North America Books

This amazingly intelligent and emotional collection of poems can only speak for itself -- the way only real and true poetry can. To try to explain or otherwise describe this collection would undoubtedly do it an injustice -- any such attempt would only minimize its magic. Buy and treasure this collection.

I am an old friend of the authors dating back to 6th grade and although I haven't seen her in more than 10 years I can assure you that nothing she does is bad. She had always been a perfectionist and has written poetry ever since I can remember ( I remember many Saturdays writing in her bedroom in fact. You will not be disappointed by this book, if I know my friend, it is a work of art.

M.L. Smoker's gorgeous Attempt rescues the heart with the mind. With a voice like a freight train merging into the Montana distance, Smoker carries the reader through her inner, intimate spaces on a ride across the landscape of memory and bone-deep living.

How lucky we are for M.L. Smoker.

What differentiates Bonnie Traplin's memoir of her years spent in the pristine backcountry of the Yukon is her uncompromising honesty. In fact, most of the book is relayed in actual letters to her mother, hyphenated by Bonnie's commentary, further descriptive passages, and significant future events relative to the text. She has a simple, straight forward way of relaying her personal history without embellishing in a grandiose fashion so common to personal memoirs. In fact, Bonnie doesn't really have a need to embellish as her story is indeed larger than life in many ways.

When Bonnie and her husband first moved to the north, they were greenhorns, which helps the reader to relate to their trials and tribulations as if they were the reader's own. In terms of Bonnie's honesty, she is brutally humble about her own abilities, often highlighting her clumsiness, which is a hoot, and her fears. She also offers exquisite descriptions of the virgin timber mountains and the beauty of the wildlife, so much so that she even makes this Florida girl yearn to be in below zero degree weather!

All in all, this was a quickly devoured book that I would recommend to anyone, especially anyone with experience or at least a curiosity with living in the backcountry.

If you love adventure and the wilderness, then this book is for you! This is one of the best adventure books that I have ever read. Bonnie Traplin has a way of absorbing you right into the story and making you feel as if you were there. This book also gave me reflections of my own experiences that I had in the wilderness. You will feel every emotion known while reading her story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a true adventure.

This book is a funny, tragic, heartfelt memoir of a woman's life in the far north. The hardships are hard to believe, but the realistic writing takes the reader to the Yukon Territory, where the author spent so many years as a hunting guide. If you liked The Egg and I, you'll like this book.

I really like the way this book is organized. There are sections such as "Desserts" and "Canyons". When I went to Arizona the last time, I wanted to visit desserts, and I wanted to hike some Canyons, so I could simply read these sections and learn pretty much everything I wanted to know, rather than piece this information together as other travel books make you do (since they are usually organized by area). The organization also allows you to skip information such as "Art" and "History". Of course in the end I ended up being interested in these sections after all, so I read them in the care while I was there. And once again, I could focus on these sections rather than finding this information organized by area.

Long story short: I really like reading about an area by topic of interest, rather than by location. It makes travel planning much easier. Of course, your need may be different (you may be in a certain town and want to figure out what to do for instance...). In that case, this book still is useful (it DOES have short sections on individual locations), but there are other books I use for that type of research.

Overall, I can highly recommend this book. In fact, I will order some of the other books from this series for different states.

This book is incredible. It gives all kinds of details ranging from local interest and lore to general information about the state. It reads like a novel and yet is very informative. Even if you have no intention of ever visiting Arizona, this is still a wonderful book to read and the photographs are breath-taking.

Compass Guides are the best series I have ever read. They are literate and beautifully illustrated, laid out well and very logical to use. Of the Compass Guides I've read, Cheek's Arizona is the best (followed closely by his Santa Fe Guide).

He writes with wit and style. He's not afraid to share his opinion, but never takes for granted that his is the only viewpoint. He also adds a human element that few other guides offer. Frequently you'll find sidebar articles that introduce you to a person whose story particularly illustrates the idea or place in question.

I lived in Arizona for 4 1/2 years. This is the guide that I used to learn the state. I would recommend it to anyone. When my wife and I married in Sedona, Arizona we sent copies of this book to our relatives to acquaint them with the wonderful place they'd be visiting. All who read it were delighted. You'll be, too.

I got this for my brother, but was able to see what it looked like when he opened it, and we were both impressed with it! Nice photos and explanations.

From both a pictorial view and a written view, this is one of the best books available on the subject.
Money well spent!

This book does a wonderful job of capturing the breadth and depth of Cherokee art and craft, neatly presenting it within a broader, cultural context. I highly recommend this book to Indian art historians, art collectors, and anyone with a passion for Cherokee culture.

