California Books

Its neat to see pixs of San Fran back in the days. I love this style, the pictures are large and the calendar dates are still big and clear.

Love the historic photos. The calendar area could be larger. Overall, a wonderful product.

Just some of the reasons why I love San Francisco were in this book,the picture book was well done ,such an unique city and the photos told so much of its story

Compiled and edited by Peter Bernen, Vintage San Francisco is an absorbing presentation of black-and-white historical photographs of San Francisco taken by members of Moulin Studios, especially California's premier photographer Gabriel Moulin (1872-1945). These images range from the ruin left by the Great Quake of 1906, to images of the glorious Golden Gate. A few simple quotes about this grand city embellish the captivating images. Vintage San Francisco is an excellent and inspirational photographic tribute to one of California's most historically important and influential cities.

George Francis' provocative book, VIRGIN, is a sensual mystery story that focuses on interactions between one man and two women. It is a tribute to Francis that he is able to galvanize the reader's interest and take them completely by surprise at the end. The book has the ring of truth, and one can easily imagine the dialogue that thickens the plot and transfixes the reader. It is one of those tales that is hard to put down once started.

Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco

Virgin is a beautiful love story. Yes, it's racy, but "racy" fits the personality of the characters and their circumstances. From the very first chapter it shows what excellent writing skills Francis has. I tried savoring each chapter because I didn't want it to end. I must admit, I cried at the end. But there is closure; it was a good cry!

Marjorie Stampfl, editor (retired)

George Francis tells a story of a young man who is jailed for crimes he
did not commit, and is retold through the eyes of the Sheriff's
daughter, who falls in love with him. While it is a work of imagination,
the story is based on historical events. VIRGIN takes place at
the close of the 19th century, and can be viewed as a work of romantic
historical fiction. While I find the telling itself to be candid and
forthright, it's the moments of inner-reflection of the characters that
reveal the true heart of the author.

Kent Fillmore,
College Professor
Vancouver, Washington

George Francis takes us through the heart and soul of a complex character, whose intellectual and romantic exploits intersect with the early days of California's Monterey Peninsula. But then the promise of this brilliant and handsome young artist crashes to an unexpected conclusion. Francis introduces us to a plethora of interesting characters and exciting episodes. It's a tale with film potential.
David Donnelly, Ed.D.
McCall, Idaho

A good read. The similarities between the initial phases of a large wildland fire and "combat confusion" are apparent. Too many people doing their own thing, at least in the initial phase of the fire. A tribute to the firefighters of different agencies that no one was lost on this fire.

This book tells the story of one fire in Southern California. It's not really a battle to save Southern California, only one small part. But laying the sub-title aside, it's a good inside story on how they fight a big fire.

As I read the book I find myself with several related but almost random thoughts.

First, these kinds of fires were beautifully described in John McPhee's book 'The Control of Nature,' (recommended reading) along with other things that people do that contradicts what nature wants (think New Orleans). This book is much better in discussing the fire fighting efforts, but McPhee covers other things like the Mississippi river wants to change course but the Army Corp of Engineers is keeping it where it is.

Second, when people want to live in areas like this, they should at least bear in mind what might happen. Some houses were built of fireproof materials (wood shake roofs are especially bad), remove brush from being close to their house, and so on. These houses survived.

Third, the mountain right across the valley from my house hasn't burned for 20 to 30 years. The fuel from all those years is sitting there waiting for a good lightening strike or thrown away cigarette.

Fourth, one thing mentioned in the book was firefighter management not wanting to call the airborne water tankers to put water on the fire. Here some six or seven agencies (National Forest, State Forest, Bureau of Land Management, etc.) have gotten together to fund the water tankers. The costs are automatically split between the agencies regardless of where the fire is. I wonder if this is a result of the problems discussed in this book.

All in all, this is a 'cannot put down book' that anyone living in the fire prone West should read.

I loved this book. If you want to know how it felt to be on the front lines of the Grand Prix or Old Fire during those days in October,2003. I worked in the San Bernardino Police Department mobile command post the first night of the Old Fire and remember watching the flames marching down Waterman Canyon towards us. Mr. Krauss captured the fire fighter's story quite well. He also touched on Critical Incident Stress which most authors leave out of their books. As part of the SBPD CISD Team I too was faced with dealing with Police Officers and Dispatchers who had lost their houses or were facing the loss of their homes. In fact, one of the dispatchers I worked with at the mobile command post watched the TV coverage of the Old Fire and saw his neighborhood go up in flames so I kicked him loose to make sure his house was okay. The next night, my neighborhood was evacuated but, after working through the early stages of the fire, I was too tired to evacuate. I would like to see more on the fight against the Old Fire in another book. After having lived and worked through it on the law enforcement side, it was good to read at least the small part that was included in this excellent book.

