Park Books

I read this book when it first came out. I heard it read on Public Radio and I knew that I had to have it. Just ran across it last week in my bookcase and am enjoying it all over again. I have practiced medicine for thirty-seven years, and this book is a great description of how medicine used to be. Dr Kean is candid and honest in his descriptions of different diseases and the treatments. His description of his encounter with the surgeon at Gorgas Hospital in the Canal Zone is classic and reflects the typical relationship between house staff(interns and residents) and attendings in the 1940s and 1950s and probably later. This is a wonderful book, and anyone will find it most informative and entertaining.
Richard M Freeman, MD

Kean is an excellent writer for a doctor... the book flowed very well and never got boring or tedious, despite the fact he was presenting a lot of medical evidence... Great read for anyone interested in infectious diseases or how medicine and politics can get tangled.

The author is a parasitologist, who had a fascinating career. I love medical detective books of all kinds, fiction and non-fiction - this is the best I have read.

This book details the doctor's life through his training, life-long interest in parasitology, Panama, Park Avenue practice, treatment of the Shah, etc. It is a well-written and fascinating book, told with humor. He's not afraid to tell of his times of inexperience, weakness, and mistakes.

As someone who frequents Disneyland about 40 times a year thanks to an annual pass, I thought I knew everything about Disneyland. This book gives valuable insight to little known facts. Sure, maybe they can be looked up on the internet or are common knowledge to some, but it's nice to have it all in a nice, inexpensive little book. In fact, my wife and I have taken this book to Disneyland to verify some of the information. If you want a different slant on history, background and secrets of Disneyland, this is a good place to start.

Magic Quizdom is a must-have for any Disneyland fan. With three levels of difficulty, every Disneyland aficionado will be able to join in the fun.
The Magic Quizdom is a fantastic book to bring when going to Disneyland. It's especially useful when waiting in long lines, like the one for Nemo's Submarine Voyage. You can quiz your friends or make new friends and quiz others around you. It's a blast for everyone.

This book gives you some great little unknown facts in a fun format. A must if you are a true Disney nut!

Kevin Yee (of the best Disney website on the Internet: Miceage.com) and Jason Schultz have put together a terrific treasure trove of little known facts and trivia about Disneyland. While Gordon and Mumford's Disneyland: The Nickle Tour is STILL the best book ever produced about the theme park, this surprisingly dense effort offers in words a perfect companion to what they provide in photographs. Together, they provide a wonderful two volume reference set about the Happiest Place on Earth. My one and only complaint is that it's, well, organized as a multiple choice trivia book, albeit with paragraph long answers that go far beyond the question asked. I feel that more could have been accomplished had it just been written as a book, and thus I found myself skipping the question sections altogether and just reading the "answer" sections because that's where the true magic of this book is. All in all, it's great. This is one of the first books about Disneyland without pictures that I absolutely couldn't put down! Purchase this at Miceage and support Kevin!

I don't hesitate to say that this author is a prophet -- almost a guru of business. I am amazed with the simplicity with which the information was presented, and the wisdom contained therein. I have already implemented many of his ideas and cannot wait to put his philosophy to work company wide. I am a small company, but I've doubled revenues for the past three years -- I intend to use this incredible advice to make it to a million dollars within one year. Thank you.

Whether just starting out or having been in business for years, Manager's Mentor is excellent, easy-reading material to help insure a business runs smoothly and on a profitable course. I enjoyed the author's practical advice and the delightful way he was able to deliver his ideas enhanced through his own childhood life lessons and extensive business experiences and research. This book is definitely a starting point for the serious-minded individual wanting to avoid major pitfalls when starting up and running a business. It is very informative. I felt like I gained more useable information from Manager's Mentor than I have from all the other business books I own. Definitely worth keeping as a reference.