Co-written by Eric Hinderaker (Associate Professor of History, University of Utah) and Peter C. Mancall (Professor of History, University of Southern California), At The Edge Of Empire: The Backcountry In British North America focuses upon the interplay between Europeans and Native Americans during the seventeenth century. The "backcountry" that existed just beyond the imperial reach of Britain is the primary subject of this acutely written, meticulously researched, scholarly history which closely examines the manifold causes of conflict, as well as the ordinary situations of daily life which were to significantly contribute to the American Revolut-ion of 1776.

When an American thinks of the frontier of history, modern day Ohio, Kentucky and the Appalachian mountains are hardly the first thing that comes to mind. When a British subject thinks of the effects of the nation's past in Ireland or Scotland, dealings with Cherokees or Mohawks hardly come to mind. But Professor's Hinderaker and Mancall make the case in their comprehensive yet concise story about the edge of the first British Empire and the first American frontier.

The back country of America is often approached from a modern, American standpoint, from the perspective of the early Americans, like Daniel Boone. This book makes the case that the American back country should be instead be likened to the English experience in Ireland and Scotland in the 16th century, rather than being likened to the American experience in western and Rocky Mountain states in the 19th century. Though to a large degree, it is impossible to understand the later American historical experience of the Wild west without understanding the wild mid-west.

This book can be understood well from three perspectives: the relationship of the settlers along the American frontier to the native Americans, the relationship of the British Empire to the settlers, the relationship between Britain and France in their longstanding struggle for supremacy. As the 170 years or so of the first British Empire in North America rolled on, the conflicting attitudes, alliances and interests of all the parties involved made the time period one of constant change with at times brutal results in economic deprivation and war. What emerged was perhaps the most unlikely event possible, a continental republic where authority flowed from the bottom up, as much as it has at any point in human history.

The authors do a fine job of showing just why the interior of North America was so valuable to all parties involved, and why confusion and misunderstanding often carried the day. The Pennsylvania backcountry is a prime example. Founded by Quaker businessman and pacifists, ruling from far away Philadelphia, they simply had no framework for understanding the disputes, claims and issues involved among the German and Scotch Irish settlers in today's central Pennsylvania. And these decades of misunderstandings often led to unnecessary conflict among the natives, settlers and rising disputes with the ruling class.

The familiar events leading to the American Revolution are told from the perspective that disputes in the backcountry largely led to the conflict that founded the United States. Even given several decades to solve the situation politically, the British Empire could never effectively design systems to deal with trade, backcountry political representation and native disputes. The worldview of the day and the distant London government could never quite understand just how complex a situation they were dealing with. How the early American Republic was able to solve the issues that were raised by the backcountry disputes with London so quickly, such as the removal of nearly every colonial capital from the coast to the interior and the means of creating new interior territories, is told well, with the only losers being the native tribes who were seen as a problem to be pushed away until later by the British and a problem to be swept away by the backcountry settlers.

This is a short book, worth a reader's time, as it shows just how dramatic and incredible the changes were in eastern North America during the 16th and 17th century. Things that began small: land speculation, Indian conflict, individual settlement apart from an often disinterested justice system grew up into something completely unexpected. Few of the actors of the day escape unscathed from this 170 year time period, and the misunderstandings of the time period often met their end in civil war in the American Revolution.

In about a 180 pages, the authors map out a pattern of settlement by Europeans, unlike anything that had happened before, one that was unruly, controlled from the ground up and led to the modern world. This book is highly recommended.

Co-written by Eric Hinderaker (Associate Professor of History, University of Utah) and Peter C. Mancall (Professor of History, University of Southern California), At The Edge Of Empire: The Backcountry In British North America focuses upon the interplay between Europeans and Native Americans during the seventeenth century. The "backcountry" that existed just beyond the imperial reach of Britain is the primary subject of this acutely written, meticulously researched, scholarly history which closely examines the manifold causes of conflict, as well as the ordinary situations of daily life which were to significantly contribute to the American Revolution of 1776.

This book is a guide to trees one can encounter in the woods of the Northeast. It opens with a brief yet informative description of the science behind the changing colors of autumn leaves, including some suggestions for easy science experiments to provide further understanding of the processes involved. The main part of the book is divided into two sections: deciduous trees and conifers. In this section, there are short articles for individual trees, presented in order of which trees are most common and striking in their autumn glory, rather than in alphabetical or family order. The articles include common names, Latin names, and multiple high quality color pictures of autumn foliage, as well as notes concerning what the wood might be used for, well-known literary references, and descriptive information. At the back of the book is a short list of titles for further reference and an index. This book is not intended as a guidebook for tree identification, but more a celebration of northern trees when they are at their colorful peak. The depth and readability of its descriptions of individual trees, however, would make it a suitable supplement to a tree identification guide for readers who want to learn more about the trees they already know by sight.

