Southwest Books

This is a beautiful children's book. The illustrations are beautiful to go along with the story. It is to be shared with all! Enjoy!

This book is lyrical and delicious. The watercolors are vibrant and gorgeous. This is a must buy, along with two other books, Drum, Chavi, Drum! by Cuban author, Mayra L. Dole, and Trinos Choice, by Chicano author, Diane Gonzales Bertrand.

This book talks about the world view of an American Indian child - talking about their house, their yard, their pets, their world. The watercolors are colorful and light. The book is beautifully printed and is a precious item to own. For parents interested in introducing their children to various points of view this is perfect.

The Governor, Janet Napolitano, arranged a deal with private industry in order to give a copy of this book to every 1st grader in AZ public schools. This should speak for itself about the quality of the book.

Donald Grant and his wife, NY journalists, retire and move to a cottage in Ireland. Their experiences and adjustments to their neighbors, to small scale farming, and to the culture of Ireland makes entertaining reading.
They learn goat keeping, rabbit raising, and the ways of bees and geese. The evenings chatting in the pub, the village interactions, the local customs and other trivia of daily life make you feel a part of their Irish experience.

If you loved Under the Tuscan Sun than you will find a great book here! Donald Grant's book will make you reexamine your life and reorganize your priorities all while providing good reading pleasure. A bit dated as it was written in the 70's, but it is more about finding yourself and the cultural life in rural Ireland.

I may be guilty of a little bit of nepetism (Mary Grant being an aunt, a bit removed and seldom seen), but this book has been a family treasure around the house for years. Anyone looking for an inspiring story about a simpler life should look into this one for sure.

Donald and Mary Grant, two well paid journalists living in New York City, decide to do a career change in their late 50's. They purchase a cottage sitting on three or four acres, later to become 11 acres, and live off the land. They visit the local Irish Pub on Saturday nights, chat about farm animals, and throughout the year entertain friends from their previous life who thought them totally "bunkers". Donald for added income writes a column for an American newspaper describing their new life. At a time when Americans have had to make career changes late in life, I would highly recommend this book. I think they added to the success of their endeavor by choosing Ireland, for it is definitely a country where nature has it's way. Untamed, perhaps, but also unspoiled. I believe in my heart that the troubles in Ireland should not be and Great Britian should give Northern Ireland it's freedom just as Donald Grant felt after living there. The Irish are unique, pleasantly unique, and should remain so

My grandfather was born in 1888 in the town of St. Martinville, LA and turned the century with the rest of Mr. Capuder's cast of characters. Even with that connection, in reading this book I still learned things about my ancestors that I didn't know. It is amazing how real these folks still are on the pages of Le Petit Paris, as if they'd just closed their storefront or doused their lantern for the night, not the century. I am the author of a book of Cajun poetry, Porch People, that tells the stories of these same people two generations later and it is with great respect and pleasure that I add Mr. Capuder's vast information to my own.

The book takes you back in time. The author makes you think the people are still here with us today. And he makes you feel like you're living in the past. The book is very informative, interesting, beautifully detailed with pictures, and sectioned. It's our own heritage and the way they lived. It has cross references which makes it even more interesting. But most of all it leaves you hunger for more.

This book is a small treasure of riches from the past for rural southwest Louisiana. The turn of two centuries finds us viewing our ancestors as if they still worked this land and shopped these store fronts. I learned things about my own great-grandfather that our family oral history had not documented. Mr. Capuder has done a wonderful job condensing such a vast history into such elemental beginnings.

I truly enjoyed reading through this book. I do have to say though, that it's sad to read about the Centro Cultural de la Raza in San Diego when it was a thriving grassroots Chicano arts and culture venue. Just three years ago, it succumbed to a corporate takeover throwing the original artists/founders out as a result. The place still operates but it's not a true Chicano venue by any means. It's Disney Mexico-Land at best. It's clear the struggle is far from over, and although many think the Chicano Movement is no longer necessary (yeah, believe it or not, I've heard it said!), I beg to differ.