My uncle told me that I would love this book, and he was right. Although I don't fight fire, most of my family does. I grew up around firefighters as a child, but I didn't truly understand what they went through on a big fire until I read this book. It made me realize that when a big one hits, there is very little firefighters can do but steer the blaze around threatened communities. The problem is made worse by organizations such as Fish and Wildlife that doesn't let the fire departments conduct prescribed burns. The wild land fire departments have their hands tied with red tape, but when big fires happen like the grand prix , they get blaimed for not putting the blaze out in the first few hours. This book documents the battle (both with the fire and politics)that occured on the front lines of the biggest fire siege in California history back in 2003. With helicopter pilots, hotshot crews, dozer operators, municipal crews and Incident Commanders each getting their own chapters, you get to see all sides of the fire and the different opinions that are occuring out on the fire line. It shows how the lack of communication between the wild land guys and the municipal guys can cause disaster. An exceptional read!!!

I started buying products in Amazon this year and i'm very satisfied with your service. It's easier and cheaper than our products here in Portugal. I'll be back soon on amazon!

Lázaro Silva

São Mateus, Terceira Island
Azores, Portugal

i am writing this for the benefit of non US readers especially those from my country india which makes 900 films every year.i am in the process of writing a book on screenplay in my native language Telugu and i have been devouring every book that's available.I was thrilled to read about the 'belatedness' Bordwell describes as i share the same dilemma.his summing up of the film writing & film making arts is very usefully informative and inspiring,too.Tollywood( Telugu film industry) churns out around 200 films every year,but nobody here treats screenwriting as something one could learn, and excell if one had the creative talent.I am glad Mr.Bordwell applauds the value of screenwriting books in helping keep the narrative standards from falling.wish guys from my film industry read this book.

David Bordwell is one of the most widely read film scholars around, and not without reason: he writes with ease and ellegance, his insights are often deep and almost always relevant, his starting points are usually essential for better understanding cinematic art. Is he always right?
Of course not, he is not a religious profet or Jacques Lacan (Oops!).

However he usually describes the area of his study quite well, cites references and data he would like you to check in order to see whether he is right and, well, does serious scholarly work. Not a small achievent in a fastly globalizing (and fastly "mcdonaldsizing") academic community of cultural gurus who know everything about everything... Therefore, when you disagree with him (as I sometimes do), you usually know what your are disagreeing about and why.

This book is another Bordwell's insightful contribution to the study of American and global cinema (styles in cinema are basically more international/global than in literature; probably less than in classical music or jazz), explaining how contemporary cinema develops from older stylistical patterns. From the era of silent movies or Slavko Vorkapic's experiments for Frank Capra to modern-era (greatly digitalized) blockbusters, Hollywood's manners and procedures of telling a story can be compared with quite a fruitfull result.
Ofcourse, simple description of stylistic trend or procedure does not directly serve as a proof of aesthetic value, but the subject of this book is, basically, style, not aesthetic value or anything else that can be connected to (and is intertwined on many levels with) style.
This book is equally useful for scholars, teachers and (thanks to his nice style and clear argumentation) students of cinema and all other educated art lovers.

Like the author's other works, this is a highly meticulous and empirical study of the way contemporary Hollywood films function. Paying close attention to selected films by intensive frame analysis, Bordwell calls into question many contemporary "sibboleths" concerning the status of "post-Hollywood" which he reveals as having more connections with its classical counterpart than most critics believe. His attention to fine detail and references to "American Cinematographer" and screenwriting manuals reveal that he has really done his homework. He challenges his contemporaries to do likewise before they engage in problematic "post" judgements whether they be on the realm of postmodernism, post-colonialism, and post- anything which may become academic equivalents of those formerly fashionable platform shoes or flared trousers that often date episodes of the 1970s British cop series THE SWEENEY.

The references to contemporary Hong Kong cinema and analysis of films such as Johnny To's A HERO NEVER DIES are also valuable components of this book. Like DRAGNET's Sergeant Joe Friday, Bordwell insists that we supply facts based on viewing the evidence ourselves. We should not ignore important empirical aspects before we begin to make meanings that may eventually prove to be non-substantial. Those who choose to avoid the well-researched findings of this book should be issued with speeding tickets and forced to attend a scholarly version of "community service" or "boot camp" involving the detailed viewings of as many films as possible, reading interviews with film directors, and studying important journals such as AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER. This is equally important for those newly converted "film experts" in English Departments of postmodernist persuasion who recently discover Laura Mulvey's 1975 essay on "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" and regard it as a "gospel" truth which remains unaltered today! These feelings are more akin to non-linguistic theological studies and not the highly textual, linguistic based explorations of biblical and near eastern studies that relay on studies in pre-semitic studies, Canaanite, Aramaic, and Arabic studies to reveal key empirical structures influencing "holy writ."

