Parks Books

Jacques Cousteau will forever remain the man who gave the world scuba diving. Whilst both his work and his films are legendary, several of his early books have stood the test of time to provide the reader with a relevant insight into marine creatures - even though the book itself may have been published over 30 years ago.

Three of Cousteau's finest books were; Dolphins, Shark (Splendid Savage of the Sea) and The Whale (Might Monarch of the Sea) and these now come together in this 3 book set.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of Dolphin life and behaviour, the first book is as relevant today as it ever was. There is much here for anyone with an interest in these attractive creatures and I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy.

For many years the Shark was perceived as everything that was evil and frightening as far as the sea was concerned. No book about this splendid creature was complete without that section on Shark Attack. Not even the Lions of Africa or the North American Grizzly Bear got such a fearful press. Today, of course, the Shark is endangered and - suddenly!, we are all worried about the Great White and it's other equally magnificent cousins. Only now do we realise how Cousteau was ahead of his time with that same message.

Finally we come to the Whale. I have often wondered what the great Jacques Cousteau and his team would have achieved had they possessed today's underwater photographic equipment and technology - but then I took another look at some of the photographs in this book. The Humpback Whales, a mother and calf and other examples, are all of a standard which would be described as outstanding - today! This is not just another book about Whales written by an expert. This is a book which also includes all the personal encounters with these might leviathans. It is those personal encounters which give this book the edge over anything written by others.

Not only that, each book is an excellent read.

NM

High quality abundance of color photos, startling B&W shots, and a crisp informative text make this three book set a first rate collection for those wishing more than a cursory view of Whales, Sharks, and Dolphins. Like his National Geographic specials, Cousteau presents his information in a superb and unique manner, peeling back our ignorance of specific phenomena while maintaining an open view on the larger scheme of things.

These are excellent books: informative; educational; and very much alive.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple is an amazingly important work of architecture, completed in 1908 and in need of funding to complete a full restoration. This unparalleled account of the development of the art and architecture of Unity Temple only helps to increase awareness of this essential piece of our cultural heritage. If you have ever visited this building, you know how incredibly beautiful it is. If you love architecture and Wright in particular, you must own this book.

Unity Temple is a National Treasure and it is treated as such by Mr. Siry. His research is unrivlaed in Wright circles and his writing is clear and concise. All aspects of the design and execution are included and discussed in a complete manner.

One only wishes that there were more, large color photographs to parallel the excellent writing. Would there be a second eiition with them? If one is really interested in the subject and not just the images, this is the book for you.

Here's an exploration of the University's two centuries of struggle to achieve state university status; from its initial agricultural college status to its Civil War struggles, its evolution into a tuition-free people's college, and its movement into university status. But The University Of Maryland At College Park: A History isn't just about school politics: within its pages are profiles of student and faculty culture over the decades, social and political atmospheres affecting the college's focus and growth, and how the modern university status is changing the school. A pick for not just University grads and fans; but for any reader of higher education history and politics.

Although I have no particular knowledge or interest in the University of Maryland at College Park, this history is so well written that I still found it an interesting read that was hard to put down until I had finished it. The author goes through the history of the college from its founding as the Maryland Agricultural College through the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the riots of the 1970's to today. An intimate portrait of the college as well as a trip through the history of this part of Maryland it contains many period photographs that add to the charm of the book. "The University of Maryland at College Park, a History, is highly recommended to anyone interested either in the college or the history of Maryland in general.

The book is a great resource and it came in plenty of time tahnk-you!

This book is an excellent introduction to young adult (YA) literature for the 7th-12th grade English curriculum. It establishes a valid and informative argument for using YA literature based on the developmental theories of Piaget and Inhelder, Robert Havighurst, and G. Robert Carlsen. Bushman and Haas argue that adolescents are interested in reading stories that relate to their own experiences or involve issues they face. Such interest results in emotional and cognitive responses, which in turn fosters a positive attitude towards reading. YA literature, accordingly, supplies all these needs.

This book's structure and extensive discussions on various topics provide essential foundational information upon which English teachers can assess its value in the classroom. For example, it has a section which discusses the features of YA novels, such as plot, character types, key themes, and points of view. It provides a practical framework for teaching YA literature in that it offers teaching strategies and activities which are designed to develop critical thinking skills. Many different YA novels are discussed in relation to various topics throughout the book and several novels are discussed at length. One important section, of many, discusses the important connection between reading and writing and literature's role in providing the context in which to learn to write. It suggests many writing activities which will aid the students in not only synthesizing their ideas about what they read, but also in developing their writing skills.

In my opinion, the book's weakest section is the one discussing "Young Adult Literature as a Bridge to the Classics" (166). This section has a very limited discussion on integrating YA literature with the classics. Many more suggestions on this topic would be helpful because many districts still require the teaching of classics as part of the curriculum.

