that is not limited to the physical realm. For me, it helps me visualize myself that much closer to doing it. But besides that, it's just plain fun. I wish someone would make a series of movies like this OBE thriller. This is the kind of book that you can't put down. And it's not that big, so you'll get through it quickly, leaving you thirsting for more.

This is a most interesting story about a boy who has to face his talent (astral projection) and its consequences.
I found the story so thrilling, that I almost read the book at one time only throughout the night. The following morning I had swollen eyes ! The only other book about this subject which fascinated me equally was "Frabato,The Magician" by Franz Bardon.
Due to this book I was less shocked. One tends to think that some things simply happen much too fast...
But in itself a truly and thoroughly fascinating book, and most recomendable.
Anyone interested in this subject, but yet "a beginner", will find itvery helpful.

I am a major bookworm and I have to say that this is by far the best book I've ever read! Lots of excitement and adventure. It's a good book for ANYONE to read.

Imagine what might happen if one day you discover you can leave your body! This is just what happens to the hero, Bart. As he is discovering this talent, he also stumbles onto a sinister plot that threatens the lives of those he loves. I think young adults around the country will have as hard a time putting this novel down as I did. I have also read the second novel, and it's even better. I'm so glad the author has finally come out with a third!

This book is about connecting with children and adults no matter their situation. It is about compassion and being non-judgemental. It is about seeing what is extraordinary in every child even when they are trying hard to hide from the world. Stacey Bess is intuitive, honest, straight-forward and compassionate. She connects with children not because she is perfect but because she realizes that she is human just like her students. If you want to find stories that will move you and inspire you, then this book is a path to that place.

What a wonderful book. I have read this book three times, it's a great reminder to live by the "Golden Rule", and how every person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to be loved. A must read for teachers.

A beautifully written and honest collection of deeply touching stories that allows the reader a rare opportunity to see life through the tender, young eyes of a child living in a family homeless shelter, as told by their loving dedicated teacher. When the author was first asked to work in the 'School With No Name,' she had no specialized training or curriculum in working with this specialized population of students. But this pioneer let her heart be her guide as she created one of the best pilot programs in alternative education. Her stories will make you laugh, make you cry and will even make you angry. But most of all, it will challenge and inspire you to get involved and find your own special way of making a difference.

This book reaches many...I will be using it with alternative hs students as they work with elementary students. Material in book will duplicate one's classroom in a revealing way. A must read.

This is a book about a middle-class teacher who takes a job teaching homeless kids in Salt Lake City. She talks about the kids individually, the problems they had to face being homeless and the joys when she made a breakthrough. It was a lesson on hope and defiance of the odds. I found it especially touching when Karl Malone, a basketball player for the Utah Jazz, took the homeless students Christmas shopping and took them to a Jazz game. I found this to be a wonderful portrayal of the joys and trials of teaching homeless kids.

The only poory written part of Race Against Time is the back cover, which gives away too much of the plot and thereby obviates certain sections of the book. But that is a complaint against the publisher, not the author. This is a good first novel that left only a few questions unanswered. More development of the 1830s period is warranted. A good "religious" book that somewhow manages to avoid becoming too preachy.

I have been looking for some action adventures for my young teenage boy that didn't have swearing and sex in. "Race Against Time" is a book you can count on. It is absolutely clean but full of adventure and action. I read it in the evenings to my 13 year old boy and he wouldn't let me stop. He loved it. This summer I bought the CD and my teenagers and I spent many hours listening to it as we weeded the garden and worked in the yard. We must have listened to it 5 times - enjoying the story each time and picking up more and more of its delightful humor. I recommend this book for tenagers, boy or girl, and adults as well. It is well written and an exceptionally fun book to read.

This book was great. An excelent story which would entertain nearly anyone. Incredibly fast-paced, exciting and gripping. I read it everywhere i went. Definately my favorite book of all times.

