Travel Books

I REALLY liked the first book in the Bethany series. I have read it five or six times and I am still not tired of it. The book really taught me a lot about the Bible and things that go on 'behind the scenes.' I liked learning things that aren't taught much these days. I can't wait until other books in the Bethany series are out. Sarah, age 11

I am 11 years old and in the fifth grade. I love this book because it is interesting and exciting. It challenges me to learn more about the Bible and the Old Testament. It is a story about a girl named Bethany and her experience with meeting an angel. It is fun for me to read about a girl close to my age traveling around with an angel and learning all about the Old Testament like it was happening today. I would recommend this book for kids my age. I can't wait to read Mr. Kearse's next book. He is the best!
Anna Leigh (11)

Kearse has developed a great adventure story that bridges the secular with the spiritual in a powerful fashion. Young Bethany Clarke has a burning desire for a cute puppy dog, but can't get one because of a family secret that causes a lot of tension before she launches into her time-travel journey where her dream of owning a dog comes true. Back in time she experiences a host of characters who stretch her mind and strengthen her beliefs. Whether it's her angel friend, Gabriel, her doggy buddy, Oba, or the mysterious character, the "Old Woman I Know", the reader is sure to connect with this book that explores the power of faith and relationships. An outstanding book for the whole family to read and enjoy!No Time To Kill

Bethany is a great book for children who can read up to about age 15. It is also excellent for teachers who plan to teach sunday school to children of all ages. Bethany is even interesting for adults. Its a very clever and interesting story that takes a young girl and her dog on a journey through the Old Testament. I would highly recommend it for all faiths and particularly Jews and Christians.

I never knew learning about the bible could be so much fun. While reading the book I did'nt even realize that I was learning. I would recomend this book to people who love to read a good adventure. I first read the book when I was in fifth and sixth grade and now that I am in going into seventh grade I realize how much it helped me understand more about the bible. Mr. Kearse was my sunday school teacher and I absolutely loved what he taught us. This book is great because it is the kind of thing Mr. Kearse taught and a great adventure.

The teaming of two giants in natural history - author Peter Matthiessen and artist Robert Bateman - to cover one of the world's most revered and endangered groups of birds produced a book whose appeal reaches well beyond "craniacs" and other bird lovers.

Matthiessen's accounts of his globe-spanning travels in search of cranes incorporate extensive historical, cultural, and scientific background information (from Confucius, Chaucer, and Marco Polo to Bertolt Brecht and Aldo Leopold), providing a deeper context for the stories of these majestic birds and their struggles to survive in an increasingly hostile world. Particularly important are his insights into how the future of cranes is increasingly tied to human politics and economics.

Bateman's masterful paintings and drawings capture the grace and noble bearing that earned cranes a place in the mythology of many cultures and the hearts of millions of nature lovers. I only wish there had been more illustrations scattered throughout the book.

Mainstream readers may be somewhat put off by the many endnotes (some of which might have been incorporated into the main text), but the additional detail makes it well worth the trouble of flipping back and forth. Digressions on crane evolution and taxonomy and international politics can be a bit dry but provide valuable insights into the epic and often tragic history of cranes.

The Birds of Heaven is an unusual mix of natural history, travel, personal reflections, and tough lessons in the realities of international cooperation (or lack thereof) in conservation. It is thoroughly engaging, and also has beautiful illustrations and photographs. Everyone who loves the outdoors--not just crane fanatics--should own a copy of this book.

I first read Peter Matthiessen in the 1970s: "The Snow Leopard", and was so moved by his writing that I began to read everything I could find that he authored. I have never been disappointed. "The Birds of Heaven: Travels with Cranes" is, like his other books scholarly and absolutely sings with his love of the subject. And the included art is breathtaking. With International Crane Foundation as well as other authorities on wildlife conservation, Matthiessen has written another book that will transport the reader to numerous countries, under numerous skies to see and hear the ancient bugling of the birds of heaven.

