Arizona Books

There's apparently nothing like a good snake bite to get a wise man thinking. And Erec Toso is a wise man.

I most enjoyed Toso's writing about the place he lives and life (and wildlife) in that region. It was also great fun to read about his father. Even when the Arizona landscape feels foreign to me I can relate to some of those family experiences .

I was wanting just a little more from the book, however. Toso makes the case that the land and wild things near Tucson are threatened by encroachment from human development. I'm left wondering what is being done to save those things? Are there positive means that could accommodate growth and preserve the wild things? Without knowing more I'm just left with a bleak feeling about Tucson's future.

I chose Zero at the Bone for a future book club discussion and, after reading it, am not disappointed in that choice. Erec Toso's language goes from being very vivid to being extremely provocative and frustrating. I think that's an outcome of reading someone's stream of consciousness. But, it's well worth the read. He hits home with me and brings all his stories into context, though sometimes slowly. Also, I love the medical stuff but doubt that everyone would. Finally, I like Erec's interpretation of the importance of snakes in our environment.

There is much to learn from Zero at the Bone -- I highly recommend it!

The book is a trip to preserve the wilderness of the great American Southwest. As a foreigner living in Arizona, I felt this couldn't be a better present to folks at home that are curious about my experiences in the Southwest. Be prepared to be swept of your feet enjoying the smells, the adrenaline, the somber colors of sharing life with the Sonoran desert.

Great book to use in the classroom!

"Zero at the Bone" has ruined my life. His writings are the words, sentences and expressions that I would like to be able to use to express my thoughts, feelings and experiences. However, I know I will never be able to do it, as well as he has.

"Zero" is the story of Erec Toso, a 40ish Tucson writing teacher and runner, who received a life threatening rattlesnake bite that affected and changed his life (for worse and better). It was one of the best written and most engaging books I have ever read. I have highly recommended it to all my male-female angst friends, aging athletes, Tucsonans, and lovers of fine writing (that covers everyone I know).

"Zero" is actually 3 books: First, before the bite, he writes of the male-aging angst: "My heart grows hard when certain subjects come up. It bars entry, switches on the security system, lets threats trigger the lockdown of emotions under siege.....There are questions I am not strong enough to entertain, that are too big to digest......" I call this part of the book - "Telling life How It Is Before a Snakebite".

Then, there is adventure and mystery, as we suffer through the actual physical trauma of the injury with him, not knowing how this will ultimately affect Erec or his family or if he will even survive.

Finally, it becomes philosophically descriptive of how his life changed and actually benefited from the snake-bite.

I can identify with Toso; He lives where I live, thinks my thoughts, shares my concerns about the world and the environment. The glaring difference is that he is able express these feelings.

And in addition to "ruining my life", his writing may have also "saved" my life by helping me realize I'm leading MY LIFE now. "This is not a practice run; there are no do-overs."

If you are scanning the reviews, trying to decide whether or not to buy this book, I can tell you this: If you enjoy reading literary nonfiction, just tap that "One Click" button and get the book on its way to you. Having read a preview of the book before it was released, I looked forward to reading it with great anticipation. In fact, when it arrived in the mail, I pulled it out, opened to the first page and was so taken with Toso's use of language that I began to read it aloud--with no audience other than my cat. I read the first 12 pages that way. There are those who make good storytellers because they know how to weave a compelling tale, follow an ebb and flow of suspense and pathos. But the true masters are those who can render those same elements using language that sings. Toso has made his mark as a master. Let's hope he's working on a second book--but that he needn't entertain Death to produce it.

This is my third copy of the Cosmic Ray book; the other copies have been "borrowed" and not returned. The maps are amusing, and it fits into a jacket pocket pretty easy...Good book if you like a cartoon type picture.

I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona. In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book. The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome. Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed. Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

Just got back from Arizona- and we used this book extensively as it was easy to read, the maps accurate, and the book is quite entertaining. My 6 year old son stated that the Lava River Cave trail "changed his life" (in a good way). The trail trips turned out to be the highlight of our trip!! The authors advise is excellent and the designation of level of difficulty is on target.

