Pacific Books

I bought this book when I was in Hollywood. I love it. Very interesting facts and helpful maps. Pretty much accurate. I reccomend this book to anyone who is a "death hag".

If you're headed to Hollywood and don't believe in corporate pre-determined tourist traps grab this book! Lots of cool places to visit that aren't owned/run by Universal, right down to the spot where Baretta made his last hit! Maybe you'll even see Huggy Bear. [...] Cool stuff.

This is a great guide for anyone who is interested in the scandals, murders, suicides and hauntings of the Los Angeles area. The information is detailed and accurate, and there are several maps which are good enough that even someone who is not familiar with the area can navigate easily. The book also contains maps to celebrity graves in many area cemetaries. This book is excellent for those who may be visiting LA and want to see some unusual sites; it is also interesting for people who have always lived in LA. Maybe you live next door to the house where Clara Bow "entertained" the entire USC football team and don't even know it! If you're not into the morbid stuff, the book also contains the locations of many sites used in TV and movies. I should also mention that I have found that this latest edition is only readily available from Amazon or directly from the author, so don't go looking for it in your local bookstore.

In these days of yahoo maps, mapquest et al, the need for something like the Thomas Guide is often questioned. Forget the questions. If you're living in Southern California you need this. It's handy for doing things like finding alternate routes (do you know how to get from Santa Fe Springs to Hollywood when the 5 and the 101 are packed?)

The CD is windows-only so as Mac guy I've not had the chance to use it. I'd be surprised if it was a significant improvement over the on-line map services, but perhaps it is.

The fold-out map (not sure if this is in the newer editions, I have mine from my 1990 and 1996 Thomas Guides in my car) is really nice if only because it more clearly delineates the city boundaries than the overview maps in the book do.

In the age of internet many of us take it for granted that we can get street map of any part of the country in seconds free of cost, and buying a map is a waste of money. This is not true if you are talking about Greater Los Angeles area and if you have used the current Thomas Guide. We have been vacationing in Los Angeles area for years and we find this guide extremely helpful in navigating around the city. Los Angeles is known for very difficult traffic and the street system is complex compared to other cities in the country. The guide has comprehensive index that lists street addresses, beaches & harbors, cemeteries, schools and colleges, golf courses, hospitals, hotels, libraries, park & ride locations, parks, shopping centers, theaters and many other information you would be interested in. It is easy to use this guide; I strongly recommend this to anyone who drives around Los Angeles area, price is reasonable and it is good value money can buy.

As a long term resident of Los Angeles, I can testify that the Thomas Brothers Guide is the essential source for finding one's way in the L.A. megapolis. A comprehensive index lists street addresses, beaches & harbors, cemetaries, chambers of commerce, city halls, colleges, golf courses, hospitals, hotels, libraries, park & ride locations, parks, points of interest (including museums), shopping centers, theaters and transportation hubs -and gives a page and grid letter/number to help you find that location, street, or landmark you are looking for.
Whenever going to an unfamiliar address, I figure out how to get there first with the Thomas Guide (which I keep in my car). I always recommend to new residents in the city that they purchase a guide to help them find their way - because L.A. County is BIG ! Thomas Brothers Maps are also out on cd-rom. See www.thomasmap.com for more of their maps.
If used in conjunction with Mapquest.com to get directions, you will surely find your way in L.A.
~ Mark

Yes, this is an ideological piece written to glamorise the Soviet revolution etc etc, but in reality, it's a great book that can be enjoyed by anyone from children that are old enough to appreciate the idea of justice (quite early).

Set in a fictional, magical Italian-type world, the tale tells of a revolution in a country that is ruled by a greedy and immoral aristocracy (that indulges opulently while the populace starves) headed by the Three Fat Men. The men have a young boy Tutti who they are raising as their heir. To make him cruel they forbid contact with children allowing him only a doll for a companion and they build a zoo with wild animals so that he learns cruelty.

The book begins with the capture and encagement of the revolutionary Prospero and the breaking of Tutti's doll. Enter the elderly Dr Gaspar and a bunch of ordinary extraordinary people whose lives are brought together in this crucial moment in the life of the country.

An absurd and story with elements of the tragic, feels timeless and is a great read for all.