The most striking feature of this book is the color plates, which might make the book a nice gift for a birdlover. This ornithological study works on at least 2 levels:1)it is a detailed study of the current knowledge of 15 species of cranes, most of which are endangered (The Sandhill crane of the US is an exception), efforts for preservation of the species, and ornithological details. To give the briefest example, some of the cranes are migratory,while others are not. Some migrate long distances, as does the crane that nests in Northern Asia and winters in India. The Sandhill crane, of North America, has the longest migration. Most produce only one egg per season, take more than one year to mature (unlike geese), and are subject to predation;the book enumerates the numerous efforts at preservation worldwide, which include using an airplane as an imprinted mother-figure, just like in the film "Fly Away Home." Also there are preservation societies in many countries, including Cornell U. and in Wisconsin in America. 2) It also works as an historical and geographical travel guide to many remote areas of the world, including China, Mongolia, Siberia, Southern and Southeast Asia,Japan, Korea (where cranes inhabit the demilitarized zone) , Australia, England, Africa, and America-- all continents except South America. These cultures are alien in terms of religion, culture,politics and geography at least to me so reading about them presents a formidable challenge. The book is lavishly illustrated with pictures of these beautiful and diverse birds.

_The Birds of Heaven_ by Peter Matthiessen is a well-written and informative account of the fifteen living species of crane. Matthiessen chronicled in the book his years of experience with these birds, traveling to Russia, China, Mongolia (where six species have been recorded), India, Bhutan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Africa, England (where the Eurasian or common crane, extinct there since 1653, is at last a breeding species once more), Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Florida to study and write about the various species. Matthiessen's superb writing is accompanied by truly excellent artwork by artist Robert Bateman, who produced a number of black and white drawings and color paintings for the book.

Matthiessen did an excellent job of covering the biology of cranes in general and of each species individually. The crane family (Gruidae) we learn is found on every continent except South America and Antarctica and is comprised of three genera, _Grus_ (to which all but five of the living species belong to and a group primarily found in Eurasia), _Anthropoides_ (which includes the demoiselle crane as well as the blue crane of South Africa, which may be descended from it; Matthiessen discussed many theories of crane evolution), and _Balearica_ (which includes two African species, the black crowned and gray crowned). Though sometimes called herons in some parts of the world (or more often herons are referred to as cranes), cranes differ from herons in that cranes fly with neck outstretched rather than curved back over the shoulder (they differ from storks in that storks display broad tails, which the cranes lack).

The several species of crane have subtly different breeding habitat and food preferences; for instance in the Amur Basin the white-naped crane probes for tubers while the red crowned crane hunts small animals and picks at vegetation. Not all cranes are restricted to wetlands; while for example all three of the rare white cranes are found only in marshes, the more widespread and abundant demoiselle, Eurasian, and sandhill cranes are generalized feeders able to succeed in a variety of terrains, with the demoiselle primarily an upland feeder.

Some cranes have rather unusual adaptations. Several species are "diggers" - feeding primarily on mud-buried tubers - and these species (the white-naped, sarus, brolga, Siberian, and wattled cranes) have naked, non-feathered skin on their head down to the bill, which is an adaptation analogous to the naked head and neck of vultures. The brolga crane, which is more often found in salt marshes than other species, has evolved specialized salt glands near the eyes through which it can secrete concentrated salts. Feather painting is also covered; some species daub their feathers with wet vegetation or mud during nesting season for camouflage.

The role of cranes in myth and history is also discussed. The word crane comes from the old German word "Cranuh," which like the genus name _Grus_ is a rendition of the bird's cry. The Yakuts people of Siberia revered the Siberian crane as a symbol of their various clans, a uniting symbol for their people. The sarus crane of India (at nearly six feet tall the tallest flying bird on earth) has been for centuries revered as a holy messenger of Vishnu, a Hindu deity, a reverence that has protected this crane from hunting (similarly a Buddhist reverence for life in general and often cranes in particular has helped kept cranes safe in such places as Bhutan). The red-crowned crane (or in Japanese "tancho;" the heaviest flying bird on earth) was revered as a messenger of death and symbol of eternal life to the Ainu and portrayed in Japanese robes, wedding kimonos, screens, scrolls, and other items for centuries. Revered also in Korea as "turumi," a companion to sages, scholars, and musicians, in both nations it was also regrettably hunted and eaten. More recently the peace symbol of the 1960s was originally a Hopi Indian sign derived from the footprint of a crane.

