White Books

I've been shacking up with Amy Blackmarr for several years now, first in a cabin in South Georgia, then a strange house with fifty-two steps out in Kansas. And, more recently, back to another Georgia cabin -- this one in the North Georgia mountains, where it, as Blackmarr writes, "sits alone near the crest of a solitary hill in the Yahoola Valley, gathered in among white pines and scarlet oaks, mosses and ferns, mountain laurel and rhododendron."

At first it was just the two of us, with Blackmarr vicariously taking me along as she lived like a hermit, forsaking all others, except for her ubiquitous dogs, in her first two books, "Going to Ground: Simple Life on a Georgia Pond," and "House of Steps: Finding the Path Home." But, when I began reading her third book in this series of essays, "Above the Fall Line: The Trail from White Pine Cabin," we became a threesome: a literary menage a trois. That's because when I read some of Blackmarr's eloquent words aloud to my wife, I then had to read the entire book to her -- chapter by chapter. Well, I guess it did seem more proper this time, with my wife along.

Reading Amy Blackmarr's trio of flights to temporary dwellings is like peeking inside someone's diaries, sharing not only the richness of her solitude and the glory of her nature hikes, but her intimate thoughts as well. She writes, "Three divorces before I turned thirty, not to mention all my other failed romances, had cinched the whole relationship thing for me." And yet she admits to "scanning crowds for the long-haired, blue-eyed blond hero who would recognize me the instant he saw me."

In each of her books, this modern-day Thoreau encounters creatures large and small, dangerous and otherwise, and in "Above the Fall Line," she comes upon scorpions in the shower, snakes in the woods, and even a black bear that seems interested in her spoiled pork roast. Even the simple act of taking out the trash turns into a hilarious episode. The author also deals with the loss of a treasured dog, a graduate school disappointment, and another failed relationship. Though a lot of the book is indeed about loss, Blackmarr is in a constant process of rebirth and reevaluation, where failures are realized simply as "trail trees" that point to happier hunting grounds, and a sundown is merely a passage to tomorrow's great adventures down pathways, hillsides and streambeds.

Her "Above the Fall Line" ends in 2003 as, she writes, "The crows are calling, and the wind is up..." So I know she's out there right now, somewhere, living and writing down our next nature quest. You would do well to shack up with Amy Blackmarr -- even if your spouse does insist on tagging along.

If you've ever walked in the woods, loved a dog, lost a dog, lost a love, failed at school or been to camp, you will relish Amy Blackmarr's essays in Above the Fall Line. Blackmarr returns to her native Georgia from Kansas, where life dealt her some blows, to live in a tiny cabin in the mountains. There she reflects on her surroundings and everyday events, masterfully weaving irony and insight but avoiding sentimentality. Her topics range from romance gone bad to her dog's encounter with a bear, and her wry observations allow the reader to learn from her self-discovery.

Amy Blackmarr's third book of personal essays may be the best yet. Her sensitive descriptions of the environment, poetic musings, and characteristic flashes of humor make this book a joy to read. The epigraph is a quote from Ann Beattie--"What will happen can't be stopped: aim for grace." I believe that's what Blackmarr did with this book, and she has succeeded admirably.

This is one of the most important books I have ever read. And I have read a ton. I know everyone is at their own place on their path of learning, and the materials we find along the way sometimes speak to us, and sometimes not. But, where I am on my own path, this book ties so much together and is opening me up to so much more that I am just in bliss. I did read 'The Betty Book', the first in this group of three, for the base of their story, and would recommend others do the same. But THIS book....is amazing. I hope others find as many clues to growth and expansion in it as I am.

This is perhaps the greatest spiritual tome I've read.

This book truly captures Betty White's essence -- her work in this realm was decades ahead of its time. Written in a tone unlike many of today's egotistical and self-aggrandizing spiritual mediums, these divine messages will remind your soul of its sacred path. In the end, the profound light of love that Stewart Edward and Betty shared will bathe you. In a time when so many souls in today's world long for this reawakening, count yourself blessed and share her gift with others once it comes to you.