This is it...look no further...

Trail maps and information as well as local business area beta....covers all the well-known hikes and even some of the lesser known...

A must hiking guide for Northern Arizona.

Both Sedona and Flagstaff are covered....the book is stout and put together very well; this sturdiness provides needed protection in your pack!!

As a transplanted Montanan, I don't trust much advice on hiking in Arizona. I thank you for the Favorite Hikes book. I used to hike in the Glacier and Bozeman area but have been out of the action for a few years since moving to Flagstaff and having a baby. I have found this guide to be accurate and reliable when planning hikes with my son and/or dog. Thanks again. Buying this book is the best 10 bucks I ever spent.

REALLY, REALLY liked this book. There are 52 chapters with 52 great weeknd adventures. This is a perfect book for someone new to Arizona like me, but I'm sure locals will get some good use out of it too. The maps and all the extra information are really useful. The color photos are spectacular. Much, much better than other Arizona guides out there.

The authors do a really good job of motivating readers like me to get off the couch and try something new. After I bought the book, our first weekend escape was when I took my wife hot air ballooning in Sedona. Then about a month later, my wife and I contacted one of the outfitters listed in the Grand Canyon hiking chapter, and we took a long weekend 4-day hiking trip down to Havasupai. When we got there, we couldn't believe we're still in Arizona with the beautiful waterfalls and all the incredible scenery. Plus we saved about $$$ thanks to one of the coupons in the back of the book -- this coupon alone paid for the book and then some. Thanks! (Great idea! I figured the least I could do was write a thorough review.)

I'm looking forward to the winter so we can go try a weekend of dogsledding... Who would have thought dogsledding in Arizona! Thanks a lot guys. Great book!

This book is great for anyone who lives in Arizona and is looking for some exciting things to do on weekends. The book is set up by season and the degree of difficulty for each adventure, so there is something for everyone. The pictures are beautiful and the directions are really great. If you are going to visit Arizona and would like to try some different activities this book is for you.

Great book. Tons of amazing pictures that inspire me to get off the couch and get outdoors. I lived in Phoenix for 3 years and never knew that all of these awesome adventures were right at my doorstep. Writing is informative and entertaining. I would highly recommend this book.

I really liked the book alot! It's pretty hard not to come up with something to do when you have 52 options. We've had the book for just over a month and and when we bought it, we decided to go have some fun this year.

First, we went Paragliding on Lake Pleasant and had a blast! Plus saved money from the included coupon. Then last weekend we hiked Peralta Canyon. It's amazing what's out there.

This book is the ultimate guide. You are not an Arizonan unless you have experienced its glory, and this book will get you there. I moved here from New Mexico and now feel more at home than the few natives I know. I can get out every weekend and enjoy my life, and it's not expensive. In addition I can save with the coupons.
Recommend: Go try the Parasailing and the Hummer Tour! (Coupons!)

Nice detailed reference on the battleship Arizona. Detailed history. Very useful collection of pictures. Great reference for modelers.

When the pacage arrived from Amazon, I did realise that it would be such a big book just on one Battleship! The detail for any history buff, model maker is great. A good purchase but you will need a reading table to hold it!

Mr. Stillwell has brought BB-39 to life in a way that hasn't been matched by anyone else who has attempted. His rendering of the life of the ship from her birth in the NY Navy yards to her death in the waters of Pearl Harbor is amazing in its clarity & detail.

OK, some detail might be lacking for the technical buffs but his description of the construction, manning, & day-to-day operation of a US naval vessel in the 1st half of the 20th century is superlative. He blends both the hardware & the human element so that Arizona & her crew leap off the pages as a living, breathing combination of steel & flesh.

Highly recommended for those who are interested in the Arizona herself & for anyone who would like to know many of the hows & whys of US Naval operations between the wars.

