Washington Books

This is a book which I :
(i) looked forward to reading (after reading the favorable reviews),
(ii) wasn't sure about the quality of the book half-way through reading it, but
(iii) was convinced that it is an important book upon finishing the final chapter.
Broadly, it is a book about Thai Buddhism in a historical and cultural context. It attempts to relate what Thai Buddhism was like before state-led reformations (which began during the rule of King Mongkut, 1851-68) changed the institution. The story told is very subtle - it discusses, amongst others, the role that monks played in the local Thai society during this period. The method that the author employs is very peculiar - the book reads like a personal narrative that is sourced from personal interviews (with senior surviving monks), written recollections by monks as well as 'farang' diarists. This approach, which I thought was almost akin to an oral history is, I think, inevitable given the form and availability of the information on the subject. This approach also makes the book very readeable and appealing as it manages to impart to the reader the feeling of how the past feels like. Stories surrounding the sometimes supernatural feats of monks wandering in forests adds a 'folklore' dimension to Buddhism as practised by Thais that I think is not often conveyed. The stories about individual monks were the ones I enjoyed reading the most. I cared less about 'farang' writings even though their observations sometimes proved informative. Not all the book is centered around Thai Buddhism. For example, the author discusses views on the status of women in Thai society towards the end of the book (chapter 43). The book is partly a social commentary about how Thai Buddhism and society have changed. I sense a tinge of sadness about these changes but the author does not quite say it outright whether the past reforms were mistakes. This is quite understandable, given the sensitivity of the issue due to the exalted status and high esteem in which past and present Thai kings are held. One of my favourite chapter is the last one - the tale of a Dutchman who stole a jade Buddha statue from a forest, only to return it later and to ultimately find the true meaning of life (as a Buddhist monk). The last few words of this chapter (uttered by the Dutchman) was, for me, very memorable: "All our European haste and disquiet has fallen away from me. I have come to realize that quite equanimity is the highest good that we can achieve in this life". Tiyavanich certainly knows how to choose her words very well. This is a book which I read and savoured slowly - one to two chapters daily, every night, before I slid into pleasant dreams. Tonight, upon finishing the book, I lament the fact that I will need to find another good read tomorrow night.

This is a book which I :
(i) looked forward to reading (after reading the favorable reviews),
(ii) wasn't sure about the quality of the book half-way through reading it, but
(iii) was convinced that it is an important book upon finishing the final chapter.
Broadly, it is a book about Thai Buddhism in a historical and cultural context. It attempts to relate what Thai Buddhism was like before state-led reformations (which began during the rule of King Mongkut, 1851-68) changed the institution. The story told is very subtle - it discusses, amongst others, the role that monks played in the local Thai society during this period. The method that the author employs is very peculiar - the book reads like a personal narrative that is sourced from personal interviews (with senior surviving monks), written recollections by monks as well as 'farang' diarists. This approach, which I thought was almost akin to an oral history is, I think, inevitable given the form and availability of the information on the subject. This approach also makes the book very readeable and appealing as it manages to impart to the reader the feeling of how the past feels like. Stories surrounding the sometimes supernatural feats of monks wandering in forests adds a 'folklore' dimension to Buddhism as practised by Thais that I think is not often conveyed. The stories about individual monks were the ones I enjoyed reading the most. I cared less about 'farang' writings even though their observations sometimes proved informative. Not all the book is centered around Thai Buddhism. For example, the author discusses views on the status of women in Thai society towards the end of the book (chapter 43). The book is partly a social commentary about how Thai Buddhism and society have changed. I sense a tinge of sadness about these changes but the author does not quite say it outright whether the past reforms were mistakes. This is quite understandable, given the sensitivity of the issue due to the exalted status and high esteem in which past and present Thai kings are held. One of my favourite chapter is the last one - the tale of a Dutchman who stole a jade Buddha statue from a forest, only to return it later and to ultimately find the true meaning of life (as a Buddhist monk). The last few words of this chapter (uttered by the Dutchman) was, for me, very memorable: "All our European haste and disquiet has fallen away from me. I have come to realize that quite equanimity is the highest good that we can achieve in this life". Tiyavanich certainly knows how to choose her words very well. This is a book which I read and savoured slowly - one to two chapters daily, every night, before I slid into pleasant dreams. Tonight, upon finishing the book, I lament the fact that I will need to find another good read tomorrow night.

