Park Books

If and when you go to Shiloh, they have a marked battlefield tour that includes 14 stops, but all they do is catch the highlights of the battle. They do not have chronology in mind. But this book does. It presents the action according to day, because it was a two day battle, as well as according to time. Then it divided the battle into its east and west campaigns, which successfully portrays the battle in its entirety. Without this book, I would not have known what I had missed out on. I am extremely happy I used this book and highly recommend it. Also, check out this series on Chickamauga (I bet it is good also).

I have walked much ground that was fought over by the men who fought the Civil War, but one field I have yet to reach rests in southwestern Tennessee, in the countryside near a little chapel called Shiloh Church. There one of the Confederacy's stars, Albert Sydney Johnston, fell like a hawk on the unsuspecting army of Ulysses S. Grant on the morning of April 6, 1862. What followed was the first massive struggle of the war. Dead and wounded were counted in the tens of thousands rather than in the hundreds. There Grant's quality of coolness under fire first showed itself, as on that first day it appeared that Johnston's men might push the Federals back into the Tennessee River. Instead, Johnston suffered a mortal wound, Don Carlos Buell landed with a huge reserve of additional Union soldiers, and on the next day Grant swept back across all the ground he had lost.
The University of Nebraska Press has undertaken the publication of a series of excellent battlefield guides, of which the two noted authors of this volume are editors. Each has contributed to at least one other book in what is now a five volume series.
When I get to Shiloh, I will have this guide at my side. It provides an excellent overview of the battle and a very logical plan to see and understand the events of both days. The maps, prepared by Christopher Brest, are numerous and clear. The illustrations, nearly all taken directly from the original four-volume printing of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War are both nostalgic and crisp. They use both battlefield sketches and portraits of many of the principal actors. Only William Tecumseh Sherman, whose Battles and Leaders image was one of him long after the war, festooned with medals and sash, seems a little out of place.
According to the authors, if I use this guide, and if I take all the time I need to take at all the stops they plan, I will spend most of a day on the field. I know it will be a day well spent for everyone who picks up this book before setting off on that tour.

I used the "Battlefield Guide" May 18-19 while touring Shiloh, and could not have been more pleased with it. I re-read Sword, Daniel, and McDonough first, and used the Guide in conjunction with the Trailhead Graphics map of the battlefield. The tour stops were aptly detailed and quick & easy to read. I strongly recommend the Guide for anyone planning a walking tour of the Shiloh park.

I've been a fan of _Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide_ since its publication in 1999. When I saw that Mark Grimsley and Steven E. Woodworth had teamed to co-write a guide to Shiloh, I was excited. Grimsley and his co-author on the Gettysburg guide, Brooks Simpson, did a great job (see the several Amazon reviews, which give it 5 stars). Woodworth is one of the most knowledgeable historians of the western theater. His new book, _Nothing But Victory_, on the Union Army of the Tennessee, tells the story of an army that was more or less born at Shiloh.

I haven't yet had the chance to use the Shiloh guide on the battlefield, but it looks very promising. They had the Shiloh park historian vet the guide (the historian, Stacy D. Allen, is a well-regarded authority on the battle), and they created an ingenious two-axis tour, so that instead of constantly zig zagging back and forth to follow the action, you choose to follow the battle's progression first on the Confederate right or left flank, and then on the other. This keeps the action clear.

The narrative, analysis, and vignettes follow the pattern of earlier guides (Chickamauga as well as Gettysburg.) The discussion of the confused Confederate command arrangement is especially good. It is justifiably critical but never scornful and tries to be as understanding of the Confederate high command's predicment as possible.

I'm glad spring is here, because it's time for a road trip to Shiloh!

I grew up in Irvington, new Jersey where Olympic park was and never knew the history. Found it extremely interesting and may buy more copies for friends.

Anyone that is interested in New Jersey History, or just to go back in time when times were not as complicated, then this Book is for you! It is about one of the Greatest Amusement Parks & all of the difficult times & mostly all of the Fun Times all the Visitors that went there had. This Book is a Must Have for your Collection. Long Live The Memory Of Olympic Park! Peace

Olympic Park was more than an amusement park with a big swimming pool. It was an experience shared by countless people who had a personal and emotional attachment to it. This book brings back vivid memories and captures the essence of a time and place that will never be again.

i recommend this book very highly. if you know anyone who remembers olympic park this would be a great gift for any occassion.

