California Books

A well put view into the world of the serpent. It lays it out so even us laymans can understand it.

Though it is an old book (1997) it is still a really really good book, which I think is a MUST for everyone keeping snakes. Some things like the taxonomy and "rearfanged-anatimy" is outdated, but still there is a LOT of really good basic info on snakes to get in this book.

I have yet to find one book covering so many topics and give so much information in a easy-to-understand language.

It is also quite easy to read, though english is not your native language.

The book is made up of 3 parts, which again is divided in chapters.

Part one is "Lifestyle"
Some topics covered here is Classification, General biology, Feeding, Venomous snakes, Reproduction etc.

Part 2 is Diversity.
Here the different families like elapids, viperids, colubrids etc are covered.

Part 3 is Synthesis.
Here Greene write s about evolution and biogeography as well as a historic chaåter where he discuss snakes in the past, present and future.

Furthermore there are 16 "special Topics" in the book. These are a few pages coverings topics like "Deadly colubrids and famous herpetologists "The coral snake mimicry problem" etc.

I, for one, would love to see an updated version of this fantastic book, since much has happend since '97.

This was my first "serious" snakebook and i have read it several times. Sometimes i still take it down from the shelf nd read my favorite chapters.

I highly recommend this for people who wants to know a little more than cage temperatures and humidity ;)

Snakes: The Evolution Of Mystery In Nature, is one of the best books on snakes I have ever owned. It is a classic right up there with Ditmars, Klauffeld, and Conant. The illustrations are flawless, and include many rarely seen species. The text is extremely well edited, with virtually no typos or spell-check misuse of words. Factually, the book is spot on, with no misidentified species, no incorrect references, and no gaffes. All of the information presented is up to date, and based on state-of-the-art research.

The author relates his personal experiences to introduce each chapter, evoking at-the-scene imagery, and lyrically conveying his point of view. The chapters are packed with information, conveying many new and fascinating tidbits of information about well know and lesser know serpents. Additionally, the chapters have special topics, which go into detail concerning specific aspects of snakes, such as the rattlesnake's rattle, mimicry of coral snakes by harmless species, and the ability of some snakes to swallow proportionately huge food items, and how these specializations may have evolved. Both the introductory essays and the special topics are illuminated by appropriate photos.

If you like snakes, reptiles, are fascinated by nature, or simply interested in evolutionary theory, this is a book you must have.

Professor Greene does a beautiful job revealing the complexities of ophidian natural history. The text is, unlike most scientific works, engaging and a joy to read. The book is further improved by the addition of personal anecdotes that shed light on both snakes and the rewards of being a herpetologist with a particular fascination in snakes. Each chapter has a section devoted to a special topic that discusses some puzzling or interesting facet of snake evolution and natural history. Professor Greene's particular interest in venomnous snakes is evident at times but certainly not overwhelming. This is truly a text for both amateur and professional alike. A great read; it will never collect dust.

I am an amateur reptile enthusiast, with a special passion for snakes, and picked up this book hoping to use it as a sort-of reference and something to flip through when I was bored. Instead, I read it cover-to-cover. One of the most rewarding and interesting books that I have ever read, I recomend it to anyone with a passion for these beautiful creatures.

Handy map, with excellent info on bus routes and all manners of public transit!!!! Can't do without this map if you're on your own and want to use public transit!

Although not as compact, we like this better than the Pocket Pilot. This map has more detail, it just doesn't fit very well in a pocket. Because of its size, it is more readable.
Golden Gate Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Walk, Bike in San Francisco & MarinZagat San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants 2009 (Zagatsurvey: San Francisco/ Bay Area Restaurants)Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to And Living in the San Francisco Bay Area: Including San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, And Palo Alto (Newcomer's Handboks)

I stayed at The Red Vic in Haight-Ashbury, a little off the beaten path. This map and my weeklong muni pass paid for themselves a gabillion times. The map worked great; I was never lost. The way they depict the touristy section of Lombard Street makes me giggle.

