Central America Books

This book was a very well written book. The colors used and the layout of the book are excellent. I really like how for each food, it describes where the recipe comes from (Spain, Columbia, Argentina, Peru). It is also nice to see how each contirbutor to the book shares something personal about herself. I know from having had these foods how tasty they are. Ms. Taylor did an excellent job putting this book together. I reccomend this book to everyone who enjoys cooking and to those who enjoy a little variation in their diet. Great job!

This cookbook is excellent. It features recipes of the Spanish -American culture,while also providing informative and entertaining information about the recipes. This cookbook not only focuses on delicious recipes, it also expounds on the history of four remarkable Spanish-American women who have remained friends throughout decades. These four women provide accounts of their friendship, as well as recipes for the many meals they have shared together. The recipes range from simple to semi-difficult. None are impossible, or take a ridiculous amount of time. The selection of recipes is excellent, and each chapter has its own table of contents, making that perfect recipe easy to find! I would recommend this book to anyone looking to liven up their recipe collection with some unique and delicious meals with some cultural history! This book is also very helpful if planning a dinner party. There are endless combinations of appetizers, salads, side dishes, vegetables, entrees, and desserts for all appetites.

Thumbing through the book you can practically smell the food cooking and you can absolutely feel the friendship these four women have forged over the years. That a daughter collected their creativity for all to share is a dash of spice. I and a friend prepared the first dish I tried for a dinner party with several friends. I'll be dipping into this book many times!

This book is a wonderful resource for an endless variety of tasty dishes! The recipes are easy to follow and prepare, and the stories are equally heartwarming. A great book for anyone who cooks because they love to. Salud!

Ms. Taylor hit the nail on the head with this one. This is a fantastic compilation of delicious mouth watering recipes, I can't believe Ms. Taylor put them in writing. I would have thought these recipes are "secrets". I'm no pro but I was able to make delicious food quite easily. My kitchen is smelling so good at this point, I look forward to coming home from work and enjoying it. A great cookbook!!

I found this book to be simply and utterly fantastic! The photography is absolutely magnificent, and the recipes contained are authenticly Columbian. The layout of this book is a work of art, and it makes you incredibly hungry just to fan through the pages. A comprehensive and broad presentation of Columbian cuisine is presented here in a collage of photography that will marvel your eyes. The historical material was very well presented and the book itself very well researched. If anyone is wishing to explore the depths of Columbian cooking, this book will take you there. If you merely want to explore a colorful and culinary tour of Columbia and its riches in all that is tasty, then this book would be a great place to start.

Annyone interested in Colombian cooking should pick this book up - the recipies are representative of a Colombian meal and the photos are outstanding.

I got this book in Bogota and I really love it. The pictures are absolutly great. I do not get most of the ingredients here in Japan but I love to see the pictures and to remember the good and friedly meals I shared in Colombia. I think it is also a great present.

This is exactly the kind of book i was looking for. Something that would give me examples of regional Colombian cooking, along with info and great photography of the people and country side. So far, i've only tried a few recipes, but I know that my guests are eager for more spanish cooking soon! It's a beautiful book, that I hope will be passed down to my children and their children one day.

The book has the famous Colombian recipes with great pictures and it makes a review of all different regions.

In his latest study, "Tequila Junction", H. John Poole draws together his previous scholarship on 4GW to redirect attention away from Islamic terrorists. As he rightly notes in the opening pages of this latest work, the overwhelming focus on Islamic terrorists and the Middle East has given other powers an opportunity to work in relative security, right in America's own backyard.

H. John Poole's works are remarkable for being forward-looking and counter to the military status-quo in strategic and tactical thinking. This book is no exception. After presenting a well-researched case for the influence of a foreign power in Central and South America, Poole goes on to explain why our conventional "heavy firepower" model would be useless for countering the threat. Never one to present a problem without a solution, Poole then goes on to provide a framework for strategic approaches to 4GW warfare in Latin America, and also several tactical prescriptions. In the chapters of "Tequila Junction" are several low-cost, high-payoff solutions for tactical insertion, exfiltration, tactical intelligence gathering, and community integration and defense.

What is perhaps most useful about the book, however, are not his specific recommendations, but his constant call to strip away overwhelming hierarchal control and give power to the warrior on the ground. Poole has confidence that the common American fighting man--and woman--with the proper training and enough radius of control can win our wars with less cost in blood and treasure. He has ample historical evidence to support his case. Poole's book will no doubt raise some hackles among the traditional military establishment, who are wedded to the doctrines of strict command and control and overwhelming force. Those who disagree with Poole should note that he has consistently been ahead of the curve in predicting the future of 4GW warfare and our military response. "Tequlia Junction" is a sound addition to an already impressive body of scholarship.

LTC Poole was written another stellar book concerning the subtle workings of the Chinese & muslim extremist groups operating in Central & South America. The Chinese are fighting a war against the US "by other means" & in this manner hide behind a smokescreen of narco-gangs such as MS-13 & other drug cartels using their drug sales as a self-supporting mechanism to fund their activities within the continent.
While all eyes & intelligence resources are looking to the East and wondering what will happen in Iraq & Afghanistan now that President-elect Obama is taking office, Chinese intelligence is developing contacts & networks to support anti-American activities in the future. The Chinese plant seeds & understand that they must give them time to grow strong, so as to make it difficult to up-root them later. The Chinese also understand to stay under the radar to the US intelligence community. In this they have done an outstanding job & the tree of insurgency grows.
Only tactics discussed in Poole's new book can the US government hope to prevent the establishment of a threat to the south of it's border.

