Australia Books

During my visit to Bali and my stay at the Ritz Carlton, I was one of the few people who enjoyed a special Balinese meal prepared at my table by the Executive Chef Mr. von Holzen. I had the opportunity to read both his books and found them easy to follow and the finished product as depicted by the numerous pictures do not come close to the real beauty and appetizing dishes that Mr. von Holzen produces in real life. I highly recommend these books for any gourmet or someone who is interested in the Polinesian cuisine. Dr. Steve C. Kemiji

My wife and I went on our honeymoon to Bali. We ate at the Ritz-Carlton, which sucked, and the Inter-Continental which was excellent, AND the local warungs. We enjoyed the warungs the most. But this book still helps give an understanding of Balinese cooking. Beautiful pictures show how elegant this simple cooking can be!!! Highly recommended. I've cooked a few of the recepies, wonderful! Come on over for dinner!!

I'm afraid Dnet from Australia has fallen prey to the kind of PC liberal attitude that is every bit as ignorant as any conservative bias. My husband and I recently had the pleasure of taking a cooking class with Heinz, and I'm happy to report he is devoted to sharing the real cusine of Bali with the world. Heinz is married to a woman from Bali, and together they run perhaps the only restaurant on the island devoted purely to the cuisine of that country. At the restaurant, he clearly respects and adores his staff and they him. Dnet might not be aware the the majority of warangs on the island serve mainly Indonesian food with a just a few dishes from Bali. Heinz also has built up a network of sustainable farmers along with independent fishermen and shopkeepers to supply his restaurant. We were struck by by his compassion and understanding of the economic situation facing his fellow islanders, and his efforts to train a new generation of Balinese chefs who might proudly show the world their fine cuisine. In addition, Heinz is devoted to the conservation of the endangered sea turtles of Bali, and has used much of his money toward those efforts. Honestly, I wish people would try to learn a little more about an author before making smug snap judgements about him. Plus, the cookbook is pretty darn great.

Swiss-born chef Heinz Von Holzen has his finger in every cooking pot in Bali as the proprietor of two restaurants and operator of a cooking school (visitors can take an intensive half-day course which includes a provision-buying expedition to local fish and produce markets). Most warungs, restaurants, and hotels on Bali serve classic Indonesian fare: Von Holzen's Bumbu Bali and Kecak restaurants on Nusa Dua peninsula are the only establishments on the island devoted solely to authentic native cooking. A paean to Balinese culinary arts and culture, The Food of Bali reveals and shares the secrets of the Balinese kitchen for the very first time.
An outspoken champion of "Bali's real cuisine," Von Holzen designed this book for the cook who wants to learn about the social and historical context in which Balinese food is created and enjoyed. An extensive introduction explains how climate, geography, and centuries of outside influences (Chinese, Indian, Muslim, Portuguese, Spanish, English, and Dutch traders and invaders) have affected the evolution of this extraordinary diet. He gives would-be chefs much more than the breezy cookbook they bargained for: the first two-thirds of the book offers an intimate tour of Balinese life, household cooking practices, the cult of rice, and the local spice markets and stalls. We come to appreciate the tripartite role of food as sustenance, sacrificial temple offering to appease the gods, and essential ritual component of Bali-Hindu religious ceremonies. As with everything else on Bali, food is inextricably intertwined with faith-it may support mundane human life, but its essence also nourishes the revered,visiting ancestral deities during sacred rites and celebrations.
Divided into three parts, the "Food in Bali" division transports us to an island marked by natural abundance--graced with fertile rice fields, coconut plantations, tropical fruit trees, coffee bushes, flowers, edible wild greens, and fresh fish. Rice, always a subject of great passion, is the staple food of Bali: it thrives in the garden of the gods as the gift of Dewi Sri, the most widely worshipped and beloved deity on the island. The growth, preparation and consumption of food in Bali gives rise to lovingly crafted networks of shrines and a lifestyle of thankful daily offerings to the life-giving rice goddess: every face in Bali lights up with joy at the mention of her name. Von Holzen includes all aspects and rhythms of rice cultivation, from the new high-yield strains to the village "subak" cooperative which regulates rice production and apportions irrigation water for each community.
The second section, "Cooking in Bali," steps through the doorway of the family kitchen to familiarize us with Balinese eating customs and basic cooking equipment and utensils (a wood-fired stove, a blackened clay pot to steam rice and leaf-wrapped foods, and a second gas stove to boil water and fry). Like pirates prying open a buried treasure chest, we explore the contents of the fabled Balinese cupboard: Von Holzen rummages through wooden compartments holding a tantalizing array of unusual local spices, herbs, and seasonings (cloves, palm sugar, dried shrimp paste, chilies, candle nuts, and cinnamon bark). Tourists rarely get to glimpse Balinese life within the high walls of the family compound: here, we have eye-opening photos of villagers hand-making large ceremonial quantities of rice and meat-filled banana leaf offerings and rows of delectable chicken satés. The Food of Bali even penetrates a sacred innermost pavilion to capture white-robed priests enjoying a gorgeous, decorative feast within temple festival grounds.
The final segment, "The Recipes," enables you to recreate "the enchantment of Bali in your own kitchen at home" with Von Holzen's collection of easy-to-follow recipes. The beauty of Bali is reflected in the artistically prepared dishes shown in brilliantly photographed, full-page illustrations bursting with flavor. (These colorful gastronomical displays could incite an excitable reader to jump the first plane back to Jimbaran Bay to gorge on these favorite specialties firsthand!) Traditional Balinese chefs like to use a variety of flavors, textures, spices, and foodstuffs invariably supported by a secure round mound of local "nasi putih," (steamed white rice). We master the popular red, white, black, and yellow rice standbys: coconut rice, nasi goreng, and conical nasi kuning (yellow rice embellished with coconut milk, turmeric, butter, and chicken stock). Exotic tastes and new aromas attack your senses on every page as the authors cover the intricate preparation of the Balinese "base"-the sauces, condiments, and marinades that form the cornerstone of Balinese food presentation. Unfurl a banana leaf plate and fire up your coconut husk grill for a minced seafood "saté lilit" on lemon grass spears garnished with white frangipani blossoms! Recommended for travel and cooking aficionados alike, The Food of Bali celebrates Bali's "tropical bounty set in the shadow of the volcanoes"; it will tickle your taste buds and get your culinary juices flowing. Use its appendix of mail order suppliers to arm yourself with those hard to find ingredients and embark on a private, at-home Balinese eating escapade!

