Pennsylvania Books

A masterful guide to the Gettysburg battlefield. I took several books on my trip to Gettysburg earlier this year but this was the only one I carried on the battlefield. It is organized around the tour stops, but also contains several side trips to lesser known areas, and simply tells you all you need to know about the events in that area at the time of the battle. It contains several maps and the directions it provides to areas on the battlefield are concise and easy to follow. If you wish to seriously tour Gettysburg National Park, this book is essential.

I recently took a trip to Gettysburg (my 3rd) and carried this tour guide for the 1st time. It is far and away the best experience I've had seeing the battlefield. It follows the battle chronologically and offers several sites and insights not offered on the audio tours available at the local shops. Many of the stops are multifaceted. At several points the stops feature 7 to 10 asides which often involve only a minor shift in position to point out various phases of the battle. It includes a side trip to the cavalry field which I've never run into on the audio tours. The driving directions are easy to follow but do veer from the order of the Military Park brochure and the audio tours to give greater detail to the battle. The book says to allow for 6 hours-it's more like 10 hours to give time for exploring beyond some of the "stand here and turn left" instructions. 11 hours total if you include a break for lunch. We started at nine on one morning, toured until about 4 with a break for lunch and finished the following day. Sites included on the audio and Park tours tend to start getting crowded from 11 to 3, so this will add to the tour time depending on time of year and crowd. To sum it all up and paraphrase a popular commercial-when going on a tour of Gettysburg-"Don't leave home without it!"

I grew up near Gettysburg & have been there numerous times. I just spent 2 days there with this book on the battlefield--this book made the battle crystal clear! I ran out of time exploring the battlefield (it takes more than the 6 hours described in the book--my only criticism). This book brings the battle to life and explains the terrain like never before. I learned a lot about the battle that I never knew and many components of the battle came into focus in new and exciting ways. In particular, this book does a good job on overviews of each day and with it's clear directions, leads the reader through each stop--I really felt as if I had an expert by my side explaining all the facets of each aspect of the battle. Along the way, everything was just as the book described. The maps were excellent & it's nicely complimented with various portraits of leaders, common soldiers, etc. The guide brings the 3 days together as a cohesive whole. This is the book to get if you're going to visit Gettysburg; forget all the others.

I now live near Chickamauga and I plan on getting their book on that battle!

An excellent, well-written guidebook and the best I've seen on the subject. I carried this book on my first visit to Gettysburg in Spring 2001, and it greatly enhanced the experience. The directions are clear and up to date, and the text is precise and detailed enough to be compelling without trying to be an exhaustive treatment of every minute detail. If used as a companion to an actual visit, I would strongly recommend reading the book in advance of your visit, then bringing it with you for reference. There are only a few very minor faults I might find with this guidebook. On the maps, it would be helpful to have present-day landmarks indicated in some way to help with orientation. Also, the book suggests the full tour can be completed in six hours, but in my experience to make all the stops and fully enjoy it you'd need at least a full day, or preferably two. You'll want to leave some time for reflection at such places as McPherson's Ridge, Little Round Top, the High Water Mark, and others to think about the enormity of what occurred on that ground.

Read this book and you'll come away with a good working knowledge of the three-day battle. Highly recommended!

I've lived and/or worked in Gettysburg for almost twenty-five years, and I've been on the battlefield hundreds of times. But I can honestly say that I never really had a good appreciation for what happened there until I got my hands on Grimsley's and Simpson's guide. It's completely user-friendly.

For each of the places it highlights, the guide includes:

(1) Driving instructions to each site.

(2) An extremely useful orientation section telling you what's on your left, on your right, in front of you, etc. (For example, for Barlow's Knoll, the Orientation is this: "As you face west, the town of Gettysburg is due left of you; Oak Ridge and Oak Hill are straight ahead, as is Carlisle Road in the middle distance.") For those battlefield visitors who don't think to bring a compass with them, this kind of information is worth its weight in gold.

(3) An historical description of what actually happened during the battle at the site.

(4) A "Vignette," which provides one or two eyewitness accounts pertinent to the site.

(5) A tactical analysis of what happened at the site.

The maps are excellent, the layout of the text is convenient and easy to follow, and there's an informative appendix on "Organization, Weapons, and Tactics." Moreover, the East and South Cavalry Battles are included in the guidebook, and the description of Farnsworth's deadly charge in the latter is the best I've ever read.