One thing that surprised me was that some crane discoveries were made fairly recently. The whooping crane's breeding ground was found after nine years of searching in 1954. A large, breeding, unknown (though known to Aborigines) population of sarus cranes was discovered in 1961 in Australia. A non-migratory population of red-crowned cranes on Hokkaido wasn't confirmed until 1972. The breeding ground of the central Siberian population of the Siberian crane wasn't found until 1978. The black-necked or Tibetan crane was as late as 1987 thought to be rapidly vanishing, the second most endangered crane on earth, but surveys in the early 1990s in Tibet and Bhutan pegged the species at a much healthier count of 5,500 birds, showing that early estimates were way off.

Issues of crane conservation are well covered, with Matthiessen chronicling the dire straits faced by many of the species, the heroic efforts made by some to save them, and even their role as "umbrella species;" that when their habitats are preserved many other plants and animals benefit. The Amur Basin of Russia for instance - a vital crane habitat - is being threatened by massive deforestation, agricultural runoff, pollution from mining, and proposed dams. Attempts by such agencies as the International Crane Foundation to broker deals between those nations that share the Amur and its products - Russia, South Korea, China, and Japan - has been stymied by mutual mistrust (extending to ridiculous extremes; Chinese officials refusing for instance to refer to the red-crowned crane as the Japanese or Manchurian crane, both frequently used common names). Some successes exist; the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Reserve near Bharatpur, India, established to preserve wintering Siberian cranes is now also home to 364 bird species as well as pythons, nilgai antelope, and sambar deer (though the park is still threatened by the crush of humanity in crowded India).

In addition to being an excellent book on the history and natural history of cranes it is also a wonderful travel book, the author doing a great job of describing what it is like to travel in such exotic places as Bhutan and Mongolia.

This is an awesome book and series! (there are 7 total and the 8th is out in July, keep reading!) After going through the Magic Tree House stories and the Time Warp Trio series, this book series was a SPECTACULAR time twist on American's who helped shaped our nation. Each book asks, "What if this person quit? Gave up? Didn't do what the history books said they did?" I was looking for a series to get my kids interested in U.S. History and this series kept catching my attention. I couldn't find them in the local libraries and it is ashame! These books need to be on the shelves for all the kids to read. Tell your school library, tell your local library that you want to read them. I can't say enough good things about the book! And by the way, my opinion of this series was formed long before our school was fortunate to have the author visit and talk to the kids. It was a unique experience that has all the kids excited and wanting to read the books. My twin boys could NOT put the books down and went through them as quick as I could buy them off of Amazon! ENJOY THEM YOURSELF! READ THEM TO YOUR KIDS! GET YOUR KIDS INTERESTED IN U.S. HISTORY AND THIS SERIES! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

This book was excellent. I learned a lot about the President. I also liked it because the author was very good at describing what life was like whem President Lincoln was alive.

I recommend this book to people around the ages of 7-10 years old. I have read every book in the series and find they are an excellent and fun way to learn about history. The Blast to the Past books really bring the characters to life. At times I thought I was there. I can't wait for the next book to be written so I can read it at once!
Michelle J
Age 9
San Diego, CA

This wonderful series of "Blast to the Past" books enables children to explore history and to develop an appreciation for the importance of personal courage. Elementary school students can easily relate to the main characters (3rd grade children) as they transition from our familiar world to a time of historical importance, with the help of a time traveling machine. Not only do the authors transport the readers back in time, but they take it one step further by entertaining "what if" scenarios. Readers get to imagine what the world would be like without the important contributions of people from the past. And they get to imagine the personal challenges each person faced before accomplishing greatness.

In "Lincoln's Legacy," the children in the story meet up with Abraham Lincoln as he waits for a victory on the battlefield before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. The book helps us imagine how tense and uncertain those times were for the people who lived then, especially for someone empowered with so much responsibility for his nation. The children in this story have to find a way to convince Lincoln to not give up. My 8-year-old daughter loved this book and she enjoyed the chance to repeat the phrase "Emancipation Proclamation" until she could say it flawlessly.

