Pacific Books

The other reviewers already did a great job describing the book. I found the book interesting because it describes what different individuals/families endured in their trip West. As my kids get older I will definitely select a few stories for bed time reading.

Really captures the feelings while giving the history!

This is a wonderful and easy read that captures the strains, toils and joys that happened on the voyage out west. The author did a very good job of crafting a series of individual stories together into a mosaic. The stories collectively provide insight into the feelings of our brave ancestors, who set out on such a dangerous voyage, all to create a better life for their family. I would highly recommend it, especially so for the school kids!

A native resident of southeastern U.S., Tricia Martineau Wagner, while living in California, became captivated by western history, especially the means by which the U.S. became a nation that spanned the continent. Her interest led her to write intriguing stories of those who lived the reality of life on the westward trail while crossing a vast wilderness from Missouri, stretching over 2,000 miles to the bewildering heights of the Rocky Mountains. She depicts a variety of experiences of men, women and children who walked the dusty, long trail midst their worst enemies--time, disease and weather. Tricia's superlative narration swiftly binds the reader to the lives of these historic characters, bringing them vividly to life in the minds-eye. Her twenty-nine factual short stories reveal meticulous research shown in the bibliography. Being a descendant of Rebecca Burdick Winters, the focus of Tricia's last story, I felt again the love and sacrifice of a pioneer mother for family, religion, and friends while reading Tricia's rendition of Rebecca's death by cholera on the plains. Others who felt of Rebecca's love returned that love by burying her body deeply and staying up through the night chiseling her identity into a tire iron to place as her head stone. Rebecca's love did not end with her death, but continued to inspire her family 144 years later when they exhumed her remains for a more proper burial. Rebecca's love still continues, as Tricia later wrote, "Rebecca is working through us all." The entire book opens a little-known frontier of knowledge of an era that each of us can experience vicariously through Tricia's exceptionally well written book.

It Happened on the Oregon Trail is a great resource for history teachers who are looking for a well-written collection of researched accounts of America's true pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail. It serves as a coloful supplement to the often-dry and sparsely detailed history textbook recollections of trail stories. Written in an almost lyrical style, students and teachers will find the vignettes captivating and very emotional. Tricia Martineau Wagner has captured history the way it should be told!

These stories come alive as you travel with the families on the Oregon Trail. Kids will come to know these people were real and did endure incredible hardships. Too many stories do not get told to the kids, these stories help keep the Oregon Trail alive, interesting and exciting.

This guide came in very handy when my family (mom, dad, sons 7 & 11) went to Kauai this summer. We found a number of good places to eat that we never would have found on our own. It would help if the authors noted if the restaurants had children's menus - that is a deciding factor for us when dining out, especially in an expensive location like Hawaii. I would definitely recommend this guide.

My husband and I were in Kauai in 1988. We have been back MANY times to the other islands but not Kauai. I enjoyed reading this book because it told of a few restaurants that were still around and informed us of a few we would like to try on one of our next visits. I found this book to be "top notch" and very thoroughly researched.....it sure makes our decisions alot easier. The authors are to be highly commended. This book is as good as their others!

I think its time for Bob and Cindy Carpenter to broaden their horizons and set out across the world to create more restaurant guide series!
This little treasure, Kauai Restaurants and Dining is a pocket book that is a must for anyone traveling to or thinking of traveling the Hawaiian Islands and or to Kauai. Packed with information such as: Diverse Island Cuisines, Regional Dining, Watering Holes, Hawaii Food & Culture Glossary the guide is as easy to read as it is helpful. Looking for the beachfront bistro, excellent views, leisurely dining or Island Icon, its all in this little gem of a foodie guide.
If you think Hawaiian Cusine is just about bananas, coconuts and the Luaus think again. First, Cindy and Bob educate the reader about the rich diverse ethnic cusines that make the island of Kauai a "food lovers" destination. Next in a brilliant and easy format the restaurant collection includes everything from hours, style, dress, phone numbers, prices and more to a menu sampler and their own impressions.
When in Rome do as the Romans do...when in Kauai check out the wonderful diverse ethnic cuisines with the help of this Restaurant Guide book.