Highly recommended for both the beginner and the seasoned Gburg afficionado.

By the way, for those who don't know it, co-author Mark Grimsley's The Hard Hand of War (1997) really is one of the best books on the Civil War written.

Just finished this one and I loved it. I hope Mark Nesbitt keeps writing these great little books. I have all 5 and there all great reads.

Ah...Mark Nesbitt finally plays down the Gettysburg ghost tours and gets back to telling the stories. Another well done melding of ghost stories and historical events. This book is on a par with the first 3 volumes of stories and just as entertaining.

This is book V, and the fifth on that I've read so far. They're not very long, but each one has been fun to read.
Each story begins by giving you a little history lesson about the backdrop of each haunted location, and this is
very beneficial for the reader because you have some idea
where the troubled spirit met their fate and how. Whether
the ghosts were civilians, rebels or yanks, they're all included here. Even if you don't believe in ghosts, the
little historical backgrounds of each story are very interesting to read. Once you start reading, you'll probably finish each of these books in one or two sittings.

Former Park Ranger Mark Nesbitt has over the years gathered many ghost stories from other park rangers, visitors and people who live in the area. Nesbitt tries to gather factual data on the stories he receives so he can offer a background as to why these ghost stories may have evolved. His stories are usually quite interesting and do not just talk about battlefield soldiers, civilians alike are also involved in famous ghost stories in Gettysburg! Buy all 5 books, there worth it! Each has many short stories that are easy and fun to read.

For the fifth time Mark Nesbitt has produced a real gem dealing with the ghosts of Gettysburg. At Gettysburg one can almost feel the spirits all around and Mr. Nesbitt has given us five books full of accounts of encounters with these spirits. Only someone who loves Gettysburg could turn out such fine work time and again and all of us who feel a special draw to that place owe him a great debt of gratitude. This fifth book may be the best in the series. Thanks Mark!

I am a long time, transplanted resident of Buenas Aires. In my homeland, we take great pride in the revolutionary heroes that both overthrew the political colonialism of Spain and the economic colonialism of Great Britain. Although we live in the shadow of the North Americans, we share a common revolutionary heritage. As one who has spent many hours amongst the people in our capital city, I share Senior Kashatus' enthusiasm for the sites of the North American city of revolution. His guide has proven most illuminating and having read it through, look forward to using it as the basis of my visit to that historic city.

I am a long time, transplanted resident of Buenas Aires. In my homeland, we take great pride in the revolutionary heroes that both overthrew the political colonialism of Spain and the economic colonialism of Great Britain. Although we live in the shadow of the North Americans, we share a common revolutionary heritage. As one who has spent many hours amongst the people in our capital city, I share Senior Kashatus' enthusiasm for the sites of the North American city of revolution. His guide has proven most illuminating and having read it through, look forward to using it as the basis of my visit to that historic city.

I visited Philadelphia as a young man while involved in a liason with a young woman from that city many years ago. During my time there, I idly walked through the lower parts of the city, looking at, but paying little attention to the magnificent things around me. I confess to having brought little back with me from the experience save a broken heart, a few maps and some local guides.

A corresponding friend from the neighboring state of New Jersey happened to send me a copy of Herr Kashatus' book, indicating that the author is a friend. I soon thereafter read it. I found it a pleasant enlightener of old memories, putting into context what I simpy walked by.

Having since gained a more serious appreciation of the American past, I look to this book as a sourse of background material for subjects that I hope to explore further. I intend to visit Philadelphia again soon and to take these "walks", book in hand and really see what I have previously just looked at.

I visited Philadelphia as a young man while involved in a liason with a young woman from that city many years ago. During my time there, I idly walked through the lower parts of the city, looking at, but paying little attention to the magnificent things around me. I confess to having brought little back with me from the experience save a broken heart, a few maps and some local guides.

A corresponding friend from the neighboring state of New Jersey happened to send me a copy of Herr Kashatus' book, indicating that the author is a friend. I soon thereafter read it. I found it a pleasant enlightener of old memories, putting into context what I simpy walked by.

Having since gained a more serious appreciation of the American past, I look to this book as a sourse of background material for subjects that I hope to explore further. I intend to visit Philadelphia again soon and to take these "walks", book in hand and really see what I have previously just looked at.