My husband and I recently used our time share in Nusa Dua, Bali. It was a delightful experience, and this book is a wonderful souvenir of our stay on the island. The seafood at Jimbaron Bay was mouthwatering, and I can hardly wait to recreate some of the recipes in this book. It is unusual to find a book that combines the culture, beauty of the island, and food preparation as well as this does. It is a great buy!

Went to Bermuda to celebrate 10th anniversary and purchased this book to guide us to the best dining and sights. It was right-on with all recommendations. We got a great taste of Bermuda out of a 4-night trip thanks to this book. On our last day there, in the airport we talked to another couple who had just spent 4 nights there as well. They had no idea about Ginger Beer, Dark and Stormy drinks, Fish Chowder, or Wahoo - Frommer's made sure we did not miss the essential elements of Bermuda. Highly recommended. We'll be using it for our next trip there.

I have read several books on Bermuda in preparing for our upcoming trip, and this one is by far the most helpful--and most thorough. It has a good combination of background info/history and travel info/tips. The detachable, fold-out map if the islands is particularly nice. I wish I'd bought this travel guide first (I've purchased several)--it would have saved me a good bit of time and money, since now I don't feel like I need to buy another!

This was a great guide for visiting Bermuda. The hotel section was accurate and current enough to plan most of the logistics before I arrived. The guide also had a lot of current suggestions of quaint places to visit that only a long timer would know. Well worth the small investment in improving your trip.

Travel tip - Although the cover of the guide shows sun and beaches, be careful about the timing of when you go. Bermuda is in the Atlantic, not the Carribean, so the water won't be so pleasant in the winter.

I have often wasted money by buying several travel guides for my trips abroad. This time, I wanted to buy only one for my four night trip to Bermuda. This Frommers guide turned out to be an excellent choice. It provides all the needed information about getting from the airport to your hotel/resort, getting around the island, places to stay, beaches, golf courses, the sights, restaurants, bars, shopping and everything else you could need to know for your vacation. It also has a very useful detachable map of the whole Island, including detailed maps of St. George and Hamilton. This book should truly be all that you need for your trip to Bermuda.

This book is great for anyone going to Bermuda for their honeymoon or for a vacation. I found all the top beaches and my husband found exclusive details on all the top golf courses. With exact prices and candid reviews on hotels and restaurants, we were able to make a budget for the entire trip.

Like TESTA ROSA above, many readers in Australia believe that Gabriella's Book of Fire ("Firehead" in this country) was one of the best books published last year. I'm one of them. This is a book of memory, passion, regret - and hope. It is sexy and literate and if there is any justice should make the writer a household name, definitely in the tradition of Borges, Marquez, even Louis de Bernieres. The novel starts in the small city of Brisbane in 1975 and focuses on the "little Sicily" of the era through the growing attachment of two children, Gabriella and Sam. But love in the present isn't all that the writer is interested in, and as the story develops through the 80s and 90s, Gabriella's astonishing diary entries chronicle the past as well - including the story of her grandparents and their first passionate encounter under the volcano, Mt. Etna, in Sicily.

This book will transport you to other worlds. You will not be able to put it down. Gabriella, Sam, and the Sicily of the past will always stay with you. There is a strong rumour going around that the producers of Strictly Ballroom are developing a screenplay for film production later this year. If so, I'll be at the head of the line on opening night. Read this book, and so will you. Tell your friends.

Gabriella's Book of Fire or as published in Australia as Firehead is a powerful and transformative novel.Telling the story of Salvatore and his childhood love Gabriella, and the decades that follow - is an ultimately a moving story of mythic and intimate proportions. Armano writes with grace that draws the reader into a world of lovers, past and present and the nature of obsessive love.

What a fantastic writer. This was my first reading of Mr. Armanno's works, and the sensory images he creates are unbelievabley magical. The subject matter is deep and riveting, but the scenes he writes about transport you to the time and place. He creates pictures in your mind. You really feel and smell and see what is on the pages.

For anyone who enjoys getting "into" the writers world, and having their senses awaken, this is the book for you.

We feel the sun, we see the colors of the trees, every item, no matter how insignificant is brought out in vivid detail and imagery. Colors burst behind your pupils, in your brain and keep you alive and wanting more.

Even to the end and the last scenes of the book, you are still there with the characters, feeling, seeing, enjoying. Not all authors have the ability to stay the length of the book. Many only create small pockets of images and then fade, Mr. Armanno keeps you with him and keeps you enjoying and experiencing all through the book.

