California Books

I LOVED this book and I went on line to order it for some friends. My book is in full color and the ones that I ordered on Amazon are black and white only and it take away some of the comic book effect that the book held special. I LOVE this book but I am very dissapointed that they do not specify when the books are in color or black and white when this book comes in either.

A succinct review of basic parenting skills. A little too optimistic when describing time out procedures, but otherwise a great "primer" for parents.

I was haveing big problems with my 4 year old adhd son and his consler showed me this book and you know alot of this book was me! I really did not realize it till I was showed that I was just giving my son control of ME and I was not really being the parent. I was letting me son run My life and this book made me see that. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT WITH A BOOK TO SHOW US PARENTS THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PURRFECT PARENT BUT WE ALL ARE STILL LEARNING! I am still learning to this day. My son seems happier that I am not putting so many adult decisions on him but that I am letting him be a child! once again thank you so much and I hope other parents find this book as helpful as I did. I do not own one yet but I'm trying to get one.Times are rough for me right now but as soon as I get back on me feet, And hopefully soon I will buy the used one. Hope everyone else gets what I did out of this book. Thank you so much Charity Castleberry

Everything you need to raise polite, nice, well-mannered kids (works for pets, too!) is in this book. It's not rocket science, but you DO need to be consistent, firm, and rational. It might be easy to dismiss the content based on the humorous presentation, but this book will solve (and prevent!) your child(ren)'s behavioral and discipline issues.

PLEASE REPUBLISH THIS TITLE! We loaned ours out and it is gone. We want to give this book to all our friends with kids, but can't and now we can't lend it.

This is a light hearted book about the very serious job of parenting. Sound simple advice that works! I am anxious for this book to be re-printed. I used it with my now 14 year son an would love an updated version to use with my 18 month old twins. I would definately give this book as a gift at baby showers or to those parents that are having difficult times with their children. So please, please, please give us more of PURRFECT PARENTING!!!

This is the Rattle Snake Bible. Klauber was not only the head of the San Diego Zoos reptile house for many years, he still is referenced in association with rattlesnakes as the formost expert years after his death and it is well deserved. His research was ground breaking (although now it seems elementary in some ways I.E. his heat pit research.) and interesting to read. Its no wonder they chose to name the banded rock rattle snake in his honor (crotalus viridis klauberii).

This book is still the best book on rattlesnakes, decades after it was published. That alone ought to stand as a testament to the value this book has. The author brought an incredibly analytical mind to this book, and it shows. Some of the medical information is out of date, as is some of the taxonomy, but much on the habitats, morphology, ecology, interaction with man, etc. still holds true.

His work on the rattlesnakes strike, on comparitive morphology of the two genera, etc. still stand. This book covers rattlesnakes in incredible depth, going over every detail of these serpents. It's a godsend for those of us interested in rattlers. This book leaves no stone unturned (herping joke, sorry). It covers it's subject matter completly and professionally, and is well worth having on the bookshelf as a reference. If you like rattlers, or for that matter find zoology interesting, this book is a worthwhile read. If only more herpetological text were near as thorough as this one...

I read this book in the mid 90's just for the heck of it, and found it to be wonderful. The style is neither dryly academic nor breathlessly tabloid, but just right. The text answers almost all possible questions about rattlesnake life, legends, myths, and taxonomy that one could think of. It is one of the few books I have read that could be used as either a reference or vacation book.

rattelsnakes are dangerus and they well strick' and rattel wheen they are in a bad place were auther pray come by. you will allso want to watch were you are wakeing on the ground. thank you evere much for your time. chris j coombes.

Anything and everything you need to know about these great reptiles! Status, morphology, the rattle, bodily functions, behavior, population and ecology, food, reproduction, venom apparatus, envenomation and its effects, treatment and prevention of envenomation, control an utilization, enemies of rattlesnakes, Indians and rattlesnakes, post-Columbian knowledge of rattlesnakes, myths, folklore and tall stories.

