North America Books

'The Presidents', edited by Henry F. Graff, is a spectacular reference. There are essays on each of the presidents from George Washington to Bill Clinton (with a few exceptions), as well as handy reference pages at the back with quick snapshots of crucial data.

The essays are roughly 20 pages per figure, more for some and less for others (it is ironic that Teddy Roosevelt has more pages than Franklin Roosevelt, or that both Richard Nixon and George Bush the elder have more pages than Abraham Lincoln, but then, quality is not a simple calculation of page numbers). Some presidents are paired for purposes of the essays - William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, James Garfield and Chester Arthur are each paired, as the length of time in office for each of the former figures in the pairs is rather brief, and none of the successors from the vice presidency went on to second terms.

The essays include very brief overviews of the time before office, as well as time after the presidency (as appropriate). However, the primary focus of the information is on the policies and events during the time of the presidency; this extends to military, diplomatic, administrative, legislative and judicial matters. This is one of the best one-volume references that includes cabinet members and other leaders of the executive branch in addition to the presidents; one has but to read headlines today to realise how important these figures can be in shaping the overall image and direction of a presidency.

There is also a concluding essay on role of the first lady, from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton. From Dolley Madison's saving the portrait of Washington as the British burned the city to the extraordinary influence of figures such as Edith Galt Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton, these women are deserving of attention for their work and influence.

Perhaps the most handy feature is Appendix B, the summary tables of data on the presidents. These feature in bullet form key biographical data, election returns, major appointments, political composition of Congress, Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments, and key events arranged chronologically. The index is also very well done; at 64 pages in length, I was hard pressed to find something in the text not referenced in the index.

The essays vary in quality, but even the least of them is pretty good. The essays on the earlier presidents, because they concentrate more on details of in-office activity, filled in many gaps in my knowledge of some of the administrations. This is a book destined to be more of a library volume than a personal possession, which is unfortunate, as this is a valuable text.

This book has a short (15-20 pages) biography of each president
through Bill Clinton (remember, it was published in 1996); obviously,
it cannot give as full a history as a full, comprehensive biography
could. But for many of the presidents, it is almost impossible to find
a full, comprehensive biography, and for those interested in those
presidents, this work is invaluable. Also, each chapter has an
exhaustive bibliography, so those interested in learning more are given
the names of books, many of them out of print, to look for.

A must for any presidential history buff.

This book is an excellent source for presidential research. As an AP American History student, this book is an INVALUABLE resource. It discusses all of the major events of the presidency with some detail. This saves a lot of secondary research which can delay completion of a project for days.

This book is not for people who want to learn interesting facts about the presidents. At times the book focuses more on the president's cabinet than on himself. However, this does accuratly describe how certain presidents controlled the country. There are chapters for each president. Each essay is very knowlegdable as each essay is written by an expert on that particular president. The terms are very detailed. This book does, however, seem to exclude much of the effects of the presidents decisions. The essays at times are overly complex. But in general the author describes himself well. Each author seems to be unbiased and is quick to reveal short-comings of his particular president. The readability seems to increase with the number of president. Starting with Wilson the essays are great. Notable essays include Wilson's, Harding's, and L. Johnson's. Overall this book is great. But, this book is NOT for everybody. It requires great interest a! nd an active mind. But, it is worth it.

This is one of the best one-volume references on the American presidents I have come across. While some general biographical material is provided, such as how each man spent his formative years, each section is mostly devoted to an over-the-shoulder look at the key figures of his administration, with benefit of historical hindsight, as they grapple with the issues and problems of the time. Particular attention is paid to distinctive qualities that set each president apart from his peers and to key decisions and actions that made a lasting difference to the country. This is more than a mere presentation of facts: we get a definite feel for each man's style of leadership and even his vision for the nation.

With each section written by a different contributor, there is bound to be some unevenness of style and tone, and there is. Generally, each presentation is scholarly and disinterested--although by no means dry--and free from excessive praise or condemnation, but for two exceptions that somewhat detract from the work. The most egregious of these is the section on Franklin Pierce, which is filled with personal gibes and, to a much lesser degree, the section on Calvin Coolidge. This is particularly surprising in light of the fact that such controversial figures as Andrew Johnson, Warren G. Harding and even Richard Nixon have been handled so professionally. But otherwise there is little to fault.