This is a book that is entertaining and educational for the small business owner as well as immediately useful. It is entertaining because the book is written in a straightforward and graceful manner for those of us who don't care to dig through a bunch of business jargon. The book is educational because it presents a focus on real small business management issues using the owners past experiences and not "hypothetical" problems. And it is useful because the material in the book can be incorporated into a business easily. The chapters cover the problems a small business owner will face such as setting company culture, efficiency, creating and managing a workforce, taking care of employees, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

I own 100's of business books -- I buy anything I can get my hands on about running a small business. This book is by far the easiest read, as well as the most comprehensive book I've got, and I refer to it regularly. It's actually fun to read -- there are analogies and stories that bring the points home. If you are starting a small business with the goal of making money and keeping control, read this book now.

As the holidays approach I liked the idea of making gifts in Mason jars, especially soups or stews. The end of the year is such a hectic time and often there is cold weather; what better to have on the shelf than a homemade, delicious and fast soup mix?

There are a number of books on the market with this idea and I have several others of these books. The Mason Jar Soup-To-Nuts Cookbook is by far my favorite.

Three pages devoted to each recipe, one for the labeling and each page can be easily copied to pass along. (One such booklet that I own is printed in red so that nothing can be copied. What a pain to have to write out the directions over and over--ugh!).

The recipes are tasty,hearty and delicious. Even my husband has been very impressed with the quality of the soup recipes. Three that we have made: Homemade Chicken Noodle, Very Veggie Pasta Soup, and a great Tortellini Soup that is really a whole meal.

Be prepared to have to buy spices and bouillon. It is very well worth it however and you will not believe the wonderful gourmet flavor achieved. Thyme is in just about every recipe, so if you can only afford one spice, that's the one.

I have made over 18 jars of the soups from this book, some for gifts but most for my own pantry. I love how prepared I feel for emergencies, last minute gifts or surprise dinner guests. I made four jars for a new mother and she was thrilled, saying it was her favorite present!

Hats off to the authors, you've saved me money, time and anxiety. Well done!

Item arrived quickly and was in great shape!! I would recommend this buyer. Very professional

Nice book. Has great ideas for gift giving. Common recipes with available ingredients.

This Mason jar recipe book is easy to use. The 'recipe tags' that are to be attached to your Mason jar are printed in this book so that you may conveniently just copy them, cut it out and attach it to your jar. No retyping or writing it out. Also, the little subtitles that Ms. Parks uses under her recipe titles make the recipes more personal.

I found this novel completely absorbing, moving and satisfying. The protagonist Terry is a wonderful character--full of life and passion as well as confusion and delusion. You will root for Terry as she feels her way to sobriety and to a new understanding of herself as a friend and lover, and to a role for herself in the greater world that does not require her to compromise who she is at her core. The epigraphs "Overheard at an AA Meeting" that open each chapter are witty and true, and provide a quick orientation to that culture for the uninitiated.

Bridget Bufford brings home forcefully what it means for Terry to give up drinking, that it is like giving up the part of herself that she most likes. The fact that her drinking has been so connected with her love and sex life makes it all the harder. The phone call Terry makes to Evelyn in the middle of the date with Holly in Chapter 4, where she is dismayed when she starts to cry, is incredibly moving; I cried right along with Terry. I also found Terry's reaction when she starts doing her inventory and finds some of the smaller stuff the most embarrassing and difficult to own up to illuminating and true. We've all experienced, in some form or another, the sense that the small stuff IS small, but significant nonetheless.

The supporting characters are superbly drawn. Straight, up-tight, middle-class Laura, Terry's first sponsor, is a case in point. So is Holly, who is attracted to Terry but not at heart a lesbian. Bufford's portraits of both these women are nuanced and free of caricature or malice. Terry's brother Alecki, who represents the non-alcoholic who just doesn't get it, is a nice addition for a reader like me, who can see him as a kind of cautionary tale (listen, try to understand even where--especially where--your experience is different and for heaven's sake don't tell someone who knows she/he's an alcoholic that they're not!). While fully conveying Terry's pain and confusion at many of Alecki's responses, Bufford also makes it clear they come from his wanting to protect himself, to believe his sister's "okay," and doesn't have a true problem. That's the part that makes a non-alcoholic reader really think. While nasty and miserable Erica, fellow alcholic and Terry's ex-lover on the way down, provides a cautionary tale of a different sort.