I visited Philadelphia as a young man while involved in a liason with a young woman from that city many years ago. During my time there, I idly walked through the lower parts of the city, looking at, but paying little attention to the magnificent things around me. I confess to having brought little back with me from the experience save a broken heart, a few maps and some local guides.

A corresponding friend from the neighboring state of New Jersey happened to send me a copy of Herr Kashatus' book, indicating that the author is a friend. I soon thereafter read it. I found it a pleasant enlightener of old memories, putting into context what I simpy walked by.

Having since gained a more serious appreciation of the American past, I look to this book as a sourse of background material for subjects that I hope to explore further. I intend to visit Philadelphia again soon and to take these "walks", book in hand and really see what I have previously just looked at.

First of all, I agree with other reviewer's assertions that this is not a book for beginners. Without a basic understanding of foundational Buddhist thought and Buddhist cosmology, this book wouldn't make much sense. Vimalakirti is one of my favorite characters since he is a great example of how a lay person can achieve Buddhahood. He could enter gambling halls and other dens of iniquity, engage in business and family life, and still remain unsullied as he taught the Dharma. This book is one of the few readable texts about him. Although very well translated, it still retains some of the repetition and obscure references found in any ancient Buddhist work having a basis in an oral tradition. If you have an intermediate knowledge of Buddhism, this is an excellent work.

This and the Flower Ornament Scripture will keep you busy for awhile. Not easy or light reading by any means.

I agree with many of the other reviewers in this space. This sutra is quite simply my favorite Buddhist text, and Prof Thurman's translation is my favorite translation. I travel with this book because it is so compact and precise in describing the way of the Bodhisattva, the great vehicle of the Mahayana path. I have heard Prof Thurman read from his book, and his transmission is no small contribution to the progress of Buddhism in the West.

Several reviewers have mentioned the humor. I have fond memories of reading this text out loud to my fellow dharma students, and having a good laugh each time a disciple sheepishly declines Lord Buddha's invitation to go visit the ailing bodhisattva, Vilmalakirti. The replies of Vimalakirti, on the other hand, are the highest wisdom I know of in Buddhism, and reflecting on them is a great treasure.

The Vimalakirti-nirdesha Sutra, though almost certainly not spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, is nontheless held in the highest esteem by all schools of the Mahayana. It belongs to the category of sutras which are, in all probability, fictional creations of Mahayana scholars, and not expounded by the Buddha. Despite this, the Vimalakirti Scripture is still given the title of a sutra. For the doctrine it expounds is in perfect conformity with the highest teachings of the Buddha, and, more than any other sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra shows the perfection of the bodhisattva ideal for laymen and women. Robert A.F. Thurman's translation of this masterpiece is close to perfect. Working from a Tantric perspective (being himself a Vajrayana Buddhist), Thurman details, in his notes and introduction, the clear relation between Buddhist Tantrism and the Vimalakirti sutra, which can lead one to the conclusion that its composition was largely influenced by the esoteric teachings of the Tantras. Yet, the teachings of the Vimalakirti Sutra are in no way exclusive to students of the Vajrayana, or of Tibetan Buddhism in general. This scripture has historically been of tremendous influence on Chinese Buddhism, and is the subject of some of the greatest works of Chinese Buddhist Art. It is also held in the highest esteem by Zen Buddhism for its emphasis on the practice of the layman amongst the cares of the world. Indeed, it is one of the few canonical scriptures that are of particular value to Zen. The scripture tells the story of the layman Vimalakirti (almost certainly a fictional character), a bodhisattva of the highest order, on par with such figures as Manjushri, who, in order to develop living beings, lives as a layman in the crowded metropolis of Vaishali, participating in business and government and teaching the dharma in accordance with conditions. On this occasion, Vimalakirti manifests himself as being sick, in order to develop beings who come to inquire after his health. The Buddha, desiring to know how Vimalakirti is doing, requests several students and bodhisattvas to go and visit him, all of whom decline, however, saying that their skill in the dharma cannot be matched with Vimalakirti. Finally, Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, goes to the house of Vimalakirti along with a retinue of several hundred disciples. The vast majority of the scripture is composed of the dialogues that occur between Vimalakirti and Manjushri, as well as with the disciples and bodhisattvas. Finally, the entire retinue (Vimalakirti included) return to the Buddha, who delivers a final section to the discourse. Many famous incidents in Buddhist lore occur in this sutra: the exchange between Shariputra and the Goddess, the chapter concerning the Dharma Gate of Nonduality, Vimalakirti's explanation of the cause of his sickness, etc. To any Buddhist practitioner, particularly those of Vajrayana Buddhism and Zen, this sutra is of the utmost importance. The only two major translations available in English are those of Thurman and Burton Watson. Thurman's translation, however, is the better of the two, rendering in clear, poetic English the difficult doctrines of the Mahayana. His notes provide excellent insight into the historical relations of the Sutra, and its importance to Tibetan Buddhism, as well as to Chinese Buddhism. Highly, highly recommended.