PS: Scale modelers invariably recommend "Battleship Arizona" as -the- definitive work to those who are researching details of BB-39 for their own modeling projects.

IN A NUTSHELL: AN ILLUSTRATED READER THAT INCLUDES TECHNICAL APPENDICES

One could say that the above says it all.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: THE LIFE & DEATH OF THE ARIZONA AND HER CREWS

In great detail, this book begins as the ship's keel is laid, [16 MARCH 1914] with a picture of FDR who was on hand as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for the ceremony. It ends with the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Included, after the end of the book, are 5 appendices that include all the information that modelers and naval history enthusiasts will be seeking.

FOR THOSE READERS THAT ARE A LITTLE IMPATIENT - -

The first seven chapters of the book is about the peacetime life aboard one of the U.S. Navy's super-dreadnoughts. It is an interesting and well illustrated historical reader.

This changes abruptly for Chapter 8, "DAY OF INFAMY" which details a basic reconstruction of the morning of December 7, 1941, as it pertains to the Battleship Arizona. Highlighted most of all are the individual acts of heroism and the selflessness of many of the crew in their desperate efforts to save their fellow crewmen, their ship and themselves. Also included is a sketch which illustrates where the damage to the ship occurred, which is a huge aid in understanding what happened so quickly to the Arizona on December 7, 1941. This is short, seemingly all too short, but one must realize that the Arizona's magazines' exploded only about 10 minutes after the attack began. 1177 men of the Arizona's crew were killed in that short time with only 337 survivors, many of whom were on leave so they were not there at the time. In other words, about 85% of the crew on-board were killed in basically ten minutes. Nevertheless, the detail is quite accurate and more importantly, easy to follow and appreciate.

Chapter 9, "AFTERMATH" is pretty gruesome in some places, but this is after all a rather gruesome real life disaster. This chapter does include the attempted salvaging of the Arizona and some stories about the men who remained on board [forever in most cases].

THE APPENDICES: HISTORIAN & MODELERS HEAVEN

- APPENDIX 1 - CHRONOLOGY from 1916 - 1941, 42 pages includes a great deal of day to day missions and events of interest.

- APPENDIX 2 - COMMANDING OFFICERS - DATES INCLUDED

- APPENDIX 3 - CREW LIST - 7 DECEMBER 1941, includes fatalities and survivors separately of both the Navy and Marine Corp. Includes summary at the end.

- APPENDIX 4 - A SAILOR'S LETTERS - SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

- APPENDIX 5 - SHIP'S DATA, include detailed specs with individual breakdown of the weights of different components of the ship [eg. armor, machinery, hull etc.] both originally and after the modernization in 1931.

Within Appendix 5 there are numerous sketches [1:600 scale] which are probably copies of the ships blueprints. These are detailed to show individual compartments and components and are labeled. The alterations that were made to the ship over time have been included. A very important addition.

BOTTOM LINE:

Paul Stillwell and "The Naval Institute Press" have another winner in this volume.

I chose to read The Illustrated History of the Battleship Arizona, written by Paul Stillwell. This is not the first book of this format that he has written The Illustrated History of the Battleship Missouri, follows the same format as well. The book started in the shipyard as the U.S.S. Arizona was being built then the author takes you through the daily routine of the ship as if you were a sailor on the great battleship. You feel as though you're in the middle of Pearl Harbor looking over the Arizona as the battle is taking place. The ship was built in 1918, and was the pride of the Pacific fleet threw out the 20's. The Arizona was featured in a Famous movie called, Here Comes the Navy. After Pearl Harbor the ship was made into a now world famous memorial.

This had been one of the best books I had ever been able to read there is so much information given on this great ship, and the pictures make the ship come alive. I would suggest this book to anyone who has an interest in ships and the way they run, or a fan of history. I have not read any other books that Paul Stillwell has written, but if they are half as good as this one I would recommend it to anyone.