Many praise Olesha's "Envy", but I prefer "The Three Fat Men" to it, firstly, because it is better written and, secondly, because "Envy" deals with the reality of post-Revolution Russia, which is as rough as a piece of emery paper, whereas "The Three Fat Men" is a fairy tail describing a magical world. There is little magical, however, in "The Three Fat Men", the fairy tail is basically a revolutionary pathos about destruction of the old and creation of the new. It is written in a very cheerful spirit, mostly imitating old French and Italian tale-tellers. It is not for no reason that settings, names of characters seem French and Italian. Even though "The Three Fat Men" was written under the author's impression of the Soviet revolt of 1917, it bears no mark of pro-communism or any other political orientation. Therefore, it should be enjoyed by children of all countries.

this is the most fantastic book i have ever read. i had read this book when i was just 10 and i used to read this book twice a month. the most important feaure of this book is that the reader is completely absorbed in this book from beginnin to end. dr. gasper is very interesting character. he can do anything. suok is so beatiful and adventurous. the struggle against three fat men is described in the best possible interesting manner.

this book is responsible for making me so adventurous. after reading this book i tried to walk on rope ( as suok does this with perfection) .

i recommend this book as the best birthday gift for any child.

The creation of high technology firms and industries is increasingly an important source of national industrial competitiveness. Harnessing and diffusing new technologies, leveraging knowledge and developing new collaborative mechanisms demand new corporate strategies and arrangements between business and government. Tiger Technology by John Mathews and Dong-Sung Cho provides new insights into these issues. In explaining how late comer firms establish themselves in one of the most technologically demanding industries, their book sheds light on the process by which East Asian countries - Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan have developed technology leveraging strategies and capabilities that enable them to compete in high technology industries. Furthermore they argue the East Asian countries have developed institutional systems for rapid technology transmission and diffusion.

Part two of the book draws this argument out by examining in detail the various national case studies. However, it is in Part three of the book that the authors draw together the comparative detail of the national case studies.Here they identify three models of high technology industrialisation that the East Asian economies have pioneered.The book raises interesting issues for managers, public administrators and scholars - focusing on the need to develop strategies for learning at the firm level and developing institutions that can foster cooperative relations between business and the public sector.

In sum, Tiger Technology, is a well researched, well written and topical book that demonstrates the continued potency of the East Asian 'miracle'.For those studying or working in the fields of strategy, international management and public policy the book is a 'must have' that will become an important benchmark in the study of high technology industrialisation. The book is therefore highly recommended.

I approached this book thinking that it might give a few ideas as to how countries today might get themselves started in high technology industries. I was surprised to find that Mathews' and Cho's story is as relevant to developing countries today as it is to the East Asian tiger economies with which they are concerned. In particular, their story of how Korea, Taiwan and Singapore all used different leverage vehicles for the creation of knowledge intensive industries in their countries, seems to be applicable very much to the case of China today, or India, or any other country with a serious state looking seriously to become a player in industries where technology is a prime factor. Countries don't have to reinvent everything from zero!

Congratulations to these authors for stating this as clearly as I've seen in recent years. The book stands comparison with Amsden, Wade and other contributors to the industrial upgrading literature.

The creation of high technology firms and industries is increasingly an important source of national industrial competitiveness. Harnessing and diffusing new technologies, leveraging knowledge and developing new collaborative mechanisms demand new corporate strategies and arrangements between business and government. Tiger Technology by John Mathews and Dong-Sung Cho provides new insights into these issues. In explaining how late comer firms establish themselves in one of the most technologically demanding industries, their book sheds light on the process by which East Asian countries - Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan have developed technology leveraging strategies and capabilities that enable them to compete in high technology industries. Furthermore they argue the East Asian countries have developed institutional systems for rapid technology transmission and diffusion.

Part two of the book draws this argument out by examining in detail the various national case studies. However, it is in Part three of the book that the authors draw together the comparative detail of the national case studies.Here they identify three models of high technology industrialisation that the East Asian economies have pioneered.The book raises interesting issues for managers, public administrators and scholars - focusing on the need to develop strategies for learning at the firm level and developing institutions that can foster cooperative relations between business and the public sector.