The streets go every witchway and having this map that we could pull easily out of our pack was a lifesaver. If you don't have a car, the BART and MUNI maps were also handy. People on the street saw us using it and always chimed in with extra advice.

These "streetwise" laminated maps are the best there is to get you around any city. Walking OR driving. We wore this one out on our recent trip to San Francisco.

Very easy to read in layman's terms. As the mother of a four year old with PDD, I would suggest this book as a great book to start off with if your child was diagnosed with autism or pdd. It touches on a lot of areas ABA, schooling etc. without getting to technical. It also has statements and examples made by adults with autism/pdd which I found very interesting.

Targeting Autism is an excellent book for those new to Autism. Families and teachers should especially appreciate the analysis and overview of the various educational interventions, from one-on-one methods, to group programs used in many preschool and school situations. The book lists many available resources and spotlights inspiring new advances in research creating an overall atmosphere of hope and possibility for the prospects of more universally effective treatments and eventual cure of this devastating developmental disorder.

Since the symptoms and manifestations of Autistic Spectrum Disorders vary in incidence and severity, those who read this book should not be unduly encouraged or discouraged by the often times conflicting reports of success and/or failure of the various treatments and interventions discussed, but rather use the information given to further investigate the possibilities of each treatment or intervention on an individual or case by case basis.

Why it should be so hard to find a book that thoughtfully discusses the myriad of autism treatments, I don't know. As a parent of a child diagnosed last year at age three, I appreciate this book.

Thank you Shirley Cohen for writing it. Thank you Amazon, for making it so easy to find.

I WORK WITH AUTSTIC KIDS SO I READ THIS BOOK TO UPDATE MYSELF.IT WAS GREAT IIT PROVIDE GREAT EXAMPLES FORM OTHER BOOKS. AND IT GAVE EVIDANCE THAT SOME OF THE CURES MIGHT WORK FORM SOME. ALSO IT PROVIDE GOOD INFO ON ASPEGERS YNDROME MOST OF THE BOOKS JUST GIVE IT A PPAARGPAPH.

First off, she defines autism in layman's terms and with first person testimonials.

Secondly, she provides a life cycle view of autism, so that you have SOME idea of what the future might hold for your child.

Third, she describes how families cope with autism, that some become driven, others fall apart, others adopt a "Holland" approach.

Then she discusses treatments, including a solid analysis of educational approaches such as Lovaas (leans positive), mainstreaming, TEACH, DAP, etc... and non-traditional approaches, such as AIT, FC, etc...

And she talks about recovery too, the controversy that very term raises. She closes this chapter with a quote that could have come straight out of my own heart: "A parent asked, What if my child remains autistic? What will we do? The best you can - with your love, your skills, and all the resources you can marshal - to help him achieve as independent and joyful a life as possible for him."

Perhaps I love this book because so much of what she writes does articulate what I have felt as I've gone over the different options for my son's interventions.

But also, her testimonials from a wide range of sources really help to illuminate autism as well.

And finally, her book is very REASONED in tone.

The only thing missing is a chapter that summarizes her thoughts about what she thinks parents should do. I mean really, most parents are reading these books for ADVICE! Even if parents eventually do something else, its always nice to have a plan laid out that you can either agree with or react against and develop your own. You won't find an action plan here, but the information provided should help you in making one of your own.

This is a well written and well illustrated guide for someone new to visiting Joshua Tree National Park. The dozen or so routes we did in this book were all challenging and enjoyable. There are thousands of routes in the Park, but this is a swell introduction for the traditional climber. At this price I don't see why any climber visiting the park wouldn't have a copy. The photographs and maps are the best I have seen in any book.

First of all, this book is written by some really nice people. This book is void of the elitism that usally comes with a guide book to an area like this. My wife and I have been to J-tree many times but this was our first year with this book. It truely enhanced our time there. The full color pictures are great, and they took all the pictures from such logical places that if you are following a road or trail and find yourself needing direction, you look up and see exactly what is in the picture for the climb you are looking for. My wife and I found ourself laughing on one climb when we were looking off in the distance for a rock formation and spotted the tree 6' in front of us that was also about 6' in front of the camera lense in the picture! And there are climbs that real people can do! I notice in other guide books the only highly rated climbs are 5.12 and up! Get this book, you won't be dissapointed. I only wish I could meet the authers and tell them of my appreciation.

