Washington Books

As a winewriter interested in all aspects of fine wines and communication dealing with wines, this is a Bible of a book. The book provides insight into not only the famous and well known winemakers and wineries, but also the least known, small production wineries. It is in this area, I believe, that the future of the real 'terroir' of the region will be discovered and maintained. The book also explores the development of the region as a vinicultural tour de force. The section on grape varieties is especially informative. The book indicates and follows the progression and sorting out of grape varieties in this region, and provides an educational backdrop to the crossover from 'Old World' to 'New World's wine production.'

There is no better guide for knowing the ins and outs of wineries throughout California. Large and small wineries they are all there. Forget some of the reviews. The background of each winery is great reading...

A vast array of information not easily available. Reliable reviews of the wines of virtually every known winery, and reliable comments about the future development and direction of wineries.

Actually it's more than that. It's like an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas and buying guide all in one. I'm so happy to see a new addition of this book. There are so many new wines and wineries to know about that it makes my head spin. This book sorts it all out in a very concise and comprehensive format. Bravo!

I received this 11/98 version as a gift. I use it extensively as a reference for learning about different local varietals, and use it when purchasing, and then consuming, certain vintages. My one personal gripe is that I just cannot afford to try all the wines in recommendation. (Maybe that's a good thing!)

I was extremely pleased with this book. It is geared toward hikers of every level of fitness and ability. I found the NPS website confusing in its description of hikes, but this book did a very good job breaking down the various hikes by location, length, difficulty, and change of elevation, as well as providing a good description of what to expect. I took several hikes while at Mt. Rainier and found the book to be very accurate. It also has a number of practical tips which I found useful since I had never hiked at altitude before. I encountered other hikers who lacked guides and they were clueless and missed out on a lot. If you are going to take the time to get to the park, you should spend a few bucks on a book to guide you the rest of the way.

We purchased two books on Mount Rainier hiking. This is by far the best. In fact we didn't even need to buy the other book. Ron does a surperb job of descriping each trail in detail. The ratings from easy to extremely difficult are very accurate. He gives elevation gain and rates each trail as far as beauty. The ratings of each trail is from 1 to 5 backpackers instead of stars and we found them to be completely true. We are backpackers as well as day hikers, but we wanted only to day hike these trails, so this book is just what we needed. My advise is to buy this book, it is really all you will need if you only want to day hike. Happy hiking!!!! I hope you enjoy Mount Rainier as much as we did.

I really enjoy reading Ron C. Judd's books. He has a terrific sense of humor and is not afraid to call them the way he sees them.
You can tell by the descriptions in this hiking guide that he's been out on every one of these trails. The book is organized so you can tell which hikes are best for beginners and which will be a long walk for any veteran hiker.
This is one of a series of three guides that is specifically written for day hikers, but it would be just as useful for anyone planning a backpack. Most of the hikes have a section on extending the hike, so just about anyone who shoulders a pack would benefit by this book
If you compare it to the other trail guides about Rainier, I think you'll find that this one is the most up-to-date and accurate book of all. Better than that, this one was produced by a real writer.

After buying both this book and "Hiking Mt. Rainier National Park" by Schneider, I would say this book definitely takes second place. The nice features are the detailed elevations and the topographic maps. He also gives anecdotal descriptions, like if there are mosquitos or not. However there are a couple of detractors. A few of the hikes are not really even in the park. He also intersperses some snide comments that I do not find humorous, though I guess that is what he was meant by them. A good book if you ONLY intend to day hike and not explore the park in depth, but for a really complete guide Schneider's book is a lot better, as well as being more professional and emphasizing the care that we need to observe to preserve this beautiful national park. However, I do recommend buying both of them for an even more complete hiking guide. They really do not overlap too much and the writing styles are so different you benefit from the information found in both of them about the same hike.

I've spent a fair amount of days at The Mountain without any trail guide book, but decided I needed one to get full enjoyment out of the park. The book has all the information you need to choose a hike based on highlights, season, difficulty, and solitude.

It is arranged by park region and even includes a few hikes from outside the park that have good views of Rainier. Directions on how to reach the hikes are clear, as are directions while on the trail. Maps are cropped USGS-style and show elevation gain well, along with adjacent elevation gain charts.