The information in this book could be the news of today, and in some ways, things have gotten worse. This book was written pre-NAFTA, pre-expanded xenophobia since 9/11 and pre-expanded anti-immigrant (Mexican) sentiment in California, so who could have believed things could actually get worse! But they did. Time to rev up the movement again.

include Mexican revolution history as their history? I just started laughing. I said, ay mami! I said, do you consider me Mexican, she said yes, i said do you consider me American, she said yes, I said, do you consider me both, and she said yes, and I said, then both histories are part of my history, except that my history is different that just american history, so this book shows in pictures people I need to learn about, and stories I need to hear. She said, ok mija.... but anyway, this book is great. An old High School Teacher from El Cajon High School in San Bernardino teaches his spanish class with this book. It was $25 dollars back then, but this book is wonderful. It teaches us how we learn most easliy. I mean, most people like me who come from indigenous backgrounds learn orally and visually their traditions, and this book helped me learn about my history visually and literally too because it is bilingual. It has great poems from I am Joaquin to excerpts from Gloria Anzaldua, and of course all your favorite farm labor activists, and chicano activists from the 70's. I love this book. Its definately a must buy for all chicanos who want to teach their kids about their history. z

This book was very eye opening, it opens the minds of people to ideas that are not in the our American "HISTORY" books. Besides reading about the struggles that Chicanos faced, it also has pictures (to visualize). The book is not only informative but empowering. Anyone working for Justice should read this book, because it encourages the reader to fight the fight.

This review is really a review of all of Robert Cameron's books of aerial photography. He has many, including books of New York City, San Diego, L.A., Chicago, etc., and every one is packed with huge, colorful, full-page aerial photos. Cameron also knows a lot about the history of the cities he photographs, writing insightful captions, and many times including old aerial photos for side-by-side comparisons.

Cameron doesn't just shoot random shots - he focuses in on landmarks, buildings, neighborhoods, parks, events, etc. The shots are so clear that, if you've been to the city, you'll be able to pick out details you remember, like a park bench you sat on or a statue you admired.

As far as the Las Vegas book goes, well, this city changes so much that now, in 2004, some of the photos are a little out of date. For example, the Bellagio was not even dreamed up yet, and the New York New York is shown under construction. Still, the wide variety of shots, from the Strip and Downtown to the sprawling suburbs to the Hoover Dam, canyons and deserts from the California line to the Arizona line, make this book exceptional. You can spend quite some time just taking in the details on a single page.

This was Camerons last original photo essay and it is a nice creshendo. Vegas is not the most beautiful place Cameron has photographed, I mean in all fairness who can compete with Carmel, Yosemite, and San Francisco, but he makes Vegas sparkle with his fantastic eye. Vegas is a city that photographs well, the desert colors really respond to the camera, one can't help but be amazed at all the construction and I'm from Houston! As a man from the west, it was fiting that Vegas should be Cameron's last hurrah, I mean if this city does not symbolize todays Sunbelt I don't know what does. I may have not chosen this city to be his last, but that does not dampen my appreciation of his talent and the beauty of his photography. I highly recommend this book as I do all of his wonderful photo essays.

I've always been a fan of photography from the air and have taken many myself. Robert Cameron has shown the beautiful city of Las Vegas in a way that most other books on Vegas (and there's a lot)lack.

The photos are crystal clear and have captions that explain the photo. Probably the most intriging of the photos are the ones of the Hotel and Casinos. The Luxor, MGM Grand, and the Stratosphere are all excellently photoed.

A great soverniger for anybody wanting to go or have been to Vegas.

I live within walking distance of Lummis' home El Alisal. It's fitting that it perches on the edge of what was the Arroyo Seco (dry gulch) whose raw beauty had attracted Lummis and early settlers. And symbolic in that the world's first freeway rushes past it now. In fact, El Alisal faced demolition until preservationists--always outnumbered in L.A.--saved the site. Lummis gave his adopted city a complicated heritage: he boosted its Spanish Californian image and so lured many newcomers who overwhelmed the vistas of fragile arroyo, hills and valleys with millions more homes. The millions clogged the roads, and so freeways followed, along the riverbeds now encased in concrete.

Mark Thompson's biography follows that assembled two decades earlier by Lummis' daughter and edited by his son from Lummis' own manuscripts, and one biography from the mid-70s that dwelt on Lummis but with far less access to personal papers. Thompson has access, and has used his resources well to more fully explore the complexity of a truly memorable character whose legacy spanned the Southwest, as he sought to preserve and conserve Native American artifacts and cultures as well as restore the California missions, create a world-class municipal library, write for what became the city's leading newspaper, and still found time to build El Alisal from boulders in the arroyo, hold there wonderfully wacky parties, carry on love affairs, conduct archeological research, ruin three marriages, keep a menagerie of animals and people at his home, and roam off from it on even more travels that followed his first publicity stunt--he sought sponsorship by keeping a travelogue weekly sent to newspapers in an early commercial tie-in for one who sought celebrity-- on his "tramp across the continent" (or most of it!) to Los Angeles from Chillicothe, Ohio, a Harvard dropout at 25 in 1888.