Sometimes, as the saying goes, less is more. This book is a classic example of producing a user friendly rock climbing guide to one of the premier cragging areas, by limiting the scope to climbs that most people who go to Joshua Tree actually enjoy. As the title stipulates there are no 5.12 sphincter squeesers here, just interesting traditional climbs (no bolts for the sport freaks).

Each climb is photographed in color with a graphic overlay clearly showing the route. Most of these routes are short, single pitch climbs that encompass a wide variety of problems with the emphasis on classic crack climbs. Approach info and the maximum protection requirement is noted along with a very abreviated strategy for the climb. Information on lodging and camping along with dining options are covered pretty well, though the surrounding areas offer a lot more variety than the book indicates.

If you're a beginner/intermediate climber and aspire to climb in JT, this is the guide to get.

This book is the best non comprehensive climbing guide book I have ever seen. The highlights are:

- Full color photos of the routes
- Both approach photos as well as close up route photos, making it easy to find the rock and specific route
- Full park map with relative camping and route locations listed
- Very good beta on each and every route (includes sun/shade, rack suggestions, etc), usually about a page per route not including another page for photos.

So basically if you're interested in the 5.5 to 5.9 trad routes in Joshua Tree you'll love this book, simple as that.

Wow! Great book, color detailed photos of routes, sun/shade orientation for all routes & basically all the info that one needs to have a memorable trip in Joshua Tree. Also great to have a book that has a focus on climbs under 5.10. All in all this is the most informative climbing book I have ever purchased. Would have been happy paying twice the price I paid for it.

Cris Beam lived the experiences she relates in this book and relays them without embellishment. We know this because she tape recorded every conversation described, and the few she didn't tape record she kept logs of. It is written in the form of a narrative and is written with skill and intimacy. Cris Beam explains that as we mature from children into adults there is an inexorable question we each seek to find an answer to. For a transexual youth named Dominique the question was: What drug could be so good my mother would choose it over me? For Cris the question was: What child could be so bad she's unlovable? The answer to Chris's question is answered in this book: no child. This book has widened my experience of what it is to be human and I recommend it to everyone.

When Cris Beam moved to Los Angeles so her partner could get a Ph. D., she found she needed a challenge to offset the boredom of working at home in a strange city. When she heard of Eagles, a "small, scrappy high school for gay and transgender teenagers," she decided to volunteer "maybe once or twice a week."
Like most adults, she had little idea of how transgender teenagers survive on the streets. Most could care less - they shake their heads and ignore them as they pass by, or else they stop and become the kids' prostitution customers. Ms. Beam's experience with them over the next several years, chronicled in Transparent, sheds new light on their lives.
Her story is not about child abuse or exploitation, yet it reflects a great deal of both. While we hear a lot about physical and sexual abuse of children, reading this book raised several questions in my mind. What is child abuse?
Is it destroying all your 11 year-olds possessions, and then throwing him out on the street?
Is it refusing to recognize your child's identity and forcing them into a role against their will?
Is it throwing a child in jail for fighting back against abusive classmates or teachers?
Is it incarcerating transgirls in the male section of the juvenile hall or prison?
In many ways, Transparent is about children reacting to abusive authority figures of all kinds - parents, school personnel, law enforcement, social services, and medical professionals. Unloved or rejected by their birth parents because they do not fit societal norms, they find acceptance on the street. Their survival is often through prostitution and the concurrent drug use that makes it possible. This book is about survival - the struggles of unloved, rejected, cast-off children to survive and mature in whatever way they can.
Transparent also serves as a primer for dealing openly and supportively with these kids. They need acceptance and family - and they find it on the streets with their "drag mothers," and gender variant brothers, and sisters. They need love. Cris beam shows just how much they need love and how difficult it is to overcome their natural fear of adults and authority figures. Transparent shows the impact a single, concerned, loving person can have on their lives.
We need more such people.