This is a fascinating book for those interested in Buddhism or Thailand or just a good read. It is a wonderful collection of accounts of Thai monks in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their encounters with ghosts, elephants and snakes, and all manner of people provide a slice of rural life in times past. The views of Westerners in Siam at the time provide additional perspectives. Old photographs, engravings, and maps complement the stories. Highly recommended.

...."I recommend this book to anyone who harbors one of more of the following persona: The historian who enjoys pouring over colonial memoirs which detail exotic places and scenes of west-meets-east-for-the-first time;the ethnographer tracking wisdom traditions as expressed in lifestyles of rural villagers; the armchair thrill-seeker who longs for hair-raising jungle adventures; and the spiritual aspirant hoping to meet realized practitioners who are the living embodiment of the Buddha's teachings."

Dr. Kamala Tiyavanich's latest book,"The Buddha in the Jungle," is a wonderful collection of fascinating tales, rich in the exotic beauty and mystery of 19th century Buddhist Thailand. From the horrors of the charnel grounds to the quiet serenity of tropical forest shrines, Dr. Tiyavanich's stories of Buddhist practioners and saints will captivate, inspire and teach the reader. A native of Thailand and a Buddhist practitioner in the Thai Theravada trdition, Dr. Tiyavanich writes in her characteristic style of detail and clarity, making this scholarly work fresh, exciting and easily accessible to every reader. I found this book to be a joy to read and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Bhuddism.

Lovely book with pictures that will stir memories in the hearts of all native Washingtonians and those who wish they were!

I was given a copy of this book for my birthday several years ago and spent hours pouring over its prose and its historical narratives. I never grow tired of this book.

Credit for this work goes to its author who has accomplished the near to impossible - an engaging and personal history of Washington DC told through the destroyed architecture and the people behind the buildings and their creation. The illustrations are gorgeous, but its Goode's way with worlds that allows the reader to lose themselves in the history of the buildings profiled.

I would imagine that this type of book in the wrong hands would become an academic tome, dry and technical. Goode brings the people of the District to life for the reader, and compels the reader to look for more.

If the book fails, it is in the lack of a comprehensive map of the whole District of Columbia. If you are not familiar with the streets and layout of the city (itself genius) then the book can be confusing.

Ideally, I would suggest this as a gift to anyone interested in history, city planning, government or historical architecture.

Now in an updated second edition, Capital Losses: A Cultural History Of Washington's Destroyed Buildings by Washington history expert James M. Goode is a carefully presented documentation and chronicle of the great architectural and cultural edifices of Washington, D.C., which have been lost to the endless grind of urban renewal in the years prior to 1978. That was the year in which crucial preservation legislation was passed. Packed from cover to cover with black-and-white photographs, enhancing a text which is extensive in detail, history, unique historical insights, Capital Losses is an exceptional architectural tour and a unique resource offering a kind of "window" into the architectural past of the nation's capital.

As you pour over all the wonderful black and white images and run you eyes over the artistry and talent it took to create most of these long gone structures you can help, but pause and take a deep breath. This book has scholarly, exhaustively researched text that enlighens and educates the reader. I agree with one articulate reviewer that stated that the author did not make allowances for market forces and changing times, but having said that, I do believe that most of these buildings could have been saved and used for other purposes, I mean the retrofited old buildings in NYC and Boston, why not Washington. The destruction of so many buildings is unconscionable, and when you see the buildings that replaced them all you do is stare. I was not around in the sixties so i didnt witness the worst of this senceless destruction, but i know that here in Houston, even today, great old buildings are never totally safe, it's no wonder Europeans don't get us, as an American i don't get us either. Highly recommended..the book and perservation.