I also enjoyed the full evocation of Terry's erotic world, of the sports teams and lesbian bars in which Terry has made so much of her mark. Bufford is a master at portraying the body-mind connection. This novel, more than any other I have read, reflects the truth that our bodies and our erotic selves ARE ourselves.

Stubborn, angry, and fresh out of treatment, Terry Manescu moves in with her friend, Angela, who takes her in provided Terry stays sober and contributes to the household. Terry at first doesn't realize the depths of her own pain and is facing a lot more problems than she can imagine fixing. She's got intelligence and guts going for her, but she's also got an attitude which has not entirely changed even with treatment and AA attendance. "Everyone with more sobriety than me thinks that they know what's best for me. AA is a conspiracy to rob me of my individuality and my intellect" (p. 14). She says this halfway tongue in cheek, even while at some level, Terry knows that she must change. She just isn't entirely sure how to go about it.

Though only 26, Terry has already been through a lot in her life. Through her own drunken rage, she lost the love of her life. She's got issues with her family, some of which are because she's lesbian, but also because she was such a wild girl, and her connections with her brothers and parents have been affected by all the lies and failures. She flunked out of school, ran with a fast crowd, and did a lot of risky things. She knows the addiction to drugs and alcohol is terrible for her health and well-being, but she for a long time she kids herself whenever her shortcomings become apparent to others or to her. "These insinuations about my ego just chap my ass," (p. 31) she says early on. This first-person narrator has got a comic voice at times, and the story she tells is, by turns, very funny and very heartbreaking.

It takes a long time and quite a number of mistakes before Terry starts to get her head on straight. For anyone who has ever been addicted, particularly to alcohol, or been around others struggling with the nightmare of drunkenness, every angle of her story rings true. When Terry finally admits that she "cannot take the pain of knowing that I can't trust myself, of knowing the rage and insanity that lurk within me, waiting for the next drink," (p. 122), a glimmer of hope can be found. She still has to hit bottom, learn to connect with others while not high, and figure out how to fashion a life worth living, but with that admission, she is starting to change.

Bufford opens each chapter with a quotation from the 12-Step world, and that's where the title of the book came from: "If there's a minus (step) one, that's where I'm at." But don't mistake this book to be about recovery only. It's a coming-of-age story, a love story, and an entertaining and engrossing journey through one woman's life. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend it. ~Lori L. Lake, author of lesbian fiction and freelance reviewer for Midwest Book Review, Golden Crown Literary Society's The Crown, The Independent Gay Writer, and Just About Write.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me up many nights as I followed the gutsy Terry through her life. The theme of a gay woman choosing to conquer her demons of alcoholism were so well drawn in word-pictures. I found myself captured by her persistence and cheering her on. Excellent writing. I hope that others will be inspired in their lives, after reading this.

It was hard to put down this powerful and moving book. From the first page it grabbed my attention and I was riveted. For a first novel, it was extremely well written and pulled you in to its subject material. Highly Recommended

Weaving the history of the Black Mtns with the author's personal diary made this book exceptional. I particularly enjoyed the theory on how mountain balds were formed and how native americans survived and made most of the land. I recommend this book to anyone who hikes or camps and appreciates the mountains.

What an excellent book! Timothy Silver has given us a two fold view of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains of North Carolina. A combination of the natural history of the area, and man's exploration/exploitation of these lofty peaks. I think what I enjoyed most about the book, were the short "interludes" where the writer inserts his many experiences of car camping, hiking/backpacking, trout fishing, or just marveling at nature while sitting at some well known spot, or some "hidey-hole" known only to people who frequent the area. These personal thoughts heightened my reading pleasure, because like the writer, I have spent a great deal of time in the Blacks and know of what he speaks.

The battle between the Mountain's namesake, the Rev. Elisha Mitchell and his former student, future Confederate general Thomas Clingman about who measured the mountain first, is fleshed out completely, and is probably the definitive account of this famous row.