Each page is easy to read, and has all the information you need for each recreation site, including phone numbers, boating allowed and more. Book is set up well, with the areas of CA split up in Northern, Central and Southern. Great info on lakes in all of California - I wish I could visit them all! I do wish there was an index to explain some of the terms. I would buy this book again!

great book...very informative...had one like it back in the early nineties,glad to find one up to date...love to say more...but i'm going fishin' !

Informative and nicely detailed maps. The cartoons are funny and the layout is like a good resume, it shows you what you want to know.

For those of us who have this quest to visit every state in America or on a more local note, to travel Hwy 101 from border to border (and not starting in the middle somewhere) or stop at every State Park and Historical Monument in CA (and get your stamp in that State Park book), this book is for you. The layout of this spiral-bound book is so simple. For one, you can flip it over just like a notebook. There is no spine or glue to break down with pages falling out from bending the book backwards so much. Secondly, the lakes are diagrammed and labeled from top to bottom, North to South. The author just knew this book would be for those us who want to start at the Oregon border and work our way down, visting every lake in CA. Lake amenities such as availability of campsites and boat ramps are listed under each lake. For those us who live for camping and/or boating this is a must-have.

Clerly illustrates the necessary info about all lakes and places to enjoy boating. Easy to understand and use. We have purchased three editions over last ten years. Always in our boat. Suggestion, use a large zip-lock type bag to keep dry. Listen to the voice of experience. Also, it is not an effective storage method to leave on top of Jeep as you drive away from lake. Has a habit of not staying on top of car for 50 mile trip home.

This is a valuable reference and will save you disappointments in chosing the wrong lake. Call ahead to the individual facilities and ask questions. This is helpful in planning trips to the lake for your family. Enjoy.

Contrary to one of the other reviewer's comments, the importance of this book is in showing precicely that it is not the "endemic" culture of Silicon Valley, but rather the innovative institutions and networked relationships in Silicon Valley that explains the region's success. A great contribution to the literature on embeddedness and network forms of organization.

The book is written by a person who lived in the Route 128 area and in the Silicon Valley. Besides the great insights and fantastic scholarly work, the book reflects the experience of seeing the development of both regions, not only through the eyes of a scholar, but also through the experiences that can only be gained by "being there."

The best book I have ever read concerning High Tech culture. Everyone should read this book to better understand how to motivate info exchange and networking among our society and world.

saxenian argues that silicon valley's competitive advantage is the vast network of small firms that compose silicon valley and cross pollinate each other. she compares the valley to the route 128 area in boston which she classifies as detrimentally hierarchical, even puritanical.

Although she is a bit partial to the Silicon Valley area, the author presents the information in a very "down to earth", easy to read fashion - not too technical or too dry.

Remember that? This is a must read/item for those that have lived the history. If you've been part of the ride, then you know the story. But Jerry Reynolds has filled in the blanks with information that you could only get from... well, from Jerry Reynolds: The front office background on the Terry Tyler and Derek Smith trades; Bobby Hurley's potential and toughness; the head coach candidates; actual Bill Russell conversations (apparently he could talk... and laugh). What? We could have "stole" Detlef Schrempf!?!? The book even helped explain my "unique" encounter with Jawann Oldham on the day he was cut loose by the Kings.

Aside from all the great Kings gems that have been unearthed, there is some foreground on Jerry himself as well as documentation of his "rise" up the organization. Like everyone else, I would have liked for the book to be longer--182 pages for 20 years is just not enough. Oh well, Reynolds Remembers is a great and easy read, but to the Kings fan, it's truly great literature--the man did minor in English after all.

The details within "Reynolds Remembers" paint a vivid and entertaining picture of what life was like for a struggling and then reborn NBA franchise. It was filled with anecdotes and humorous observations of true events. I enjoyed it very much.

Although, I wish there had been more than a single page describing Jerry's "the Carly Simon period." Maybe we'll hear more in a sequel.

Jerry Reynolds and Don Drysdale's Reynolds Remembers: 25 Years With The Sacramento Kings is for any interested in the evolution of a shortstring operation which couldn't compete to a model NBA franchise. The Kings are celebrating their 20th season in Sacramento, California - and Jerry Reynolds was part of them before their rise to fame. His memoir celebrates their growth and provides a powerful leader's first-person experiences.