Unique and engaging, "Capital Losses" is a scrapbook chronicle of Washington, DC-- not as the "nation's capital," but as a collection of neighborhoods, people, and activities.

The book memorializes dozens of buildings lost to the wrecker's ball. Each edifice is featured in a one- to two-page chapter that includes splendid vintage photographs. The accompanying write-ups always discuss design elements, thanks to the authors' encyclopedic knowledge in this area. The story of each structure is then expanded into a discussion of the designers, builders, and notable inhabitants. "Capital Losses" is a survey of history, intrigue, gossip as well as architectural styles. That's what makes this book so fun.

The authors' sympathy for historic preservation is to a fault. Narratives hardly attempt to recognize the social, economic, and technological forces that so often make demolition inexorable. For example, the advent of central air conditioning initiated the doom of many hotel and office structures that could not be economically retrofitted. In addition, the post-war demise of downtown commercial areas also accelerated the decay and eventual destruction of many classic structures.

To be fair, an analysis of causal forces was not the intention of this volume. It pays homage to Washington's folksier history in an elegant manner. This is a wonderful coffee table book.

What a neat book for both kids and adults. I enjoyed reading the book about our Nation's Capital thru the eyes of a child. I look forward to reading more books by Casey Jacobs.

What a wonderful new view of our nation's capital. A great book for children and adults alike. This book is full of fun facts and beautiful pictures. My children and I have really enjoyed it.

I'm a teacher and can't wait to share this amazing kid's tour of Washington DC with my class.

Fun book about our nation's capital. Love the historical facts about our founding fathers.

This is such a nicely done book...beautiful photographs...great information. Casey's enthusiasm for our nation's capital leaps off the pages. The children in your life will love it!

Not only will you enjoy using this book for reference, but it is a lovely book you and guests will want to look through over and over.

The book combines the strikingly beautiful world of pottery with the history of the early days of the Malibu area. The rise and fall of the family pottery business was a sign of the times as the country fought through the depression. The color pictures are wonderful and the family black and white bring life to that era. This is a very entertaining coffee table or study book.

This book is a must have reference for all potters, interior designers, tile makers and setters, graphic artists and color lovers. Malibu Potteries is a group of people that never should have passed on by. This book covers it all with beautiful pictures of the some of their work, along with the information on how it came together. I wish....to go back in time and somehow stop the fire!

A wonderful book of color pictures of the tiles made at the Malibu Potteries. The book provides a history of the pottery, bios of many of the employees and fabulous pictures of malibu tile installtions.

I love the colorful tile designs, but there are also Aztecian terra cotta designs that are inspirational as well. It's all here.

Highly recommended for tile makers and historians.

A fabulous book for artists, history buffs, and others. Beautifully tells and illustrates the brief but engaging history of the Malibu Potteries. Along with full color examples of the designs, finished tiles and installations, the book takes the reader back to the time and place through personal stories and archival photographs. Each time I pick up this book it inspires me. Highly recommended!

This is an unforgettable history of Mt. Rainier, its pioneering and more recent explorers of trails to the summit, its geology and natural environment, and its inevitable human disasters. Molenaar's many explanatory sketches of climbing routes and his inclusion of numerous historic photos of famed climbers, guides, and ascents help immensely to illustrate the absorbing text. As one who is intimately familiar both as a guide, an artist, a scientist, and a world-famous mountaineer, he is uniquely fitted to write this story--one which anyone contemplating an ascent of "the mountain" could hardly do without--and he has succeeded beyond measure.

This book is a wonderful read! The author's love for mountains and mountaineering comes out clearly in his prose and illustrations. If you share in his love of Mt. Rainier you will love this book!

Great read about Mt. Rainier. I loved the book so much I bought a copy for my cabin up there. Several guests have commented on how much they enjoy it. It's an easy book to read while vacationing at the mountain as you can read individual stories at a time. Very well written, a real page turner!