The subject of transgender teenagers may make some uncomfortable, but this book will help any family going through this situation.

TS lit has been largely dreary, solipsistic and poorly-written over the years. Jennifer Finney Boyan's bestselling She's Not There, building on her pre-exisiting literary skills, rectified matters considerably.

Now, here's something even better - a TS tale told by a feminist woman, and told with the narrative power of a secure and sagacious novelist. Smart, sure, but dramatic, too. And the story is an original one.

Not a false step anywhere. Fascinating, vivid, human as all-get-out, intense. And the ending - wow! - like, I was reduced to happy tears. Transparent, meriting repeated readings, would sure make a marvelous movie.

Impressive! It will be interesting to see where Beam goes next.

This book deals primarily with transgendered teens, a subject which may make many people uncomfortable. Cris Beam does, however, humanize the entire phenomenon as she tells the story of four teenagers who are intimately involved in the transition from one gender to the opposite. I suggest it is a particularly valuable book for any family who is facing this type of situation as well as any reader who is interested in the "why's" and "wherefores" of transgenderism. This phenomenon is not unknown to history nor to anthropology. It is, in other words, not a uniquely contemporary or American phenomenon; nor is it the result of the so-called "sexual revolution" of the 1960s. It was not unknown in ancient Greek and Roman times and it has been uncovered in studies of other cultures ranging from the Mojave Indians to the natives of Tahiti.

Whether or not the transgendered phenomenon is biologically based or psychologically determined, a matter of nature or nurture, or a matter of genetic influences or environmental construction remains, at least in my considered opinion, unknown. I think much of the present controversy over transgenderism is misguided since no definitive and empirically validated evidence exists as to its genesis. To her credit, the author refrains from attempting to explain or justify or rationalize the question. Beam spends the bulk of her time simply describing what these teenagers are experiencing. That, at this point in the discussion at least, is about as much as anyone can do. And one can't help but sympathize with what these teens are going through even if one doesn't exactly relate to the circumstances they face.

Can there really be such a thing as a woman's psychological being within a man's physical body? Can nature be so cruel as to give one male genitals but a female psychology? Can a child really "think" that his or her physical gender is a mistake and he or she ought to be of the opposite gender even in spite of physical evidence to the contrary? I have no idea and Beam, in my opinion, doesn't make a solid case regarding any of this. On the other hand, I don't know how to refute someone who says, "I feel like I'm really a female imprisoned in a man's body." Such a mental state is a subjective experience and one which no "outsider" can truly share. Contrary to the assertion of a former U.S. president, I cannot feel your pain. Your pain is yours and yours alone. I may be able to vicariously identify with it to the extent that I've had a similar pain but, no, I cannot feel your pain. Similarly, I cannot say that your thinking that you're a woman (or man) trapped in the wrong physical body is untrue, or disingenuous, or a matter of your "arbitrary choice."

There is a point upon which I must disagree with Beam if I understand her correctly: Genitalia are irrelevant to determining a person's sex. This is flatly false. Except in the rare cases where a child may be born with both male and female genitalia, the sex of a child is wholly determined by the presence of either male or female sex organs. However, it could be argued, I think, that "gender" is another matter. Sex organs determine male and female from a strictly physiological perspective but, I think it can reasonably be argued, "gender" describes masculinity and femininity or a degree thereof. Masculinity and femininity tend to be "psychological" or "mental" states and do not necessitate a physical dimension. Thus, one could be transgendered without being a transsexual, I would propose. If this has any efficacy, then the difference between one's "sex" and one's "gender" might be better explained and elucidated.

(As a sidebar to the above, it is interesting to note that while most languages seem to allow for only two "sexes," many languages have words categorized into three or four "genders." English is one of the latter and nouns can be designated as masculine, feminine, neutral, or common.)

