California Books

This book is very informative and is a great book on Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizads. This book was so good I could hardly put it down. This book gave me a greater understanding of Gila monsters and Beaded Lizards. This book is for anyone who wants to learn all aspects of Heloderma Lizards. I Recommend this to anybody who is Interested in them.

An Excellent book. If you want to know anything about Heloderms then this is the book for you. it covers just about every aspect of Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards that you could hope to know. it has great pictures that that help you understand even better what he's speaking about in the book.

As a member of the Tucson Herpetological Society, I have been hearing of the genesis of this book for years. I wondered, "How could a scientist in cold, wet, Washington write about Gilas and Beadeds?"
The answer was simple. Dan Beck spent many long, hot months in the Deserts of Arizona and surrounding states as well as in the Tropical Dry Forests of Mexico and Guatemala.
The result is a book that has been sorely needed for about a half-century. I picked it up and read it straight through in a few days as if it were a novel or a Harry Potter Book. I actually bought the book as a birthday present for my biologist son but after presenting him the first one, found I really needed to get one for myself as an easy reference to keep on my bookshelf.
I do not pretend to understand all the graphs and charts but I know they are necessary. Maybe someday I shall.
What I did like was the easy flow of the words as Dan Beck told the story of two of the most mysterious animals in the world. So little is known about these two species that often, writers are content to say, "They spend 95% of their time underground" or similar. Dan Beck fleshes out the story of why Heloderma spend so much time out of view and, presumably, underground. I also liked the manner in which the author introduced the next chapter in the last few words of the preceding chapter.For example, the last words of Chapter 4 on Physiological Ecology are,"we must consider their use of habitat and patterns of activity." Chapter 5 is appropriately titled, " Habitat Use and Activity Patterns." This is done a number of times but it took me several chapters to catch on.
One thing that greatly impressed me was the author's use of anecdotal information as well as research driven data from trusted sources. Many "stories" would have been dismissed years ago but are now considered as valuable information due to his own research.
Maybe this will be the beginning of a true understanding of these mysterious reptiles.

This is one of those books every serious herpetologist interested in Heloderms should have. As a former zookeeper, this book would have been very helpful in solving some of the smaller problems with breeding the several subspecies of H. suspectum such as charlesbogerti and alvarezi. Anyone who wants to learn more should own this book for their reference collection.

I live in Oakland and have many in-depth bird guides, but this particular guide remains in the car for any outings. It's quite portable and specific to the birds we see in this area.

In addition to the positive comments listed before, I would add that this book gave interesting, fun facts about species that I had never read in perusing all of the more "substantial" bird books I have. It's also great for beginners to sort out the most likely candidates for identification. I recommend this book for birders at both beginner and intermediate levels. It may not be as revealing for experts, but I do know a lot about local birds and still find this a great book to have on hand.

You should have this book if you live in San Francisco and love birds.

I have carted this book along on many outings since my relocation to California. This has come in very handy for quick identifications and a brief summary of the birds' typical habitats and even their mannerisms.

The main reason I enjoy this guide is that, if the species is included in the book, I can usually find it within thirty seconds. Often times the bird is still in sight and I can easily compare its markings to those found in the guide.

I highly recommend this book as a quick reference guide.

For several decades I have been a casual bird observer in the south San Francisco Bay Area and my curiosity had led me to acquire several of the acclaimed major 'Bird Guides' ( Peterson's, Sibley's, National Geographic, etc.) However, I seldom was able to ID birds I saw with confidence using those guides, there were just too many possible candidates in the guides for each of my sightings and I seldom could narrow down the possibilities to one species. The 'Birds of San Francisco' solved that problem for me.

The 'Birds of San Francisco' guide focuses on approximately 120 of the most common species found in the Bay Area. It allots one page per specie which contains a large color illustration and references to other S.F. Bay Area species that have a similar appearence. There are also very useful graphic keys which quickly indicate the preferred habitats of that specie along with migration and breeding timeframes. Also included is a textual description and behavioural information useful for identification.