I appreciated the inclusion of autumn in some hikes' "best seasons to hike". Far too many books base this designation on wildflower seasons, but leaf color change and mushrooms can provide just as much interest in season. The author's sense of humor is pretty good, although forced at times. Regardless, it does not detract from the discussion f each hike.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend this book if you are only interested in day hikes.

This is a comprehensive reflection and analysis of a policy, and a government agency, and their combined effect on small business.

Case studies of other businesses feeling the affects of Superfund legislation is useful and adds depth to comparison and story.

Culture change constrained by regulatory environment is very
interesting and could be a micro-piece of your book, if not already submitted / published, should be to journals so that story reaches a wider audience.

Sharing your experiences in academic / public policy environment
could be very appropriate (if you have not already done so);
important that people understand both sides of public policy process(for better or worse).

Robert Cox tells the story of how his successful family business endured good and bad times, but it couldnýt survive an ambush from the Environmental Protection Agency. According to EPA, Coxýs business, the Gilbert Spruance Company, committed the ýcrimeý of sending its waste products to legal disposal facilities.

Cox does a good job detailing the real crime: EPA implementation of the federal Superfund law. Superfund was supposed to clean up contaminated property, but has become a small business nightmare, condemning parties unjustly and destroying businesses of honest, hard working Americans. Knowing that he is one among thousands of Americans who suffered under Superfund, Cox offers his story as a desperate plea to lawmakers to finally reform this unjust law.

Robert Cox tells the story of how his successful family business endured good and bad times, but it couldn't survive an ambush from the Environmental Protection Agency. According to EPA, Cox's business, the Gilbert Spruance Company, committed the "crime" of sending its waste products to legal disposal facilities.

Cox does a good job detailing the real crime: EPA implementation of the federal Superfund law. Superfund was supposed to clean up contaminated property, but has become a small business nightmare, condemning parties unjustly and destroying businesses of honest, hard working Americans. Knowing that he is one among thousands of Americans who suffered under Superfund, Cox offers his story as a desperate plea to lawmakers to finally reform this unjust law.

A number of people equate any complaint with the environmental regulatory regime today in the United States as special pleading from greedy, insensitive polluters and their cronies. Robert Cox, however, pierces this all-too-common political morality play with a true story about how these rules impact real people across America and how silly, counterproductive, and absurd they often prove in application.

Readers who want a more scholarly overview of why EPA acts as it does might want to pick up James DeLong's "Out of Bounds, Out of Control" (2002).

This is a comprehensive reflection and analysis of a policy, and a government agency, and their combined effect on small business.

Case studies of other businesses feeling the affects of Superfund legislation is useful and adds depth to comparison and story.

Culture change constrained by regulatory environment is very
interesting and could be a micro-piece of your book, if not already submitted / published, should be to journals so that story reaches a wider audience.

Sharing your experiences in academic / public policy environment
could be very appropriate (if you have not already done so);
important that people understand both sides of public policy process(for better or worse).

Well written and amazing to read. Author captured the moment and took you there. Book was flooded with facts.

I would highly recommend this book, it is not only for the history buffs.
If you do enjoy history, you will love the author's details.

I very good book that gives the reader an interesting twist on what was believed to be gospel. The author's research is convincing.

An awesome book....definitely a different view .... a must read for anyone seeking to truely understand Benedict Arnold's story.

Who would have thought that what was assumed by the average student of American history to be an open and shut case against Benedict Arnold could be brought into question. And, furthermore, to do so with such detailed facts woven into a rather gripping novel format. Mr. WIlczak has laid out a compelling case that Arnold was not a traitor but a collaborator with George Washington to ultimately fool the British. This book could be the basis of an excellent movie.

This book expresses a thoroughly researched, fresh approach to one of history's most infamous legends. When I began to read the book I felt my feelings regarding Benedict Arnold could not be swayed. The author, however, through meticulous use of timeline, documented fact, and letters of many of the involved, opened my eyes to the possibility that Arnold may have been the protaganist in a great scheme to free the colonies and help create the United States. I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks the truth instead of the commonly handed down history stories we have been fed since childhood. AAAAA+++++

Serving with Rick in the military and knowing him and Bea for many years it was a shock to see this man, my best buddy, going through this. Bea dealt with and then wrote about this whole ordeal in a very loving and understanding way that I am not sure I could do. In her book she covers all aspects of losing a loved one and how to be prepared for when the end comes. Her charts and forms simplify what otherwise could be a very confusing and complicated time. Thanks, Bea.

http://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Friend-Beatrice-Toney-Bailey/dp/0980152003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213035700&sr=8-1

In offering "Farewell, My Friend," Ms. Beatrice Bailey has created a fantastic, self-contained, unique resource for anyone's reading. Having experienced the loss of both my parents, I would say, "Read this book now...before you are faced with the cares and challenges of death and dying!" There's plenty enough humor to balance out the tears on such a serious subject..but it's basically a WORKBOOK. Read it today! Reference it tomorrow!