This is another indispensable work by an important scholar that every serious professor and student should learn from even if it only involves better interpretation and a more professional "making of meaning."

Stories which are on paper do not have the magical effect. The book gives a deep insight what the art of storytelling is.

I have read this book and it was in the summer of my discontent. And it lifted my weary spirit as a successful and busy African Storyteller, not knowing that this was called 'burn out!'.

Through the reading of The Way of the Storyteller, I realized I had to write the way of the African Storyteller, trying to motivate African and African American children to see how great it was that they were from Africa even though the world consistently tries to convince them that this is a shame and we as Africans are backward and disorganized.

I realized why God had called me to be a storyteller and the great healing art of telling.

I wonder if Ms. Sawyer is still living?

Carroll Durodola

This has all the wisdom that a lifetime of storytelling can bring and it's all written down for you. All aspects of storytelling are highlighted and thoughts are discussed, and Ruth Sawyer's rich experience is given.

The literature will help you see the big picture. Life is all about the detail and it is that detail that one has to focus on when doing a story. The practice of story telling is one in where one must too have lots of experiences, such as? Going on trips and seeing the different cultures and lands of other countries for example along with socializing with people. This also includes reading a lot of books and magazines in order to get ideas. Just read it, and don't judge the book by its cover and i hope you get the material in order to make your storytelling in writing or in oral situations fruitful.

Carole Terwilliger Myers, author of the 8th Edition of Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern California, points out in her introduction that there is nothing more disappointing than returning home from a vacation and finding out that you had missed an interesting attraction or you overpaid for your hotel accommodations.
I would have to concur, and as I am a stickler for preparing my travel itineraries well in advance-I just hate surprises and disappointments.

Although there may be several travel guides available pertaining to San Francisco and Northern California, each seeking its own market niche, the Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern California is built around providing information that will aid the reader to quickly ascertain what is of special interest in the area he or she is planning to visit. Moreover, the guide contains useful advice concerning bargain rates, welcoming of families, aesthetically pleasing, historic significance, etc. In addition, the author provides phone numbers, toll-free numbers, fax numbers, and websites.

The 469 pages of the guide is bigger, thicker, and longer than most and it is divided into sixteen sections, a substantial index, and many well-chosen black-and-white photos.
The author commences with San Francisco, and as pointed out, all other destinations radiate from here. Chapters are devoted to Coast South, Coast North, 101 South, 101 North, 1-80 North, 1-880 South, 1-5 North, Highway 49-Gold Rush Country, The High Sierra, Santa Cruz Mountains, The Delta, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, Winter Snow Fun, and finally Miscellaneous Adventures such as family camps, houseboats, river trips, pack trips, and camping.

Excellent suggestions are offered as to annual events, what to do, where to stay and eat.
For example, if you read the section pertaining to Monterey, you will notice that some of the events listed are the Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival, the Grand Prix auto races, the Jazz Festival, and Christmas in the Adobes.
As for the last one, we are informed, that each year a group of historic adobes are festively decked out with period decorations and illuminated only by candlelight.

Terwilliger Myers' writing is brisk and entertaining, and you can see she has done her homework, as evidenced by her well-researched and useful information.

All in all, the guide makes an excellent reference to visiting San Francisco and Northern California and is a must-have for anyone traveling in the region.

Norm Goldman Editor Bookpleasures

I love this guide, so much in fact that when i lost it a year ago I bought another copy. The advice is useful, though you'll need a more detailled map to accompany it, and it hits the bright spots of each little town without leaving out much. Great if you are new to the Bay Area and want to explore without feeling like a tourist.