Gardner is a breath of fresh air in LDS fiction. Race Against Time takes us into the life of a Salt Lake City S.W.A.T. team member who finds himself suddenly back in the 1830s very close to where the Hauns Mill Massacre took place. This is a brilliantly written book with tension, action, and excellent story telling. Good for all ages, both boys and girls, men and women. You're going to want to keep an eye on everything Gardner publishes. He's going straight to the top, no question. And hey folks . . . no swearing, no sex . . . just good honest entertainment that'll keep you breathlessly turning every page.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was crisp and hard edged. It is definitely a book for guys, though I am sure women would enjoy it too. I enjoyed the touch of history as well as learning more about the police force and that refinery I pass all the time on my way to Salt Lake (I'll never look at it the same again). Gardner has proven again that a good, entertaining, thought provoking story can be written without all of the filth. Thank you Gardner and KEEP WRITING!!

Both a piece of literary artistry and passionate activism, "Red"'s audience appeal is the broadest of any book I've ever read. The book's structure, both wild and bounded by cadences of space, conforms strategically to Ms. Williams' conceptual take on the color red - red represents heat, anger, unpredictability, the lifeblood of the earth that runs through human beings and all earth's creatures, and is concentrated in the searing deserts of the American West where Ms. Williams lives. A thematic tapestry though it is, it is, at its core, a living breathing message presented selflessly and succinctly by a woman who I believe understands the need for a lifelong journey down the parallel rails of human and non-human nature until these rails converge. I recommend this book highly.

When Terry Tempest Williams starts this book with her simple equation place + people = politics, you know you've started reading a book meant to have political impact. But as the equation states, and as any TTW reader knows, you will be reading about place and about people, and you will be reading about these things as seen through the honest open heart of Terry Tempest Williams.

Red is a collection of stories, poems, journal entries and thoughts centered in one place, the redrock desert of southern Utah. While reading Red I found myself feeling similarities with it and Steinbeck's The Long Valley and The Pastures of Heaven. Like both of those books, Red tells the different stories of separate people and the one place that connects them. But unlike those books, the stories in Red span hundreds of years. The place remains relatively unchanged through time. But the people and civilizations pass through this unchanging landscape living, making their mark on the land, and dying. TTW tells these stories in geologic time-desert time. The people stay connected.

Hands connect the people. Hands appear everywhere in the book. Hands are the link between past, present and future. Hands come from the past in geologic forms with Anasazi handprints on clay pots and redrock walls, and a sharp obsidian chip "worked by ancient hands". They are in the present in biologic forms with a hand sliced open by the same sharp obsidian chip; one hand on the belly of a petroglyph while the other rests on a human belly in the present; and the story of children holding out hands to catch the desert's tears that drip from ferns. Then in the final paragraph hands are formed in prayer: "The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time. They are kneeling with hands clasped that we might act with restraint....Wild mercy is in our hands."

I enjoy reading Terry Tempest Williams. Her writing seems to always reach out and touch me. She's done it again, and this time with Red hands.

Terry Tempest Williams created this book to fight for Wilderness with the best tool she has, her writing. The beauty of her words hang in the air and cut like a knife. When asked by a friend why she writes, Williams responds: "I write as an exercise in pure joy. I write as one who walks on the surface of a frozen river beginning to melt. I write out of my anger and into my passion. I write from the stillness of night anticipating - always anticipating. I write to listen. I write out of silence. ...I write because it is the way I talk long walks. I write as a bow to wilderness. I write because I believe it can create a path in darkness."

Terry Tempest Williams is without a doubt one of the finest writers to tackle the intricacies of the American West in literature of any sort. Carrying her own torch is impressive enough, but Williams also evokes the activism and urgent motivation that calls us to appreciate, respect and save our remaining western wilderness that was so powerfully put into words by Edward Abbey. I have reviewed a portion of "Red" before (see "Desert Quartet"), so I will limit this review to the remainder of "Red".