Dee Molenaar eschews the glib, self-serving, and obnoxious style so prevalent in this genre. Instead, Molenaar presents a chronicle of human history on "The Mountain" that is well written, informative, and self-effacing. He barely touches his own remarkably impressive mountaineering achievements and I am hopeful he publishes his memoirs soon. Further, it is a pleasure to read a writing style reflecting a generation which held manners and chivalry with esteem. Indeed, there is an element of anachronism in this revised edition, and it is worth preserving. I am honored that my copy is signed by the author!

Molenaar makes a detailed records analysis of the many accidents that have occurred on this massive mountain. For example, the guy who slid a thousand feet in his down booties trying to catch a lid that fell off of his cooking pot. Weird! Also, he details the tragedies with thoughtful suggestions. Our team studied this book before our climb so we would be aware of climbing errors that others have made. I think this is pretty much considered a Rainier classic by now...

Tackling a new American city is always a challenge but this little guide gave me a handful of essential "must-sees" with transportation and location all mapped out. It also helped identify the "must-not-sees" - very helpful when time is limited.

Convenient size--it will fit easily in your purse or back pocket, and a pull-out full-size city map of D.C. make this "Citypack" a good guide to the nation's capital.

A lot of information is presented on landmarks, parks, and other points of interest. A "Where to..." section gives recommendations on food, shopping and entertainment.

I highly recommend the Washington D.C. Citypack by Fodor's.

If you are a mad tourist like me who wants to pack in all the signature sites of a destination, this book is the best guide you'll find.

It gives you essential information on the top 25 things to do / see as well as a further list of additional interesting places / things. There are shopping / eating / entertainment recommendations too.

The information is concise and makes planning your holiday as easy as 1, 2, 3!!!

Also, fits nicely into your handbag or jacket pocket and doesn't weigh you down!!

Fodor's Washington D.C. Citypack is worth the money spent. When I needed research information on the Capitol for my next novel, I stumbled across this book online. I love it. There are surely books that contain more information, but for the purpose it serves, Fodor's is excellent.

Physically, it's small, thin, lightweight, colorful, and laminated. This allows it to be carried in pocket or purse and used repeatedly at a moment's notice--not as a desk-bound reference tome. The laminated cover makes it durable. Feels cool too. The inside covers are a decent map of the key tourist spots, which is a nice supplement to the larger and more thorough pull-out map provided.

The text is divided into color-keyed sections that list a brief history of the city, plus good tips on how-to, where-to, when- o, and why-to visit the choice locations, such as monuments, museums, gardens, restaurants, or entertainment hotspots. The text is clear and concise. I would pick up a Fodor's Travel Guide to any major city I visited without hesitation. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

We toured D.C. with this citypack are can't imagine how others do not! The top 25 list helps organize what's best to see and do with a little historical background and info. for each destination/activity. There are sample walks and itineraries, as well as a detailed up-to-date city map.

Oh my goodness, for [the price], you cannot beat these lightweight and extremely handy guides.

As a winewriter interested in all aspects of fine wines and communication dealing with wines, this is a Bible of a book. The book provides insight into not only the famous and well known winemakers and wineries, but also the least known, small production wineries. It is in this area, I believe, that the future of the real 'terroir' of the region will be discovered and maintained. The book also explores the development of the region as a vinicultural tour de force. The section on grape varieties is especially informative. The book indicates and follows the progression and sorting out of grape varieties in this region, and provides an educational backdrop to the crossover from 'Old World' to 'New World's wine production.'

There is no better guide for knowing the ins and outs of wineries throughout California. Large and small wineries they are all there. Forget some of the reviews. The background of each winery is great reading...

A vast array of information not easily available. Reliable reviews of the wines of virtually every known winery, and reliable comments about the future development and direction of wineries.