This book really struck home for me, as someone constantly searching myself, and anaylizing myself. It was so real, honestly portraying the mind of a man following his spiritual path, without hiding the truth of human nature. I would highly recommend it!

This is the kind of book that doesn't come along often for me... where I couldn't put it down. I found myself stealing moments throughout the day to be in Jack's wonderful, sexy, amazing adventure as much as possible.
It wasn't until the last chapter that I started dragging my feet because I didn't want it to end.
On a practical note... this book showed me how one would use the tools Flora teaches in her non-fiction books.... so it's not just fun but useful too.

I thought it was... tremendous. It felt like the first time where I felt a woman's okayness with a guy being who a guy really is ...and at the same time I am a big believer that women are in part here to help elevate a man above himself...and so I totally appreciated the way you so deftly handled both...I did not want the book to end.

I have seen many books explaining graphic design principles, but this one is the first to show their application in real life advertisement projects. Every unit is explained with the help of real life ads, good and bad, making it really easy to see the difference. The book is packed with examples, at least 10 - 15 images on each spread, each one accompanied by comments related to the topic discussed.

The author goes into detail of each technique saying where it can be applied with what effect.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it became not only a source of inspiration but a great reference material I keep on my desk.

In any field there are pretenders, there are competent performers, and there are masters. In the field of typography and advertising design, Alex White is a master. And he has written a masterful book, suitably titled "Advertising Design and Typography." Every page is packed with practical, clear, impactfully illustrated information that demands to be read, re-read, and, most important, put into use. This quote from Arthur Conan Doyle (p. 75) says it best: "Talent instantly recognizes genius." Anyone with talent in design will recognize Alex White for what he is, and for what he has produced in this book: Genius.

if you are a serious designer, you need something for reference, this is the book you're looking for. hundreds of picture, unique idea about design, and stong typographic backgroud, this book is really nice and carefully done.

We purchased this book for a vacation in Lake Tahoe, and it provided a wonderfully complete summary of the hikes, organized by region. The summaries at the beginning of each hike give you the mileage, terrain, and difficulty rating and were extremely helpful in selecting hikes for each day. The maps are better than many other hiking guides I've seen, because they show all nearby trails in relation to each other, not jut each individual trail. we purchased a US Forest Service map, which was nice to have, but we could have gotten by just with the maps in the book.

Informatively written by Reno local Mike White, Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide is a satisfyingly in-depth outdoor hiking guide to the Reno-Tahoe region on the Nevada-California border. Intended for both visitors and residents, Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe covers general safety and practical guidelines for hikers plus in-depth examinations of more than 175 mountain hiking and mountain biking trips in the region. Routes vary in length from less than a mile to an 18-mile point-to-point challenge. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this top-quality guide for hikers of all skill and experience levels looking forward to enjoying the Reno-Tahoe wilderness.

Mike White has borrowed the very successful book format pioneered by Jerry Schad to produce 'Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe.' Like the original books in the Afoot & Afield series, this volume aims to provide a comprehensive listing of all the day hikes over a broad region within California and Nevada. The result is 175 hikes centered around Lake Tahoe but including the northernmost parts of the Sierra near Graeagle and extending south of Carson Pass. The hikes also vary tremendously in length, ranging from 1/2 mile nature walks to 18 mile all day treks along the Tahoe Rim Trail. All of the classic hikes in the region are described, including the climb to the summits of Mt. Tallac and Mt. Rose, the Tahoe Meadows trail, and beautiful Showers Lake. Literally everyone will be able to find something to suit their tastes in this book, but readers should be warned that White does tend to favor longer and more strenuous hikes. The average hike in this guide is about 7 miles long and includes some serious elevation gain. Nonetheless, White often offers shorter options for his routes so more casual day hikers like my wife and myself will still be able to make use of this guide.

Like other books in the 'Afoot and Afield' series by Wilderness Press, this volume includes a nice chapter on the local and natural history of the region. Route descriptions also feature occasional sidebars to highlight areas of local historical interest. Most important, this book includes excellent maps and retains two features that made Jerry Schad's original books in the series so successful. The first is that the broader region is subdivided into smaller areas so that readers can find hikes that are close to their campgrounds, condos, or casinos as the case may be. Second, each description begins with a capsule summary that quickly gives you details about distance, elevation gain, approximate hiking time, and difficulty for each trail. This is invaluable for tourists who have only a few days to spend in the area.