This is truly a must have guide for those wanting to make the most of their dining experiences while visiting the island of Kauai. The guide is comprehensive and well written, yet easy to use and small enough to keep in my wife's purse while traveling around the island. The restaurants are broken down by region and category. Are you vacationing with your entire family, interested in seeing a luau or maybe you want to hit a watering hole or two. Those lists are there as well. All the important location info is included, with pricing, sample menus and most importantly, Bob and Cindy Carpenter's overall impressions. Most guide books will tell you a place is good or a local favorite, but the Carpenters have taken it a step further. They actually list their personal favorites. In addition, all the establishments in the book are places the Carpenters would return to. My wife and I thought that was great and found their descriptions and recommendations to be spot on accurate. Forget about chain restaurants, I want to eat the local foods, eat as many meals on/near the water as possible and experience the cuisines that Hawaii has to offer. For us, this is just as important as the sites we see. But what we didn't know (until visiting Hawaii and reading the Carpenters books) was how diverse the Hawaiian dining experience can be. It is truly an adventure and this is what the Carpenters so eloquently explain. They describe eleven different cuisines as well as provide a glossary of Hawaiian food, culture and seafood terms. The glossary was invaluable to us. I can't tell you how many times we referred to it while dining. As is written on the back cover of the guide book, Hawaii dining "IS the crossroads of the Pacific where cultural influences from around the world have converged to create a blend of cuisines unlike any other found on earth." So, for those new to the island, as well as the seasoned veterans, bring your appetite and this guide book...in my opinion, you'll have lots of GREAT dining adventures.

I am one of those people who does NOT live to eat, so I am anything but knowledgeable about food and restaurants. My top picks are often hamburgers and French fries, or pizza. When contemplating my first trip to Hawaii, I definitely needed help with where and what I was going to eat, in what I consider a foreign land. The last thing I wanted to do was to sign up for a guided tour, but with this book, I feel that I can survive on my own.

Since fine dining is not one of my priorities, I appreciated the numerous places, in the book, that offer very reasonable prices, and casual dress. The "Getting Around" section offers great tips in navigating this foreign land, and the "Quirks & Caveats" and "Cuisines" sections clarify the choices I will be faced with when I land on the island.

Each individual review gives all the necessary details such as hours, location, phone number, web site, as well as sample menu items, and prices. Finally, the authors' comments on "impressions" described the intangible issues of ambiance like the type of view I will enjoy with the meal, to help me make my choice.

After finishing the book, I can't wait to get to Kauai!!

An amazing and masterfully-crafted work that, incredibly enough, captures the head, heart, and soul of Los Angeles. This is no ordinary picture-book. The bonding of eloquent but unpretentious verse with visceral photos creates an instant sensory and intellectual experience that will haunt you and bring you back for more.

St. George has done something very special here. Not since 'Hollywood Babylon' have word and image collided in such a way as to bring to light the essential character of the city of L.A. Amongst the coterie of seemingly unrelated characters- Angeleyne, Robert Blake, Winona Ryder, Elizabeth Taylor, cardinals, hustlers, beach bunnies, gangsters, stars and starlets, a common center is found, from whence radiates associations, hidden meanings, and occult relationships, revelaed and brought together in the twilight language of the same feverish culture. Our icons and idols, in a very eerie effect, are found to share the same themes. A masterpiece. I was very impressed.

Simply-put, this is the perfect coffee table book; the poetry is beautifully and thougtfully put together, and the pics are plentiful, colorful, and will inspire nostalgic daydreams. It's like a giant fairy-tale account of L.A., rife with all the things that make the city great. I found it to be very revealing in how Angelenos see the character of their city. Check this one out.