I read this book without knowing very much about the writer. Someone mentioned it to me at a party. I found a copy and from the first sentence I was hooked. Great storytelling and imagery and I was moved to tears at least four or five times through the story. Gabriella is a gem but so is almost every single character in this book. They come to life and you just love them. There are no totally good or bad characters, just the sheer humanity of us all. Sadly ignored by the book-buying public, it may only be a matter of time before people wake up to the wonderful delights of Gabriella's Book of Fire. I will read every single thing written by this writer. Genius.

Having read the reviews preceding mine, I couldn't help but put a few words to paper (well keyboard/screen) to support the things already said.

The first book I read of Veny's was, "My Beautiful Friend", in which it had one of the loveliest quotes (the beauty of the construction of the words was remarkable) I'd come across (a quote on a tombstone, no less). The next book I read, as it then came out, was his young adult book, "The Ghost Of Deadman's Beach". Though just a short story, I found myself lost in it as though I were one of the characters living a part of his life. I read his other novels while he wrote Firehead, in fact working my way backwards.

And then he finally released, "Firehead" (or Gabriella's Book Of Fire as you know it) and I found myself reading pages without even realising I was following a storyline as I was lost in my admiration of the exquisite construction of every sentence. He's inherently gifted at writing in an immensely descriptive manner (that is never convoluted) that can carry you away into the story if you let it. Ideal for those readers who see a movie in their mind as they read, for you�re inevitably going to live it in your senses as well.

Unlike his other novels, to which I had more difficulty relating to at the time, I found myself re-reading sentences or paragraphs of this one, as though I were reminiscing my own life. The descriptions were so encompassing that I felt like I was reading a journal of my life some 40 years later, with a somewhat faded memory. Everything felt familiar, yet unknown at the same time.

He writes straight from the soul and what he feels and you can tell that there�s no effort toward or consideration of what the public may or may not want to read; he envisions a story and writes what is true to his style and remains true to it the whole book through. For this reason alone I know a number of times I was shocked by what I read, which only furthered the feeling as though you knew this character (nothing fake, but not blunt as such either; simply very candid). If you don�t like his style, so be it � but if you do, he will not disappoint you.

From his first published book of short stories (Jumping At The Moon; equally candid) through to this most recent novel; he�s writing has extended its boundaries so much and he has really let himself go with this one, and I can�t even imagine how much further he will be able to go, for his work is brilliant now.

Through all of this he manages to bring into view the realities of life that are so prevalent, yet so often not spoken of openly. Of intense love at a young age, or the notion through the decades of that continued love still burning despite what by then would be a considerable age gap. A love so intense that it remained strong as she grew with him inside of him in every aspect of his life, despite the reality that his memories were not of an �adult� love (as they say), but rather those of a young heart first feeling a complexity of emotions that were never given the time to be understood. And so a lifetime is spent, not obsessing, but trying to follow those emotions to a natural end, without reciprocation. And on no matter what level, you can relate in some way to the struggles that Salvatore endures inside his heart for all those years. And the undying and unescapable need to just � �know�. To close his open and broken heart; but not before he is sure that he can�t first complete a love that started, but never ended � and never continued. That lingered inside, hanging on by hope and despair and loneliness and fear and anger and so much more.

And add to that, the events outside the fictitious story line are as close to the facts as you can get (the places mentioned are all real, the street names all real and for someone who lives/d in Brisbane it�s historically informative actually). The novel is extremely well researched and thus why it feels almost like it could be true, were it not for the centre of the storyline. Venero�s parents come from Sicily and he has lived and known that culture to have that real feeling to write with. He�s also lived and known Brisbane (his hometown) as the son of Sicilian parents, growing up in the years he portrays in his book in the same city living the same sort of life. It�s so close to real, it�s difficult to discern when he�s speaking directly of his own past, or when he�s writing a story.

Also, to the �reader from Australia� reviewer, yes there was speak of the book being made into a movie, and though I shan�t say anymore of what I�d heard; let�s just hope that it�s one day released. I can�t imagine it ever comparing to the language of his books though. And as someone who has known Veny personally, and during the time he wrote this novel and when it was first launched; I must say that if you can see as much into it as there is to see, you can truly get a sense of who Veny is as a person and how he grew during the time he wrote the novel (more so than with any of his other novels). He really opened himself up and it�s remarkable the result that was produced. He�s a beautiful person, a beautiful writer and I hope his work gets the respect it deserves and he continues to write to the pleasure of readers like all of you.

This book presents an illuminating look at the nuclear testing and it's aftermath. The cavalier attitude towards radiation is pretty amazing. There are also many fine pictures of the wrecks underwater, including some shots of the world's only exisiting diveable aircraft carrier.

My Dad was there (USS Reclaimer) - swimming in the atoll the day after the blasts, cleaning refuged ships, etc. It's amazing he's still alive.

Nice photos; good summaries. This isn't a full-blown account of Operation CrossRoads but a nice summary of the ships. If you are interested in OC, this is a good book to have on your shelf.

I found this book to be most interesting, with a very accessible writing style.

This is a great mini-coffee table book (get the hardcover if you REALLY dig this stuff!) offering hours of information and photos of the famous atomic bomb tests on naval ships at Bikini Atoll. The 190 page book is broken into nine chapters and has excellent notes on sources. Background information covers the first half of the book while the second is focused on recent dives to many of the famous and lesser known ships that were sunk here. The writing is very informative and the photographs are absolutely haunting, particularly the ones of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga! Several color photos are included in the center. The author pushes no agenda in this book. He merely reports the facts available both "good and bad".