As a mother, I like how each story emphasizes the point that great things can be accomplished when we each of us can persevere past our doubts and draw upon our courage to follow our convictions and dreams. The Blast to the Past books are fun to read and exciting lessons in history. More than that, the authors have provided a powerful message about optimism and determination, encouraging future greatness in our children.

I'm ten years old and in my opinion, I think that this book is so much fun to read. It is very educational and exciting. Once I started reading I couldn't stop! It only takes one hour to read it. I love how they put real facts. While your reading it your learning many things. The author has described it with excellent detail. I am sure you will like love this book. Happy Reading!!

This is the first book in the Blast to the Past series, about the adventures of a group of kids who travel through time and meet famous historical figures, while learning how little it takes to change history.

Abigail and her classmates always enjoy Mondays at school, where their teacher asks them "what if" questions about historical events. This particular Monday, their teacher, Mr. Caruthers, arrives late at class, looking disturbed. After lessons, he confronts Abigail and a few of the other students with some shocking and disturbing news - he just came back from a trip to the past, where he learned Abraham Lincoln was ready to give up on freeing the slaves after a series of battles that the Union Army lost. Mr. C was unable to persuade President Lincoln to change his mind, but he hopes the kids may have more luck. So he sends them back in time, where they meet President Lincoln and must try to persuade him that he will be successful and it's still worth fighting for freedom.

I think this book would be a good choice for reluctant young readers -- the characters will appeal to kids, and the book is a fast-paced read that teaches history in a fun way. Kids who already love to read and enjoyed books such as the Magic Tree House series are sure to enjoy it as well.

Richard Bondurant arranged a great trip to Moorea and Tahaa for my wife and I for our 10 year anniversary. This spectacular book is a great memory of our trip to Tahiti, and does an outstanding job of detailing all the exotic recipes that we jotted down on bar cocktail napkins while sipping fabulous drinks and sitting in the sun. I need to stock up on a few obscure ingredients before I can make all these wonderful drinks, but while it's snowing here for the winter, it's nice to just sit back, look at the amazing photos, read some of the trivia about Tahiti, and dream of going back someday soon. Thanks again Richard, for another great time!

The format of the book is very well done. Makes you want to go to Tahiti.

Wow! What a great book! We received it as a gift, which was perfect since my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Tahiti. Several things make this book great. First, the information about Tahiti is factual and entertaining to read. Second, the photos are amazing. Third, not only are the drinks easy to make, they are awesome! Kudos to Richard Bondurant.

Not only does this book have a wealth of information on a destination we long to travel to, but it offers a wide variety of fun and DELICIOUS drinks.
We love to entertain and it has been great having 'Cocktails in Tahiti' out at our parties...quite a conversation piece! Everyone loves the stunning photos of Tahiti, the scrumptious drinks, and the intriguing facts of the islands. Thank you!

Always looking for new and exciting cocktails to try, I purchased this book. Each page became more interesting, not only for the drinks presented but for the knowledge that Mr. Bondurant shares about Tahiti, it's culture, local accomodations, etc.

The photos are exceptional and each drink I have mixed has been better than the last. I have bought several as gifts for coworkers and friends. You won't be disappointed!

First, let me make a note: A couple of Mormon readers have been slamming my reviews because I gave negative reviews to some books trying to prove that the Book of Mormon is not a novel.

Oh, well. How about leaving a comment with some mature criticism?

In the case of the present book, perhaps some Mormons don't want people to know that Maya glyphs have been translated and say absolutely nothing about the claims and subjects of the Book of Mormon.

Nevertheless, if you are planning a trip to Mexico or Central America, the "Code of Kings" is essential reading. The following Maya sites are discussed: Tikal, Palenque, Copan, Seibal, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and Iximche. I have visited most of these sites and the book really helped me appreciate them.

One stela at Copan is particularly interesting. Known as "Stela B," it depicts two huge macaws in the headdress of a Maya king. These macaws were mistakenly identified as "elepant heads" in a crackpot book written in the 1920s.