Although very contemporary, with up-to-the-minute photographic references and cultural Los Angeles stuff, this book comes off as being cooly retro. I love it, and I checked out the other stuff this guy has written. This book is actually the second in a series, and I've bought that one as well. It's such a great read, and it's the type of thing you can just leave lying around.

As a full-fledged L.A. native, as soon as I saw this book I had to own it. It's a stunning L.A. anthology with great, GREAT, pictures and a stylized, free-flowing libretto. It's organized in a lyrical fashion- each heading is the title of a movie, and elements are grouped according to an over-arching mythology that is not purely fame or filmically oriented. What makes Los Angeles L.A. is all types of glamour, and this book sees the city clearly- dreamy, arcane, seductive. A must for native and non-native Angelenos alike.

This is the third book of Parkman's that I've read. Previously, I read Pioneers of France in the New World and The Jesuits in North America. About all three I would say a) they are absolutely amazing works of brilliant, inspired scholarship, b) Parkman's measured, objective, caring approach to the topics -- and the beauty and tone of his writing -- is extremely compelling, and c) my grade school, high school, and college education did not provide me with the gritty, fascinating facts about what REALLY happened back in the 17th Century in North America.

This is not James Michener (as much as I have enjoyed his works) packaging and making sense of history -- or the dry, intellectualized expert texts I had to read in school -- or the politically correct wholesome simplified upbeat teachings of my youth, with for example the perfect Puritans and the friendly Indians sharing Thanksgiving.

This is what really happened, detail by detail, based on exhaustive research of original texts -- letters, reports, maps, government documents, earlier histories, etc. Fortunately for Parkman, the early adventurers did a lot of writing, including many of the members of religious orders who accompanied or in some cases led the explorations.

My main takeaway from these true histories is how incredibly dangerous, unsuccessful, and unpredictable the courses of events were in these times (and probably in our time as well). In a way they are like anti-stories, or anti-history. Good often does not prevail over evil; heroes do scandalous things; scoundrels act heroic; no one is assuredly, consistently good or evil; when you least expect it there is a generous caring act; and when you least expect it, when all is going well, there is a foolish, unfortunate, destructive act that ruins all that has been accomplished, etc.

That is, while there may be certain patterns in events, these patterns themselves are constantly shifting, and the most logical and predictable outcomes almost never happen. In other words, Parkman has truly captured life in all its shades of grey and inconsistencies.

His treatment of the Indians is a perfect example. By modern day standards, it is egregiously politically incorrect. But he reveals them in all of their savagery, helpfulness, childish immaturity, wisdom, thievery, generosity, deceit, and unpredictable kindness. The commonplace cannibalism and similarly common extreme forms of repulsive torture done by Indians are carefully documented and reported throughout his texts, as well as the way their easily given friendship essentially saved the lives of most of the key European adventurers at one time or another.

These books are definitely not for the faint of heart or people who want a simplistic "Dummies Guide" to history!

While there is a new Introduction, this is the historic account of Robert LaSalle's exploration of the Louisiana territory in the 1680s. Parkman first published this treatise in 1869; it has since been reprinted numerous times. An excellent, thoroughly engrossing recounting of the exploration of the territory which LaSalle claimed for France in 1682, through which the reader not only learns of the daily travails of the little band of explorers, but also, the human frailties of the man, Robert Cavelier, known as LaSalle. This book gives life to a name from history, and exemplifies the methodical research done by Parkman in the days before telephones, faxes, and copiers. I was thoroughly impressed by the subject and the writer. Excellent; informative, totally enthralling reading-writers of today should take note! Kudos to the publishers (and Krakauer) for bringing this series (back) to life!

For those who liked Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" or Lansing's "Endurance", make room on your bookshelf for another favorite. Parkman tells the story of LaSalle's journeys in North America with a novelist's style and a historian's attention to detail.

