Pets Books

I recently purchased the book KOI KICHI. I cannot compare it to others, but I have found it very informative. It goes into detail about pond construction, koi care, koi types, and is full of background information and stories.

The thing that may make this book less useful to the DIY person is that Waddington(author) is talking about what he calls a 'proper' system which excludes a lot of what poeple who like to do it themselves consider staple. For example, he leaves out many details about pond construction because he believes it should be made from concrete, and should be left to a professional along with electrical wiring, surveying, and landscaping.

As far as a reference book on koi, I found it to be excellent, and it certainly gives a different perspective on pond setups.

KOI Kichi is simply the best KOI book that I have ever seen. It is so complete. It is a must for KOI beginer and also a very good reference book for the experienced.

The book describe in detail about KOI type, KOI selection, how to build a good KOI pond, KOI disease and treatment, KOI breeders in Japan and almost every other single thing about KOI. I guess that the book is so good as it is written by an author who is a KOI Kichi (Crazy about KOI)

If you a serious KOI lover, you should buy this book.

koi kichi is with beond a doubt the best Koi book available that covers all topics in a realistic view advice from Peter leaves the reader aware and full of info about the fish they adore Koi

"Koi Kichi" contains many areas of information notusually found in other books. Most importantly it has a lot of commonsense answers based on 20 years of Koi experience.

His chapter on parasites, bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases is authoritative, detailed, and complete. It is just what will save the novice Koi keeper from poor advice from uniformed sources. The specific remedies he recommends have already saved enough of our Koi from death that we have more than recovered the cost of the book.

The author goes into detail on pond planning, design, construction, and the whys, whynots, and how-to's of water treatment. He also includes specific recommendations on water pumps, air pumps, plumbing equipment, biofilter material and pond materials.

His chapter on filtration is incredibly good. His knowledge is exactly what any Koi pond builder or keeper needs.

Peter Waddington is a typically British author with understated wit and humor liberally sprinkled about to keep us smiling.

His frequent and detailed trips to Japan's Koi breeding area acquaint us with the most famous Koi breeders for each Koi variety.

His pictures are beautiful, numerous, and show each of the Koi varieties.

The worlds Koi hobbyist were unknowingly waiting for this book. It shows and tells the Koi world as it has never been shown before. If anyone that has an interest into koi is not presently Koi Kichi, (crazy) in Japanese, they will be after reading Waddy's words as only he could describe the Koi kingdom. I was driven so Kichi, I spent November in Japan following the books description as I went from pond to pond and breeder to breeder. Having read the book, from cover to cover, made every place visited seem like I had been there before. A must for all Koi keepers.

I am the holistic skeptic in the title of this review. I picked up this book and figured it would be full of touchy-feely nonsense, but instead, I was enthralled. The case studies were entirely believable and the treatments were explained so well that the basic aspects of alternative veterinary medicine began to make sense. When I finished the book, I immediately began to explore educational opportunities so I could learn more than just the western medicine I'm familiar with (I'm a vet tech student). I even gave the book as a gift to a couple of friends because the stories were so wonderful and full of hope.

The only section of this book that I think should have been edited out was an odd description of the author sort of sashaying through her garden and listening to the plants talk to her or something peculiar along those lines. All the holistic medicine was professionally described and explained, and then the educational tone was tainted, in my opinion, by the peculiar fantasy passage. I think the book would be better off with those few pages removed, because it turned the author from "genius" to "crackpot" in my mind. I guess I'm still a bit of a skeptic about some stuff, but most of the book was excellent!

Okay, once I got past the 50's-textbook-cover design (which does an inadequate job of expressing the vitality of the book and its author), I discovered a dynamic, articulate animal advocate; a very knowledgeable veterinarian (both conventional and holistic, explaining acupuncture and the Chinese medicinal theory behind it, chiropractic, herbal & homeopathic solutions, and other alternative approaches); and a delightful storyteller. Her enthusiasm and personality fairly jump off the pages; her stories are well written and heartwarming/heartbreaking (18 chapters, 18 bouts of tears), and her advice is absolutely essential. The only challenge is keeping track of it all - I have tattered sticky-note bookmarks spewing from the book edges. She uses an interesting and effective structural rhythm: case stories followed by explorations of the medical issues and alternative medicine solutions each story brings up.