This is a beautiful book with color pictures and wonderful detail. This book is worthwhile reading even if you don't hike, you can be an armchair hiker and learn about all the beautiful places Utah has to offer. I bought it for my son and now it is on my want list.

I have been hiking Utah's trails for many years, and I am always looking for new places to explore. I have already looked through most of Utah's other hiking guides, and I have to tell you that this one is without a doubt the best one out there. It is informative, easy to read, the maps are excellent, and, most of all, the color photographs that illustrate the trails will blow you away. It is a little more expensive than the other guides, but definately worth it!

"The stories 'Marred Bliss' and 'Diary of a Fan' had me laughing so hard I almost choked. Wildly original and so smart. O'Donnell is a funny person's funny person." Sparkle Hayter

A great collection of stories and cartoons from one of our best humorists -- to wit, Mark O'Donnell, the co-adaptor of Moliere's Scapin (currently playing on Broadway). Of particular note are pieces like "The Solar Yearbook," which treats the planets like high-school students, and "Marred Bliss," a very short play with almost-right words. And the novella "Vertigo Park" is not only funny, but also sad and tender. Highly recommende

To be able to produce work such as Gerald Hinde has, one should understand the preparation and patience needed. A single image can be days in the making! Glancing through his book , 'African Wildlife', I manage to 'know' the artist and recognize the love he has for his work and the beautiful animals that he has captured on film. The photography shown is amazing, the editing and presentation are excellent, as is the quality of the printing, done by Struik Publishers in South Africa. I highly recommend this book for all who enjoy excellent photography and wildlife.

I collect African wildlife books and this one is the best because this superb photographer captures the glint in the eyes of these gorgeous animals. The character of each individual animal makes this book one to keep within reach for creative inspiration. I love the ways color, line, shape, form, and movement gallop and graze and lull across each page.

For Vol fans the country over, this will bring a transfusion of their "Orange Blood!" Great for anyone who ever haunted the hallowed field of Neyland Stadium. A must for your Vol friend or family for Christmas.

Brings back some very good (and some bad) memories of "Football Time in Tennessee". A delightful collection of photography and anecdotes that shows the VOL fans "doing their thing".

I was particularly fond of the McElroy "Big Orange" Limo (Johnny grew up in my neighborhood). "Tailgating" at it's finest! He may be the "BIGGEST" Vol Fan.

As also enjoyed the "Vol Navy" photos. Having served as a crew member on one of it's vessels many times was an unforgettable experience that "Volmania" helps you relive in your memories.

You can almost hear the band playing "Rocky Top"!

After looking at someone else's copy, I had to have not one, but three copies. I ordered one for each of my two sons (Vol Alums) and one for my wife and I to enjoy. Three Christmas Gift problems solved! (hope they don't read this until after Christmas)

GO VOLS! Get "VOLMANIA"! You'll be glad you did!

A Vol Fan

James W. Mavor, Jr. Has done for Atlantis what Heinrich Schliemann did for Troy, and nobody has noticed.

Like most rational people I have avoided Atlantis as a subject only fit for airheads and crackpots. But I wanted to know where all this Atlantis nonsense was coming from. Luckily when I went searching for real information I found "Voyage to Atlantis". Mayor is a real archaeologist and oceanographer.

In this book he tells us the source of the Atlantis myth (Plato in "Timaeus" and "Critias") and quotes Plato at length for reference. Plato was in turn quoting a story that Solon had read in Egypt. Mavor's thesis hinges on Solon making a error in translation such that every measurement that should read in the hundreds instead reads in the thousands, while smaller numbers are not changed. This holds true for dates as well as distances and population counts. If the measurements in the thousands in Plato's account are changed to hundreds his Atlantis accurately describes the Minoan civilization of Crete and the Island of Thera (also known as Santorini) in size, population, military strength, and time period (900 years before Solon rather than 9000).

With a valid theory to start with Mavor then did the real archeology necessary to back up his claims, using the latest technology in underwater research.

If you want a good scientific look at the legend of Atlantis read this book.

Excellent book. Well written and the facts seem to strongly support the author's theories. It is my belief that if Atlantis did indeed exist, that James Mavor's book provides the most compelling argment for it's whereabouts.
The premise that Plato's dates are off by multiplication of 10 is very interesting, and the author shows several examples of this discrepancy. This is the foundation of a theory that puts Atlantis in the Agean Sea on the volcanic island of Thera.
It seems that this IS the answer everyone is looking for, but all of the proof is not complete. It's unfortunate that the Greek government will not allow massive underwater exploration of this area. Hopefully someday someone will get the chance to further explore Mavor's theory and the legend of Atlantis will be solved.

Barbara Andrews captures you from the first page. Her power of imagery is compelling and she draws you into the story and keeps you there. I can't wait for the next installment in the series.

This is a sweet and tender story that makes one believe in the power of love and faith to overcome even the greatest of sorrows.