According to LTC Poole, the way to combat the insurgency in South America is utilizing a police methodology of community policing & getting the local civilian population to understand that the gangs & insurgents will only cause them grief & suffering. Give the local residents the means & support necessary to fend off a smart adversary. Fending off the Chinese & muslim extremist threat at this point does not necessarily mean weapons procurement & killing. As Poole quoted Ghandi in Part Two, "Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat for it is momentary." However I beg to differ with Ghandi since the US was born out of the American Revolution, which was not act of non-violence but bloody resistence to tyranny!
Also an American icon by the name of Al Capone was quoted as saying, "You can get more with a kind word and a gun, than just a kind word." The 4th Generation Counterinsurgency tactics explained by LTC Poole work & work very effectively but keep the big stick around just in case.

Outstanding book...promotes out-of-the-box thinking and reframes developing threats. It addresses a number of issues our government is not paying much attention to:

-issues pertaining to homeland security- Poole explains how migration, uncontrolled illegal immigration, contributes to the destruction of a nation-state. The United States is facing this problem now but our government is almost doing nothing about it.

-addresses how illicit activities related to illegal immigration create a market for narco-trafficking which feeds terrorist financing... making the war on terrorism a self licking ice cream cone in favor of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas (a Shi'i Iranian backed terrorist group and Palestinian backed Sunni terrorist group).

-the activities create exploitable venues for nation-states which desire to diminish/manage United States influence, China being one example...Russia and Iran a possible second. The subversion of society provides competitive nation-states and means to wage war against the United States via nonmilitary means. This is the essence of fourth generation warfare... leveraging society, subverting societies, in order to achieve victory while undermining US technological military superiority. The state is unable to maintain its territorial integrity and eventually begins to wither away.

John is saying the emperor is naked

Tequila Junction lays bear the insidious threat to obliterate the Americas in a rip tide of crime, drugs, gangs, and terrorism. Tequila Junction is a book to be read but not forgotten; doing so means further peril. Just as the events of 911 could have been mitigated or preempted if we heeded the indicators and warnings, so too we need to heed the message and lessons of Tequila Junction. The "bad guys" are smart and no amount of technology will overcome that fact. Instead Tequila Junction suggests "unconventional" tactics and techniques to mentally and physically bludgeon adversaries such as nacro-terrorists, narco-insurgents, and other irregular evil doers. Make no mistake Tequila Junction is about fourth generation warfare and small unit tactics. Globalization dramatically impacts crime and terrorism. Drug deals are co-mingle terrorism and gangs. Poole unmasks the challenges that face us in the Americas at the hands of Muslim extremists and communists. Poole unabashedly pins the tail on the Chinese and contends countries like Cuba are or have become full fledged Chinese surrogates. The Chinese are masterfully using crime, gangs, and Muslim extremism as a cover for their expanding activites. Tequila Junction literally warns of a "bar fight" in the Americas that portends to spill over into our streets.

I just finished reading the latest book by John Poole, "Tequila Junction 4th-Generation Counterinsurgency." The book is outstanding. I could not put it down. It's not a novel, but if your interest or responsibility is security, it reads like one. Tequila Junction is, a lesson on current world events including intelligence gathered on non-Muslim threats to America from Central and South America and their links to China. The first part of the book discusses this intelligence and the possibility of politically oriented and drug funded threats to the United States. Yes back to drugs funding political oriented cartels, gangs or maras (MS13, M18 and others) as well as terrorist groups all cooperating in this effort. Poole talks of the United states narrow focus on Al-Qaeda has had its attention diverted from this part of the world. "Latin America provides the perfect example of what can happen from to narrow a focus. Because so little al-Qaeda activity there, U.S. leaders have all but ignored a potential catastrophe at their doorstep. In a place where the two biggest threats to personal freedom combine (drugs and revolution), they have settled for another of their patented "top-down" solutions. Such a solution will have little chance where the source of the problem has yet to be determined." A reader can easily see based on Americas past and current craving for drugs where the implications at home to security and the law enforcement community are obvious if these threats are allowed to go undisputed.

In the second part of the book, Poole describes the unconventional tactics necessary, the military will need in counterinsurgency efforts. These unconventional methods are indirect and involve methods related to police problem solving and indirect conflict. Poole describes 4GW methods of recognizing the gangs and maras as part of the solution-that it is more important to "convert ones foe than to kill him." He talks about, "wars of the future must be won by some other way than expert snipers and pinpoint bombing. The name of the game is no longer to kill as many foes as possible, but rather to sway the allegiance of as many as possible." This is related to law enforcement methods utilized today that are paramount to forming community partnerships and winning community members over in an effort to curtail crime and solve crime problems here at home. Poole discusses these links between law enforcement and military efforts in a way that is easy to understand.

In the latter parts of the book Poole describes methods to use and how to implement these methods effectively. He talks of leadership and the importance of front line personnel being able to think and make decisions on their own based on the overall mission of winning foes over. The book in its appendix titled "Bottom-up Training" describes better training methods to prepare those whose job it is to solve these serious problems at home and abroad.

Those in Law Enforcement and Homeland Security should read this book. The implications from abroad have in the past and currently effect the climate on the streets here at home. Understanding yourself and the adversary are key to success, our efforts will be greatly enhanced by the information contained in this outstanding resource Tequila Junction.