This book is a must for anyone who has become a caretaker of a loved one. It doesn't just tell you how to think about handling your emotions and feelings about what is going on. It gives very specific instructions on how to handle all of the services and legal paperwork that needs to be done. I most appreciated the humor and personal experience of this woman. She was an angel to her husband in his passing.

The author walks the reader through the process of caregivng, death and dying, making final arrangements and caring for oneself. This book is full of practical advice. It is a handbook that anyone can pick up and use immediatley. This is literally a tool box full of the resoucres we need to preapre for end of life decisions. This is a must have for anyone's estate planning files!

This is a wonderful book, full of great practical advice by someone who has been there, conveyed through a wonderfully upbeat approach to the subject. Beatrice shares her emotions openly as she moves through the difficult process of caring for a dying spouse. I've already sent copies to friends in similar circumstances. Her Excel spreadsheets are worth the price of the book all by themselves.

R2

Brian Knight delivers a fun, twisty novel that is bound to give you the creeps. The book itself is impressive, with the cover art imprinted on the covers, and as beautiful as some small-press collector first editions. I had a lot of fun with this one, and you will too.

FERAL grabs hold of you with spine-chilling terror, rips out your frayed nerves and stamps them beneath its heavy heel. It's a rare thing when an author rises from obscurity to cammand such masterful control of the powerful emotion of pure horror, leading the reader into the ferocious worlds of the imagination thought left behind in the darkened closet with childhood's nightmares. Knight's Bogey Man captures that savage gleam of fright like a tight fist around your neck and wrings it relentlessly. If you're looking for a warm story where good triumphs handily over evil, where the light shuns the darkness, this certainly isn't it... But if you want a taut, gut-wrenching, emotional beating that leaves you hesitant to turn off the TV at bedtime for fear of what might just be leering out at you from the crack in the closet door once again, then buy this book!

Remember the name Brian Knight... you'll be hearing it a lot in the near future.

After being pestered by close friends that I really needed to read this Feral, by Brian Knight, I finally relented and I am so glad that I did. This is a true page turner. I am not an avid reader and it has been years since I was able to complete a full novel. This one, I started reading at work and actually would be disappointed to get customers coming in because I had to put my book down.
The first scene in the book will really grab ahold of you and keep you breathless and turning pages til it is the last page and you are crying for more. I can't sing high enough praises on the descriptive writings of Mr.Knight.
Mr. Knight truely makes the boogie man and the people who are fighting against him come to life. You will feel like you have known these people all your life, not just a cheap trick this book is definately the real deal. WOW

Feral is a great thriller bound to give anyone a serious case of the creeps. I couldn't put it down. I even skipped a meal while reading it, and anyone that knows me would tell you that's saying something.

Feral is the story of a Bogey Man that takes children, and murders parents. A child named Charity was taken by the Bogey Man, but had a chance to escape. She runs to a place called Feral Park, a playground that is home to more than meets the eye...

Highly recommended for any fan of horror, or anyone that simply wants a good book to read. It just got added to my shelf of favorites.

He comes to you when you are sleeping and if you are lucky you'll wake up in your own home. Sometimes he kills their parents and disappears with the children. Charity has had disturbing dreams and night tremors of the Bogey Man before one night he killed her mother and took her. He kept her alive because she was special to him.

Gordon Chambers has searched for six long years for Charity and he thinks by following the trail of dead parents and missing children he will finally find her at the end of the current dead trail in a small town in Washington. Sharon sees Charity in a spooky playground where supernatural events happen and brings her home because she was wearing her dead daughter's clothes given to Charity by the Bogey Man. Charity knows the only place she'll be safe from the Bogey man is in the Feral Park playground where the abandoned and abused children hide in a dimensional nexus. When Charity disappears into the park, Sharon and Gordon vow to get her back alive and keep her safe from the Bogey Man.