Actually it's more than that. It's like an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas and buying guide all in one. I'm so happy to see a new addition of this book. There are so many new wines and wineries to know about that it makes my head spin. This book sorts it all out in a very concise and comprehensive format. Bravo!

I received this 11/98 version as a gift. I use it extensively as a reference for learning about different local varietals, and use it when purchasing, and then consuming, certain vintages. My one personal gripe is that I just cannot afford to try all the wines in recommendation. (Maybe that's a good thing!)

I was extremely pleased with this book. It is geared toward hikers of every level of fitness and ability. I found the NPS website confusing in its description of hikes, but this book did a very good job breaking down the various hikes by location, length, difficulty, and change of elevation, as well as providing a good description of what to expect. I took several hikes while at Mt. Rainier and found the book to be very accurate. It also has a number of practical tips which I found useful since I had never hiked at altitude before. I encountered other hikers who lacked guides and they were clueless and missed out on a lot. If you are going to take the time to get to the park, you should spend a few bucks on a book to guide you the rest of the way.

We purchased two books on Mount Rainier hiking. This is by far the best. In fact we didn't even need to buy the other book. Ron does a surperb job of descriping each trail in detail. The ratings from easy to extremely difficult are very accurate. He gives elevation gain and rates each trail as far as beauty. The ratings of each trail is from 1 to 5 backpackers instead of stars and we found them to be completely true. We are backpackers as well as day hikers, but we wanted only to day hike these trails, so this book is just what we needed. My advise is to buy this book, it is really all you will need if you only want to day hike. Happy hiking!!!! I hope you enjoy Mount Rainier as much as we did.

I really enjoy reading Ron C. Judd's books. He has a terrific sense of humor and is not afraid to call them the way he sees them.
You can tell by the descriptions in this hiking guide that he's been out on every one of these trails. The book is organized so you can tell which hikes are best for beginners and which will be a long walk for any veteran hiker.
This is one of a series of three guides that is specifically written for day hikers, but it would be just as useful for anyone planning a backpack. Most of the hikes have a section on extending the hike, so just about anyone who shoulders a pack would benefit by this book
If you compare it to the other trail guides about Rainier, I think you'll find that this one is the most up-to-date and accurate book of all. Better than that, this one was produced by a real writer.

After buying both this book and "Hiking Mt. Rainier National Park" by Schneider, I would say this book definitely takes second place. The nice features are the detailed elevations and the topographic maps. He also gives anecdotal descriptions, like if there are mosquitos or not. However there are a couple of detractors. A few of the hikes are not really even in the park. He also intersperses some snide comments that I do not find humorous, though I guess that is what he was meant by them. A good book if you ONLY intend to day hike and not explore the park in depth, but for a really complete guide Schneider's book is a lot better, as well as being more professional and emphasizing the care that we need to observe to preserve this beautiful national park. However, I do recommend buying both of them for an even more complete hiking guide. They really do not overlap too much and the writing styles are so different you benefit from the information found in both of them about the same hike.

I've spent a fair amount of days at The Mountain without any trail guide book, but decided I needed one to get full enjoyment out of the park. The book has all the information you need to choose a hike based on highlights, season, difficulty, and solitude.

It is arranged by park region and even includes a few hikes from outside the park that have good views of Rainier. Directions on how to reach the hikes are clear, as are directions while on the trail. Maps are cropped USGS-style and show elevation gain well, along with adjacent elevation gain charts.

I appreciated the inclusion of autumn in some hikes' "best seasons to hike". Far too many books base this designation on wildflower seasons, but leaf color change and mushrooms can provide just as much interest in season. The author's sense of humor is pretty good, although forced at times. Regardless, it does not detract from the discussion f each hike.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend this book if you are only interested in day hikes.

I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PURCHASE. I TOTALLY LOVED THIS BOOK! THANX!

A very facsinating book based on the ice road. A documentary based upon this book was on TV and I had to buy it. It was enthralling.