James Delgado does a very good job of reviewing the sunken ships of Bikini Atoll and telling the story of the 1946 atomic bomb tests. I read this book after diving at Bikini Atoll and found it to be a good treatment of a topic that has received too little attention. As far as wreck diving goes, Bikini Atoll is the best in the world, and my only disappointment with this book is that it does not fill the need for a coffee-table-style photographic survey of the incredible shipwrecks at Bikini. That being said, Delgado's book is a nice compromise between such a coffee table book and the more comprehensive historical treatment in Jonathan Weisgall's superb book on Bikini Atoll.

Greater Nowheres is truly a remarkably entertaining travel book, informative and extremely pleasurable, a wonderful way to escape your own mundane life and travel to one of the most desolate yet beautiful places in the world that few have seen. David Finklestein and Jack London,, long time friends and travel companions take us into deep inside the Austrlian Outback where they had originally planned to study the deadly "Salties", the crocodiles that had recently regained its reputation as a man-eating reptile. But the two intrepid explorers soon found the inhabitants of the Outback infinitely more interesting, strange and exciting than the crocs. Leaving the comforts of the modern world, these very different individuals who had originally immigrated to the Outback to seek, wealth, fame, or leave behind family ties, found instead a simple life that most came to prefer. A life, that without its luxuries, or even basic necessities, suited them better. For a journey through an Australia thaat few have seen, I enjoyed this trip with a pair of guides who became my own friends and companians as they made their way through the hazardous yet beautiful land befriending Outback people who obtained peace of mind and a unique way of life in one of the most exotic terrains in the world.

Here's what newspaper and magazine critics have said about GREATER NOWHERES:

"Delightful... Finkelstein and London write well. Their account is filled with engaging descriptions of beautiful, forbidding landscapes, the tough bush boys they meet and the lore of the Godforsaken town...[Their] trip is not for every traveler. But their book is."
-Chicago Tribune

"The reason to read this book is the myriad brief encounters, many of which are hilarious."
-Los Angeles Times Book Review

"...a fine volume in the literature of unpleasant but enlightened travel."
-Outside Magazine

"Always exciting, sometimes hilarious... The perfect gift for the armchair traveler."
--Travel & Leisure

"The book is laugh-out-loud funny. [The authors] have a good ear for looney pub chatter...and a deft touch for characterization."
--San Francisco Chronicle

"Authors Finkelstein and London earn a resounding wow! 'Greater Nowheres [is written] with such engaging observation, detail, style, humor and occasional salty language that readers can experience the Outback without leaving home, while laughing out loud."
--Ridgecrest (CA) News Review

"Most of this entertaining and well-written book consists of conversations with vivid characters: stockmen, aborigines, 'roo' hunters, bushrangers, pioneers, escapists, and lunatics. The humor, the resilience and 'mateship' of these free-spirited frontiersmen is evident throughout the book: unforgettable people in an unforgiving land.''
--Library Journal

"A vivid book...bound to attract attention."
--Toronto Globe and Mail

"... gives us a rare view of the bush and its extremes of weather, of distance, and of character. You'll enjoy it even if you don't get there yourself."
-New York Post

"A pleasure."
--The New York Times Book Review

And here's how a press release described it:

Talk about classic returns. Dave Finkelstein and Jack London's immensely popular, wildly funny, and critically acclaimed book GREATER NOWHERES: WANDERINGS ACROSS THE OUTBACK, which was first published almost two decades ago, is back-this time in paperback and with a new introduction by Dave Finkelstein-to give delight to a new generation of readers.

The book is a must for those with a penchant for exciting adventure tales, as well as for armchair travelers and lovers of humorous "on-the-road" stories--in this case, off-the-road, "bush-bashing" stories--here brilliantly and poignantly told by two oddly compatible traveling companions, one the Irish romantic, the other the Talmudic rationalist.

Driving a Toyota 4-wheel-drive truck and armed with snake boots, an "esky" full of beer, and an insatiable appetite for adventure, intrepid journalists Dave Finkelstein and Jack London set out into the Australian bush in pursuit of the fearsome saltwater crocodile, a huge, notoriously dangerous reptile with an equally insatiable appetite for humans.

Though the "salties" prove elusive, in their travels the authors stumble upon a diverse and outrageously entertaining cast of dinki-di Australian characters-sun-hardened men and strong-willed women--eking out an existence in the croc's hardscrabble, primordial habitat: stockmen, aborigines, "roo" hunters, bushrangers, latter-day pioneers, escapists, and outright lunatics.

In ramshackle pubs along desolate stretches of dusty track, shantytown settlements in the middle of nowhere, and million-acre cattle stations hundreds of miles from their nearest neighbors, they experience an Australia rarely seen by the average traveler: dwarf-throwing contests, cold spaghetti sandwiches, even a regional rash called "Karumba rot"-the inevitable souvenir of a visit to the forbidding Gulf of Carpentaria, with its swelteringly oppressive tropical climate.

Yet, like no other observers before them, in their celebration of the Outback and its inhabitants, the authors (described by one reviewer as "at least as amusing as the extravagant characters they meet") get to the heart and fiber of the Australian soul, to the very essence of what makes Australia the unique and marvelous country it is.

As author Jim Harrison says, "GREATER NOWHERES is an absolutely wonderful book... a classic of travel literature. It's unthinkable that anyone would go to Australia without first reading this book."