The main difficulty I had with the book, although Beam's prose is fluid and easily read, is with the pronouns "he" and "she" which are ascribed to the transgendering subjects at various stages of their development and can confuse the reader as to who or what is being addressed at any specific time. Our language is obviously deficient when it comes to describing a phenomenon such as this and one can get confused as to the gender of the subject being discussed. Sometimes one of the teens insists on being addressed as "she," only to revert to his original physical gender and be addressed as "he." Sorting it all out and keeping the narrative consistent can be somewhat difficult.

Nevertheless, regardless of one's personal opinion or attitude toward transgendered teens (or adults, for that matter), there is a story here to be told and Beam does a fine job of telling it. Besides the personal narratives provided, Beam includes some valuable information about transgenderism from both the psychological and medical perspectives. She also includes some important resources at the end of the book, as well as an informative bibliography.

While I cannot pretend to fully understand why anyone, especially a young teenage boy, wants to become a member of the opposite sex or feels the desire to do so, the fact remains that such is the reality regarding some young members of our society and culture. It would seem worthy of us as human beings, therefore, to put aside any qualms about this matter and attempt to try to understand it without resorting -- which is all too common the case -- to moralizing about it or passing premature judgments on it. These young people, as Beam describes them in her book, are facing struggles and challenges of a sometimes horrendous nature and at least deserve a hearing and our empathy as fellow human beings. Furthermore, Beam is to be commended for her compassionate approach to this difficult subject.

As assistant director of the Mathews Memorial Library, I have made sure the Milford-Haven novels have been entered into our collection and they are now circulating. Patrons have enjoyed reading this series and we look forward to Mara Purl's next installment!

Milford-Haven is my new favorite place, and it's filled with my new best friends!

I read Mara Purl's What The Heart Knows at one sitting, and there appears to be no end to her talent. Her verbal imagery is very effective, and she draws her readers into the story easily. Good work!

I loved Mara Purl's "What The Heart Knows"! It was engrossing and terrific! How long do we have to wait for book two?

I have just read "What The Heart Knows" with great enjoyment. All Mara Purl's characters are vivid and each one is memorable. Although there are a lot of them, there's no confusing them. She has excellent control of each one and scatters her hints and clues which I look forward to having explained/ expanded upon as the series continues. This writer is well on her way to giving Danielle Steel a run for her money!

'Above Los Angeles', another in Robert Cameron's birds eye views of major cities is, to me, surprisingly superior to his similar volume on his hometown of San Francisco. Since I much prefer SF to LA, I expected LA to be far less photogenic, but it comes of rather well overall. This may be due to the fact that so many of the LA landscapes familiar to us from TV mentions, but unseen for most of us, leaves us facinated to finally see, for example, Venice Beach close-up or the Hollywood Bowl, or Century City.

This is still not quite as good as the similar volume for Chicago ore even less good than the volume on London, or even as good as a competitor's work on Boston, but it is good, nonetheless, if only because it confirms my notion that LA is a sprawl with no center. The 'downtown' pic looks like a non-descript snap of outer Queens and not similar to Manhatten's financial district or midtown, to which it is comparable in function. Even the shorelines look more interesting than the similar scenes from the SF book.

An excellent souvenoir!

This book is a must have for all those who love L.A. natural and urban landscapes, but can't be there all the time to enjoy that. As the city has gigantic proportions, of course that not everything can be covered in the book, but at least what I consider to be the most attractive spots in the area is there. The paper is high-quality and the photographs are crystal-clear and well produced. Worth the money.

I just love these books by Cameron, he is just the most amazing talent. This book really captures L.A. and this is a city that begs to be photographed from the air because of all the wonderful buildings hidden behind huge fences and lush landscape. This is without question one of his best books, it really is a joy to look through. I have the older edition, but have seen the newer book and it only adds a few new pictures of buildings built since the book was first published in the early 90's; such as the Getty. I was expecting more new pictures, since the publisher makes big deal about it being revised, I even thought I might buy it if it was that different, but there are like five new pictures out of about 160 original and like I said before they where not even taken by Cameron. These pictures are well done, but are not by Cameron himself, he is alas over 90 and retired. Either printing is a five star book I assure you. I highly recommend all of his books they are all wonderful in their own way, but this truly is one of his best works.