Naturally an exciting story, but Thompson digs deeper into how Lummis reflected but overcame some of the prejudices common to the East Coast elite from whose lower ranks he came, and how he struggled with a tempestuous personal life and a libido that created tension, led to an early stroke, and led him on even more intimate adventures much less documented. The readable yet thoroughly documented text reads at a brisk pace; all facets of Lummis' many angles gain clarity. Well-chosen photos capture the idiosyncracies of this unforgettable sombrero-bright green corduroy suit-and-Navajo belt attired eccentric, who did so much to both sustain and unwittingly erase the traces of the Spanish and Native California he came to love.

Charles Lummis is a very interesting person in American and Southwest history, but author Thompson goes way beyond what most biographers would do and produced a richly researched and highly readable story. I read this book in my car, under a streetlight, while my wife attended a Christmas function. Does that tell you how interesting it is? I've passed Lummis's home/museum thousands of times but never visited--now I will.

Mark Thompson's long & deeply researched biography of a forgotten, complex American born just before the Civil War, is fascinating. Over a long & restless life, Charles Lummis became a poet, prolific letter writer, journalist, photographer, archaeologist, editor, champion of Spanish heritage in the Americas, & Indian Rights advocate - the classic workaholic of the late 19th & early 20th Centuries.

It was his TRAMP ACROSS THE CONTINENT in 1884, which he weekly serialized in newspaper articles, that catapulted him into the public's eye. In time, as his assignments for the newly-formed Los Angeles Times, took him deeper into the Southwest which would capture his heart & soul, & closer to the American Indians for whom he would advocate mightily, he caught the ear of a President. Theodore Roosevelt came to consider Lummis a vital part of his "cowboy cabinet," & often invited him to Washington. Lummis enjoyed a life-long influence, via his editorials & many books, on the way Americans thought of themselves.

In this era of bland plasticity, AMERICAN CHARACTER, reminds us of how individualistic, passionate, offensive & charming our forefathers were. It also reminds us of how devastating was our impact upon the people & the land in a time when a man could bemoan the wholesale slaughter of buffalo & Indians, while not batting an eye as he shot other critters just for the thrill of it!

In the light of today's political correctness, Charles Fletcher Lummis' love life was as gilded with misogyny as you would expect from a man of his time - he kept his first marriage secret all through his Harvard years. As in every other aspect of his life, his thirst for affection & companionship was both utilitarian & fascinatingly eccentric.

AMERICAN CHARACTER: Charles Fletcher Lummis & the Rediscovery of the Southwest, has been named by the Western Writers of America as Winner of the 2002 Spur Award in the biography category.

Since I met the photographer last month on a volcano shoot in Hawaii, I had to buy his book as we both share an appreciation for the SouthWest. Well written and photographed in a combination of Scholarly work and ART. The book arrived after about 4 weeks (not in a hurry and I was prepared for SLOW shipping) in great condition 9.5 out of 10 or even new. Well packaged. Unbeatable price for the book. Shipping fair enough if slow.
I'd advise any shippers to use at LEAST First Class U.S. postage to Hawaii and Alaska, otherwise it comes by BARGE and takes 4-6 weeks for cheap shipping, like media mail or parcel post, Believe me, I know.
Thank You, Jock G

*RECOMMENDED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE **CHOSEN BY SOUTHWEST PARKS & MONUMENTS ASSOC. ***SELECTED BY SANTA FE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ****DISTRIBUTED BY MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO, MUSEUM OF INDIAN ARTS & CULTURES, MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA, CHACO CANYON, BANDOLIER, PECOS, HUBBELS TRADING POST, LA FONDA HOTEL, ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT & OTHER LOCATIONS.

If you're planning to travel through the American Southwest, Ancient Ancestors will guide you through 33 National Park sites. This book is unique in offering what Indian elders say about these places based on oral history tradition. Author Dr. Gregory Schaaf has served as tribal historian for over 15 years. Supported by scientific data, Ancient Ancestors offers an educational, yet fun way, to learn about Indian country in the American Southwest. Be dazzled by the color illustrations of award winning photographer Lewis Kemper. A great book for a great price.

Well worth the cost of the book a MUST HAVE for anyone thinking about buying a gun, or anyone who already has one.