In sum, Tiger Technology, is a well researched, well written and topical book that demonstrates the continued potency of the East Asian 'miracle'.For those studying or working in the fields of strategy, international management and public policy the book is a 'must have' that will become an important benchmark in the study of high technology industrialisation. The book is therefore highly recommended.

great guidebooks. Little hard read at first, but useful all the time. worth read before trip. Not the one that you can just open on scene.

These books are really helpful and useful. Even if you're like me and know your way around Los Angeles like the back of your hand, it still comes in handy. It gives web addresses and phone numbers and more correct information than I've seen in other publications. It also gives you the closest freeways to a particular location. It's a good compact size too. All the Time Out guides I've read are as good as this. They are on a par if not better to Lonely Planet.

While there are heaps of travel book guides on the market, Time Out are better than all others. Lonely Planet are good and DK are good, but this range is a little more in depth and seems to go the extra mile.
After a fun introduction, there are the usual sections you'd expect to find in a guide book; Restaurants and Bars, Hotels, Nightlife, Shopping (my personal favourite) and things Nearby to name a few. I believe their maps are more detailed and layed out really well. There are hours for shops and restaurants and websites too. They include things for people on all kinds of budgets. Another cute idea they have going on is little blue notes on various pages with a point of interest that has been used in a movie or TV show. For example, on page 116 it mentions that the Grand Olympic Auditorium (with its address) was used in Million Dollar Baby. These are just another added bonus that makes this more unique.
I have found these guides useful in the past, and this one is going to come in handy again, because they always update to include new places to stay, eat and shop. These books are so helpful and I think you'll find that too. Check them out, and you may not use other guides again.

This is neat concept, that of "big dinner." Tom and his wife both knew what this was all about, everyone has their own job. Now, for Tom it means that everybody contributes something to the meal. What a great idea!

He starts it with helping us home chefs to "Basics" that is making stuff in advance and saving it, e.g. stocks,dough, etc. so that it comes in handy in putting together spectacular dinners.

Additionally cool about this are the some thirteen feats that are Tom's big dinner gang's favs. There is the rarified Wine Cellar Dinner with Chocolate Crepes for the finale, or the inviting "Merlot Release Picnic." This has as its continuous theme, you guessed it, "merlot." Included is yummy "Lamb Chop T-bones in crushed cherry marinade with tarragon mustard," with merlot in the marinade. This is great picnic or barbie fare.

The book is warmly written with great color photography and source info and wine & drink suggestions galore. Big dinners will be advanced significantly and funnier with this aid.

Tom's Big Dinners is a big ambitious cookbook, which will be perfect for all ambitious chefs out there who have plenty of friends and kitchen space. Tom Douglas has planned 10 wonderful dinners, complete with the wine and mixed drinks. The dinners are all fabulously planned and wonderfully varied. You could please vegetarians and carnivores at each of these feasts. These recipes, however, are not really for the kitchen novice, but certainly are something to set your sights on if you are one. Douglas provides some helpful "prepare ahead" tips, but not too many shortcuts. He tells wonderful stories about all of these meals--they certainly have worked for him.

I love this book. Tom's a legend in the Seattle area. You'll see his first book reviewed by many Northwesterners. I prefer this book to his first. It's beautiful, well laid out and has a wealth of information for those who seriously love to cook...or beginners who are at least willing to get put some effort into a few spectacular dishes. I find the variety of recipes accessible to people with varying skills in the kitchen. I have had about a dozen dishes from this book (made by me and friends) and each has been fabulous. Enjoy!

This book helped me get off the pavement and start running on beautiful trails throughout the Bay Area. I recommend it to other road runners who are tired of the same routes along busy streets, or trail runners who want to discover new territory. The trail descriptions are enticing, with mention of wildflowers, views, and other sights and smells along the way. They also give a clear picture of trail conditions and route, with difficulty ratings. There are trails described for every county around the Bay. Several of my non-running friends have used this as a hiker's trail guide and sung its praises as well.

Clear descriptions, great summary information, range of route selection, and tips on places to eat and snack make this book not only a helpful trail running guide, but also a good running "tour" book of the Bay Area. The book makes it easy to explore beautiful areas while putting in the miles!

I've explored a number of new trails and learned new things about some of my favorite trails using this book. It includes well-known trails plus the more hidden ones. The trail and area descriptions are detailed without being overwhelming and offer great alternate routes for a change of pace or a different mileage. The natural history sections gave me a good background on the areas and things to think about while I ran.