This identification was always refuted by the experts, and just looking at a drawing of Stela B, it is clear that the "elephant trunks" are actually the beaks of macaws (they have nostrils on the sides, which elephants lack and macaws have). Also, the area is full of the striking birds with their red and blue plumage.

The story might have died there had not the Mormons picked up the elephant-trunk claim and put it in the Book of Mormon in the 1960s and 1970s. A photo of Stela B was among the many examples of "evidence" for the Book of Mormon, which claims that the civilizations of ancient America had "elephants." Actually, there were only wild mammoths, and they were never associated with civilization anywhere in the world.

All the photos from the Book of Mormon were eventually deleted, including one of a "horse" (actually a damaged feathered serpent--a feather being its head).

Now that the glyphs on Stela B have been deciphered, we know that they speak of "macaw mountain" (page 162 in the present book) near Copan and a bird sanctuary today. Regrettably, the glyphs do not speak of "elephant mountain."

Schele and Mathew's masterful 418-page work is a must for anyone interested in the Maya and the many false claims made by Mormons. It doesn't even mention the Book of Mormon, an indication of that book's status in the real world of archaeology.

Highly recommended.

I bought this as a gift. This reciepiant loved it. They told me it gives much knowledge on the Maya Langue and the meaning of the the symbols.

"The Code of Kings" suffers from too much seriousness. The structure of the book relies on interpreting some main architectural achievements of the Mayan kings who commissioned them. That is, for most chapters a brief historical narrative is followed by a detailed description of the monumental group of interest and ends with an interpretation as to its relevance. The interpretations are good, and we can appreciate the great scholarly gifts of Linda Schele (in particular when the authors dispose of the Toltec Maya myths of Chichen Itza). We can even be moved at times such as when the authors talk of the Great Plaza of Waxaklahun-Ubah-K'Awil (this reviewer was happy to have read it a few days before going to Copan). However, this dense package might scare away a more casual reader of the Maya history. It also makes this book pretty useless to take along in your trip to Guatemala and Yucatan, unless you will have plenty of time to sit down under some trees and read while you visit. But if you have plenty of time to prepare for your trip, you definitely need to read it. And of course, it is a must in any serious book collection on the Maya.

I have only had time to browse through and start this book I recently purchased, but if it will stop the flow of e-mail mails from amazon asking me to review it, I will review it anyway. It is one of Linda Schele's last collaborations and for that reason alone it would be interesting. The only thing I can say so far is that it seems to be an interesting book aimed at the educated amateur. Although the title would lead the unwary to think it was strictly a book on Maya epigraphy and although it does contain a lot of epigrapical and linguistic information, it is really a tour of several Maya sites with in depth explanations, floor plans, and charts, all by leading experts. Though I am not in good enough health to travel, still it looks like a very useful book to any Maya scholar amateur or otherwise. I am over the age of two (katuns)

What a magnificent book for any general reader, like me, who loves to read about the cultures of Mesoamerica. The authors take us on a tour of seven of the best known and most visited sites: Tikal, Palenque, Copan, Seibal, Chich'en Itza, Uxmal, and Iximche'. The book opens with a most helpful introduction to the archaeology of Mayan culture and the cultural elements that are common to all the city-states / regions that we call Mayan.

Look at page 21 at the photo from 1891 that shows us what the Temple of the Inscriptions looked like before excavation and restoration. Obviously, all the trees that are cleared in the picture would have hidden them even more, but the photo could not have been taken with them there. As you read through the lessons on Mayan architecture, housing, writing, religion, and warfare, the Maya become life and blood people who existed at a time and place that becomes nearer to us through this great book.

If you are planning to visit one or more of these sites, then this book is a must read as well as a field guide to take with you on the trip. The authors take key features and each site and explain them in detail. What a great experience it would be to stand in front of these monuments, murals, and temples with this most helpful text helping you understand what you are seeing.

The book is richly illustrated with many drawings of important inscriptions, buildings, monuments, and architectural details. There are also many black and white photographs, and a section of wonderful color plates to help us understand the beauty of the natural setting that provides the context for these cultures.