Of particular interest were Parkman's references to things which exist "today" referring to his time, the mid to late 1800's. As such, the reader is treated to a double dose of history by viewing past events through the eyes of someone who wrote over 100 years ago. The book was an exciting and enjoyable read.

My only criticisms of the book were that the volume of the footnotes was somewhat distracting, and that a few key phrases were not translated from French. Otherwise, excellent.

Parkman is that unusual combination of great scholar and wonderful writer. His books depicting the history of French exploration of North America and the conflict between the French and the British for control of North America remain the basic narratives of these events. Parkman's writing, combining narrative, psychological insight into major historical actors, and use of rhetoric that seamlessly reflects his narrative, is often superb. This particular book is almost entirely devoted to the career of the Sieur De La Salle, the French explorer obsessed with establishing French control over the Mississippi valley. Parkman provides vivid portraits of the almost incredible hardships of travel in North America, the character of politics in the French colonies, and an insightful treatment of La Salle and his associates. Parkman's powerful but restrained language often recalls the style of Tacitus.

I picked this up on a lark and found I couldn't put it down. A fascinating story, extremely well written and a pure pleasure to read. I travel extensively and found it amazing how many places I go to regularly have a direct link to La Salle. Couldn't recommend it more.

The subtitle of this book is "A History of Alaskan Salmon Trolling and the Tragedy of the Dammed Columbia River." In this compelling historical novel, Colvin "tells the other side of the story" of what we as a nation have lost in the name of progress. By imagining the life of one man (aptly named Sammy) the author provides a dramatic and personalized view of the changes that destroyed, in one lifetime, the salmon trolling industry. While this is ultimately a story of loss, I found that Sammy's story also includes joy and suspense. What fisherman wouldn't thrill to the catch of a nearly hundred pound "June Hog," truly the king of salmon. Sammy faces many perils, such as deadly storms and an earthquake, but he also has the opportunity to witness the pristine and awe-inspiring beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. I enjoyed being a part of Sammy's life; I was fascinated with the evolution of the salmon trolling industry; and I was shocked at the way we as a nation destroyed it. While we can't undo the past, we can be vigilant in our future treatment of our planet earth.

The Last Fisherman is a fantastic read for anyone, but especially for those who love historical novels, or for those whose interest is in the commercial fishing scene of Alaska. Personally, I love historical novels, but knew nothing about Alaskan commercial fishing.

I found the fishing life style and the information provided, fascinating. More serious than humorous, the book nonetheless has some very entertaining funny moments. There are some great bear stories!

I used to wonder whether the environmentalists exaggerated the effect of dams on the salmon runs, or if the story from the dam builders was so much public relations spin. Now I know!

The book is easy to read, and you won't want to put it down.

Dan Dunn, M.D., Scott City, KS

Captivating account of an adventuresome life style with amazing details of the navigational skills & seamanship necessary to both survive & succeed as a commercial fisherman in the coastal waters of wilderness Alaska.

Excellent book - excellent writing. Could not put the book down. A great read for just about anybody but particularly those interested in the truth about the fishing industry and what the Government has done to it. Cannot wait for this to become a movie!

I highly recommend this book - not just for those who personally experienced salmon fishing on the west coast, but for anyone who loves the outdoors and understands the importance of our natural resources, and the role the independent fisherman has played in our history. This book is well written and very enjoyable.

"Let the Sea Make a Noise" forges historical scholarship with insightful notions about the realms encompassing the north Pacific ocean. The author, Walter A. McDougall, spent untold hours researching and organizing minutia then interweaving vast history replete with sensory details; human and political failings, dreams, and successes; meteorological and geographic facts; and overlooked, obscure bits of history.

Consequently, the book itself is somewhat overwhelming for it is nearly impossible to absorb this level of detail or maintain a clear understanding of the myriad relationships and ideologies.

Of course, having too much detail is better than not enough in any book of this sort, and Mr. McDougall is never shy about throwing in what may be a touch of conjecture. One cannot really know what some of the many people profiled here might have been thinking, but ultimately the scope of the book prevails, and one must admire the tenacity and effort funneled in to this book.