The 120 species covered are grouped into 23 (quasi phylogenetic) families for quick look-up within the guide ( e.g. Shorebirds, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, small-Songbirds, mid-size Songbirds, etc. ).

Using BoSF in conjuction with the major guides mentioned above is particularly powerful. BoSF often points me to a candidate specie (while I am still not confident about it) and the major guides provide more variations on specie colorings, subspecies, etc. This usually confirms or dismisses the candidate. In my experience, BoSF starts me on the right trail for identifying my Bay Area bird sightings with confidence over 80% of the time.

At only 156 pages, BoSF is also highly portable compared to most of the major guides, so I am much more likely to take it along on 'non-birding' events.

My only regret about this book is that I did not find it 11 years ago when it was first published (1996).

Only problem with these books is that they are not complete in explaining the Disneyland resort. Plus, they do not give correct negative reports on lines and other problems.

I used the book to plan my family's first trip to Disneyland Resort. Lots of information on :best time to go, where to stay, info on admission options,description of rides/attractions/shopping, etc... it helped me plan what my family really wanted to see and answered all of my questions about Disneyland and California Adventure. There is also info on attractions outside of Anaheim that would be helpful. Very informative without strongly voiced opinions..

Just like mboothby, I also buy this every year at Christmas and have a good read. It helps me remember the time I've spent there with my family, and the descriptions of the attractions are always a blast to read. The information is great (as if I didn't already have it memorized) and completely accurate. Very good insight for an "official" guide. This is highly recommended for anyone planning either their first trip or their 10th.

Every year I buy the new edition of this book and it never disappoints. Always colorful and chock-full of valuable information. It's a wonderful source for an upcoming trip to the Happiest Place On Earth or just to get a sneak peek of what the Disney magicians have up their sleeves for the coming year.

If you are a woman looking for a thoughtful review of our modern birthing culture this is a wonderful book. I have read a lot about birth options, perspectives of the birth experience, and midwifery history and philosophy but went away wanting for more. My desire to really explore an informed text about our birthing culture was finally satiated by this book. I am not an anthropologist by training and yet found the book accessible, educational, and challenging. I really suggest this book be read by everyone interested in the birth experience, partners, attendants, birthing woman, or children of technocracy.

If you really want to know what to expect when you're expecting, read this book and Henci Goer's Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. If you'd really like to remove yourself from the technobirth machine, read Ina May Gaskin's Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery. If you've always thought you might want a natural birth, read Peggy O'Mara's Having a Baby, Naturally. And remember this one thing: If you really (really) want a natural, unmedicated birth, don't give birth in a hospital.

This was a paradigm blowing must read for any woman. A fluid read and with intense narratives. The most educational book I've read in a long time.

The majority of obstetric procedures, from putting on a hospital gown to the birthing position itself, are unnecessary and sometimes dangerous rituals that are perpetuated by an authoritarian system in its desire to maintain control over a virtually uncontrollable process. Robbie Davis-Floyd has studied these rituals of birth; why taking the ride to L&D in the wheelchair sets up an invalid mindset in the laboring woman, and how the lithotomy position robs the woman of her birthing power, forcing her to rely on the medical professions to deliver her baby for her.

It is powerful stuff and difficult to accept, but truth sometimes is.

The nomenclature "Bebop" referring to an extension of American jazz development is, in itself somewhat unfortunate. It is not surprising that many of the musicians at the core of the movement hated the phrase "Bebop" themselves. The jokey sound of the word tends to trivialize the significance and the integrity of the music to which is referring. We tend to think of Bebop as an amusing, but irrelevant, phase of the urban jazz scene. The contribution of Bebop to musical development is both pervasive and irreversible.