With only 15 to 20 pages devoted to each administration, obviously many difficult decisions had to be made on what material to include and exclude. Yet, it is the insight that went into these decisions that is one of the high points of this book; indeed, there is more than enough material to satisy most history buffs. However, those looking for obscure facts or trivia about each man, except when such details are directly relevant to the central issues of the time, are best advised to consult full-length biographies. Extensive references, including a list of such biographies, have been provided at the end of each section.

I really enjoyed it! It was so good that I couldn't put it down. I liked the suspense, and the way the characters went with the story. I loved the detail, because it was like you were really there, watching the story pass by you! I could picture the pirates in my head--the spit coming down their chin and their greasy hair; what they ate--I could smell it. I even made cookies that were 'piratey' cookies (they ended up tasting like something that was dunked in sea water. Bleck!) This surpasses all the other pirate history books, because it made it fun; it was a fun way of learning about pirates and about how they had to live. I recommend this book for the adventurous type!

As a parent, I found this book to be a real treasure. I try to read what my child is reading. My daughter's reading level is above her grade level so it is sometimes difficult to find books that are challanging to her, interesting, yet still content appropriate for her age. This book is all of that and a good book also. I can hardly wait to see what Michele publishes next.

I love action in books and this one definitely provides it! The characters drew me right in and I could easily visualize them with their pirate ship and sails. The pirates are sometimes hilarious and sometimes viscious. You can't put it down once you get started! I like to root for a hero and despise the villian!!!! I got what I wanted and I like that in a book. It was smooth reading and wasn't the kind of book that you have to struggle through at all. Read it -- cool!

Readers love action and they'll find it in this pirate story. Kip travels back to the time of Jolly Rogers, gangplanks, and cutlasses searching for Isabel, the one person whose presence will give his grandfather the will to live. Kip finds Isabel in a most surprising and dangerous place.

This is a great book to read aloud and will keep an entire class on the edge of their seat, begging for more. It provides the opportunity to discuss slang, unique terms and historic events. A glossary is provided.

This book was impossible to put down! I am well above the age range intended for this book, but it was so much fun to read I read it in one sitting! The author has obviously thoroughly researched pirate history, and so the book was not only entertaining and a hoot for youngish readers, but also educational. I really got a sense of what it must of been like--and it ain't like the movies! This is a great book for young and old alike. I dare you to put it down once you've started.

My 5 year old daughter recently became interested in eagles and this book is perfect in helping her learn more. Each page is dedicated to a bird, and information is written in small amounts so she actually reads everthing about a particular raptor and learns someting too. There are also "cool facts" on each page, and they are exactly that, cool.

If you love raptors, then this book is a great way to get you started learning about them. The drawings and full color paintings are superb. The information is more than enough for a good introduction, and if you like bird carving, then this is one of the best reference books you can have. I got one for myself, and gave the kids their own. It's not just a coloring book, the activities are designed to get the reader thinking and doing, especially observing nature and not television. Perfect for home schoolers.

This is the only children's book I've seen that does a comprehensive job portraying the richness and diversity of birds of prey that exist in North America...As a scientist, this is certainly the kind of coloring book I'd be happy to give my kids. And, as a raptor biologist, I'd be proud to give it to a colleague's kids.

Wonderful facts and great drawings! Excellent natural history information. Great fun for children of all ages.

Coloring books are not appropriate for library lending and are typically not featured here; but Raptors: The Eagles Hawks Falcons And Owls Of North America is a very fine educational guide and a highly recommended pick parents will want to pick up for their children and that librarians could utilize as a reading prize incentive for their summer reading program promotions. Color drawings of hawks, eagles, and owls accompany basic information on North American raptors, with complex and detailed black and white drawings kids can fill in. A simple, appealing coverage.

THIS IS A MUST READ FOR EVERY U.S. CITIZEN !!!!!

Terrorists are not the only ones trying to destroy America and our way of life! You simply can't help but get angry at the blatant attacks on our way of life and the disgusting failures of the "System" when you read Brett Kingstone's story. If this book doesn't get you mad enough to call your Congressmen and Senators nothing will.