All of the history buffs and Native American descendants and people in general should buy this book to have a bigger and brighter outlook on the "indians" that our country so badly abused and misunderstood.

Amazing book.

This book is a compilation of first-person accounts of various native American Indians (natives) from the 1700s to the 1900s, focusing mainly in the period 1800s. With the stereotyping of native American Indians (natives) in Hollywood movies such as Dances with the Wolves, where they were portrayed as savages or barbarians, this book serves to give a thought-provoking perspective as seen from another view point. This book comprises of 4 sections or periods of their life in chronological order; (i) in their native environment (ii) slow and increasing emergence of the white men (iii) the eventual domination of white men over the natives (iv) life in the assigned and restricted Indian reservation regions.

From this book, I gained a better understanding of how the natives viewed the world, their beliefs and their lifestyles. They have a reverence for the everyday environment, such as the lands, animals, objects which made up the environment they lived in. An environment that is integrally interwoven with the Indian life. They have the wisdom about having the needs to establish the right relationship with the land and resources, otherwise destruction of Indians will be followed by destruction of nature and in the destruction of nature will be followed by the destruction of ourselves. It has been about 30 years since the first release of this book. And the state of the present world is such that we are not preserving the environment as much as we should.

The natives were not destructive. They would shake down acorns, pinenuts and use dead wood instead of chopping down living trees. On the other hand, the white men were viewed as destructive, causing destruction to the environment with the gains subjected to only themselves.. As an example, during the 19th century gold-mining era, they would blow up where ever they suspected there were treasures. They tended to blow up the ground, pulled down the trees, blasted rocks and scattered them onto the grounds. Once these treasures were found, they tended to grap only the treasures and left all trash behind.

With the current issues we are facing in the 21st century such as global warming, this book ended up being a self-reflection of what we humans had done in the past 3 decades. For all the advancements made (such as technologically, medically), where do these changes lead us towards? And it seems that we are and have been truly destructive to our environments.

In addition, the natives had a keen observation; " An animal depends a great deal on the natural conditions around it...... We see the change in our ponies. In the old days, they could stand great hardship and travel long distance without water. They lived on certain kinds of food and drank pure water. Now our horses require a mixture of food, they have less endurance and must have constant care". From their account, I shared a similar view as humans living in the present versus those living in the past. Unfortunately, we are sharing similar transformations as the ponies and horses.

As history has shown, every treaty had resulted in the disappearances of wild life. For example, in 1877, Blackford Confederacy ceded 50,000 square miles to the Canadian government, a treaty which led to the rapid disappearances of buffaloes and near starvation. There used to be so many bisons that they could not be counted, but more and more Wasichus (white men) came to kill them until there were only heaps of bones scattered where they used to be. The white men did not kill the bisons to eat, but rather for the hides to sell. Sometimes they killed them just for fun and ecstasy of enjoyment. On the other hand, the natives hunted the bisons only for what they needed as food.

The natives, tribes by tribes, from the Sioux to the Cheyennes, fought losing wars and were forced into treaties. Eventually, they were forced to migrate to less fertile reservation regions. If these reservation regions were found to contain minerals (coals, gold, etc), the previous treaties were likely to be voided and new treaties issued such as to reclaim those lands. While they were in these reservation regions, the populations slowly declined as they were subjected to a different lifestyle, (more processed) food and systems. And when they were in such a poor declining state, some of the native leaders being caught in a dilemma, had to humble themselves and plead with the American government for the permission to return to their original native regions where they once formerly thrived.

It is truly heart rendering to witness the pride and then ending in humility these natives had to undergo. I am not without guilt for the way the world has ended today. So it is really up to each of us to determine and preserve our values and to learn to respect the cultures of others.

In a nutshell this book is a compilation of quotations from many Native Americans.

However this book expands far beyond that nutshell. It shows many sides of Indian thought and belief interweaving both spirituality and history. The book is organised in an affective way, first having quotations showing the Indians willingness to co-exist with the white man and slowly that willingness fading into bitterness and anger as the settlers destroyed the land and displaced the Indians from their ancestral homes.

Even though 'Touch the Earth' might seem like an potentially depressing book it is very far from that. I found it very uplifting. Many of the quotations spoke to some deep part of my heart that made my soul smile. The archive pictures through out the book alone make me love it. It is a book full of words from wise men, so inspiring yet at other moments so anguished.

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset." -- Crowfoot

"I hear no longer the songs of the women as they prepare the meal. The antelope have gone; the buffalo wallos are empty. [...] We are like birds with a broken wing. My heart is cold within me. My eyes are growing dim - I am old..." -- Chief Plenty-Coups

The one thing I will say about "Touch the Earth" is that you have to be in the right mood to read it. Most people cannot sit down and read a book cover to cover that is filled with quotation after quotation. Also some things that are said are so deep that I just had to sit for awhile and think about them. If you are not the type of person who liked history this is not the kind of book for you. However if the history of the Native American's fascinated you, as it does me, I would definitely recommend this gem.

Have you ever at any time in your life truly felt connected to the earth, all its inhabitants, the plants, the rocks, the wind? Touch the Earth is almost like a Native American prayer book and it examines this direct connection between our land's original inhabitants and their world around them. Not only did they feel this connection, but they lived it every day. Consequently they did not understand the White Man and his only going to church on Sundays.

