Arizona Books

The Mobil Travel Guide for California was invaluable for our recent trips on the California coast and to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. My past experience with other Mobil Travel Guides is that their information is complete and accurate. The ratings system for hotels and restaurants are reliable and will steer you to excellent values and quality establishments. Unless an establishment is brand new, it is a safe bet that it has not been included in the Guide for a reason. The Guide is especially helpful for families who are looking for a quality hotel room or meal for a reasonable price.

We have used the maps in the Guide and it has helpful information for planning trips, including mileage and time between destinations. The individual listings of motels, hotels and restaurants give useful information regarding decor, amenities and pets. We moved our family and pets across country using the Mobil Guide to find hotels that accepted dogs in our price range. This is the finest resource for domestic travel that I have seen. I recommend that you buy it for planning your trip and don't forget to bring it along. We changed our travel plans in the Mojave desert and made reservations on our cell phone using the Mobil Guide to California and the West!

The guide has a nice layout, which makes things easy to find. Each section gives a general overview of what there is to do in an area; this is a great starting point if you are not familiar with the location. I think this would be a great asset to anyone traveling about in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

I had the great privilege of attending a seminar by this author last weekend. Her work in clay and her words come from a profound connection with the earth and her heritage. She shares these messages openly. Mud Women talks about messages in a funny, heartwarming manner.

Nora Naranjo-Morse introduces her book "Mud Women" by telling us that, "In the Tewa language, there is no word for art. There is however, the concept for an artful life, filled with inspiration and fueled by labor and thoughtful approach." In this beautiful little book Nora Naranjo-Morse molds her poetry into clay and her clay into poetry. Blending the two creates a book that speaks to each of us as women. Her work ranges from reverently serious to delightfully humorous as she uses poetry and sculpture to masterfully connect the past with the present, family and community with the modern world.

In Nagle's Mercy, a labyrinthine thriller by author Adam Kargman, Mitch Prudene is a college student of humble origins who, through hard work and perseverance, is about to graduate number one in his class. However, in one thoughtless and fleeting moment, he makes a mistake that could ruin everything for him. Rather than sacrifice his future, Mitch tries to keep the incident a secret. One day a mysterious man named Ace Nagle shows up; he somehow knows Mitch's secret and threatens to spill the beans. Nagle begins blackmailing Mitch, and gradually Mitch begins to learn that Nagle is setting him up as the fall guy in a complicated crime scheme. Mitch is trapped - he can't go to the police or tell anyone. This is, of course, one of Hitchcock's favorite themes--a ordinary man suddenly in over his head. The book intentionally keeps the reader in the dark (along with Mitch) about what's really going on for a large chunk of the story, so I can't reveal too much more of the plot. I can say that Mitch has to use his brains and his muscles to outthink and outrun a cunningly ferocious killer. The villain Nagle is riveting and ruthless, especially in the novel's second half, when the author begins telling certain scenes from Nagle's point-of-view and we are allowed into his head. Meanwhile, Mitch, though sympathetic, has some character faults -- brash, cocky, young, and not quite as smart as he thinks he is - which make him a compelling anti-hero. He starts as one person, and changes and develops right through the last chapter. The story is set in Tucson, and the author uses locations not simply as the place where the action occurs, but as part of the reason why it occurs; finishing the book, I could not imagine the story taking place anywhere else. The writing is assured and the descriptions are charged with detail; there are some virtuoso moments of suspense, including, my personal favorite, a nail-biting scene in which Mitch is trapped inside a high rise apartment when the killer unexpectedly shows up, and for a breathless 20 pages of near-misses, Mitch moves in and out of rooms and closets trying to escape unnoticed. This novel truly transcends its genre.

This is one of the best books of the edge-of-your-seat thrillers that I've read in a long time, all the more impressive because it is (I believe) the author's first published novel. The protagonists are very believable, their entrapment by an unrelenting killer plausible, and the denouement satisfying. I was drawn into the story from the first page, something that often does not happen for me, as Nagle (the sociopathic hit-man) creates a series of events in which Mitch (protagonist) finds himself coming under the sinister control of the murderer. The author is able to create situations, and the emotional affect of them on all the characters, in clear and entertaining prose. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, exciting read by a very promising author.