Be prepared to invest some time reading this history but be forewarned that you may have to put the book down from time to time to let the facts and information swamp you like a big wave.

Imperialists used to say that trade follows the flag. As Walter McDougall shows in 'Let the Sea Make a Noise . . .,' they had it backward. The struggle for hegemony in the North Pacific, which was the last place in the world to have its great power interests sorted out, was created by traders.
And in the end, trade and settlement had at least as much impact on the outcome as military power, maybe more.
Hawaii was discovered by a technician (surveyor and mapmaker) and merchant, Capt. James Cook, sailing in a humble converted collier; while the haughty alii (Hawaiian chiefs) in their elegant war canoes did not discover England.
University of Pennsylvania Professor McDougall, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his history of the space age, lays out a provoking, thoughtful, surprising, opinionated, exciting history of my neck of the woods.
The characters are astounding. In an attempt to grapple with the possible personal motivations behind the public actions, McDougall calls up the shades of some of the most interesting of them, and in interludes -- which he calls by the Hawaiian term `aha iki -- he holds imaginary colloquies with them.
I found this offputting at first but got used to it. It does allow McDougall to lob in comments, many of them politically incorrect, that otherwise would hardly appear in a serious history.
In the third `aha iki, he says of American historiography: 'Now we stress the shame and leave the glory out.'
Refreshingly, McDougall leaves the glory in. The organization of the North Pacific area politically was very much the result of individual efforts of singular personalities. Though he is not treated extensively, Kamehameha the Great was one. There is no reason to think that if he had not lived some other chief would have combined the motivations and skills that he had. (The Hawaii representative in the `aha iki discussions is not Kamehameha but his wife Kaahumanu, who was regent after his death and sponsored the first written law code in the islands -- half the 10 Commandents.)
But though McDougall subscribes to the 'great man' view of history, he tempers it with the environmental or social view. Thus, early in the book he identifies an obscure event that, in his analysis, controlled the destiny of the North Pacific, though that was not stabilized for another 250 years.
The event was the conflict between Russians expanding through Siberia with East Asians in the Amur River valley. The Russians could perhaps have controlled that valley, but they turned away to seek furs in the forests. But the Amur, McDougall says, was the only area within reach of Russian expansionists in East Asia that could have produced enough grain to sustain a successful Russian settlement of the North Pacific Rim.
Thus, although the small bands of Russians managed much later to establish toeholds in Hawaii and California, they were not numerous enough to sustain themselves. Their supply line was too fragile.
'Tragic,' comments McDougall, 'if you are Russian, for the brave efforts still to come had already been rendered vain -- in 1689 -- at Nerchinsk.'
Hawaii, naturally, plays an important role in this long story. As for the outcome of the struggle for hegemony, after all the adventures and stress, McDougall settles for realpolitik as the explanation:
'In sum, control of Hawaii meant absolute security for the eastern Pacific (for America), whereas foreign control of it meant substantial insecurity.' The legalities of annexation do not, in this view, count for much.
But the reason for spending 700 pages with Walter McDougall is not just that he has a lot of interesting tales to tell. The virtue of 'Let the Sea Make a Noise . . . ' is that he lets almost all the conflicting emotions and desires of the four centuries have their moments.
The ambiguity of the situation is always acknowledged. 'The whites on the Pacific shore,' he says, 'have always been paranoid, as if they knew they were interlopers.'
At the same time, McDougall writes, 'To me, the Pacific Ocean still suggests cleanliness, sweetness and strangeness.'
Few of the dozens of tales in this book are clean or sweet, but they are all strange.