Alan Korwin has done a great job of summarizing the legalese in Arizona laws pertaining to guns and their utilization in this state. In clear and concise English, he explores the ins and outs of gun ownership, legal self-defense with a gun, carry restrictions, concealed-carry licensing, and legal definitions. Illustrated with cartoons to help you remember via visualization. Can you carry a concealed weapon with a license to do so in a restaurant? Check the book, and it tells you under what circumstances it's legal. What are the requirements to be issued a concealed carry license? Check the book. In short, it's an indispensible bible to be sure you walk the line responsibly with a firearm in Arizona. Ignorance of law is no excuse, and although Arizona is one of the most "firearms friendly" states in the union, there are pitfalls for the uninformed. This book covers them well and thoroughly.

This book has all the gun laws word-for-word and in plain English too.

The Arizona Gun Owner's Guide includes all the state gun laws for having, buying, selling, carrying and using firearms; plus, the use of deadly force and self defense, concealed-carry licenses, special weapons, gun safety, school and kid laws, transportation, federal laws... you get the most complete coverage available for your state's handling of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

Includes more than 150 self-test questions, 22 lethal-encounter scenarios for study and discussion, much more. Used in classes statewide and widely endorsed. Every gun owner needs a gun owner's guide. Why take chances, don't guess, and don't be sorry later.

* Answers your questions about owning, carrying and using guns

* It's like an entire firearms law library at your fingertips

* It doesn't make sense to own a gun and not know the rules

* You sure don't want to be in trouble for a rule you never heard of

* Ignorance is no excuse-it's better to know the rules

* You have a right to know what the laws are

* Cheaper than a lawyer, and better than many!

* It's actually fun to read!

* If you knew all your rights you might demand them

"Bald Knobbers" is one of the best of the genre of popular history. It is real, documented history, but the authors do not let scholarship get in the way of telling an amazing story. "Bald knobbers" were left-overs from one of the most terrifying times and places in American history,the Arkansas and Missouri Ozark mountains during and after the Civil War. This part of the country was about evenly mixed between the Union and the Confederacy. This in itself would have caused tension and bloodshed, but to add to the problem the Ozarks in the 19th century were both remote and hilly -- the ideal place for deserters and outlaws to gather, form gangs, pillage, and kill with abandon. This book is about what took place during the few decades after the War's conclusion in Taney County, Missouri (home today of Branson), where "the law" didn't exist.

Rumors abound that Bald Knobbers were Ku Klux Klansman. Not true! They weren't racists. They were, however, shameless thugs. Cap'n Kinney started the Bald Knobbers to fight the extremely corrupted local government. Unfortunately, it was far too easy for Kinney and his Knobbers to become just like the thing they wanted to fix! In the beginning they doled out 'justice' to the deserving, but they eventually began handing out whippings, and sometimes even bullets, to anyone brave enough to speak out against them. The authors also give a rather heart-wrenching account of a massacre that resulted in the first and only state executions carried out at the Christian County Jail. The Bald Knobbers had killed two men while the men's wives and children had watched in horror. The men had spoken out against the Bald Knobbers. Several Bald Knobbers were arrested for the crime, and a 16 year old boy and his father were among the four to be hanged. When the Knobbers were hung, the ropes were too long and the Sheriff had to hang the boy twice, much to the horror of the onlooking crowd (not to mention the boy). There are other shocking events that occurred around the execution, but I won't spoil the surprise! This is a very well written book, easy to read, wonderfully researched, and even indexed! A must read for anyone living in or curious about Southwest Missouri.

This book ofers you a look of a little know part of american history . It show what happen in the Ozarks when a few men took law into thier own hands and tried to make the town right by , by-passing the courts and prision system . This book was very violent but also well researched . It also shows a very unbiased account of the players and events that took place. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new part of history to look into . This will show you alot of what people in the Ozarks went through in that time period and it may shock you.

This is a fascinating look at the history and beauty of the wonderfully remote Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks. The site of many historic great camps, a couple of which are still open for accomodations, the lake is also the site of the Gilette - Brown murder, the first "trial of the century" of the 1900's. This book even lists the history of each parcel of property on the lake. Many historic photographs show Big Moose in all its glory.

"Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks" has been recognized for excellence in state and local history by the national organization, the American Association for State and Local History and also by the New York State Upstate History Alliance.

Big Moose Lake In The Adirondacks: The Story Of The Lake, The Land, And The People is a local history project under the editorship of Jane Barlow and authorized by the Big Moose Lake History Project Committee. It tells the true story of the growth of the lakeside community that became famous because of the incident that inspired Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy." Beginning in the 1870's, and following how people's lives changed over the course of 100 years, Big Moose Lake In The Adirondacks uses both extensive, well-documented detail and black-and-white photographs to paint a revealing picture of humble daily life across the span of a century.