This book is a real life true story of how small business innovators are being targeted by foreign sponsored economic espionage and are having thier livelihoods stolen out from underneath them. And if it can get worse than that, these modern day foreign sponsored pirates are being given assistance and safe harbor by our own Government. It is shocking that U.S. Government Prosecutors and Judges fail to uphold thier oath's of office to protect law abiding U.S. citizens but provide every protection available to these morally corrupt foreign entities and foreign citizens that are raping America. . . including providing them with U.S. taxpayer funded defense attorneys.

Tell your friends thye have to read this book . . . then call your Congressmen and Senators . . . tell them that it is time we take back America and start protecting the American dream once again ! ! ! !

Anyone that has the "IT" should read this book.

Mr. Kingstone writes a brutal book about his personal experience with international thievery, lawyers (also thieving) and our own judicial system. His positive attitude is inspiring and well worth the effort to learn of his plight. My hat is off to such an honest man who tells it like it is. Hope you get these bums Brett!

"The story that my friend Brett Kingstone tells in The Real War Against America is as good as any spy novel you can pick up....Today, intellectual property theft costs American industry an estimated $250 billion a year. And the price tag is rising...
The dreams and imaginations of Americans is something worth fighting for. Let's hope we win this battle."
Congressman Ric Keller (R, 8th District Florida), Co-Author of the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2002.


"At first, I thought this book was another Tom Clancy techno-thriller, then I realized it was non-fiction -- the true story of a dynamic American entrepreneur whose company was under attack by one of China's largest gang of counterfeiters. If any book about global business today should be made into a movie, The Real War Against America is it."
Professor Pat Choate, Author: Agents of Influence, Hot Properties, The High Flex Society, America in Ruins and Being Number One: Rebuilding the U.S. Economy. Director, Manufacturing Policy Project and former Vice Presidential running mate of H.Ross Perot.


"The story of Brett Kingstone and his company is far more than a high-tech Horatio Alger tale. It is an adventure which should become a case study for every business school candidate to memorize, for here lies a glimpse of the real war and its battles which can be our nation's demise."
Dwight Carey, President, APG. U.S. Congress Business of the Year Award Winner.


"Kingstone's Saga is the untold tale of intellectual property scandal in America. Piracy and counterfeiting are costing businesses billions of dollars annually in the U.S....I am mesmerized by Kingstone's spirit...he truly represents the lifeblood of American Manufacturing."
Peggy Smedley, Publisher Start Magazine, Author of Mending Manufacturing

This is a must read for anyone that manufactures or creates for a living.
When you read this book, pinch yourself and remember that this is a true story even though it could have been taken from the pages of an Ian Fleming novel. America faces a very real threat today - one far more insidious and underhand than anything we see in today's headlines, yet equally as sinister and threatening to our economy and standard of living.
Small business is the engine that drives the American economy and this is one mans story of his fight to protect his business, his family and the families of those who work for him.
Far from a dull account of industrial piracy and lawsuits, the author fully involves the reader in his fight and throughout the book I was struck by his humanity and love of family and friends around him.
Whatever the color of your collar this is your fight, and it could be happening to your business or your employer right now... It probably is.

Although this is a novel based on a tragic event in Jamaican history, Beverley East has not told a mournful, somber tale revolving solely around death and darkness. By detailing the events leading up the tragedy and the effects of this life-changing event on one family, decimated by the train crash, the novel pays homage to the hundreds who died, and gives voice to the countless who grieved. Filled with colorful characters and rich description of the life and customs in Jamaica during this period, the novel is about the many unpredictable twists and turns that life can take and the ability of the human spirit to supersede unimaginable grief.

Like almost everyone outside Jamaica, I had never heard of the Kendal crash. But Beverly East, who lost 14 family members in the disaster, remembers it well. She has also researched it thoroughly, with the keen eye of an anthropologist. But instead of giving us a dry factual account of that awful night, she has made it immediate and compelling. She has made a forgotten event unforgetable. How? By creating a story within a history, the story of the people who survived and whose lives were forever changed. We follow two sisters and a brother who lost their parents and other relatives in the wreck as they grapple to rediscover meaning in life.