I have been a Kings fan my whole life and I truly enjoyed reliving the past 20 years with Reynolds. It is amazing on how fast we forget the early teams and players and how soon we get used to 50 win seasons. Reynolds uses the same humor and great one-liners in the book that he uses in his telecasts. I just wish the book contained more personal stories and memories and I can only hope that a sequel is in the works. Here's to another great 20 years of Reynolds and to another book.

A riveting read. I could not put this book down. A truly must read for all Sacramento Kings fans. A book any real NBA fan should enjoy. Being able to learn some of the inner thoughts of a real NBA insider is rare.

If only there had been more amusing stories and anecdotes Reynolds is so well known for. These reflecting the personalities of NBA players few of us fans ever see. Maybe this will be in Reynolds next book "Reynolds Remembers More" ?? We can only hope!!

Willis takes you on a fascinating journey through the lives of Angela and Robin - lives lead separately but with startling similarities and coincidences. We read and share their joys, happiness, sorrows, insecurities, determinations, mistakes ... all in quiet anticipation. The main story unfolds mostly in chronological order spanning their lives from their childhood to a certain day in the future with events from that day interspersed in between. A well written book by a very talented author. I recommend reading over a quiet weekend so you won't have to decide between the book and your existing schedule!

Absorbing story. The characters were realistic and likeable. I enjoyed reading Rhythm, and would enjoy reading more about these characters.
I was not familiar with the idea of twin souls before, and this novel is a great introduction to this concept.

What a wonderful love story of Twin Souls, that perfect "Other" whose connection we all feel deep within us and whose eyes we search for, consciously or not. While it's fiction, there is considerable evidence of Ms. Willis' in-depth research into the subject, with plenty of "Aha!" moments. The story weaves its way toward the inevitable meeting, through the separate lives of the characters, Robin and Angela. They live and stumble, struggle and make mistakes in ways that seem to be completely different but are, in fact, much more similar than they could imagine. And they learn valuable lessons through their other relationships as they grow toward what is the ultimate Love of all. This is a book I absolutely devoured!

Here is a book that quietly sucked me in and hours danced by. In the first 30 pages I was caring for the characters, Robin and Angela, twin souls. Two individuals living completely separate lives but sharing a common soul.

The reader is taken throughout the personal and professional lives of these two in this modern day. As I read on, I embraced the compassion, humor and integrity upon the pages. I was cheering this soul on as they each discovered the layers within, in their own unique way.

"Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it" is what my own inner voice seemed to say as I closed the book. I envy you for reading it for your first time.

(a great gift)

This book is fantastic, finally a spiritual fiction. Spiritualists are usually limited as far a good fiction goes and this really fit the bill. Entertaining and believable. Thanks Jen for your wonderful contribution. When is the next one due out?

Stifled by Bangladeshi social norms that restricted her ability to engage in the community and work for pay, Naima felt frustrated that she could not earn money to help her family. Without enough money to pay for school fees, her parents had already withdrawn Naima from school, and now her younger sister faced the same fate. Her father had to work from dawn until midnight everyday as a rickshaw driver to generate enough earnings to also cover the loan payments on his new rickshaw.

These pressures, combined with her creativity, audacity, and cleverness, led Naima to decide that she would disguise herself as a boy and earn money by driving the rickshaw. Her first attempt to operate the vehicle would have marked an adventurous first step in this bold plan were it not for the long hill, sharp curve, and thick thorn bushes. Naima escaped unharmed, but Father's brand new rickshaw was badly damaged. Naima is devastated, and quite some time passes before she comes up with a new plan that better utilizes her talents.

Rickshaw Girl gets top ratings for delivering an entertaining story that is chock full of valuable economics lessons. The reader experiences a poignant account of the challenges associated with living in poverty in a country where traditional customs still limit women's economic and social opportunities. Also woven in are lessons about entrepreneurship, the need for financial capital to start a business, and the importance of microfinance for individuals - such as the woman who owned the rickshaw repair shop - who otherwise may not have been able to secure a loan. Weighty issues perhaps, but most children will be enthralled by the plight of a spunky girl who damages her father's most valuable possession and needs to make amends.