Dr. Kelleher is impassioned and opinionated (without ever judging or making me feel inadequate because, for example, I can't get my cats to eat home-cooked food), compassionate (her love of animals is glaringly apparent), brutally honest (revealing her heartbreaking frustration and despair at some cases), thoughtful and interesting (her embrace of holistic medicine is both well-reasoned while also quite intuitive as she tells the tale of her medical-intellectual-emotional-spiritual journey), and, at times, funny, like when she crawls around in a dirty crawlspace looking for her escaped tortoise muttering, "I am the worst tortoise mom in the whole world." By this point in the book, you can see her doing this and chuckling while a tear escapes the corner of your eye.

A great read: entertaining, heartwarming, informative, and ultimately hopeful. Any person owned by a pet will love (and benefit from) this book, even more so if your animal companion has medical challenges.

I read a LOT of animal-related books, and this is one of the very best. It is so well-written and engaging, that you can hardly put it down (although I had to often, just to process all the new information that Dr. Kelleher gave in each and every chapter). I have learned so much about holistic vet care from this book and really appreciate her knowledge and the way she shares it with us. Each chapter gives a beautiful, moving story about a particular animal and the health problems he or she has been going through, as well as the fears and frustrations that the animals' humans are experiencing. Probably most of us who have ever lived with animals have gone through those most difficult times, and I especially appreciated the love expressed by both Dr. Kelleher and the animals' caretakers in each instance.

I am now determined to find a holistic vet for my cats and am excited about starting them on the homemade cat diet that Dr. Kelleher gives us in the book (and, yes, there's a dog one too!). This is a must-have book for everyone who lives with an animal, and the stories are wonderful to read for all animal lovers.

If you are an animal lover, and are interested in miraculous stories of animal healing with alternative medicine -- YOU MUST OWN THIS BOOK! This is the best book on alternative healing I have seen. It is written in story form, very enjoyable to read and will have you crying with joy through the entire book at all of the animals' lives who were saved because this vet thought outside the box, and never gave up on an animal. I have taken this book to my holistic vet and we are helping a very sick cat of ours with the information we gleaned from it. He is getting better and would probably have had to be put to sleep if not for my having read this book. Thank you, Dr. Kelleher for your wisdom and compassion!

Written and compiled by holistic veterinarian Donna Kelleher, The Last Chance Dog And Other True Stories Of Holistic Animal Healing is a heartwarming anthology of stories about treating animals ranging from dogs and cats, to horses, turtles, birds, and more, through the application of alternative medicine. Engagingly narrated in a down-to-earth fashion, The Last Chance Dog is an engaging, entertaining, informative, and very highly recommended read for animal lovers everywhere.

Very soothing voice, tone and message. She really helps the hurt and I am glad I made this purchase. I will share it with others and recommend it. I only wish there was a bit more insight into the religious side of loss - something that I could know was of God. Still - excellent.

Purchasing "Legacies of Love" was perhaps one of the best things I could have done to help me through my grief after losing my precious dog on 3/7/02. It has only been a few weeks, and I listen to Teresa's soothing voice and comforting words every day to get through this "coping" period. Her validation that deep grieving over pet loss is undervalued by many on-lookers and "supporters", but completely normal to those of us grieving, brought a sense of peace during a time when there are so many emotions. Those who have lost their companion(s) and don't know how they will go on, will find Teresa's tapes a tremendous source of comfort and graceful inspiration. In honor of my beloved Pupster, I have purchased two additional sets of "Legacies of Love" to donate to my veterinarian's office in the hope that someone facing deep grief after losing their animal will find as much comfort in her words and wisdom as I have.