The family saga transcends the event at its core. It extends from the teeming tropics of Jamaica to the dreary cold of immigrant life in racist London. In embraces ghosts and spirits, passsionate love and passionate hate, lust and longing, faith and the renunciation of faith. Out of these varied ingredients Ms. East has created a spicy Jamaican stew. Her remarkable cast of characters, their trials and triumphs, will grab you and you probably won't realize for awhile that you have also experienced a moving lesson in history. Savor this feast that Ms. East has cooked up.

Bruce Grimes

Ms. East has crafted a truly absorbing but heartwrenching tale. I learned so much about the era, and the lives of the many family members and others that were described in this tale, that it was really amazing. Though the story of the train wreck is a very sad one, with lasting impacts, Ms. East has managed to convey the story in a way that made it a very fluid read. The scenes are very richly described, which adds to the texture of the story - - but the attention is constantly and skillfully pulled back to the characters, their thoughts and their emotions. I, as the reader, really was anxious to continue reading to find out what happened to each and every character. All stories cannot have happy endings, but in spite of a startling climax and tragedy, this story manages to move many of the characters on to excellent places and adventures.

My hat is off to Ms. Beverly East, and I highly recommend this book. We are all so busy these days, that it is tough to carve out time for reading sometimes. This book makes it truly worth it!

Beverly East has so accurately titled this book. The Kendal Crash pierced the souls of the crash victims, the surviving family members as well as the Jamaican citizens. With each new chapter, I sympathized with the crash's victims and survivors. I could not put this book down! As I read each page, I felt the emotions that the author fully developed in each of her characters. Her well written story placed me in the home of the surviving family members, at the crash site as the search for victims and survivors was underway, in the homes and on the streets in London and with the main characters as they overcame obstacles, discovered their real purposes and moved on with their lives.

I am grateful to learn about this story - untold until now, not discussed for 50 years, but never forgotten by Ms. East.
Fetina Ward

Reaper of Souls kept me up many nights because I just couldn't put it down. The characters were so well developed that I felt that I knew them personally. It was humbling to witness the historic Kendal Crash tragedy first-hand through the characters. Beverley East's style of writing made me feel she was talking directly to me. I didn't want it to end. There was history, romance, culture, tragedy, crime, and heart-breaking family dynamics all rolled into one fantastic book. I recommend it highly to everyone.

David Fuller cook has "impart(ed)a state of well-being to the cosmos by story.." that has restored me. Each of his carefully crafted characters has taught me a lesson in truth ~ as all beings do. David knows that all of us have a gift to offer, even the most imperfect among us. Bravo and thanks for reminding us of our interconnectedness and the value that we all carry.

It took me a few pages to get into the rhythm of this storyteller's easy voice. Yet the narrative blossomed--simple, yet rich with the spirit of an ancient Uwharrie society evolving into a modern era. Warren's voice released the essence of Native American culture; which weaves folklore, mischief, gossip, and even mystery into a fabric as sweet and sorrowful as reservation life itself must be. The youth's account also gives the reader a taste of the legal and social bearing of life in a tiny nation within a nation. A joy to read!

Dave Cook has revealed his deeply intuitive intellect in every word and in each character in his story.He possesses the natural ear and cadence of the native Uwharrie.
Warren Eubanks, the Seed, takes us on a journey that will change how you feel about the life and the history of the American Indian. He gently lifts the veil that separates the harsh reality of reservation life and the timeless spirituality which we have come to seek and revere in the Native American Indian.
Dave has captured the heartbeat, breath, and soul of a people we seldom have the privilege meeting. At last, a worthy sequel to "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee".

Dave's writing draws you in and carries you right along. This book was a quick read and I want to reread it because I have a sense that there are parts I missed the first time because of the quiet way he drops clues throughout the story.The wonderful circular way that the story is woven felt familiar and intimate. I could see every character. Also, although he says in the beginning that it is fictional, he speaks with the voice of someone who understands reservation life all too well. Bravo Dave!
SSD - Reston, VA

Reservation Nation had layers of symbolism. I've only read it once, but I plan on having another go. Although it was a quick read each and every character was vivid. I highly recommend this book for it's subtlety and complexity because both are masked by the sweet voice of a boy simply trying to understand his own culture and his place in it. Aren't we all?