This book provides descriptions of all the parks in the area it covers, with maps that show nearly all hiking trails and advice on when is the best time of year for each. I wish the equivalent books for other parts of the bay area were this complete.

For over a year this book has been my bible for selecting hikes in the south bay area. The authors' trail descriptions are vivid, and their routes are planned well. I have two major grievances: first, their loquacious style can make it hard to determine exactly what turns you're supposed to take and when. Secondly, finding a hike is too cumbersome: you go to page 18 to search the map for the park you want, then back to the table of contents to find the page number for the park, then forward to the actual content. The map should be in the very front or back of the book and should include page numbers. Despite those annoyances, I still bring this book with me every weekend, and can recommend it as a good guide.

This is a wonderful book that goes into great deatil about the many trails in and around the South Bay. It breaks down the area by specific parks and then suggested hikes, including mileage, elevation loss or gain, and time. It even has a neat little appendix outlining hikes by category (ie., short hikes, hikes to see spring flowers, etc.) The text is detailed, explaining what you will find around every bend, and the historical information on the parks is very interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get out and away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley.

I just replaced my battered copy of the first edition with the latest, third one, and it's a real winner! These authors' books are always educational, interesting and complete. And best of all they lead one into many fine hiking adventures around the bay. I've spent many a fine summer day following their instructions. It's about time they put out a new edition, because of all the new parks and trails they had to cover. Recommended!

Great pictures of what has to be one of the nicest sports facilities in the world. I've been to one game here - and as a resident of Seattle, I honestly think that Safeco is a better place to watch a game. However, no stadium can match the asthetic views and its situation in one of the most beautiful cities in the world makes Pac Bell #1.

This it a really good book. The pictures are spectacular, the writing is good, and it includes newspaper articles written about the park. The information about the clubhouse, trainer's room etc. is great. I would recommend this to any baseball fan! (Non-Dodger fan anyway) :-)

Every fan of the the Giants should get this book and wallow in the beauty of Pacific Bell Park, if you can't get there yourself. The park really is probably the most beautiful ballpark in baseball, a tiny little gem that nevertheless plays like a huge pitcher's stadium thanks to the bizarre asymmetry of its outfield (and a San Francisco wind that the park's engineering turned into an ally, instead of the vicious Hawk it was at Candlestick Park.)

But it's also a great collection of essays from baseball writers including George Will and Peter Gammons, and local writers sharing memories of the team and the long years of waiting in the cold and fog for a world championship that still hasn't come. Those essays are some of the best parts of the book, moving and nostalgic in the best sense.

The body text, that tracks the long road from New York through Candlestick to the drama of building a new ballpark without the safety net of public money, then chronicles the great 2000 season, is little more than acceptable, but in a coffee table book what you want is gorgeous photographs and insightful vignettes, and "Splash Hit" has that in aces.

Finally, a coffee table book that was difficult to put down after looking at all the spectacular pictures.

After having "Splash Hit!" on order since first hearing about it's publication; I finally got my chance to actually own it. And read it and read it and read it, again. You cannot put this book down if you love ballparks, baseball, architecture and perhaps, the most intriguingly, beautiful city in America; San Francisco.

"Splash Hit" is the name adopted by San Francisco Giants fans that describes any home run hit just beyond the right field wall that land's in the San Francisco Bay waters aptly named McCovey Cove.

An amazing book by Joan Walsh and C.W.Nevius, "Splash Hit" explores the progression of Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco from it's initial conceptual brainchild of a downtown ballpark to it's wonderfully anticipated Opening Day Game and throughout 2000 season.

The tastefully cram-packed, 140-page book begins with incredible color photos of: an aeriel view of Pac Bell at night (with The City in the background), Giant and Dodger players standing for the National Anthem on Opening Day, another aeriel photo of The Park with the San Francisco Bay in the background, Ellis Burks sliding into home to score against the Cardinals, another night-time aeriel shot to a full cityscape at dusk of San Francisco and Pac Bell.

The forward is written by Giants President Peter Magowan and Vice President Larry Baer. They discuss everything from the Giants rumored 1992 move to Florida to the "VISION" coming to fruition.