Rich in the history and geography of a vast, fascinating continent, GREATER NOWHERES is also an exploration of solitude, mateship, contemplation, and adventure.

As for bio-data on the co-authors:

DAVE FINKELSTEIN, a graduate of Harvard Law School, had a legal career distinguished only by its brevity--one month. Fluent in Mandarin, he went on to become a Chinese interpreter for the U.S.Department of State--the first language student of his generation to qualify for that position--then the Ford Foundation's first China specialist. Now a freelance writer, he has written about political and wildlife issues throughout the world. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, including The New Yorker, New York Times, and Washington Post. A flamenco guitarist and avid fisherman, he also holds an 8th degree in Okinawan karate. He lives in New York City.

Until his death in November '06, JACK LONDON lived in Key West, Florida. His work appeared in Audubon, Sports Afield, the Miami Herald, and The London Observer.

I could not put the book down once I started. It read much like the great classics Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer. In fact, Dave Finkelstein's writing resembles Mark Twain's, with his colorful and vivid sense of humor. The book is must reading for those planning to visit Australia, and for adventurers in general. It is easy reading, too, and clearly defines mateship and the meaning of friendship.

Leon Day, New York City

I don't get time to read books. I'm one of those people that takes years to finish them. However I finished this one in a week. Has some hilarious moments, and provides a great insight to outback Australia. As an expat West Australian, the book made me homesick for the desolation and space that I've only found in Australia. The authors' wit and sense of humour enhanced the description of the experiences they "endured".

Anyone with the least bit of wanderlust in them will find this book thoroughly enjoyable. And even those who have never wanted to travel to far distant places also will find this an excellent read. The Outback of Australia is intriguing by itself and the alternating sections written by the authors is a clever way to get separate views of their experiences across to the reader. The history of each area blends in smoothly with their living experiences and their sense of humor adds immensely to the enjoyment of the book.

For those who are about to visit New Zealand & love waterfalls, this is the book for them. It gives good descriptions of the Waterfalls & their locations with details of how to reach them. A must have book for Waterfall-holics.

I am part-way through the production of a Hi Def Video on "Waterfalls, Brooks, Creek & Streams" that has taken me all over the US and Canada and another shoot comes up which required me to travel to Australia last month. What an opportunity! Just hop over to New Zealand and shoot some more waterfalls for my video! But how do I find them? I Googled "New Zealand Waterfalls" and up pops Johnny Cheng's beautiful book. It arrived in time for me to take on my flight. I would only have a few days to shoot in New Zealand, so needed to choose the waterfalls carefully. With all the great photos and detailed maps and directions in the book, I found it easy to make my choices. I selected my base near Fiordland on the South Island and during the limited time I was there, got terrific footage of some beautiful waterfalls. The directions, maps and distance measurments in the book were spot-on, so I didn't waste any time "searching". The shots I got of these New Zealand waterfalls are stunning in High Definition. My thanks to Johnny Cheng and his book "New Zealand Waterfalls" for helping to make my DVD even more beautiful!

I found the book "A Guide To New Zealand Waterfalls" to be one of the best waterfall books I have seen. The book is packed with color photos and maps. The layout of the book is very user friendly and well thought out. The writing is very clear and concise.

This is a must have for all waterfall lovers and anyone living in or visiting New Zealand.

Scott A. Ensminger, founder of the Western New York Waterfall Survey.

This is a very well produced, very well rounded guidebook. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of coverage of the South Island (considering how many waterfalls there are on the South Island), but given that the author lives in California, and conducted this research over a few trips to the other side of the planet, this is a commendable book. I own many books on the subject of Waterfalls and this is simply one of the best ever printed.

Nature enthusiast Johnny Cheng presents A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls, an absolutely stunning trail guide written especially for nature hikers desiring to see the pristine beauty of New Zealand's glorious waterfalls firsthand. Packed with gorgeous full-color photographs, maps, extensive text directions, an at-a-glance rating system for the different hikes categorizing them according to scenic value, hiking difficulty, and driving difficulty. A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls is very tightly focused on its subject matter and does not have any information about hotels, restaurants, and the like; little more than a brief glossary, a one-page summary of English in New Zealand, and an index round out its coverage of waterfall hikes. A truly stunning guide, unmatched in its coverage of waterfalls and filled with breathtaking photographs for the armchair traveler.

For those of you entering 'political science' as an academic major, you must read and re-read S. E. Finer's magnum opus, his three-volume set THE HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES.

You will learn how foolish our system of government is for the Twenty-First Century. It is the purpose of government to make human life tolerable and survivable. The usual nitwits in military, religion and business conspire to destroy the principle of enjoyability of life.

Since Dr. Finer has a lucid mind, he will teach you things that your own physical laziness or mental sloth would preclude you from learning. He will empower your mind. Will you use his knowledge to hurt your fellow man or to help your fellow man? A work of this genius is read more by fools and scoundrels (who wish self-enrichment at the expense of the common good or group), rather than humane, sensible minds concerned about the well-being of their society.

If you are a Political Science student and/or teacher, and you do not own a copy of this three-volume treatise---by cold logic you are a pauper, a miser or a dunce!