Scott DeVeaux's book, "The Birth of Bebop" takes on squarely the issue of the Bebop's place in American music and in America's cultural development of the middle of the 20th-century. He has made excellent use of first-hand accounts, anecdotes, and obscure or original recordings to bring this story to life. He has applied an academic's discipline to documentation of his source material with a high degree of integrity. He achieves a remarkable balance between understanding and dealing with the details of the musical construction in the context of the "race" environments of the 1930s and '40s

This was an important era of American history. In a sense, we would like to forget the gross cultural inequities of the time. There are not many tangible reminders around, although the cultural imprint is still here and not likely disappear in the near future. Fortunately, the music of the era, Bebop, is still accessible through CD re-issues and is continuing to influence modern musical performance right through to a saxophone-toting Lisa Simpson. A key value of "The Birth of Bebop" is to remind us of this continuing connection. This book helps us appreciate the courage and commitment of the proponent musicians exploring this new medium, particularly in the context of nearly-overwhelming daily obstacles in the form of American cultural "Jim Crow" mores and laws.

In a perfect World, this book would come with a companion CD filled with aural samples of the music Mr. DeVeaux discusses organized to illustrate his musical points. This short-coming means that the fullest appreciation of the author's points is only available to those with access to fabulous recording collections of the era or, even more remotely, those with sufficient age and musical memory to bring the musical notation to life.

I am a music major at the University of Virginia, particularly interested in jazz studies, and have had the pleasure of taking several classes under DeVeaux, in particular, one based on this book. DeVeaux's humor, in combination with his musical genius when it comes to the topic of jazz, is expemplified by this book. He explains the hayday of jazz as well as the transition from the swing era into the bop era with incredible detail. Special features in the book are vignettes into the lives of the great artists such as Hawkins and Parker. He compares the styles of several of the pioneers which causes further investigation on the part of the reader to trail the modern jazz progression from the 1940's and 50's on into today. If you've ever wanted to know why the cats play the way the do and how jazz moved from big band swing clubs into bebop jam sessions, this is the author you're looking for.

It's hard to explain the excitement a 13 year old had on first hearing Dizzy Gillespie's THINGS TO COME on Side A and TWO BASS HIT on Side B. Or for that matter, as a 25 year old, on hearing KUSH from AN ELECTRIFYING EVENING WITH DIZZY GILLESPIE relayed on the VOICE OF AMERICA by Willis Conover. Undoubtedly there was something electrifying about the music which Mr Deveaux suggests had a "sense of frustration embedded in its core" p.446. Certainly, it was a musical world away from that of the great Thomas Fats Waller for example whose genius was usually sublimated beneath jumping and jive. It was SERIOUS music and demanded attention. This fine book by Mr Devaux puts the evolution of this revolutionary music in context and inspires one to revisit many of the records including those who inspired the great John Coltrane - Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. It is also of interest to musicians, musicologists, sociologists, historians but as a general reader who loves America's classical music - called jazz - it is a very fine read indeed and about the best book I own on Bebop.

A 500-page history of bebop that takes 400 pages to get up to the "Groovin' High" Bird & Diz recording session? Whose first 164 pages are all about Coleman Hawkins? Unusual, to say the least, but DeVaux shows how it all makes sense. Hawkins is portrayed as the central motif around which everything else turns: Hawk welcomed progress and a new style, played on the first bop record date (done for Asch in 1944), and opened at Billy Berg's in Los Angeles before Bird & Diz got there. DeVaux is a very good writer, thorough and judicious. Highly recommended.

I absolutely could not put this book down! From cover to cover I was hooked: The mastery of Shannon's writing style painted vivid images in my head, and kicked-started my imagination like no other book has in a very long while.

The boldest adventure on paper I've ever been on in my life, I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read at the edge of their seat, and be salivating for more when they're done! It's been a while since an author could stir me up like this...a most welcome change for everyone who's tired of the S.O.S. that clutters much of our bookshelves today. Great job, Barry Shannon!

The tale takes us to places we'd probably best never seek in person, but come wonderfully to lusty life in Shannon's seemingly simple style. Readers will wait as anxiously as will I for the further adventures of JOAT St...John; remarkably, the tale pushes the rather two-dimensional universe of the medium; The wry and apt turn of phrase, the hilarious juxtaposition of events, and the relentless insouciance of the auctorial voice seem to surpass the restrictions, taking this reader more for a flight into, through, and about marvels, than just a drive along the tired turnpike. This one carried me straight through, but already I'm going back for another look at scenes that may be experienced again and again, albeit vicariously. Shannon enters august company, nay even julian enclaves, with other paradigm- pushers such as Laurence Sterne, Richard Condon, and Thomas Perry, each uniquely enriching the volume of the reader's experience. Bold Stroke came to me as a gift, one that encourages me to hang out in anticipation of the next one; even the cover art enhances the package to the benefit of the beholder. Behold and enjoy!