This is one of those books that you just can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens next. You forget you're reading a book! You feel like it's really happening because Conover's writing puts you right there! Sometimes, even good books have their "slow parts," but not this one! Anyone who likes books that really take you there and is written in such a way that you can truly "see" what's happening will not want to miss this one!

I don't usually read Western or Adventure novels, but this one is fantastic. I neglected some chores and rushed through others to get back to it, and stayed awake past my bedtime reading. Don't be intimidated by the number of pages. The font and short chapters allow you to zip along. It's one of those you'll never forget.

I read Greenhorns & Killer Mountains coming home from Mississippi on a bus trip. I was so interested in the story I wouldn't even get off the bus at the rest stops.

As a former resident of Pekin, Illinois, I first heard about Jim Conover's books from a webpage showing different events in our hometown, including a book signing for his books. I decided to read his first book because he was from my hometown. Was I in for a pleasant surprise--it was great! I couldn't wait to read his next book! Normally, I prefer non-fiction books, so when I read that Greenhorns was fiction, I wasn't particularly excited about reading it. Was I in for a shock! After starting the book, I could literally not put it down. What intrigued me the most was the number of characters used and how Mr. Conover was able to weave them throughout the plot and subplots to exciting conclusion. I highly recommend this author and look forward to future books!

Look out Jim Conover is on the scene! This book is fantastic. I absolutely loved. It's a great treasure hunting adventure with characters so colorful you know every one. I couldn't put the book down and when I did I felt like I had stepped out of a movie theatre, not put a book down.If you don't read another book this year, read this one, get to know Clay Morgan and Big Alice and feel as though you've been to the Superstition Mts. in Arizona. This book holds your interest cover to cover. Can't wait for his next book..

This memoir written by the daughter of a woman that had polio and a history of polio is an excellent book. I really felt like I knew the author, her mother and the whole polio experience much better after I read this book.

As a polio survivor myself, I am fascinated by the biographies of others. I am very much reminded of TO CATCH THE SNOWFLAKES, another survivor who did not allow himself to be a victim.

Kathryn Black's journey to understand her mother's struggle with polio is well written and poignant--a definite contribution to appreciating the human condition. This book is worth every penny.

As a daughter of a polio survivor, I found this book to be an excellent resourse. the excellent research and doucumentation of a social and scientific phenomena of this century.

The book was inspirational and taught me a lot about the disease- things I never knew; but when I read the summary for this book, I thought it was going to be a story, not a research paper. Yes, Ms. Black does tell snippets of her mother's story every other chapter, but there is so much nitty gritty info in between- unless you want to know the entire history of the disease, don't buy this book. I did, thinking I would get an in depth view into the life of a family affected by polio, and instead got, for the most part, an essay on the history and effects of polio. Please don't be mislead by the title- it's a good title, but it conveys a personal and intimate sense which is not entirely present in the book itself. I hope my experience with this book helps you in the future.

My Great Aunt Arizona is a beautifully-written, beautifully-illustrated book based on a real person, the author's great aunt Arizona. We loved the book so much we took a family vacation some years ago to see the area. The artist obviously went there and saw Henson Creek and the real places, just as we did. We saw Great Aunt Arizona's grave site, too, and met the author's mother.

We love this book so much we have donated it to a couple of libraries and given it as gifts many times. Top notch!

My Great-Aunt Arizona is an excellent book for children and for anyone who is encouraged by a positive message on education.

Gloria Houston's work is wonderful!

Read this book to your kids because it's a great story. Read it because it'll help them appreciate what their teachers do for them. And then, maybe give a copy to their teacher as a gift. This wonderful book is a tribute to those who pour their lives into children who can then go forward with dreams and the ability to do anything.

I use this book in both my reading and writing workshops for fifth graders. It's an excellent book that could be useful to 3rd-6th grade students. It's a great example of characterization.

By far, one of my favorite books for children. I love reading it to my babies. The text with the beautiful pictures will go with you in your mind forever...