I recommend this book for the person new to trail running, new to the Bay Area, or just wanting to explore new areas. I loved it!

Sharon Giacomazzi is one of an elite class of authors who can seemlessly blend local history and hiking into a well written guidebook. Although the title features Yosemite prominently, this book also covers Hwy 49, the wonderful road through Gold Country, Alpine County, the Eastern Sierra and White Mountains. Each section of the book includes a broad survey of the region, followed by "chapters" of a few pages highlighting a particular locale and one or more hiking opportunites nearby.

The "tales" part of the book is the obvious strength. Readers will be treated to various theories about the lost treasure of Ophir Mountain, the many changes to the Sierra Railroad, and the desparate shootout at Convict Lake. Giacomazzi offers readers several opportunites to explore historic townsites like Bodie and Hornitos. Readers will also learn about the discovery of the Sierra "Big Trees" (Sequoia's) and the preservation of that site in today's Calveras Big Trees State Park. Of course, the history of Yosemite, beginning with the Mariposa Battalion and running through the present day, is also ably covered by the author.

The hike selection in this book is excellent. All are dayhikes and most are between 1 and 10 miles; the obvious exception is the 17 mile round trip hike to Half Dome. What impressed me most about the book, however, were the number of out of the way hikes that Giacomazzi listed. She does not list the ever popular Mariposa Grove of Sequoias within Yosemite, but she does describe Nelder Grove, a quiet grove just a few miles from the park border. Indeed, for the most part this guide will quickly get walkers to places of relative solitude even on a summer weekend. Of course, a few classics of the Park, Mt. Dana and the aforementioned Half Dome, are included.

On the whole this is an excellent guide. Hiking descriptions are sometimes brief but based on my experience, they are accurate. The history is sure to enliven any visit to Yosemite. The black and white photos that accompany the text are nice and the sketch trail maps are decent. (In the case of some of the longer hikes, I would recommend supplementing these with a good topo map. In the park, the best choices are the Tom Harrison Maps.) Get the book and enjoy. It is one of the best publications among many good ones from Bored Feet Press.

(Readers interested in similar history/hiking books should look to Jerry and Gisela Rohde's wonderful book, Redwood National and State Parks: Tales, Trails and Auto Tours.)

I have had the pleasure of walking many of the same trails that Sharon writes about in this book. The maps and directions are most excellent--if a description says 3/10 of a mile, then that's what it is. There is nothing quite so frustrating as having a wonderful day of walking planned only to be thwarted by crappy directions to the trail head. The historical focus is like icing on the cake-each of these walks are very enjoyable by themselves but when you have a greater knowledge of place and time, the whole experience is greatly enhanced.
So, even if you've tried other hiking books and been disappointed, don't pass this one by. There is something for everyone here. Highly Recommended and a great read even if you don't get out much!

Sharon has had agoraphobia for 20 or more years, and yet she has conquered her fears by hiking around 10,000 miles on foot with a friend or two intoe for companionship. She has shared her research and emotions along with the visual descriptions of each of these hikes in her first book. It is a book that will inform and delight every reader, even if you never take that first step upon the worn trail.
She includes facinating tidbits that have been well researched, and provides pictures long buried in private and government archives. Sharon has also tried to inform the reader about the ecological issues surrounding the hikers' intrusion into the delicate terrain of the Sierras. Each chapter is complete, and will leave the reader enthralled and excited for the next "trip"--even without leaving the comforts of one's armchair.
Whether one follows the maps on where to begin one's personal experience by hiking the trail or just reading to enjoy the trip vicariously, this book will be a wellcomed addition to everyone's bookcase who is interested in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Bon Voyage!

I am seriously addicted to these Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology books. They lead you by milepost on such wonderful tours. You'll want to grab your camera, rock hammer and pocket protector, and hit the road with this one.

There are a lot of excellent maps in this spiral-bound book. The Great Basin offers many surprises to those who leave the Interstate. Enjoy.