This tape provides important comfort and guidance during one of life's
most difficult experiences. Don't miss it.

For those who have ever loved and lost a beloved, this guide is a great source of comfort. Sensitive and heartwarming, a wonderful gift when words just are not appropriate. The unconditional love of a pet is such a source of joy, but when we lose them, the heartache can be unbearable. Having been there, I understand how paralyzing grief can be. Arlene Millman...

Haveing lost my beloved mare in a tragic, unexpected accedent, I have been lost and confused. It can be difficult to find someone who understands just how painful it can be to loose a close friend that happens to have four legs.

Teresa understands. She knows what it is like, and her voice is like a soothing guide to recovery. The tapes are filled with information and guidence, as well as personal experiences. I found them to be profoundly healing as I began to accept her death, and learn to get past coping. If you have experienced the death of your animal friend, you won't be sorry you bought this.

This would also be a welcome gift for those who have lost their animal friends.

This work hits on a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Animals have played a very important part of my life for over sixty years now and they are just as important to me now as when I received my first puppy when I was about three years old. My wife and I have been very involved with our local humane society for many years now. That being said....

This work takes the reader for an inside look at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary located Southern Utah. Thousands of animals have been helped through this organization and Ms. Kelsey has given us a child's eye view of its workings, mission, needs, and indeed, delights. The book is designed to be read to children, and more specifically, is ideal for groups of children, although it is an absolute delight for the adult reader also. The photographs are quite professionally done and are works of art themselves. The author's easy style, humor and obvious enthusiasm for her subject shine through on ever page. She takes us on a verbal tour, supplemented by wonderful photographs, through this great organization. The author takes great pains in explaining the socialization process of these animals, stressing not only their physical needs, but emotional as well. This is a bit different than some of the works in this genre. We are given a peek at the different areas of this sanctuary, the bird house, horse area, pigs, dogs, cats, et al. Some individual stories of these critters are told as well as the source for many of the animals helped here.

This book is certainly designed for the class room. Its easy reading style and humor will be appreciated by the children. Each page is full of useful information and the photographs are well coordinated. Many questions are asked which are ideal for taking the children into a discussion. The author has also provided pages full of ideas for class projects, given some great web sites for further research, and above all, has infused an enthusiasm into her work which is rather contagious. Volunteerism is stressed here and the point is well made that everyone can do their little share to change what has become almost a national tragedy. Now don't misunderstand that statement. This is not a "sad puppy book," something that I find difficult to read to younger children. Everything here is upbeat and positive while still being quite truthful about the plight of these unwanted animals.

A WORD OF CAUTION: I am retired now and spend most of my days acting as a substitute teacher in local schools. We live in an area, Southern Missouri, which is more or less the puppy mill capital of the known universe. This is something my wife and I have fought for years and years. The author is quite harsh, and well she should be, when addressing this subject. The problem comes, in my case, where I will have a room full of about 25 students, and out of that 25, at least six or seven will have parents or grandparents who make their living as puppy mill owners. I plan to use this work at those schools, but I also plan to do a bit of verbal editing when this portion of the book is read to the students. While they need to know about such things, I am not about to be critical of their parents in front of their fellow students. Goodness knows I have had many heated conversations with the parents of these kids on this subject, indeed having been instrumental in shutting a few down, but don't feel the children should be subjected to the same line as I would give their mom and dad.

That being said, I cannot recommend this work highly enough. It is an absolute wealth of information and a delight to the ear and eye. The author has done a wonderful job here. I do wish there were more organizations out there like Best Friends...we certainly need them.

This colorful, friendly book is designed as a tool to help children, ages about five to eight (my guess), to learn about animal sanctuaries, animal shelters, and, in a subtle, gentle way, about the ugliness of animal abuse. I can easily imagine this book being used in a classroom of first-graders or second-graders.