Respectfully,


John E.D.P. Malin, M.A. (Literae humaniores)
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer
Informatica Corporation
Executive Division
P.O. Drawer 460
Cecilia, Louisiana 70521-0460

Contact: InformaticaMalin@gmail.com

Ever so often you find a book that not only deepens your insight on the topics you expect it to cover, but also gives you a wholly different perspective in a much wider field. This is such a book. This book covers the whole field of development of government. The first part gives a referencemodel for descibing government, its most important uses and the powers limiting it. This part would be a satisfying book in itself. The most fascinating parts come later. The rest of the book discusses all the governmental systems that where in some way innovative.All you ever wanted to know about goverment and but never knew that it could be so interesting. But it als gives insight in the mechanisms of power. The description of the signifcance of access to an chinese emperor and the importance that gives to humble titles as royal cupbearer etc. lets you see patterns you can see in everyday life and more important lets you enjoy them. I found the book to be full of these gems, and at the same time it maintains a clearity of focus that is amazing. The only drawback is it's size and the time it takes to think about what you have read.

This book is one of those rare works that is so very good, that you cannot really describe it: language is not rich enough to do it justice. I can do little more than quote from the review of the prestigious The Economist:

"If there were a Nobel prize for political science, Sammy Finer would deserve to win one for this extraordinary trilogy--a work of scholarship so broad in its sympathies, so ambitious in scope and so elegantly crafted that it leaves the reader gasping, literally, with astonishment and delight...[L]ikely to be read as long as Aristotle. No finer work of political science...has been published in this century."--The Economist

Finer's triumphant work of comparative government history is a rare gem. It is not often that a historical study is both deeply informative and perspective changing. This book is both. Finer does not simply outline the devolopment of government, but constructs an entirely new intellectual system for viewing, interpreting, and discussing government. From there he moves on to trace the evolution of government from Sumer to the Industrial Revolution. Every major development is explored, and many minor ones are also included.

Finer shows a mastery of every time and place in history. It is amazing that he can conver accurately and informatively Han civilization and then switch to an excellent discussion of Roman civilization. The same skill with which he reconstructs the governments of Sumer and Egypt is applied later to the constitutional monarchies and revolutionary governments in modern Europe.

Finer's masterpiece ought to be read by anyone interested in an objective study in how societies orgzanize themselves. It is a highly useful reference that should be owned by anyone who works with history on a regular basis.

This three-volume set constitutes the most stimulating and thought-provoking item I've read so far this century, and it is likely to remain so. I stumbled on it by chance in the Bookshop at the British Museum in early 2001. I read it in the United States later that spring and since then a day doesn't go by but what I remember some insight that I gleaned from it. It is history in the grand style, but with a message that is simple and powerful: people are pack animals. They will be governed -- sometimes in a haphazard or mediocre manner, often appallingly, once in a while really well. Not least among its many virtues, the set shows better than a thousand stumps speeches just what is so distinctive about the tradition of liberal democracy, and how it came into being (for more detail, pop over to the separate Amazon page for Volume 2 of this set and read the instructive comments of "Amazon Customer").

A motivational message to prospective readers who are dismayed by the prospect of a three-volume set. You don't need to read all of it to get value for your money. You don't even need to read it in sequence (I did not). Perhaps the most accessible parts are in Volume III, especially Books IV ("The Re-creation of the State in Europe) and Book V ("Pathways to the Modern State"). From there you might want to go back to Volume II, specifically Part III of Book III, more precisely still Chapter 7 on "The Republican Alternatie: Florence and Venice," followed by Chapter 8 and its magisterial discussion of "Representative Assemblies." From there a natural course is back to Volume I and its discussion of Athens and Jerusalem (Finer is particularly good on the distinctive contribution to governance from the tradition of the prophets). This is a Western-centered view, and should not be read to distrct attention from Finer's extraordinary treatment of the Chinese, the Indians and the societies of the Middle East. But these are in some sense self-contained units and can be addressed on their own terms.

This backwards progression would leave for last the stuff that Finer put first: the "Conceptual Prologue," which is perhaps better understood as a summary and analysis. But whatever route you take, surely there is no end of riches in this extraordinary capstone to a great scholarly life, well lived.

This book will make you smile and laugh or you might stop for a moment with wonder at the words you read. You might read them again and smile even brighter because of the amazement the author arouses with his thoughts in you. This book is full of weird anecdotes, deep thoughts, most honest emotions and hope for every next step where life might take the author to.
Read this book and hold it dear! The chapters are short but give you 1000 things to think about. I just love it!

There's a simple reason why people like this book - it's honest. In a world full of fakes and wannabe's, The Midnight Specialist tells it like it is, in his own way. There's no hype, no imitation, just an open and honest account of a life most of us could only dream of. Not the life of yet another spoilt 20something Hollywood/rockstar, but a life well and truly lived; the life that somewhere inside all of us, we wished we were living, if only we had the stomach for it, if only we listened to our inner child more often, if only we didn't need 8 hours sleep a night.

Having been fortunate enough to meet and call the author a friend, I can honestly say this book is like a slice of Trevors brain in print. A place where time does not exist, with extreme highs and lows, poetry, religion, beautiful girls, constant ponderings and not an easy wage in sight. This work, as indeed the author himself, is due to become a cult classic.

There is definitely a difference between the first two sections of this book, and the last two. The whole second half almost could have been its own book - it reads as more of a love story... compared with the first two sections, which are more of a collection of all things important and relevant to the author. It is packed with so much information, to read it like a novel would be losing out on the impact of each important insight. Overall, I loved it!

Trevor Andrei gives us insights to the most intimate thoughts and moments of his life. We experience bike accidents and trips through OZ and what happens when you fall in love - in short how life tastes when you walk out there, not fearless but curious.

I love some of the stories! Some i don't quite get and some are just out of this world. All in all, to me it is a honest book from a guy who has never and will never rest. Thanks for some laughs and some smiles and some "aww-poor guy"s...