Barry Shannon has written a captivating tale with all the ingredients needed to hook me on the first page and keep me entertained all the way through. His accuracy and attention to detail is significant but never gets in the way of the action. I really liked this one and would certainly recommend it. Good show, Shannon!....hope you write another.

Brilliantly filled with gems of Private Investigator tradecraft, ceaselessly entertaining with madcap and ribald adventures, "The Bold Stroke" engages your interest and exhilarates your sense of humor. It is also a wonderfully readable yarn of a streetwise righter-of-wrongs who seems possessed of indefatigable sexual prowess and joy of life. Yeah! . . . Barry Shannon's hero is just my kind of role model for the New(est) Age.

Paul Robinson

Bone Dry is one scary book: fast-paced, authentic, and suspenseful. But what I liked the most were the characters. There was not one major character who didn't feel fully-realized to me. Even the worst bad guy in it was real, which of course made it even scarier. It kept me up all night reading. I know other readers will enjoy it as much as I did.

A real page-turner! What makes this thriller so compelling, is that there is an eery sense of reality to the story although it is fiction. The authors successfully combine the best and worst of human behavior and set their characters within a fragile medical environment. Current advances in cancer treatment coupled with recent hospital scandals makes this mystery all the more plausable. "Bone Dry" is a white-knuckle read 'til the end, which makes it difficult to put down. Wouldn't be surprised to see this one jump from page to screen--it's got all the ingredients.

As a physician one would think that the last place I'd look for entertainment would be medically related literature. But I find myself drawn to it especially when the story is so plausible and the hospital and clinical characters are so true to life as was the case in this exciting and all-to-possible story. The book just whisked you away from the very start and was impossible to put down. There were some truly macabre and twisted methods that the authors came up with to agonizingly terminate at least one of the characters that only someone in the field could have come up with. But it was the premise of the story that made this one of the best medical mysteries I've read in years because this could really happen and it would be relatively easy given what I know of security in the various hospitals I've worked in to pull this off. Finally, the authors' style of inexorably building tension within a framework of making all the medical technology and jargon understandable to the lay reader just added to the pleasure of this diabolical plot. I highly recommend this book.

In San Francisco's Ridgewood Hospital, the staff is upset as the bone marrow to be used in an autologous replacement surgery to save the life of patient Carl Chapman is missing from the lab. Especially shook up is nurse Gina Mazzio, who has been with Carl from the beginning of his cancer treatment and now cannot understand why he seems so stoic about his pending death.

Lab worker Faye Lindstron stole the bone marrow at the machinations of her boyfriend Frankie Nellis. She has taken others also as Frankie demands fifty thousand dollars from the near death sufferers or they will die. As Alan Vasquez of administration tries to bury the scandal, Gina and a few other caring medical practitioners struggle to uncover why a simplistic procedure has gone awry not knowing that Frankie will kill to continue his lethal scheme.

Medical procedural fans will have a field day with the exciting BONE DRY even with knowing the perpetrators from almost the beginning as authors Bette Golden Lamb and J.J. Lamb use dramatic irony to make Gina question whether Vasquez is the culprit. The story line is action packed never slowing down until the final beach blanket scene. Though Faye is too pathetic a character and Frankie is too evil, readers will devour this strong thriller starring a wonderful Bronx transplant that is quite the lioness when it comes to protecting her cubs (patients).

Harriet Klausner

If you have looked for great muffin, coffee cake, cobbler recipes, this book has them. I'm pretty picky about recipes but I have found some great ones in here. I made the blueberry coffee cake and it was so easy and delicious. The banana bread was great and I can't wait to try others. I'm going to check out her other one!