The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is an enormous refuge, for abused animals of all species, located in Utah. This book basically explains the nature and purpose of that sanctuary and, by extension, the nature and purpose of animal shelters and sanctuaries everywhere. The book, which is fifty-two pages long, accomplishes this by providing a verbal and photographic tour of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, describing the animals there, giving you the stories of how they ended up there, and how the animals are cared for, while they live there. I appreciated how the photographs and the text definitely emphasized the animals. The book did not end up being a piece of promotional literature, that glorified the one facility, as if they were the only facility engaging in the support and caring of animals that have been abused or neglected.

Most of the book, if you calculated the area covered by writing versus photographs, is dedicated to beautiful photographs, with the written explanations and captions being smaller. However, the writing is clear, concise, and worded in ways where children are going to understand the ideas, without feeling that they are being talked down to. The writing also does a nice job of giving children enough information about how animals are sometimes mistreated or neglected, without getting so graphic that the children might be traumatized. The tone of the writing is that it assumes that children will usually care about, and sympathize with, animals, and I see that as accurate.

The photography is also fairly balanced, in that it does not portray the animals at the sanctuary as a collection of perfect specimens of petdom. It shows, and talks about, some of the difficulties that a potential adoptive family might face if the animals were brought into that family. I will that the photography is done in such a way that many children will likely, after seeing this book, want to bring a pet into their home. There appears to be a large number of highly photogenic animals at the sanctuary, or else the photographer did an excellent job of being patient and catching the animals at their best.

As I stated above, this book is meant to introduce us to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, as well as to a series of books, with the same photographer, writers, and source material, but aimed at different topics.

There is a section, near the end of the book, that describes different kind of projects, for children and school classrooms to do, to help local animal shelters and sanctuaries. I really like that this section was included, as I can see children understanding and appreciating the book a lot, and immediately wanting to know what they can do to help. The section was done well, as all of the ideas mentioned are very feasible projects for a classroom or a school to do.

I am hoping, and suggesting any who might read this, who is connected to this series, that future topic for books include:

A description of good animal care, especially from a child's point of view.

A discussion of what children can do, if they believe that animals are being abused or neglected.

If I had a list a flaw, there is one small omission. When the book describes how people come to own dogs, it describes pet stores and "puppy mills" (not favorably) and animal shelters (favorably), but makes no mention of puppies obtained from responsible, caring breeders. I can imagine a child, whose family owns a dog obtained from a good breeder, wondering if his or her family obtained their pet in a good way or a bad way. That is a small point, that a teacher or parent could easily explain, but the book could have easily mentioned it.

I am a children's book author AND a regular volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. I am also the editor of this book. To be frank with you, the book needed little editing! Nola's writing is fresh, funny, and full of heart. I knew her when she was a dog caregiver at Best Friends, and I was deeply moved by her love for animals. This love shines on every page of Nola's book. It is indeed a book for people of all ages. Highly recommended!

I really like this book. It is a wonderful way to educate kids (and adults will enjoy it as well) about love, compassion, and respect for animals.

We need to teach our kids while they are young, to treat animals the way that they themselves would want to be treated.

What we sow in our children today, animals will reap tomorrow.

So if we want to end animal abuse, animal cruelty, animal murder (euthanizing healthy animals) etc, in the future, it will ONLY happen, if we teach our kids TODAY, that animals are living, breathing, feeling, loving, soul-filled children of God, just like we human animals are.

Trust me when I say that getting this gift for your child (or a fellow adult) will be a gift that keeps on giving and giving......because this book is about love, compassion and living in peace with, and taking care of, our animal friends.

[...]

Animals are a huge part of our society; but, far too often, they are mistreated and cast aside. Luckily, there are sanctuaries across the nation who provide these particular animals with lifelong homes where they can live in peace and harmony with loving caregivers, and fellow animals. Nora Lee Kelsey takes us behind-the-scenes of one of these particular sanctuaries - Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Over the years, southern Utah's Best Friends Animal Sanctuary has become one of the biggest animal sanctuaries in the nation. Home to dogs and cats, along with the less typical rabbits, horses, ducks, pigs, sheep, and many more, Best Friends makes a difference in the lives of animals on a daily basis. While many visit the location each year, others don't always have the means or time to make the trip. With Kelsey's LET'S GO VISIT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY, readers have the opportunity to do just that - from their very own homes!