After the visits to the cities there are many helpful features that comprise another hundred pages of the book. First, a concordance of Maya personal names provides the spelling used in this book, alternative and common anglicized versions of that name, and a brief description of who that person was. There is also a key to pronunciation and orthography that I found to be most helpful. It is always intimidating to see words without having any idea how they would be said.

The notes section is full of very helpful information for those readers who want to dig a little deeper as is the list of references (really, a bibliography). The Glossary of Gods and Supernaturals is amazingly interesting and helpful and the index is a handy way to get back to certain topics in each section when you are trying to tie the cultural elements together across time and geography.

As I said at the beginning, this is a fantastic and wonderful achievement that I am very grateful for and it is a final example of why we miss Linda Schele so much. The other authors are also fine and will continue to bring us much, but Prof. Schele had a special eye for the aesthetic achievements of the Maya and the ability to help us see things her way and enriched all of us who are fortunate enough to read her words.

If you are already amazed with the animals that share our planet, your enthusiasm will be rewarded and expanded when you meet Amelia , her chick, and their neighbors on a tiny isolated island in the Hawaiian chain. If you are beginning an interest in the natural world, this is a inspiring place to begin. Pure science meets pure poetry in one wonderful read. The Eye of the Albatross is an important book, and a beautiful one.

Carl Safina possesses a rare combination of talents: he a scientist who also writes beautiful descriptive prose. He vividly captures the spirit of the ecosystems and animals that he is describing, while staying factually informative.

This is a great read. It made me appreciate the open ocean in ways that I had never considered.

This is a stunning description of an even more stunning creature. Part scientist, part poet, part mystic: Carl Safina is an albatross's best friend. The reader is instantly and forevermore smitten. Read this book! You will fall in love with the world's most magnificent long-distance flyer-glider. You will not think of wind in the same way, nor gravity. You will become a more patient diligent steadfast joyous courageous human being.

Brilliant, poignant and often painful. A must read! Beautifully written tale of the various species of albatross, whose survival is increasingly vulnerable to modern conditions and the willingness of homo sapiens (so-called) to change their behavior so that others may live. The story is one of struggle, hope, the power of sheer persistence and of life's resilience under increasingly bleak conditions. More generally, the book is an overview of the devastation of the ocean environment. "Eye of the Albatross" was the well-deserving winner of the 1993 John Burroughs Medal for distinguished natural hitory writing.

Safina's latest piece of natural history brilliance is "Voyage of the Turtle: In pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur" (2006). Safina is president of Blue Ocean Institute, which he co-founded in 2003, so he's putting his prodigious talent to work to make the world a better place.

By Kyle Gardner, author of Medicine Rock Reflections

How would you feel at the sight of a weary seabird coughing up a plastic toothbrush while trying to feed its chick? Carl Safina observed this while studying the Laysan Albatross. After cruising the North Pacific for days, soaring over thousands of kilometres seeking forage for that hatchling, one of bathroom utensils was the proferred dessert. To Safina, it means "No place, no creature remains apart from you or me."

In this exquisitely written account of how the mysterious albatross lives, we learn of those fabulous flights, how the bird manages its energy budget, and of the many perils it endures throughout a life nearly as long as that of humans. Centred on Tern Island, a tiny atoll halfway along the Hawaiian chain, research teams are studying the Laysan Albatross, turtles and sharks. Safina recounts the work and the conditions. Among other tasks, ten Laysans are tagged at nesting time, allowing satellites to track their wanderings. Safina dubs one female "Amelia", describing her flights into the North Pacific. Nesting birds must accumulate resources because offspring are demanding. The parents will lose up to 20% of their body weight in supplying the chicks. Once hers has hatched, she and her mate, who have shared incubation duties, now take turns fetching breakfast for the little squawker. Safina, who has watched these birds, remains in awe of Amelia's abilities to navigate. The maps he provides display ever greater distances travelled and Amelia's obvious skills in locating fodder. He notes than in a lifetime of half a century, a Laysan may cover nearly six million kilometres of oversea flight.