My husband and I bought this book along with several others after living in the Bay area for a while. We were hoping to get ideas on things to do on weekends, and we have found that this book has been incredibly useful and has inspired us to go much farther and really take advantage of the interesting destinations in the area. We usually pick a direction that looks interesting, plan a few stops along the way and take off for a fun day trip or (occasionally) overnight trip, and she never leads us astray. While we are budget travelers and thus some of her suggestions are out of our price range, especially for hotels, we've enjoyed many of the restaurants, specialty shops, museums and factories in the area and learned a lot about what Northern California has to offer thanks to this book. I highlight places as we go there and write notes in the margins- and my book is getting pretty marked up! I absolutely love this book, and think it's perfect for adventurous couples of all ages. It was the best travel book purchase I think that I have ever made, if you measure it by frequency of use and enjoyment. One thing I think could be improved on is the complete lack of maps- just having this book is not enough- You MUST also bring along road maps, and printing out some google maps pinpointing specific destinations is extremely helpful. I can't tell you how long it took us to find the Ace Cider Pub in Sebastapol- we had to ask a local for directions. Otherwise though, fabulous book.

-happy grad student traveler

If Weekend Adventures In San Francisco & Northern California sounds familiar, it should be: this latest represents its 8th updated edition, including a wide range of attractions from staying in a coastal lighthouse the night to exploring small local parks, byways, and less major attractions. Even the well-traveled California native who has seemingly covered all routes will find plenty of new adventures here, all updated thoroughly. A recommended 'staple' for both visitors and especially local residents.

What a wonderful book! I send a huge and heart-felt thank you to the author, Doug Thompson, for being such an excellent spokesperson for the friendly Grey Whales of our ocean...for writing such an important book...and at a time when their very existence is beginning to be threatened again.

Each year we watch, from our coastal town in Oregon, as these magnificent creatures make their yearly journey to and from Baja. It is a journey that we look forward to each year as they make their way down the coastline and back again.
I have had the opportunity of looking into the eyes of some of these whales and I must say, I have been changed. And now, even more so, after reading this excellent book.

It is my hope that everyone will have the chance to read this book and to learn from it. It truly needs to be in the hands of every conservationist.
'Touching the Mystery' is a thoughtful and beautiful book that not only educates folks about the wonder of these intelligent creatures and the importance of protecting them, but also about the lives of those that live near them...the keepers of the lagoons and stewards of the land and sea.

This book comes with a 30 minute DVD offering incredible footage of these Whales. Doug's many years as a film maker certainly are apparent in this documentary. It is absolutely stunning!

I am about to order several more copies (after having already purchased an armload)
Thank you again Mr. Thompson!!! You are a hero!

This book really shines a light on a world so few of us see. Doug Thompson has written one of the definitive books on whales, their history and their future. His personal connection to whales and the way he introduces us to the people and places that are so crucial to their survival takes you on a journey filled with the passion of someone who deeply cares for these amazing sea creatures. The DVD that is included adds a visual element that brings the pages of the book to life. It's also great to hear the author narrate the DVD and get a greater sense of his commitment to these smart engaging animals. Whales: Touching the Mystery is an enjoyable read and one that you'll recommend to all your friends.

Whales: Touching the Mystery entrances the reader. Complete with a DVD showing incredible footage of humans interacting with whales and whales enjoying thier ocean journeys. The book explores Gray Whales teaching us the beauty of their life and the impact of their journeys from Alaska to Baja Mexico on humans and the viabilty of ocean life. This book is for whale lovers, nature adventurous and the curious. The author tells the story of the current effords of humans to preserve the birthing lagoons of the whales, as well as the impact on the indigious folks of the area. Historical information combined with current conservation by the Mexican goverment creates an intrique of circumstances and give hopes to the future. Reading this book will have you heading towards Baja to sea for yourself and to experience the joy of our whale ancestors. READ it and Buy it for a friend or your local library.

I can't claim to be deeply familiar with the current literature about whales (my library boasts at most two or three books on the subject) but if you're looking for the one book that conveys the majesty and wonder of these incredible creatures, one that engages both the mind and the heart in ways both powerful and moving, this book and accompanying DVD is it. Mariner, naturalist and filmmaker Thompson has been leading whale watching expeditions to Baja California for 30 years--he may have been the first one to do so-- and he does an admirable job of distilling the knowledge, wisdom and deep insights gained from three decades of whale interaction into a narrative that is at once accessible, informative and fascinating.

While much has been reported about the profound, even life-changing, impact that touching a whale has on those who have had the experience, Thompson deftly steers clear of being preachy or New Age-y, leaving the spiritual experience for the reader to feel implicitly through his descriptions and the DVD. In fact, he has multiple objectives: enthrall, entice, educate, honor the stewards of the San Ignacio Lagoon, lobby, give the rich ideas for helping (and politicians reasons for voting), and gain new friends of the whale world-wide. He achieves all of these goals without losing any of his audiences. His brief history of whale hunting is especially powerful.