The book is graced with at least 140 color pictures (many two-page spreads) and some 20-plus black and white photos of the Giants illustrious past from John McGraw/Christy Mathewson to Willie Mays/Willie McCovey. The Giants ten homes are discussed in this chapter in detail. Their move to San Francisco is also closely chronicled. The photos take you around, over, inside and under this magnificent structure from it's humble beginning to it's fan-friendly completion in The City That Knows How.

The text is well thoughout and chronicled from beginning to end as well. Each chapter draws yo in further as to the hows, whens, whys and how-comes of PBP. If you like the wriiten history of Major League Baseball and how it came West; then this book explains it all in great detail.

But the real beauty of this book is the complete photograph history of Pacific Bell Park, Giants fans and The City of San Francisco. Never before have I seen a "love story" between a team and its city been told as well. How the City Fathers' vision of a rejuvenated China Basin area of San Francisco came to pass. And how the real beauty of this old-styled stadium is incorporated into the natural landscape of the most breathtaking City in the world.

The book contains views of many fans, celebrities and athletes such as ESPN's Chris Berman and Peter Gammons; famed writers George F. Will and Ron Fimrite. Local longtime Bay Area columnists Leonard Koppett, Ann Killion, Joan Ryan, Rick Clogher, Darryl Brock, Dave Newhouse and Nick Peters, who has authored the definative San Francisco Giants history in four books about the Giants; give a unique slant on the local residents' feelings about the ballpark and the team. There is even an essay by Joe Spears of HOK Sport, the company that designed Pac Bell, on early concepts of a downtown San Francisco baseball stadium.

The book is liberally sprinkled with quotations and thoughts of Giant players, Giants' Manager Dusty Baker and other Major League Baseball players. These qoutes give you a great players' perspective of the different attitudes, climate and aspirations as opposed to frigid Candlestick Park.

I got a big kick out of the chapter that details "B.A.R.K."- Baseball Aquatic Rescue Korps. It is a group of dogs (Portugese Water Spaniels, evolving from an idea by local comedian/Saturday Night Live regular Don Novella aka Father Guido Sarducci); that patrol the Bay for homeruns that land in the splashdown area called McCovey Cove just beyond right field.

This book is THE BEST I've ever owned about a baseball park or any other athletic facility. It makes a great companion to other related books: "Above San Francisco by Robert Cameron, "The Ballpark Book" by Ron Smith and The Sporting News and "Take Me Out To The Ballpark" by Josh Leventhal.

Get this book NOW while it is still in print. It is one you won't want to miss.

A nice retelling of the classic Aesop's fable, "The Tortoise And The Hare," with two siblings in the race, instead of two critters. Cute! (ReadThatAgain)

I was very pleased with how quickly I recieved my book. I cannot begin to tell you how much the recipient enjoyed this book, she was my aunt who passed recently (cancer) and this was her favorite book in the whole world! Thank you!!!

The story of Stella's and Roy's fun in the park is entertaining, and the illustrations are outstanding. You and your child will enjoy following the kids around the circular path and examining the illustrations for their details.

Growing up in San Francisco produces a complex reality for most young readers. Although books convince the child that summers are a time for swimming, fire flies and warm weather activities, any native child knows that summertime is a time for fog. In the winter it doesn't snow, despite books portraying this event. Ashley Wolff has given kids a West Coast book in which Golden Gate Park shimmers in the sunlight on a winter day, kids roller skate, matrons walk their dogs...a delightful book, sure to charm both natives and our many visitors.

I bought three different editions of this book. The first one fell apart from use "1974". I lost the second book around Lake Alpine. The latested edition got soaked this year, 2003, in the Mokulmne River. Very useful information, excellent writing. I highly recommend Thomas Winnett's Tahoe-Yosemite Trail.
PS-What ever happend to Don Dennison?

I've done the entire 180 miles of the trails described here, and this is an absolutely essential book if you're planning this backpack adventure. The scenery is as gorgeous as anything on the John Muir Trail and there are less crowds and more sublime solitude. Winnet takes you through the journey step by step and provides you with necessary info: where is the nearest water source? Is the source dependable even in drought years? Is the area known for active and intrusive bears into your campsites to raid your food supply? How are the mosquitoes on this lef of the trip, and so on.