This is a book with the marvelous flavor and texture of the 1880's Arizona Territory--a mix of not only the pleasure of cooking and good food but the ethnic stew of the place and time. The plot: Frieda, the leading character, is a flawed but admirable woman of passionate loyalties and a sense of mission that pushes her on a dangerous and self-sacrificing quest to save her younger sister. The characters are special, with perils aplenty. There is a point at which the book really catches fire and races ahead excitingingly, and I finished it at a gallop. Ms.Rochlin's writing is a gift not only to anyone interested in the Old West as it really was, but to anyone who appreciates the ring of an honest voice in fiction.

I just finished it-sadly-because there were no more pages to turn. It's wonderful. The characters are true-I really cared about them - not so easy to do in some novels. What strength and courage those pioneers had! I don't think that I would have been able to survive such conditions. Also - what deeply impresses me was the love Frieda had for Ida - what sisters should and rarely do, feel for one another.

Harriet Rochlin has given us a gift: three stories about feisty Freida Goldson and her ambitious husband, Benny, as they settle and struggle in Arizona during the 1880s. Readers of Rachel Calof's story by Jacob Calof and the Diary of Mattie Spencer by Sandra Dallas will be equally intrigued by Rochlin's Desert Dwellers Trilogy. On Her Way Home can stand on its own, but to really appreciate Frieda's strength--and Rochlin's achievement-- read The Reformer's Apprentice and The First Lady of Dos Cacahuantes in sequence. The stories are wonderful for book clubs, for readers who like historical fiction, and for anyone who appreciates how much women had to overcome to reach their present equality. Frieda is Jewish so her story reveals little known information about the Jewish experience in the West. Rochlin's research is outstanding.

"On Her Way Home," the third novel in the Desert Dweller's Trilogy, deomonstrates Harriet Rochlin's uncanny ability to enter the hearts and minds of her 1880s characters. A wonderful, rollicking read, the book is as contemporary in its psychological insights as it is historically accurate. I highly recommend this book to all those interested in reading a good story about interesting people living in a vivid, vital slice of time.

This fascinating story gives us a dark view of pioneer life in the form of the criminal justice system and its distructive effect on women who are caught up in it. Women do not count. Unless the woman is Frieda Goldson whose ferocious will takes her far from home to the side of her abducted and abused younger sister. When the girl is falsely jailed for murder Frieda pits herself against a primitive justice system that shows little mercy. Author Harriet Rochlin once again gives us the experience, superbly rich in the details of sight, sounds, taste and smells, of living in an earlier, harsher time. Excellent writing.

I have been reading everything I can find about the gray whale since I am visiting them in San Ignacio, Baja, Mexico in early February. I found this book to be the most informative for someone who is truly interested in how gray whale conservation evolved especially from the standpoint of how politics influences conservation efforts. Fortunately for the gray whale, the Mexican government had enough proponents to stop the Mitsubishi salt mining from expanding. And Mexico is the ONLY COUNTRY which has outlawed gray whale harvesting. If you are visting the gray whales in Baja, this is a definite must read!

I just returned from touring Baja and experiencing the magnificent gray whale. Serge Dedina spent a significant amount of time researching the content; he succinctly conveys the history of politics and conservation in Baja California in this book. After visiting the same places he lived, and experiencing the people, environment and Gray Whale, I can attest to the fact that Dedina's work is dead-on accurate. Reading this will save you months of research. And, if you are fortunate enough to travel to Baja, I can guarantee you will come away wanting more, and wishing you had done your homework.

This book, along with Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey
by Linda Hogan & Brenda Peterson, are required reading for anyone planning to do gray whale watching in Mexico. It is based on the reality of how Mexican politics, not conservationism, determined the perservation of these wonderful animals in Mexico. Most people are not aware that Mexico is the ONLY country in North America that has outlawed gray whale harvesting.

This book combines a captivating portrait of the whales and the people of southern Baja with a well-documented political analysis of the challenges involved in conservation. Plus, it's a great read.