Despite its small size and paperback format, this is one of my most treasured books. I am a resident of Michigan, and the fall is always a highlight of our year. Michiganders, as an army, await autumn leaves and "leaf peeping", as young children await Christmas morning. This is the ONLY book I've ever seen that really gives its reader a good understanding of this beautiful phenomenon.

The first 17 or so pages give a physical, chemical, and biological discourse on why leaves change, and on what goes into the makeup of the various colors. The next 100+ pages cover all deciduous trees of northeastern North America, in turn, with a good discussion of each species being attended by excellent four-color photographs of the subject tree in various formats, including group, solo, and partial shots. Finally a sixty-page section gives the same ememplary treatment to northeastern North American evergreens. These, too, form part of the fall patterns, albeit in a more subdued way.

If you live in the area bounded by Ontario, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Maine, New Brunswick, and Quebec, or are planning to visit any states or provinces in that area this fall, buy this book now, and read it over. You'll be glad you did, this year and every year. I would give this book a ten-star rating if I could, and recommend it highly. An invaluable bargain.

This is really well done. There are numerous color photos (both closeups, some whole tree shots, and often a shot of a grouping of trees showing the characteristics of the tree being described. I highly recommend this for anyone wanting a guide to Fall trees or even for planning your plantings. It's also reasonably priced. My only misgiving is that it isn't longer and cover the entire eastern US!

If you wish a clear, objective overview of shamanic worldview, this book is outstanding. The introduction alone (which is all I have read so far) is worth a great deal. Without being dressed up in obscurities, there is much to learn here.

Along with Schultes' and Raffauf's Vine of the Soul, this is one of the best books on ayahuasca ever written. Luis Eduardo Luna is one of the world's leading authorities on this intriguing subject and Pablo Amaringo is equally knowledgeable. A treasure trove of info and art for anyone interested in art, the Amazon, and shamanism-

I have tried time and again to pick up this book and read the text in sequence, but the full-page color plates of Pablo Amaringo's paintings always pull me away from the text and into the world of shamans, angels, devils, serpents, jungle cats, mermaids, and aliens. I've read a lot of the text, but usually I have done so in search of an explanation for the images in specific paintings.

My first ayahuasca experiences were under the guidance of Luis Eduardo Luna. His knowledge of plant lore, chemistry, shamanism, and human nature is awe-inspiring, and I do want to read his words, but the pull of Pablo Amaringo's images has been too strong for me to resist thus far. I'm glad to have this book on my shelf because whenever someone asks me about ayahuasca, I know that I can place this book in their hands and the images will capture their imagination and make them hungry to learn more.

The discovery of the New World has always been a topic that both fascinated and horrified me. As an American, I recognized that it as the foundation for much of who I am. But as a sensative, caring person, I could not help feeling ashamed of the greed, racism, and cruelty exhibited first by the Spanish conquistadors towards the Aztecs, then by Europeans in general towards all the first nations that were here before us.

By providing a history written by the conquered as well as the conquerors, "Aztec, Death of a Nation" has helped me understand some of the complexity behind the history I learned in school. There are no "good guys" or "bad guys" in this story. Rather, this is really a history of individual human beings.

Some of the people I read about struck me as cruel and barabaric, but because the accounts also provided insight into the social, relgious, and politcial climates and into the personal struggles endured by these people, I came to realize that I couldn't lay blame on any of them. Some of the people I read about struck me as good and kind - more of what I think as as truly civilized - but because I could see that the goodness and kindness came out of individual strength and conviction, I also couldn't judge any of groups of people as being better or worse than any other.

"Aztec, Death of a Nation" is the first book I have found that has been able to help me come to terms with my heritage as a member of the conquering race. Rarely are we given an opportunity like this to see through the eyes of past civilization.

Kenneth Pearce's collection of eyewitness acounts of the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire is a book most fantasy fiction readers won't want to miss. This book weaves many short personal stories together to provide an epic tale of power, glory, and the ultimate clash between two races.

It paints a picture of a culture, religion, and history so different from our own that it feels more alien than many stories set on other planets or in other realities, and it is true.

Those of us who love roller coasters do so partly because they are more than just a thrill; They are real, with a hint of real danger. Reading this book provides that same added edge for the fantasy reader. As this book took me on journeys into the underworld, showed me prophecies from the past, ritual cannibalism and invasion from abroad, a spine tingling whisper in the back of mind kept reminding me that it was all true

I had the pleasure of reading an early draft of this book. The detailed and scholarly endnotes were the only reminder that I was not reading a work of pure fiction, but rather the actual words of soldiers, priests, chiefs, even pesants who were present at the downfall of the Aztec empire. "Aztec, Death of a Nation" is a fractured ancient vase carefully restored by a knowledgable archaeologist.