Laden with gorgeous color photos, LET'S GO VISIT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY takes readers on a trip to Horse Haven, the Bunny House, Feathered Friends, Cat World, and Dogtown. At each stop, you have the opportunity to meet and greet with some of the residents of each area, learning their likes and dislikes, and glimpsing bits and pieces of what they do on a daily basis. After the trip is said and done, some of the Best Friends residents provide readers with tips on what they can do to help animals - even going so far as including websites you can visit.

I have loved Best Friends Animal Sanctuary ever since I learned about it more than ten years ago, so I was thrilled when I learned that Nora Lee Kelsey had taken the time to pen a gorgeous book about the location. The many pictures bring the animals to life; while the information packed onto each and every page provides the reader with enough facts to become a Best Friends Animal Sanctuary wiz! Perfect for animal lovers to read at home with their families, or as an instructional tool in the classroom, LET'S GO VISIT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY is a necessity for all. I could not have imagined a more perfect book. Two paws up!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I just love this book. Anyone who loves pugs will love this story and book. We laughed so hard we were crying and the pictures just add to the story.

You can't go wrong with this one.

This book is adorable. When it arrived I sat down with my 8 year old daughter and read it. She'd laugh at the pictures and letters from the young pug. Many wonderful messages and terrific pictures. I think her favorites were the curler in his tail and him cooling off in the fridge. She got many ideas for creative pictures for our own pug!

After falling in love with Wilson the Pug from the "Tao of Pug" book, I had to get this one. I was NOT disappointed. Very funny exchange between the older and younger Pug, Homer. Photos are just as creative and funny as in the "Tao" book. This is another can't-miss great gift idea and something every dog (and especially Pug) lover will want for their collection!

Letters to a Young Pug picks up the story of Wilson and Homer (from Homer for the Holidays). Wilson's Tao master is retiring, and before Wilson can take on the job he has to train his successor, Homer. The letters he writes to impart his knowledge of the Tao and Homer's humerous responses are wonderfully entertaining. If you have a pug, you will definitely see something of your pug in this book.

Continuing antics of Wilson and Homer. A must read if you have read Nancy's first two books.

I've spent hours looking at pictures made by Denver Bryan and reading the words of E. Donnall Thomas Jr. ... This book and "Labs Afield" are 2 of the best photography books on Labradors I have found so far ... What can I say ... I don't like hunting but I think Labradors are wonderful ... and the collaboration between photographer & writer celebrates the breed in quite an exceptional way ... If hunting photographs don't disturb you, then this wonderful book will help anyone understand how special it is to have a Labrador as friend and companion ...

As a lab owner, I was eager to see what this book had to offer. It is superb. The photos are gorgeous, perfectly showing every aspect of these wonderful animals. The text was just as good, perfectly complementing the photos. This is the best book I've seen on the breed and the most beautiful. A must have for any lab or animal lover.

Starting, as this book does, with the all too believable notion that the Labrador Retriever is perhaps the single most agreeable and people-oriented creature this side of Paradise, the author shows the reader how and why to care for God's most perfect earthly creature, the Labrador Retriever! He entices us into the earthly domain of the heavenly Labs with a torrent of photos that show them in all their splendor and glory, and reading this book is such an utter enjoyment it is easy to overlook the valuable information it also provides.

For example, by showing us the degree to which the breed represents a witch's brew of intelligence, honesty and loyalty to its human companions, the author illustrates why the Labrador has become the single most popular breed of dog in the world today. Labradors are sturdy creatures indeed, bred for sporting use along the quicksilver shores of Newfoundland, where the water temperatures and sea conditions require a healthy dollop of strength and endurance, and those are qualities these dogs have in spades.