I'm often frustrated by books on "the environment," much of which talk about pollution, toxic chemicals, recycling and related topics. Those strike me as questions of human health and safety - - these issues don't really value the environment for itself, but only in terms of whether or not humans are fouling our nest.

This book lays out a different vision, one much closer to the kind of manifesto that I've been looking for. Foreman wants to "rewild" large chunks of land in North America. Some of these lands will be strictly preserved, such as wildernesses and national parks, but much of the action takes place in buffer zones, corridors between preserved areas, and thinking about how to make the human-occupied matrix more friendly to nature.

Foreman wants to create four "Continental MegaLinkages," which would preserve a network of preserved lands. The MegaLinkages are breathtaking: the Pacific MegaLinkage (Baja to Alaska); the Spine of the Continent MegaLinkage (Central America to Alaska through the Rockies); the Atlantic MegaLinkage (Florida through the Appalachian Mountains to New Brunswick); and the Arctic-Boreal MegaLinkage (from Alaska across Canada to the Maritimes).

Did you notice that the prairies of the United States and Canada are completely left out? Neither did Foreman. He never discusses them. That was my biggest single disappointment of the book, and it cost him that fifth star.

To make his argument, Foreman talks about how humans have caused extinctions from the Stone Age until the present - - 40,000 years of environmental destruction. Then he talks about the core ideas of conservation biology to set the stage for his proposed MegaLinkages. In particular, he emphasizes the importance of cores, corridors and carnivores.

Both the extinctions chapters and the presentation of conservation biology are well-written and clear. If you're not familiar with these ideas, this is a good place to get an introduction.

Then Foreman descends to the nitty-gritty details about how activists can survey a region and put together proposals for preserved lands and linkages between them. These chapters draw heavily on his own experience in the Southwest, especially in New Mexico. It's not obvious to me that they translate well to, say, boreal Canada - - or to the prairies. A greater diversity of examples would help him here.

Objections aside, this is an impressive and impassioned manifesto. Foreman makes a convincing case that we need to think about how to preserve a lot of lands on a very large scale. There are other books making similar cases, and I've reviewed a few others on Amazon, but this one is the best for the general reader.

Finally there is something which dares to challenge conventionality in its face and say capitalism and manifest destiny arent doing us any favours... This books opens your mind to greater processes and aspirations than what were are trained for in society... go for it!

Nearly 60 years ago, Aldo Leopold gave the world a treasure: his "Sand County Almanac". "Rewilding North America" is the Sand County Almanac of our time, in eloquence as well as vision. Dave Foreman, who raised the conservation bar so shockingly (and successfully) with "Earth First!" 25 years ago, has now become an elder, a respected colleague of the leading lights in conservation biology, while carrying on his legacy of showing the rest of us new possibities for bolder and more biocentric paths of ethics and action.

"Rewilding North America" is THE environmental vision for this era and for this continent. The book begins with the most succinct and heart-stoppingly depressing summary of the bad news of biodiversity and ecological losses that I have yet encountered. But hang in there, because Foreman then masterfully unfolds a program of possibility that is both radical and realistic -- and inspirational beyond measure!

As we biodiversity and wilderness advocates continue the important work in the paradigm of preservation (that is, saving all the pieces we can against the onslaught of vapid consumerism), we can also begin to take the exciting first steps in a new form of ecological restoration. Dave's "rewilding" proposal is long-term in both directions: He considers a baseline for rewilding that goes back 13,000 years to just before the first humans arrived in North America, while setting forth a vision that is intended -- dare I say, destined -- to grow over this century and the next. That means we don't just stop at bringing back Wolf and Griz; we also start plotting paths for repatriating Cheetah to its continent of origin, and assisting Order Proboscidea in once again leisurely reshaping the tusked behemoths of the Old World into New World natives.

Onward with the Great Work!

Foreman paints both a depressing and hopeful picture of the state of eco-affairs. Sobering information regarding the war on nature along with a plan to recoup some of the biological losses mother nature has endured in the industrial/tech ages.

This is a MUST READ book for anyone with an ounce of caring in their bones for the future of life on Earth.