Los Angeles is a wonderful city so full of interesting things. This book has it all. All the areas are greatly photographed and look clear. LA's smog problem seems to be subsiding as the photos show clear days (most of them) and LA is only getting better. Every part of the city is showned. If you like photos from the air, you'll like this book. Also, the Library tower is shown (this is the first building to get blown up in the movie "Independence Day") in several photos. The older printings of this book didn't have them in it. I highly recommend this book.

Robert Cameron presents a place and its' character in this "above" book (as well as in the other ones). Some people fly over the Los Angeles area, gagging and shaking their heads. Mammoth highways, concrete, smog, track housing, and monster burbs. These qualities do exist. But Cameron's photos also allow you to see the different personalities and idiosyncrasies of the many communities that make up what we call Los Angeles, from the Southbay beaches to the hills. (Where LA begins and ends we're not always sure). The area of Los Angeles (like other places) is different from other major metropolitan American areas for a variety of reasons. For one, most of the topography is flat, and it's a coastal desert paved with transplants with ambition and liking for the sun. These pictures allow the City of Angels to be more intriguing and have more of its' personality exude itself, as the reader gets a closer look at it through these pictures.

Mental pictures.

Yes, there are those who state Los Angeles County is an area with few landmarks. First you've got have a good disposition to this place, and second you've got to get close. Cameron's shots provide plenty of pockets of beauty and character, and plenty of quintessential "LA" landmarks. One must close enough to observe and experience them. "Above Los Angeles" lets us. Photos that highlight the interesting and beautiful icons of this city's architecture and natural character.

Another book for LA-philes and those interested in its' history and growth is: "LA Lost & Found: An Architectural History of Los Angeles (California Architecture and Architects, No 21)." by Sam Hall Kaplan, and Julius Shulman (Photographer).

Great book with lots of good info. It's geared more to the SUV owner who does not really do any serious offloading, but hey, thats ok. Leaves the really remote places for those willing to go out on their own. It is a great way to discover new areas and launch off on your own.

I won't rehash how good this book is, you have all 9 other reviews to do it. Just a note of caution, make sure you buy the latest edition (from 2006). Amazon still lists the one from 2002 first in the search results.

I like the GPS coordinates, and the fact that it gives directions and mileage for each trail in both directions. So you have a lot more flexibility on how you plan your outing.

this series is extremely useful. covers offroading options from beginner level to seriously advanced. each option is rated for difficulty, accompanied by maps and directions and, importantly, gps coordinates at each key junction on the route. hence one could make the trip without road signs using a gps if absolutely necessary. great photographs and good history regarding each trip make this a stimulating and priceless resource.

We have two other 4-wheel drive books for northern California, but neither one comes close to this! The color pages, descriptions, and added history and nature lessons are great. We enjoy the eastern Sierra and were glad to find so many trips for that area in this book. We can't wait for the snow to melt so we can try some trips out!

This is the top dog for off road books. I've driven several of these courses in my stock Chevrolet truck with zero problems. Beautiful lay-out, great descriptions and GPS coordinates. Get this book!

California Boomer has layers of meaning, some simple and others bold, and brave. The author gives us so many life lessons, insights, and details, many times overlooked by individuals but ever so important. If you get past the sweet and touching first few stories you'll be pulled into an ever more complex set of people, and at times, almost surreal situations. This book is never dull and will make you think about your own life. I'll be looking for more works by Don Noyes-More. Totally enjoyed this read.

I've waited to write a review until I fully digested what I have read. Boomer is unlike any other biography or time based book I've read before. It is a deeply honest book that demands and commands attention from the reader. There is no place to hide after reading this book, if indeed that is your reaction to raw truth! Boomer hits on many life themes and topics in ways that to me were unexpected. The message at the end is clear and concise yet with an edge of joy mixed with pathos. The second time I read the book I read it backwards, somehow that made the book come doubly alive. If you're into reality reading Boomer will be a great experience.