This is an amazing book.....I've read it, lent it out to friends, and finally had to chase it down and take it back because I wanted to read it again, in the midst of the "Ice Road Truckers" series. John Denison was one of the guys that "started it all" up there, building the ice roads. to think that he allowed a woman to come along and write about it just boggles the mind. To think she DID it just boggles the mind. We're talking the 70's here, pre-computer, pre-GPS, pre-cell phone. In this book, John Denison is ailing, but he actually lived to be 84 years old and was honored by the Canadian government for his efforts at the ice road building. A wonderful story. If you are an "Ice Road Trucker" fan, do not hesitate one bit, get this book. If you are just looking for an interesting book with historical perspective on the Far North, this is it. I highly recommend this book.

I first learned about Ice Road Trucking watching a special on TV called "ICE ROAD TRUCKERS". The video was so fascinating that I had to get the book. The BOOK IS MUCH BETTER than any account I have seen on TV. The book gives accounts of individual incidents that add to the book's appeal. Edith Iglauer writes in a wonderful way that holds your attention while giving you enough factual detail. You NEVER have to think "What did she (the author) mean by that". I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have loaned it to friends. Those friends have enjoyed it as well.

This book tells the story of an incredible journey through conditions you won't wish on your worst enemy. It includes their triumphs and failures. Great for anyone working in a boring job that wants to read about those whose jobs are a great adventure!

This is a comprehensive reflection and analysis of a policy, and a government agency, and their combined effect on small business.

Case studies of other businesses feeling the affects of Superfund legislation is useful and adds depth to comparison and story.

Culture change constrained by regulatory environment is very
interesting and could be a micro-piece of your book, if not already submitted / published, should be to journals so that story reaches a wider audience.

Sharing your experiences in academic / public policy environment
could be very appropriate (if you have not already done so);
important that people understand both sides of public policy process(for better or worse).

Robert Cox tells the story of how his successful family business endured good and bad times, but it couldnýt survive an ambush from the Environmental Protection Agency. According to EPA, Coxýs business, the Gilbert Spruance Company, committed the ýcrimeý of sending its waste products to legal disposal facilities.

Cox does a good job detailing the real crime: EPA implementation of the federal Superfund law. Superfund was supposed to clean up contaminated property, but has become a small business nightmare, condemning parties unjustly and destroying businesses of honest, hard working Americans. Knowing that he is one among thousands of Americans who suffered under Superfund, Cox offers his story as a desperate plea to lawmakers to finally reform this unjust law.

Robert Cox tells the story of how his successful family business endured good and bad times, but it couldn't survive an ambush from the Environmental Protection Agency. According to EPA, Cox's business, the Gilbert Spruance Company, committed the "crime" of sending its waste products to legal disposal facilities.

Cox does a good job detailing the real crime: EPA implementation of the federal Superfund law. Superfund was supposed to clean up contaminated property, but has become a small business nightmare, condemning parties unjustly and destroying businesses of honest, hard working Americans. Knowing that he is one among thousands of Americans who suffered under Superfund, Cox offers his story as a desperate plea to lawmakers to finally reform this unjust law.

A number of people equate any complaint with the environmental regulatory regime today in the United States as special pleading from greedy, insensitive polluters and their cronies. Robert Cox, however, pierces this all-too-common political morality play with a true story about how these rules impact real people across America and how silly, counterproductive, and absurd they often prove in application.

Readers who want a more scholarly overview of why EPA acts as it does might want to pick up James DeLong's "Out of Bounds, Out of Control" (2002).

This is a comprehensive reflection and analysis of a policy, and a government agency, and their combined effect on small business.

Case studies of other businesses feeling the affects of Superfund legislation is useful and adds depth to comparison and story.

Culture change constrained by regulatory environment is very
interesting and could be a micro-piece of your book, if not already submitted / published, should be to journals so that story reaches a wider audience.

Sharing your experiences in academic / public policy environment
could be very appropriate (if you have not already done so);
important that people understand both sides of public policy process(for better or worse).