As I've read and reread my copy, I often wonder what it would be like if we had respect for all the things created by God's hand instead of for only the ones we pick and choose to respect and honor. By favoring one species over another, we have dangerously tipped the ecological balance and not in a good way. By failing to understand the links between all the elements that make up the earth, we humans are well on our way to fouling our own nest.

I recommend reading this book late at night just before bedtime. Read only one or two essays at a time and allow the words to resonate with you in the quiet. Perhaps you will be reminded why it is important to Touch the Earth, our Mother.

The letter from Chief Seattle to the US President.. "How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? ..." and the vision of Black Elk ..."The sacred hoop of his people was only one of many hoops, all joined together to make one great circle, the great hoop of all peoples.." brought home to me the fact that the Native American philosophy of living has so much to teach us. They were closely connected to the earth, loved and respected it, while we treat it with violence; they were closely connected to our universal Mother and seemed to truly understand humankind's place in the universe while we trust in our technology and the wealth it brings us. The Native Americans appeared to have lived their lives with their two natures - materialistic and spiritual - in harmony while we have over emphasized the material and neglected the spiritual. While we cannot turn the clock back and ride horses and live in tents - nor would we want to - but surely there must be some principles that they incorporated into their lives which we can discover and build into our lives to help redress the balance of our two natures. So I turned to this book to see if there is some Native American wisdom which would enrich my life. I was certainly encouraged by the Book of-the-Month Club comment on the back cover "Simply but eloquently, the selections tell of the Indians' relationship with the earth, their kinship with all of nature's creatures, and their unity with the elements. They speak of the harmony that existed between the Indian and the land, a harmony that was disrupted as 'the hairy man from the east' encroached still further into their territory." and ".. one cannot help but be struck anew by their wisdom and their prophetic vision..."

I read this passage in the introduction: "In this book, the Indians speak for themselves, of the quality of their life. The passages that make up the book have been taken from speeches of Indians living in all parts of the North American continent, between the 16th and 20th centuries. They speak with courtesy and respect of the land, of animals, of the objects which made up the territory in which they lived. They saw no virtue in imposing their will over their environment: private acquisition, almost without exception, was to them a way to poverty, not to riches. The meaning of their life was identified through their relationships with each other and their homelands - all of which was given depth and resonance by memory" and understood that here in this volume I would find what I was looking for. Many of the passages reflect attempts by the Indians to offer their ideas to the whiteman but we responded by destroying their way of life and with it much of the wisdom we need today. We are indeed fortunate to have this collection to refer to. We cannot turn the clock back; we cannot undo the deeds of prior generations. But perhaps we can at least take the trouble to reflect on what these wise people were trying to teach our forebears and perhaps we will find some words of wisdom that will help us to live our lives with our two natures - materialistic and spiritual - more closely in balance.

If we fail to do this I fear that the prophecy in the introduction will come true. "It is well understood that the only decent future for us who live in America now is through a rediscovery of our environment. We need to establish a right relationship with the land and its resources; otherwise, the destruction of the Indian will be followed by the destruction of nature; and in the destruction of nature will follow the destruction of ourselves."

The promos for "The West" series on PBS seemed to imply that Ken Burn's following up to his incredible "Civil War" epic would be as good as the Civil War was.

And it was. Burns was able to capture the whole panorama of the history of the West, and left no stone unturned. Here was the saga of the pioneers, the cruelty of the buffalo hunters, the tragedy of the Native Americans, the bravery of Custer - and of Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph, the terrible "die up" where thousands of poor cattle froze to death in the Montana blizzards, and the courage and perserverence of settlers like the Loves. The musical score too was perfect, capturing every dramatic movement, every nuance just right.

And the book too, while perhaps not as comprehensive as Geoffrey Ward's earlier "Civil War" volume, provided the viewer with a superb text and many, never-before-seen illustrations. The reader can sense the drama of the Earps and Wild Bill Hickok, can hope that Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce reach Canada and safety (which they didn't) and feel the heartbreak when Joseph was cruelly denied the return to his homeland. The reader can also cheer for the courtship of the Loves, and almost live the toil, the disappointments, and the determination of that family through the text, the first-hand accounts, and the marvellous illustrations. I found myself getting angry over the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the Mormon scapegoating of the Paiutes; being sickened and almost in tears over the slaughter of the buffalo, and the old Native American woman's tale of how the last buffalo went into Mount Scott, never to return; and in appreciating how Buffalo Bill Cody and Theodore Roosevelt did their level best in trying to save the West that they loved - Cody through the Wild West shows, and Roosevelt through his conservation efforts.

It is all here in Mr. Ward's excellent text, and more. There may be other books on the West, but for the perfect introduction to anyone interested in Western History, or even for the grizzled enthusiast, this book is not only the perfect companion to the series, it is also a perfect coffee table pictorial history of a history and a lifestyle that is all but gone.

This book is well organized and written. It would make a
perfect reference for a class project. There are vivid scenes
from the American West; such as, a majestic portrait of
the legendary Davey Crockett. The Devil's Tower is depicted
in a picturesque Wyoming scene. There are beautiful still
photos of a Snake Priest and Hopi dancer. The author researched
this work thoroughly. It is representative of the early
West. The purchase is recommended as a top rated historical
reference book well-suited for students of all ages and
backgrounds.

The world has known the American West as the wild and untamed land of cowboys and Indians that Hollywood brought along with it's movies. The real story of the West is much more amazing than at first sight. Ward's story is beautifully illustrated with magnificent text that makes it a worthy successor to the movie series. He tells the story through the eyes of those who lived it and that is something very important in the history of the west. Without first hand accounts our knowledge would be vague, but this book captures the essence of all the west had and has to offer: adventure, a beautiful landscape, and a great mysterious past...