I picked this book up on the recommendation of a friend. Since then, I have read it three times...and I almost never read history. McDougall has a knack for combining storytelling with history, so that general trends in the lands surrounding the Pacific are illustrated with fascinating stories about the people involved. This format is so effective that I found that after the first reading, I actually remembered all the salient features of McDougall's book (and probably bored my friends by sharing my exciting new knowledge with them on a road trip). His illustrative anecdotes combine with his knowledge of history to show you why people's actions made sense to them at the time. For example, why didn't the Russians consolidate their holdings in East Asia and Alaska? In hindsight, it looks crazy, but with McDougall and the characters (like Count Witte) that he brings to life, you understand and sympathize. McDougall's book contains a certain amount of subtle U.S. nationalism, tempered by criticism of stupid American policies, past and present. It is not jingoistic, but rather cognizant of the fact that of all the governments jockeying around the Pacific, the U.S. was about the most enlightened. So if you ever wanted to know why a relatively advanced island nation like Japan never really opened up to the world, why British Columbia almost became part of the U.S., how close Russia came to owning the West Coast down to California (they built a fort there, once), or how the U.S. got the whole Louisiana purchase when they really wanted New Orleans, read this book. You won't be sorry.

This is a must read for any serious history advocate.In simple English, you learn why Japan and China don't own land in the US, why Russia failed here, and why Hawaii isn't british, french or Roman catholic. What happened in Europe, Russia and the US from the 1600's to present times is tied to what happened in the northern pacific. It's a world-wide lesson in riveting doses of prose and fiction that will make you read all night

McDougall's book is excellent. I am a graduate student in Russian history who read this book for the first time while in between my master's and doctoral programs, and it was extremely influential in shaping the subsequent course of my program. I had long been fascinated by the fact that Russia is the only "European" nation that is also part of the Pacific Rim and once ruled Alaska. McDougall considers both these developments in due course, while fitting them into the larger context of the history of the North Pacific as a coherent region. He writes history in episodic chapters that give the book a sort of novelistic feel, complete with cliffhangers. Yet the book is not "dumbed-down" for a general audience. While not exactly scholarly (there are no footnotes, for example), it is obviously well-researched and presents many general questions for further consideration (or research). The book has the merit of focusing on the common history of regions not always thought of as connected: China, Japan, & Korea, Russia, the North American West, and Hawaii. It was a pleasure to read and inspired me greatly. It was enough to motivate me both to begin to study Chinese lanuage and take a year-long survey course on Japanese history. I cannot recommend McDougall's book highly enough!

Having been a collector, affectionate reader, and on-the-field user of Lonely Planet guidebooks during my numberless and continuous travels, I can indeed witness that this one is one of the best. Some guidebooks try to cover too much, e.g. all of West Africa or all of Central Asia, and don't do the job so well (inevitable and still better than carrying one book for each country, but to the detriment of the quality). Another common problem, is the author's favourable bias towards the country she or he is covering, as if it were the most marvelous place on Earth - I think here of the LP guidebook to Libya. In other books still, some regions are covered more in-depth than others: the Indonesia guidebook only has seven pages on East Timor, which would in fact deserve a whole chapter if not a whole book on its own ! Instead, in covering the fascinating land of Papua New Guinea, this author has done an excellent job, and not much else really needs to be added: this is indeed the Lonely Planet standard, that is to say, an excellent standard. For those who may not be familiar with it, this means excellent, up-to-date, accurate coverage of all areas of the country, with information (primary basic facts as well as further data for perfectionists) about accommodation, getting around, eating, entertainment, etc. Despite the vastity of this land and the difficulty of getting to the most remote areas, the author has managed it. The chapters on history and culture, especially in this guidebook, I find to be extremely well-written and researched. This one is indeed an excellent tool not only for the traveller but also for the armchair traveller who may wish to know more about PNG without necessarily going. It is extremely enjoyable and pleasant to read, thus combining the unrivalled qualities of a guidebook from Lonely Planet, with great information and facts about the mysterious land of Papua New Guinea.