I have a confession to make. When I live in a place that has ice and snow on the ground for twenty-something days; the temperature hovers around the cold mark (anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit;)and my home heating bills are larger than my mortage payment, I frequently contract cabin fever. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, looking at maps, howling at the moon (when available), chasing parked cars, and reading travel books. I know, I know, it's only the beginning of winter and readers are typically not standing in line to get tickets for their summer vacations. However, to my surprise I find that a number of libraries have very popular travel programs that start in January. Could it be that others are afflicted with this seemingly incurable malaise? Thus, you can imagine my delight in finding a copy of this wonderful travel book. My wife and I traveled U.S. Highway 50, christened "The Loneliest Road in America" by Time magazine, across Nevada a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, while we had a number of obligatory travel books of this region, this one was not available. I can't believe how much we missed! Since it was published by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, it is a specialized travel book. But don't let that fool you. While it is chock full of information on the geology, flora, and fauna of the region it is so much more. In addition to being highly readable it has 70 color photos, 170 black & white photos and an abundance of illustrations, maps, and sketches. The book takes the traveler along this historic Lincoln Highway from Carson City to Baker and introduces you to a unique Nevada adventure complete with national forests, deserts, and a National Park, Great Basin, that many travelers don't even know exists. About the only thing you will miss is the diesel fume spewing monsters pulling full grown homes and bumper-to-bumper traffic at every milepost. During our visit to Great Basin National Park we encountered perhaps a dozen cars. The book has a helpful road log keyed to highway markers. The trip will take you from ghost towns to Pony Express stations and so many side trips into areas of pristine beauty that you will be hard pressed to believe you are in Nevada, which is, after all just a lot of desert, right? You might even visit a lake that produces some of the best trout fishing in the State and stop for a picnic lunch under aspens that will take your breath away. How about stopping in Fallon and visiting the Naval Air Station and Strike and Air Warfare Center, the Navy's Top Gun training center. Riding the "Ghost Train" from Ely is a trip you won't forget. We discovered the works of Nevada poet Kirk Robertson in a small bookshop in Eureka, which has a beaufifully restored historic courthouse. Kind of a special two for one deal. If you are looking for the fastest way to traverse Nevada complete with four lanes of pavement, interchanges, and fast food stops, Highway 50 is not for you. On the other hand, if you have just a touch of adventure in your soul and don't mind beautiful scenery, historic ambiance, and lots of space, this is worth your time. I would not make this the only travel guide to take on such a trip but I would not leave home without it. Take heart fellow sufferers, spring and summer is coming and this book will remind you why the wait is worth it.

"Close enough for government work" is a slam with a core message that is demolished by Tingley and Pizarro's book. The inside cover makes it clear that this book, published by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, is keyed to the designation by the Nevada Legislature of US 50 as the official "Loneliest Road." Thus forwarned to what by conventional wisdom ought to be a badly-organized piece of legislation-inspired junk, I was blown out of the water (OK, sand) by the photos (plenty of color but also outstanding B&W), organization, and clear and enthusiastic writing. The emphasis is on geology over social history, but the interaction between the two is always made clear. And it's not just history--wise comments re the possible sound of Sand Mountain versus the reality of OHV roaring alert readers to what is worth stopping for. Anyone traveling through Nevada on US 50 as opposed to I-80 or I-15 must be a tourist. This book gets granular for you.

Brunes has written a personable, informative account of traveling in the South Pacific useful to any traveler. The book tells you exactly what to expect as an independent traveler, how to find the wonderful local places to stay, and how to settle into the life style of the place. She writes in the uneffected style of a friend, rather than a travel writer, so you feel right at her elbow sharing the experience. She gives information, mood, inflection of the places and people that you won't find in a guide book. Whether your an on-the-road traveler or an arm-chair traveler, this book is a good read.

This is more than just a travel book. Ms. Brunes digs deep into the culture of the So. Pacific Islands. She does an excellent job of blending people, culture and adventure all while informing the reader of the information necessary to "get around". To stop here would be to do an injustice. Ms. Brunes.
shows fierce determination and courage, a grandmother travelling alone, with little resources but a lot of guts. She is truely an inspiration!

Evangeline Brunes takes us to lands which most of us are not privileged to travel.

As we admire her courage to travel alone to far-off places in the South Pacific, we also share vicariously in her wonderful experiences.

She is an inspiration to all women, but particularly to those with limited incomes, determination, and self-confidence. I hope she will write another book!