As a book based on a PBS documentary, it's a big coffee table affair with plenty of photos (I had the hardcover version). And there are some extraordinary pictures in there - while much of the period of history they're looking at (from November 1528 with a some shipwrecked Spaniards washing ashore on Galveston Island to the early 1900s) was pre-camera, much of it was post. Moreover there are maps, paintings and photos of relatively untouched landscape to illustrate earlier times.

That being said, there's also plenty of text. And being that they've consciously chosen to largely illustrate the time by retelling the stories of extraordinary and/or typical individuals of the times, there are many engaging and fascinating stories. C'mon, the whole interaction between European settlers and the native Americans is chock full of tragedy, adventure and colour - you'd have to work hard to make this sort of content boring (although it's been done). It's a very palatable way of reading history, not getting bogged down in statistics or alternate interpretations. Of course in their selection of material you're definitely getting only one version of events, and the bias, while generally subtle, is unavoidable. But, hey, given that I hardly had any version before, this gave me a lot more of an idea than I had.

You have to suffer the odd overblown essay thrown in here and there, where guest writers try to outdo each other for sentimentality and bogus psuedo-spiritual flapdoodle about (FX: turn the reverb right up) `The West'. At least it's not quite as silly as the religious fervour some attach to Baseball as some sort of sacred ritual - but it is still silly. Sure, the West is an amazing place, it's more than just some rocks and sand - we get it. You going on in with some gushy mysticism really just cheapens it - let it speak for itself.

Well, that's what I reckon anyway. But, as I said, the self-conscious attempts at grand writing are only aberrations, most of the time you are treated with amazing but true stories. If that's the sort of history you're after, it delivers.

The West : An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward, Dayton Duncan has got to be one of the most "Can't put down" type of books I've had the wonderful pleasure of owning, ever! The illustrations, to many to count are of the finest quality I've ever seen in a book not to mention that the editorial choices were perfect. The photos depict the exact expressions that capture those lost moments in time... If you can get this book - buy it! It is for all ages and you could never grow tired reading it, as well. A certain coffee table type book! I rate this book a 5 STAR!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books, Florrie Binford-Kichler
Founder of Patria Press, Inc. - an award-winning independent publisher, President of PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book is an honored recipient of this distinguished award.

hey this has some coolio illustrations in it huh aneurin?!I like illustrating too). The storyline is unusual so I'm sure it will be very popular!Sarah is Aneurin's aunt too!!! buybuybuybuy!!its worth it!!! 5 stars!!!

August 30, 2004

Nine-year-old Riley travels to Brazil to visit his uncle Max, aunt Martha, and cousin Alice. While sightseeing Riley and Alice spot some unfamiliar animals called Capybara's. They follow them. Without realizing the children have strayed too far from camp. In their quest to find home Riley and Alice encounter the many wonders of the Amazon.

This is a delightful book that children as well as adults will enjoy. Teachers and librarians everywhere can also use the Adventures of Riley -- Amazon River Rescue, as a great learning tool!

The book contains a glossary, hidden compass and a passport to Riley's world. A portion of the proceeds will also go to help save animals.

Reviewed by Betsie

The storyline of this book is amazing but the illustrations are out of this world! ( By the way my aunt, Sarah, illustates them!) I would by this book now! 5 stars!

This work certainly may be aimed at children but I was totally absorbed in every page that I read, and excited to see how the story would unfold.
Riley is going on a river expedition through the Amazon Rainforest while visiting his Uncle Max, who just happens to be a world-famous conservation biologist.
Riley is excited, and with his cousin Alice, he sets out to help discover new plant and animal species. The adventure begins as the children stray too far from camp and use a very interesting tree to be rescued. Quite an amazing tree I might add. Who would have thought a tree could do what this one did?

During their adventure, the authors give insightful facts about the Rainforest. Interweaving them within the storyline, children will learn without even realizing that is what they are doing, about the importance of the Rainforest to the earth and the unbelievable amount of plant and wildlife that live there.

The illustrations are dramatic, colorful and realistic and will totally draw any young person along the story trail,and make them wish they too could be there to discover a new insect, plant or animal that the world has yet to know.
This is an outstanding work, a beautiful book and a resource of great educational value.
Highest recommendation.
Shirley Johnson

Having recently completed Mr. Coppes' excellent handling of precisely where America is heading financially (and otherwise to some degree), it is strongly suggested that completely irrespective of party affiliation, a sitdown session with this book is in order. The reader is wholly presented with a "fiscal revelation" you'll never, ever, hear on the 6:30 news or from any of the hopefuls for 2008. The stuff in this book is PRECISELY what the candidates should be head over heels to address, but expect not one twit from the Beltway that even touches on the extraordinatry slippery slope upon which we Americans, fiscally, both nationally AND internationally, find ourselves. It ain't pretty...

Well explained, in profuse historical detail, AND with replete references, you will learn what goes on behind the scenes of American economics, as well as in-depth detail on why (and because of whom) we have landed, economically, at the current precipice to which few refer, especially Wall Street. This no-nonsense exposition, written plainly for any reasonably intelligent American, patriotic layman will connect many of the dots referencing WHY the seemingly disjointed economic news we hear simply doesn't make much sense.