This is the Vimilikirtisastra, a Mahayana treatise that deals with nonduality. What this means is that the construct of the Therevada (or Hinayana-- meaning devotional Buddhism) is replaced by something other-- larger-- (from Sanskrit little vehicle to larger vehicle).

What does this mean to you? You have a book here in which all of the paired items (good/bad, monk/layperson, holy/inholy) start to be broken down. Buddhism becomes 'purer' through being less pure, more people are offered the ability to have salvation...

More than that, this is a fun read that can be gone through multiple times-- which will be necessary if you want to fully grasp all that this book says. It will alter your conception of what the Dharma is, or introduce you to one if you're just beginning to learn about it.

I would suggest, though, that you have some background in the Therevada stuff before you start-- otherwise this book would kind of be pointless: excepting that parts of it are amusing. Prof. Thurman has a knack for translation...

LIVING OTHER LIVES

Matt is a friendly, loveable, outgoing, veterinarian, raising his teenage daughter, Dinah, alone. He meets and falls in love with Lilly, who is living in New York. Matt's mother, Dell, lives in Pennsylvania, and was not the type of mother you would hope to have. She was distant, pre-occupied, shipping Matt off to camp or to friends so as not to be bothered by him.

Matt meets an untimely death, and all three of these women begin a journey in grief, sadness, and trying to live with their own demons. None of them barely know one another, yet they are thrown together to try to come to grips with Matt's death and to try to make a new life for themselves and in the long run, with each other.

This is an excellent book that I hated to see end. Caroline Leavitt has a magic way of writing that makes characters come to life and seem so real. This book was not sad, even though it deals with heart-ache and so much sadness.

Journey through Dell, Lilly, and Dinah's lives as they make mistakes, hurt themselves and each other, and try to face life without Matt. One of the best lines in the book reads -- "DON'T YOU HATE IT? MISSING PEOPLE?"

Wow, how true! Everyone has experienced loss due to many number of reasons and this book is very fictional but for me, was almost therapeutic in its wisdom about dealing with missing someone you love.

HOWEVER, this is not a sappy, sad tale! Quite contrary! It is a wonderful story of a teenage girl coming of age, her hopes and dreams, her becoming strong and the two women who help her achieve this, while at the same time, helping themselves.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading all of Ms. Leavitt's other works.

Thank you!

Pam

Great book, hard to put down! I had felt a lil like each character in their different phases of their lives thruout the book! Would recommend this author!!

Caroline Leavitt's novel about a young woman dealing with the unexpected death of her fiance is believable and moving. All of Ms. Leavitt's books are great; I also highly recommend "Meeting Rozzy Halfway".

I have recently discovered Caroline Leavitt's novels and this has been the lastest one I have read. Like her other novels, her characters are so vivid, they become like your good friends. This novel is no exception. The emotions the different characters embraced made my heart go out to them. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a heartwarming story about various relationships intermingled with death, grief, and letting go.

Living Other Lives, Caroline Leavitt's sixth novel, is an absolutely hypnotic read. Showing the innate magnetism that attracts -- and repels -- people, she weaves the lives of multi-generational women and the men they love and lose. This is writing at a fever pitch.

I read this book a few years ago and I must say I really enjoyed it. I am always telling some one about it. I have giving it to a few teenagers and they have loved it as well. I would love to read more work from the author.

Niara is a poignant story of a struggle between a mother and daughter and the problems that many kids go through every day consensual or not. All teenagers can relate to a character at some point in this novel, it is a must read for kids 12 and up.

Sixteen-year old Niara's world has just crashed. Her beloved grandmother has died, and her grandfather wants her to go back and stay with her mom for a while. She absolutely abnegates the idea, plus the fact that she hasn't seen or heard from her "mother" in nearly thirteen years does not help.