The history of roads in America is full of surprises. So is this book. Route 66 is so popular that it's like a rock star, even a cult, and lately the Lincoln Highway has been getting fresh attention and important books. But who has even heard of the National Old Trails Road? I grew up along the National Old Trails Road in Missouri, and I never even knew it. Until now, until I read this book. This book even contains a photo of a highway monument that I saw many times as a kid. Now I know how it got there. The National Old Trails Road was the Grandmother Road, the mother of Rt. 66 and the Lincoln Highway and every other major highway to the West. It was also the Grandson of the great trails in American history, the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon Trail and before them the Cumberland Gap trail; it was the first attempt of Americans to do for cars what those other trails had done for covered wagons. The story of the National Old Trails Road is probably even more dramatic and exotic in Arizona than it was in eastern states, for at the time the road was being organized, Arizona had lots of empty and rugged terrain and few people to pay for building roads across it. Few people could even agree on where to put it. The jockeying and politics and boosterism involved in deciding where to locate the road borders on the absurd. For example, the people of Gallup, New Mexico, wanted the road to head west from there, but the folks of St. Johns and Springerville, Arizona, wanted the road to dip south and go through their towns. There was a decent road across northern New Mexico through Gallup, but as soon as it reached the Arizona border, it almost disappeared into dust, for the local county authorities refused to improve the road from Gallup so that people would be forced to use a more southern route. When the folks of Gallup sent a work crew across the Arizona border to improve the road, the folks of St. Johns and Springerville wanted to call out the National Guard to repell the invaders. This book tells the story of all the routes that were proposed, some veering south into Phoenix and Yuma. The population gravity of early Arizona was pulling the road south, but then the gravity of the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest were pulling it north. This book is loaded with rare photos of dusty ruts in the desert and the cars that traveled them, of early Arizona towns and scenic attractions. The authors, respected historians who did THE book on Rt. 66 in Arizona, have done a great deal of research in obscure sources to put this story together. It's both a valuable piece of scholarship and a fun read. Everyone who enjoys Rt. 66 lore should check out this book, as it adds an even earlier dimension to routes we've all traveled without seeing their history.

Today's motorists traveling along our enormous interstate highway system are unfamiliar with the missing years---the fascinating period when horse and buggy trails slowly evolved into random yet plentiful ruts from the new motor-powered machine and then gradually into common and agreed upon routes. As readers of Richard and Sherry Mangum's excellent book quickly discover, the early descriptions of the 'ocean to ocean' road usually left much to be desired and often resulted in lost or stranded travelers. This book is the story of how the National Old Trails Road traversed the state of Arizona. And, as with most of early Arizona decisions, many factors came into play. Those living in northern Arizona naturally wanted the road to generally follow the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad line, basically along the Holbrook, Winslow, Flagstaff, and Kingman route. They lobbied early and effectively. Meanwhile, those advocating the southern route through Phoenix and Yuma were late and disorganized in their efforts. The northerners took southern Arizona politicians and businessmen by surprise, effectively winning the battle for what would later become the Mother Road, U. S. Highway 66. Nothing attracts lovers of Western history more than primary accounts from 'old timers' who can begin with, "Well, I was there." The Mangum's excellent research includes much from those who were there and told their story to local newspapers. The book contains many wonderful photographs that do much to describe early Arizona by themselves. Both the research and photos are woven into a fascinating story that one would expect from such talented authors. Those who enjoy American West and Arizona history will find this a scholarly and very readable contribution to the subject.

We bought this book for my in-laws as a gift after a visit to their new home in Arizona. They loved both books and on a recent (second)visit there, we also used this book as a reference. Very easy to use and understand with just the right amount of information.

This book illustrates the many wildlife and flora of Arizona. It includes everything you need to know in regards to safe and unsafe in the habitat.
An extremely informative guide.

Navajo Nation Peacemaking: Living Traditional Justice is an anthology of essays offering insights from individuals who have served within the Navajo Judicial Branch and practiced the restorative justice program of Navajo peacemaking, as well as articles by other scholars, including Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, offering a comparative perspective. Navajo peacemaking has earned renown as a "horizontal system of justice", in which all participants are treated as equals with the foremost mission of preserving ongoing relationships and restoring harmony. There is no coercion, no "sides", no labels of plaintiff or defendant. Essays discuss the history of Navajo peacemaking, its concepts and practices, assessments of the model, and conclusions as to what can be learned from this system of justice. Especially recommended for legal philosophy shelves, as the ideas within contain the potential to reform and revolutionize flaws in modern mainstream culture dispute resolution systems, whether on a governmental or private level.

Navajo Nation Peacemaking: Living Traditional Justice is an anthology of essays offering insights from individuals who have served within the Navajo Judicial Branch and practiced the restorative justice program of Navajo peacemaking, as well as articles by other scholars, including Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, offering a comparative perspective. Navajo peacemaking has earned renown as a "horizontal system of justice", in which all participants are treated as equals with the foremost mission of preserving ongoing relationships and restoring harmony. There is no coercion, no "sides", no labels of plaintiff or defendant. Essays discuss the history of Navajo peacemaking, its concepts and practices, assessments of the model, and conclusions as to what can be learned from this system of justice. Especially recommended for legal philosophy shelves, as the ideas within contain the potential to reform and revolutionize flaws in modern mainstream culture dispute resolution systems, whether on a governmental or private level.

If you are looking for design ideas and colors this is your book. It has extensive photos. There are few close-ups thought.