Oil--- a big-time player in current economic events, is especially well addressed. The author takes the reader back to western PA where the now-worldwide oil monster once began under the subsequent magic, as it were, of J.D. Rockefeller. Here's where much of today's oily issues once began; it's a history we all need to know IN ORDER TO understand today's economic events that so much center around world industrialization.

Chapters dealing with the European model for central banking, from where the Federal Reserve REALLY came, the global realignment of world power and planning/investing wisely in a transitory and uncertain world round out the gist of this excellent "documentary", really, on global economics that will certainly affect you and me.

Not for the faint of heart that wants the real truth, nor for a superficial reader; i.e., considerable detail. Your country, your money, your future.

JL

I have read "America's Financial Reckoning Day" and I highly recommend it!In its pages, one can finally learn why our once great nation is now in such a noticable decline and how the nation destroying economic and monetary policies of a small group of powerful men controlling our government have brought about that decline! Mr Coppes does a superb job of showing that both our dollar and all dollar denominated investments are dangerously close to collapsing and provides specific alternative investment suggestions for those seeking to preserve their money! Most importantly, the author clearly spells out how all that is happening in the world today - above all, an organized move towards a totalitarian world government - is clearly predicted in Bible prophecy! What really sets this financial book apart from others is the GOOD news the author offers! After presenting much sobering economic information and a way to protect ones assets, Mr. Coppes provides the best news of all! He tells us clearly how we can have inner peace and hope for the future in spite of what may happen financially and... how we can each be spiritually prepared for the future! This alone is worth the price of the book!

What a fantistic book! When I first started reading the book I started to think Mr. Coppes was an off the wall nut job but then his words and the power of his words drew me in deeper and deeper into his ideas. I am an easy-going, mellow, slow, low key Christian. I am a lazy Christian. Mr. Coppes is a very intense Christian who believes in fire and hell and Jesus might come again soon. He might be right. Jesus could come tomorrow or 1,000 years from now. I don't know and I am not concerned about when. I am concerned about now. I am concerned about paper money, government debt, trade, social security, medicare falling apart, crime, peak oil and my kids future. Mr. Coppes is a very, very smart cookie and knows a lot about these subjects I care about. Some readers might be put off by his intense Christianity. Don't be. Most people go buy books in which they know they agree with before they read it. Conservatives don't go buy liberal books, liberals don't go buy books by conservative writers. They want to read something that will support ideas that they already have. Challenge yourself and read Mr. Coppes book. It will make you think. It will challenge your ideas and give you tons of other references to check out. Most ecellent in a strange kind of way! Regards, Keith Renick, Peachtree City, Ga.

Having read this book a year ago, then again recently, Mr. Coppes has been amazingly accurate with the predictions he made regarding the finacial collapse of the USA. There is no way you can read this and not be prepared for what is to come. It's late, but still not too late to set yourself up to survive in what looks to be, well,for lack of a better description, a new world dis-order. He predicted the sub-prime/housing collapse. Order this book to find out what is coming next. It's right around the corner.

Great book with real insight. The author has done a very credible job of researching the subject and combining that wealth of knowledge with his own insights. I've bought copies for friends!

I have had a long-time interest in the Aztecs but had not yet had the chance to read extensively on their culture. I was looking for an overview, and this book was excellent in its sensible organization, which was easy to grasp for someone unfamiliar with social science research and writing in general.

The book title reflects the contents perfectly. Professor Dossick covers rituals and history associated with birth, early life, social and moral education, religion, the military, arts and sciences, and agricultural and vocational pursuits - and he ends with death rituals. The book was both readable and informative. I feel that it gave me a good start in understanding this fascinating culture.

Historically, women have had to find a way to live in the patriarchal societies throughout the world, as their destinies most often involved marriage. Marriage offered safety and social acceptance; the man was the unquestioned breadwinner.

The world of the ancient Aztecs was governed by men.

The story of the Aztec men and women can be seen as an object lesson in stoicism and strength, religious devotion, and attendance to duty.

As the officers, politicians and church leaders commanded the soldiers and farmers, so the men tended to command the women. The oppression becomes very real, as the rules of the state and the church break whatever resistance they might encounter with the application of utter control and overwhelming brutality. The women spend their time cooking, cleaning, spinning cloth, and tending to the children.

The tales of sacrifice, and their methods, are ever-present.

Professor Dossick intelligently weaves the social issues together into a communal narrative that slowly generates a life of its own.

What emerges is a portrait of a brilliant and creative people that nourishes introspective contemplation and a profound examination of the patriarchal society.

The socioeconomic, political, and emotional complexity within The Ancient Aztecs, always understated, delivers a harrowing tale of a people's struggle to survive in a hostile environment.

The intricacies of the roles of men and women emerge, as the state forcefully oppresses all those who resist.

The Ancient Aztecs by Dossick leaves the reader with an unforgettable experience from an economical, political, historical, social, and psychological perspective.

My younger brother is planning a long trip through Mexico, and has become interested in all things related to Mexican history. I bought several books for him and his wife, and this one quickly became their favorite.

It's eminently readable and authoritative. After reading it you'll be able to visualize what life was like for the Aztecs as you roam their ruins in Mexico.

Perhaps Dossick's best

The Ancient Aztecs - A complete account of the life of the ancient Aztecs from birth to death - is painstakingly detailed,
referenced, and scholarly.

Well thought out, well reasoned, and well written, Professor Dossick ties together events and history masterfully.