Williams carries on the great and ancient tradition of storytelling to raise consciousness about uniquely Western, and specifically Colorado Plateau, issues. From the Hopi and Navajo peoples, down through the early American explorers, the proverbial cowboys and the present activist community, storytelling has been a central method of encapsulating emotion, opinion and experience into messages that have wide appeal. Williams, in stories such as "Coyote's Canyon" here in "Red", presents her powerful vision of an environmental movement wrapped in the spiritual connection with the stark, often harsh, always awe inspiring desert and given wings by action. Like Abbey, Williams does not shy away from controversy, and her opening to the title essay is a list of places that strangely grows longer each time I contemplate the names set forth. Williams gets personal here, and the blunt approach of listing over a hundred places brings to my mind the fact that I have walked on much of that ground... and that I have seen the critical need to protect these remaining places from the industrious uses and agricultural manipulation that has occured on the infinitely vaster balance of the Colorado Plateau. In this way, "Red" has demonstrated its effectiveness. Some may say that as a resident of California I might have no reason to comment on Utah... and I would, as Williams exhorts in "Red", flatly disagree. Every one of us has a responsibility to work toward a better world, and Williams manages to say this without preaching it or patronizing the reader. (Besides, my mother lives in southern Utah, and I have walked hundreds of miles of that beautiful land...).

In summary, "Red" is another jewel of a book from Terry Tempest Williams. I am glad to see "Desert Quartet" back in print, though I sorely miss Mary Frank's wonderful illustrations that were in the original. This is a book which is not a difficult read, nor a scholarly treatise... rather, it is a frank, realistic look at a serious challenge facing the United States right now.

This book made me feel very guilty that I am not out there taking a stand on conservation, supporting a cause, or putting my land into a conservation easement. Her passion as well as commonsense about wild areas is contagious! She clearly defines the political and social situations surrounding land use through a variety of short stories ranging from disagreements within her family to lyrical myth. Even though Red is about the Southwest US, it is about land use everywhere. As with all Williams's books, the writing is marvelous.
This should be required reading for everyone who deals with land use (yes, developers included), is passionate about conservation regardless of what part of the world they live in, and all who recognize the need for wild places to sooth our souls and give us some perspective on life.

Not only does this book give a remarkable description of the 97'/98' season but also a in depth look at the previous seasons and how the Jazz came to be in Utah. It is the best written Jazz book I have ever read and I will read it over and over. Michael Lewis has wrote the book in away that all the memorable moments come rushing back to you as if you were still in front of the T.V. celebrating with your friends. It brings it back to life.

This book is a summary of the 97-98 Utah Jazz season; and even as a diehard Jazz fan, I didn't know of some of the sticky situations that went on in their season and what a miracle it was that they made the finals. The whole state of Utah (they're all Jazz fans, right?) needs to read this book; along with any other Jazz fan.

Not only does this book give a remarkable description of the 97'/98' season but also a in depth look at the previous seasons and how the Jazz came to be in Utah. It is the best written Jazz book I have ever read and I will read it over and over. Michael Lewis as wrote the book in away that all the memorable moments come rushing back to you as if you were still in front of the T.V. celebrating with your friends. It brings it back to life.

I just finished this book and I can't say enough about it. It describes the Jazz's season perfectly! If you get 1 book this year make it this one.

I bought this book recently and I must say that I love it! The author is honest about the team, writing about the good times, bad times and how players react to all kind of distraction. I strongly recommend this book for all the Jazz fans out there. This is a well written book which alows the reader to travel with the team, hear what they have to say and see how they react to reporters for example. Just buy it.

I am told I am a distant relative of Nick Wilson. My Whole famile has all of the copy's of this book and the movie of this story also. It is very well written and very captivating. You cant go wrong buying this book or any of the Nick Wilson stories!!! A must read and must see!! L.J. Gittins, Utah.

Fast service - thanks a lot.

I felt like I was reading a diary of actual events. The historical insight was enlightening. History is hard to write about from the frame of mind of the people that lived it unless it is written by someone that did just that. "The White Indian Boy" transports us to the time of the settling of Wyoming through the eyes of the author.

If you are interested in America's early frontier west - the days of cowboys, pioneers, explorers and Indians - you will be fascinated with two western classics, The White Indian Boy and its sequel The Return of the White Indian.

The White Indian Boy, first published in 1910, is the story of Nick Wilson, a young Mormon pioneer boy who became the adopted son of Washakie, famous chief of the Shoshone Indians who inhabited areas of western Montana, eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and northern Utah. Nick later became a Pony Express Rider, a driver for the famous Overland Stage, a guide for General Albert Sidney Johnston, and co-founder of Wilson, Wyoming in Jackson Hole.