When she was younger she waited for the reunion with her long lost mother, but she had long since given up on that and absolved her mother of her parenting duties. The transition from a middle class neighborhood to the ghetto is pretty hard, but then she gains a friend. Will things go well for Niara? Will she stop abnegating her mother so much? Or will she live happily in her new home, is it her destiny?

Alivia Whitney Peterson
Talented Tenth Teen Reviewer

I read this book when I was in Beverly Hills Middle School and I must say this book can set many good examples for young women.

This book touched me so very deeply that I've encouraged alot of young girls, especially the ones I mentor, to read this wonderful and inspirational novel.

Niara opens up with a very involved, yet moving situation. It is powerful and the message is very clear. One can't help feeling like they're a part of the character's world. This novel is essential to the growth and development of many young girls who face challenging decisions just about every given moment of their teenage life, a time when they are discovering who they are and exploring their own set of understanding. Young girls will learn from reading this novel what valuing their self worth is all about.

Gore tells a gripping, yet inspirational story about a young girl who isn't obsolete to her own indiscretions, and who has been abandoned by her mother, both emotionally and physically. The outcome is emotional. Although her grandmother's teachings are essential to her growth, Niara, like all young girls approaching adolescence, is rather curious about a number of things. The setting is inner city Philadelphia. The author breaths life into the reader's imagination with her description of Niara's lifestyle and surroundings.

This book is a must read for all mothers, daughters, and grandmothers everywhere. The emotional ties will keep your eyes peeled to the pages as you soar through to the end.

This book touched me so very deeply that I've encouraged alot of young girls, especially the ones I mentor, to read this wonderful and inspirational novel.

Niara opens up with a very involved, yet moving situation. It is powerful and the message is very clear. One can't help feeling like they're a part of the character's world. This novel is essential to the growth and development of many young girls who face challenging decisions just about every given moment of their teenage life, a time when they are discovering who they are and exploring their own set of understanding. Young girls will learn from reading this novel what valuing their self worth is all about.

Gore tells a gripping, yet inspirational story about a young girl who isn't obsolete to her own indiscretions, and who has been abandoned by her mother, both emotionally and physically. The outcome is emotional. Although her grandmother's teachings are essential to her growth, Niara, like all young girls approaching adolescence, is rather curious about a number of things. The setting is inner city Philadelphia. The author breaths life into the reader's imagination with her description of Niara's lifestyle and surroundings.

This book is a must read for all mothers, daughters, and grandmothers everywhere. The emotional ties will keep your eyes peeled to the pages as you soar through to the end.

This book is an optional reading assignment for my United States history class. It is hard to find in the bookstore because it was first published in the 1950's.

Whyte's book is a fascinating read, still, after so many years. It is wonderfully written, filled with anecdotes and telling examples -- and it is above all else to the point: large-scale bureauratic structures have evolved a functionalist climate that thrives on its own logic of operation. Organizations make for an environment that incessantly shapes the conformist functionary, and that drives the creative, intelligent, free-spirited, and self-conscious type of person 'out of business'. The very first pages reveal how salient Whyte's concerns are today, more than fifty years after the first publication of the book. My favorite chapters are 16-18 about the 'education' (read: stultification) of future functionaries and the dubious/odious role big corporations play in this context. A short glance at the role of nowadays educational institutions suffices to have this circumstance confirmed ...

William Whyte, who was an editor at Fortune magazine, argues in this 1956 bestseller that some people not only worked for an organization, but sold their psyches to them as well. These "organization men" willingly subordinated their personal goals and desires to conform to the demands of corporations and other organizations. This is different than modern-day workaholism -- the "organization men" of the 1950's hoped to gain loyalty, security and "belongingness" in exchange. In their view, the organization is a friend, not a foe; it's should be co-operated with, not questioned.

Whyte argues that the ideology behind the organization man is a "social ethic." Its core beliefs are that the group is superior to the individual, and individuals lack meaning and purpose outside of that group. "Belongingness" is assumed to be the ultimate emotional need of the individual, and to achieve it society should not hesitate to use a bit of social engineering. The result, however, is an ethos of over-conformity at any price.