A lovely book for younger readers - a wonderful topic, just the right words, just the right length, just the right amount of detail. I loved the action plot and Mitali's descriptions of Bangladesh.

Mitali Perkins has created yet another wonderful novel about strong, cultural girls. In Rickshaw Girl, we meant Naima, a ten-year old girl living in Bangladesh. Her father owns a rickshaw business, finally gaining more business as he gets a brand new rickshaw, but still not enough business to pay the family bills. Naima is upset because she knows if she had been born a boy she could help earn money for the family, but being that she is a girl she has no choice but to stay home and work on her painting.

When Naima decides to disguise herself as a boy and teach herself how to drive the rickshaw, she manages to crash the rickshaw, damaging the beauty of the cart and ruining all chances of her father continuing to gain new clients. Devastated, she again disguises herself as a boy and steals away to a new repair shop the next town over, hoping she can somehow earn money to help repair the damaged rickshaw. What she finds in the repair shop is surprising, heartwarming, and inspirational.

This short novel was fantastic and typical Mitali Perkins writing. Young girls can read this and feel empowered to do anything they want to do, no matter what that may be. The story is also accompanied by a few illustrations that not only add to the plot, but also allow the reader to view the work Naima can do. The book was really quite amazing.

There is a dearth of books for kids who are just taking off with their reading skills, which makes this story all the more welcome. Readers will meet Naima, a young Bangladeshi who is struggling with her family's financial troubles and her place in the family as a girl. Traditionally, girls are not allowed to work or earn money, but her father sure could use the help. Naima cleverly devises a way to help her family and empowers herself along the way.

Set in Bangladesh, readers will get a glimpse of life in a foreign land and a culture quite different from the American standard. With Bangla words interspersed in the text, readers are introduced to a new language, as well.

If you have an elementary-aged reader who wants to learn about other cultures, "Rickshaw Girl" is a terrific book. It tells the story of Naima, a young girl known for her painting skills, yet feeling powerless to help her family's finances (girls can't do anything but cook, clean, and decorate, she says!).

To her surprise, a woman in a neighboring village has opened her own business -- painting rickshaws! Can Naima convince her family to let her become an apprentice to this forward-thinking woman?

Told in easy-to-understand language with just enough foreign vocabulary (with a glossary, too), "Rickshaw Girl" will show young readers that even in the most desperate circumstances, everyone can contribute to a solution.

Peter F. Stevens does an outstanding job in bringing to life the issues that permeated and greatly harmed the American armies of General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott from 1846 to 1848. At the core was American nativism, hatred and fear of newly arrived Catholic immigrants mainly from Ireland and Germany. Recruited nearly at the pier, these soldiers had no loyalty nor a real investment in their future as Americans. What loyalty they had was toward their Catholic faith. Meeting them in the army was a cadre of immigrant hating junior officers who often imposed discipline more severe than found in European armies. The result was the highest desertion rate of any war the United States ever fought. More important, the Mexicans took advantage of immigrant soldiers' unhappiness and formed the St. Patrick's Battalion, led by John Reily, that distinguished itself in battle against former comrades and messmates until their defeat and capture. The author shows how severe the courts martial were that resulted in the execution of fifty deserters and the lashing and branding of others including John Reily. That this series of events became a downside of Manifest Destiny and a forerunner of the Civil War becomes prominent in the text. This worthy book is a fine read, well researched, militarily and historically sound, and serves as a real contribution to the field of military and social American history.

a los martires irlandeses, nuestros hermanos de Hibernia ue sublevandose ante una injusta guerra, impuesta a un vecino debil y dividido, se unieron a este, luchando con coraje allado de los mexicanos, por cierto, hermanos de religion; la mayor parte de estos, los que sobrevivieron, aun marcados en el rostro por el vencedor, unos marcharon a Yucatan donde prosperaron, otros al istmo de tehuantepec en donde encontraron oficio y los demas por diversos rumbos de la geografia mexicano en donde dejaron su simiento, prueba de ello, son os numerosos apellidos irlandeses que encontramos a lo largo y ancho de nuestra patria...¡Gloria eterna a los martires irlandeses!