Sometimes, just sometimes something very good comes in a small package. This 162 page book is just one of those sometimes. "Boomer" is sometimes sweet, sometimes stark and disturbing; a panorama of Boomer California; human vistas and depths.Trust me you'll not read anything near this saga of human emotion, of life at its rawest anywhere! I was deeply drawn into this personal journey and found myself wanting answers to many questions at the end of the book. This is Americana at its personal best. The author's brave and good spirit is an example for us all. "Boomer" will last in your thoughts, it has in mine.

As a media person I found "Boomer" an exceptional work. The book offers a tour de force of the California Boomer years with deeply etched personalities, emotional environments, and political-social life. This book is personal and yet cuts through many topics and insights. Any one story stands on its own, but all the stories together provide exceptional reading. Being in Hollywood media I was interested in the stories about Hollywood personalities, some mentioned by name others renamed (but I knew who the author was writing about). Yet the entire work has given me great pause, reflection and a thankfulness for the author's message. Boomer is a good read.

Totally enjoyed Boomer. It is hard to define a book with so many important parts, so many insights. You can't but be touched by this author's journey through life. Boomer is a collection of stories about the author and the many people of his life. This book is striking in both its softness and then hard hitting, gut wrenching experiences. The book at times seems almost odd for its inclusiveness and acceptance of at times seemingly different insights and life positions. But it all comes together and we are left with a profound message of Life, Love, and Hope. This is more than a California story, it is a story of the human condition; good, bad and inspiring. I believe that Mr.Noyes-More has written a book for us all. Boomer is a book of courage and honesty well worth the time and money.

I have several cookbooks, but this is by far my favorite. I have never used a cookbook as often as I do this book, and I have consistently had great results. So far my husband and I have tried about 20 things out of this book, and they have all been delicious--cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.

The best part about this book is the simplicity. Most of the recipes in this book don't have a ton of ingredients, and the ingredients it calls for are usually things I have on hand, or I just need to get a few easy (and inexpensive)items. That is my main problem with other cookbooks that I own: they are beautiful to look at and the food is indeed delicious, but many of the ingredients are things I would never have on hand and I end up spending a lot of money just to get everything I need.

This cookbook has consistently produced delicious results with very little effort. The ingredients are remarkably simple in some of the dishes and it just makes cooking out of this book a really fun experience. I love the Southern California theme too. I am from San Diego and these recipes really do capture the casual yet elegant style of America's Finest City.

I have set a goal for myself that I am going to try every recipe in this book. It may take a little time, but I am looking forward to trying everything--and as I said before, I've never wanted to do that with any other cookbook. My other cookbooks look really pretty on my shelf but don't get nearly as much use as this one, because this one is not intimidating and doesn't require a huge shopping list to prepare the food.

I highly recommend this book. I'm getting one for my mom for Christmas too.

I got this book as a gift for my in-laws and my parents and they LOVE IT. The recepies are easy, yet sophisticated and the instructions are so simple even those handicapped in the kitchen are able to make all of the recepies. Easy to follow recipes, vivid pictures, and amazing food. A great buy!!

This is a fabulous cookbook. Everything I have made has been highly complimented by all who taste. I love the drink recipes, the Ultimate Sangria is to die for! The great introductions to each meal are a great read as well. The best part about the purchase is you know that your money is not only going to help you make good food, but to help Junior League of San Diego. This cook book is a worthy purchase!

Please buy this wonderful cookbook from the Junior League of San Diego. You only pay $[...] plus tax & shipping and the proceeds will directly benefit the community projects run by the Junior League.

By far this is my favorite cookbook to own and give as a gift for bridal showers, birthdays, or the holidays. I love that it includes recipes for cocktails. :-) I've given this as a gift to women AND men and have been warmly thanked by all. It even earned the approval of my boyfriend's sister, who has a Master's degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins. She is a tough critic when it comes to food and was impressed by the variety in California Sol Food and the light, healthy dishes. Buy your own copy (or 2) today!

California Sol Food is my favorite cookbook with easy to follow recipes, beautiful photos, delicious results!!! I have a huge collection of cookbooks but I have found this book to be perfect for casual but elegant entertaining, San Diego style.