Anyone who wants a decent night sleep should not read FERAL. It is a frightening horror novel that needs broad daylight to somewhat keep the nightmares away. Brian Knight will appeal to fans of Bentley Little and those who like being scared out of their wits. This tale will accomplish that.

Harriet Klausner

I spent a year hiking and exploring the entire state of Washington for this trail guide. I hiked many of the trails, visited the trail heads, and talked to many local rangers and hikers. I made sure to include the best, most accurate information to help you pick a hike and hit the trail, from short day hikes to week long backpacking trips.

I believe a variety of hikers will find this guide helpful, whether you are looking for new hike ideas, enjoy exploring new areas of the state, or need information on that out-of-the-way trail you've been meaning to hike. And I think backpackers will find this guide indispensable.

Cheers, Scott

While I would like to see a quick map of where I am considering hiking, it's nice to have a thorough guide for the whole state in one book.

Great book. Very thorough and informative. I actually bought one for a friend who was moving to Seattle, but I liked it so much I kept it for myself!

This is the best hiking/camping book for Washington. It is small, just the right amount of information to get me there and get me excited. Great descriptions, it has definantly helped with my spring hiking and camping choices. Perfect for ever glove compartment!

You need to get this book. It's indispensable in helping you choose what to hike, what to bring, what to leave at home, and what to expect when you get there (especially the little annoying hidden things, like parking fees). Seeing the maps of the hiking trails helped me a lot too. I hope you get this book before you go hiking because you might regret it if you don't.

I read this book on the advice of someone else. As a I began reading it, I was stunned because it seemed like the author had tapped into my life! I've read a lot of self-help books before, but they all seemed to handle just one aspect my life. This book covered almost everything.

Reading this book, I was able to identify and finally put a name to many things I'd always suffered from. She calls them Nobodies, which I considered an apt description of myself.

What I really like about it, is that it's told from her perspective. She's been through all of this and she got better! It's not a book full of impersonal goals. The fact that she, herself, conquered these issues makes it seem possible that I can too.

Her style of writing is very accessible. I didn't feel overwhelmed with technical terms and definitions.

Overall, I think this is a great book and would recommend it to anyone - men or women. I read selections of it to a male friend of mine, and he, too, could completely identify with it.

Already I've started to make improvements in my life with this book as a guide.

This book is an excellent source of advice and guidance for anyone, man or woman, who has ever wondered "who am I, really? Where do I belong in the world? How do I truly feel?" The author covers a multitude of subjects, all centered around answering those questions, overcoming fear, and learning to be assertive with others. She discusses the origins of anxiety and depression, a lack of identity, difficulty with anger, communication and relationship problems, grief, letting go, and fulfilling our own desires for our lives. The central focus of these clearly-written chapters is looking inward, to discover our true selves, the part of us we have hidden from the world for fear of rejection. I recommend it highly.

This book is magnificent...I read it in one night,because I couldn't put it down. If you are feeling lonely, unsure of yourself or where you are in life right now, or even just going through a grieving process, you must buy this book. I have anxiety & depression and have read many books in this genre. After reading this one, I felt as if I was not alone in my grief. We all struggle with our own demons, and this book teaches you how to battle them and learn to be yourself. If you are a person who is always the one who has to be "sorry" or take the blame - trust me - buy this book and you will learn how to assert yourself & finally say "no" tho those who use you as their doormat.

FREE SPIRIT will help you as no other book can; believe me, I've read many a "self-help" book in my own search for relief. This book is for any woman (or man!) who seems to lose herself in her relationships, who lacks a full sense of her own identity and wants/allows others to define her, who doesn't feel entitled to happiness, who always puts the needs of others first at her own expense. It's well-written, intelligent, witty, and heartfelt. Dr. Raphael writes in a very personal tone; as one of my friends who also read the book says, it feels as if she's sitting right next to you. And since the author has been through the pain herself herself and come through with integrity on the other side, she has credibility. She doesn't dictate to you who you should be; she gives you the TOOLS to enable you to find yourself on your own. If you are in pain, wondering when the time will ever come for you to feel good about yourself, RUN to order this book. Or give it to a friend who's going through a tough time. A friend gave a copy to me; it helped me more than I can begin to describe, and at a time when I desperately needed it. I'm sure it can help you, too.

I read this book on the advice of someone else. As a I began reading it, I was stunned because it seemed like the author had tapped into my life! I've read a lot of self-help books before, but they all seemed to handle just one aspect my life. This book covered almost everything.