This very personal and honest story is an unusual one, sharing visions, poems,insights, adventures, love and friendship from the last 10 years. A young man travelling Australia, living in a backpacker hostel with people from all over the world who contribute to his process in various wonderful ways. If you ever travelled the world and /or your own inner planet, or want to do so, read this! Fearless, at times psychedelic - almost like a video clip with a rapid succession of thoughts, ideas, jokes, statements - often funny and sprinkled with amazing poems the story touches in unexpected ways. It proves that having the courage to be just who you are might not always be easy but very rewarding in the end!

Mexican painter Miguel Covarrubias set sail for Bali in 1931 on an optimistic personal quest to discover, absorb, and chronicle Bali's traditional living culture. Buy into the romance and seduction of Covarrubias-driven by a feverish imagination-- inexorably pulled towards and teased by the lure of Bali, half a world away. Travel back sixty-four years in time to Bali's unspoiled natural vistas-a happy, peaceful. pristine retreat standing apart from a West mired in crippling economic depression and poised on the precipice of World War II. As a fellow artist on an island with three million artists-in-residence (creativity is considered both a religious and a natural activity on Bali), Covarrubias penetrated deeply into the spirit of the dance, theatre, music, decorative arts, and pastimes of Bali.
Embellished by 114 half-tone photos and 90 drawings by the author and other Balinese artists, this essential, still-relevant classic consists of twelve chapters on the Balinese people and their civilization in the 1930s. Accompanied by painter Walter Spies, Bali's most famous expatriate resident, they roamed the countryside together with eyes, ears, and canvasses wide open, observing the local life. Covarrubias's most notable writing describes the organization of the traditional Balinese village: the markets, social order, etiquette, language, caste system, the banjar, law and justice, the courts, the subak, rice culture, and the distribution of labor. This intimate, insider's foray into every nook and cranny of his own paradise produced key chapters on everyday family life in Bali: the house, cooking, costume and adornment, childbirth, childhood, adolescence, sexual customs, and marriage.
Covarrubias explored the place of the artist in Balinese life and the development and evolution of Balinese art, crafts, sculpture, and architecture. Drama and dance are important components of Balinese life: they come alive through the village orchestras, musical instruments, classical Legong, and the ancient shadow plays. Island of Bali unveils material on priests and religion, temples and feasts, offerings and exorcisms, the Balinese calendar, and the original Bali Aga people. Written from a day when primary forests reigned supreme and witch doctors wielded terrifying power, Covarrubias delves into the cult of the Barong and Rangda, black and white magic, folk medicine, the sacrifice of widows, and death and cremation. The Balinese still lead a magical, mystical, harmonious life that is difficult for Westerners to understand unless they read a profound work like Covarrubias's Island of Bali. With an artist's sensibility and a Bali-lover's eye, Covarrubias paints a complex nirvana with words and easel in this great literary achievement.

This book is the essential book about Bali. I read it 26 years ago when I first went to Bali and it still ranks as thee book about Bali. If you wish to learn about the Balinese people, their culture and religion and beliefs I highly recommend this book. jim

If you only read one book on Bali, read this one. Believe me, I'm Balinese.

Miguel Covarrubias, and his wife Rose,who were Mexican, went to Bali twice, once in 1930 for several months and again in 1933 again for several months. The first time they stayed in Denpasar, the capital, and the second time in Ubud, where I live.

They stayed with Walter Spies in Ubud,who was an extraordinary German, who had been living there for years, and who totally absorbed Balinese culture. My mother worked for him. He taught the Covarrubias's a lot.

They then wrote their book. It is regarded as the bible and all subsequent books owe a lot to it. Some things have changed, of course, but only on the surface. We are very traditional, especially in the Ubud area. The book is an excellent introduction to our rich culture.

The book discusses family and village life, rice farming, our Bali-Hindu religion, ceremonies, history, drama, art and dance.

It's very readable and the photographs and line drawings are great.

I must confess this book is thick but hey!!! It's well worth reading about for those who want to understand a little about Balinese culture as well as it's lovely people. I found it very interesting since it covered almost everything about Bali, however the book was written before World War II and well I still think it's great to have a book that is still resourceful. Even though so much has changed with Bali over the decades this book will never die surely. This is a must and is essential for those who want to have a better understanding of Bali back before World War II and they can still relate it to the present. Nothing much has changed but a few things have altered. It was like stepping back in time when I read this book... I hope everyone will enjoy the book as much as I do too... great book to have...

This is by far the best book available if you want to know about the people of Bali - their unique lifestyle, religion, customs and beliefs. Written in the 1930's, it still holds true today. The classic black and white photos are worth the price alone. The Balinese people still live a magical life that is difficult for a westerner to comprehend, unless you read a book like this.

A well engineered, detailed book which chronicles the life of one of the greatest voices in pop music. Another example of a singer who fell victim to the industry's need to pigeon hole each artist in a specific genre to make them more "marketable".
Judith fell into the folk music trap and her talents elsewhere (blues, jazz, the piano)were ignored. Unfortunately, the folk music scare of the mid sixties didn't last long enough to sustain a proper career and Judith was forever classified as "that gilrl who sang with the Seekers". Pity.