My wife Susan and I watched the 30 minute companion DVD. Like the book, it's pitch perfect and wonderfully complementary. We've both been fortunate to get close to whales in waters off Northern California, but Thompson's images of whale encounters in the San Ignacio Lagoon are nothing short of astonishing, truly powerful and moving. This is a beautifully produced video, with a quality worthy of network broadcast. Little wonder that Thompson and this book and DVD have garnered the respect and imprimatur of no less an icon than primatologist Jane Goodall. Like Goodall, Thompson is making an impact. Highest recommendation.
John Grissim, author of The Lost Treasure of the Concepcion and Pure Stoke

this is one of the best books i have ever read and i am a book gobbler this book has a excellent plot and is very inresting just dont read it too often or else you will memorize it and it will lose all feeling

absolutely inspiring for anyone, any age who loves whales and believes we communicate

I haven't read the other books by Katz, but this one was very good. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I was the first to review this book and I hope that I'm not the only one.

I first read this book in 7th grade, and I continue to pick it up and read it even now in College... Katz does an amazing job with her characters in this book, as well as others I've read by her. She captures the essence of the worries and angst a teen goes through. Adding her slant, the depression and isolation that the young girl feels, is her telepathic/empathic connection to a mother whale. This amazing book connects earths pollution problem, teenage life, and the idea of first love in a compelling format! READ THIS BOOK!!!!

The book shows an amazign amount of knowledge and background concerning the subjects in the book. The Author does a great job of not only educating the reader on the findings of 30 years of research but teaches the reader what he has done. The use of non-participant observation in the book is flawless. I thought i learned a ton from the book till i read it again and learned so much more.

By far the most thorough and comprehensive text on the teen drug subculture. It's the only text I have seen that follows the subjects for an extended time period- in this case 30+ years. The depth of inside information on the subculture is second to none. You won't be disappointed.

Fr. Lowney has years of sociological real life experience all recorded in this book. I was shocked from the statistics of drug use/abuse, it certainly brought me out of "The Cave". Kudos for telling it how it is...

This book is thorough--covers 31 years of research, but presents a very human understanding of my generation. It combines the story of the young people with the author's own life journey (he even enters the priesthood during the course of his research). Brings back some great (and not so great--now that I think about them) memories!

Fine read. Makes you think hard abouth the Death Penalty

I was given Mr. Bisbort's "When You Read This They Will Have Killed Me: The Life and Redemption of Caryl Chessman, Whose Execution Shook America" as a gift, and what a gift it was. I have read many books related to the tragic nature and ultimate futility of capital punishment, but not recently. One reason, perhaps, is the dry, "cookie-cutter" publishing approach to the re-telling of these stories. One reviewer stated, "At times the spirited defense engages in hyperbole--for instance comparing Chessman with Alexander Solzhenitsyn--rather than just letting the facts of the case make the powerful argument." It's that exact sentiment that had me drifting away from the genre. Rather than re-tell a story by rote, Mr. Bisbort's lively take is sprinkled with a treasure trove of historical and pop culture references. Also, rather than having the typical all-in-one photo section, Mr. Bisbort's book is illustrated throughout with a wide range of photos, news clippings, book cover art and illustrations. All of these elements, combined with the sad tale of Mr. Chessman, make this book a true page-turner.

Alan Bisbort has delved deep into heretofore unplumbed archives to present a solid, nuanced portrait of a compelling American anti-hero: a small-time career criminal who never killed anyone but wound up being executed anyway by the state of California for reasons that, in hindsight, seem driven mainly by public hysteria and political calculation. The injustice of his execution is one matter, but what really drives Bisbort's narrative is the fascinating tale of Caryl Chessman's jailhouse redemption. During a lengthy internment preceding his trip to the electric chair, Chessman transformed himself into a legal expert and a literary figure of renown. Bisbort delves into Chessman's interior psychology, and the reader feels as if he or she is in that dim San Quentin cell with Chessman as, for the first time in his misspent life, the lights come on and burn bright within his fertile brain. It's a remarkable tale that is ripe for rediscovery in our present age, given all the debate about the death penalty. And it would make a great movie, too. Sean Penn as Caryl Chessman, perhaps?

Only now, some forty-five years after the barbaric execution of Caryl Chessman, Los Angeles' so-called, 'Red Light Bandit,' are we introduced to the man behind the myth. Bisbort brillantly mirrors Chessman's real face. Over a dozen years, on death row, we hear the voice of a soul on fire begin to cool and mature as it seeks light and finds true personal redemption. Alan Bisbort's sensitive historical postmortem stands in service of the truth."

Steve Hodel, author of Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder