California Books

Trekking California is a beautifully presented book, with amazing photos, enticing descriptions and a selection of some of the finest treks in the Sierras and California. Everything that is said in the other reviews is true. The maps are beautifully rendered in shaded relief and great for planning, but they are inadequate for actual use. Bring a 7.5' topo of the area you are planning to explore. The on-trail segments are great; these trails are popular enough to be well-maintained and well-traveled. Please be cautious about the cross-country sections described in this book. For the most part, descriptions are very accurate, telling you how to circumnavigate cliff-outs and identifying landmarks. Yet, we found some descriptions completely underestimated. For example, in the Minarets area (Trek 10), the drop-down from Lake Catherine to the N. Fork of San Juaquim Riv. is very well described, and adequately labeled as Class 2. However, the hike back up through Ritter Pass was briefly mentioned, with no rating level. We found it to be Class 2 talus that was extremely loose and pretty steep; this can be verfied from TRs around the internet. It's true that other books around provide even less information (i.e. Secor, Moynier), but at least Secor rates it adequately as Class 2. But Richins presents a book that appears approachable to beginners, yet can potentially get you into trouble. I would suggest obtaining more beta for the cross-country sections through other sources from people who have done the trip you are planning via Richins.

Regardless, this is an amazing book; filling a niche of selecting some of the best long treks in California. The side-trips, variations to add or subtract mileage, and mountaineering options make this book invaluable to the experienced weekend warrior.

Great book with useful information for those wanting a little more out of their trips in backcountry of CA. Most of the book concentrates on The Sierras, which for me is a good thing. This book gives all the usefull information needed for making you trips a success. The book covers all the basics, but also touches upon going light, and proper nutrition which most guide books don't touch upon. Alot of the treks in this book has cross-country variations as well as side trips that will make your trips more interesting than the average trail type trek. The photos in this book are outstanding, and the easy nature that Paul writes makes the book very enjoyable to read. I will be using this book on many backpacking, oooppsss I mean trekking journeys this summer and many more to come. Buy it!

THE SPECTACULAR COLOR PHOTOS, THE CLEAR NARRATIVE AND THE WELL DRAWN MAPS ENTICE ME INTO THE HIGH SIERRA. THIS TREKKING GUIDE BY PAUL RICHINS HAS PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR VARIED ROUTES INTO THE SPLENDID MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA. I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING SOME OF HIS SUGGESTIONS.

For a long time I thought Paul Richins' Mt. Whitney trail guide was the best contemporary Sierra guide book I had ever used, but along comes the deceptively titled "Trekking California" (also by Paul Richins) that establishes a new high water mark.

The title notwithstanding, this 285 page book covers 15 high sierra hikes of 7 days or less and 5 other trips in the Trinity Alps and along the northern coast. The routes cover both established trails (Class 1) and cross country treks (Class 2/3) and many incorporate a combination of the two. The book is organized with the standard "what to expect", "what to take", "what to do, if" type of information that either provides new and insightful tips or just takes up book pages depending on one's experience level; some might consider it superfulous.

What isn't superfulous, however are the beutifully rendered maps incorporated throughout the book, really some of the best for trail use (and I mean established trails, not cross country routes) I've seen. Coupled with the outstanding color photography this guide really surpasses the more comprehensive Sierra North/South series which had been the benchmark for years. Most of the trips include interesting side treks that can be mixed and matched to extend the journeys to 10 days or more without making them feel like a walk-in camping trip. I'm familiar with many of the southern sierra trips and have taken them in similar form. To my knowledge the information is accurate, though one must remember that a Class 1 trail route doesn't mean "easy walk"....some of these trips include significant elevation gain (and loss) within single days, so while the trail may be maintained and clear there will still be plenty of huffing and puffing involved; and most are at higher elevation trail heads to begin with. All would be advised to camp at least the first night at the trail head to aclimate to the altitude. While the trail maps included in the book are clear one shouldn't fail to take (and know how to use) appropriate USGS topo maps of the relevant quadrants.

The guide covers some of the most spectacular wilderness country still with us and the book is a wonderful intro to many of the most rewarding trips. This is one of those books that I would recommend getting two copies of....one to keep at home and read for planning purposes and another to "tear apart" and carry the relevant maps and information pages in your map case (or plastic freezer bag). Really, it's that good.

Most of the treks are in the High Sierra, a place I am well familiar with. The book is a great list for ideas, saving experienced people the effort of poring over maps to develop tentative plans and make decisions. For novices, the book includes all the standard information and advice: on gear, food, weather, going light, mountain maladies and treatment, lightning and bears.

And the pictures! More than just snapshots of the country one would see, they provide a stimulus and motivation to get out there right now. I have traveled on parts or all of 12 of the 20 treks; now I am anxious to do more of them.

This book goes on my bookshelf, next to Moynier & Fiddler, Secor, and Croft.

This book was most enjoyable--An historical and literary voyage through history until it capsizes--here, at our feet and on our shores on the California-Mendocino Coast.

WOW what fun, work and incredible research the author had to dive through. THIS IS GREAT READING!

The Voyage of the Frolic is a readers dream. Bostonian History, Maritime life, Chinese trade, the Coast of California and our indigenous Indians all rolled into one well written and enjoyable read. Thank you Professor Layton for unraveling the past and placing it in a wonderful china bowl for all of us to peruse and get to know.

Layton is a master at pulling you in and teaching you a thing or two. I'd love to learn more about the Chinese connection.

A model of the Frolic is on display at the Cabrillo Lighthouse, Mendocino, CA. Before you visit the area, read this book. The book covers the entire history of the Frolic, those who built it, the course it took for its short 6 year life -- before sinking off Pt. Cabrillo. Its history includes its involvement with the Opium War, American incursions in China and exciting trade run with opium, Chinese ceramics and silks. A must read if you're interested in international history and the ships that created commerce and connection with the rest of the world.

Oddly enough, our book group chose Voyage of the Frolic and what great fun and an education it has been. I've always dreamed of going on an archeological expedition and here, without the dirt, pan, screens and brushes, I've discovered another layer of the past. What an eclectic history California has.

Pam Ward has weaved a tale about a girl name Trudy that is set on getting revenge on her ex boyfriend Lil Steve. She comes up with a plan to get her out the hood and at the same time pay him back for giving her a bad name.

I couldn't put this book down once I started it! This author is so detailed that you feel as though you are one of the characters!

I read alot of books, but this one so far is my FAVORITE! I took this book everywhere with me and every chance I got I read it, but at the same time I tried not to read too much because I didn't want it to end. Trust me, this book is that good!!!

There are alot of characters in this story, but you'll have no problem keeping up with them. I can't wait to read her second book thats due out this month, Bad Girls Burn Slow.

I had a girlfriend suggets this book to me and I was surprised to find so many well written male characters inside. The male dialogue in " Want Some Get Some" really discribes how men think. Who is this woman Pam Ward and how did she get so much information on us. I can't wait to see what she will do next.

I like how you're inside the words immediately. The characters excite and scare. Little Steve is righteous in his beliefs. Trudy struggles in her journey of revenge and gets some on the way. The club where everyone eventually winds up is phantasmagoria of life. The pace is hectic and heartfelt. I enjoyed it in the fast lane on the 101.

I always glance inside a book to read a few paragraphs before making a purchase - just to get a feel of it. Well, let me tell you, I was hooked on this one before I even walked out of the store! In a story with so many characters, it could be easy to lose track of them - but not here. The author paints each detail with such expertise that you feel like you're in the story - watching from the sidelines and sweating with them in the L.A. heat.