Throughout Mexico, one can hear of the legend of the SanPatricios, a battalion of soldiers in the U.S.-Mexico War that wasmade up almost entirely of deserters from the U.S. Army. Predominately Irish and/or Catholic, the San Patricios fought well for the Mexicans -- and they suffered for it significantly when the U.S. finally won the war.

Stevens does an excellent job of telling the story of the battalion, the history behind its foundation, and the punishment its members faced after the war. Adding to the interest of the story is the role that many of those in the U.S. Army during the U.S.-Mexico War went on to play pivotal roles in the U.S. and CSA armies during the Civil War.

An engaging history lesson of both the Mexican-American War and the Anti-Catholic/Immigrant prejudice of Nativists and West Pointers who would later be made famous by the American Civil War. This is as much a story of persecution by bigoted officers as it is an Order of Battle for the conflict. All the major battles of the war are covered with maps and detailed first hand accounts of what happened.

Well-educated and brilliant officers were of differing opinions about the legitimacy of the war, the treatment of German and Irish Catholics, and the tactics used on the field. It was surprising to me to read the correspondence of figures such as Grant, Lee, Sherman, Taylor, Scott, Bragg, and a host of others, illuminating their personal feelings on both sides of those issues and how the experience of the war changed the sentiments and conduct of many of those same officers. This would be reflected in the Civil War some 20 years later.

An intriguing example of the use of "flying batteries" as an innovative use of Artillery showed one of the reasons an outnumbered, and arguably out classed, military was able to defeat an enemy on foreign soil so far away from home.

The story revolves around the main character, the leader of the "San Patricos" and as a counterpoint, an established Irishman settled in the country and the Army. They both faced the same insults and persecutions, and the same offers and temptations to change sides and ironically, both men end up being promoted from enlisted men to commissioned officers in the two opposing armies.

I imagined at first that this would be a story of a man's internal conflict of having to choose loyalty to church over country; though a powerful theme of the book, this was not so much the case. The stronger case was made that the largest desertion rate in the history of the US Army occurred at a time when because of their nationality and religion, men were treated as less deserving of respect and dignity resulting in harsher treatment than "native born Americans". Punishments for identical infractions were much more degrading and humiliating for "foreigners" than for "Americans" in the same unit. A lesson in the effects of fair and equal treatment could not be stronger given to the American Army and indeed this did change. The disturbing part of this history is the undeniable cover up by first the Army and then the Government of the United States for over 120 years. This book should be on the required professional development reading list for Officers and NCOs alike.

Mr. Stevens writing puts emotion and personality to the characters and events described by using copious amounts of official Courts-Martial transcripts, Government Archives records of Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, and the United States. In addition he draws from the personal diaries, journals, and letters, of the men and women involved. He also cites official war correspondence from the officers of both sides, and newspaper articles of the day.

A must read for the student of Irish-American and Vietnam history. Goes into detail of the anti-Catholic/anti-emmigrant climate of America in the the 1840's. A story of America's first war of agresssion against another independent nation, shows the beggings of Americas imperialistic wars.A good companion text for istorians of America's involvement in South East Asia,"if we do not learn from history we are cursed to repeat it."

RUBY ANN'S TRAILER PARK BOOKS JUST MAKE ME LAUGH. THERE ARE GOOD RECIPES THAT ARE EASY TO MAKE AND FUN TO EAT. YOU DON'T NEED TO LIVE IN THE SOUTH OR EVEN A TRAILER PARK TO ENJOY THE FUN.. READING THE MANY BOOKS OF RUBY ANN. BE CAREFUL..YOU JUST MIGHT LAUGH VERY LOUD!!

I saw Ms. Boxcar at the Melbourne Writer's Festival in Australia, and she's bloody marvelous. Once you stop laughing, you will find that this collection of recipes is wonderfully tasty. The sauces alone breathe life into the old barbie regulars. What she does to beef is sinful! So if you are looking for a great food and great fun, this is the one.