My last visit to Tahoe was primarily for the purpose of backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail. I never finished the last 60 miles and have intended to return ever since. This book has further whetted my appetite. The Reno-Tahoe area is one of the most spectacular hiking regions in California and Mike White's volume is a fine addition to the books on the area. If you are planning a visit to the area, this book will be an excellent resource.

As a Woman of Color, I'm not sure what to make of this affluent and educationally priviledged white woman's 'journey' to South Africa and its healing tradition. Self-congratulation at the expense of discerning the structuring of Difference seems to be the keynote here. But I suppose the 'Heart of Darkness' fantasy/nightmare lives on in a contemporary hypocrisy; yet it is not usually so grotesque as it appears here. The tremendous courage and intelligence of other theorists, especially of course African American writers but also a few white writers, who write on Africa and its glorious tradition, remains a great Spiritual resource for me. This book most certainly does not number among the books which I would recommend to the young African Americans that I teach. I would have wished that this white author had examined the incredibly insightful bell hooks and other important writers' books for an *intelligent* perspective on contemporary African discourse.

Thank you so much for writing this book. Thank you for revealing your personal journey so tenderly, so honestly, honoring your western influence and yet opening to the mysteries of the unknown and yet familiar. Thank you for reminding me of the Great Web, the weaver and the thread. Thank you for this book that sits in my lap urging me to continue following my own path of healing.

I started browsing this book and couldn't put it down until I read every word. What a brave and fascinating adventure story. What a insightful and honest look into the sacred Sangoma tradition. An absolute "must read" for anyone interested in indigenous spirituality and culture. I loved it!

This is an interesting, compact, eminently readable book, loaded with (unfortunately) ugly information about immigration laws, social attitudes about race, and our even uglier obsession with black and white. Although the book is full of depressing facts and figures, Fernandez finds energy and enthusiasm in our diversity, and makes this almost a "how-to" book, by challenging the reader to stop defining our country and its inhabitants in black and white terms. Once we understand how we got into such dichotomous thinking about race, we can stop doing it. Sure it's hard to avoid categorizing people by skin color but each of us can contribute our part by paying attention to what we say and how we think. This book has shown me how to make a positive difference in the world every single day. It probably helps that I am acquainted with the author--I work at the university where he teaches. Fernandez is as open minded, curious, tolerant and sharp as they come. No matter though since I'd give five stars to whoever wrote it.

This fascinating book, moving beyond classic sociology's approaches to immigrant acculturation and on the basis of ethnographic fieldwork; propose a great reflection upon us to bridge -or erase- the gaps between newcomers and the U.S. society. Fernández examines the extraordinary contributions of the immigrants to this country. Moreover, he invites us to think and redefine our culture and reduce the obsession over who we are as a human being, about how we fit into a nation that continues to treat us as outsiders after all this time. Remarkably timely book when the politicians are campaigning for the presidency of the U.S. The book also includes data from the US presidential libraries but real facts based on experiences with diverse people who don't necessarily see themselves as political activists at all. With unique style and punctual ideas, Fernández demystifies ethnic markers and skepticisms of our presence. After reading this book, I feel that I am belonging to this society.

In reading Dr. Fernandez' work, I marvel as his ability to capture the significance and relevance of immigrants in the fabric of American society. Amazing research, brilliant analisis and real contribution to the much polarized discourse on America's immigration. Dr. Fernandez has aptly captured how the current migratory trends have challenged racial definitions to the point that they will hopefully unite the racial divide that has plagued the United States since Reconstruction and have been responsible for the fracturing of American society. I am gay, I am Puerto Rican, I am American. Fernandez has helped me to realize that I am none and all of the above.