Dave Foreman (of Earth First!) has written a powerful manifesto for the recovery of American wild space. What is so refreshing about his approach is that, like Leopold and Thoreau before him, he recognizes that the real problem for an environmentalist who values wilderness is not how to preserve pockets of wilderness against human activity, but how to reintegrate wilderness back into our lives and habitations. One reason for this is that pockets of wilderness are unsustainable --to flourish they need to be large enough to sustain populations of large predators and that requires much more space than we currently allot to our wildlife preserves, and even this amount of space is constantly under threat. The solution is to allow for corridors that connect wild spaces, and Foreman shows how this can be done and is already being done in certain parts of North America. Another reason is that in the long run to survive as a species we are going to have to move away from the fuel intensive and non-localized approaches to economy that have been largely responsible for the decimation of vast chunks of land. Finally, he argues that there is something about wilderness that is essential to our humanity, and that the presence of vital natural areas and even of large predators closer to home is an important factor in fostering the humility in the face of nature that we are going to need to rediscover if we are to learn to live sustainably. In some ways this all might seem like a utopian project, but what is powerful about the book is how elaborately it lays out the details of how such a project can be accomplished, and how it explains the conservation science at the root of this project, and identifies the networks of organizations already working with these concerns. The point is not utopia -- literally a non-place -- but learning how to get back into place as a culture. I don't know if his vision can be put into practice but I like the vision -- and find it much more exciting and realistic and motivating than, say, the vision of conquering space and going to Mars. I also think his vision of a recovered American wildness is compatible with and complementary to visions of a green economy. This is the kind of visionary book that young politicians and activists should be reading today.

This book is wonderfully illustrated. Lynne Cherry's style is to put a large picture on
each page surrounded by smaller pictures all relating to the subject. In this book the
subject is the course of a river over time and the effects of humanity on its health.
The side pictures relate to the people and their lifestyle at the time. The text gives
relatively simple explanations of what is occurring on the page.

Ages 10+
Follows the life of a river from Native American time through present and details the story of human destruction of a river and the human renewal of the resource. Definitely a read for grades 5+ due to the "urgency" of environmental destruction*we don't want to scare the kids to help them appreciate the resource*

This book was given to me at age 12. I am now 17 and it is still my favorite. I will never outgrow the beautiful pictures, or the very important lesson it teaches. Every page is expertly laid out, with exquisite paintings depicting the river and the era being discussed. The message of environmental conservation and protection is inspiring. Lynne Cherry makes this vital part of our existence understandable to young children, and even adults, often the harder group to reach. I highly reccommend this book for anyone who wants their children to appreciate the world around them and learn that they can, and should, do their best to save it.

This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are breathtaking and it follows an almost "illuminated" type of text structure, similar to that found in "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. Each page is bordered by illustrations of items pertaining to the period in history that the page is depicting - the implements used by Native peoples, animals that live by the river, inventions of the Industrial Revolution, etc. There is much more to talk about on each page than just the environmental theme of the book. This book would fit well in units about Native people, progress/inventions, ecology, water habitats, etc. A must-have for classrooms, homes, and teachers

I used this book with my third grade class when they were studying the effects of water pollution on a large body of water. They had already studied Native Americans in second grade and this book just blended the two subjects together. The step by step portrayal of man's harm to the Nashua River helped my children learn about how they were harming the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Lynne Cherry is a fantastic author and presents two great subjects that are highly interesting to children. Any teacher that teaches either Native Americans or water pollution should include this book in their lessons!

A Must for Pheasant hunters and and a very informative book.

The strength of "Rooster! A Tribute to Pheasant Hunting in North America" lies in its pictures--of which there are plenty. Of course, what animal looks better in a photograph than a ringneck rooster with its bright plumage?

The text of the book is less impressive, and seems to stumble at times, but is nevertheless informative and readable for the most part. That is why I deducted a star from my rating.

Overall, this book is sure to be enjoyed by anyone who relishes in the unique experience of pheasant hunting.

This is a great read as well as a great visual book--it'll get you fired up to hunt!

I've met Dale, and he is just one cool dude! Dale puts a lot of heart in his work, and it really comes through. The section on Nebraska at the back of the book is very accurate, too. If you hunt Pheasant, this book is a must have!

