Central America Books

Here is the last part of Aztecs' History in CHIMALPAHIN's compiling. It's followed by a precious kind of calendar by CHIMALPAHIN himself. A prime material to understand Aztecs' meaning of life. I'm waiting for the 4 other books of this exceptional collection of indigenous testimonies (Please excuse my bad English: I'm an usual French writer)

There are many "Codices" about MesoAmerica. This one is presented as a translate of primitive nahuatl compiling of Aztecs' History. An important contribution to Mexican History. The total collection counts 6 books; two are now available.

I must say I expected a good book following the purchase of Metallic Cartridge Conversions, what you get with Colt Single Action: From Patersons to Peacemakers is a superbly produced book covering this genre. Not only informative as you would expect but written so well, not over technical just sheer good interesting subject reading, add the brilliance of Dennis Adler's photography you have one of the best books on the market. If you are a devotee of R L Wilson's books as I am, he now has some very serious competition.

This book is chuck-full of information; the opening chapters, particularly those pages dealing with Patterson rifle conversions are unique in my experience! Mr. Leavett has some fascinating pieces.

The illustrations are of the highest quality; I was happy to see the coverage given to the engraved versions of the "second-generation" black-powder revolvers, having owned a few myself.

This is right in there with the best $19.99 you can spend on a gun book.

Conscription - or the military draft - is the state forcing a person to place himself in harms way - possibly to be killed - and is a violation of the most fundamental premise of the Declaration of Independence, that men are "endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Conscription is dictatorial and antithesis to a free society, because it deprives the citizen of his guaranteed unalienable rights.

In another respect, and this was the lesson learned from Vietnam, conscription is indirectly the state's admission of defeat in war, because if the state needs to force someone to kill or die for his country, the war is already lost.

A book on this subject is a necessity.

Excerpted from my review for The Orange County Register, 10/29/06

"Hell no, we won't go!" seemingly faded overnight ... until last year, when the Army missed its recruiting goal, lowered its physical standards and raised its age limit for enlistees to 42.

Fiercely against the draft, author Philip Gold is a rare military intellectual, a self-described Jewish Marine with fancy degrees from Yale and Georgetown. Shortly after receiving his draft notice in 1970, he brazenly replied to his draft board, "I will never serve in the United States Army. Please stop wasting my time, your time and the government's postage. PS: I recently joined the Marines."

Gold has written six books and over 800 articles during his tenure as a Washington-based think-tanker. It is his humor coupled with an inundation of facts that makes "The Coming Draft" an entertaining and convincing read.

He tightly argues against the reinstatement of military conscription in America, noting that the draft has been always inequitable and rife with loopholes for abuse. Conservatives may want to bring back the draft to ready our military for more interventions, while liberals believe that more Americans will question our foreign policy when their own rears are on the line for service.

"The Coming Draft" is an important and timely book filled with insights from a deep thinker. Gold's only son recently volunteered for the Marines and may someday serve in a war that his father has strongly opposed since its inception. A draft is not needed for the Gold family, after all.

Please note that the author of this book is Tracy Will, not Charles Calhoun, and that the photgrapher is Zane Williams

Wisconsin is lucky to have Zane Williams so he can capture our lovely state. Another book that captures Wisconsin's beauty is The Spirit of Door County with photographs by Darryl Beers. Darryl is to Door what Zane is to Wisconsin!!! Thanks to both of you!!!

If you've never been to the American Southwest, this book will inspire you to go. This detailed, easy to read book filled with descriptions of the best cuisine, museums, local treasures, and natural wonders is the best available guide to the Southwest.

The guide focuses on New Mexico and Arizona, but contains some information on West Texas, southern Colorado and Utah, and Las Vegas. The major areas covered are: Central New Mexico, Santa Fe, Northern New Mexico, Four Corners, Utah canyonlands, Grand Canyon/Las Vegas, Central Arizona, Southeastern Arizona, Southern New Mexico, and Texas Trans-Pecos. Whether you're planning a trip to see the Indian pueblos and Spanish missions, see the amazing natural wonders of the mountains, or just have some great food and fun with the family, this guide will do it.