This is the biography of a name that may not be familiar to most Americans, but her voice is recognized by all the baby boomers. Judith Durham was the lead singer for The Seekers who had so many hits in the mid 60's. She left the group in 1968 and began a solo career that is still going strong today.
Her voice is her trade mark and is like no other. She has had a very successful career with her husband, Ron Edgeworth, who was her arranger and pianist. He died in 1994.
The Seekers re-united for a single concert in 1993 which was stretched out to 110 concerts since so many people wanted to see them again. In one day, 10 concerts sold out completely.
They did their "final concert" in 1995, since all had solo careers to which they wanted to return. That lasted a few years and then they got together again in the last few years for more concerts. Primarily in Australia and New Zealand.
Judith's story is fun to read. I was particularly interested in how her career spanned so many countries and musical art forms. She and Ron started off in England, then moved to Switzerland since British taxes were so awful. They entertained in Europe, England, Australia, and the US. Spending considrable amounts of time in all places. They were such a talented combination that they could work just about anywhere.
They finally settled in Australia, where Judith was born and grew up.
Judith does not hold back the highs and lows of her career, which makes the book very real life.
This is a great book for all Judith Durham fans,anyone familiar with The Seekers or musical entertainment. And the nice thing is, you can still see Judith performing and buy her CD's and DVDs. She turns 63 this summer and her manager said that she is taking a break from performing right now.
Judith Durham is only 5'3" and weights around 100 pounds, but has one of the most powerful yet pleasant voices I have ever heard. It is truly unigue.
The male members of The Seekers brought in at least 4 other female singers to recreate the group, but none could replace the voice of Judith. Their 4 part harmony is what we all remember so fondly. This is a very good read.

"Colours of My Life" traces the life and career of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Seekers. Now a singer/songwriter in her own right, Judith shares her fascinating yet heartbreaking journey. Born in Australia to working-class parents, Judith struggled with issues of self-esteem, body image and depression. Her years with the Seekers brought both fame and frustration, as she coped with the need to spread her wings as an artist while being held back by her loyalty to the group.After four years of being relegated to nightclubs and variety shows by a manager who always played it safe, Judith gave six months' notice that she was leaving the group to pursue a solo career. Judith had always felt that her strong areas were jazz and blues, but feared there was no audience for this in the sixties. As she sought to shed her "folksinger" image, and compete with the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel, Judith had to find her own niche. And in doing so, she also found her husband, pianist Ron Edgeworth. The two embarked on a 25 year musical journey which saw them living all over the world. And on a spiritual path which ultimately carried Judith through her health problems, recovery from a very serious auto accident, and the losses of her parents and husband. This book serves as biography, travelogue and music history lesson. But most importantly, it serves as an inspiration. Despite a lifelong condition causing limited lung capacity, Judith's voice rings strong and clear, now in her sixth decade. By sharing with us her joys and triumphs as well as her heartache and loss, Judith imparts a sense of purpose and zest for life, both in her songs and in her book.

In the afterword of "Colours of My Life" Judith Durham describes life as "what happens to you when you are making other plans." This phrase would certainly describe the life of one Judith Durham. This biography, lovingly written by Graham Simpson, was first released in Australia way back in 1994. It has been recently updated and reissued for the enjoyment of her fans all over the world.
While I have been a fan for all these many years I was certainly never a Seekers or Judith Durham fanatic. After all, the Seekers never achieved the popularity in the States that they enjoyed in their native Australia and the UK. About three years ago I was spinning my vinyl copy of the Seekers "Greatest Hits" when I remarked to my wife that Judith is perhaps the best female vocalist I had ever heard. This remark prompted me to do a search on Judith on the internet. I was really curious as to what she might be doing after all these many years. Much to my amazement, I discovered that the Seekers had reunited in 1993 and had recorded a new album of original material "Future Road". I was not aware of any of this. I immediately ordered the new CD and from that point on I have become a Seekers/Judith Durham fanatic!!!
I simply could not put down "Colours of the Day". What an interesting life Judith Durham has led. There are so many highs and lows, so many twists and turns. Graham Simpson has done a wonderful job in chronicling all of it. You will discover how Judith came to be a Seeker and the reasons why she chose to leave the group back in 1968. You will follow her around the world in her pursuit of a solo career. Learn how she met her beloved husband Ron Edgeworth and follow their travels over two decades from England to France to Switzerland to South Africa and back to Australia. It seems that they were always on the move in search of new musical horizons. You'll learn about the causes Judith really cares about and about tragic illness that claimed her loving husband.
Judith Durham has been honored all over the world for her work as a member of the Seekers, for her solo work and for any number of humanitarian causes she has become involved with. She is a remarkable lady. You are sure to enjoy her life story.

This is an in depth story of a great Australian singer.
You can realy get glued to this.There is certain parts that you want to read a few times over again.Such as when the Seekers broke up.I dont think at the time she realized the heartbreak she would cause by leaving.Not that i remember cause i was only 1 when they broke up.
I dont think anyone can understand her reasons for leaving,unless they put themselves in her boots,and this is as close as you will get.
Now i was not a Seekers fan till i saw them perform at the 1994 AFL grand final.That voice just was so good i became a fan from that moment.I did know alot of their songs,mum had a few old singles,as well as i'd heard them on the radio mainly on the oldies stations.This book goes through her life,and how she reached stardom in the Seekers.Their careers seemed to explode when they took a ship called the SS Fairsky bound for England.
Its very interesting to read about the things that interested her in her younger days,and how she got into the Jazz scene.It goes through all the happenings in the Seekers.As well as into her solo career.
It also describes the accident she had in 1990 and the circumstances around that.I just love reading about when the Seekers got back together and the subsequent tours,and recordings.
They did their last tour in 2004,this edition was in 2003.