Years later Nick's son Charles A. Wilson wrote a sequel to his father's famous book, telling of his father's later years and of his own adventures in early Jackson Hole. His book, The Return of the White Indian, is equally as interesting as his father's, telling of Jackson Hole's earliest days, of cowboys and Indians, of big game hunting, lake and stream fishing, world famous celebrities, development of Grand Teton National Park.

These two books, published by the University of Utah Press as a single volume, vividly bring to life a unique time and place in American history. There is considerable humor mingled with historical fact, and enriched with early day photos.

A delightful Foreword has been written by John J Stewart, author of several books and chief founder of the National Association and Center for Outlaw & Lawman History.

I read the book and then recommended it to a book club I was organizing. We used it as our first book and everyone enjoyed it. I found the stories spellbinding and the history was very interesting. Nick Wilson led a fasinating life and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history from the old West.

Full of witty information and interesting stories. Anything but a boring archaeology book.

The kalingas are a proud people. One author withstood 4 months of pain and gain of course, to write a book about a tribe, nay a community; not even - a nation!

The Philippines would be better of as a nation to read this art of a book, and learn from the customs and practices of an older civilization - close to 5,000 years old (my fact); their songs and wine and love and adventure deserves a niche in the heart of Filipinos, to help undo centuries of colonial mindedness (the effect of "liberal theology" as conspired to by the catholic leaders in colonizing the country) (you - [spanish] clerics think we don't know what you did to our culture? Ha Ha)

Back to James skibo: James skibo, may your tribe increase- but one thing. Stay there longer (than 4 months)for some real-life imersion please. And do another book on the "budong" which means peace pact but more than that - it is a government!

In Ants For Breakfast: Archeological Adventures Among The Kalinga, archeologist James Skibo shares the story of his archaeological pursuits in the remote Philippine highlands where he lived with the Kalinga people, former headhunters and one of the few groups in the world still using ceramics for cooking. Ants For Breakfast is an exciting tale of archaeological adventures worthy of any movie or television mini-series. But this true-life account of danger, mystery, sex, violence, and death is more gripping than any Hollywood fiction. In the course of his story Skibo links his experiences to the development of modern archaeology, and such subjects as human evolution, the populating of the world, animal domestication, cultural logic, food taboos, Imelda Marcos, and a great deal more. Ants For Breakfast is highly recommended reading for students of archaeology and anyone who ever wondered what a real life Indian Jones adventure would be like.

Food For Thought

"Ants For Breakfast" is an easy read, yet a curiosity-piquing one for us archaeologist-wannabes. Author Dr. James Skibo skillfully mixes fact, humor, and his own experience with the Kalinga of the Philippines to show the reader that life as Americans know it, is not the only way to live. On one level, our modern conveniences seem unnecessary and wasteful and yet after reading his account of the 4 months he spent living in the mountains with the Kalinga, one has to be grateful for life's simpler and more basic conveniences [running water, electricity, modern restroom facilities].

His description of a Kalinga funeral and his comparision with our funeral traditions, makes one wonder why is it that funerals have become a somber event that is dreaded and struggled through, when it could be a celebration of life as Dr. Skibo observed in the Cordillera mountains of the Philippines.

As a registered nurse, the stories of their healthcare practices I found especially interesting. As a woman, I tried to imagine myself in his wife, Becky's place. An incredibly brave, resourceful woman in her own right, Mrs. Skibo is an example to woman everywhere. A followup book from her perspective would be a edge-of-the-seat page-turner as this one is!

Dr. Skibo's explanations of dietary differences do not diminish his message. Rather, they add to the reader's understanding that dietary habits are cultural, a learned behavior. Foods we see as repulsive to eat may be a delicacy elsewhere, and vice versa.

Openness and acceptance of those different than us is the food for thought that Dr Skibo offers us in this most interesting book. And just for the record, I think I'll have some of those black 'blueberry' bugs with my bowl!