And the only one worth carrying for independent, budget travellers, I might add.
While this book was never perfect, and I would only have rated it 4 stars even when it was brand new (because its coverage of certain areas is really sketchy, and it curiously ignores some long-established budget places to stay), the new "PNG & Solomon Islands" guide that was published in 2005 to replace it is so much worse that it makes this guide seem 5*+ in comparision.
While the new guide is almost totally written for those going to PNG to stay in ultra-expensive resorts and see the country on guided tours, this 1998 edition still has the usual, more backpacker-oriented style many readers expect from LP guides. It will tell you about budget places to stay, remote areas to explore, and in general give you ideas on getting off the beaten track and experience some of the best PNG has to offer on your own.
Of course you will find that prices have risen considerably in the past years, but once in PNG, you will quickly figure out quite how much (they are up 2-3 times in Kina terms, which means much less an increase in foreign currency).
There are also a few new (mostly upmarket) places to stay now, and some shipping routes have changed (even since the 2005 edition!).
So if you are obsessed with having the latest available information in your guide, you may also want to buy the new edition in addition to this one.
I have both, but if I had to pick only one to carry along on my next trip to PNG, I would definitely take this one.

Even though this edition is already some years old it is still THE guide for independent traveling in this awesome country.

I was traveling in 2000 for about 8 weeks in PNG and found the book a real help for getting around in a country that is far away from being touristy. Whether you are looking for a bus stop, the next spots for hiking or diving, hotel information or information on culture and religion this book has it all in detail.

Especially in this kind of less developed country every bit and piece of information in this book is worth every cent you spent for it.

We traveled to Mt. Hagen and Port Moresby last March for the first time. What a great and beautiful country, and what a perfect travel guide to orient you. While this book is nice enough to have on the shelf, ours is worn from use... and usefulness. As a bonus, it's also well-written and a great book to read!

Lonely Planet has again done a superb job combining art, graphics, maps and information in exactly the right proportions. There are a collection of excellent color and black & white photos and graphics. The history and cultural background is extensive owing to the three experienced traveler-writers. They make great use of side-bars to highlight special features and information (a trade mark of most Lonely Planet materials).

All the regions are treated pretty equally and include useful maps that otherwise would be tough to find anywhere.

If you could only buy one book in preparation for your trip, you would not have any problem making this your "Bible". It is also a great size at 5 x 7.25 x 5/8's inches and printed on high quality paper.

I will always look to Lonely Planet as my first choice in travel books.

Having spent over 30 days travelling around N. Guinea I found this book to be heaven sent. From the Highlands to the Sepik or Lae to Madang all information re: lodging, transportation,& places to see were correct and found as described in the guide. I refuse to travel abroad without my first buying the LONELY PLANET guide to help plan my trip in that country. Jerry Silverman silverj@nical.com Dobbs Ferry, New York USA

Totally agree about the locals comment. I just moved here from San Francisco and found great stuff in the book to make me feel like a native. Well-written, funny, entertaining, and a great resource for anyone visiting or living here!

This guidebook is witty, useful, and trail-breaking.
Mary Herczog takes Los Angeles and somehow makes it fun, organized, and not scary. What I liked best about it, she focuses on things most people miss, the sort of thing that you absolutely want to know about if you're going there without any kind of inside knowledge or friends in town, and she makes it all so fascinating and entertaining to read about. You can have a good read here even if you're not going to LA anytime in the foreseeable future.

Also she knows where all the really cool places are. And I know the title says "For Dummies" but obviously she's not, and she doesnt' treat her readers as dummies either. A terrific book.
Highly recommended.

My husband travels to Los Angeles often for business
so he knows a lot about the city but I went for the
first time on his last trip. Since he was going to be
in meetings a lot I was worried about being on my own
so I bought this LA for Dummies guide and I'm so glad
I did! It was fun to read and so informative - it
even showed my husband the "LA expert" a few tricks.
I totally recommend it!

We visited Los Angeles for the first time recently and were worried about what we had heard - that the city is a big sprawling mess, difficult to get around, etc. All of which is true, but this book made it less intimidating and actually a lot of fun. We took the author's advice to heart and wound up not feeling like dummies at all! This is a great book for the first time visitor.