If you love pheasants and pheasant hunting you will love this book. While it may seem a bit costly compared to other pheasant books, it is well worth its price. The large color photos are beautiful and the the narrative (chapters) of the book are well written and interesting. You will find yourself reading this "coffee table" book over and over. Being a pheasant and quail hunter, I would love to see a similar book called "Bobwhite." That's a hint to the authors and photographers of Rooster! It's time to tackle a new project.

Majestically illustrated throughout with full color photographs by award-winning photographer Dale C. Spartas, Rooster! A Tribute To Pheasant Hunting In North America showcases the outdoor hunting experience in glowing and memorable terms. A most enjoyable visual and narrative tribute to the pheasant hunting experience, written with deep respect for the wiley and tenacious birds themselves, Rooster! A Tribute To Pheasant Hunting In North America is an enthusiastically recommended title for personal and community library collections.

We recently travelled in the Grand Canyon-Southern Utah area, and found this an invaluable resource. None of the reviews was off-base... although some of the prices are outdated at this point, it's to be expected. One thing that's nice about this guide is that it's pretty durable, so after several weeks of use in the planning of the trip, 10 days of being tossed about in backpack, car and luggage, and being used as a reference in my post-trip write-up of our travels, it still looks fairly new. I could probably sell it used, but I think I'll keep it for when I head back that way in a few years.

I travel in the Southwest frequently and have a diverse collection of guidebooks to the region. Rough Guide is my favorite, with the intelligently written descriptions and opinions. The other guidebooks are drier or shallower in comparison (Moon, Lonely Planet, Let's Go, DK, and Frommer's).

I usually carry multiple guidebooks on my vacations, but during my recent trip to the American Southwest I relied exclusively on this book.

One of the reasons I recommend this book is that it covers the Southwest as a single region, so it includes New Mexico, Arizona, southern Colorodo, southern Utah, and Las Vegas. Most other books are State-based, so it would take multiple books to cover the entire region.

Another reason to pick this book is that it is opinionated. It lists top ten sites in various categories (national parks, museums, etc.), so that you can plan your time effectively. The auther even recommends against some things, unlike most guidebooks.

I am picky about maps, and the maps in this book were uniformly accurate and reliable. Driving tips and recommended routes were quite useful.

You will also find this book compact and light. While some other books are loaded with pictures, I find these books best enjoyed at home, before and after my trip, because they are too heavy to lug around during my trip.

Finally, I stayed in 5 hotels, all recommended by this book, and they were all safe choices. If you are looking for a splurge, I recommend Goulding's lodge at Monument Valley, especially for fans of old movies. To my surprise, I enjoyed the museum on site. Also, I used the inroom VCR to watch Stagecoach, and this was the perfect setup for my Monument Valley visit the next morning. At Canyon do Chelly NM, I would recommend not staying at the overpriced, dreary lodge. It's cheaper to stay at one of the places just outside the park. In Santa Fe, the El Rey Inn is convenient, friendly, and has a Route 66 feel.

On our recent trip through the grand circle of national parks in the four corners area, we carried several paperback guides, but quickly discarded the others in favor of this excellent book. We started reading it out loud as we approached each new town because of its wry observations, but quickly came to trust its preview of each new stop. We were never disappointed when we chose a non-chain motel from its recommendations, and we never got a bad meal wherever it said the food was good (and this was a budget trip).

It isn't perfect -- things change too fast. For instance, there are many new motels within easy distance of the Grand Canyon, easing the squeeze many travelers have experienced, and more are under construction. And they didn't warn us to avoid the grossly mis-named Kodachrome state park. But wherever I travel next, a Rough Guide will be with me, you can be sure.

This is the mother of all Southwest guidebooks, and as one reviewer stated, it is most useful because it covers multiple states (New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah, and Southern Nevada).

The maps inside are second-to-none. I always trust these maps, especially when I need to get off the major highways to a less-traveled road.

This book has medium-to-small type and thin pages, so they pack a lot of information into a small space. This is great for the traveler who doesn't want to lug around a huge and heavy book.

Every town has a good description, history, and information, followed by a list of practicalities like where to eat, where to stay, where to get more information. The Indian reservations are covered in great detail, and this was essential for my trip.

Love this book and I highly recommend it to anyone driving through the Southwest.