"...the photography critic Vicki Goldberg and the art historian Robert Silberman have neatly divided the century into three chronological parts and written 30 brief essays, each focusing on notable aspects, from a photographic point of view, of a particular period. From the authors' vantage point, it certainly seems as though the first two-thirds of the century are when the innovation, energy, passion and commitment are, and the last period is more analytical and self-referential -- rather like life itself. There is a photogoraph for each year of the century, plus others to illustrate chosen themes like war photography or the rise of the news agencies. Goldberg (who also writes about photography for The Times) and Silberman have succeeded in bringing a semblance of order to the past century of photography and have given a lively and informative overview of its many facets."

This has to be my favorite of all the century photo books that came out. The images cover a wide range of subject and intrest, with very few graffic images of wars or violence. It is a wonderful addition to my coffee table!

"american photography: a century of images" By Vicki Goldberg and Robert Silberman 1999 A companion to the major PBS series Publisher: Chronicle Books 232 pages

american photography: a century of images

If you only have one book about photography in your home library, this should be the book. Marilyn Dalrymple, reviewer

This is a truly beautiful, fascinating and informational volume. "American photography: a century of images," traces the history of photography from 1900 to 1999. It is not just the mundane, "cameras were invented--color film made its debut in . . . , or Steichen, Adams Avedon were known for . . . ," however. A blurb from the book's cover notes, "New York Times photography critic Vicki Goldberg and art historian Robert Silberman, senior consultants to the PBS series, show how profoundly photography has helped shape the life of our nation, examining it in the realms of home life, advertising, science, news, propaganda, fashion, and celebrity stardom."

"One of photography's great gifts has always been to make possible many kinds of vicarious experience," says the introduction to an article about National Geographic magazine. Photography brought foreign peoples and foreign places into our homes. On the other hand, "Even our worst faults were put before the world's eyes by our photographers because of the extent of our media industry and the openess of our press," say Goldberg and Silberman. These two examples illustrate the awesome power photography possesses.

The first use of halftone screens and the regular publication of photographs in magazines and newspapers (1897, The New York Tribune); the first American photo magazine (Life); the first horrific photographs of war. The image that showed the stars so clearly that the first catalogue of stellar positions based on photographic measurements appeared in 1885; images that proved scientific theories and made social reform possible. Photographs that showed the world how evil the family of man can be. Images that portray the wonder and beauty of our world. All are illustrated and discussed in this one volume.

Well written, compelling, and beautifully illustrated, this book is well worth the price.

Marilyn Dalrymple

Excellent book. Superior photography. Provides an in depth study on a time period where little data is otherwise available. Not a survey course.

This is the most I've ever paid for a book, and it's value is driven up by the fact that it's long out of print. However, if you're interested in that period of US Navy history, this is one of the very few that covers it. The photographs are not found anywhere else that I've seen, and the author is a well-known authority on Naval history. If it was reprinted, it would still cost as much as current used copies which range from $53 into the $100s depending on condition. I've never understood why this is such a neglected and forgotten era of Naval history, but the author is very thorough in his treatment of it. Highly recommended.

This is a magnificent combination of text, photos, and drawings covering the period when the U.S. Navy came of age. In addition to depicting the ships, the book also does a great job of showing what day-to-day life was like in the Navy of that time. Just hope the publisher elects to reprint it!

I was looking for a guide to reptiles in my area, and this book was recommended by at least two local experts as THE guide to have. They were right...easy to ID the snakes and frogs we find.

Most regional field guides that I've come across are poorly produced, minimally illustrated, and not all that helpful. Not so here. The writing is lucid, the section of color photos is well-reproduced and the text is arranged in an easily accessible manner.

Would that they were all so good.

Review of Amphibians and Reptiles of Delmarva
By Amy Wendt White and James F. White Jr.

This is the first field guide that I have read from cover to cover - a recommendation in itself. The descriptions of the habitats of Delmarva, the history of herpetology on the Peninsula, and the basics of observing and identifying local amphibians and reptile were all well written and useful. I would have liked a scale (like the ubiquitous quarter or rock hammer) in some of the photographs, but the photos themselves were visually stunning, and with the written descriptions, quite complete. I fully intend to use this field guide often, as a reference for teaching and as a help for identification when I am in the field.

Sally O'Byrne