This book is not just a book, it represents a call for the world to return to sanity and life. everyone must read this, must examine their conscience and decide how much they value life, nature, and the dignity of every human being. we cannot afford to keep moving toward the precipice of total destruction. a wise man once said that if one loses his way and is on a wrong path, turning back is progress. we must turn back, turn away from a path of death and devestation and untold human suffering to a path which embraces wholeness, wellness, and recognition of our connectedness to all living beings. this goes beyond any previous dichotomies be they political, religious or cultural. it is a question now of life or death. if we die, if we destroy life on earth, then what hope have we of transformation? in order to change and grow we must first survive, and survival depends upon the immediate cessation of the wholesale destruction of this Earth that is now going on...Indigenous Peoples of the world have the knowledge of life and sustainability. They are the Original Human Beings, and they represent our collective Humanity. the future is in their hands. modern man is totally insane and the path of western civilization has brought us to the edge of extinction. in order to heal we must first recognize in what peril we have placed ourselves. Indigenous Peoples would be justified in denying us their teachings, for we have violated everything that the Creator has given us to hold sacred. i beg Native American communities and Indigenous communities worldwide to forgive us and to share their Way of Living that we all might have a chance to survive. we have only our own lies and selfishness and corruption and the total sum of our injustices, to lose. we have a world out of balance to restore. join the forces of life, sustainability, connectedness, and respect. you are not really happy anyway. examine yourselves and see the sickness rotting away at your soul. break your hearts of stone and let them be turned to hearts of flesh, hearts which feel, hearts which can be truly human. this is my plea.

The plea of the Hau de no sau nee Nations to the UN in 1977 that exposes the oppression of natives by civilization. The tone is amazingly candid, true, and determined. A good read despite poor editing.

This collection of position papers from the Haudenosaunee does a lot more than outline the values and traditions of the People of the Longhouse. It comprises an historical assay of Western Civilization and a political manifesto for all people who would choose to end the legacy of colonialism. An ancient nation that has existed in peace in prosperity without recourse to laws and jails, the Haudenosaunee were the first to establish a league of "United Nations" to ensure peace, harmony and respect among disparate groups of people. Incidentally, it was their pact, the Iroquois Confederacy, which inspired the government of the United States of America. Of particular notice in this collection was the last paper, "A Basic Call to Consciousness," which succinctly outlines the original instructions given to the Haudenosaunee by the Creator of Life; the destructive processes which are eradicating their way of life and most life on the planet; and lastly the Haudenosaunee strategy for survival. Absolutely essential for anyone who wishes to better understand and change the oppressive, exploitive, and destructive traditions which drive Western Civilization, I cannot over recommend this book.

This book is an example of the new attention ethnographers are paying to writing. Not only is it wonderfully written but it is an honest account of Zuni lives today. Tedlock went to the pueblo with her husband Dennis Tedlock (author of the "Popol Vuh" and the "Rabinal Achi") as a painter and after a number of visits and encouragement from Zuni women she decided to become an ethnographer. During her graduate education she also did work in Guatemala, see her classic book "Time and the Highland Maya." There is now a new book about to appear "The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine." I've seen the advanced copy and it is fabulous! All these books are must reads for young documentary writers and spiritually alive women and men today!

This is a beautifully written, honest, book about a young woman ethnographer coming of age. She first went to Zuni Pueblo as a young woman painter with her anthropologist husband and fell in love with the people and place. As a result she went on to get graduate degrees in Ethnomusicology and Anthropology herself and began working with the Maya in Guatemala. Since then she has written a book on women shamans worldwide: The Woman in the Shaman's Body. These books are worth the time to read.

I really enjoyed reading Tedlock's work. The writing reverses the notion of "participant observation" to the "observation of participation." Instead of a removed, monological account, we are offered a polyphony of voices, including the authors. In fact, the ethnography reads much like a novel; however, these are real people with real stories to tell. The text offers a rich and evocative account of the Zuni people and their experiences in the borderzone between the past and present. Tedlock's work and writing strategies were central to the writing of my own ethnographic account of a Southeastern Native American Tribe in search of a visible past--the Pee Dee of South Carolina (Title: Native Americans in the Carolina Borderlands: A Critical Ethnography, Carolinas Press, 2000). Tedlock's ethnography is a must read for those on the verge of engaging ethnography, no matter the methodological bent, and students and academics interested in Native American Studies, Cultural Studies, Cultural Anthropology, and alternative ethnography.