This BBQ cookbook is filled with creative BBQ recipes and spectacular sauces that make you want to run to the kitchen and start cooking once you stop laughing. Ruby Ann is, no doubt, an authority on down home cooking and this book shows how her food and her humor have evolved from the first witty cookbook she wrote. I have tried several recipes, and they were all great, specially the sauces, and the meats.
If you want to impress your guests or family next time you BBQ, this book has many many recipes that will make you show off your cooking skills. And it is a kick to read. You will be sure to wipe away a tear from both the heat from the spice in the hot sauces and the humor in the entire book.

I ran across this while I was looking for a good barbeque book. The cover caught my eye, but the recipes grab hold of my taste buds and wouldn't let go. I ended up buying this book and when I got it home, my wife told me that she had one of Ruby Ann Boxcar's first cookbooks. She asked me if I'd read it at all and I told her that I'd looked at a lot of the recipes. Well, while I prepared the dinner and cooked up the Sassy Sauce recipe, my wife started reading the book aloud. We laughed and laughed all night long. Even during dinner, my wife and I would switch off reading the stories in-between bites. And the sauce was great. Since then we've cooked up all the sauces and a lot of the meat selections, and we haven't been disappointed yet. We even like the Dr Pepper chicken. We've also bought the rest of her books and have become the life of the party when we attend gatherings because we bring one of her recipes with us. People can't wait to see what dish we will uncover. I would highly suggest that if you are looking for unique, tasty, simple to make BBQ, as Ruby Ann calls it, then get this book. And it also makes a great gift for your boss, brother, dad, or any other man in your life. Even though it is funny as can be, it is also full of mouthwatering recipes that you can cook out on the grill or even inside on your Foreman grill.

I loved her first two books even though I'm not one for cooking so to speak, but I laughed the entire time I read them. And then when I saw this one online, I thought there was no way she could top herself. Well, I was wrong, and she has done it again. I took this with us on our family vacation across country, and while I drove, my wife read the book to us. There were a few times we actually had to pull the car over! Plus we used several of the tips and a lot of the recipes that Ruby Ann has in this book, and they were fantastic! I love the sauces. Since Ruby Ann and her neighbors will eat any type of BBQ, this book has a great mix of the tomato based sauces as well as the Eastern non-tomato based ones. And the recipes are so easy to make that I was even cooking a little this summer. What she does with meat should be illegal it is so good. Plus she also fills you in on what has been going on with the people of the High Chaparral Trailer Park since her last cookbook (the holiday one), which makes her series a sort of an All My Children meets Green Acres meets COPS meets the Food Network. I have to give this book two BBQ sauce stained thumbs up! Thanks you Ruby ann Boxcar.

Other reviewers have already been descriptive. My opinion...the food is delicious. It is also what I call "clean" and "architectural"...it isn't covered with gloppy sauces. It is arranged on the plate clearly and attractively. We "eat" with our eyes and nose before our taste buds. You will be happy to have it in your library AND your purchase is supporting a good cause...a win/win situation. Rare in this era!

These recipes are for elegant, delicious dishes to serve your friends and family. They all reflect the ethnic and culinary influences that make up California cuisine, including tips from such people as Arnold Wong and Alice Waters. All of the food is fancy, but not everything is complicated: the Cambazola Apricots are an easy-to-make appetizer, while the Blueberry French Toast can be whipped up the night before for brunch. This is a must-own for anyone who loves food or who loves San Francisco.

Best cook book I ever used. it so easy to follow, you just prepare the incredients as directed and followed the directions. you can't go wrong. I tried using other cook books but only get frustrated trying to follow the instruction, but this book has simple and clrear instruction, anyone can follow it. one thing lacking limited pictures of what you are cooking, but not important.

I've had this book for over 2 years and have loved every recipe I've made from it, many of which have become standards in our house. Try the delicious and easy apple cake with hot caramel sauce, the chicken breasts with wild mushrooms and balsamic vinegar and the awesome chicken pot pie with sage biscuit topping. Easy to follow directions and nice tips from the chefs who submitted the recipes.

I concur with the other reviews on this site. This is my favorite cookbook, and I have quite a collection. The recipes are well-written, good cooking and preparation techniques are given in conjunction with the recipes, and the results always earn me kudos! Can't ask for too much more.

I have given this cookbook as a gift several times and have recommended it to my friends who love to cook.