Some friends of mine from high school were coming to visit me here in LA and bought this book and had a great vacation, largely due to the terrific advice given in it. LA is a big sprawling mess of a city and the book helps narrow it down to a manageable size, especially for first time visitors. The surprising part was when I looked at the book while they were here - the stuff I learned on restaurants, attractions, and more that I never knew existed was amazing. It's opened my eyes to a whole new LA. Excellent all the way around.

This is wonderful collection of stories based on Browning-Larsen's personal experiences in Asia--cerebral, sensitive, well-written and interesting!

Several short stories with explicit details of Asian love. From the gardens of Japan to the Filipino "guest houses". How it happens, where to find it, and who is doing it.

If you're planning to take a trip to any country in Southeast Asia you can't miss this book. Some stories will touch your heart and some will make you laugh. Avoid getting rip-off by street merchants and visiting great sites is just a few thing you should check out.

I just finished reading Lucky at Love, and having spent the better part of the past ten years living, working and travelling in Asia I feel the author, Eric Browning-Larsen, did an excellent job.

The book is a witty, often times hilarious, and all together personal account of Mr. Browning-Larsen's various travels in the Asia region, as well as his observations of Asian-American lifestyles in the United States.

From red raccoons in Bangkok, working girls in the Philippines and landmines in Laos to the death of a Chinese family in the Unites States, the struggles of a Cambodian refugee family and the father of Gary Locke, Washington State's Asian-American governor, Mr. Browning-Larsen provides deeply caring insight into the lives of Asians both here in the United States and in Asia.

Lucky at Love is the perfect, late night reader, and I recommend anyone with an interest in contemporary Asia consider reading this book.

(And, it should be noted, the author's profits from Lucky at Love will be donated to the Pacific Pathfinder's Foundation, an organization providing educational assistance to Asian students in Southest Asia and the US. So additional kudos to Mr. Browning-Larsen for having such a charitable heart!)

Great book, tastefully written, and tough to put down. I laughed, cried, and was even shocked at the cultural differences and dedication to love in Asia. Suitable for all ages.

There are so many stores selling crafts across the Southwest that it is overwhelming. I love the look of the Southwest, but I never know what to buy--and you see so much tacky touristy junk out there, from dream catchers to turquoise jewelry that is actually plastic. I'm so glad I ran across Laura Morelli's Made in the Southwest, because it helped me cut through the trash and go straight to the real deal! In addition to being user-friendly, Made in the Southwest is beautifully photographed, a pleasure for the armchair traveler as well as those of us who like to indulge in retail therapy!

My friends and I just returned from a girls' getaway in New Mexico and Arizona. Thank you, Laura, for this fabulous book! We road-tested Made in the Southwest from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, then on to Sedona. Following Laura's recommendations, we found some beautiful and fascinating crafts, but mostly we just had lots of fun looking! The information was comprehensive and accurate, a real time saver for us since we had limited time. Plan to use it again next year when I go to Phoenix and Scottsdale.

I collect Native American crafts, and this is the only book I have found that explains in simple, layman's terms what to look for when shopping from everything from baskets to pottery. The author distills a huge amount of information down into easy to use guides on pricing, quality, and history. The listings of shops are right on target--only the best of the best!

If you are in the market for Southwestern crafts--anything from Navajo rugs to cowboy boots and turquoise jewelry--you'll want to take this guide along. It includes invaluable tips on pricing, quality, and value. Don't get ripped off by the cheap imitations you see in stores all across the Southwest! Use Laura Morelli's Made in the Southwest to make sure you're getting the best deals on authentic Southwestern crafts.

I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and know many of the stores and craftspeople listed in Laura Morelli's Made in the Southwest. The author has really done her homework. This book includes only the best of the best! If you stick to Laura's recommendations you can't go wrong!