The end chapters deal with mankind's interventions on the mountain, and the consequences of these acts. This is followed up with concise information about the acid rain/woolly adelgid issues affecting the Fir and Red Spruce trees on the mountain tops, along with some discussion about the growth cycles about the above mentioned trees, which in my opinion, clears up some of the misinformation out there. For years, the problem was blamed on woolly adelgids, then on acid rain. I personally feel like these two scourges work together hand in hand to decimate the once proud Fraser Firs.

This is truly a groundbreaking book. I'd like to see more works that follow this vein. Nicely illustrated.

Timothy Silver has given us an excellent history of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains.
The work is titled as an environmental history, and it is supported by a wealth of factual information, but the whole presentation is a wonderful flowing story of these peaks in western North Carolina, and their history as they were shaped by nature and by man.
Of special interest is the account of the feud between Elisha Mitchell and Thomas Clingman. The story encompasses misunderstandings, fragile egos, and desperate politics. When Mitchell fell to his death in 1857, the public mind established Mitchell as a hero and martyr who died to establish these peaks as the state's best known landmark. His body was later moved to the higest peak, which is forever known as Mount Mitchell.
We are also able to see the history of man's interaction with nature. In the case of the Blacks, it is often with tragic results, and even when the intentions are good, the outcome is often marginal.
Dr. Silver leaves us with a compelling book that provides much information and asks many questions that we should consider not only for this mountain range, but for our environment as well.
I highly recommend this book. The author has done us a great favor.

What a terrific book Timothy Silver has crafted! Anyone interested in mountains, hiking, fishing, environmental issues, natural history, or the local history of North Carolina's mountains will enjoy this wonderful account. Professor Silver, a historian in western North Carolina, has written a book in which Mount Mitchell stars at the center of his narrative--and both general readers and professional historians can find meaning and pleasure in his tale.

Like many environmental historians, Silver sees in the reciprocal interaction between nature and culture a larger story of a region. And he brings us this compelling story from a variety of intriguing angles. He offers his own assessments, ones generated on his extensive hiking and fishing trips in the Black Mountains of western North Carolina. He provides insight into the steamy 19th century historical controversy between rivals each seeking to determine which was the highest peak in the region--and to see who could do it first and most authoritatively. (And as a New Englander, I found the tale inviting even if our White Mountains fall short in elevation to North Carolina's peaks!) Professor Silver also examines logging practices and regional boosterism, the antecedent of eco-tourism.

The book has something that will be compelling for a wide audience of readers interested in the natural world and local history--and the style is accessible and enjoyable. Whether you've hiked a lot, love North Carolina, want to investigate stormy political and personal feuds, or wish to know more about regional environmental history, "Mount Mitchell" is a fine read. I commend it to you!

looking for a book of national parks for a friend in france. she is curious what it looks like in america and always wanted to tour some of america's nat'l parks. great book for what i was looking for. fabulous color photos.

We have always enjoyed visiting the National Parks and this book gives us a few we were not aware of and we plan to visit them one day in the future. It is beautiful to look through and the pictures are wonderful. Ruby Freeman

I had this gem under the Christmas tree for my husband. It is such a beautiful book that we keep looking at it together, remembering the beautiful National Parks that we have been to and the ones we plan on visiting in the future. All the photograghs are beautifully shot, and the information provided is enjoyable to read. The best National Park book I have ever seen!

Great Photos with good description of each National Park of America - what do you need more ?

I'm from Portugal and I like USA, except the politicians... both the portuguese and american ones !

The Boyne River has played a major role in Irish history. St Patrick first arrived in Ireland here, and the first Cistercian Abbey was established at Mellifont. King James and King William fought a great battle. (If you visit, you may be amused, perhaps bewildered, by the confusing road signs pointing in several directions to the "Battle of the Boyne".)

Geraldine Stout is an archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. She assisted on the excavations at Knowth and Newgrange and has undertaken postgraduate and doctoral research on the Boyne Valley.

This volume opens with excellent map of the area with centered on Newgrange. There are many illustrations and photographs focused on geology, emphasizing features which attracted the first settlers. (Google Books shows several of the pages in this volume.)