For any of us that have seen them at work or play in the fields and in the water, their unique combination of physical attributes and obvious intelligence makes them the ideal human companion. I should know; I live with four of them! The proof of their adaptability to almost any condition and their loyalty, intelligence, and unparalleled work ethic is demonstrated by the wide use of them as guide dogs and as adjunct partners for the physically handicapped. Stories of Labradors crawling out onto the ice to save their masters are legendary, as are the tales of them rescuing children from fires or from underneath rubble. Never has there been a dog superior to them.

The author has testifed as to the qualities and abilities of the dog, and one walks away from a reading of the book much better informed as to the all of the many qualities and capabilities of the breed, which seems to represent an astonishing list of useful and worthwhile attributes. We also get quite critical information as to what to look for when choosing a lab, and how to analyze the quality of the puppy you see before you. The author offers information regarding genetics, feeding, health care, and inherited dispositions, as well as some sage advice as to how to ensure your puppy becomes the grown up Labrador companion you will come to view as another family member. This is a great book, and one I heartily recommend! Enjoy!

Not much to say other than check this book out and compare it to any of the others out there. You'll see for yourself. Especially loved the sequence on the "old Lab stealing hotdogs."

I picked up this book while waiting in my doctor's office and immediately ordered a copy for myself. Denver Bryan is an outstanding photographer and depicts this beautiful breed in all possible scenarios, beginning from puppyhood to old age. I was smiling, laughing, and crying, all at the same time. The text, by E. Donnall Thomas Jr., describes these wonderful dogs, their antics, personalities, and the unconditional love they show for their owners. This one's a keeper!!

This book was very helpful. It is an easy read and lots of little tips.My kids are older, 13,17 and 20, but I still picked up some good information. There are even some fun and easy tricks to teach your dog. I would recommend this to anyone with kids of any age.

There are certainly other kids and dogs books out there but, this one is so far the best I've found. Colleen Pelar gives great, practical tips for parents of children at all ages that can be put to use immediately. I don't have children but, am active in rescue and am always looking for more training to help adopters and I learned so much. This book will be required reading for all adopters with children going forward. GREAT read!!!

This is one of the very best resources I've found for families with children and dogs. It has lots of practical kid-friendly and dog-friendly tips and ideas. I've recently read hundreds of books on similar topics while researching a book I'm writing, and this one really stood out. As a child/family psychologist, I was impressed with how solid it was, and as a therapy dog trainer, I thought the advice about dogs was spot-on! It deserves all the stars that everyone has given it!!

Colleen writes in a reader friendly manner. Her life experiences as Mom and dog trainer have brought together this wonderful resourceful book families can turn to time and time again! I recommend this book to all families I work with as it describes practical and positive solutions for challenging and hectic lives! :)

Finally-- A really good book on how to live with kids and dogs. Most dog trainers don't have a lot of good things to say about kids (although I overhead one saying that she thought they tasted a lot like chicken!), but Colleen has written a book for parents by a parent who is also an excellent dog trainer. Colleen tells it like it is, from someone who knows. Her child-friendly, family-friendly and dog-friendly approach is realistic, safe, and right on the mark. I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Pelar or this book. Please read it and get a copy for your favorite family!

As the director of training for the 4th largest shelter in the country, I see every day that the consequences of people not having this information is that dogs end up in shelters. I applaud Ms. Pelar for writing it and helping keep dogs in their homes through education.

Becky Schultz, Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Director of Animal Training and Behavior Programs
Animal Humane Society
Minneapolis, MN

I enjoyed this book very much! Being an owner of two of my own wolf-dogs, I could identify with this author and his wife. It is an amazing & unforgetable journey. Many trials, but it is all worth it! Animals are such wonderful teachers, as Lobo was. For you, Lobo, thank you.

I enjoyed this book because I felt like the author was telling a story from his heart. I am not knowledgeable about wolf dogs, but this book has certainly shown me the nature of wolf dogs I did not know. It will make you interested in reading more about wolves and wolf dogs. It is also a very spiritual story. A very beautiful story.

I am an intense animal lover and found this book to make me want to reach out to all animals in need of homes. This is a very informative book giving more insight to the nature of wolf dogs. I wish for all animal lovers to read this book before thinking of adopting a wolf dog. It is a very touching and spiritual story of the bond between man and animal.

I happen to be the breeder of Lobo. In reading this story I was amazed at how much Lobo is like his sister, Cherokee. Living with a wolfdog is a highly spiritual journey that most people treasure for a lifetime. I really couldn't put in words what I felt. I really did love the book. I've told everyone about it. I ordered 2 more to give as gifts.

Excellent job! It was hard for me to put this book down as you were able to convey to your readers the compassion, love, patience and total dedication it took to develop a strong bond between a wolf dog with his master. You should be very proud of your accomplishment and your book.

Gumprecht's _Los Angeles River_ is a well-written history of the Los Angeles River, from Native American and Spanish/Mexican pueblo days to the present.

Looking at the concrete-lined flood control channel that the LA River has become, it is hard to believe that the LA River once was the main water supply for the City of Los Angeles. As the city grew, though, its water needs outpaced what the river could supply. An alternate source (which turned out to be the infamous Aqueduct), was eventually developed. With all the Owens Valley water coming into the city, the river became simply a dumping ground for wastewater and other undesirable things.

The LA River, more or less also determined the expansion of the city. Since farmers in the San Fernando Valley had no rights to the LA River water (it all belonged to the city), eventually, the San Fernando Valley had to join the City of Los Angeles to access any water.

The river was also known for flooding and changing its course unpredictably. These floods became more and more of a concern as areas near the river developed, first with agriculture, later with residences. After a particularly devastating flood in 1934, officials called on the Army Corps of Engineers to help with flood control. This led to the concrete channelization of the river.

After that, no one thought much of the river. Occasionally, the concrete channel inspired uses such as movie shoots and vehicular uses. It looked so much like a road, that several people proposed making the riverbed into a freeway.

Meanwhile, the river was starting to get some attention. Lewis McAdams founded the Friends of the La River, which is trying to get the river restored to its natural state. They have run into opposition by the Army Corps of Engineers, and other parties concerned about flood control issues. The future of the river becoming more than it is now (a paved channel with a trickle of water in it most of the time) remains in question.

The book started its life as a masters' thesis, but the prose is accessible, not overly academic. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of Los Angeles.

I first saw the Los Angeles River in TV shows and movies like Terminator 2 and have ever since been interested in learning more about this strange, concrete encased urban waterway. Blake Gumprecht's book does a great job of providing the history of the Los Angeles River from its pristine condition two centuries ago into the modern era as a "Freeway for Water" in the book "The Los Angeles River."

The author balances his coverage of the river and fairly represents both sides of the struggle to restore it back to a more natural appearance versus the need to provide flood control protection with concrete fortifications.

The book is extremely well researched and documented. Extensive maps and photos shed light on the topic and make the historical changes easier to follow.

My only wish is that a future edition will include color photos.

If you've ever wondered why Los Angeles is in the middle of a desert (hint: it wasn't always), what the river looked like before there was a city, and why the river was buried in concrete, this is the book. An excellent description of the origins of the river and the city, with insights into the modern revitalization movement.

Among the things I learned:
--The river starts in the San Fernando Valley, but the city of Los Angeles has claimed the water as its own since at least 1810, a claim eventually known as the Pueblo Water Right.
--Not all of those concrete beds in L.A. are technically the L.A. river, which starts along the south edge of the San Fernando Valley, dodges a number of movie studios, and makes a right turn through downtown before heading for the Pacific. The others are creeks and washes that feed (fed) the river.
--The area's light rainfall was sufficient to keep the river flowing year-round until suburbia took over. Concrete and asphalt reduced the water that soaked into the ground to be released slowly into the river. Now, the primary source of flowing river water is the what's been reclaimed from sewage treatment plants.

Worth the read for all Angelenos or anyone who is interested in Los Angeles.

Reading this book was an assignement for a geography course I was taking in college. My first thoughts were "A book on the L.A. River? How can they write an entire book on a river that flows a couple of days per year?" My indifference to the subject was quickly dismissed after the first few pages. This book is very insightful! It gives a detailed history on L.A., from it's foundation as a tiny pueblo to the sprawling metropolis it is today, with the river & water in Southern California being the central themes. I always wondered why L.A. was built in the area it's in & Mr. Gumprecht answers that in fine detail along with many other interesting facts regarding the annexation of neighboring cities, water rights, deadly floods and ultimately the concrete channel built to contain this unpredictable river.
Whoever is interested in the histroy of this region will no doubt greatly enjoy this superb book!

This fascinating book is packed with information about the history of Los Angeles. Not many present-day Angelenos would know that the location for the city was chosen because of the once-abundant flow of the Rio de Porciuncula, or Los Angeles River. Blake Gumprecht pulls an amazing feat in researching the River's many incarnations alongside the history of the growth of Los Angeles. In addition to providing detailed reports of the River's former courses, and devastating accounts of some of the River's infamous catastrophic floods, Mr. Gumprecht explains the River's role in shaping the course of Los Angeles city politics in greater detail than any previous study.

Once an ample stream that sustained all of the city's water needs for over 100 years, the Los Angeles River was then pumped dry, smothered in concrete, and almost pushed out of the city's consciousness. Incredible photographs appear throughout the book; many of these photos will make nature-loving Angelenos yearn for the Los Angeles River of yesteryear, with its bubbling, meandering stream, and its banks lined with willows and sycamores.

Long before you approach the end of this book, you realize that, in an over-zealous attempt to control flooding, the Los Angeles River was essentially raped, depleted, and buried. The fact that, at present, most of its 51 miles are cement is a shame -- especially in a city with so little park space. Amazingly, the River still provides up to 15% of L.A.'s drinking water, albeit from subterannean pumps that tap the River's flow before it ever reaches the surface. And millions of gallons of River water were diverted to the Silver Lake reservoir.

People who never knew that there was a Los Angeles River should go see the few surviving River greenbelts in the Glendale Narrows and the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area to appreciate our city's River as it used to be.

P.S. - I encourage other Los Angeles River buffs to look at Kevin Roderick's book "San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb" to see other beautiful pictures of the River in its natural state, before the concrete obscured it.

This well-researched, entertaining and readable book makes a subtle omission. While laying out a convincing case for the wolf origins of domestic dogs, there is little discussion of how early canines migrated from their beginnings in Asia to every continent. The early chapters shift focus from stone age times in Europe to the civilisation of Ancient Egypt, where, the author states, exotic dogs such as Basenjis were "imported" from Africa (overlooking the fact that Egypt is in Africa). How did Asian wolves become African Basenjis? And how did wolves come to Australia?

Unfortunately, Africa is not mentioned in the book's index, making an indexed study of "The Lost History" difficult.

After getting past the very unpleasant history of Man and Dog..., well it wes never truly finished. But the book is an excellent read and has a place on your book shelf. She presents some interesting modern potential actions that us dog people can take, too. Last chapter and the one on war-dogs was the best.

this is a wonderful book about dog orgins, i read it several years ago, and bought my own copy, a delightful read with lots of information.

I'm a dog lover and thought I knew everything canine. Apparently not! This book is chuckfull of information and trivia. I especially enjoyed the chapter on US Army dogs and how unfair the US government has been to them. A must read!

The dedication of Mary Elizabeth Thurston's book says it all. She dedicated this book to her grandmother, who taught her the importance of spoiling dogs. This is a person who knows the love of sharing their life with their dog, and writes about dogs from her heart and soul. I think the chapter that stirred the deepest interest was the Dogs of War. These brave dogs and their handlers have often been forgotten, but in Thurston's book they are not only remembered, but truly honored for their contribution to the freedom we enjoy today. Thank you for writing, not just a informational book, but one that shows how much our lives are intermingled with our canine companions.