(From Planeta Journal) - For the past several years, one of Mexico's most pressing environmental controversies was whether or not the Mexican government and the Mitsubishi Corporation should develop a new salt mining operation within the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, one of the world's four breeding areas for gray whales. A candid text, Saving the Gray Whale provides an engaging capsule history of whale conservation in Mexico and a timely review of environmental politics.

In fact, the timing could not be more opportune for this book. Within a month of publication, the plans for the salt operation were cancelled. For readers who are only now learning about this issue, this book is an excellent resource.

Saving the Gray Whale is a must-read book for whale watchers and readers interested in Mexican environmental issues. The candid tone stems from the author's travels and research in Baja, not to mention dizzying trips to Mexico City, where the labyrinths of political power stray far from efficiency. The author combines analysis from historical reports, planning meetings and from encounters on the road or from a kayak paddled across San Ignacio Lagoon.

This book is a treasury of little-known facts ("Gray whales are not gray") and a straightforward review of environmental politics in Mexico -- at least as far as the government is concerned. The list of players is a must-read for anyone interested in environmental issues! Unfortunately, it does not have the same depth when it reviews how the conservation groups ("Non-Governmental Organizations") operate. Is the "Grupo de los 100" really Mexico's "most influential" environmental group? Likewise, what do The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund do in Mexico? Reports are kept hush and the author doesn't seem to question the lack of transparency.

Ably written by attorney, former police officer, and western law enforcement expert Michael A. Crane, A Fistful Of Thorns is a superbly crafted novel about the legendary frontier figures Doc Holliday and Kate Elder. Seamy political corruption, power struggles that escalate to ruthless violence, and a powerful evocation of a western frontier yesteryear fill the pages of this riveting and highly recommended saga of the Old West.

Wow, what an exciting journey! I was captivated by the authors interpretation of the characters and their travels; I couldn't put this book down. It inspired me to want to find out more about the legend they call Doc Holliday. If you're remotely interested in the wild west, this book is a must read.

I am a fan of the 19th century American West but usually prefer histories and personal accounts to fiction. But this book is a pleasant exception. As Doc Holiday is a figure somewhat overshadowed by the Earp saga in most historical sources (and we western culture fans know of the broad range of treatment that legend receives in so called historical text) it was exciting to get some insight into such a pivotal character. Mr. Crane does an excellent job of blending fact (as closely as it can be determined) with imagination in portraying a personality that nearly stands as the greatest example of skilled gunman. What is fascinating about Holliday, and so brilliantly demonstrated here by Crane, is that he was neither lawman nor outlaw but driven by his own personal codes of honor and loyalty. Sometimes, stories of which we know the ending can bog down. But in this case, Mr. Crane keeps you turning the pages because his colorful description of Doc makes the journey of discovery more important than the fateful destination.

I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the importance of the American Western Myth in defining our culture, enjoys stories of heroism and sacrifice, or just likes gun play. It was one of the fastest reads I have had in a while.

This is a wonderfully entertaining story that illustrates just how much courage it takes to stand up to corruption and greed. While most tales of the Old West paint Doc as shady sidekick to the noble and just Earps, Michael Crane shifts the focus and shows us a much more complete picture. We see that while Doc was the hard drinking gambler with a deadly temper that we're all familiar with, he was also a man of immense loyalty, constant chivalry, and unyielding integrity.

True to the nature of the story, the author doesn't take you by the hand and gently lead you along the walkways of Tombstone, but instead grabs you by the back of the arm and pulls you through the saloons, alleys and bloody confrontations that made up Doc's world...it's a hell of tour!

Hold on for a wild and adventurous ride through the Wild West! This captivating novel about Doc Holliday paints a vivid picture of not only his life as a notorious gun fighter but also portrays his more reputable characteristics as a gentleman and devoted friend. Doc's journey through the Wild West tells a story of corruption and law prior to the admittance of the Territory of Arizona into the Union. A Fistful of Thorns is a must read, captivating its reader from the beginning to the end.