There are 26 ancient tribal burial chambers in the Boyne River Valley; Newgrange is the finest, and Stout describes it well. The great round tomb is about 5,000 years old -- which makes it several centuries older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. Stout also provides detailed descriptions of Knowth and Dowth. There are excellent photographs, paintings, maps and diagrams of all three tunnel tombs.

Stout describes the arrival of both the Cistercians (1142) and the Normans (1169), the establishment of a number of churches and the introduction of new methods of farming.

Another chapter deals with the historical and topographical aspects of the Battle of the Boyne. Stout describes of the great estates which arose from the growing economy of the 18th century and the construction of the Boyne Navigation. A chapter deals with more modest buildings which still stand in the Bend of the Boyne. She also describes the construction of a number of pillboxes during The Emergency as a line of defense against a possible British invasion.

Stout describes some of the current battles between farming and conservation. Finally she describes how the area, and especially the astronomical discoveries related to the tombs, have inspired artists and poets.

The book is attractive and scientific, useful for preparation for a trip to Ireland or as a reminder of one of the most interesting corners of Ireland.

Robert C. Ross 2008

A very comprehensive, informative book. I had seen it in Ireland, but didn't want to carry it home. I was so happy it find it here on Amazon. The information is well presented, probably more than most people need, but it is all there. Great illustrations.

This is THE BEST book I have read about the Boyne Valley. It makes the landscape come alive. You should read it, and enjoy the photos, maps and descriptions before and after a trip there.

Outstanding historical book for this area. Beautiful photos and illustrations. A great bargin to buy through
Amazon.

Well written and easily readable book that offers practical project management tips in an effective format. As you follow the short chapters, different project management issues are covered practically and comprehensively. Although the book was written a while ago it is no less relevant. Arguably the most readable Project Management book and I have read Critical Chain !

Well written and easily readable book that offers practical project management tips in an effective format. As you follow the short chapters, different project management issues are covered practically and comprehensively. Although the book was written a while ago it is no less relevant. Arguably the most readable Project Management book and I have read Critical Chain !

Excellent book for PM, project participants and whoever is going to be participate directly or indirectly in life project. Present the project management culture and technique from a life sample of Zoo Dismantling project. It gave me an insights of project management in a very different angle ¡V (as I used to read a lot of project management books for both work practice and study purposes). I am really impressed at the creativity and knowledge of these two authors.
Highly recommend to all level of project managers.

Excellent book for PM, project participants and whoever is going to be participate directly or indirectly in life project. Present the project management culture and technique from a life sample of Zoo Dismantling project. It gave me an insights of project management in a very different angle ¡V (as I used to read a lot of project management books for both work practice and study purposes). I am really impressed at the creativity and knowledge of these two authors.
Highly recommend to all level of project managers.

I just started getting really involved with hiking and the North Bay of the Bay Area has some great parks, but I needed an introduction to get me started and prepared before I hike each park. This book details each and every hike from trailhead and distance to what to look out for on each trail. If you live in the North Bay, I highly recommend this as a primer.

This is a very well written and well-researched book. Very easy to follow - as we know trails are often hard to follow with questionable signage - but this book has never failed me. I have been on a dozen or so of it's hikes and have never had a serious problem as it is a most reliable reference.

Well Done Mr. Weintraub!

I found North Bay Trails and the author's previous work, East Bay Trails, to be excellent. It provides great direction and is written from a hiker's perspective without confusing and unclear information that haunts so many guidebooks. The maps are always accurate and as fine as a bound format allows while the excellent photos help us choose where to go. The historical background is fascinating and the information on wildlife and flora keep me and my child going from discovery to discovery along the trail. This book has guided us to wonderful places we would not have thought or known to hike rather than take us to the often hiked Mt. Tam and Pt. Reyes areas (although his picks in these areas are jewels). This is a must-have if you want to hike the glorious North Bay - now, if Weintraub could just pack our lunch...

David Weintraub's North Bay Trails will please California residents who want to locate hiking areas north of San Francisco. This is the first comprehensive guide to cross county lines to include Marin, Napa and Sonoma Countries, exploring scenic routes and trails for both avid hikers and casual walkers. An excellent reference promising lasting value.