This cookbook is awesome! I have had it for about 8 years now and have tried quite a few of the recipes and have yet to find one I haven't loved. The recipes are easy to follow and contain ingredients that are usually in my kitchen already or are easy to find at the grocery store. Although everything I've sampled is super-good, my favorites are "Yogurt Coconut Coffee Cake" and "French Breakfast Puffs". Several of the recipes call for 'melted butter or margarine', but I found I can substitute healthier canola oil and the recipes come out great! I highly recommended this cookbook!

Carol Frieberg continues to find the most delicious, and easy to prepare, breakfasts in town. There are so many good recipes, this book makes it easy to celebrate the morning! I cannot wait until Carol's next B&B adventure.

So far all the recipes I have tried have been a huge success. The organization is simple, as are most of the recipes, so it is fairly easy to turn out a tasy breakfast with little effort. Like another reader, I am looking forward to checking out the author's other B&B cookbook for more great recipes! Make sure to check out the apple cider syrup in this one, it smells fabulous and tastes even better!

This book is a great read for people of all ages. Whether your interested in learning more about "The Rock" or need some background information on it, this is the one book for you.

From the colorful pictures scattered throughout the pages to the easy to read layout, you will find yourself immersed in the horrific atmosphere that is Alacatraz.

Few books manage to capture so many elements that make a book sucessful like Breakout! Escape From Alcatraz does. I guarantee you will feel as if you've actually walked through Alacatraz and know exactly why they call it, "The Rock".

I was previewing this book for my 2nd grade classroom and became completely enthralled in it! It's a great adventure/mystery story sure to capture the attention of any child who likes action and suspense! It creates great imagery of Alcatraz and leaves the reader with an eerie feeling of not knowing whether these men made it or drowned in the bay. It's definitely one of my students' favorites in the classroom.

This book outlines in vivid historical detail the legendary escape of three men from the most inescapable prison in U.S. history. The book also explains a brief history of the island of Alcatraz in addition to a brief account of its final days. One of the major themes of this book is that not everyone will be shut up. Out of every prison, or every situation, there is a way out, and there is an escape if one is only willing to take the risks.

Along with colorful illustrations which tell a story by themselves and photographs which provide historically accurate detail, the book also tells an exciting though quite short, true story about the legendary island of Alcatraz. The text is not overrun with needless detail nor is it too general. What I liked best is that by the end of the book, the reader feels as if he or she has just been given a tour of the island prison.

I think Escape From Alcatraz Island was a great book because it had alot of adventure,and I could picture in mind what was going on.also I think it must have been really hard getting chased by a gang through san fransisco near the dwarfs pier,I could probably imagine what it was like locked up in a cell at night in Alcatraz, having to find away to get back home during the morning.

Living in California, I never knew there were so many great places to drive my SUV. The trail descriptions in California Coastal Byways are extremely accurate, concise and helpful. I liked the photographs because they give a perspective on a tour. The list of resources, parks and places of interest in the back of the book is invaluable. I wish I had time to go on all the drives. Good job.

The spiral binding of this paperback may not make it accessible for library lending, but individuals seeking a family driving guide for backcountry California will find it wonderful. California Coastal Byways covers roads from the Oregon border to San Diego, focussing on the coastal Route 1 and offroad between this and 101. It's easy to look at the general map, choose a specific region, then read the different trip descriptions which include notes for car, bicycle and stops along the way, maps needed and how to get there. Highly recommended for any California resident or visitor who enjoys rural back roads explorations.

As new owners of a 4x4 SUV, we bought this book as a guide for weekend off-roading. We have done a few of the trails in San Diego and found Tony's book to be informative; with times, highlights of the trail by mile, and any cautions needed. However,'El Nino' has changed some terrain since the 1995 printing. We found some trails designated "easy" are now "moderate", etc., according to Tony's definitions. Great resource for finding those dirt roads and heading off into nature!

Who'd ever think that California, of all places, would have so many beautiful little dirt roads through the coastal mountains? It was such a pleasant surprise to see so much of wild, old California still in existence, thanks to this book and my Toyota 4Runner. At last, a guide for the non-hard-core four-wheeler!