As Whyte looked around the world in the mid-1950's, he saw the ethos of the Organization Man everywhere. He saw it in college graduates who joined big corporations, pledging their loyalty with visions of a safe stable life in exchange. He saw it in corporate executives who willingly pulled up their roots every time the company wanted to transfer him. He saw it when educators were asked to teach kids social skills so they could get along, rather than teaching academic subjects that forced kids to think for themselves. He saw it in engineering companies that said that there are "no geniuses here; just a bunch of average Americans working together" (although studies show that innovative engineers and scientists are fiercely independent, thus the direct antithesis of the company-oriented man).

So what to do? Whyte says we must realize that although we need the organization, we must know when and how to resist it. We must tread the fine line between self-interested cooperation and psychological surrender. We must realize that although the group can be a friend, it can also be a tyrant.

Even though this book was written about 50 years ago, many of Whyte's messages still ring true today. Yes, times have changed, and worker loyalty to corporations is passe'. Yet this book is worth reading, if only for its historical perspective on the mood in the 1950's. Also, it's well written - after all, Whyte was an editor at Fortune. Recommended.

The secondary title applied to this excellent work was " Moulding Team Players for Free Enterprise" The principal idea was how Big Business through the educational system and the prevailing culture indoctrinated a generation of aspiring corporate executives and middle managers into company men - similar to armed forces indoctrination of career officer cadets.
This excellent work is applicable today as it was 50 years ago, and is an invaluable work to all who wish to understand corporate culture. One only has to think of the many examples of Corporate interest over riding individual executives concience to see the relevance.

College students who are majoring in history, business, sociology, and industrial psychology should read this book. Also, anyone just interested in challenging the status quo will find inspiration within its pages.

Very good guide to all the photogenic spots in the entire PA as opposed to only specific parts of PA. There is very in depth suggestions for the serious photographers (of which I am not) that "point and shoot" photographers are really not going to use, but can at least use his recommendations for site location for the scene. I found the rating system very useful to help me decide which hikes were worth my time seeing on limited time.

I've owned this book for just a week and already have corners folded and details highlighted. Inclusion of Mr. Brown's photos from these vistas just whets the appetite to experience the scene in person. Anyone who has ever tried to convey the beauty of a valley or mountaintop on film knows that even the most perfect shots don't convey the true experience unless you have been there yourself. This book will travel the state with me, year round. How long will it take me to experience each of these fantastic mountainscapes in all four seasons?

This book is very well organized and thorough. Directions and descriptions of sites are complete and easy to understand. A great tool for anyone who wants to hike to overlooks in Pennsylvania.

Scott Brown's earlier book, Pennsylvania Waterfalls, was an exceptional guidebook to rare and beautiful locations in PA, and this book is the same. There are so many wonderful vistas in Pennsylvania that no book could possibly cover them all, but Brown cherry-picked the best ones for inclusion in this work. His outstanding pictures are a joy to behold, and his photographic instruction will be useful to novice and accomplished photgraphers alike.

I've spent lots of time researching Pennsylvania vistas and overlooks, and I've even created a web site to document them. This book certainly aided my research. I've visited a number of vistas included in this work, and Brown does a great job describing the hikes, the views, and how to capture them on film. Other information about each location, such as the field of view, elevation, and GPS coordinates are icing on the cake.

My job takes me around the state on occasion, and I'm definitely going to make it a point to seek out the vistas highlighted in this book. I highly reccomend this work to anyone who's into viewing or phtographing the beautiful mountains of the Keystone state.

Just like in his 2004 offering "Pennsylvania Waterfalls," here Scott E. Brown has created a great resource for both hikers and outdoor photographers. However, in that earlier book Brown mainly focused on natural attractions that are easily reached by car or via short leisurely rambles. In contrast, here he has created special hiking routes to natural overlooks that are often quite difficult to reach without serious hiking. That's because Pennsylvania's surprisingly rugged topography creates many great vistas but most of them require real foot power to reach. So in his quest for the most photogenic mountain vistas, Brown has created a guide that includes in-depth hiking information as well as technical specifications for the professional or aspiring photographer. This results in an exceptional guide that will inspire hikers to visit many previously unappreciated vistas with or without their cameras, while shutterbugs will appreciate the rewards of hiking and a love for nature while en route to incredible shots.