I encourage all serious California hikers to undertake this magnificent journey and to read this book before attempting the trek. It's well written, informative, includes fine maps and many useful tips. Highly recommended.

I've hiked the TYT twice and wouldn't hike it again without this book. Some areas of the TYT are much less travelled than the PCT and without the guidebook, route finding could be extremely difficult in some spots, especially during a heavy snow year.

Thomas Winnett is a good writer and extremely knowledgeable about this area of the country. My only criticism of the book is that its a bit outdated. I think that the last time the book was updated was in the 80's and the trail has changed in a few places due to storms, new regulations, corrosion, etc. If you are a novice in the back country, this could cause you some potential headache trying to figure out where the new trail is. If you are an experienced back country traveler, this shouldn't bother you too much.

The book contains copies of all the needed sections of the USGS maps, which is really helpful. Otherwise, you'd have to figure out which maps you'd need and splice them all together in order to see the whole trail. I am not aware of an entire map or collection of maps that encompasses the entire TYT, so this is pretty valuable. Winnett also includes a handy elevation profile so that you know when you are in for a steep downhill or uphill section, how steep it will be, and how long it will be. Again, a nice thing to have.

The book also has some basic information about flora and fauna, geology, and history, which make it entertaining and educational. If you are planning to hike the TYT, its the best $10 you'll spend on planning your hike.

If you'd like to see photos of my two TYT trips to see what you are in for, you can find them here:
http://www.dudedesign.com/photos/

Good Luck on your hike!

I've used this guide on every leg described in the book and it was dead on (1988 - 1996). The summit creek area description was helpful since that section wasn't well marked. Is much better than USGS maps. Definitely recommend. 259 Top of the line.

I had taken a couple of tantra workshops and this book provided even more information than i thought possible! This is a must read for every woman. I am getting copies for my close women friends and verbally telling other galfriends about it. It is easily read-able and do-able. This has changed my sex-life forever.

We've just started our quest on this path, and found the insights given in this book to be helpful. There are some books out there focused on the Hindu foundation, and others on titilation, but this seems to connect in a practical western manner. Tantra is a process for sharing a deeper connection, and this book gives the proper context for that. This is not a primer on how to try "new" positions, etc.

This book truly explains the connection between low level of sexual pleasure and the deeper synergetic level involving your soul. I wish I would have read this 25 years ago in order to understand the spirituality and true deep beauty that is possible to experience when being with someone you love. This books covers a lot of scientific material, feelings that women/mothers have experienced, but couldn't understand why they were withdrawing or changing their emotions towards their partner or themself. If you want a better understanding of yourself and/or the possibilities of a deeper connecting spiritual relationship, I would highly recommend this book...of course at first it's a little uncomfortable, but that just means your growing in a new area.

Excellent presentation of information about the polarity of the different chakras and the role of breasts in the female orgasmic response. The best discussion we have seen of the experience of a valley orgasm. She explains how to relax into a whole-body orgasm rather than achieving it as a goal.

Some theme parks are much more than smiling children, cotton candy, and joyful cheers! Mr. Stoneking gives detailed behind-the-scene descriptions of what really goes on in America's amusement parks and reveals their darkest secrets. A must read before taking those you love to the place you used to love!

This is a Summer must read. It's the time of year where people are planning fabulous vacations and are ready to spend some quality time with their children. Theme Parks are a perfect way to spend that time, right? But beware! Danger clearly lurks at every corner and we as consumers are unaware. Mr. Stoneking has proven with his written word that we must look at our surroundings and be smart consumers.

First Superman, now Batman. This book will encourage all of us to take a closer look at this industry and ensure that quality, not quantity rises to the forefront of our priorities.

I was quite taken to open the Dayton City Paper's May 14-20 edition and read on page 24 the following review:

J.T. Ryder
Dayton City Paper
May 14-20, 2008, pg. 24

Jeffrey P. Stoneking's latest book Theme Park Safety Failure$ (AuthorHouse) is a wild ride all on its own. The book not only recounts harrowing tales of safety flaws, but accidental injuries and death sustained through the pervasive trend of theme parks to eschew safety for the sake of the bottom line. He relates account after account of cursory safety inspections, mismanaged parks, ill-trained operators, idiotic thrill seekers, and ill-conceived ride designs. Stoneking, a former employee of Kings Island who also served as a ride operator for the Walt Disney Company, fills the book with his own observations as well. His warnings are not just the alarmist rantings of one individual, but a compilation of well-researched occurrences at theme parks around the world. Get in line, if you dare.
###

I loved it. The art work was fantastic, and Lara isn't a helpless female victim in the movies. She's tough! The second book gets better, so try it, she's a lot better than the video game, in my opinion.