Reading this book, I was able to identify and finally put a name to many things I'd always suffered from. She calls them Nobodies, which I considered an apt description of myself.

What I really like about it, is that it's told from her perspective. She's been through all of this and she got better! It's not a book full of impersonal goals. The fact that she, herself, conquered these issues makes it seem possible that I can too.

Her style of writing is very accessible. I didn't feel overwhelmed with technical terms and definitions.

Overall, I think this is a great book and would recommend it to anyone - men or women. I read selections of it to a male friend of mine, and he, too, could completely identify with it.

Already I've started to make improvements in my life with this book as a guide.

In this superb novel the linguist Jeremy Cook (introduced in the mystery novel, "Double Negative," 1980), is hired by a marriage-counseling firm, the Pillow Agency, which "embeds" linguists in the homes of couples with troubled marriages, the theory being that so much marital strife is due to faulty communication. Jeremy's instructions are to follow the steps enumerated in the "Pillow Manual" he is issued, but he finds he has to fall back on his own training and good nature to keep things afloat. It is not necessary to have read "Double Negative" to enjoy this installment, but it is always satifying to know more of the background of the characters when encountereing them for a second time. The third title in the series, "The Error of Our Ways," was published in 1997. Obviously Carkeet was not pressured to keep Jeremy Cook constantly beofre the public, but the novels are all the better for that.

David Carkeet is known more for his young adult fiction, but I find him a very satisfying author of light adult fiction that carries a running intellectual thread. The characters are not so quirky that they are contrived nor so stereotypical as to be completely predictable; unfortunately they do demonstrate the suspicion that a higher education does not guarantee success in any endeavor. The ironies are not particularly inspired but part of the charm of this and also his "Double Negative" is the way events unfold with an unremarkable inevitability. I enjoy this book. I put it in the category of Patrick Dennis.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The Full Catastrophe is as compelling and potent as a mystery, despite the fact that the "detective" in this case is linguist Jeremy Cook, and he bumbles through several well-meaning attempts to discover what the "horror" in the Wilson's marriage is. Carkeet's wit is intoxicating, yet he manages to take a back seat to the characters and let the day-in-the-life story unfold with perfect pacing. I can't ignore the probable similarities between Jeremy Cook and Carkeet, but one thing marks a clear distinction: Jeremy knows nothing about marriage until Carkeet unveils it to him.

Linguist-in-residence Jeremy Cook returns for an unlikely debut as live-in counselor to a couple trying to fix their sputtering marriage. There are laughs on every page in this entertaining dissection of holy matrimony. Jeremy moves in with the prosperous Wilsons and tries his best to get beneath their language, to analyze the "horror at the core" of their relationship

A live-in linguist tries to save a marriage - a comic gem. Highly recommended

There is so much to this book than noted at first glance. First, we get a great dose of history told in a way children can understand it. Secondly, we learn some little known facts about our first president. Thirdly, we have animals, something neither kids nor adults can ever get enough of and fourthly, we get a story packed full of morals. But that is not all. The illustrations are very well executed and a delight. The text is simple an to the point and goes quite well with the illustrations. The book makes some very complicated situations and states them simply in a very nice story. I enjoy this one almost as much as the children do. This is a good work to read to the class as it generates good discussions. Recommend this one highly.

This easy reader is a delightful story to share with all students. The information gained about President Washington is unforgettable. Children will love that George named his dog "Sweetlips" and they won't forget that he was super kind and honest to one of his enemies! This book will be a staple in classrooms across the country and this true story of George may replace his "Cherry Tree" tale.

I used this title with a class I teach to American children overseas. They really enjoyed it as a read-aloud and couldn't believe that it was true! I like that the back page had a copy of the original note sent as well as photos of drawings/paintings of Howe and Washington. The illustrations aren't spectacular, but the children loved it.

This book is great for kids and parents. Teachers should read this book because it teaches good morals, foe children. I also like this book because of the dogs, and writing crafts in it. Hopefully Frank Murphy will keep writing kids books. If you buy this book you will be satisfied
SCOTT 11

My six-year-old son brought this title home from his school library. We read it together several times, and one night I found him meticulously copying a page from the book. My son hated to return the book, and I knew I had to buy it--for both of us! It tells a little-known story about Washington in a charming, beautifully illustrated manner that everyone (especially dog lovers) will love.