There are also a few surprises in Brown's recommendations to photographers, and by extension, hikers. For each vista, Brown includes the best times of day for the ultimate shot, which is often sunrise or sunset. Thus, there is some incredibly useful advice for hiking at night. There is also some good advice on winter hiking and the consequent care for photographic equipment, because winter nature photography has its own unique rewards. In general, Brown offers very specific technical advice for getting the best shots in each selected location, surely with the goal of training photographers to challenge his own works. And those shots by Brown are the best aspect of this book, with great examples throughout. Highlights include several snowy landscapes, glowing fog over a barn, a moonrise, and a stupendous panoramic composition of Pine Creek Gorge. This informative and visually attractive book will inspire anyone with an interest in hiking or photography, or both, to explore the best of Pennsylvania's surprising outdoor wonders. [~doomsdayer520~]

Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko has truly mastered defining and illustrating the life of "A Prodigal Saint" It is written in a solid and cohesive manner that makes it a pleasure to read. I too, have had the pleasure and honor to have been one of Dr. Kizenko's students I would unequivically recommend this book to any individual interested in Russian History.
I look forward to her next literary work!

I have the immense pleasure to have Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko as my professor of Russian History at the University at Albany. This book is a must read, it clearly illuminates the life of "A Prodigal Saint" during a time period of religious revival in Russia. Wonderfully written, easy to read, and follow.

I find myself reading this book since I had to do a 10-page book review for my Russian history class and I have to say it's a very good book. It's not a hagiography, just as the author states at the beginning of the book, which means the reader won't find any phrase like: "The most holy, most righteous, Father John of Kronstadt."

It's a well-researched book. Kizenko employs primary sources such as Father John's diaries as well as popular press representations of him. She also uses the thousands of letters sent to him by people asking for his prayers. These are also good sources when trying to find how others perceived him. Many of these letters were from women and Kizenko makes a good argument about the importance of women in religion.

One interesting point that Kizenko makes is the conflict between a saint's or a priest's two bodies - body public and body private - and how Father John dealt with this conflict.

The only weak point of the book is Kizenko's attempt to condemn the Ioannites, a cultic sect of the Orthodox Church who believed that Father John was kind of a savior. Kizenko does not entirely succeed in arguing that the Ioannites were a blemish in Father John's reputation.

An well researched, insightful and VERY WELL BALANCED look at the life of St. John of Krostadt. A must read for any Russian Orthodox Christian.

The book chronicles the life of Father John of Kronstadt, a controversial and highly profiled religious figure during the pre-revolutionary period. Details of his life and his world are fascinating. Seeing how he is approached for help and his actions indirectly reveals much about those living in Russia during that time. the book was also very helpful in dispelling some of the myths that commonly surround this man.

I think this is an excellent read for Orthodox Christians and ALSO anyone interested in Russia during that time period.

Each story in the book is inspiring. Excellent writing and wonderful photography. Very enjoyable reading.

Love this clever book. If you love the Rocky film and the inspirational "pull yourself up by the book strings" ideals of the films then you're not alone - and this book proves it. Being a Philly native and a fellow alumni of LaSalle University this book and the stories it shares have a special place within me. Highly recommend it.

my family and i had recently gone to philly for a family wedding. one of the main things that my elderly father wanted to see, before any of the more traditional things like the liberty bell, was the "rocky statue"! therefore, i bought this book for him for christmas to remind him of the day. of course i read some of it before gifting it, and found the stories to be very inspirational.. also, i was unable to find the book here in california, so was very thankful for the ease of ordering it through amazon.

I have always loved the Rocky Movies even though some people think they insult our intelligence. It is more than just a movie it is an inspiration and after reading this book it makes me proud to be a Philadelphian even though Philly gets a bad rap. I have ran up those steps many times and I think that Rocky has put Philly on the map in a good way. Something we need badly here. The photos are wonderful, so inspirational and the stories are so heartful. Read this book! You won't regret it.

You want to run up the Rocky steps, you know you do. In fact, if you've have ever had the chance, you probably already have. Nobody comes to Philadelphia without jogging to the top of the Art Museum steps, twirling around, and triumphantly pumping their fists in the air. If you've seen the movie, and ever been in Philly, you've climbed the steps. I'd bet a cheesesteak on it. If you haven't been fortunate enough to star in your own reenactment of this classic cinematic scene, this book is the next best thing. It's full of great stories and photographs of people fulfilling their dream of following in Rocky Balboa's footsteps, which, for each and every one of them, commemorates some unique goal, achievement, or special moment. It's a terrific book about humanity. Buy one for yourself and one for someone else - it's a great gift. Enjoy.