The Tomb Raider series has now been turned into a monthly comic book from Top Cow and this special edition combines the first thee part story that intros the series. You meet Lara Croft, world reknown explorer, her butler and an old ex boyfriend in the form of Chaser Carver who always manages to get to Lara and makes for some great banter between the two.

In this special edition you will learn a bit more about Lara Croft and some info on her mother.

The artwork is simply great and proves that Top Cow has once again managed to give us another strong well written female action hero. Lara is drawn just the way you imagine her to be.

I used to love this comic series. For a while, it was the only comic I read. Looking back, it's hard to tell what was so enthralling about it. The plots were unimaginative and preidictable, and the books themselves were way too short. Seriously, each took about three minutes to read. This was all very irritating, but I still kept buying the books. Andy Park's spectacular art made it worthwhile. I lost interest in the series soon after Mr. Park stopped doing the pencil work for it.

"Saga of the Medusa Mask" collects the first story arc of the Tomb Raider series. If you're interested in the series, this is a good place to start. Although you shouldn't expect too much, this IS a damn good comic when you consider that it's based on a video game!

This book can help with what you need!!

Growing up in one of the towns of the Sandia Mountains, I can ashamedly say that I really didn't do much digging into the history of the place. I don't know why really, I guess I figured it was just there and left it at that. Then comes along this little dandy of a history book wherein the unique history of the place I grew up in is laid before you through non-run of the mill descriptions, quirky photos, and some fantastic quotes from the people who have made up and make these towns.
This book is published through Arcadia, which has about, I don't know how many, of these history/photo style books. I have read a few books from Arcadia and maybe it's because this is one that specifically talks about the place I grew up in, but Towns of the Sandia Mountains seems to sit a few levels above the others Arcadia has out there.
This book reads like a dreamy ride through the past on an old desert road. Starting on Route 66 in Albuquerque and lazily winding it's way up into the mountain towns, past the towns, higher into the mountian, down a back pass, to the front of mountian and back into Albuquerque, picking up the towns of Carnuel, Tijeras, Hobbies, San Antonio, Cedar Crest, Canoncito, San Antonito, Sandia Park, and Placitas along the way, as well as a brief concluding chapter on Albuquerque touching on its growth into the mountain. Some of the pictures in this book are completely astounding to see. There are amazing photos of areas with just a few cattle grazing around that now have freeways and strip malls running through them. Pictures of places, if you know that area, you would never recognize. Pictures of Hippies and TB patients alike escaping into the mountains. People who made this town that you never knew who now you can know.
This book does away with the dull page after page of random portraits of people with boring captions style of history writing and brings new life to history.
If you live in the Sandia, used to, or are just interested in a unique area then I would say this is a good little read for you. Eight thumbs up!

This book has wonderful stories of the rich history of communities of the Sandia Mountains. The photos are wonderful, and really add to the stories. The geographic orientation, beginning with Carnuel, and working around the mountain to Placitas emphasizes the rich variety of the area. I highly recommend it.

Out of all the Images of America books by Arcadia I have looked at over the past few months this one is by far the best. The book was written with love and care by someone who obviously loves the area and knows it very well. It is also the most imaginatavely layed out Arcadia book out all of them that I own. The book has many great photos as well as vintage postcards, maps, and advertisements. Needless to say its a must have for anyone living in the Sandia Mountains but also a wonderful addition to any New Mexico library.

It's hard to stop reading, engrossing, hard to stop reading!

My wife and are enjoying this book immensely, well written and the details of the areas of the places around us here in Tijeras are fantastic. This book brings the rich history to light in an enjoyable read. The photographs are amazing, to see the places as they were and are now.

Mike Smith, the author is extremely accessible for any questions or comments about his book, the region and the history.

Definitely a five star book, run now to get yours!