This story is raw and it's street. It's also refreshing that Trudy wasn't living "ghetto fabulous" which has become too common a lifestyle in today's urban fiction. She wasn't regarded as street royalty, driving around in the latest cars, and dripping in diamonds (so bored with those stories). She's a girl who is trying to make her way out the best way that she knows how; getting even with a hustler who did her wrong is just gravy!

I loved this gritty tale and can't wait to hear more from this author!

Street tale novelists better move over and make room for this gritty and edgy debut novel by Pam Ward! Want Some, Get Some is an urban tale that centers around Trudy aka Trudy with the Booty, a twenty year-old woman who knows that the streets of South Central LA are not all that life has to offer and wants out of living her daily nightmare.

Life has truly dealt Trudy a funky deck of cards. Her slick and shady ex-boyfriend, Lil Steve, hustled her into a relationship and making a sex tape only to turn around and sell it around the neighborhood, leaving her to face constant ridicule and unwanted sexual advances. Trudy's mother, Joan, turns her back on her only child and kicks her out of the house, leaving her to face life on the streets, living in seedy apartments and with even more seedier people. Joan tries to use the excuse of the tape as the reason for kicking Trudy out, but it is really her own personal motives that she puts first instead of her daughter. Trudy finds the only thing that keeps her sane is singing on stage at Dee's Parlor, a rundown juke joint that serves as a true black hole for all the shady players, hustlers, ballers, and shot callers.

Trudy knows that revenge is truly best served cold so she drums up a bank heist plan to not only get out of her nightmare but get back at Lil Steve. Working at Dee's Parlor surrounded by some of the best of the best in the underworld gives her a perfect opportunity to put this plan into action. The only thing Trudy did not think about was that everyone has something that they want and will do whatever it takes to get it.

Pam Ward writing is very blunt and not for the faint of heart. There are plenty of characters in this novel that might confuse you at first but as the story progresses all of them intertwine to create one firecracker of a novel. Not only is there plenty of action and suspense, but there is also a hint of romance. Readers might need to buckle their seat belts and hold onto their seats, because this novel will take you on an intense ride that you will surely not forget!


Reviewed by Angelique
APOOO BookClub

This book is an in-depth and thoroughly detailed discussion of the various features of Painter X. But more than that, it is also an excellent step-by-step how-to for using these features to create a very satisfying painting from a photograph - with almost limitless potential variability. While artistic effects are certainly involved, this is not a book for the graphic artist who has the ability to create a painting starting from scratch on a blank canvas. For that one might consider Painter X Creativity: Digital Artist's Handbook by Jeremy Sutton, or the Painter X Wow! Book by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis.

The only flaw is one found in the otherwise useful accompanying CD. While most tutorials were easily viewed, some were obscured by a red screen, with an error message stating that the problem was due to an error using Macromedia Projector.

But don't let this one flaw deter anyone interested in this book. The book is excellent.

The author also writes for the San Diego U&T; many of these trips are culled from his archives.
He knows the area, and he has an adventurous spirit. He maps out routes that are out-of-the-way, ones that you wouldn't think of yourself, like out to a desert town, but also more urban trips. The attention to detail is key; miles, times, markers, etc.

A great guide if your new to the area, or, if you've lived here for awhile and want to experience a part of San Diego you've missed.

I had the chance to see and hear this author at a local community college. In addition to his appearances on a local television station, he has written for the Travel section of the San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE. No other county in the United States offers beach, mountains and desert all within its boundaries. And such treasures as a historic gold-mining town turned picturesque destination, an almost-unspoiled desert, a world-famous observatory, an authentic Mexican village. the first California mission are also contained here. One can almost spend a week or more on a vacation without traveling far from San Diego and still feel that he has been to unique places.

This book is great! We have done one drive so far and it left from our front door. We did everything he instructed and had a GREAT time! We went to a restaurant he suggested and it was awesome. My advice is to call ahead if you plan to go to a restaurant he has suggested because some close early. If you are a local and want a great book to liven up your weekends, this is it. You will explore San Diego and have a blast while doing so. All in your backyard!!

My husband and just got home from one of the trips in the book, "Russians, Wineries and the Real Baja," which goes from Ensenada, to Tecate, Mexico. We had a wonderful time. It is so beautiful and we saw a side of Mexico we never expected. I highly recommend this book.

Coming from New England I needed a lot of advice on what to do with the clay soil and arid climate in Southern California. The Sunset Western Garden Book along with this selection is a great combination for those new to gardening in Southern California. (Try the soil amendment recipe, it worked wonders form me!)

The combination of this book plus Sunset's Western Garden Book will arm the southern California garden enthusiast with all the tools and experience necessary to give a green thumb's up. A true plant geek will find validation and a friend in Smaus' and will read the book saying "been there, loved that". Activities like hoarding plants bought from the Huntington Garden's May plant sale struck a familiar chord.

A transplant to Southern Cal. will quickly gain the inside track to where to go and what to plant to make the best of this unique climate.

Thank You Mr. Smaus ! Finally a book that talks directly to the Southern California gardener. If you live and garden in the So. CA area this is the book you need. Maybe I won't have so many failures in the coming year. This book opened my eyes wide.

If you live in Los Angeles, you need this book. Smaus is the garden writer for the excretal Los Angeles Times and one of its sole redeeming virtues. Smaus covers a range of topics, including plantings suggested for our area and timing of various tasks. Unlike most gardening books, which are written for East Coast or Mid-West audiences, and which are generally unhelpful for our unique climate, Smaus' advice has proven consistently accurate. The book's sole flaw is the lack of an index. Because the articles are short and there is a detailed table of contents, this is not a major problem. Highly recommended.

If you are tired of gardening advice that's good on the East Coast, but doesn't work in Southern California, this is the book for you. It provides real solutions for our unique climate, advice from local professionals, and a reliable planting schedule. This book and Sunset Magazine's Western Garden Book are all you need for successful gardening in Southern California. And in spite of the tone of this review, I have no affiliation whatsoever with the author or publisher :)

Reviewed by Sheryl Root

Andrea (Andi) Carter certainly didn't intend for an impromptu horse race down Main Street with her friend, Cory, to end with almost trampling their new teacher. Not the best first impression! If that wasn't bad enough, Virginia Foster, the teacher's daughter, seems to find great pleasure in tattling on Andi and getting her into further trouble any chance she can.

Andi's mother tells her she needs to treat Virginia with Christian kindness, no matter how Virginia treats her. But when an escaped prisoner comes into their classroom and takes the students hostage, Andi faces the hardest and most dangerous decision of her life. Will she have the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the cost?

Andrea Carter and the Dangerous Decision is the second book in the Circle C Adventures series by Susan K. Marlow, set in 1880s California. Readers will empathize with Andi's struggles and failures as well as her courage and spunk. Like most of us, Andi tries to do the right thing, but finds herself often falling short. I laughed and cried with Andi--she's a very likable heroine.

Armchair Interviews says: This was a page-turning read and a satisfying continuation to the series.

Andi and Taffy are back in this sequel to "The Long Ride Home", and they are up to no good from the get-go, leaving the new schoolmaster in the dust and getting off to a bad start for the school year. The schoolmaster's spoiled daughter, Virginia, makes life miserable for Andi, and we accompany our young friend on her journey of accepting and even learning to love as God loves us...even people who seem to want to make our lives miserable.

I love the Circle K Adventure books, and I left my 'tween days behind a very long time ago. Without being "preachy", Mrs. Marlow incorporates the Lord's directive to "love one another as I have loved you", something that we can all use a reminder of, no matter our age!

Hurry back, Andi. I'm dying to know what you're up to now!!

Susan Marlow's latest book is packed with even more fun and adventure for her main character, Andi. The story is set in the old west with plenty of horses and activities that will appeal to young girls. Along with all of this Andi has to make some hard life decisions that reinforce good moral qualities. This is a book I would recommend to any parent or young girl.

There's action on every page of "Andres Carter and the Dangerous Decision" by Susan K. Marlow. Readers will cheer Andi through one adventure after another. Will Andi decide to walk into a life-threatening situation to save a mean-spirited schoolmate? This will be the hardest decsion in her twelve years of life.

Well, I'm jealous! I wish Susan Marlow had written about Andi Carter and her palomino Taffy a lot sooner. ANDREA CARTER AND THE DANGEROUS DECISION takes us back to the heyday of children's books. The setting lets you take an authentic look at frontier California in the 1880's. Andi lives on the Circle C ranch, and there are plenty of horses (even wild ones) to hold the reader's attention. The promise of more Circle C Adventures to come in this series takes me back to when I could hardly wait to see what happened to my book friends in the next installment.

Many series have come down the pike since I was a kid. Marlow's mixes all the elements that I found so enticing, but thank goodness ANDREA CARTER doesn't stop there. There are genuine plot twists, and Andi and her friends are so real that you can see them talking. The bonus is that Andi knows the Lord and depends on Him when she volunteers to go with an escaped convict as a hostage. No easy answers mar the story. Andi is a real girl with real problems, one that readers will welcome as a friend. And yes, I'm looking forward to the next book! Hurry, Andi!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2BQ4EWXI8X74C This book transcends genre -- it's a good collection of memoirs, entertaining style, nice splash of humor, an extremely detailed travelogue with beautiful photographs, a good description of technology, a touch of Science Fiction (since it is purportedly written by a Artificial Imagination program) and suffused with philosophical musing and last but not the least, a moving love story.

Even though it's obviously written by a Technologist, the book is very human. It is primarily about the immigrant experience, but Kalpanik is extremely observant and has an eye to look for the unusual, notice what stands out and build humorous side of people, places and his own life.

Wonderful! I am specially moved by his bitter-sweet love story at the end.

Here are some poster size photos and calendars from the book:

Scenic City and Boat Photo Poster
University of Washington Photo Poster
Seattle Secenic Sunset Photograph
Thonging At the Beach
San Francisco Scenic Union Square Photo Poster
Nashville Tug Boat on Cumberland River Photo Poster
"Playing Guitar" Photo Poster
Pike Place Market Photo Print
Beach Hotties Poster

This book combines elements from good humor, a memoir, a scenic travelogue, a touching love story, science fiction and philosophy.

Whether you ever wondered about meaning of it all, or you want to read something light amusing, or want to see places like Seattle, San Diego, Nashville from the eyes of the writer, or vicariously live the life of a
student at University of California, this book is for you!

The author, purportedly an Artificial Imagination computer program simualting a life/career journey through the Hi Tech and yet very sdcenic world of California and Washington (Settle) is witty still though down to earth and funny! The book is written in a very conversational style, as if you are reading a letter from a close friend!!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RH3902RKHGQYG reat book, will make you laugh, smile, giggle, chuckle, giggle, crack up, guffaw and generally have a good time. Extremely nice photos. And it is actually very thoughtful, one can quickly see through the pretended thoughtlessness. Here are some posters and calendars with the high resolution versions of the book:
Scenic City and Boat Photo Poster
University of Washington Photo Poster
Seattle Secenic Sunset Photograph
San Francisco Scenic Union Square Photo Poster
Nashville Tug Boat on Cumberland River Photo Poster
Pike Place Market Photo Print
"Playing Guitar" Photo Poster
San Diego Scenic Waterfront Poster

This book transcends genre -- it's a good collection of memoirs, entertaining style, nice splash of humor, an extremely detailed travelogue with beautiful photographs, a good description of technology, a touch of Science Fiction (since it is purportedly written by a Artificial Imagination program) and suffused with philosophical musings.

Even though it's obviously written by a Technologist, the book is very human. It is primarily about the immigrant experience, but Kalpanik is extremely observant and has an eye to look for the unusual, notice what stands out and build humorous side of people, places and his own life.

Wonderful! one can feel a touch of his bitter-sweet experiences but one is encouraged by his ability to find humor everywhere.

Great book, love it! It's hilarious! I could not stop giggling, I cracked up page after page. Really Nice!

And so many nice photographs. I was traveling with the author, feeling his ambitions, his surprise, excitement and pain. And what a brave soul! He (yes, despite its claims to have been written by an AI program, this book is written by a loving, feeling, breathing human for sure!)--He is able to maintain his sense of humor even as he moves from one place to another, faces one set back after another! He always comes back!

Wow! What a story!!

Oh, And the love story in the end is touching.

Small heafty book feels good in your hand and is a total pleasure to read. I kept reading "jokes" and "wisdoms" from the book to my husband and couldn't wait to read the next little chapter. I hated the book to end. What a wit Bruce Bellingham is!

"Bellingham by the Bay" is relaxing reading -- and entertaining. It's something I keep by the bed. I'm a retired English Lit teacher and when the world grows too serious, I keep returning to "Bellingham" for its good writing and witty, irreverent insights. At my age, laughter is a great elixir. Try it!

I was overwhelmed by how engaging this book is. It is, indeed, staggeringly good -- the writing is casual and accessible but Bellingham maintains an endearing respect for both his subjects and his readers. I question why it is simply categorized "Humor." Though it drips with insurrmountable wit, it goes beyond being funny. It's a riveting memoir and passages, such as Bellingham's experience in the Bay Area earthquake of 1989 is downright excellent reporting. With all of the romance and literary history that come off the pages, I think a visit to San Francisco is in order this summer. I've bought several copies to donate to my high school library (Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, New Jersey, where I teach English, Journalism and Film) as well as a number of branches of the local public library.

WARNING: DO NOT BUY ONE COPY OF THIS BOOK! You will need at least two copies whether you buy it for yourself or for a gift. Don't think you can pick this up as a gift, browse through it to pick up the highlights and then pass it along, no, you're going to want your own copy. And if you do pick it up for yourself, you will undoubtedly add it to your Christmas gift list. It's a great book for anyone; they just have to have a sense of humor. What makes it a keepr, though, is Bellingham's jabs are as insightful as they are funny, his one-liners are as timeless as they are topical. His slice of life encounters with various celebrities give the reader a fun account of the media scene in everybody's favorite city by the Bay. I practically read this book in one sitting because I kept saying, "just one more chapter" (they're short). It's that kind of book, a pick up and read anywhere book, a great "airplane book", if you will. Check it out for chuckles.

It makes you laugh out loud. Hail the apostles Bellingham! From Nigel, the rabbit - to Susan, the estranged wife - Looking at life through rose coloured glasses indeed.Why hasn't a daily picked this guy up? Bellingham, a man in love with his adopted city of San Francisco. Not a bit of underdone potato - as saterical writers tend to be. Curmundgeons have a hero - a passionate one at that.

Strauss ambles through a fairly predictable first few pages, and
then revs up the motor and we're off on a very UNpredictable
read. Obviously lots of research -- and on the surface it would seem that, heck, everyone has a family tree. But if you don't get interested in your own family tree after reading this, then the problem is with you, not with Strauss' book. What drives her to do the search for her birth mother? And what does she find? And then what? And how do her kids in 2001 eerily but accurately reflect a Civil War vet she didn't know existed? Have fun. Great especially for those who know someone adopted, or are planning to adopt, which includes just about everyone!

I discovered this book quite by accident. I had already read Birthright by Jean Strauss. I was doing a search on Amazon for a review of that book for a friend when this title came up. When I finally got a copy, I couldn't put it down. Simply, it is an incredibly well written book on searching for one's roots. In the end, its both one's adoptive and biological ties that matter. I particularly appreciated the author's final family tree which included both her birth family and adoptive family. The insight I received from this book will be invaluable to my wife and I as we raise our 7 yo son and 2 yo daughter who were both adopted as infants. Many thanks to Jean Strauss.

Having recently been involved in a reunion with a sister that we did not know existed, this book (as well as other Jean Strauss books) gives valuable insight into the feelings of the adopted individual as well as some of the feelings of the other members of the family circle. Jean's struggle and sometimes blunt feelings toward her birth mother open up a new area of human feeling. How should we relate to this new person in our life and all these new relatives? All the details of the reunion and building a new relationship with siblings and her mother over the years gives valuable knowledge to others involved in their own reunion process. Jean shows us that a "blended" family can happen. She has not forgotten her adoptive family that raised her, but she also appreicates the family ties of her natural family. This book illustrates that you can have more than one mother/father. You can have many siblings and extended family and make it all work. We have done this in our family situation. This book is well worth the read. I highly recommend it to anyone in the reunion/adoption process.

If "beneath a tall tree" doesn't tug at your heart and bring tears to your eyes, go see your doctor for a checkup. Strauss bares her soul in this fascinating adventure about her life. Besides being enormously helpful to adoptees, it provides a deep, raw look into the mindset of an adoptee. Her fluid style makes this an easy read.

I am an adoptee and I'm currently in a stage of my life where I'm becoming more curious to find out about my birthmother and my background. I was kind of scared and didn't really know where to start, but this book really helped me to realize that I CAN do something about it and that it's really nothing to be scared of. It gave me the perspective of the birthmother as well, wanting to know about the daughter she gave up. I have a feeling that when the time comes to contact my birthmother, she'll be more receptive than not - something I was very unsure of before I read this book. Jean Strauss and her book have kind of helped me to get the ball rolling and start seriously thinking about contacting my birthmother.

Richard Schwartz paints a picture of Berkeley in words that transports you back in time. Interesting and lively, the stories show life around the turn of the 20th century. Even for people who don't live in the Berkeley area, the characters and pictures are fascinating. A must-read for anyone who wants a sense of how life really was around 1900.

This book really gave me a different perspective on Berkeley, the geography and the people. The way the information was delivered brought the book to life and added depth. It is not in any way a "typical" history book. The vignettes about the people made the time period approachable and real. A must read for anyone who has ever been to or lived in Berkeley.

Just a few words to tell you how much I enjoyed "Berkeley 1900." I saw
pictures about a past I never knew existed. It gave me an appreciation of
Berkeley I never thought I would have. Prior to seeing the book, I thought
Berkeley was just a bunch of pinkos.
jake

This compilation of hundreds of newspaper articles shows a small town at a point in its evolution. Berkeley, California is now a well known city throughout the USA, but it started out from humble beginnings. Each article reveals something different about its people, its society and movements and norms of the day.

I expecially enjoyed items such as these:

Chapter 18. Saloons and the Temparance Movement. "Scientists. . .reported that daily indulgence in beer would result in a mental state akin to criminal insanity. . ." Fascinating stuff.

Then dive into Chapter 19. Milk, the Problem. In a creamery's advertisement one can learn "Absolutely pure country milk and cream from healthy cows and fed in a well-ventilated and sanitary barn -- fed on only the best food obtainable."

Just slices of 100 year old life in Berkeley. . .

Some historians avoid the controversal events of history. Richard Schwartz's book paints a realistic view of of life in Berkeley, California at the turn of the century.

From articles condemning dairymen for not giving their milk cows the tuberculin test, to stories about organizations forming to discriminate against Asians in the city, Schwartz tells it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

A great portion of the book is devoted to "human interest" articles. There are stories that deal with fires, ferries, and the conflicts between horses and the new automobiles.

Richard's book is filled with interesting articles, artwork, newspaper ads, and photo's. It makes a great coffee table book, one that can be picked up anytime for a few minutes of exceptional reading.