If you love both Navajo textiles and well-designed art books, this is the best of both. The text provides an educational overview of the history of Navajo weaving from 1650 to 1920, explaining dying techniques, tribal uses for each style and the eventual marketing of them. Blomberg, a curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (or at least she was when the book was first published in 1988), also describes how their weaving was influenced in later years by relocation and the switch from native use to trading company sales. Regardless of how you feel about William Randolph Hearst's collecting style, his quest for traditional pieces at the turn of the century has become part of the history of the weavings and makes for an interesting story. The textiles are the main feature, of course, and they are beautiful. The 200 prints, illustrating pieces from about 1850 to 1890, are of excellent quality and displayed large enough to take a good look at. With only one print per page, each stands out to full effect. Reading this book is a lot like walking through a gallery exhibition; you can start at the beginning knowing next to nothing about the craft, examine the changing patterns and styles (ponchos, child's blankets, chief's blankets, saddle blankets, transitional styles), and come out with a new appreciation of Navajo design. In the absence of such an exhibit, I'm really happy to have this book.

This book is like a hard punch in the gut. With its rough pictures and raw interviews, it is quite a tour-de-force by a great photographer. The people profiled really open their hearts up to Barbara Seyda. There is nothing on earth quite like this powerful book.

Barbara Seyda has eptomized the words, "...in the end only kindness matters..." a real look at homeless not only in Tucson, but everywhere...thanks Barbara Jo

Maud Lavin's highly original collection of essays about life and love at middle age is fresh and arresting. The way these people engage with the distinctive issues of living at a certain age will linger in the mind and heart long after you have closed the book on its final page. These pieces are engrossing for what they say, and worthy of admiration for how they say it.

Most of us don't think about our middle years until we are actually there. By then we are looking back, taking stock of a life lived, while trying to distill life's lessons for the years ahead. This book provides a lens through which those who are in midlife as well as those who are heading there can share in the intimate stories of growth and reflection as told by a wonderfully diverse array of middle agers who have weathered a full range of life's experiences. A thoughtful collection of writings about a place and stage in life that we all (if we are lucky) inevitably get to. The Oldest We've Ever Been makes clear that it is indeed about the journey after all, not any final destination, age or otherwise.

There could hardly be a greater contrast between two men than that of George Ritchey and George Hale. Hale was a scientist, fund raiser, organizer, motivator, and extraordinarily successful at all he attempted. Ritchey was a gifted instrument maker, but a failure at human relations, organizational matters, and managed to squander most of his opportunities, particularly after he left Mt. Wilson. Osterbrock's book is the story of the great era of American astronomy dominated by the telescopes of George Ellery Hale, and Hale is necessarily prominent in its pages. However, Osterbrock tells the story, for the most part, from the perspective of the gifted mirror grinder and optician, Ritchey, who mostly received short-shrift in other documentaries of this era. Osterbrock attempts to correct some oversights of other histories which have tended to downplay Ritchey's contributions. Ritchey, for instance, was the project manager for most of the 60- and 100-inch Mt. Wilson telescope projects, and without him, arguably, these instruments would not have been the stupendous successes they were. Clearly Hale owed much to Ritchey, but after their falling out and Ritchey's subsequent firing from Mt. Wilson, Ritchey all but disappeared from American astronomy. Hale didn't overtly blackball him, but such was Hale's influence and universal respect, that if Hale didn't want to be around you, well then, nobody wanted to be around you. Ritchey spent years in France working on several telescope projects that ultimately failed, and eventually came back to the US as an old man and built the reflector for the US Navel Observatory, a 40-inch Ritchey-Chretien model. It was an exquisite instrument, but due to its location in light-polluted Washington D.C., it never realized its potential until long after Ritchey was dead and it was moved to an Arizona mountaintop.

Osterbrock points out that the Ritchey-Chretien reflector model, so ignored and disparaged during his lifetime, eventually won out and now nearly all large telescopes are built using this model.

Ritchey was a genius and well ahead of his time in many respects. It was simply his misfortune to have lived opposite the likes of George Hale, who because of money, position, and success, was able to overshadow and dominate his accomplishments. If Ritchey could have adapted to his position as optician, he could have had a sparkling career at Mt. Wilson, and later, Mt. Palomar. Instead, his hard-headedness met the immovable object of George Hale's ambition and momentum, and Ritchey ultimately lost.

Dr. Osterbrock presents an excellent behind the 'hipe' view of how large expensive telescopes were (and are!) built and who built them. Anyone interested in astronomy, engineering, and telescopes and has a desire to have a career in these areas should read this book. Osterbrock presents a reality about engineering, people and money that's true today as it was in the 20's and 30's. This book shows the result of personal styles and arrogance on techincal decisions. It also shows how easy it is to overextend your real knowledge and capability through innocent assumptions producing a disaster. Hale and Ritchey were great men in their narrow areas of expertise. The discussion of telescope mirror design and manufacture (esp. the RC system) is very interesting. A somewhat long and expensive but fasinating book written by an obvious insider.