Within his sojourn on Tern Island, Safina makes a couple of jaunts of his own. One is much further west to Laysan Island itself. There, invasive species events have led to unusal security. The introduction of a destructive weed not long before has forced the stipulation that not only must ALL clothing be brand new, it must all be frozen to kill any organisms. Safina describes the donning of frozen underwear as an "interesting" experience. Yet, the importance of the need is revealed when the research team on Laysan describe their clean-up efforts.

The cold underwear should have helped condition him for his next trip - on a fishing boat in the Aleutian Islands. Mark Lundsten is an innovative captain of the "Masonic". His "novel" idea is how to fish in ways allowing a sustainable take. Lundsten is a campaigner among his colleagues for adopting methods to protect birds and turtles from becoming "by-catch". Safina uses the visit to discuss the perils of long-liner fishing, what safeguards are being introduced and how well they're being accepted by fishers around the world. As the episode of the toothbrush demonstrates, it's not only fishermen who threaten the wildlife around us.

The book, while seemingly targeting an audience interested in long-distance commuting seabirds, is a volume we must all take up and learn from. The real point of it is that we must spend more in time and money in developing an understanding of what goes on in the world around us. Among other issues, shark "attacks" on tourists in Hawaii bring immediate and vigorous response by Fisheries and the Coast Guard. One of the teams Safina visits demonstrate that shark movement precludes any likelihood that the slaughtered sharks are the "guilty" party. That shark has almost certainly moved on to a new location. Imparted in sterling prose, with reasoned judgements and a careful balance examining needs, wants and available resources, Safina has produced a superb account. Take up this book to see how research is done and what it can achieve. It may help you in making decisions that will affect your life and that of your children. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

As I gazed (grazed?) through this compendium I, of course, noticed the Irena Chalmers touch. Having read many of her cookbooks over the years I immediately recognized her style; her knowledge of cookery and her delightful sense of humor. I also marveled at the sheer effort and energy it must have taken to amass this behind the scene' opus. I envision the many hours slaving over a hot computer; organizing, editing and checking the accuracy of all of the information. Her knowledge of cookery shines through every page and is a must read for anyone involved in any aspect of the culinary arts

Irena Chalmers knows her stuff, and shares it with her students on a daily basis. This book provides each and every reader with the knowledge and advice she gives any aspiring culinarian she meets. And if her years of experience aren't enough, read the essays written by such food stars as Danny Meyer and Alice Waters. These interviews and quotes, along with endless websites, book suggestions, and other resources. Pick up the book, and see for yourself. You'll walk away plenty the wiser, and hungry for more.

My copy of the book came today and it is everything I have come to expect of Irena: immediately readable; full of charming stories; well organized; and totally usable, chock full of useful, applicable information. It should become THE resource and reference for every culinary school and food training program in the U.S. Those teachers and counselors who try to place kids as food professionals won't have to go anywhere else. I only wish I had had this book when I started in the food business. My search for the perfect job niche would have been many years shorter.
Blake Swihart, Managing Partner of Foodservice Solutions Inc.

Aimed at all who are interested in the culinary industry, Irena Chalmers has crafted an extensive exploration of positions in this field from the obvious, a chef, to unique positions such as an ice cream taster or a wild game farmer.
Whether you are a student, currently working in the industry and considering a change, or ready to make a major career shift, this "guide" is a helpful tool to link your current life experiences, skills, talents, interest and knowledge to a new career opportunity. Clear and realistic descriptions of each job/career choice reveal an inventory of what it takes to be successful, but more importantly what will realistically suit your lifestyle and make you happy!

Every career would benefit from a roadmap or library of options, this is a valuable resource for anyone who desires a career in food, or has started down their path and is looking for fresh direction. Ms. Chalmers has distilled so many successful careers of professional peers, it is great reading for any professional level. Nice job.

The reviews in this book were perfectly on point. We found ourselves trying to schedule in more time to eat so we could continue to try the recommended restaurants. This book is a keeper for our next trip.

A very helpful, organized tour of Florence for foodies. As many times as I've visited Florence, the abundance of great places to eat is overwhelming. This book lays out great places to eat in the various neighborhoods and their nearby tourist attractions. It also helps define where the locals like to eat. Very helpful.