The book has a discernable thesis: that the fall of the Aztec nation before the Conquistadores, which resulted in the
loss of its religion, its art, its social structure, and its language, was a complete disaster for these singularly remarkable
people.

The Ancient Aztecs progresses by argument and example, and does not suffer from some of the assumptions of prior knowledge
that many other books on the subject do.

Overall a top choice for anyone interested in this eternally fascinating subject.

This book goes into wonderful detail on the daily lives of the Aztecs, one of the most formidable empires the world has seen. The rich imagery provided by the author touches on all aspects of the culture and society. The author also goes into great depth on the educational system of the Aztecs, which I found particularly interesting in comparison to our own modern educational practices.

Utah's acceptance of the 2002 winter games seemed to prove the soundness of Colorado's decision to reject the games decades earlier. As has now been well documented, the award touched off a cascade of corruption, from outright bribery of the International Olympic Committee to various land swindles. It was a seismic event in the rural West, creating a shock doctrine all its own. Here at long last was the perfect excuse for wholesale development at nearly any cost. Honorable state and national legislators morphed into eager enablers.

Steve Trimble wisely opted out of trying to thoroughly assay the political scheming and environmental consequences played out in a spectacular crucible. But he has done something far better. He tracks one emblematic deal -- the transfer of a great swath of prime public land to a driven man who was already one of the largest landholders in the country. Bargaining For Eden is not just another depressing illustration of the corrupting influence of power, but a vibrant montage of unusual suspects expressing quirky aspects of individualism, camaraderie, and Western ethos. The author himself does not stand aside in judgment, but, in going the extra mile for the truth, explicitly implicates himself -- almost shamefacedly detailing his own micro-land development.

I'm grateful that Steve Trimble volunteered to guide us through this minefield of desires and improbable outcomes. His softspoken integrity puts the reader at ease. His own contemplative adventures are mingled deftly with the big doings of "operator" Earl Holding -- a man who, despite the author's careful rendering, seems more bulldozer than flesh and blood. This, above all, makes the book compelling. It is surprisingly easy to read, in spite of the messy wrangling for wilderness and luxury it reveals. In the end, I could not escape the feeling that the author's essential honesty and kindness overshadow even his larger-than-life subjects. He would never concede the point, however. He maintains that we are all Earl Holding, to some degree. That perspective is, at least, instructive and useful for bridge-building. Steve Trimble is harder on himself than on anyone else in this book, and that's saying something. It is therefore the one book about the changing West that every American should read.

"Bargaining for Eden" is really two books in one. The first book, and the one that has garnered the most attention, is about self-made billionaire Earl Holding and how he finagled, with the help of powerful friends, to add over 1,000 acres of public land to his Snow Basin ski resort in advance of 2002 Winter Olympics. It's an interesting tale, and author Steve Trimble tells it with careful, well-researched precision. Trimble, a self-avowed environmentalist, treats all sides of the controversy fairly, as witnessed by the reading he gave at the Salt Lake City public library where one of Earl Holding's minions, who probably didn't care much for the book, complimented Steve on his good writing and accurate quoting.

The second book within the book is, to me, really the more important one, because it's about all of us who love and live in the West. As Trimble writes, "On some level I am Earl [Holding]--we are all Earl." Here, Steve chronicles his own adventures as a small-time land developer in Utah's redrock country, and what he thought about and considered as he built a second home for his family on a previously-undeveloped piece of land. As I read this I thought about myself, the places I've lived in Utah, Oregon, and Montana, and how I've impacted those places. I doubt few of us have considered our own impacts and worked to mitigate them in the way Trimble did. I know I haven't.

The last chapter of the book, "Credo: The People's West" is something of a non-sequitur. It's Trimble's rules for living in the West, and it clearly draws on more than what's in this book. I agreed with some of parts of the credo; disagreed with others. My credo would be different from Steve's. So would yours, I imagine.

Overall, the book is fair and even-handed, possibly to a fault. It is not a rant and it steers clear of the self-righteousness so common in environmental tomes. Buy it. Read it. Think about it.

Steve Trimble's latest book is a compelling look at the tensions between private mega-enterprise and public interests. If you care about the future of open spaces (and not just in the American West), if you care about the future of community, if you care about how to tend to democracy in an age of fracture and fracas, this is a sobering look at a battle in Utah that can stand in for many such battles across the country. Refusing to give into cynical preaching, Trimble offers a nuanced look at his own complicity in questions of ownership and activism, which makes this book even more important. It ends with a hopeful, necessary "Credo," which also was recently published in High Country News. A fine naturalist, photographer and writer, Steve Trimble is a treasure. This book demands to be read, understood--and its lessons put into action by thoughtful citizens everywhere.

Stephen Trimble tackles the paradox of the modern west: how do people inhabit and develop a rapidly vanishing landscape? Trimble weaves the important tale of public land transformed into a commercial ski resort with his own construction of a second home near a national park. This juxtaposition elevates the book from polemic to a serious discussion of the many facets of land development. Trimble recognizes that there are no easy answers, but argues convincingly that wise land use policy requires the contribution of all of the stakeholders in the landscape: developers, environmentalists, long-time residents and the public in general.

What sets Trimble's book apart is his obvious affection not just for the land, but for the people who have lived on the land for many years. His interviews with men and women whose families have lived on the land for generations provides the reader with an often neglected perspective on the west. Trimble has an ear for the ironic poignancy of how development displaces those families who have lived and loved a particular place for generations, even as that landscape is changed by their own decisions regarding its value and use.