Kerrick James's photography is enough to make you get in the car and GO! Great buy.

This, as well as all the other guides in the Compass series, is a fantastic resource! The text is witty, engaging and full of wonderfully descriptive information, with an emphasis on the historical and cultural background of the area. Not only that, but the pages of the book are peppered with gorgeous color photographs and sidebars relating historical anecdotes and extra tidbits of information. It also includes the standard information on festivals, tourist attractions, restaurants & hotels, but the value of the book, for me, lies in the writing. The deep love and enthusiasm of the contributing authors for this part of the country is infectious, and makes for great reading. I have spent hours poring over the other Compass guides in bookstores, although the American Southwest is the only one I actually own, and they all follow the same pattern; this will definitely be my guide of choice for any US destination!

An excellent, balance guide of the entire state. The author finds equal pleasure in exploring the flat, high prairies of the northeastern section of the state, as well as the "signature" tourist attractions of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in the northwestern portion. The book contains sufficient pictures to truly inspire, and more than sufficient dollops of history. He wisely brings a fair degree of skepticism to various "historical events," mindful that the victors are the ones who write it.

He also has a passion for the natural beauty of the landscape, and even urges the reader to drive roads in a certain direction for maximum impact. The towns are equally described, from those worth a visit for retaining their "this is the way America was" character to those whose homogenized American sprawl of fast food joints should be passed through as quickly as possible.

The guide also contains much practical information, and I hope that the upcoming Fifth edition references websites more, in terms of those which provide the best, updated information.

I'll be in Wyoming for nine days this summer, and have planned the entire trip based on this guide. Thanks for the good work, Mr. Burt.

Logically arranged geographically with ample outstanding photographs of this spectacular state, adequate historical summary and clear highway guides.

I have reviewed many American history-related books for my college classes - textbooks, essay collections, primary source collections. Of all the choices out there, Constructing the American Past is my favorite. Each section begins with an essay that sets the stage for the documents you are going to encounter. Then comes a series of primary documents - brief enough excerpts so that you are not overwhelmed, but long enough to get a well-rounded picture of whatever issue the chapter is address. The documents are followed up with another essay, and finally you are given a few provocative questions to consider. Don't miss the set of documents on the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in the Introduction!

I am a former student of Dr. Bilhartz's who used this textbook in class. The text is full of interesting primary sources that can be examined for class discussion. Some of my favorite class discussions derived from the sources used to decipher the intent of Aaron Burr to kill Alexander Hamilton and the examination of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Also - the text includes a section on the Lincoln/Douglas debates which will bring your concept of Abraham Lincoln to a new level. A fabulous text to teach historical research - and this is coming from the student! By the way - I didn't sell back the book.

This is a wonderful purchase for anyone interested in the African influence in Latin America.

Gleaton's work is gorgeous. These photos are treasures for anyone who calls the Americas home. What's he working on now? Can't wait for the next Gleaton collection!

this is by far and away best english language book on Costa Rican politics.

this book is the finest book on CR political economy in print.

Editors Simon Evans, Sarah Carter, and Bill Yeo successfully collaborate to assemble a compendium of truly informative and insightful essays in Cowboys, Ranchers and the Cattle Business: Cross-Border Perspectives On Ranching History. From Terry G. Jordan-Bychkov's "Does the Border Matter?: Cattle Ranching and the 49th Parallel" to Simon M. Evan's Tenderfoot to Rider: Learning 'Cowboying' on the Canadian Ranching Frontier during the 1800s", to Lorain Lounsberry's "Wild West Shows and the Canadian West", the contributors bring their unique perspectives and researches to bear in a series thoroughly accessible, "reader friendly", illuminating, highly recommended perspectives and histories of the ranching business on both sides of the longest, unguarded border in North America from the days of the independent wild frontier down to the present "agribusiness" and global economy environments.

Cowboys, Ranchers And The Cattle Business will appeal to any student of American ranching and Western history, covering the work of cowboys and ranchers from early to modern times and providing different, cross-border perspectives on ranching history. The focus contrasts Canadian and American ranching history and developments and provides some intriguing facts in the process of comparing the two countries for differences and similarities.