I found this wonderful guide while preparing for my return to Florence this past Fall for more research on the sequel to my novel, The Giuliana Legacy The author's helpful and concise reviews were amazingly accurate in every case. Moreover, she helped us to find wonderful restaurants, cafe bars and wine bars that will be much-loved favorites for years to come. There are fabulous tips on restaurants in every price range, but we especially enjoyed the small inexpensive local spots we might never have found on our own, like the charming and delicious Casalinga in the Santo Spirito. We returned there again and again, and once home, wished we'd gone there every single day of our all too short stay in Florence.

Ms. Wise Miller, the words "Thank You" cannot begin to convey our gratitude for your splendid little book. I have already bought several as gifts and will continue to buy them for all Florence-bound friends and family. Brava!

This book was the only book we needed in Florence. Emily's reviews were spot on and we never had a bad meal. We were often the only "tourists" in the eating establishment and garnered some looks from locals as in "how did you find this place!" We walked 2 miles outside the city to have the best pizza we've ever tasted and then 4 miles to spend Sunday lunch with Italian families eating "Spaghetti della Casa." I am extremely picky about food (being Italian and a chef for 15 years) so I cannot rave about this book enough...it made our trip!

You cannot go to Florence without this book! I was in Florence for five days and I wore this book out; I ate exclusively at places from this book and have never had a better culinary experience in Florence! Emily Wise-Miller takes you to the hidden gems and out-of-the-way places that tourists dream about! Writing this review is making my mouth water and my heart beg to go back, just so I can eat more delicious Florentine steak, pasta, gelato and drink the wine!

If you are planning a trip to Florence/Tuscany or simply want to learn about the culture and history of of Tuscany's culinary roots, BUY THIS BOOK! You will not be disappointed!!

The photos take me back to the French countryside where I enjoyed painting landscapes in the late afternoon light.

Beau Morgan

Exactly what I was looking for...an engagement calendar that keeps us on schedule from week to week, and has the added advantage of lovely photos from France that remind us of our trip last year. Only thing I would like to see added is a monthly calendar view at the beginning of each month.

Book arrived in excellent shape. We have purchased this calendar in previous years so the content was not in question. Excellent purchase.

I have been buying these diary/calendars for years and love them. Their layout is excellent, the photographs are charming, and they are easy to work with. Merci mille fois.

I have been getting this calendar for at least 4 years now, and the beautiful photos of life in France always put me in a dreamy mood. There is one for every week. They come up with all new photos every year, too. I am always amazed. The cover pattern reminds me of the fabric of Provence and is alway colorful and looks lovely on my desk. It comes in a similarly patterned cardbord sleeve, which I cut up and use as bookmarks, as I can't bear to throw it away.
The paper quality is also good and it even feels special when you write on it. My pen just glides. I don't know how I could start a new year without it!

In addition to Nashville, the book has beautiful coverage of a city in West coast -- I think the author wants to keep that as a secret.

Anyway, good book for light reading though it also raises some deeper philosophical questions, interesting to see the USA from the eyes on an outsider. I have never been to Nashville, so this was an interesting introduction to it.

What a story, Entertaining, thoughtful and interesting. Gives a snapshot of Nashville as seen by a West coast dude. Great splashes of humor, Wonderful photography. Loved it.

Wonderful! Reading this book was an adventurous experience by itself, very real. Nashville seems like a very romantic, historic place. I feel like visiting it sometime. nice photographs! Loved the book!! The book is people looking for some light reading -- it is bitter sweet experiences of a double migrant -- an Asian Indian immigrant technology executive who moves to Tennessee after spending 12 years on the West coast, it is very funny, with some thoughtful and many thoughtless pieces.

This book reads very easy -- like a rather funny travelogue / description of Nashville sent to you by one of your funnier friends. Very jovial! Complete with pictures and personal experiences from the point of view of an Asian Indian immigrant.

The author takes you around a tour of Nashville and then San Diego -- you feel like you are on a tour through life with a rather funny, philosophical and "weathered" tour guide who not only describes the places and life situations but also adds his touch of philosophy, humor and live experiences.

Being a Super minority (East Asian), I could relate with it much more easily.