Highly readable, Trimble's natural storytelling ability comes through to illuminate a transformative moment in western history. As a native Montanan and long-time resident of Utah, I recommend it to all those who seek to understand a sense of place.

Trimble tells the story of reclusive oil executive Earl Holding and his struggle to develop a wild mountainside into a an elite ski resort, using the Olympics as a cudgel to overcome passionate local resistance. This is a compelling story that has not been covered outside of Utah. It is a shocking example of how the powers-that-be facilitate destructive and one-sided land use and how common citizens who personally know thew land and love it resist. The book then takes an unexpected twist: Trimble builds a second-home in a wild canyon in southern Utah and realizes he is becoming like his nemesis, Holding, just on a different scale. This confessional realization makes him dig deeper. Ultimately it is our own human nature he uncovers.

Why do we violate the integrity of ecosystems and habitat and how can we stop ourselves? these central questions are not resolved here. Trimble's book is both a heartfelt and intelligent invitation to public discourse on these critical questions. The reader could not get a more honest or wise guide than Trimble.

Book review of behind the mountain

My book is called Behind the Mountain by Edwidge Danticat.
A family is broke and they are trying to get to New York. They live in Haiti. Bombs are going off all over the place. A girl in the family is trying to help her mom from almost dying from a bomb. That was my introduction.

The main characters are the dad, manman which is the mom and Celiane the dater. Manman is almost dead from a bomb. Celiane want's her dad. The father is in New York giving money to the mom and dater and brother who also has money. The brother is working to give them money to. Those were all the characters.

In this book they want to leave there country. There is a lot of bombing happing so they want to leave their country Haiti. In Haiti 2 kiddies died from the bombing happing in Haiti. They finally got to New York and they were happy because they would not die any more. When Celiane got to New York she had a good school and like before. That was my setting.

The family is trying to get courage to move to New York with there dad. They don't want to be in bombs any more. The girl want's a better school. The family is trying to get money from people to go to New York. The theme is courage.

If you read this book you will be able to visualize the book. So if you read it now I won't let you stop. This book is about one big adventure in 2 different countries. If you like weapons I think you should read this book. That was my conclusion.

Book review of behind the mountain

My book is called Behind the Mountain by Edwidge Danticat.
A family is broke and they are trying to get to New York. They live in Haiti. Bombs are going off all over the place. A girl in the family is trying to help her mom from almost dying from a bomb. That was my introduction.

The main characters are the dad, manman which is the mom and Celiane the dater. Manman is almost dead from a bomb. Celiane want's her dad. The father is in New York giving money to the mom and dater and brother who also has money. The brother is working to give them money to. Those were all the characters.

In this book they want to leave there country. There is a lot of bombing happing so they want to leave their country Haiti. In Haiti 2 kiddies died from the bombing happing in Haiti. They finally got to New York and they were happy because they would not die any more. When Celiane got to New York she had a good school and like before. That was my setting.

The family is trying to get courage to move to New York with there dad. They don't want to be in bombs any more. The girl want's a better school. The family is trying to get money from people to go to New York. The theme is courage.

If you read this book you will be able to visualize the book. So if you read it now I won't let you stop. This book is about one big adventure in 2 different countries. If you like weapons I think you should read this book. That was my conclusion.

Read as part of a course on bilingualism & biculturalism this book provided a personal glimpse into a child's life and how it changed.

Not only is this a well-written, interesting story of a young girl's life in Haiti, it truly gives the reader a taste of what Haiti is like today. My daughter, age 10, and I read it together, after my first trip to Haiti on a medical mission. I felt like I was back in Haiti, and loved the description, historical information and perspective of a young girl watching her life and country change. Behind the Mountains is written in diary form, and really draws the reader in, allowing her to see things through the eye's of the young narrator as her family is uprooted and moved to another country.

I highly recommend this to young readers (4th-6th grade) or even adults who enjoy historical fiction, learning about other cultures, or are undergoing family changes.

I give this a 5 star rating for the wonderful prose, easy readability, smooth incorporation of beautiful cultural and historical facts, and engaging characters.

As I walked through the leafy Boston suburb, I saw a uniformed chauffeur waiting outside a big house. He was gazing into the trees, obviously enjoying the quiet spring morning. A nametag on his lapel identified him as "Jean."

"Are you from Haiti?" I asked.

He nodded, surprised.

"I just read a great book about your country," I told him. "I learned about the beautiful mountains and hibiscus flowers there."

I watched the smile spread across his face. Were it not for Edwidge Danticat's young adult novel, Behind the Mountains, I might have walked wordlessly past this stranger. Now I was curious about his journey, and he was thrilled by my knowledge of his country and culture. That's the purpose of Orchard's First Person Fiction series - to create understanding and empathy for the immigrants around us. Using fictional diary entries, Danticat recounts Celiane Esperance's journey from a rural town to Port-au-Prince to Brooklyn. I painlessly learned about Haitian history and politics, and gained insight into why some Haitians desire to immigrate to America.

The book is also particularly written for immigrant teens. Danticat, the acclaimed author of three adult novels, expertly depicts Celiane's high hopes of seeing her father again and the subsequent stressful reality of a family reunion. Reading about Celiane's first miserable days in New York will encourage immigrant teens to welcome other newcomers. As Celiane describes her sorrow over her father's conflict with her older brother Moy, I remembered my older siblings hammering out compromises with our parents. These and other themes common to immigrants from any country make me wish this book had been around when I was reading out on that Flushing fire escape.